The Texan's Favor

I confess I don't read many western romances so take my review with a grain of salt. Jake Fontaine is a Texas Ranger chasing the man who killed his brother. Finally catching up to him in Kansas the tables are turned and were it not for the help of a woman on her own Jake would be dead. They continue on the trail staying together in pursuit of killer. Kat Collins is on the run herself from her controlling uncle who is also a judge.

The story is almost two separate parts. The first was page turning with some exciting chases and shoot-outs. Also it is a forced proximity romance as they travel and learn about each other. Then there is a leap in time and the story changes flow. I didn't find the second half as interesting. Other people are interfering in the relationship. I didn't feel deeply connected to the characters. I didn't understand why Kat is placed in control of her uncle other than her family was gone. I also didn't know why Jake was a Ranger and not just running his ranch. Or where his parents were. There isn't a lot of emotion between the MC's either. In the first part Kat offers to share a bed and I didn't know her feelings or thoughts that led to the offer or how she felt when it wasn't accepted. For me parts of the story seem to be missing. And I'm not sure who Texas law would have been but could she really claim ownership of land if she was married? In England the property would automatically have belonged to the husband.

I still enjoyed the plot but hoped for a little more. Thank you to Net Galley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A ranger on a vengeful mission, a thief on the run, can they outrun their pasts or will being caught bring them closer? Texas Ranger Jake is hunting down the murderer who killed his brother in cold blood. Jake almost dies himself at the hands of the criminal’s gang when a beautiful woman shoots his assailants. What is a woman doing unprotected in the middle of Kansas? He offers to protect her while she travels to the next town, yet she scoffs. At him? A Texas Ranger? He persuades her to see his way of thinking and they travel together. Chaos breaks out when her uncle finds them together. Her uncle threatens death until Jake marries her. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. He can’t deny how he feels about Kat. Can he convince her he’s not like her uncle and a life with him will be fulfilling? Or will she run away from him?

The Texan’s Favor is a historical western romance worth reading. From the emotional narration to the lush descriptions, this story will transport you to the old west. I connected with both Jake and Kat immediately. While both harbor secrets, it was enjoyable to watch them squirm as they worked through their issues. This was a classic western setting with vengeance, independence, propriety, and more twists. The plot was perfectly paced with action, intrigue, and romance to keep the reader invested. The action scenes were historically accurate and every nuance was described so it was easy to whip through the pages. The romance took a while to get going but once they kissed, it took off. I loved the tension between these two independent people. It ratcheted up the anticipation and honestly made my romantic heart beat faster. The ending was so good, I wanted to reread the whole story after I finished reading it. I didn’t want to leave the characters or the world D.K. Deters created. If you love historical western romances, pick up The Texan’s Favor. If you secretly want to live as a feisty heroine in the old west, you’ve got to read The Texan’s Favor. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are completely my own.

My Rating: 5 stars

Jake Fontaine, a Texas Ranger, is hot on the trail of the vicious outlaw, Grizzly Duvall, when everything goes wrong.

Kat Collins is hellbent on escaping from her abusive uncle when she witnesses the ambush that will end the lawman’s life. She makes a rash decision to fire at the attackers and her actions save him.

Now, Jake is obligated. But because she’s dressed like a boy, he doesn’t realize she’s a woman until her hat falls off and her braid tumbles out. His Texas code of ethics won’t allow him to leave a woman alone in the wilds of Kansas. Frustrated that this new turn of events causes him to lose the outlaw he is so determined to capture, he offers to accompany her to the ferry that will take her across the river to St. Louis.

Kat is strongly independent. She needs no one. She will make it to St. Louis and start a new life as a seamstress. So, when Jake insists on accompanying her, she makes it clear she does not need his help.

Thus begins a tumultuous relationship. Each struggles to deny any attraction they feel.

Things go sideways when Kat’s uncle catches up to the pair and forces Jake to marry her. After all her uncle is a judge and the marriage is legal and binding. For me, this part of the story was not believable. That a man would go to all the trouble to track down his niece, then not force her to return with him seemed a little far-fetched.

But now they’re married and when one night of passion brings them together, maybe they are going to work out their differences after all.

Not the case. While Jake is sleeping, Kat sneaks away, taking his horse with her.

Throughout the rest of the story, Kat is running and Jake is pursuing and each time they meet up, their relationship switches from cold to hot in seconds.

The story ramps up when Jake’s grandfather goes to St. Louis to find Kat and get her out of his grandson’s life forever. But instead, in five short weeks, he falls in love with the woman who has given birth to his great-granddaughter and on his dying bed, wills the ranch in Texas to her.

Now things get really complicated. Jake is betrothed to another. He has no idea he has a daughter.

He and Kat are like oil and water. I grew a little frustrated with both of them at different times during the story when they lied to each other and danced around the truth over and over.

However, the story does culminate into an action-filled shoot-out and happy ending.

If not for the frustration I felt while reading the story, and a couple of plot twists that were not believable, this would be a five-star read for me. However, I give it a four-star rating.

If you enjoy westerns, and tumultuous romances, you would enjoy this story.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Texan's Favor by D.K. Deters follows Jake Fontaine, a Texas Ranger, as he chases his brother's murderer. He crosses paths with Kat Collins, who is running away from a miserable life under her uncle's thumb. Kat saves Jake's life and Jake is indebted to her. They make a choice to travel together for a bit and all is well until her uncle finds them and forces them to get married. The story after this marriage shows the choices they make and the results of those choices on both of their lives.

This book is well-written with an interesting plot and tons of twists. The issue I had with the story is that it is rife with miscommunication between the two main characters from the beginning of the story through to the end. Miscommunication that results in both of their lives being affected in major ways. And if both had just communicated from the beginning they would have been fine. But maybe that's the point of the plot? Miscommunication in stories is a pet peeve of mine so I found it annoying that there was so much of it in this book but others may find it not as bothersome. Other than that it’s an interesting storyline and did keep me reading.

My rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

I really enjoyed The Texan’s Favor. I hope to read more by D. K. Peters in the future. I am giving this one four and a half stars.

5 stars, Loved it!

THE TEXAN'S FAVOR
by D.K. Deters

Loved it! A great #historicalromance set in #Texas. I could read one of these stories every single day of my life and be happy!

Highly recommend.

I purchased a free copy of #thetexansfavor from #thewildrosepress I was under no obligation to post a review. #texasranger #spinster #dkdeters