Books & Spoons Review for THE TEXAN'S RETURN by Karen Whiddon

A dying father's final wish brings a mystery to life once again...

In the small town of Legacy, Texas, an old man is dying. At his side is the son determined to clear his name. Mac Morrison knows his father was wrongfully imprisoned for murder, and he's determined to find the real killer. But not before he reunites with a love from his past...

Hailey Green, who's still grieving her brutally murdered sister, hasn't seen Mac since he fled town in disgrace. Forced to raise her siblings, Hailey still relies on no one but herself--until the man who killed her sister returns. Turning to each other while seeking answers, Hailey and Mac find their old desires reignited and realize that the only life worth protecting is one together!

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The depth of the emotions, both love, and despair, took me by surprise despite the warning from the author at the forewords. More than a suspense story, this is a story about family, loss, and new chances in life and love. Every single emotion is sharply drawn and highlighted, yet the author doesn't let the tale sink into a deep angst but keeps the hope and faith for the future and justice alive. 
Both Hailey Green and Mac Morrison had had to face more than their fair share in life. The lot that life had given to them to bear broke my heart more than once while reading the story. The way Haley held her family together, made it work despite the circumstances and the financial difficulties was admirable. The love and understanding that she still held in her heart and soul were amazing, yet believable. I wanted to reach out and hug her and help her, and make her day a bit easier if any way possible. 
Mac's lot wasn't much lighter than Hailey's just a very different one. The injustice and the reasons for it seemed so dire yet unfortunately convincing. His love for his father was palpable and one of the most beautiful things in the story. The respect Mac had towards his father, against all odds, was virtuous, telling so much about his character as a man. 
Another emotion and connection in the story that was palpable was the one between Mac and Hailey. Very soon it comes obvious the bond they had as kids was a special and unique one, one that could carry across the time and difficulties, if they only could find in their hearts the room for forgiveness, for understanding, and to make it somehow work within their family situations. 
I enjoyed the story immensely, it was inspiring and uplifting even with the sadness and destruction life had dealt for these two families. The suspense was lacking in the tale, even though the murder investigation is a constant thought in the minds of the characters, it was happening in the background, only mentioned in sidenotes, until the climax of the story where danger is apparent and deadly. To me, the killer was obvious from the start, but I was still curious of the puzzle how it would come about to reveal him as the culprit, but that part of the story was quickly wrapped up and solved, leaving me little disappointed. 
I love it when a story takes me by surprise, and this one with the deep emotions and the depth of the connection between the characters surely did that. If you approach this tale as an ode to family, survival, and love instead of a murder mystery, you will most certainly enjoy and revel in this heartfelt tale of devotion, affection, adoration, and love in its many different forms.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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