Book Review: The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch
THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH
by
Julia Brewer Daily
Women's Fiction / Contemporary Western / Family Saga
Publisher: Admission Press
Pages: 322 pages
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
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Emma Rosales is the heiress of the largest ranch in Texas—The Thorn. All the responsibilities of managing a million acres now fall into her fifth-generation hands.
A task Emma could handle with her eyes closed…if The Thorn were any ordinary property.
The Thorn is home to many things. Clear, cloudless skies. Miles of desert scrub and craggy mountains. A quiet disrupted only by whispers of the wind. And an ancient web of secrets won’t let Emma out alive without a fight.
The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a family saga as large as the state of Texas.
First off, I was so excited when I saw that Julia Daily had a new book out. I read and reviewed her first book, No Names to Be Given, and was immediately sucked into her story and characters. After reading her newest book, The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch, I am happy to report that our author didn't falter on this one.
I want to take a minute to dive into the storyline. I feel like at times, we can keep reading the same thing over and over again, just maybe slightly tweaked and turned. We can see this with Disney pumping out stories "reimagined" but are the exact same thing from 30 years ago, just with real-life people, or CGI. It's been a little depressing lately on originality, but our author has done a good job of giving us a story that's out of the ordinary. Can you imagine owning, acres upon acres of land and getting lost and somehow stumbling into an old tribe that's been living there for years? Now I can because Daily gives us this story that's unique and riveting. As cliche as this might sound, it's a breath of fresh air.
"The hot pie in her hand matched the heat radiating from her face."
The plot isn't the only thing to rave about. This story holds some strong female leads that we don't always get in stories. Our main character, Emma, is a spunky young woman who knows her worth and is determined to do anything once her mind is put to it. Emma had to get her independent spirit from somewhere, and that is her mother, Josie. Josie is portrayed as a strong and tough mother, along with her mother, Victoria. I found it interesting that while the women are all portrayed as strong and independent, half of our male cast is shown as soft and gentle in comparison. It's nice to see both sides of the coin in a story that's set on a Texas ranch.
I'm also going to shout out to the ending of this book. Our author could have ended it one way where it's closed with a pretty bow tie on top but chose to go with the more realistic approach, which I appreciate. It does have an ending perfect for a second book, but if we'll ever get one, we'll have to wait and see.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story about The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch. It's a great story, with equally compelling characters. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend you put it on your bookshelf. Until next time, happy reading!
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
“A delight to read.” --Theresa Kadair, Seattle Book Review
"Julia Daily builds a captivating world by letting her imagination lead the way. The result? A unique story that’s a little Wild West, a little old Mexico, a little ancient history, and a lot rebellious”
--Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
“A novel that combines mystery, suspense, adventure, and a romance that neither hardships nor time can erase between the main characters.” --Debra Holt, award-winning, multi-published Texas author of series such as The Tremaynes of Texas and The Lawmen Series.
"A dignified, passionate, and layered tale in a rugged yet picturesque landscape... This book testifies to the rewards of fighting for enduring connections between family members and home."
--RECOMMENDED, The US Review of Books
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Julia Brewer Daily is a Texan with a southern accent. She holds a B.S. in English and a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.
She has been a Communications Adjunct Professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and Public Relations Director of the Mississippi Department of Education and Millsaps College, a liberal arts college in Jackson, MS.
She was the founding director of the Greater Belhaven Market, a producers’ only market in a historic neighborhood in Jackson, and even shadowed Martha Stewart.
As the Executive Director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi (300 artisans from 19 states) which operates the Mississippi Craft Center, she wrote their stories to introduce them to the public.
She is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas, the Women Fiction Writers’ Association, Women Writing the West, and the Pulpwood Queens Book Club.
A lifelong southerner, she now resides on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, with her husband Emmerson and Labrador retrievers, Memphis Belle and Texas Star.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER:
Receives a $100 Amazon or Bookshop Gift Card
(U.S. only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/11/22.)
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11/01/22 |
Bonus Promo |
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11/01/22 |
Review |
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11/02/22 |
Notable Quotables |
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11/02/22 |
Review |
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11/03/22 |
Review |
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11/04/22 |
Author Video |
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11/04/22 |
Review |
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11/05/22 |
Review |
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11/06/22 |
Scrapbook Page |
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11/07/22 |
Excerpt |
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11/07/22 |
Review |
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11/08/22 |
Character Interview |
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11/09/22 |
Review |
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11/09/22 |
Review |
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11/10/22 |
Review |
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11/10/22 |
Review |
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Love this review, and you know, sometimes "a breath of fresh air" is EXACTLY the right description. I can't wait to read this one (with my ears! it's now on audio!)
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