The Double Cross: 1 (The Spanish Brand Series) - Softcover

"Carla Kelly's vivid storytelling plunges the reader into a tense, hypnotic tale of love and courage in "The Double Cross". A dangerous land filled with memorable characters springs to life and stays with you long after the final paragraphs. I couldn't put it down! A wonderful start to what will surely be a superb series."--Diane Far, bestselling author, Regency Romance and Young Adult fiction

"It is always a joy to read a Carla Kelly love story. Always original, always superb, Ms. Kelly's body of work is timeless delight." --Romantic Times"You remember exactly where you were for all of the important moments in your life. Your first kiss. Your first Dove Bar. And your first Carla Kelly book."--The Romance Reader

"You remember exactly where you were for all of the important moments in your life. Your first kiss. Your first Dove Bar. And your first Carla Kelly book."
-The Romance Reader

"Kelly has the rare ability to create realistic yet sympathetic characters that linger in the mind. One of the most respected Regency writers."
-Library Journal

The first in Carla Kelly's new Spanish Brand series, The Double Cross is a late-eighteenth-century story set in the Comancheria region of the American frontier that encompasses a large part of both Texas and New Mexico. Don Marco Mondragon, a widower and juez de campo (rancher and brand inspector), is about to meet his unlikely future bride in the form of Paloma Vega, a downtrodden but spunky young woman working as an unpaid servant in her uncle's home. Marco and Paloma are brought together by, of all things, a small yellow dog that has brought a bit of sunlight to Paloma's dreary life, a dog which Marco purchases from her with the excuse of needing something to warm his feet. Thankful for the money, Paloma agrees to part with the dog but is nonetheless saddened by the loss of her only comfort. A local priest with good intentions schemes to unite man, woman, and dog but is met with obstacles along the way.
The reader eventually discovers that "The Double Cross" does not refer to a plan gone wrong but, rather, is the nickname of Don Marco's own cattle brand. Kelly skillfully invites readers to share in this romantic adventure that is played out amidst scenes depicting the harsh landscapes and living conditions on the frontier--all punctuated with an assortment of unsavory characters pitted against the heroic.
-Patricia Morrow, Foreword Magazine"

"Engaging and highly entertaining, "The Double Cross" is Carla Kelly at her best."
-Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author of "Saint's Gate."

"You remember exactly where you were for all of the important moments in your life. Your first kiss. Your first Dove Bar. And your first Carla Kelly book."

--The Romance Reader

"Kelly has the rare ability to create realistic yet sympathetic characters that linger in the mind. One of the most respected Regency writers."

--Library Journal

The first in Carla Kelly's new Spanish Brand series, The Double Cross is a late-eighteenth-century story set in the Comancheria region of the American frontier that encompasses a large part of both Texas and New Mexico. Don Marco Mondragon, a widower and juez de campo (rancher and brand inspector), is about to meet his unlikely future bride in the form of Paloma Vega, a downtrodden but spunky young woman working as an unpaid servant in her uncle's home. Marco and Paloma are brought together by, of all things, a small yellow dog that has brought a bit of sunlight to Paloma's dreary life, a dog which Marco purchases from her with the excuse of needing something to warm his feet. Thankful for the money, Paloma agrees to part with the dog but is nonetheless saddened by the loss of her only comfort. A local priest with good intentions schemes to unite man, woman, and dog but is met with obstacles along the way.

The reader eventually discovers that "The Double Cross" does not refer to a plan gone wrong but, rather, is the nickname of Don Marco's own cattle brand. Kelly skillfully invites readers to share in this romantic adventure that is played out amidst scenes depicting the harsh landscapes and living conditions on the frontier--all punctuated with an assortment of unsavory characters pitted against the heroic.

--Patricia Morrow, "Foreword Magazine""

"Engaging and highly entertaining, "The Double Cross" is Carla Kelly at her best."

--Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author of "Saint's Gate."

The year is 1780, and Marco Mondragón is a brand inspector in the royal Spanish colony of New Mexico. A widower and rancher, Marco lives on the edge of Comanchería, the domain of the fierce Comanche. Each autumn, he takes cattle and wool, and his district’s records of livestock transactions to the governor in Santa Fe.  He is dedicated, conscientious and lonely. This year, he is looking for a little dog to keep his feet warm through cold winter nights. He finds a yellow dog but also meets a young, blue-eyed beauty named Paloma Vega. Paloma is under the thumb of relatives who might have stolen a brand belonging to Paloma’s parents, dead in a Comanche raid. As a brand inspector, Marco has every right to be suspicious of brand thieves. If Marco has anything to do with it, Paloma’s fortunes are about to change. Meanwhile, Marco has other challenges to contend with. An elderly ranchero named Joaquin Muñoz has set in motion events that involve the ever-dangerous Comanches and threaten the uneasy peace of Marco’s jurisdiction. Set against the mountains and high plains of northeastern New Mexico during the decline of Spanish power in the New World, The Double Cross is a story of loss and love regained, at a time when honor went hand in glove with bravery, and danger was never far away.