College student Emma Rosales, is the heiress to the largest ranch in Texas. A ranch that has been run for generations by her female ancestors. She longs to work as a small-town veterinarian but the obligation to takeover Thorn Ranch from her mother weighs heavy on her mind.

On a ride to check fence lines, Emma, horse is injured and a sudden flood force her into a cave to escape the rising waters. What she finds inside the cave system will change her life forever.

I really enjoyed the mysterious Texas setting and the unique plot. Not unlike Alice falling down the rabbit hole, Emma enters a world both foreign and compelling in its simplicity. Daily does an amazing job of creating a believable alternate world which kept me turning the page.

The storyline takes a while to develop, but once it gets going it will suck you in. I won’t go into details as it would give away the plot! There is a bit of back and forth in time between Emma growing up and as a student at Texas A &M, which explains the background of the ranch.

Overall, the book is well-written and well-plotted. I enjoyed the relationship between Emma’s parents with each other and with her as well as her extended family. The pace picks up once the main story develops and I found the narrative intriguing. The slow developing romance has a satisfactory ending.

I wanted to love this novel. I really did after reading the opening where we’re introduced to Emma riding her horse with wild abandon across the Texas landscape that’s described so vividly I could picture it in my mind. As a horse woman, I delighted in sharing this moment, remembering the many rides I had with my horse, enjoying the feel of so much power and relishing the time alone with just a good mount and the countryside.

Then my enjoyment of the story faltered for just a bit. It was hard to believe that somebody who’d grown up on a ranch and ridden horses all her life, would knowingly take off on a 3-day trip from home base and not make sure she had a way to communicate with the ranch hands should she run into trouble.

Obviously, something had to happen to propel the story forward, but more believable details around the inciting incident would have made more sense.

That said, I’m glad I didn’t stop reading, even though there are other places in the story where the manipulating of events stretches believability, but despite those blips, I did enjoy this book on many levels.

Normally there aren’t star ratings in the reviews here on the blog, but this time I’m trying something new – a rating for each story element to highlight the areas that the author handled with great creative ability.

Four Stars to the story concept – a person experiencing life in two different time periods without an actual time travel. That’s a nice twist to the time-travel novels that are so popular, and it worked exceptionally well for the most part.

Four Stars to the scenes with Emma living with The People and adapting to the primitive lifestyle. The way she gains the respect of the elders, as well as the way the relationship grows with Kai is nicely done, despite some scenes that were detail-heavy and repeated things the reader already knew.

Kai is an engaging, endearing character from the get-go, and his willingness to protect Emma against rival tribe members is a great testament to his character. The hint of romance at the start of her time with The People grows out of mutual respect, which is a great way for any relationship to evolve. The importance of that “truth” is revealed in big and little ways in the story, and I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to be resolved in the end. Could they possibly even consider a life together, and where would that life play out?

Three Stars for the pacing and timeline from when Emma first disappears to the resolution of the story. It seemed to go too long, with a lot of repetition of what the family was doing to find Emma, as well as situations at the village.

The chapters alternate between what Emma is experiencing with the primitive people and what is happening with her parents, as well as a few chapters that highlight Emma’s college experiences. The pacing there is slow at times, and some of that college backstory could have been eliminated without affecting the whole storyline, still giving the reader enough information to follow certain motivations.

The final few chapters of the novel are worth Five Stars, as the story comes to a most satisfying conclusion. The opening is powerful, too. Emma’s love for the land, her family, and the horses in her care is so strong, and it makes her an endearing character like Kai.

Five Stars also for descriptions. Wow! The rugged Texas landscape is vividly portrayed, giving a strong foundation to every scene. As I read, I could see and hear and feel everything that Emma did, which is such an important element of making reader connections.

The book is well worth reading for all those wonderful moments, as well as discovering what happens next. Does Emma make it back to the ranch? What choices does she make for the future? Those, and a myriad of other questions all have satisfying answers.

“Never underestimate me…”

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily is an exceptional what-if story that will leave readers reeling with the possibility of a land-that-time-forgot scenario in the immense West Texas landscape. Suspend your disbelief for just a little while and settle into this intriguing adventure.

What if an entire colony of people are living off the land in a remote cave system that is undetectable to outsiders? What if these people have lived there for generations, with no knowledge of any modern conveniences and no desire to be discovered or have their seemingly peaceful way of life disrupted? What if someone accidently stumbles upon these people? What if the modern world and its consequences reach these people anyway, despite the efforts of many to remain safely untouched?

