Guest Review: Bound, Branded & Brazen by Jaci Burton

Ranch hand Walker Morgan can’t afford to lose his job by getting too close to his new boss, Jolene, no matter how much she tempts him. But Jolene’s prepared to take the first step, because what Jolene wants, Jolene gets. And Jolene wants Walker.

Bound: Our first story in the book shows us Valerie who has come back to the ranch where she grew up for her uncle’s funeral and to see her sisters for the first time in 2 years. When she left she really had no plans on ever returning, despite the fact that she loved her sisters dearly. You see 2 years ago when she left she walked out on her marriage to ranch foreman, Mason, and got a divorce. She’s finished her residency and has become a successful doctor in Dallas. She just wants to get the visit over with and return to her new practice.

But Mason has other ideas – he wants Valerie back because he’s never stopped loving her. He’s pretty sure he knows why she left but it doesn’t make it any easier to take. They realize they can’t stay away from each other physically and agree to have a sexual relationship during Valerie’s visit – but that’s all Valerie wants…or is it? Her love for Mason that never died and a town full of people who need her finally make Valerie’s decision for her.

I very much enjoyed this story although I thought that Valerie, at time, acted a tad childish. I could see things from her POV to a point but then I thought she went a bit overboard. Mason seemed like a great guy and I felt sometimes that he didn’t deserve Valerie but in the end I was pleased with the outcome of their relationship.

Branded: Brea is an independent computer contractor and works from home. She’s not taken very good care of herself and shows up at the ranch for her uncle’s funeral in long body hiding skirts and a mess of a hairdo that she hides behind. Her sister Jolene decides to take her in hand and takes her shopping for a new wardrobe and a new do. But horse trainer Gage noticed Brea before her makeover. He was drawn to her and it seems that Brea was drawn to him as well. Gage realizes that Brea’s self-esteem is in the gutter and he goes slowly with her, coaxing Brea out sexually and letting her know that she’s a beautiful woman. But Gage isn’t in for the long haul so what happens when Brea starts getting attached?

This was my favorite story of the three. Gage was so great with Brea and she found her groove quite quickly with him. With her being demeaned in the past she had to realize that she was a person of worth. I loved how Gage and Brea were together I think because we’ve all had our episodes of self-esteem issues. The only problem I had with the story is that I felt it was a tad too short. I felt we as readers needed a little bit more before Gage came to his senses about his feelings for Brea but that just may have been because I liked the story so much and didn’t want it to end.

Brazen: Jolene stayed on the ranch and worked after her two sisters flew the coop. For a while now she’s had her sights set on ranch hand Walker. And as Jolene says, she always gets what she wants. She goes after Walker in a mad way and eventually gets him, but Walker has some issues from his past that he doesn’t want to get Jolene involved in. Walker tries his damndest to keep them apart even though he has feelings for Jolene but he gives in. But not all of the folks outside of the ranch see Walker as Jolene does and they want him gone from the town and the state.

I really liked Walker in this story. I think his sense of honor, especially because of what he’d been through in the past is what drew me to him. He was just a stand up guy. Jolene was a hard worker and loved working on the ranch. At times I thought she was a little brash but that was just her and she didn’t put on airs for anyone.

I think all of the stories in this book had a great sense of friendship, love and loyalty. It was the sense of togetherness that I loved with the sisters as well as those who worked the ranch. Overall a pretty darned good book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.