A family western that will make your heart smile. Determined to never allow anyone into his life again, Shad Parker takes his broken life to Gilead, Texas to separate himself from the life he had before the Civil War. But even a hard hearted soul such as his could not leave three orphans to die. As Shad and his new family learn, life is not always under your control. The story is the ultimate Texas version of the Grinch.

Really enjoyed this story, the characters and plot are all fantastic. Highly recommend to fans of this genre.

This epic story about life in an small, old western town, was quite intense. The time frame is after the Civil War and all of the hardships people face trying to put their lives together or at least make a new life with the sparse remnants. There are numerous characters involved and each played an important part. There are plenty of tragedies and heartache to go around for everyone and this has more of a HFN ending. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a little different story of life in Texas after the Civil War. It is a heartwarming tale of a veteran who has lost everything and three orphans who only want to stay together. It is well written.

“The Christmas Trespassers” by Andrew J. Fenady, is a nice little Christmas story. After the Civil War, Shad Parker returns home to the Shenandoah Valley to find that his wife and children did not survive the war. In deep despair and vowing not to get close to anyone again, he moves to near Gilead, Texas. He keeps to himself, is gruff with everyone he meets and is even feared by some of the townspeople.

A few weeks earlier, siblings Peg, Davy, and Austin ran away from the Faith, Hope, and Charity Orphanage in Palestine, Texas. They had traveled on foot for a far piece and were desperately tired, hungry and dirty. They had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The finally found refuge in a cave but needed to find food. They’d been living on fish, birds, and, rabbits that they caught. Davy, as the oldest, decided to do a little foraging for food. He found Shad’s cabin and the chickens behind it. He took a couple of eggs for the three of them to eat, but Shad caught him and told them to leave his property. The children stayed in the cave for shelter, but it was getting cold and they were starving.

In town, there were three brothers up to no good, but trying to act as though they were going to settle in the town. They were really there to hold up the bank. When the robbery was committed, one of the brothers was killed and one shot. Making their getaway, they stopped at Shad’s place. During a struggle, Shad was shot. The children came to his rescue and eventually all was well, especially as it was Christmas.

I liked The Christmas Trespassers. I thought it was pretty good. I give it four stars and recommend it.

A heartwarming story of tragedy. Shad Parker's family, of his pregnant wife and two sons were killed in the Civil War. Now he has left Virginia, and moved to small town Texas, where all he wants is to be left alone. Three nasty brothers have killed and stolen in a path to the same small town, to rob the bank. Three young siblings, under the age of 10, have escaped an orphanage, and are hiding in a cave above Shad's place. A lot of interested characters, and many side stories add depth and interest to the story. Really enjoyed this one, and loved the ending. Highly recommend this book and author.