Emma Rosales is the next heiress in line to the wealthy and unbelievably vast Thorn Ranch in West Texas, following in the footsteps of several generations of strong, independent daughters in the Rosales matriarchy. Emma grew up on the ranch and can outshoot, outride, and outdo pretty much any of the ranch hands, but when she rides off for a weekend of camping under the stars to clear her head about her future, fate intervenes and changes her life completely, both for better and for worse.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a tightly woven love story between a daughter and her parents, between a man and a woman, and between a family and a beautiful yet unforgiving land. While the reader has a front-row seat to several points of view and to the entire story as it unfolds, the literary air is still laden with mystery, heartache, uncertainty, and wonder. When Emma finds this hidden community called The People on her family's land, the elder in charge, Chatpa, welcomes her into his home, but leaving is not an option because the community cannot risk the total intrusion of the outside world. Escape and then the possibility of Stockholm syndrome are top of mind for Emma as she forms a familial attachment to Chatpa and is chosen by his grandson Kai to be his wife. While both Chatpa and Kai are kind and honorable men, will that be enough for Emma to want to stop trying to break free and stay forever? What about her parents, Josie and John, back home, who are heartbroken at the disappearance if their only child? How far and to what lengths will Josie go to find her daughter? What about Emma's destiny as the fifth daughter of Thorn Ranch? Will fate intervene once more?

The spectacular storyline in The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch has so many questions and what-ifs, but unwrapping many of the answers one by one is a true literary delight.

The pacing in The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is naturally quick because reaching the climax and resolution of such a unique plot is a priority. The characters, descriptions, and interactions, both at Thorn Ranch and at the hidden community in the West Texas caves, are well thought out and dazzling. The story has a high amount of drama throughout, keeping readers at their seat’s edge to the very end. An added bonus is the stark reminder of the dependence and sometimes obsession with modern technology, especially electronic entertainment and communication, in addition to the reminder of the often fiery courtship between ancient medical practices and modern healthcare advancements that preserve lives. Surviving each day by living off the land and off the grid represents either a bygone era or a doomsday prepper’s reality. Daily’s fiction perfectly encapsulates the best and the worst of both the connected and isolated worlds of two separate populations. If given the chance, where would you want to live? What if there is no middle ground? What if you can never go back or, if given the chance, are unable to decide? What if those who once welcomed you now reject you? What if, after a year, your family back home finally moves on without you? What if?

The ending chapters are a detonation of action, discovery, and revelations that you might not see coming.

Julia Brewer Daily delivers a story that will both entertain and alarm because in real life, West Texas is a singular, dangerous, and exquisite landscape, brimming with an ineffable allure that often ensnares the imagination of the traveler and the reader and never truly lets go.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a full and satisfying story of discovery, wonder, love, and loss. The tale unfolds from two angles: Emma’s experiences and those of the people left behind on the ranch. Both sides of the story are riveting. I was so engrossed in this book I almost completed it in one sitting, only putting it down because it had gotten ridiculously late.

Daily has populated her book with engaging, sympathetic characters and a couple of unique personalities who present some interesting conflicts (Chesma and Jeff Bower’s mother) to the leads. Emma is a good person and uncertain about her pre-ordained future. She’s a bold, free spirit in her actions but cautious when it comes to her heart. She’s rightfully suspicious of the sincerity of Jeff’s interest in her and considerate about committing to Kai when she knows she’s going to try and escape any chance she gets. I was totally on board with her mother, Josie’s, feelings and actions, though. I would not have held up nearly as well as she did under the circumstances.

The ranch setting is magnificent with its far-flung expanses, remote and hiding canyons, desert, and vacant spaces. It was easy to imagine the locations, getting lost in their vastness, and feeling the dust and heat that made the search and rescue and the possibility of escape so daunting.

I enjoyed the story immensely and wasn’t ready to leave The Thorn Ranch at the end of the book. The author leaves some things up in the air, so I’m hoping for a sequel. How about a Sixth Daughter? I recommend THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH to readers who enjoy family sagas or western fiction with some magical elements and clean romance.

I didn't want this book to end!

This is the second book I have read by this author, and both times I have been swept away by the characters, the breathtaking scenery, and the emotions that run through the book.

This story is told from two points of view - Emma and Josie.

Emma is a young yet strong woman. She is the heir to a ranch in Texas, but she wants more from life. She has grown up on Thorn Ranch, and some of the stories that are told of her antics reflect the type of woman she is in life. She may not have lived long, but she has seen a lot.

Josie is Emma's mother. While we learn a little bit about her life growing up, what we see in this book is the devastation of potentially losing a child and how much she has wrapped up in her daughter. We also have a peek into the expectations that have been passed down from mother to daughter over the years in the form of the ranch.

There is so much wrapped up in this story that is told over a year's time. Emma was out on the ranch and stumbled across a cave that led her into another world. This world is made up of a tribe called The People, who are insulated from the modern world, and for some reason, haven't been discovered before now. Their lifestyle is rudimentary, but it is what they know, and it is very different than anything Emma has ever experienced. Emma, being Emma, tries to escape to go back home, but they won't let her. I didn't understand why they wouldn't, other than perhaps not wanting to be discovered by anyone else. They lived a peaceful life and didn't want to bring turmoil into the mix.

