Shadow Trail

Outlaw Hearts #6

by Rosanne Bittner

A man whose tortured past won’t let go. A woman whose love goes beyond forgiveness. Jake Harkner is scarred on the inside from his tortured childhood and scarred on the outside from cruel beatings and too many gunfights. Years ago, a chance encounter with Miranda Hayes struck his heart like lightening and struck hers like thunder. Their ensuing storm-filled love match often threatened their years of marriage. OUTLAW HEARTS is the ultimate romantic saga, told through realistic history and events that settled the American West and tested a man and woman’s love beyond what most can handle. Now, thinking that the storms are finally over, the dark cloud of a woman from Jake's past appears on the horizon, creating an emotional twister that threatens to tear him from the woman he loves. Not only does Dallas Blackburn's visit force Jake to reveal a deep dark secret to his wife and family, but Jake is forced to break a promise he made to his wife of never strapping on his .44’s again. Only this time, Miranda vows she will not be left behind to wait and worry while Jake rides into danger. Come hell or high water, she intends to ride beside her husband into outlaw country. A bad man with a good heart, Jake Harkner is a classic hero Bittner’s readers fell in love with. You will, too, after reading SHADOW TRAIL. Follow Jake and Miranda's journey from their sprawling ranch in Colorado to northern Wyoming's Outlaw Trail for a final confrontation with Jake’s past of good and evil that could finally clear the storm clouds that have followed him all his life.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical

662 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2023

About the author

I am a USA-TODAY best-selling author with 41 years, 76 books, and numerous writing awards behind me. My major genre is historical romance. I have always written for standard publishers but am now writing strictly for Amazon so I have more freedom to write real history. My most recent publication is SHADOW TRAIL, the 6th book in my Outlaw Hearts series. I also wrote and published my first full-length contemporary story, DANCING BENEATH YOU, in September 2022, a romance involving mystery and a depiction of reservation life in the Badlands of South Dakota. My best sellers are my SAVAGE DESTINY series (7 books) and my OUTLAW HEARTS series. See my website (www.rosannebittner.com) for details on all my books - most available for Kindle and in print. I am known for great love stories filled with real history and high emotion. I have also written many Native American stories, all based on real history.

I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.

National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.

Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!

Reviews

[claudette a. jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not her best

I am very disappointed in this book. The repetitive conversations were boring. It's hard to believe the same person wrote Outlaw Hearts. I hope young Jake's books are better.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
The Outlaw Hearts has always been a personal favorite of mine. I haven't been able to find a couple that can even come close to compare to Jake and Miranda. The way that we have seen their relationship grow over the decades is beautiful and simply majestic. Rosanne Bittner has crafted a masterpiece with this series. And when she announced that she would be doing another Jake and Randy novel, I was more than thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I want some Lloyd and grandson Jake and get their books, but I don't think I will be ever ready to say goodbye to this couple. They will live on rent free in my mind forever. If you are a fan of the series, than Shadow Trail is going to be a delight to read. We see more happening with the Harkner family. A woman from Jake's past comes and throw a hurdle in the way of our couple but we see how Jake and Randy come together in such unity along with their children and their families and seeing the ways in which they overcome the conflicts ahead of them and come out stronger in the end.

First Line
There it was. Something Miranda had not seen in years. The look in his eyes was pure outlaw Jake, that one side of him she had never been able to control.

Summary
Jake and Randy Harkner have been settling into their ranch life in the lovely mountains in Colorado. They are surrounded by their children and grandchildren, and learning to adjust to the changes of the turn of the century. Its now 1902, and life is very different from when they were first married. Their son Lloyd is struggling with his marriage as they lost a child and his wife is struggling with post partum depression. Then we have a woman that comes from Jake's past, a past that he never revealed to his wife, Randy. A woman who betrayed him in the worst way but she comes bearing secrets that Jake never imagined. But his greatest fear, is losing Randy to these secrets that he never revealed. But as Jake and Randy take on this conflict with courage and strength, they along with their family are tested in ways that will only bring them closer than ever before....but will the danger that is looming ahead be one that they can survive and conquer in the end?

What I Loved
I wish that I could say just EVERYTHING and just leave it at that. haha but I definitely want to get a more in depth look at this story for you all. I know this series can be intimidating. But trust me when I say that its completely worth the reading of. From the first moment I first read this couple in "Do Not Forsake Me" I knew that I would be hooked forever. And with each book, this author has delivered on so much complexity and depths to their relationship and seeing them grow so dearly together is such a wonderful thing to witness as a reader. What I really respect about how this author has written this couple is that their connection is so intimate and deeply intrenched and also seeing how their relationship reflects so positively on their family. And seeing their family grow is a beautiful sight to see. This series also testifies about the beauty of "FAMILY" and how important it is and seeing it portrayed so well in a historical romance is reflective in such a relative way.

