This is the 5th in Maggie Shayne's Texas Brand's series. All of the previous had likeable characters. But, this one had Casey Jones. Casey was lying, manipulative, hypocritical, stupid, sneaky, judgmental and at times plain cruel. I love my brothers and sisters and would do anything to help them. However, I would find a way to do it that would not destroy someone else's life.

Lying: Marcus asked Casey point blank if she was a reporter and she said she wasn't. At one point she actually considered writing an article: "Texas Reporter Succeeds! Where all others fail! Identity of The Guardian revealed!"

Manipulative: When Marcus found out she was a reporter he was understandably angry and told her he didn't work with reporters. She told him if he didn't she would have a composite sketch done of him, write an article and splash it all over.

Hypocritical: Marcus asked if Casey disliked secrets.
"Can't stand them, never could.
I think the truth is always better."
Then she told Marcus she might have "a small secret".
Again, she is keeping the big secret, SHE'S A REPORTER! And she feels very little remorse about it.

Stupid: Although she knows someone is after her and Marcus is trying to keep a low profile she goes out and stands on her driveway like a target and says she won't go inside until he reveals himself. Apparently she's hoping the killer will get them both, leaving her sister unprotected.

Judgmental: She thought Marcus should reveal himself as The Guardian and tried to push him into it. She ignored the fact that not only did he want to lead a quite life, but that with his anonymity gone he wouldn't be able to help people.

Cruel: She took Marcus to see the Brands without warning him that they might be his family just to see his reaction.

Sneaky: See any or all of the above.

I liked Marcus a lot. He deserved better.

Book 5, Texas Brand series. I read this book in 2 days. It grabs you from page 1 & holds you until the last page is read. It is the story of one of the Brands missing cousins, believed murdered 20 years ago.

It was great to see the Texas Brands again at the end & I can't wait to read Adam & Kirsten's story next in "The baddest bride in Texas" (Book 6).

Marcus has been raised to be a crime-fighting vigilante. Casey Jones is a nosey reporter. When Casey's beautiful sister Laura is the victim of a stalker, Casey becomes desperate and appeals to the "Guardian" (Marcus's crime fighting alter-ego) for help. Can Marcus apprehend the bad guy in time?

Okay, first off, I loved the character of Marcus. He was cute, funny, and responsible. But the heroine Casey Jones was just irritating. And lets not forget her limp dishrag sister Laura. These two made "Mysterious Texas Brand Man" a real drag. (Why oh Why did Laura refuse to confide in her sister? This was just silly! And what happened to them going to the police? Dumb, dumb, dumb!)

While I enjoyed the idea of a crime-fighting vigilante as a hero, the author didn't fully explore this idea. Instead this subplot is tossed aside in favor of a stalker/revenge filled hero, and a sappy plain vanilla happy ending.

Overall, merely an average read. I've definitely read worse....But expect more from the author. Oh...And why the original guardian didn't invest in a bullet proof vest, I still don't know!

I brought this book on a recent trip to Dallas, and I found myself picking it up every free moment I had. Maggie Shayne has created a man who is admirable, vulnerable, and sexy in the form of Marcus and a woman who is intelligent, capable, and passionate in Casey, and they are a facinating couple to read about.

I read a lot of romance novels and this is one to treasure heart and soul. A perfect book and a perfect author