I was captivated by Emma's experiences with The People, and how she never gave up trying to go home. She discovered a lot about herself and this tribe of people. It wasn't an easy time, but I could see her mettle throughout. My heart hurt for Josie. She didn't know what had happened to Emma, but she never gave up hope or the search for her daughter. But this hope was detrimental because she couldn't focus on anything else. This was a danger to her since she wasn't taking care of her own needs.

This author knows how to draw me into her stories and picture myself on this ranch, experiencing what all of the characters experienced. While this book ended well, it left me with many questions. I won't share those questions because it would give away part of the story. I hope the author decides to share more of Emma's story in a future novel.

This was such an enjoyable book, and we give it 5 paws up.

My previous experience with Julia Daily’s powerful prose was in the intimate and very serious novel, No Names to Be Given, which I also reviewed. This book, The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a departure from the other work in tone, and in setting. While it still deals with serious issues – land ownership, animal care, medicine, and culture – it does so by wrapping them in a family saga as vast as the Southwest Texas ranch at the center of the story, then adding in a touch of magical realism and spicing it with a romance.

At the heart of this story is Emma, recently returned from college, where she studied veterinary medicine, and ready (or nearly so) to take on her role as the latest Rosales daughter to become matriarch of Thorn Ranch. Her parents, Josie and John, are also present in the novel, as are several ranch staff, like Flora and Pedro, and a would-be-suitor, Jeff, all of whom form a tight community, though not everyone sees eye-to-eye about everything. There is a second community that Emma discovers quite by accident, centered around the elderly Chatpa and his adult grandson Kai, but to say more would be to reveal too much about the secrets in this novel – secrets that must be read to be understood.

And of course, the land – Thorn Ranch and the mountains beyond – are as much characters as places, for without Daily’s vividly described landscapes and dwelling spaces, this book would not feel rooted.

Several reviewers have compared this novel to Outlander and Yellowstone, two disparate properties that do bear superficial resemblances to some of the details in this book, but The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is really its own genre-defying tale, mixing a western adventure, Mexican-American and Indigenous People’s history, family drama, and romance into a cohesive whole that draws you in and keeps you enchanted by excellent storytelling and perfect pacing. The author has left the story open-ended enough that a sequel would be possible, should she choose to write it, but it also has a satisfying – and even happy – resolution.

I really loved the way the Rosales family had Spanish words peppered into their mostly-English language, and the subtle nuance that it was the women’s family name that was associated with Thorn Ranch.

I would saddle up a horse and take a ride through another of Daily’s creations any day, and I’m looking forward to learning what she writes next.

Goes well with: Arrachera tacos and Indio beer.

THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH takes place in a beautiful setting, the Rio Grande right on the border with Mexico. Julia describes the setting so perfectly that I felt I was right there, feeling the heat on my face. I really loved my first Julia Brewer Daily book, and can’t wait to read more of her books in the future.

When I read the synopsis of THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH, I was afraid that I was not going to like it — it was absolutely the opposite. I don’t really want to give anything away so I won’t say anything else about the plot, but this was such a wonderful book, and I really loved the whole story. The chapters were really short as well which is something I l really like. I also thought the characters were developed enough that I felt like I knew them for a long time.

THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH tells the story of how Emma finds herself feeling as if she is living in a different world. This is the part of the story where you will need to go and get your box of tissues and keep them right next to you. You are going to need them. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I read this wonderful story in three sittings! Ms. Daily pulled me right in from the very first page and never let me go. She does such a great job of describing the scenery and the way the characters are feeling that it was almost as if I were right there with them. I love when an author can put me in their story.

I usually am reading many books at one time but once I started THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH all other books were put aside. I found myself cheering for Emma at the same time as I was really sad for the struggles she was going through. I finished reading the very last page with a huge lump in my throat and a big smile on my face! I can not wait to read more by Ms. Daily. Once I started reading this very emotional love story, I could not put it down. Be prepared to ignore everything else until you are done. All I wanted to do when I finished reading was to reach out and give Emma a big hug.

THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH will stay with you for a long time after you finish reading it. I can’t stop thinking about this awesome story that had me holding my breath on many pages. There were several times I found myself desperately wanting to keep reading, to find out what would happen next, but I was afraid to turn the page, scared of the possible fates awaiting these characters. Julia Brewer Daily has a magical way of telling dramatic stories about family. THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH will be sure to strike the reader’s heart and compassion for these brave characters willing to do anything in an effort to protect their own will be strong!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley and the author through TLC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For generations, the massive Texas ranch, The Thorn has been run by a Rosales matriarch. Now that Emma, the fifth generation of Rosales women has graduated college with a degree in veterinary medicine, she is gearing up for her inevitable duties on The Thorn. Emma decides to take her horse and ride around some of the less explored areas of The Thorn's property; however, Emma becomes stranded in the wilderness, a several days walk from home. She is rescued by an unlikely group of people, the first people to inhabit the land of The Thorn, long before it belonged to the Rosales family and who still inhabit the land in secret. Simply calling themselves The People, Emma is amazed at their way of living. Although, when she asks to return home, The People fear for their own safety if Emma were to return and tell of their presence. Meanwhile, at The Thorn, Emma's parents lead a frantic search for their daughter and the heir of the land.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is an unlikely adventure combined with ancient secrets and romance. From the beginning, the internal strength as well as momentous responsibility of the Rosales women is made known. I loved that The Thorn was a Texas Ranch run by a matriarchal line. I could feel how much they cared for the land, the animals and the people that they worked with. The writing switched between the points of view of Emma, her parents, and two of The People creating a fast-paced story that retained my interest. Of course, Emma's storyline was the most interesting to me as she navigated the lands around The Thorn and learned to live a new life among the people. Emma's internal strength, unique skill sets and mental fortitude helped her accept her new conditions and the people there. I was amazed at the world that The People had continued to live in and their strength in persisting with their culture in a modern world. Kai and Chatpa were amazing teachers and leaders as they too learned skills from Emma's world and accepted her knowledge as a woman from the outside world. It was also interesting to see the disappearance from Emma's parent's point of view and how long they held out hope. The ending wrapped up in an exciting, unexpected and beautiful way. I'd love to know what happens next!

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Thorn Ranch has always been run by the women of the Rosales family, handed down and preserved while flourishing into this modern age. Emma is about to learn exactly how well preserved after she loses her horse and finds herself a captive into a hidden world trapped in the past.

Emma may be the sole heir to The Thorn, the largest ranch in Texas, but she's not sure if she is ready for the mammoth responsibility. Her parents are often away, working on the ranch or taking trips around the world, leaving Emma to decide between her family legacy, or following her dream to become a veterinarian. Fate intervenes when she takes shelter in a cave on the ranch and is taken captive by people living out of time. Though she finds a true ally and the promise of more with Kai, her captor's grandson, Emma is torn between aiding the people, and the family she left behind.

I love time-travel stories, and I'm keen on westerns being a died-in-the-wool Texan, so I was primed to love Julia Brewer Daily's Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch. Our tale is told through multiple perspectives, most notably Emma as she discovers a world that should not have survived, and her mother Josie as she searches for her missing daughter. Only a few aspects kept me from giving this adventure five stars. While Daily has expertly crafted and wove elements of modern ranch life with the fantasy of a hidden people still living in the past, I struggled to connect with the characters, perhaps because the writing style felt distant to me. However, I enjoyed the quick pace, the sweeping epic scope of the ranch, and whether Emma would make it home or become one of the people.

An excellently crafted modern western for fans of Outlander and Yellowstone, The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is an intriguing adventure about family, legacy, and how far we are willing go for the ones we love.

**I was provided with a copy of The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**

Imagine knowing your destiny from birth. That's exactly Emma's life. The Thorn Ranch has been passed down from daughter to daughter for generations and is larger than some states. Everything in Emma's life is preparing her to take over the ranch. Everyone knows Thorn Ranch and some maybe looking for the angle to be included in this successful enterprise. When Emma comes home for a college break and to oversee the ranch while her parents take their annual European vacation, things reach a peak. Emma decides to head out to camp and re-center herself. What she finds is not peace but an entire community of people living in an era without modern conveniences. She also discovers that this community is not about to allow her to leave and have the world descend on them.

The author gives the reader a lot of time with Emma and her situation to build a base on what she may be experiencing. Then the reader is guided through to see other character's points of view and what they are going through. This rounds out the story nicely.

Emma's time with The People is enlightened by the strong character, Chalpa, the chief and wise man of the group. There is a lot of history here that is barely hinted out and I, at some point, would like to learn what his story is.

The devotion and extreme lengths that Emma's mom, Josie, goes through are easy for any parent to relate to. While Thorn Ranch appears as the main concern in her life – her real life is centered on Emma.

I enjoyed the character Kia, grandson of Chalpa, and his place in the story. He has also spent his life being raised knowing his destiny, and this could have been a connection with Emma, but it is left unexplored. That and a few other dangling ideas have me hoping this is not the end of the story.

On the whole, this was a quick and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed getting to know Emma Rosales and her ranch. It had a great western feel to it and a great mystery feel to it. I really enjoyed what was happening and going on this journey. Julia Brewer Daily has a great writing style and I wanted more from this book in a good way.

“My ancestors created my home of wood,” Emma began. “Many years ago, they cut trees, stacked them, and used mud, like in the stream, to stick them together. Over the years, whoever lives in the house expands it with stones or updates when someone invents new equipment.”