I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have read the first and second books The Texas Trails and liked both, but this is my favorite so far! The action scenes were excellent in description and I felt like I was there in the battles. The moral of telling the truth that the story provided was very inspiring, Annie was faced with the choice to either run away from the town that had become her home or tell the truth and accept what the people thought of her, I loved her choice (!).
Riley was also an inspiring character. I have always liked reading stories about young men and women who served in any war and, although not overly detailed, Riley's slight mentioning of his life during his time serving in the war made the book even better!
Vickie McDonough also held my attention in the book with the subplots throughout the story!
"I received a copy of this book from Moody publishers in return for this review. All of the comments and opinions are my own."
As a young girl, Annie is forced by her father to steal becoming an expert pickpocket. When her father finally abandons her in Waco, TX, she comes across a school for the blind and decides to pretend to be blind to have the safety and love the children there know.
Fast forwarding a few years, Riley Morgan returns from the war to find his parents dead and his fiance married. Taking a job at the Wilcox School for the blind, he finds himself becoming more and more interested in the pretty, blind young woman that works there.
This is book #3 in the Morgan Family Series, a series which I am thoroughly enjoying reading. I like the characters and the story lines. However, this one dropped a star for trying to convince you that for all of these years, Annie has been able to fool everyone in town except the two women who work at the school. Incident after incident should have completely given it away, especially to Riley. That was just unbelievable. Over all, though, it was a good story that I enjoyed reading.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My daughter (12) and I are loving this series! Even though we are reading them all out of order so it is taking some figuring out, but I get them when and where I can. This book stood strong right along with the others. It has a troubled hero running from God and a confused, beautiful, young woman who bowls him over and helps bring him back to God even though she was the one searching. I gave this book only 4 stars because I found it too big of a stretch that a girl could fool a whole town AND the man she's falling in love with, into believing that she's blind for so many years. If she wore dark glasses...maybe. But she would look right at things, even his eyes once in a while and with a school full of blind kids he couldn't tell the difference? Other than that...4 thumbs up!!
Vickie McDonough in her new book, “Long Trail Home” Book Three in The Texas Trail Series published by River North Fiction Division of Moody Publishers takes us to Texas in 1865.
From the Back Cover: A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to Discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married.
Riley Morgan takes a job at the Wilcox School for Blind Children in an attempt for a new life after the Civil War. By helping the children and the pretty blind woman, Annie, he begins to find renewed hope. But everyone’s future at Wilcox School is disrupted when the owner dies suddenly and the school is in jeopardy of being closed by the man who stands to inherit it. Riley’s remaining confidence in the future is shaken when Annie’s secret is revealed and Riley attempts to make peace with God.
Doubt meets hope, and fear gives way to faith in the Morgan family.
“Long Trail Home” is another romance set against the backdrop of Texas. Vickie McDonough takes up the story of the Morgan family that was begun in the first book, “Lone Star Trail” and continued in “Captive Trail” (though you do not have to read those books to enjoy this one, but it helps). Me, I really like Westerns. I like what authors can do with them and Vickie McDonough really knows how to write a Western. A School For The Blind That Annie and Riley work at is going to be sold unless these two can do something. Doesn’t seem to sound like much but let me tell you this is an exciting book. In addition to being suspenseful it is also a romance. Then there is the theme of starting over and putting the past behind you which isn’t always easy, as in the case with Annie. There is also the theme of defending those that need defending. If you enjoy history like I do then this book is for you. Ms. McDonough really makes you feel the heat and the dust and the danger. Every one of her characters seem to come alive and it is like you are there at the School fighting for it along with Annie and Riley. “Long Trail Home” continues being all about families and relationships and that is what makes this book a winner. I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Wynn-Wynn Media for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Third in a series of Texas Trails stories of the early days in the State of Texas, "Long Trail Home" is the story of Riley Morgan returning from the War Between the States to his home only to find it devastated by an Indian raid and his family all dead and buried. Enter the scene a lovely blind young lady working in a home for blind children.
The story-line deals with the desperation of a young destitute and abandoned girl who finds what she needs in the home of a kind lady who schools and tends to the needs of a house full of blind children. The story-line also deals with the bitterness of a young man who has gone through the horrors of war only to come home to complete loss - family, home, and fiance.
The redemption of souls is always a beautiful story and in this book it takes on the beauty of redeeming grace and the grace of forgiveness.
Series connectivity: In Long Trail Home, book 3, Riley Morgan is a nephew of Jud Morgan and Billie Morgan from books 1 and 2 of the Texas Trails Series. Each of these books has a different author and yet the flow of the story or stories and styles merge so it would seem as though one author was writing. Character development is great in each of the books. Three more books in this series are on the horizon for 2012 release.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes by RiverNorthFiction, Moody Publishers. I was under no obligation to render a positive review and all comments are my own opinion. This review is also on my blog: http:ChatWithVera.blogspot.com and http://GoodReads.com
In her usual style of fine writing, Vickie McDonough once again comes out with another winner. I love Vickie's style of writing. The characters are well developed and she delves deep into what makes them tick. She touches on sensitive issues and handles them with the grace. It's a moving story that keeps you pulling for both the hero and heroine to be able to overcome the obstacles in their lives and the issues that keep them apart. I highly recommend Long Trail Home.
Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough Book 3 of A Morgan Family Series
Riley Morgan is a nephew to Jud Morgan & Billie Morgan from book 1 & 2. His father, Calder had moved the family from Victoria area to Waco. When Riley's little brother, Timothy had died he took off and joined the army. Four years later he is heading home. When he reaches the family ranch he realizes life will not be the same ever again, bad things had happened while he was gone. When he goes to see his fiance he finds she had married as someone else. Tired, worn and smelly he goes and asks if he can help repair some fences and such at the Wilcox School for the Blind in exchange for food. Laura Wilcox offers him room and board in the barn if he will stay on and help. Many of the ex-soldiers had turned to raiding homes and it would be good for them to have a man around. So Riley stays.
Annie Sheffield had a new life for the past seven years, the only problem was she had to pretend to be blind. As a youngster her father took her from town to town. They earned their food by stealing. In Waco that first night he pushed her to steal a watch from a young man. She had heard a street preacher a few months back say stealing was a sin and she no longer wanted to do it, and this watch was special to the young man. But if she wanted to eat and not get her pa angered, she would do it. After stealing the watch and hiding out for a night, Annie discovered her pa had left her. That was when she saw the kids at the school were all fed, clean and dressed well. Laura knew she could see but the rules to live in the home were only blind children. When Riley came into the picture it changed Annie's life. She could not do many of the chores she had done without him noticing she was not blind. But he stayed on.
Laura also has a story. At thirty-four she is still single. The man she loved years ago made her choose between him or the school. She felt a strong calling to start the school and help the children to learn to live the best they could with their blindness. Sean Murphy was a blacksmith in town and Laura would see him at church but they never spoke. After all those years could a spark remain between them?
This story also shows how capable people can be even with a disability. Instead of being coddled and useless these children in the school are taught to do chores and live a life as normal as possible.
These first three books of this series are all so well written. They flow together as if there is one author. And they don't shy away from real life. There is death and diseases. Good and bad people. Love and hate. War and peace. There will be three more books coming out in 2012 by these same three authors.