Spoil Free Review Rating: 3 Stars - Liked It Genre: Contemporary Romance Heat: Hot - Fan Yourself Source: Bought Delicious cover and an interesting synopsis, start of a new series with brothers made me a happy girl. But for me Deacon and Mac story was not all there for me. Loved Mac backbone when it came to protecting the ranch from Deacon. After discovering Deacon's shocking secrets I get why he did not want to keep the ranch. I wanted to feel more of Deacon's anger when it came to his past. Mac has loved Deacon since they were kids and was not always feeling their connection. I liked the mystery of Deacon's sister. Since readers did not get a whole lot of her in Branded, I am assuming with each novel will get more. I wish there was a little bit more in Branded. I do not know what it is but I feel like Branded is missing something. For me the novel and everyone seemed to have the same tone except for Mac. I feel Branded is a decent start to a new series. Got my attention enough to continue the series as I am curious about the brothers and of course need to know more on their sister.

Mackenzie Byrd has been foreman at the Triple C ranch for years, but now that Everett Cavanaugh has died, her position and her life seem less certain. Deacon Cavanaugh harbors a hatred for his father which has fueled his desire to destroy the ranch that is the root of the pain that has infected himself and his brothers since their sister, Cass, was abducted and killed. Now that his father is dead, Deacon has the chance to bulldoze the ranch and his torment along with it. Mac mourned the loss of her best friend, Cass, but has managed to move on with her life. Mac's crush on Deacon eased when he left, and she remained on the land and with the people that she cared about. Now Mac and Deacon are at odds and battling over the fate of the ranch, while at the same time, they battle the attraction that they have for one another. Branded is a well-written western romance with a depth of emotion charged by revelations from both the past and present. However, a story line involving a business takeover, reminiscent of Pretty Woman, seems to have a fairly weak resolution. Also, the romance between Mac and Deacon intensifies almost too quickly but can be explained by their history and feelings they shared from their past. The mystery of Cass's death seems to be a thread that will run through the entire series as a few clues including entries from her diary are revealed throughout this book. Overall, this is a good story with likable characters, lots of conflict, and profound emotion, making it an enjoyable read and hard to put down.