Texas Blue

Starred review from February 7, 2011
Bestseller Thomas's fifth Whispering Mountain American historical (after 2009's The Lone Texan) is another winner. When Texas Ranger Duncan McMurray tells gambler Lewton Paterson that he's sending three men from good families to court his three cousins, Lewton, wishing for a respectable life and family, decides to take the place of one of the men. He meets the three ladies, but spends his time with Em, the ranch overseer—who is really one of the ladies and never intends to marry. When news reaches the ranch of Duncan's capture in Mexico, Lewt and Em set out to save him. Tension rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes. Fans will be delighted by this series continuation.

March 1, 2011
Thomas new historical romance, fifth in the Whispering Mountain series, picks up in 1875, when Teague McMurrays adopted daughters are now of marriageable age. Emily has no time for courting. So when her cousin Duncan sends several suitors their way, Emilys friend Tamela masquerades as Emily, while Emily pretends to be a ranch hand. Gambler Lewt Paterson yearns for a home and family of his own, but when he tentatively broaches the subject, Duncan laughs in his face as he heads across the Mexican border with the Texas Rangers in pursuit of stolen cattle and the rustlers who took them. His pride stung, Lewt decides on a masquerade of his own. But he soon discovers that he has much to learn about ranching and courting, and finds himself more comfortable with ranch hand Em than with the McMurray sisters. When Duncan goes missing, Lewt and Em ride out together to bring him home. Thomas delivers her signature blend of passion, history come to life, and characters jumping off the page and into the readers heart.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)