Tough Trail Home - by Marie W Watts (Paperback)

About the Book

When the 2008 Great Recession grounds the upwardly mobile Dunwhitty family, they seek refuge in a dilapidated ranch. Michael pursues employment in Houston while Lisa bonds with country living, leaving a tattered marriage.

Book Synopsis

Tough Trail Home has garnered reviews such as "inspiring," "fantastic read," "beautiful scenery, heart, and hope," and "a wonderful story about resilience and resourcefulness."

"Tough Trail Home is a delightful read about a family coming to terms with each other and their new lives." -Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place

The Dunwhitty family is flying 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 Texas on land she inherits from a distant relative she barely knows.

It's not the ranch Lisa remembers, but a ramshackle money pit. Michael 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?

WINNER OF FIVE LITERARY AWARDS

1ST PLACE WINNER OF THE 2024 PENCRAFT AWARDS FOR FICTION - WOMEN'S GENRE

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"

SPEAK UP TALK RADIO INTERNATIONAL FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD WINNER-2024

OUTSTANDING CREATOR AWARD FOR BEST FICTION BOOK OF SUMMER 2024 (2nd PLACE)

Tough Trail Home has garnered reviews such as "inspiring," "fantastic read," "beautiful scenery, heart, and hope," and "a wonderful story about resilience and resourcefulness."

Review Quotes

2024 PenCraft Best Book Award Winner - Best Women's Fiction

2024 Outstanding Creator Award Winner

2024 Firebird Book Award Winner

"This is a wonderful story about resilience and resourcefulness, and I found myself rooting for Lisa from page one." -Diane Nagatomo, author of The Butterfly Café

"Marie W. Watts' Tough Trail Home opens the barn door on a very American way of life at a unique point in time. Grab the reins and settle into the saddle for an entertaining ride." -Therese Gilardi, author of Matching Wits with Venus

"Tough Trail Home is a delightful read about a family coming to terms with each other and their new lives." -Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place