(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Note:  Although this review will not contain spoilers for Retribution Rails, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its companion novel, Vengeance Road.  As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.

When aspiring journalist Charlotte Vaughn boards a train bound for Tucson, she does so with a determination to make her way as a reporter.  If the 16-year-old can earn money for herself, she can save her mother from a disastrous marriage, keep her family's mine, and make sure she doesn't become a pawn in a crooked scheme cooked up by her greedy uncle.  The last thing Charlotte expects from her train ride is to find herself in the middle of a breaking story.  But that's what happens when a gang of outlaws robs the very locomotive on which she's riding. 

Furious with the Rose Riders—especially the young, handsome one—Charlotte vows to use her keen observation skills to bring the criminals to justice.  That prospect proves more difficult than it seems, especially when she finds herself held hostage by Reece Murphy, an 18-year-old Rose Rider who claims to be on the run from his outlaw pals.  Charlotte doesn't believe that tall tale for a second—still, she could use a ride to Prescott and that's where Reece is heading.  The two might not trust each other, but they do need each other.  Forming an uneasy truce just may be the only way for both of them to get what they want.  With enemies closing in from every direction, they'll have to rely on each other—whether they like it or not.    

If you loved Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman (and I certainly did), you're going to adore Retribution Rails.  While it's not exactly a sequel, the novel revisits the Wild West setting of its predecessor as well as some of its characters.  Charlotte and Reece, the stars of Retribution Rails, are appealing in their own rights—both are sympathetic, brave, and loyal.  Their story brims with action, making for a tense, exciting reading experience.  With a vivid historical setting, an intriguing cast, and an action-packed plot, Retribution Rails offers a fun, enjoyable tale that makes a perfect companion for Vengeance Road.  Give this series a read—you won't regret it.

(Readalikes:  Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman; also reminds me of Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and vague references to rape and prostitution

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of Retribution Rails from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

Not gonna lie—I don't really trust Santa Claus to deliver the bookish goodies I want to see under my tree this year.  No offense to the Big Guy, but he's got a lot on his plate this time of year.  Rest easy, Kris Kringle, I got this.  

Before I show you my list, do me a favor and join in the fun!  You need a break from all the holiday stress you're probably feeling, so hop on over to The Broke and the Bookish.  Check out the Top Ten Tuesday rules, make your own list, then click around the book blogosphere to discover lots of new blogs to love, familiar ones to re-visit, and, of course, to find all kinds of great reading recommendations.  It's a good ole time, I promise!  Please note:  After January 16, TTT will be hosted on That Artsy Reader Girl blog.

Top Ten Books (and Bookish Things) I Hope Santa (Is) Bringsing Me:  

1.  Year One by Nora Roberts—Nothing says Christmas quite like a good dystopian, amirite?  Actually, I just got tired of waiting for this one at the library, so I used a Barnes & Noble coupon and got it at a discount in a real, brick-and-mortar store.  

2.  The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan—I love the pretty cover on this one.  The story, which is about a man who becomes an obsessive collector of found things after his fiancé dies following him losing a precious keepsake of hers, sounds interesting too.

3.  Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia—This YA was on all kinds of "best of" lists this year.  Again, I was too impatient to wait for it at the library, so I bought myself a copy.

4.  Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero—It's become a tradition for my 15-year-old daughter and me to visit Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe every December.  We trade in old books, then use our store credit plus my birthday discount to stock up on new reads for the next year.  I grabbed Meddling Kids because I've heard such good things about it.  While my girl and I were discussing it at the store, a young man standing near us piped up to say:  "My girlfriend just read that!  She loved it."  A ringing endorsement, if I ever heard one!

5.  Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan—I'm reading this British thriller right now.  It's about two teenage boys who sneak out of the house one night; one ends the night by fighting for his life in a Bristol hospital.  The other boy, a refugee from Somalia, is too traumatized to speak about the incident.  What really happened that night?  I finally forced myself to put down Odd Child Out at about 11 last night.  I can't wait to finish it today.

6.  Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman—I'm not going to bother sticking this one under the tree since I've already read it and all.  I enjoyed Vengeance Road and this is a worthy companion novel.  It's not really a sequel since it stars different characters, but it does look in on some old favorites.  If you're looking for a fun, action-packed YA series to enjoy, give this one a go. 