Shadow Trail will deliver in so much depth, adventure, and intimacy. We have the secrets from Jake past and I thought Miranda had known everything by now, but....apparently not. And there are scenes in this book where we see Jake at the edge of a cliff, emotionally and mentally. This secret is a burden that he has been carrying for decades, and the way in which it connects to Miranda, BRILLLIANTLY WRITTEN! I was so easily swept away in their story and their vibrant connection to each other. And I just want to do a beautiful shout out to Miranda in this book. She never ceases to amaze me and truly inspire me. Her character, is a heroine that makes me want to be a better human being. These special moments where she is able to dig deep with Jake and make him see hope and love when he is so lost in despair is a miracle to see. The strength and fortitude she has to stand by his side and really showcases unconditional love. I also think if you want a relationship that you can relate to in real life, this is the couple you need to read and devour.

Shadow Trail takes a story of dark hidden secrets and brings together romantic love with family love in the best of combinations. The way this family comes together for Jake will humble every reader that reads these books. Seeing another adventure happen with danger and intense emotions that are played out through the story was such a poignant experience. I absolutely loved how Jake and Miranda go on their adventure together to bring back a member of their family and get justice for wrongs done. The plot of this story kept me on edge all the way through and I had such a blast with these characters and seeing the conflict that they overcome. It was everything that I could have hoped for and more. I definitely took my time reading this one because I didn't want it to end but I am also eager to see what the author plans next for this couple and their family. Bring on Lloyd and Grandson Jake!!

What I Struggled With
The only aspect I wish could have been a bit more spread out is the ending. It felt a bit rushed. It definitely had a satisfying HEA feel to it. But I kinda wish it had been stretched out a bit more. But that's just me wanting more of this family. I swear this book could have been 1000 pages and it wouldn't have been enough.

Overall View
Shadow Trail is a tale of devotion, strength and unconditional love that will capture hearts and souls with rich emotion, vibrant storytelling and endearing characters and I guarantee you will fall deeply in love with Jake and Randy just as I have!

Favorite Quote(s)
“Who do you belong to?” he asked softly as he nibbled her ear. So many times he’d asked the question since the first time they did this in the back of a covered wagon ... so many years ago ... somewhere on the high plains ... young and achingly in love. “Jake Harkner, now and forever,” she always answered. “You bet,” he answered. “And we are going to keep doing this as long as we still have breath in our bodies. Tu eres, mi vida, mi querida esposa.”

“All I’ve ever needed to be happy is you beside me. You are my safe place.”.

“Woman, you have always been in charge, even that first time we met in that supply store. I took one look at you and knew I’d been roped and tied.”

“You are my peace,” he told her. “You always have been. When I am with you it’s like riding out of hot, rocky, barren land into a meadow of lush green grass and rippling water and shade trees.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, American West
Character Types: Cowboy/Rancher, Teacher, Married Pairing, Tortured Hero, Alpha Male
Themes: Western, Family Sage, Kids/Children Involved, Danger
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
The Rest of Our Life by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes! You must read these in order. Although if you have to read it by itself, the author does good on background information.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another hit from Rosanne Bittner. A friend introduced me to this author and my life has never been the same...in a good way! I binge-read this series and fell in love with Jake Harkner. He's big, bold, courageous, loyal, a defender of women and children (that's first in his life), an outlaw, thinks he isn't worthy of love, and that he's bad to the bone. It's incredulous to him that he has this big family, is part owner with his son, Lloyd, of one of the biggest ranches in Colorado. Life is too good for a guy like him. At least, that's what he thinks, but is it true?

I enjoyed this installation of the series, but it would have been okay if the series had ended after book four. It was satisfying then. After reading these last two books, it was still satisfying, but I was ready for Jake to hang up his guns forever. The guy is 67-years-old, has been shot and wounded so many times, nearly died in the last book (I thought he did), is prone to pneumonia, smokes like a chimney--how much can a guy take, you know? But when a child is at stake, none of this matters. He must act and act he did.

I don't want to say too much about the story itself because I don't want to give anything away, but this story took Jake, Randy, Lloyd, Cole, and Terrell to Shelter, Wyoming to rescue a little girl and to clean out the big boss that owned the town and everybody in it. I'm sure most are familiar with the scenario. There's a lot of action, shootouts, gruesome bloodshed, and an ending worth waiting for.

I think this might be the end of the series where Jake is the star, but from what I read in the Author's Notes at the end of the book and on her website, this series is not over. We have more to read with Lloyd and Katie (yay! I adore Lloyd) and Young Jake, who wasn't in this book all that long. I was okay with that. His belligerence really gets on my nerves, but I know I will read his story when it comes out.

I made a note at page 402 or so that said Randy made a bad decision that might earn her a spot in the Too Stupid to Live (TSTL) Club. It worked out, but it was still not the smartest thing to do, especially considering she promised Jake she wouldn't do it. She could have gotten him killed or even been killed herself. I was put off by her at that point and she was slow to come back afterward.

Jake has a hard life from the very beginning. He's tired now and needs to rest. Give the guy some peace. I think he's had enough.

Great story!

*This book is part of a series and the books should be read in order

[Suzy Vero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Outlaw Hearts series is one of the finest HR stories ever written .. the epic saga of Jake and his wife Randy, how they met, and their family … which takes place over many years. This is the sixth book, it’s 1902 and they’ve been married for 37 years. Alas, this book was a major disappointment.

