Rand Sinclair sold his bar, Lily of the West, in Battle Creek, Texas and invested his money in the Last Hope Ranch, which needs a lot of time, energy and money poured into it. Rand has two foster brothers, Cooper and Brett, who are much closer than blood brothers, and they have all settled in this area. Cooper Thorne is the sheriff and he and his wife Delta own Long Odds Ranch; Brett Liberty, a Native American, owns the Wild Horse Ranch. Rand's mother abandoned him when he was five; she is now a wealthy woman and wants back in her son's life. Rand is having a very hard time accepting his mother or the gifts she wants to bestow on her only child.

Callie Quinn and her six-year-old nephew, Toby, are running from Nate Fleming, one of the Most Wanted outlaws in the area. When Callie's twin sister Claire died, she begged Callie to get Toby away before Nate taught him the family trade of being all things bad. Callie has made it from Kansas City to Last Hope Ranch, and she and Toby are staying one jump ahead of Nate. They are out of food and warm clothes, and have been staying in one of the ranch's bunk houses. When Rand finds his trespassers, he treats them with a gentle hand so they won't run from him. Callie is reluctant to accept charity from him, so he offers her a job as his cook and housekeeper. Rand gives his solemn word he will never harm her or Toby, and settles her in a room off of the kitchen. Rand has no idea that Callie grew up inside this house, and that she has come back to find a treasure her late mother said was hidden here.

TWICE A TEXAS BRIDE is a well written, evenly paced, feel good yarn with all the requisite ingredients -- tough cowboys that are gentle lovers; strong independent woman, precious child, cute dog; and a really nasty villain. Rand and Callie are definitely soul mates that have found each other, and share a beautiful relationship. Linda Broday is spot- on with her setting, story lines, and superbly drawn characters. TWICE A TEXAS BRIDE is pure enjoyment.