Identical twin brothers-stained by an unjust scandal and separated by miles of wilderness~ Two young beauties in jeopardy~Will they learn to trust before it’s too late?Outcast from his home town New Orleans, Johnny McKuen has taken refuge in Mexican Texas in 1827. He’s still reeling from the aftermath of an engagement gone terribly wrong but trying to build a new life on the frontier. Out of the … Out of the blue, a friend he considers nearly a brother arrives with Johnny’s neighbor, bleeding and mortally wounded. As he breathes his last, he entrusts his wife to Johnny, a man of honor.
Near to giving birth to another child, the new widow Angel slumps against the bed, her head on her husband’s hand. Her world crumbles. How is she to care for a farm and her children with the birth of a child imminent? And who shot her husband and started to scalp him like a Comanche would? Nothing makes sense.
Keeping the family plantation Beau Rivage going, Callum McKuen alone faces the rejection by New Orleans society.When will his father return from a sojourn East? When will he see his beloved brother again? Has his family abandoned him? Don’t they realize that it’s not just the scandal? Forces resentful of their anti-slavery stand are at work to destroy their livelihood.
On a rare visit to the French Quarter, Callum meets Minette, a lovely young woman who hides her beauty beneath layers of clothing and a hat and scarf. Why isn’t she displaying her beauty in order to find a husband?
Minette also lives under a cloud of unjust scandal. This makes her a target for an unscrupulous man of bad reputation who wants her as his mistress. As the only provider for her grandfather and little sister, she soldiers on even as the scoundrel becomes relentless. Who will free her from this threat?
The twins face these challenges as the gentlemen they were raised to be. Who killed Angel’s husband and why? And how can Callum protect Minette if she won’t trust him? How and when will the twins be reunited? A compelling parallel story you don’t want to miss!
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Journey to Peace is a nice wrap up to a series that spans generations. It is definitely better enjoyed if you have read the previous stories, especially the book right before this one. However, the author does a good job of filling in some background information for those who haven’t read the other books.
I found the story lines for both Callum and Johnny to be equally compelling. I liked the way the author went back and forth between the stories, so that I was aware of what was going on and the tension and danger building in both locations.
I was happy to see how everything wrapped up in this final book, however, the last chapter and the epilogue both felt rushed toward the ending. I wanted to experience more emotion and attraction building between the brothers and their love interests. I would have been happy to have another chapter or two in order to spend more time on their happily-ever-afters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Johhny McKuen was caught up in a scandal that had him leaving New Orleans. He was given a large land grant in Texas. He was living a quiet, secluded life…along with the men who’d come with him from his dad’s plantation. When a man is attacked, and near death, Johnny promises him to protect the man’s family. He’s a man of his word.
Angel Boaz is close to giving birth to their third child. When tragedy hits, she is determined to stay strong for her children. She has some tough choices to make in a short time.
Callum McKuen is taking care of the plantation on his own. His twin has left the area. His older half-brother and his wife live in St. Louis. His father has gone back East to visit family. He’s left in New Orleans to handle the scandal, which hasn’t calmed down as they hoped it would.
Minette Charpentier is a beautiful young woman. Her mother’s lifestyle left a mark on their family, though. Now, it’s just her grandfather and her half-sister. Minette is doing her best to care for them, but with her mother’s past and her own beauty…danger is closing in.
This story follows the twin brothers and where life is leading them. And the two young women and their struggles. It is a well-told story. The author doesn’t paint everything nice and pretty…she adds a lot of real-life into it. I enjoy reading them, even if I might go through a few tissues.
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Lyn Cote, via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntary and honest review. I loved this exciting and final journey with twin brothers, Johnny and Callum, finding women to marry. Both their stories were full of adventure and it was great having them together in one book. I hate to have this series of the American Journey end. I highly recommend each of the books in this series, and I look forward to reading more books by this author. I have read about all her books and she is one of my favorite authors because she gives the reader so many different types of stories from historical to present day.
I enjoyed this end to a series very much. Ms. Cote has a great style of writing, engaging characters & a hint of mystery to her story. I received an ARC. This is my voluntary review.
Breathtaking, heart pounding and fast paced from the first paragraph. The danger and intrigue begin and involve murder and mystery. The possibility of moving on and learning to love again brings Angel to make serious decisions. Great read. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.