Synopses & Reviews
<P>Brooks Morgan left home 11 years earlier and is just too stubborn to return home. In 1896 he pulls into the town of Shoofly, and takes refuge from a storm where he befriends John Langston in the local cafe. One evening a high stakes poker game ends with Brooks holding the deed to Johnny's ranch - under one condition - Brooks must promise to take care of Keri. Brooks agrees assuming Keri is his horse. </P> <P>Overcome by guilt Brooks returns with the intention of returning the deed to Raven Creek Ranch but finds John on the floor dead from an apparent suicide. After graduating finishing school, Keri Langston can think of nothing better than returning to her home, pulling on a pair of overalls, and riding the range of Raven Creek Ranch. She arrives at Shoofly to discover that the ranch she expected to inherit was lost in a card game by her uncle and that he committed suicide because of it. </P> <P>Brooks heads off to the ranch and is ambushed by three men. With a noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back he offers the first prayer up to God that he hasn't spoken to in a very long time. A stunning shot breaks the rope and he is freed by a bullet delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback. Keri can't believe that she just saved the man she really wants to kill - the scoundrel who stole her uncle's ranch. They exchange words. Brooks says he isn't leaving the ranch. Keri says he can't stay, the property was intended for her. </P> <P>Can they learn to work together to save the ranch or will they pull it apart out of selfish greed? </P>
Review
"e;What a truly wonderful book! Brooks Morgan is the ultimate slightly-flawed hero with a cocky grin that’s bound to make any female reader fall in love. After a decade of drifting and learning life’s lessons the hard way, Brooks wins a ranch in a poker game. Trouble is, feisty Keri Langston thinks Raven Creek Ranch belongs to her. If she’d known Brooks Morgan held the deed to her property, she might have left him hanging on the end of the rope she found him on, instead of shooting him free and saving his sorry life.But she didn’t know. She did shoot him free. And now he’s a way-too-happy, far-too-handsome thorn in her side.The End of the Trail is a hilarious, heart-rending, soul-searching rollercoaster ride. I loved it, and didn’t want the ride to end. But then, I always love McDonough’s work. This author presents stellar writing; wonderful, unexpected humorous moments; touching, heart-wrenching situations that make it hard to know who to root for; and consistently riveting storylines.I dare you to read this book and not smile! Thing is, you will smile…and get a little weepy…and gasp in surprise a few times, as well. End of the Trail really is that good."e; -- Review by Vickie McDonough
"e;Because the Morgan Family Series has several authors, there is a great deal of difference in the quality of the various reads even though characters remain consistent. In End of the Trail writer Vickie McDonough does a better than average job of producing a work that is readable, entertaining, and consistent with the feel of the series as a whole. Her research is woven naturally into the plot and character details without the excessive insertion of archaic terms or extraneous facts that seem to plague other historical novels.
I would recommend End of the Trail to anyone looking for a light summer read. It's a good book to take on vacation or trip to the beach andhas the rare quality of incorporating Christian culture and views without giving the impression they were tacked on to please the publisher."e; -- Review by Elizabeth Baker, www.ElizabethBakerBooks.com
"e;Vickie McDonough is a favorite local author (I have lots of favorite authors), and her humor shines through in spite of some serious subjects. I doubt that anyone will be surprised when the boy finally gets the girl. If you like historical novels, especially set in West Texas, or are already a fan of Vickie McDonough, you should enjoy this book."e; -- Review by Cathy Bickerstaff, Tulsa Beacon, 8/1/12
Synopsis
<P>In 1896 Brooks 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 and assumes that Keri is a horse. <BR></P><P>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. </P><P>A stunning shot breaks the rope and frees Brooks. The bullet is delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback. It's Keri and she is dumbfounded having fired the shot that saved the scoundrel who stole her uncle John's ranch. Will Keri and Brooks put aside their differences and work together to save the ranch?</P>
Synopsis
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?
Synopsis
He enters a poker game and wins a new life
She loses the only home she has ever known
Two hostile adversaries are forced to work together
In 1896 Brooks Morgan pulls into the town of Shoofly, Texas, to take refuge from a storm. He befriends Will Langston in the local café and agrees to help him out in exchange for room and board. A high stakes poker game ends in Brooks holding the deed to Will’s ranch with a promise to “take care of Keri.” His joy is short-lived, for when he returns home he finds Will dead – murdered.
When Brooks finally rides to Raven Creek Ranch, he is greeted by a rifle pointed straight at his chest. The same woman who came to his rescue earlier is now ready to shoot him. This is the “Keri” he promised to take care of—Will’s niece—who believes Raven Creek is her inheritance. Keri and Brooks have only one thing in common – they both want to protect the ranch. Is this really God's plan to save Raven Creek Ranch? Or did Will stage the whole fiasco?
About the Author
VICKIE MCDONOUGH is the author of over twenty books including the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series. Vickie¿s books have won the Inspirational Reader¿s Choice Contest, Texas Gold, and the ACFW Noble Theme contest. Vickie lives in Oklahoma and is a wife of 35 years. She has 4 grown sons and one granddaughter. Visit Vickie¿s website: www.vickiemcdonough.com.