Buck Cameron is on a mission to find Marilee Weston and her daughter Josie. The county judge had told Buck that she is an unfit mother and that the child would be better off away from her. Buck was in no position to argue; the judge had a lot of power and could cause a lot of trouble for him if he didn’t finish the job but when he finds Marilee, something just doesn’t seem right.

Marilee has suffered greatly at the hands of men so is understandably cautious when a dangerous looking man turns up looking for her and Josie. Betrayed by the people closest to her then hidden away where no one was supposed to find her, Marilee is torn. She desperately fears what Buck might do but longs for the freedom both she and her daughter deserves. Buck promises Marilee that if she comes with him, he’ll take good care of them both and, deciding that staying hidden away with no contact with the outside world was no life for Josie, Marilee chooses to go.

The trio set out on a journey that will make or break them. Marilee is determined to give Josie the childhood she never had but Marilee has some tough times ahead of her if she is ever to put her past behind her and start trusting men again. Buck is trying so hard to get to the bottom of the mysterious link between Marilee and the judge but in attempting to free himself of the judge’s nasty hold on him, he may very well be hurting the very two people he has come to care for the most.

Reading Texas Blue transported me to a very vivid world that I was able to fully immerse myself in without trouble. The author created a detailed setting with a great deal of research put into the clothing, food, homes, stores, towns and surroundings of the late 19^th century Texas. Buck and Marilee were both very engaging, likable characters with chemistry and I was swept along on their journey of discovery. The stubbornness of Marilee, still but a child herself in many ways, as she battled to provide for her family was very endearing and I was able to identify with Buck as he falls for her charms. The character of Buck is done very well as the reader is lead along with Marilee’s caution and the initial question over his intentions. There was also a strong supporting cast of characters, some helping Marilee find a place for herself in the world and others evoking warranted anger and distrust out of me immediately. There is a lot packed into this story which unravels at a steady pace, never being predictable and with a satisfying ending.

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