Book Review: End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

End of the Trail is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. 

Brooks Morgan left home 11 years earlier and is just too stubborn to return home.  In 1896 he pulls into the town of Shoofly to take refuge from a storm and befriends John Langston in the local cafe. A high stakes poker game ends with Brooks holding the deed to John’s ranch with one condition – Brooks must promise to take care of Keri. Brooks agrees, assuming that Keri is a horse.

Overcome by guilt, Brooks return to the cafe to give back the deed but finds John on the floor dead. Brooks heads off to take care of John’s ranch and is ambushed. With a noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back he offers a prayer up to God.  A stunning shot is delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback that breaks the noose and frees Brooks. But could this lady – Keri – be an enemy, too?

I had read one of the earlier books in this series – six by different authors revolving around the Morgan family. I enjoyed it but was a bit afraid that a different author would make it more difficult to like another book.

Fortunately, I worried needlessly.

This was an enjoyable historical romance. I loved Brooks. I loved Keri. I loved the prodigal son aspect of the story. Ms. McDonough created a cast of characters who stole my heart and raised my ire [appropriately ;)]. When power and land hungry men try to force Keri and Brooks off the land Brooks won from Keri’s uncle, Brooks finds a way to save them – at least for a time. But power hungry men rarely stop or let anything get in their way to get what they want.

Will they be able to stop them all together? What about Brooks’ family? And when Keri’s mother comes back and tells Keri the truth about where she came from and why Keri’s uncle took her away? Who will be able to forgive and move on?

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Ms. McDonough.

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

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