7.  The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman—This summery novel was in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble.  I'd never heard of it before, but it gets great reviews on book sites.  It's about a young Russian woman who tricks her family into immigrating to the U.S.  When she becomes crippled, she's abandoned in New York City and must find a way to survive.  

8.  The Book Lover's Calendar 2018—I bought one of these on clearance last year and have enjoyed it immensely.  Naturally, I couldn't resist grabbing the 2018 version.

9.  No Time to Clean Tea Towel from Bas Bleu—Although I can't justify spending almost $13 on a dish towel, I think this one's adorable.  And SO spot-on!

10.  Reader's Paradise Puzzle from Bas Bleu—I like puzzles and this one looks fun.

How about you?  What books or bookish things are you hoping to find under your Christmas tree?  I'd love to know.  Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor.

Happy TTT!     

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

When 18-year-old Kate Thompson returns to her Prescott homestead one day to find her father's dead body swinging from a tree, she's horrified.  And outraged.  Clearly, this is the work of The Rose Riders, a notorious gang of outlaws.  Kate knows exactly what they were after, too.  Her father possessed a mysterious diary that supposedly contained directions to The Lost Dutchman, a mine full of treasure hidden at the base of the Superstition Springs Mountains.  Kate's Pa always said gold made monsters of men.  As she sets off in pursuit of The Rose Riders, it's not greed propelling her, but an unquenchable thirst for revenge.

Disguising herself as a boy, Kate does exactly what Pa told her to do in case of emergency—she heads to the ranch of his friends, the Coltons.  There, she receives a letter in which her father strongly cautions her against taking any kind of action against the Roses.  Ignoring the advice, she sets off in pursuit.  Only now she has brothers Jesse and Will Colton riding in her wake.  Try as she might, she can't shake the boys, not in their perceived duty toward her or in their lust for gold.  Reluctant companions, the trio rides on.

As they cross over 100 miles of Arizona Territory desert, the group faces dangers of every kind, not just from the relentless heat and ever present dust, but from snorting javelina and wildlife of the most dangerous sort—the human sort.  Unwilling to trust anyone, Kate does what she has to do, even when she has to use her gun to do it.  As she comes ever closer to a face-off with the men who killed her father, she will have to make a choice between justice and mercy, revenge at any cost or the safety of those she's come to love.  With family mysteries unfolding before her, Kate's seeing more clearly than ever before.  But will that stop her from avenging her father or will it push her even harder toward her goal?  

I've read a few YA westerns lately and, let me tell you, I'm digging this trend toward exciting, old-fashioned yarns.  It's refreshing.  I appreciate the break from the usual vampires, demon hunters, high school love triangles, etc.  Especially enjoyable is Vengeance Road, the newest from Erin Bowman.  Featuring a tough, sharp-shooting heroine, it's a gritty tale of survival set against a punishing desert background.  The characters are sympathetic while remaining authentic in their actions and desires.  Plot-wise, the story gallops along at a steady pace, offering surprising twists around every cactus.  It's an engrossing, well-told tale that delivers a compelling, action-packed story as well as an important message about the too-high price of greed. 

A fun sidenote:  Bowman didn't make up the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Mine.  It's one with which most Arizonans are familiar.  The hidden mine has never been found and treasure seekers are still drawn to the Superstitions and the gold that may—or may not—be hidden somewhere in the 160,000 acres of desert that surround the mountain range.  So, guess who may—or may not—have sparkling caches of gold sitting practically in her backyard?  Yours Truly!  If you're ever in my 'hood, be sure to visit the Superstition Mountain Museum, which is dedicated to collecting and preserving artifacts related to the colorful history of this area.  It's only a few miles from my house, but I've never taken the time to visit.  Reading Vengeance Road definitely fired up my imagination and piqued my interest in learning more about the fact, folklore and plain ole fiction surrounding the desert where I live.

(Readalikes:  Reminded me of Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee and the movie True Grit  [which is based on the book by Charles Portis, which I have yet to read])

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, sexual innuendo, and mild (not graphic) sexual content

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find