4.5 stars

I received the NetGalley through a giveaway here on GoodReads. Retribution Rails is a companion novel to Erin Bowman's previous novel Vengeance Road. I read Retribution Rails without reading Vengeance Road first and I was perfectly able to enjoy Retribution Rails a lot.

Retribution Rails follows the story of outlaw Reece "The Rose Kid" Murphy and aspiring journalist Charlotte Vaughn. Reece wants out of the Rose Riders but before he can be a free man, he has to point out the cowboy who killed his boss's brother. Charlotte wants to save her mother and herself from her greedy uncle who is out to get the family's mine. The two meet when the Rose Riders, the group of outlaws Reece is part of, pulls a heist on a train. The story has a nice build up and the climax, in my opinion, is super awesome.

I definitely recommend this book, especially when you have enjoyed Wait for Me by Caroline Leech. Even if historical fiction is not your thing, this book might change your mind about that.

Spoiler

I loved how Charlotte and Reece gradually grew to like each other. The development had a really nice pace. It made it believable. From hate and distrust in the coach to friends and maybe even more in the last chapter.
Reece struggle also seemed very natural. Turning on the people you called family and knew for three years couldn't be easy.
Can we talk about that amazing climax where they are running on top of the train? Because I just think that was so awesome! When DeSoto and Diaz attacked the Coltons' house, I just couldn't stop reading. The stakes just felt so real.
How Kate just shot DeSoto while holding her newborn baby made me really want to pick up Vengeance Road.
I also really like the message about how people aren't all good and aren't all evil.

***
I really enjoyed this book. The climax was so cool! And the characters had a very gradual character development which was very nicely done. I would really recommend this book.
Full review to come.

***
April 13th, 2017
I received an e-galley ARC :))