In Arizona’s desert, a girl who needs her father, a woman who needs forgiveness, and a war hero who needs healing form a family: “Touching . . . well-written” (Publishers Weekly). Before he left for Afghanistan, Jake O’Reilly had everything—a beautiful wife, a baby on the way, a wonderful life. Three years later, his wife is dead and he is so haunted by his memories of war that he can’t bring … war that he can’t bring himself to go home. But when his wife’s grandfather tracks him down and persuades him to come work on his ranch, where Jake’s daughter is living, he agrees—even though he is reluctant to expose his little girl to the man he’s become.
At Flying Cloud Ranch, his daughter doesn’t even recognize this brooding stranger. But the beauty of the ranch and the immediate connection Jake feels with his wife’s cousin Kira slowly begins to heal his wounds. Though he doesn’t want any complications, he finds himself impossibly drawn to the tough woman who runs a horse therapy program for troubled teens. And as they each begin to imagine a new future, they discover that happily ever after is always within reach—if only you are willing to open your heart . . .
PRAISE FOR NEW YORK TIMES–BESTSELLING AUTHOR JANET DAILEY and her novels
“Big, bold, and sexy . . . Janet Dailey at her best!” —Kat Martin on Texas True
“Dailey fans will be delighted by Texas True. The gallant and charming Tyler brothers won’t soon be forgotten.” —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Dailey confirms her place as a top mega-seller.” —Kirkus Reviews
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Fast moving story with great characters
A glimpse into the world of PTSD, our veterans and the families who love them. Excellent reading – not too heavy, but pretty realistic.
love Janet’s writing.
I enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down thill I finished great read especially if you like Cowboys and Cowgirls which I do .
Always a good read by Janet Dailey. Kira and Jake have a powerful story and so a part of our world today. Lots if love and lessons in this story.
Great book
A deeply moving story of a broken man’s search for redemption and love. FIVE HEARTWARMING STARS.
Janet Dailey infuses her stories with depth and compassion, bringing her characters to life as they face various challenges. The hero of this story (Jake) is a former Army Ranger who suffers from severe PTSD after serving three tours in Afghanistan. I learned a great deal about PTSD through Jake: his episodes of fear and panic, nightmares and flashbacks of combat experiences, emotional and sometimes violent outbursts, overwhelming guilt, and suicidal thoughts.
Jake returns from the war a broken man, working at menial jobs, getting into fights, and unable to maintain close relationships. When his late wife’s grandfather (Dusty) bails him out of jail, Jake agrees to work as a maintenance man on Dusty’s Arizona ranch to repay him for the bail money. Sounds simple, right? But there’s a problem. Two, in fact. Our heroine (Kira), the cousin of Jake’s dead wife, lives at the ranch, where she runs a horse therapy program for troubled teens. And she’s raising Jake’s five-year-old daughter (Paige), a child who’s never known her father.
Determined to leave after he pays his debt, Jake refuses to tell Paige that he’s her father, fearing she’ll be hurt when he goes. And he resists falling in love with Kira, afraid his problems will doom their relationship. “To be here, with his little girl and a woman to love, would be his idea of heaven. But could he make that heaven last? Could he find the strength to control the horrors in his head–the nightmares, the rages and the awful black bouts of depression?” He decides to try. Will he succeed? Read this book to find out.
I loved the characters in this novel: Dusty, an old cowboy with a deep understanding of human nature; Kira, a strong, self-confident woman who opens her heart to a broken man; little Paige, a child who’s wise beyond her years; the troubled teens, who gradually form healing bonds with their horses and each other; and Jake, who struggles to reach beyond his pain to find healing and happiness with the woman he loves.
This novel has everything I’ve come to expect from Janet Dailey; immersive scenery, memorable characters, a gripping plot, tension that builds to a dramatic conclusion, and a satisfying HEA. As always, kudos for professional proofreading, no explicit sex scenes, and limited profanity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I’ve been a Janet Dailey fan since the late ’70s, so reading this book was like coming home to an old friend. This was more than a love story, it was an inspirational tale that addressed very real issues in our modern-day society. Kira’s character owns her tough, no-nonsense role as she runs a horse therapy program and Jake is a broken soldier with PTSD. How these two heal each other and the children they work with is a true reflection of Ms Dailey’s expertise authorship and will have you falling head-over-heels in love. Add a wonderfully cranky old cowboy and Jake’s adorable young daughter, and this is a winning read.
This is not the Janet Daily I am used to reading since the first book I read, No Quarter Asked, many years ago.