A compelling and heartfelt novel that beautifully captures the essence of resilience, family bonds, and the struggle to rebuild one’s life after a significant upheaval. I liked that the characters grow and evolve throughout the story.
Many thanks to Black Rose Writing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story has a "down on their luck but then receive property in an inheritance" plot. This story takes the reader through many ups and downs of the Dunwhitty family, from their happy home, to a lost job and financial challenges, then a new start when Lisa inherits a Texas ranch, which comes with its own challenges. At the heart of this book is a strong woman who struggles to make tough choices for her family but refuses to give up.

I liked this story immensely.
I really enjoyed in getting to know Lisa and her family members a lot.
My heart went out to Lisa but yet at the same time I found myself rooting for her too.
What an amazing woman! Yes, she made mistakes along the way but don't we all?
I simply couldn't put this book down it was so good. I was all in from the beginning until the end.
Wonderful captivating characters with a cool storyline.
5 stars for this new to me author that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An easy read of a family saga of riches to rags then maybe back to riches again. Seemed rather an unlikely plot but nevertheless I wouldn’t say I didn’t want to find out how all the family faired.

I was completely reeled into “Tough Trail Home” by Marie W. Watts from the first chapter and finished the book in just a day. The Dunwhitty family suffers a huge blow during the aftermath of the tanked economy in 2008. They are used to being big spenders, so when Michael is offered a high-paying job, they are relieved that their extravagant lifestyle can continue, albeit in a different city. However, that job falls through, and the family seems to have lost everything. There is just one ray of hope—Lisa suddenly inherits a 4000-acre ranch in Texas from an uncle she hadn’t seen since she was a child. As Lisa struggles to try to make a go of what turns out to be a huge money pit, her relationship with her husband suffers and her children experience a real life-style culture shock. Will they be able to not only overcome these difficulties and make a success of their new lives?

This is a wonderful story about resilience and resourcefulness, and I found myself rooting for Lisa from page one. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A story of how a woman perseveres when faced with devastating life changes.