Spirit Ranch: Prequel to The New Witch First book in the Broussard Court Series

by Nancy Smith Gibson

SPIRITS SURROUND US ALL, AND IT'S UP TO US TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US-WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO... From the bayous of south Louisiana to the arid hills of Arizona, they follow us. Or maybe they beat us there. We can do nothing except listen and obey.Deep in the swamps of south Louisiana, a young girl is guided by the spirits of her ancestors. When she is older, she is trained in the mystical arts by Madame, whose powers are known to all of New Orleans. She will need it all when she is called to work at Spirit Ranch, especially when young Bill arrives. The spirits have a job for him, working with a survivor of childhood abuse trying to fit into today's world.With a college degree and not much else, young Bill sets out to see the country, hopping onto boxcars headed south and west. The challenges are many and the danger real, but the spirits have a job for him to do, and he squeaks by harrowing situations on the way to where he ought to be. When he is arrested and thrown in jail for being a vagrant, he learns of a ranch that often has job openings. "You'll get the job," Maxine tells him at the gate. And she ought to know. She knows everything. Before it happens.



Excerpt Now that I was actually there, I felt stupid . When I confess to never actually riding a horse, they're going to think I'm retarded. I tapped Juan, the cabbie, on the shoulder. "I think I'd better go back to town."He turned around and grinned. "Hey, you're here. You might as well ask them for a job. What are they going to do, shoot you?" I sighed. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to that." We drove down the long dusty road, past the stables, up to the ranch house. I paid Juan. "If I give you three extra bucks, will you wait five minutes? I'll either come to get my duffle bag or leave with it." "Sure, I need a siesta." "Thanks, Juan, you've been a big help!" I looked up and saw a lady standing in front of the taxi, wearing a tan blouse and a peasant skirt. She was small, perhaps five-two, shiny black hair, olive complexion, thirty-five. Smiling. I assumed she knew Juan. I got out of the cab and walked toward her. She said, "Don't worry, you'll get the job." I was about to say, "What job?" when she took my arm. "Come on, I'll take you to the office. The owner's name is Danny. He'll be sure glad to see you." "I think you've made a mistake. I'm not the person Danny's looking for." "Of course, you are."

246 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2021

Reviews

[Mike Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sprit Ranch by Nancy Smith Gibson and William J. Schuler is supposed to be a prequel to The New Witch also by Nancy Smith Gibson; however, except for 1 character, who has very little to do with this story, there is no connection between the 2 books.

This story is about Mary Kate, an 18-year-old young woman, who has had a traumatic beginning to her life, and has never felt the love and emotion of a close and loving family. Orphaned as an infant, the first 8 years of her life were in an orphanage in New Orleans.

She is then adopted by Carl and Hilda Hanson who have emotional baggage of their own, as they have survived the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and settled in Fort Collins, CO. While they love their adopted daughter and give her a safe ad secure home, they have emotional scars of their own and do not have the ability to help Mary Kate escape her own emotional scars.

The other main characters in this story are Maxine Thibodeaux who can “see things”, Shallah, her daughter, who also has gifts from the spirits, and Bill, a man who has lost his faith in God and the world.

All four of these characters wind up at the Spirit Ranch in Arizona where Maxine, Shallah and Bill are guided by the spirits to help Mary Kate find emotional stability and lead a happy, contented life.

After setting up the story with the backgrounds of the main character the rest of the story is mainly about Bill guiding Mary Kate around the ranch trying new thigs (like going out late to witness fierce, fast-moving thunderstorm) – really, more like a lesson in psychology than a ghost story. There never was any connection between this story and The New Witch.

[Laurene Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like old friends

I've read this, Spirit Ranch, True Memories and The New Witch ; all were wonderful, almost comforting stories. The first was like reuniting with old friends and I could hardly put it down. Immediately after finishing, the second book was in my hands. Same with the third; different people but still the same positive, intuitive knowledge that kept the story fresh. I'll be watching for her next book.

[Mandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just a rough mess for me. It jumped around woth large holes in the stories. Characters just came into it without any introduction, like you're just supposed to know who they are. It was so rough, I stopped halfway through because it was giving me a headache trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

[Sharen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an oddly written book. And it Took me quite awhile to catch on to how this book would continue…..It jumped around quite a lot. But, I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. It said it was the prequel to the New Witch—First book in the Broussard Court Series. So, I will curl up in my comfy chair with a cup of tea and read that one next.