"An historical with a bit of mystery"

Billy dies in Texas in the year 1838 leaving the ranch and everything he owns to his very dear friend, Jackson. The ranch is heavily mortgaged and payments have to be made in sixty days. When Jackson finds out that Billy is in fact, William Lindsay MacPhaull of New York, he goes to New York to see what other assets he has inherited.

The country is having financial problems during the "panic". Richard Patterson has run the businesses for years and Lindsey trusts him implicitly. He has a stroke leaving him at death's door. Financially in trouble, Lindsey is planning to sell off some of her father's holdings in order to keep others. Her sister, Agatha, and brother, Henry, know nothing of business and their only concern is to receive money for their many extravagances. Lindsey has no choice but to join forces with Jackson and hopefully come out with money for her family. She is furious with the father she has not seen for seventeen years.

Jackson finds that all is not as it should be. Someone has been buying the businesses at a fraction of their cost for fifteen years. He is determined to not get seriously involved with Lindsey no matter how much he is attracted to her. He admires her spirit and intelligence. She, in turn, breathes a sigh of relief that someone is helping her through the crisis. Jackson is systematically trying to find out who is sabotaging the business so he can return home.

Lindsey's sister and brother are totally without merit, both selfish and self-absorbed expecting everything from Lindsey and in turn, giving nothing. They are cardboard characters with no redeeming qualities. I rather enjoyed them because they are so over-the-top outrageous. The pacing in JACKSON'S WAY is a bit slow. Lindsey is an admirable heroine. Although she is strong, she is also vulnerable; Jackson is tough, dependable and honest. There is some sexual tension between the two but the business and inheritance problems are in the forefront. The manager, the bookkeeper and the lawyer are all suspects with an interesting twist at the end of the book. If you like your historicals with a bit of mystery, you should enjoy JACKSON'S WAY.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted September 7, 2001

Summary

Set in New York and the rugged hinterlands of Texas in 1838, JACKSON'S WAY is the story of Lindsay MacPhaull, a young woman struggling to stay afloat after he father's death. Her troubles are compiled with the handsome Texas Jackson Stennett shows up a her door to claim the family business that is her only source of income. Now, these two headstrong people are locked in a bitter struggle. But with an unseen enemy closing in, joining forces may be the only way to save their lives.