An old flame from 40 years in his past, appears, and Jake learns he has a ten year old granddaughter and a son who has tragically died. The little girl needs rescuing as she’s been taken by an evil man in a lawless place. The story centers around the journey from Jake’s Colorado ranch to an outlaw town in Wyoming… and besides Jake and Randy, their son Lloyd and some ranch hands go too. They successfully rescue Dee Dee after a a huge shoot out and much violence, killing all the bad guys.

There was plenty to love about the story… reading about the deep love between Jake and Randy, catching up with the rest of the family, and how Jake is still haunted by his past, but I was disappointed overall with the book. A large part of the story was spent on what happened in previous books including Jake’s past. The same stuff was repeated over and over so it came across as filler. The actual story of rescuing the granddaughter was almost secondary. Way too much rehashing of the past overwhelmed the storyline for me. Way too much repetitive introspection by the main characters also overwhelmed the story. Should have been a better balance with more action to move the story along … it dragged.

The passion and sex scenes between Jake and Randy came across as authentic and were filled with deep love.

This was a shockingly violent book with lots of graphic killing … that’s always been part of Jake’s life and made him famous, righting the wrongs from his past and helping others with his guns. I’ve read over 40 of Bittner’s books over many years, and thousands of HRs … some with many disturbing triggers, such as Silver Devil by Teresa Denys and Stormfire by Christine Monson… both outstanding reads. However, I did not like the child molestation, physical abuse and rape? of Jake’s ten year old granddaughter as part of the story. It’s just not in keeping with HRs being written today. Perhaps something less horrific could have been written about the granddaughter, and still have a good story.

Overall, Shadow Trail probably has a limited audience… those who have read the first 5 books in the series. I like to recommend Bittners to my HR book buddies but this won’t be one of them … tho I will continue to recommend at least the first book, Outlaw Hearts as it’s a great read.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Book

This latest book in Roseanne‘s Outlaw hearts series was well worth the wait! I started slow and drew it out a bit as I can read a Roseanne Bittner book in a day or two. I’m so glad I read it a bit slower and drew out the wonderful drama in this latest installment of this series.

If you love romance and a book that covers more than a few years, this series is a good place to start.

Another thing I really love about Roseanne is that historically she keeps it real. Of course there is the characters who are of course fictional but the locations and events are very accurate.

If you like historical romance, I can’t recommend Roseanne enough.

[Rosanne Bittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sixth book in Rosanne's Outlaw Hearts series about a wanted man and the woman who helped him learn about love and the law. This series cover over 30 years of this couple's life together and includes stories about their grown children and includes their grandchildren, as the whole family is raised on a huge cattle ranch in Colorado. Read about how Jake and Miranda Harkner meet and fall in love in book #1 (OUTLAW HEARTS) and follow their life together as Jake moves from wanted man to prison to being a U.S. Marshal and on to sharing ownership of the J&L Ranch with his beloved son in Colorado.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Trails is beautifully written with drama, past secrets revealed, and an unexpected surprise.

When an uninvited guest from Jake’s past, comes to the J & L Ranch looking for him… Jake never imagined after all these years, this evil resurrecting.

Jake and Randy have been married 37 years, their love and devotion have withstood
many obstacles from the beginning, but now as Jake’s past has resurfaced once again, this may be their toughest battle, as a family.

I never knew when I read Outlaw Hearts so many years ago, that the Harkner’s would become so engrained into my heart and soul, that I would feel as if I’m a part of their family.

Rosanne Bittner has truly captured this series characters. with raw emotion, grace, and love from her heart to ours, her beloved readers.
Tonya Lucas 7/30/2023

[Tonya Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop the Mike. Wow!

This book brings it full circle. I am still lost in Jake and Randy's world. This man could face the devil himself. Then come back to his family. He loves Fearlessly, he protects his family with everything in him. He thinks he doesn't deserve love. But this man is loved by so many. I wish I could give this more stars. Thank you Rosanne for sharing this story. I will carry it in my heart forever.

[Gina Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family drama at its best

Jake's past won't leave him alone as it haunts him, he takes his son his wife Randy and faithful friends through the outlaw trail to go find his granddaughter he be er knew. This read is full of adventure, laughs, heartache and gun fights at its best. Oh yes the tissues came out again ! This is my favorite series from this author, looking forward to the next ones for the Harkner family.

[Gay McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a series

The best story I've ever read! Wow Jake Harkner and Randy and family. A story so worth the read. I will think about this whole series for a very long time and be thankful that I read it. Jake could put his boots under my bed anytime. Thank you Rosanne for this series ......now how about a finish to Dancing beneath you....hint hint

[Blossom · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE STARS!!

I absolutely loved this last book in the outlaw hearts series. It did not disappoint and I will miss Jake and Miranda and their love for each other. Jake and Miranda are my favorite characters so far. Well done Ms Bittner.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Story

This book was so hard to put down. A continuous story of Jake and Randy. Trails and love of this family. Hope this is not the end of these two.