Westward Bound

The Jackson Brothers, Book 4

By: Maddie Taylor

Narrated by: Michael C. Hyatt

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

True love conquers all, but can it survive in the Wild West?

With the threat of war growing more real by the day, Henry Jackson faces an impossible choice. Virginia is divided, with half the state poised to secede, leaving the Jackson family farm teetering on the border that will divide the north and south. He accepts the government’s promise of land and a fresh start in the untamed western territories to protect his wife and their three boys.

Despite the distance from the unrest, the Jacksons exchange one danger for another. The challenges of their new life are many, especially for Leticia, Henry’s wife. Leaving behind her family home, friends and neighbors, and many of her cherished family keepsakes is beyond difficult. Letty finds frontier life more demanding than expected; the loneliness and the new rules put in place to protect her are almost too much to bear.

As a greenhorn pioneer, she finds herself in one scrape after another, and the decisions she’s often pushed to make aren’t wise. His wife repeatedly risking injury or death is something Henry will not abide. Although his devotion is unquestionable, his patience eventually wears thin. Determined to keep the woman he loves safe, he lays down the law. Will his firm hand dampen her spirit? Or will Letty finally accept that her home and heart have always been with Henry and her boys?

©2023 Maddie Taylor (P)2024 Maddie Taylor

Entertaining

Henry and Letitia's story kept me entertained. I could really feel for Letitia as this story unfolded. A solid blend of drama, emotion, action and heat made for a very engaging romance that gave me big feels.

My unexpected love

Performance - oh my!
Story - I'm in love
Spicy - 4 stars
HEA - yep!

So, I was surprised how much I loved this book. It might be because somehow it reverberates with my experience of moving to another country with my husband (everything is new, you start from scratch, you do not have any friends, you are isolated). And I loved that it's a romance inside a formed couple with kids (yep, I am a strong believer that romance after the wedding is the most romantic and fun adventure in the whole universe). I loved how Wild West adventures are combined with spicy scenes. I loved pretty much everything in this book. And, oh my, the narrator is good.

True love

In a story that takes place in the 1800’s, we meet Henry and Lettie; as well as there three boys. As they make their way from Virginia to Montana they encounter many threats to their safety and wellbeing. Lettie is headstrong and Henry gets exasperated with her at times, but under the sternness is his desire to keep his family. Heath, Luke and Aaron all grow from boys to men throughout this book.

I enjoyed reading a book about a family that grows stronger as the years go instead of falling apart. I felt horrible for Lettie a couple of time and seeing the anguish Henry felt at those times ripped out my heart. Heath had a pretty heartbreaking experience and I hope he finds a very special woman.

Michael did a wonderful job narrating the book. He brought emotion to each character and had me feeling like I was experiencing everything myself. I received an ALC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Journey to the Wild West

4.6 stars

This is a review of the audiobook and it is the fourth in The Jackson Brothers series. It can be listened to as a standalone as it is where things started but I am going back to hear the rest of the series. Henry, his wife Lettie and their children are moving west where life is untamed, and they need to be ready to face the trials and tribulations of their new adventure. Ms. Taylor has given listeners an emotional storyline that narrator Michael C. Hyatt wonderfully articulates with a rich, textured voice that will make one swoon for a cowboy and want to get up and ride.

Henry and Lettie go westward with their three sons

Henry Jackson and his wife Leticia (Lettie) move west with their boys, to the western territories. It's a wonderfully creative story of the westward trip and the struggle to start a successful ranch. Lettie keeps getting into one situation or another requiring rescue. Great narration, great story.