MWSA Review

“Gritty, period-authentic Western” is the apt description of Gone to Texas by R. C. Morris according to his widow, Brenda Morris, who shepherded this book to publication. The novel clearly depicts the rough and lawless world of the frontier in the 1840s and 50s as Jericho McCain searches for his older brother, who left their home in Tennessee earlier. After burying the rest of his family who died from “the fever,” Jericho travels from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee through Mississippi to Texas where his shooting skills attract one of the Texas Rangers, a group known for its aggressive and fearsome fighting in both taming lawlessness and in fighting the invading Mexicans who want to take back their territory. McCain has the skills, strength, and temperament the Rangers seek. He never gives up despite incredible hardships.

Review by Nancy Kauffman (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

This is a gritty, period-authentic Western for hard-core Western afficionados. An exciting generational saga that spans 85 years, a two-volume series follows the exploits of Jericho D. McCain who, as a young boy in 1845, leaves his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains after burying his entire family--save his older brother Taylor who had left for Texas not knowing his family's fate. Jericho travels alone to find Taylor, having no idea where he might be or if he’ll ever see him again. In Vol One: Gone to Texas, we follow Jericho as he makes his way to Texas and encounters dangerous desperadoes, unusual allies, a first love--and a series of unexpected events that leads him to becoming a Texas Ranger. It’s a history of men called upon to use violence to remedy the acts of violent men. Jericho’s journey to manhood takes place as Texas and Zachary Taylor’s army are fighting the forces of Santa Anna. An elite group of Rangers offer hope of interceding in the violence wrought by evil men.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 356

Word Count: 96,611