Writer’s Mail
by Randy Haselow
January 30, 2011
BOOK REVIEW: TEXAS SAGE by SANDRA BROWN
Submitted by: Millie Mader
It’s a giant (downward) leap from Grisham’s The Confession to Sandra Brown’s Texas Sage. This is the third of a “Texas” trilogy, written by Brown in the late 1980’s. I was fascinated by the first two, Texas Lucky and Texas Chase Tyler, but didn’t get around to Texas Sage. I tried repeatedly to get it from the library, and was finally told that it was out of print. Then a strange omen appeared. Last month at Barnes & Noble, here it was staring out at me with the new best sellers. “Buy me, Millie,” it shouted. So I did. It had been reprinted.
Brown’s books are primarily “chick lit,” but they are a guilty pleasure that helps chase away the SAD days of January. The Tyler brothers, Lucky and Chase are incredibly handsome. Baby sister, Sage, is spoiled, headstrong and gorgeous. This is true Sandra Brown style.
In the oil bust of the eighties, the wells on the Tyler ranch have stopped being productive. Lucky and Chase have married, and Sage has just graduated from the University of Texas. She is “almost” engaged to a predictable, wimpy son of a millionaire family. They part ways early on, and she is escorted home from his family’s Dallas Christmas party by a grungy stranger. He explains that her brothers have sent him to “fetch” her, and she is furious. She can’t help noticing, though, that he is attractive, despite his rickety farm truck and wrinkled clothes. Grudgingly, she also notes that his tight fitting jeans reveal an awesome butt. Pure Sandra Brown.
Thus begins a battle of wills, pursuit of a novel way to resurrect the ranch, and interludes of adventure, discovery—and sex. Harlan, the handsome cowboy, is not what he seems. Together he and Sage form an uneasy alliance. Both need to learn to trust. Together it will be up to them to rescue the ranch.
Sit by the fire with a glass of wine (or a mug of beer), enjoy, and hope for a happy ending.
(Thank you, Millie)
TUESDAYS WITH STORY
2ND AND 4TH
January 25, 2011
Andrea Kirchman, “Special Delivery.” The group loved her piece. Kim liked the names used. Andrea wondered if we can still use the term “turn-of-the-century” when describing early 20th century houses. The group discussed the question, but no true conclusion came of it. One member suggested that it would be a good idea to specify the type of sedan the woman drove. Holly asked if the story was real. Andrea responded that it was based on real people. Everyone wanted to read more which was a very good sign. (more…)
Tuesdays with Story 