This book comes sixth in the series called  Lone Star Justice but new readers will find it stands well alone. A romance isn’t usually titled LONE STAR STANDOFF but the romantic suspense label fits.

Our tale begins in Texas of course, and this is where District Judge Aubrey Madison sits in court, just doing her job. She would rather be at home with her young twins, but after her husband was murdered two years previously, she needed to return to work. However, she’s about to hear a major case – a drug cartel member is charged with murder. His criminal associates start trying to intimidate her, and extra security is required.

Texas Ranger Sean McNair responds immediately – with a long history of trying to arrest and jail cartel members, he is determined that Bento Villa is going to face justice. He also wants to protect Aubrey, admiring the lady, though he doesn’t meet her often. Before long the intimidation escalates and this appears to be tied in to the death of Aubrey’s husband.

I found so many people telling us at the start how their relatives were killed by drug gangs, that the characters are in danger of pursuing gang members on a personal revenge basis rather than as lawgivers. My admittedly outside understanding is that drug dealers normally kill drug dealers. If Texas was this full of law abiding people being murdered by gangs, wouldn’t more than three Texas Rangers be assigned? I also found a situation which I’ve seen in many stories, where people working in the justice system only ever meet other justice employees, so the twins and their grandmother make a nice change to the grim sheriff’s office staff.

At one point, Aubrey realises that she is still holding on to anger against her husband for putting his life in danger. Widowed people can be conflicted in this way – sorting and clearing the possessions helps clear her emotions and thoughts. She starts to have feelings for the brave, determined Sean McNair, who continually helps and protects her family. But she can’t risk falling for another man in the same dangerous job. LONE STAR STANDOFF is a surprisingly dark novel as Margaret Daley piles on the pressures and shootings. Anyone who enjoys suspense stories will get their money’s worth, and there’s always the possibility of love developing.