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Retribution Rails

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman


Synopsis (from Goodreads)
When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece's path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom—or a noose. As the two manipulate each other for their own ends, past secrets are unearthed, reviving a decade-old quest for revenge that may be impossible to settle.


Review
I LOVED this book. I got a paperback ARC from a friend (even though it came out in November) and so I quickly checked out Vengeance Road from the library (which I loved). Then I still wanted some good ole Wild West fun, so I dove right into this book.

The story is set in Arizona in 1887, ten years after the events of Vengeance Road unfolded. In that time, much has changed, with the railroad arriving in the territory. The Rose Riders are back, this time led with a need for revenge. There's shootouts and train robberies and stage coach chases and just everything that makes the Wild West exciting. There are some beautiful descriptions of the landscape. Even though I don't like the desert, I can appreciate the beauty of it for this setting.

The two new characters, Reece and Charlotte, are wonderful. Reece is a haunted boy, someone forced to do some horrible things and who has faced abuse his whole life. Yet, despite it all, he's a good person at heart. Watching as he comes to know himself, and own himself, was one of the best parts of the book. Charlotte is smart and ambitious. Her journey lies in realizing the world isn't black and white and coming to understand others' point of view. She was a little annoying towards the beginning, but as she grows she becomes the determined heroine.

The plot is a little more twisty than the previous novel, with more than one plot thread to follow (one for each character). Charlotte is set on saving her family's business and land from a greedy uncle after the death of her father. Reece is trying to escape the Rose Riders. They tangle with Kate and Jesse from Vengeance Road, who are trying to live in peace. The story switches between Reece and Charlotte's points of view. The writing is fast-paced and pulls you right into the story. I love how the author uses a Western style of speech for the entire narrative.

All in all, I thought it was a fun, wild adventure and a fabulous companion read to Vengeance Road. I would highly recommend it!


Rating
4.5 stars


Details
Genre: Historical Fiction, YA.
Language: Mild.
Sex: None (Some references made to wedding nights, nothing explicit or graphic).
Violence: Lots of shooting violence, but its not graphically described.
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