Cheryl, thanks for inviting me over. We’re giving away a copy of Captive Trail today.

Captive Trail is second in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read on its own.

Taabe Waipu has run away from her Comanche village and is fleeing south in Texas on a horse she stole from a dowry left outside her family’s teepee.  The horse has an accident and she is left on foot, injured and exhausted.  She staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.

On one of the first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright carries two Ursuline nuns returning to their mission station.  They come across a woman who is nearly dead from exposure and dehydration and take her to the mission.

With some detective work, Ned discovers Taabe Waipu’s identity. He plans to unite her with her family, but the Comanche have other ideas, and the two end up defending the mission station. Through Taabe and Ned we learn the true meaning of healing and restoration amid seemingly powerless situations.

I’m thrilled to be part of the Texas Trail Series, with Vickie McDonough and Darlene Franklin. Each of us has contributed two historical novels to the series for Moody Publishers.

This series spans a broad time period of Texas history—from the 1840s to the 1890s. Each of us wrote about members of the Morgan family.

The first book, Lone Star Trail, by Darlene, is on shelves now. It focuses on Jud Morgan. His father died for Texas's freedom during the war for independence. So when the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas attempts to colonize a New Germany in his country, Jud takes a stand against them. But he wasn’t counting on Wande Fleischer stealing his heart. Wande is sweet and cheerful as she serves the Lord and all those around her. Can the rancher put aside his prejudice to forge a new future?

This series was put together by our agent, Chip MacGregor. Each of us looked at a Texas timeline and chose historical events that we wanted to write about. It was an education for me, and I’ve since read some books on Texas history, as well as a lot of material specific to my stories.

My research books include ones about the Comanche Indians and some of their captives, The Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line, Texas flora, Cowboys and cattle ranches, as well as women’s role in Texas history. My next book in the series will be Cowgirl Trail, coming next spring.

Come join the fun! And be sure to enter the giveaway for Captive Trail below. To learn more about the series, visit www.texastrailsfiction.com –and I’d love to see you at my own site, www.susanpagedavis.com, where I have a monthly drawing for books.