The Fifth Daugher of Thorn Ranch

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily. The story follows a recent college graduate named Emma Rosales. Emma happens to be an heiress to a million-acre ranch, which is referred to as “The Thorn.” She also happens to be the only child of her parents, Josie and John, following the Rosales family tradition of producing one female heir. Coming from a line of strong-willed, decisive women, Emma is headstrong, opinionated, and definitely not afraid to get her hands dirty. Like her mother, her grandmother, and her great grandmother, Emma will manage all the responsibilities of this massive property as she has been trained for her entire life.

Emma loves her life on the ranch. A trained vet, she adores taking care of the horses, looking after the animals, and going on long adventures out on her property. Josie and John encourage Emma to explore as her heart desires; aware of their daughter’s tendency to run off, they taught Emma how to camp, start a fire, take care of her horse, and fend for herself at a young age. With her parents off on a trip to Europe, Emma decides she will explore the property for a few days, informing Flora, the family cook, of her plans. With fresh baked cookies in hand, Emma takes off on Honey-Boy, her horse, to explore the beautiful Texan land around her.

On this little adventure, Emma finds herself in quite the dilemma. Although I will not go further in order to avoid the risk of spoiling the plot, Emma manages to find herself in a situation she never dreamed of and at a loss if she will make it out alive.

I found Emma’s story to be quite an exciting read. When I put this book down, I found myself picking it up again within just a few hours; I was dying to know what happened to Emma and where the plot moved next. I also loved the setting of this story; a Texan ranch may not seem like the place where much adventure occurs, but boy was I in for a surprise! The author did a fantastic job with this plot, creating the perfect balance of romance, adventure, sorrow, and excitement.

Overall, I found The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch a delight to read. I highly recommend this book to all female readers who like general fiction, adventure novels, and stories about strong women.