The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily (review & giveaway)

“Never underestimate me…”

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily is an exceptional what-if story that will leave readers reeling with the possibility of a land-that-time-forgot scenario in the immense West Texas landscape. Suspend your disbelief for just a little while and settle into this intriguing adventure.

What if an entire colony of people are living off the land in a remote cave system that is undetectable to outsiders? What if these people have lived there for generations, with no knowledge of any modern conveniences and no desire to be discovered or have their seemingly peaceful way of life disrupted? What if someone accidently stumbles upon these people? What if the modern world and its consequences reach these people anyway, despite the efforts of many to remain safely untouched?

Emma Rosales is the next heiress in line to the wealthy and unbelievably vast Thorn Ranch in West Texas, following in the footsteps of several generations of strong, independent daughters in the Rosales matriarchy. Emma grew up on the ranch and can outshoot, outride, and outdo pretty much any of the ranch hands, but when she rides off for a weekend of camping under the stars to clear her head about her future, fate intervenes and changes her life completely, both for better and for worse.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a tightly woven love story between a daughter and her parents, between a man and a woman, and between a family and a beautiful yet unforgiving land. While the reader has a front-row seat to several points of view and to the entire story as it unfolds, the literary air is still laden with mystery, heartache, uncertainty, and wonder. When Emma finds this hidden community called The People on her family’s land, the elder in charge, Chatpa, welcomes her into his home, but leaving is not an option because the community cannot risk the total intrusion of the outside world. Escape and then the possibility of Stockholm syndrome are top of mind for Emma as she forms a familial attachment to Chatpa and is chosen by his grandson Kai to be his wife. While both Chatpa and Kai are kind and honorable men, will that be enough for Emma to want to stop trying to break free and stay forever? What about her parents, Josie and John, back home, who are heartbroken at the disappearance if their only child? How far and to what lengths will Josie go to find her daughter? What about Emma’s destiny as the fifth daughter of Thorn Ranch? Will fate intervene once more?

The spectacular storyline in The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch has so many questions and what-ifs, but unwrapping many of the answers one by one is a true literary delight.

The pacing in The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is naturally quick because reaching the climax and resolution of such a unique plot is a priority. The characters, descriptions, and interactions, both at Thorn Ranch and at the hidden community in the West Texas caves, are well thought out and dazzling. The story has a high amount of drama throughout, keeping readers at their seat’s edge to the very end. An added bonus is the stark reminder of the dependence and sometimes obsession with modern technology, especially electronic entertainment and communication, in addition to the reminder of the often fiery courtship between ancient medical practices and modern healthcare advancements that preserve lives. Surviving each day by living off the land and off the grid represents either a bygone era or a doomsday prepper’s reality. Daily’s fiction perfectly encapsulates the best and the worst of both the connected and isolated worlds of two separate populations. If given the chance, where would you want to live? What if there is no middle ground? What if you can never go back or, if given the chance, are unable to decide? What if those who once welcomed you now reject you? What if, after a year, your family back home finally moves on without you? What if?

The ending chapters are a detonation of action, discovery, and revelations that you might not see coming.

Julia Brewer Daily delivers a story that will both entertain and alarm because in real life, West Texas is a singular, dangerous, and exquisite landscape, brimming with an ineffable allure that often ensnares the imagination of the traveler and the reader and never truly lets go.

Enter the giveaway below on or before November 11, 2022, for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card!

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.