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Devon :
Devon Black returns home after months on the trail. He finds his father dead and his mother barely alive. Before dying, she urges Devon to find the "thieving, murderous devils" and make things right. Consumed by grief and anger, Devon vows to avenge his parents, determined to track down the killer or killers.
Kerrie Appleton prepares for her father’s first sermon in the newly built church on Sunday morning, hoping it will be their best day in a long time. However, when her brother, Billy, returns, he reverts to his old ways. She sees a wanted poster for her brother which says he killed an older couple and stole their money.
Devon tracks Billy and his gang to the small town of Abilene, Texas, where he meets Kerrie Appleton. Together they work to plan the best way to capture Billy Appleton and his gang to keep Kerrie, her father, and others safe.
Will Kerrie be able to soften Devon's hardened heart and convince him that the future is their destiny?
Kerrie Appleton prepares for her father’s first sermon in the newly built church on Sunday morning, hoping it will be their best day in a long time. However, when her brother, Billy, returns, he reverts to his old ways. She sees a wanted poster for her brother which says he killed an older couple and stole their money.
Devon tracks Billy and his gang to the small town of Abilene, Texas, where he meets Kerrie Appleton. Together they work to plan the best way to capture Billy Appleton and his gang to keep Kerrie, her father, and others safe.
Will Kerrie be able to soften Devon's hardened heart and convince him that the future is their destiny?
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
9 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Carra Copelin
32 books35 followers Carra Copelin is an Amazon best selling author who writes award winning contemporary and historical romantic suspense about Texans set in Texas. No matter the murder, mystery, or mayhem that may surround or involve the hero and heroine, every story revolves around their romance and family.
She's a member of Romance Writers of America and Yellow Rose Romance Writers, plus she regularly contributes to Smart Girls Read Romance and Sweethearts of the West Blogs.
She and her hero live in North Central Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where they enjoy their family and grandchildren. In addition to writing and researching with her fabulous critique partners, she enjoys playing bridge, crochet, and genealogy. Find her on her website, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Wattpad.
She loves to hear from readers at carra @ carracopelin (dot) com
Please sign up for her newsletter on her website or blog for new releases and contests. And if you enjoyed this book, please leave a review at Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble.
http://carracopelin.com
http://carra-copelin.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carra-... https://twitter.com/#!/CarraCopelin
She's a member of Romance Writers of America and Yellow Rose Romance Writers, plus she regularly contributes to Smart Girls Read Romance and Sweethearts of the West Blogs.
She and her hero live in North Central Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where they enjoy their family and grandchildren. In addition to writing and researching with her fabulous critique partners, she enjoys playing bridge, crochet, and genealogy. Find her on her website, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Wattpad.
She loves to hear from readers at carra @ carracopelin (dot) com
Please sign up for her newsletter on her website or blog for new releases and contests. And if you enjoyed this book, please leave a review at Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble.
http://carracopelin.com
http://carra-copelin.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carra-... https://twitter.com/#!/CarraCopelin
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2025
A PROMISE MADE IS A PROMISE KEPT
The new series, Gun For Hire, is sweet Westerns with romance. It is men who live by their guns—never knowing if this is their last day on earth. They are loners, guns-for-hire, cleaning up the evil, having a reputation as some of the fastest guns in the West. Life changes when they meet the right woman, one who can see past the harshness he faces and gives him hope for a future.
South Texas, in August of 1888, Devon, Damon, and Darren Black returned to the Black family ranch after taking cattle to market in Amarillo. After dinner, Keith Black wants to speak to his three sons about decisions he and his wife, Anna, have made for the future of the ranch and their sons. He had signed legal papers for them to take more responsibilities, and also had his final Will in place.
“Your mother and I have decided to divide the duties among the three of you. In the beginning, everything will run through me. Eventually, I’ll step down, and the Black Ranch will be yours.”
Later that evening, at the town saloon, Devon and Damon will see Big John, but the issue will be when a stranger, Billy Appleton, pulls a gun on Devon Black. Billy will then join friends at the card tables—and later leave. When the brothers head back to the ranch, they will discover the barn on fire, and inside the house, their father lies dead by the open safe, and their mother is dying. She makes Devon promise her something and takes her last breath.
“Hunt down those thieving, murderous devils that are responsible and make things right.”
The story’s plot will have Devon, not a hired gun, but a son seeking justice, leaving his brothers at the Black Ranch while he goes in search of the killers of their parents. Big John will go with him, and they always seem to be just a step behind the Appleton gang. The story will pick up in Abilene, Texas, where Reverend William Appleton and his daughter, Kerrie, now reside. What a shock to have Billy show up at church, asking for baptism, and believing it makes everything okay. But a wanted poster is given to the pastor, and Billy is wanted, Dead or Alive, for the killing and robbery of Keith and Anna Black.
The story has the good, the bad, and the evil of people. Billy is all about himself and uses people, including his own father and sister. Eventually, his crime and punishment will catch up with him, and his gang—but not before others are affected by his actions.
Overall, I rate the story at 3.5 stars. It was an interesting story, but could use some serious editing, and understanding that while words sound the same, spellings are different, like taught (past tense of the verb teach) versus taut (an adjective that describes something as stretched/pulled tight). Some sentences ended without feeling complete, leaving the reader to guess at words to follow.
