Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman - Starting February 21st, 2016

[T.J.]

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

[T.J.]

Join Dana and me for this (hopefully) exciting trip back to the wild west!

[T.J.]

Erin Bowman wrote: "Hi! VENGEANCE ROAD is set in 1877, in Arizona Territory. The story begins outside Prescott, on Kate's homestead, and as tracks her father's killers, she travels south toward Phoenix, and then east into the Superstition Mountains."

[T.J.]

Chapter 2

I really like the way this book reads... it has a gritty feel to it -- almost True Grit-like...

I have definitely got the feel for the time and place. I was immediately grabbed into the story and definitely want to know more...

[Dana]

Yeah this very strongly reminds me of true grit, atleast the general vibe and the beginning for sure.

[Dana]

10%- I was wary about the accented writing..don't remember what that type of writing is called. But gladly its still easy to read and understand.

[Dana]

30%-(view spoiler)[ loving this so far! I feel so bad for kate. im predicting a little romance between jesse and kate. I don't want her to end up alone, she needs a family. Hope in the end she stays with the family her dad sent her to. (hide spoiler)]

[Dana]

45%-(view spoiler)[ that action omg im on the edge of my seat. Also I think the indian girl that she saved might turn out to be a strong ally for her. I'm not always good with predictions though lol. (hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Dana wrote: "10%- I was wary about the accented writing..don't remember what that type of writing is called. But gladly its still easy to read and understand."

I really like the writing -- it reminds me of the spaghetti westerns of my childhood... :D

[T.J.]

Finished Chapter 4 (13%)
(view spoiler)[
I hope Kate's father's secret is more than a map to a gold mine. I suspect (hope) it is since the people he took the journal from were dead, but the gold they had on them was not stolen. Maybe there's a curse... those who steal the gold from this particular sacred place end up dead... oooooh... ;)
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Dana wrote: "30%-[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Dana wrote: "loving this so far! I feel so bad for kate. im predicting a little romance between jesse and kate. I don't want her to end up alone, she needs a family. Hope in the end she stays with the family her dad sent her to."

So am I! Thanks for talking me into reading it! It's exciting, but also well-paced. Kate is an interesting protagonist, likable, but flawed, tough, but vulnerable... I certainly hopes she finds love and a family...
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[
I also wanted to point out how much I'm enjoying Bowman's descriptive metaphors:

"...Wickenburg feels like hellfire burning in my lungs."

Ya, that's hot. I can feel the heat! The book is packed full of these. (hide spoiler)]

[Dana]

TJ wrote: "Chapter 5


I also wanted to point out how much I'm enjoying Bowman's descriptive metaphors:

"...Wickenburg feels like hellfire burning in my lungs."

Ya, that's hot. I can feel the heat! The book..."

yeah just the right amount without turning into purple prose.

[Dana]

also could you add what percentage you're at since i never keep track of chapters when im reading on my kindle?

[Dana]

70%(view spoiler)[ Pretty disappointed with the brothers ditching her for the gold. I hope there is more to this then it appears. Also her and the brothers keep acting like they are getting all the gold when before they said they were splitting it.

I know she keeps saying she doesn't want the gold but it she makes it out of the fight alive and wants to live independently she will need gold to do since I doubt she wants to marry a man to take care of her. Also I bet we will see Lil again. (hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Finished Chapter 9 (31%)
(view spoiler)[
This is really exciting. I like Will and Jesse more and more as I get to know them better. I'm glad they finally know Kate is a girl. That will make things easier... and also more interesting... (hide spoiler)]

[Dana]

100%(view spoiler)[ Whelp its done :( really enjoyed this although a little confused by the ending with the gold. Kate doesn't want the gold because of the possible curse and the indians but wouldn't a lucrative alternative simply have been to collect the bounty on the rose gang. Sounds like it was a lot and that would have been legitimate money.

Also wasnt a fan of how jesse acted in the end but oh well.

the thing with her mom was a huge shock although how come she apologized for leaving her but then said that her husband stole her from her? (hide spoiler)]