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    Branded
    Branded
    Branded
    Audiobook8 hours

    Branded

    Written by Laura Wright

    Narrated by Kaleo Griffith

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    When the Cavanaugh brothers return home for their father's funeral, they discover unexpected evidence of the old man's surprising double life-a son named Blue, who wants the Triple C Ranch as much as they do. The eldest son, Deacon, a wealthy businessman who couldn't wait to leave the ranch and move on with his life, is looking to use his powerful connections to stop Blue at any cost. He never expected the ranch's forewoman, Mackenzie Byrd, to get in his way.

    Mac knows Deacon means to destroy the ranch and therefore destroy her livelihood. But as the two battle for control, their attraction builds. Now Deacon is faced with the choice of a lifetime: Take down the Triple C to feed his need for revenge, or embrace the love of the one person who has broken down every barrier to his heart.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 3, 2014
    ISBN9781494570644
    Branded
    Author

    Laura Wright

    Laura has spent most of her life immersed in the worlds of acting, singing, and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she'd found the true desire of her heart! Although born and raised in Minneapolis, Minn., Laura has also lived in New York, Milwaukee, and Columbus, Ohio. Currently, she is happy to have set down her bags and made Los Angeles her home. And a blissful home it is - one that she shares with her theatrical production manager husband, Daniel, and three spoiled dogs. During those few hours of downtime from her beloved writing, Laura enjoys going to art galleries and movies, cooking for her hubby, walking in the woods, lazing around lakes, puttering in the kitchen, and frolicking with her animals.

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    Reviews for Branded

    4/5

    28 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Branded
      4 Stars

      After the death of their father, Deacon Cavanaugh and his brothers return home to the Triple C ranch with one goal - to destroy the ranch and their father's legacy. But Deacon's determination is tested when the ranch foreman, Mackenzie Byrd, challenges him at every turn, and soon he will have to choose between his obsession for revenge and a future with the woman he cannot live without.

      While Deacon and Mac have strong chemistry, their backstory is underdeveloped, and their romance has little going for it other than insta-lust. Aside from mentioning Mac's girlish crush and Deacon's annoyance at her friendship with his sister, Cass, there are few details of their past acquaintance. Moreover, the transition of their relationship from opponents to soulmates is sudden and unrealistic, as is Deacon's decision with regard to the ranch at the end.

      That said, the rest of the plot elements are much more intriguing. In addition to the kernels of a murder mystery, there are also snippets focusing on the lives of Deacon's brothers, all of whom have problems and secrets of their own. It will be interesting to see where the author takes these characters.

      In sum, despite the shortcomings of the romance, Branded is a well-written and entertaining read and the mystery has definite possibilities.

    • 4/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      The premise of this steamy story was pretty good but it moved kind of slow and I skimmed a lot. The hero was either angry or having sex. I didn't feel the build up of the relationship rather everything just happened at the end. Deacon wants to demolish family home after his father dies but ranch forewoman Mac fights him on it.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Deacon Cavanaugh will do anything to destroy the Triple C Ranch. Mackenzie Byrd will do anything to stop him. Add in a sizzling attraction to each other, and that makes matters extremely complicated.Opening Sentence: Today it took five dollars to get the cowboys to look the other way when Mac and I saddled up one of Daddy’s prize cow horses.The Review:This book was just what I needed, as I’ve been going through a bit of a reading slump lately. I do find it funny that a book I normally wouldn’t have picked up (I’m not always a huge contemporary romance fan) is the one that pulls me out of my slump. I’m incredibly grateful for it though!Growing up, the Cavanaugh brothers had a great life on their father’s ranch. That all changed when their 13-year-old sister went missing and was later found murdered. Life on the ranch changed, and it was no longer a place any of them felt safe or loved. All three brothers left as soon as they were able and never looked back. Since then, Deacon Cavanaugh has made himself into a very successful businessman. What he wants more than anything is to tear down the Triple C Ranch and move on with his life. He’s made numerous offers to buy the Triple C, all of which have been refused. When his father dies, Deacon sees his chance. What he doesn’t foresee is the fight he will have on his hands with the ranch’s foreman, Mac. Mac was his sister’s best friend and cannot understand the hatred Deacon holds for his father and his ranch. She will everything in her power to stop Deacon’s plan from going forward. Who will win in this battle of wills? Will Deacon and Mac’s burgeoning romance be able to withstand the fallout?The book is told mainly from Deacon and Mac’s perspectives, although we do get a couple scenes with the other Cavanaugh brothers as well as Deacon’s assistant. Spending so much time in the heads of our hero and heroine really helped me forge a connection to the two characters, although I felt more connected to Mac. In the first part of the book, Deacon comes off as a bit of a jerk, making it very hard to like him at first. Thankfully, this changes once the romance really takes off. Mac, on the other hand, is likable from the start. She’s incredibly strong and doesn’t need a man to make her life complete. At the same time, she’s not afraid to open up and make herself vulnerable. She’s just very easy to identify with.While I will say the romance did seem to move a little quickly, it honestly didn’t bother me too much. I think this is due to the fact that the chemistry between Deacon and Mac is just perfect. You could practically see the sparks and steam come off the pages. That chemistry greatly made up for any rushing of the romance that occurred.This was an incredibly enjoyable, quick read. I think fans of contemporary romance will be greatly pleased and those that aren’t normally into this type of book will be pleasantly surprised. I know I was!Notable Scene:“Everett Cavanaugh was good to this town,” he said in a deep, controlled voice. “No question about it. His success shows in every building, every business, and every home. But his failures were just as impactful. And like his successes, they shouldn’t go unobserved.”Beside Mac, Elena gave a tiny gasp. The rest of the room, however, fell silent and still. Clearly captivated by Deacon Cavanaugh’s audacity. Even the members of the congregation with fans held them aloft and immobile.“A town can be built on the destruction of others,” he said, his voice near to ice now. “But that kind of foundation ain’t strong. It won’t last. It can’t. I won’t allow it.”Without warning, his eyes dropped to the front row, hitting Mac with a dark, quizzical look that turned her insides lava. Will you be the one who gets in my way now? he seemed to be asking.Damn right, she wanted to shout back at him. But she had no voice. No goddamn voice. Staring up at him, she felt as if she were completely alone–on the bench and inside the church. She felt like a prisoner to his stare and that if he wanted to take something from her, not only would she let him, but she might just be inclined to fall to her knees when she handed it over.After a few long seconds, he pulled his gaze from hers and settled it back on the crowd again. As Mac regained her mind and chastised herself for shrinking under the weight of that intense look, Deacon continued with his backward eulogizing, undaunted.“Today you buy Everett Cavanaugh,” he said tersely. “Tomorrow I bury everything he’s ever worked for.”FTC Advisory: Signet/Penguin provided me with a copy of Branded. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Alluring Angel - Kathy:*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest reviewBranded, the first book in Laura Wright’s new series, The Cavanaugh Brothers, is a keeper. The emotions are intense, the sexual steam is sizzling hot, and the storyline never lags. Branded features the eldest of the Cavanaugh brothers, Deacon. And the one thing that this urban businessman wants is to destroy the ranch that he grew up on. The land and everything on it are reminders of an unsolved murder, betrayals, and old family secrets. Mackenzie is the foreman of the Triple C Ranch, and she will do what ever she can to stop the destruction of the place that she loves and calls home. Deacon and Mac clash something fierce, but the attraction that they both feel can’t be denied. The dialog in Branded is smart and realistic. The sex will have you fanning yourself. I can’t wait to read the next in this series. The remaining Cavanaugh brothers, Cole, James and Blue, are men that I’ve just got to know better.