They were a crack team of Confederate raiders, striking behind enemy lines under cover of darkness, operating with one mind, one heart. Until one of their number betrayed them all. In the aftermath of tragedy, they swore they would live to hunt down the traitor. But to each, life would bring first a woman and then a revelation: Far sweeter than revenge is love. Cade is the captain of the Night Riders. Now back home at his family ranch, the dark-eyed temptress Pilar is there waiting. After the ravages of war, Cade refuses to let anything come between his and Pilar’s love.
This was a pretty good book. There aren’t many books that I can find that take place in this time period. I really liked Cade and Pilar as we follow through their journey of post-war to having a happy ending. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

5 stars

Leigh Greenwood once again gives the reader an adventure with characters that come alive on the pages as they pull the reader into conflicts, joys, pains, dreams, struggles, and LOVE.

Cade Wheeler’s and the few remaining Night Riders’ lives are in shambles after the Civil War, as are the ranches in Texas that they go back to. They are hoping to build new lives for themselves. But finding the traitor, Laveau diViere, who had caused the death of so many of their comrades, is a number one priority for them all.

They find Pilar, Laveau’s sister, and his grandmother at the Wheeler ranch, routed from their ranch and opulent hacienda by squatters—an explosive situation. Pilar works like a slave, while her aristocratic Grandmother never leaves her room, but beraes Pilar continually and haes Earl Wheeler. Pilar copes with unending hours of hard work, and contends with Earl Wheeler, Cade’s grandfather, a cantankerous, mean old man, who knows no boundaries, emotional or physical. My goodness, how I wanted to throttle that old man and Senora diViere! My anger still bubbles up when I think of how they used people, even their grandchildren to try to gain what they wanted. Leigh Greenwood creates characters that are real beyond words.

The men set in to brand longhorn cattle that have run wild for all the years of the war, all the time keeping an eye out for Laveau and for thieves that would take the cattle they had gathered. As the author weaves in the unique personalities of these hardworking, war-weary men, each of them becomes so alive and adds layers of speculation to the story—who are they and what will become of them.

Neither Pilar nor Cade was reared with love; neither of them is even sure they know what love is. Moreover, the treachery of her brother, Laveau, stands between them. How they work through the tangled mess of life, at that time in history, and find love makes page-turning reading.

Leigh Greenwood is a master story teller who makes the world and the people he writes about come alive for the reader. EXCELLENT READING!

Texas Homecoming, by Leigh Greenwood is an interesting historical romance set in the 1860s.

Cade Wheeler left home to serve with the army for three years, yet his team was betrayed by his fellow soldier and hometown neighbor, Laveau. Now, Cade and his remaining team are set on justice for those who died and revenge against Laveau.

When returning home to the ranch, Cade is surprised to find his neighbor's sister, Pilar, living and working for his grandfather. While Cade and Pilar work together to rebuild and reclaim their families' ranches, they start to fall in love. However, Cade and the surviving team members are hiding their secret intent against her brother. As the story unfolds, Cade and Pilar are forced to deal with their family dynamics, ranch complications, and issues from the past affecting their future.

It's the first book in the Night Riders series, and this book ends without fully wrapping up the overarching story line. Each of the following books in this series focuses on the surviving Night Riders team, as well as their quest for revenge proceeding along with romance.

Texas Homecoming is geared towards those who enjoy reading historical romances with some intrigue interlaced into the story.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Loved this book!
Cade Wheeler came home after the war with what was left of the Night Riders with vengeance in mind. He'd promised his men a job and money to start new and a chance to hang the traitor who killed 24 of their men, Laveau diViere. His grandfather was alive what he didn't expect to find was the beautiful Pilar diViere. The woman of his dreams and the sister of his sworn enemy. Being run off her ranch Pilar and her grandmother have lived and worked for the Wheeler ranch. Having no one to turn to Pilar did what she had to and and asked for mercy from the ones they hated the most and wait for Labeau to come home. Now with Cade home it's getting harder and harder to keep their animosity for each other from turning into something they never thought would be possible friendship and trust and love. But lies may be the one thing that will destroy everything.
This story started out a bit slow but when it took off I could hardly put it down. Pilar and Cade had such chemistry and heat that it broke my heart that there were so many things keeping them apart. Cade's grandfather was such a old cranky man you just had to like him. The other Night Riders are great secondary characters that I can't wait for them to find thei HEA.
*Book Obsessed Chicks Review team

Texas Homecoming is the first of the Night Riders series about seven men sworn to exactly a vengeance on one of their own who betrayed them, stole, and was responsible for the deaths of many.

The story was not hurting for sources of conflict, that’s for sure. It was a bit touch and go whether it was just too much and the pair of lovers should just call it a day. But no, I jest. Cade and Pilar had more steel down their spines than others would have under their circumstances. Both are the grandchildren of feuding elders. And while neither Cade nor Pilar buy into all the feud stuff, theirs is not an easy relationship and it takes much of the book before Pilar, in particular, goes from bristles and mistrust to respect and liking for the other. There is a class difference because Pilar’s family come of Spanish aristocracy and Cade’s are considered poor white trash and just happened to have sliced off a section of Pilar’s family land.

But the biggie? That would be the fact that it was Pilar’s beloved brother who betrayed Cade and the others in a cowardly act so that when he traded sides he caused his former unit to be ambushed and decimated. Much of the story, Cade’s vow of vengeance to hang Pilar’s brother is the Sword of Damocles hanging over them because it’s only a matter of time before she discovers the truth and her brother attempts to come home.

The author wrote a strong, hardworking, savvy and stalwart hero, but I loved that he paired Cade with a woman of Pilar’s quiet strength and fortitude. She lost nearly everything and must swallow her pride so many times, but she works hard, encourages respect, and she can see beyond the hate and bitterness of her grandmother and Cade’s grandfather. Whew! Those grandparents. And I thought mine was a Tartar.

All in all this was a fantastic start to a series that has a good dose of authentic western backdrop, deep conflict, compelling characters, and an ongoing series plot that promises more of the same as each Night Rider gets his story. Historical Romance fans will be delighted by this one.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read many books about the aftermath of the Civil War and this one was just another one among the many. Not very good, not even average. Found it boring and at times it seemed the author left parts out, which left this reader confused.

'Texas Homecoming' by Leigh Greenwood is book One in the "Night Riders" series. This is the story of Pilar and Cade. Please note that this book was first released a few years ago but is not being re-released with a new cover. In addition, this has mild sex scene. Ms. Greenwood is a long outstanding writer who just by her name you know that you will be getting a really good book. Cade and his fellow riders have come home to find Pilar brother who they want to get revenge from what they feel was a betrayal. Cade thinks to befriend Pilar in hopes of locating her brother. But will this lead to stronger feelings? Of course! *A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection*

I really enjoyed this one, not normally a book I would choose I am glad I did. The storyline was compelling and I loved the characters. I would definitely read more by this author