The new series, Gun For Hire, is sweet Westerns with romance. It is men who live by their guns—never knowing if this is their last day on earth. They are loners, guns-for-hire, cleaning up the evil, having a reputation as some of the fastest guns in the West. Life changes when they meet the right woman, one who can see past the harshness he faces and gives him hope for a future.
South Texas, in August of 1888, Devon, Damon, and Darren Black returned to the Black family ranch after taking cattle to market in Amarillo. After dinner, Keith Black wants to speak to his three sons about decisions he and his wife, Anna, have made for the future of the ranch and their sons. He had signed legal papers for them to take more responsibilities, and also had his final Will in place.
“Your mother and I have decided to divide the duties among the three of you. In the beginning, everything will run through me. Eventually, I’ll step down, and the Black Ranch will be yours.”
Later that evening, at the town saloon, Devon and Damon will see Big John, but the issue will be when a stranger, Billy Appleton, pulls a gun on Devon Black. Billy will then join friends at the card tables—and later leave. When the brothers head back to the ranch, they will discover the barn on fire, and inside the house, their father lies dead by the open safe, and their mother is dying. She makes Devon promise her something and takes her last breath.
“Hunt down those thieving, murderous devils that are responsible and make things right.”
The story’s plot will have Devon, not a hired gun, but a son seeking justice, leaving his brothers at the Black Ranch while he goes in search of the killers of their parents. Big John will go with him, and they always seem to be just a step behind the Appleton gang. The story will pick up in Abilene, Texas, where Reverend William Appleton and his daughter, Kerrie, now reside. What a shock to have Billy show up at church, asking for baptism, and believing it makes everything okay. But a wanted poster is given to the pastor, and Billy is wanted, Dead or Alive, for the killing and robbery of Keith and Anna Black.
The story has the good, the bad, and the evil of people. Billy is all about himself and uses people, including his own father and sister. Eventually, his crime and punishment will catch up with him, and his gang—but not before others are affected by his actions.
Overall, I rate the story at 3.5 stars. It was an interesting story, but could use some serious editing, and understanding that while words sound the same, spellings are different, like taught (past tense of the verb teach) versus taut (an adjective that describes something as stretched/pulled tight). Some sentences ended without feeling complete, leaving the reader to guess at words to follow.
May 18, 2025
This gripping Western blends vengeance, justice, and unexpected romance. Devon Black returns home to find his parents attacked his father dead and his mother dying and sets out to track down the killers. His search leads him to Abilene, Texas, and to Kerrie Appleton, whose brother Billy is at the center of it all.
Fast-paced and emotionally charged, the story delivers strong characters, tense action, and a hint of hope. Devon’s hardened heart meets Kerrie’s quiet strength, creating a compelling dynamic in a tale about loss, love, and redemption.
Fast-paced and emotionally charged, the story delivers strong characters, tense action, and a hint of hope. Devon’s hardened heart meets Kerrie’s quiet strength, creating a compelling dynamic in a tale about loss, love, and redemption.
May 28, 2025
Devon: (Gun For Hire Sweet Western Romance Series Book 5)
I enjoyed this 5th book in the Gun for Hire Sweet Western Romance Series written by Author Carra Copelin! Her storylines always pull me in and this one happily did this. I found the main characters very likeable and felt a mixture of dislike and sadness for one. All in all I enjoyed this book and was happy with the way it ended with the hard earned HEA! JudyE
I enjoyed this 5th book in the Gun for Hire Sweet Western Romance Series written by Author Carra Copelin! Her storylines always pull me in and this one happily did this. I found the main characters very likeable and felt a mixture of dislike and sadness for one. All in all I enjoyed this book and was happy with the way it ended with the hard earned HEA! JudyE
June 10, 2025
very nice
This was a very nice book to read. The writer Cara Copeland is a very good writer with very interesting characters in this book. A rancher and his wife are murdered during a robbery. The sons of the rancher find their parents and know who did it. One son has made a promise to find their parents persons responsible for what happened, what he finds is love to the robbers sister. There is action in this book with shoot outs in it. Over all an entertaining book to read.
This was a very nice book to read. The writer Cara Copeland is a very good writer with very interesting characters in this book. A rancher and his wife are murdered during a robbery. The sons of the rancher find their parents and know who did it. One son has made a promise to find their parents persons responsible for what happened, what he finds is love to the robbers sister. There is action in this book with shoot outs in it. Over all an entertaining book to read.
May 17, 2025
Love to read
This was a rather simple book to read, but I enjoyed it. I read a lot of Westerns much more involved than this but sometimes it's relaxing to read a book that's not so deep.
This was a rather simple book to read, but I enjoyed it. I read a lot of Westerns much more involved than this but sometimes it's relaxing to read a book that's not so deep.
June 12, 2025
Kerrie’s dilemma
Devon was determined to find the man who killed his parents. Kerrie refuses to believe her brother, Billy, was as bad as people said. When her eyes opened to the truth, she relies on Devon to do the right thing.
Devon was determined to find the man who killed his parents. Kerrie refuses to believe her brother, Billy, was as bad as people said. When her eyes opened to the truth, she relies on Devon to do the right thing.
May 31, 2025
What a choice to have to make, your brother or your love. I can’t imagine anything more heart breaking for a father or sister than to have to admit your son/brother may not have any redeeming factor. It is also hard to imagine a brother willing to use/threaten a sister. Kerrie Appleton has such a brother and her love has spent years tracking him. A good book with romance, humor, evil and a truly unpredictable ending. I really enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews