Texas Lily

by Elizabeth Fackler

Lily Cassidy’s childhood happiness is shattered when her father is murdered by political opponents. Powerless to act against her father’s killer, she consents to a loveless marriage with Emmett Moss in exchange for his promise of vengeance. What follows this bitter deal leaves Lily standing on her own as the matriarch of a legend. When Emmett’s niece arrives at his ranch, the lady-like Claire presents a cool contrast to tomboy Lily. Known for her common sense more than her beauty, Lily forges a friendship with the delicate Claire that outlasts everything in their lives except the land itself. Set in New Mexico Territory in the 1870s, Texas Lily is the story of Lily’s courage and fortitude to save her family, Claire’s love of an outlaw that sends her into and out of madness, and the profoundly intertwined fates of their offspring.

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1997

About the author

Elizabeth Fackler is an American author known for her works in the Western and mystery genres. Writing under both her own name and the pseudonym Eli Fackler, she has crafted multiple series, including the Seth Strummar Western series and the Devon Gray mystery series, as well as standalone novels. Her writing is recognized for its deep character development, moral complexity, and suspenseful narratives.
Born in Lansing, Michigan, Fackler pursued a career that combined her literary talents with her academic background. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego, and worked as a librarian for the Santa Fe Reporter before dedicating herself to writing full-time. Her Western novels, particularly those featuring the gunfighter Seth Strummar, aim to present a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of the frontier, exploring themes of redemption and personal transformation. She has stated that her goal was to depict the evolution of a morally corrupt man into a responsible member of society.
In the mystery genre, Fackler has gained a dedicated readership with her Devon Gray series, centered around a homicide detective in El Paso, Texas. The series, praised for its psychological depth and gripping storytelling, often delves into dark themes, including crime, justice, and the consequences of personal choices. Notable entries include Patricide, When Kindness Fails, Endless River, and Lucinda’s Summer Vacation, with critics highlighting her skillful character development and suspenseful plots.
Beyond her series fiction, Fackler has also written historical novels, such as Billy the Kid: The Legend of El Chivato, offering a fresh take on the legendary outlaw, and Texas Lily, a Western romance. Her works reflect a keen understanding of human nature, often depicting flawed yet compelling characters navigating complex moral landscapes.
Fackler continues to be recognized for her contributions to Western and crime fiction, crafting stories that blend historical authenticity with engaging narratives

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a real Old West conflict in the 19th century called the Lincoln County War, Fackler weaves a compelling and engrossing tale of the people involved in this bitter feud over cattle rights, which spilled onto family vendetta and personal tragedies.

A western style bodice ripper this ain't. It is a violent, realistic epic that depicts cruelty, pettiness and the true ugliness of soulless people motivated by a greed so immense that it is hard to fathom.

And yet, there is also a poignant, heartbreaking, unconventional and sadly, tragic love story at the heart of this book also

I loved the prose, the mood of the book, the moment of humor that I got mostly from the plucky title character, and the authentic dialogue that managed to recreate the time that the characters lived in, without falling into caricature.

What I appreciated less were lengthy passages where many characters painstakingly go over a series of what ifs to drive the point that tragedies are often the mere result of a series of seemingly unconnected and unimportant coincidences.

I also felt some of the plot points were over the top, veering dangerously into the domain of soap operas. However, the author manages to rein it all in before it becomes cartoonish. Overall, I felt this was a very elegantly written, well-researched, very authentic, and emotionally compelling read. I would be interested in reading Fackler' historical fiction about Billy the Kid next.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not really sure what to think about this book. On the one hand I loved it. It is so real, and true to how I imagine things were at this time. It’s not wrapped up neatly in a bow, it’s hard to take and brutal. Lily is an amazing character and how I imagine a real frontier woman was. She is faced with so much adversity but she carries on and cares for those around her. The writing is brilliant, very good characters and the dialogue is real and believable. I think my issue was that so much happened in the book but then a whole lot of nothing happened too. It was so interesting that maybe I wanted more? Maybe I did want it wrapped in a neat bow in the end. So it is my issue. All said, I did really enjoy it, it painted a picture of this time of history so perfectly.

[Sequoyah Branham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas Lily. About a girl who marries an older rich man to take care of her mother and crippled brother. From there everyone is tangled in a web of lies.
Fackler does a nice job of keeping all the sub-plots going and contributing to the main plot. I do feel like the story could have been wrapped up tighter, though.

CW- mild cussing/mentions and brief descriptions of sex.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time with this author. Hard to get into this book. Unusual story, and interesting how the writer worked it all out.