Lone Star Trail

Title: LONG STAR TRAIL
Author: Darlene Franklin
Publisher: Moody Press
September 2011
ISBN: 978-0802405838
Genre: Inspirational/historical romance


Wande Fleischer has come to America, and Texas, specifically, to marry her intended, but tragedy befall the family almost immediately upon their arrival in the states. The Fleischer do make it to Texas, but close to Christmas finds themselves stranded in a muddy rut with a broken ankle, and the mother incapacitated. A wagon does come by, the people onboard continue on past without stopping to help, so Wande’s father has no choice but to walk to town to try to find help.

While taking his mother and sister Christmas shopping in town, rancher Jud Morgan purposely passes a broken down wagon because it carried Germans. His family is upset at him for refusing to help, but Jud is resolute. He hates the German settlers, convinced they are stealing jobs and land from those who fought to free Texas from Mexico.

However, as fate has it, Jud runs into Wande’s father in town and due to his mom’s insistence takes the family home with them, while the mother recovers from her injuries. Jud is attracted to the lovely, Wande, but can he overcome his prejudices and let himself love her?

LONE STAR TRAIL is the first book in the Texas Trails series. The series itself will be written by different authors, but this debut book in the series is penned by Darlene Franklin. I can honestly say this is the best book by Ms. Franklin I’ve ever read. Her shorter books had been rather blah, but this one was good. She excellently portrayed the history of the area with the German settlers, something that has been usually overlooked in history books.

I enjoyed getting to know both Wande and Jud and the differences in their cultures. I liked that it took Jud some effort to learn to appreciate Germans instead of just immediately seeing the lovely Wande and that ending his prejudices right there. This is a book that historical romance readers will want to read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. 288 pages. $14.99.