15-Stop Interactive Blog Tour - TOUGH TRAIL HOME By Marie W. Watts

 






Women ’ s Literary / Small Town & Rural / Contemporary Women ’ s Fiction
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 253
Publication Date: March 27, 2024

SYNOPSIS


“Tough Trail Home
 is a delightful read about a family coming to term s with each other and their new lives. ” – Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place

The Dunwhitty family is flyin g high until their carefully choreographed life falls apart during the 2008 Great Recession. Lisa's firm goes belly - up while Michael's shuts down after selling faulty heart valves. Desperate, Lisa insists they regroup by seeking refuge in rural Central Tex as on land she inherits from a distant relative she barely knows.

It's not the ranch Lisa remembers, but a ramshackle money pit. Mi chael and their teenage son, Andrew, despise the place. Only their young daughter, Jessica, is happy. After a bitter argument, Michael moves to the city. As his job search drags on, Lisa begins to plant roots; friendships develop for her and the children. With the help of Michael's parents, her neighbor, and the remains of her savings, she begins to return the ranch to its former glory. The couple continues to drift further apart, Michael turning his attention to another woman.

A call from the sheriff's department that their son is in custody jolts the couple to the core. Can they repair their relationship for the sake of their son? Or is it too late?

CLICK TO PURCHASE







 
                                                              ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An award - winning author, Marie W. Watts is living her dream of being a writer. Her novel, Tough Trail Home, has received acclaim as a winner of the 2024 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Summer Competition for Fiction - Women ’ s Genre; Winner in the 2024 Storytrade Book Awards “ Regional Fiction ‐ USA Southwest ” category; 2024 Speak Up Talk Radio International Firebird Book Award Winner, and The Outstanding Creator Award for Best Fiction Book of Summer 2024 (2nd place).

Her novel has garnered reviews such as “ inspiring , ” “ fantastic read, ” “ beautiful scenery, heart, and hope, ” and “ a wonderful story about resilience and resourcefulness. ”

She and her husband live on a ranch in central Texas. In her spare time, she supports a historic house and hangs out with her grandsons.




MY REVIEW


Marie W. Watts’ Tough Trail Home is an emotional and insightful journey that captures the resilience of a family navigating a life turned upside down. Set against the backdrop of the Great Recession, the novel follows Lisa and Michael as they trade their suburban life for the raw reality of a Texas ranch, a life neither of them anticipated or prepared for. Watts delivers more than just a family’s fight for survival; she explores the fragility and strength of relationships tested by hardship, grounding her story in the universal themes of home, sacrifice, and the pursuit of peace amidst chaos.

The novel’s heart beats in the struggles and triumphs of Lisa, who becomes the story’s anchor, grounding herself and her family through each setback, and discovering strength she never knew she had. The realistic depiction of Lisa and Michael’s marriage is especially poignant—highlighting the tensions, compromises, and unspoken sacrifices made along the way. As Watts takes readers on this journey, she paints an evocative portrait of Texas, making the ranch itself feel like a character: a gritty symbol of home, independence, and history that challenges yet grounds the family.

With beautifully developed side characters, especially the Turners, who represent a neighborly warmth that is as vital as the land itself, Watts brings the landscape and community to life. Each character’s journey is shaped by their battles, choices, and the family ties that bind them. Lisa’s role as mother, wife, and newly minted rancher adds layers to her character, making her both relatable and aspirational. Tough Trail Home isn’t just a story of overcoming the odds; it’s a love letter to finding hope, identity, and connection in unexpected places. Fans of heartfelt, family-centered dramas will find much to relate to and be inspired by in Tough Trail Home.  The novel earned a 4 star rating/recommendation from this emotional southern girl.






FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOUR.



blog tour services provided by
Email Post

Comments

Post a Comment