GRR Reviews Texas Secrets: The Gallaghers by Jean Brashear

Texas Secrets was a novel about "sins of our parents / grandparents" and how it affects the current generation, and at its heart, it's about the weird will that brought two very different people together. But the family secrets were so deep and plentiful, the novel is aptly named, and the storytelling very compelling that while I recognized the trope, I enjoyed reading it very much.

To recap... Rising star chef Maddie Collins suddenly learned that her father's life was a lie, when she received a letter from a lawyer that she is now proud owner of a family home in Texas that she had never known... bequeathed by the husband of the only woman her father had ever loved, but had to give up. The catch is she had to stay there at least 30 days. After that it's hers, stay, sell, whatever. But the land the home was on... belongs to the two estranged sons of the same man, Sam Gallagher. Boone Gallagher was a former navy SEAL, but after injuries, he's just a cowboy driven away from home by his bitter father who turned on his sons after death of their mom Jenny. Boone had long lost touch with his brother Mitch. Now Boone is back, and was angry to find that his home now belongs to a city girl who obviously did not want the place, and he had to convince her to stay 30 days when they can't stand each other, for the alternative is for both of them to lose. As Maddie learned about the town of Morningstar and the less hectic but no less work ranch life, she found that this house was where her grandmother grew up, and her father's role in the struggle, and how Sam was now trying to repay the debts that can't be explained. As Boone and Maddie were forced to live with each other, they found that each was attracted to one another, and each was ready to do the other right even if it kills themselves... Is that love?

To explain the background there'd be spoilers ahead. Let's just say I had to make a map to keep all the relations clear, as these were revealed bit by bit. I very much enjoyed the book, but felt a lot of this background seems to be a bit wasted and angst-y.  It's also a bit TOO complicated.

SPOILER AHEAD

Okay, the background goes like this: Maddie's father left town to take the blame of his mother (Maddie's grandma) killing her husband, but apparently before he left, he got Jenny, his girl, pregnant, but he didn't know. He left, and got a new name and a new life, new wife, and got Maddie. Back in town, Jenny gave birth to a girl, sent her into secret adoption, then came back and married Sam because her guy is gone or dead. And Sam was ashamed that he knew the guy's alive but hiding, and Jenny / Sam had the two kids, Boone and Mitch. When Jenny died, Sam turned super bitter and the two boys into bitter young adults. Now Sam's at his deathbed and to atone for his sins, his plan was to get Maddie to come back and match up with Boone, and hopefully they can find the other parts of their missing family. Is that any clearer now?


Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Super-complex family / Sins of Parents and Grandparents / Redemption and Atonement In the Present

Tropes: weird will, forced proximity, different worlds, performer, SEAL, sudden family

Overall Rating: 4/5