This is a fast read with an easy storyline to follow. Cole is taking over for his uncle as a ranch foreman, he is also looking after his little sister. While working on the ranch Callie Llewellyn the granddaughter to the owners of the ranch has come home from college. She, of course, has a secret; she has flunked out of school and is now hoping she can retest get back in before her grandparents find out.
Of course, neither of these two like each other at first but then slowly they decided to get there disliked for each other out of the way by having sex. Well, the one time to having sex does not work and now besides her grandparents not finding out about school, she is also hoping they don’t find out about Cole either. He is also hoping they don’t find out for he needs the job but together they are finding that they need each other. A fast read with some hot scenes with a story.

A copy of this book was provided via NetGalley for a honest review.



4 stars



Ohhhh where to start but with this hot as sin cover that has me fanning myself thinking about Cole. He was not only dirty sexy but also brainy. He was like the complete guy once you were able to break through his tough man exterior which is exactly what Callie does.



Callie is a spoiled rich girl that knows the value of putting in a hard days work on the ranch but she has no time for romance or love, she has to get through college so that she can take over her family business. But there are couple of problems along the way. One being this attraction to ranch hand, Cole.



Cole knows what is to give it all up for family; which is exactly what he is doing this summer. He is putting his family first. He can not risk losing it all over a hot chick especially his bosses granddaughter. But the way Cole feels from being around Callie or even just looking at her. He knows he is in for a long hard summer.



As Callie and Cole figure out how to handle this attraction that they have for each other, they become friends and learn there is so much more to each other that just the chemistry they share. Will they be able to survive a summer of being so close but not touching? Or will they give in to the lust and deal with the ramifications after?

What a surprise Branded was. The Prologue peaked my interest and the ending was like a fairy purestdelightawardtale. From start to finish, I smiled, laughed and had a wonderful time with Callie and Cole. There’s was a love that was inevitable, unstable and down-right dirty.

Candace Havens really knows how to write a cowboy. He’s hot, he’s smart, he’s dirty. Callie does something to him. Trying to stay away from her has become fruitless. He’s drawn to the woman who can muck a stall, lift feed bags and has befriended his little sister, as well as curves that could make a saint sin. He tries being mean. He tries to ignore her. He tries to not put her up against the wall and give her all he’s got. He has too much to lose by fooling around with the Princess of the ranch but she comes up with a solution to his dilemma that is convenient and totally unconventional.

Callie can’t keep her mind off of Cole. He totally frustrates and infuriates her. She cannot understand why he doesn’t like her, is mean to her. She tries to prove that she’s only a Princess in her grandparent’s eyes, but to no avail. She finally calls him on his behavior and gets the surprise of her life. So decides to take matters into her own hands. He’ll be her dirty little secret.

Something happens and Cole and Callie find themselves in a position that neither one of them counted on. Being in love, sharing their secrets and enjoying each other way too much. What happens when they both realize it, both frustrated and amused me.

The people that make up both Cole and Callie’s lives were wonderful. They added humor and understanding to a wonderful story. The book would not have been the same without Bethany, Addy and Callie’s grandparents. I seriously think that Grandma and Grandpa Llewellyn played matchmakers right from the beginning of the book.

Candace Havens really kept this story moving. As the two different worlds came together, as both Cole and Callie fought their feelings and tried, desperately, to keep things to the bedroom, she really let us get to know both of them … what they thinking and feeling … what they were hiding and what they had to lose. She did a wonderful job of allowing these two characters understand each other and fall in love. I loved that there were times of angst, times of laughter and times of seriousness. Ms. Havens did a great job of writing all of this into a story that had a true happily-ever-after.

Great story, had a good combination of heat and tension. Grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.

Loved this book. I loved Callie and Coke and hope Candace writes More like this in the future.

I love me a good cowboy book and Branded hot just the right spot. I really liked the chemistry that wa s flowing between the two. And their relationship was a slow burn. They did t jump right in they waited.

Cole and Callie's story was a bit of a toss up for me. In many ways I liked the intense passion that they had for one another and the love scenes were certainly steamy and well written. The story line just didn't pack a lot of punch for me the whole way through. Callie was a bit too desperate in the beginning chasing Cole around and coming up with this whole contract idea. Seemed a little too needy and didn't set things off to a great start for me. Things did seem to course correct further into the story and I enjoyed the push and pull between Cole and Callie. I like that there was a good amount of angst throughout this book as it kept me pushing through. A bit of a predictable read but still somewhat enjoyable but left me wanting a bit more out of the story.

Branded was, I believe, my first book by Candace Havens and it seemed like a story line I would definitely enjoy. Im all about the stories that involve hot cowboys with muscles so Cole was right up my alley.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was just what I needed for a quick weekend read. It was HOT, sweet and had just the right amount of drama to hold my attention.
4**** WickedGoodStars!