The novel is a contemporary romantic western and is set in Montana. It deftly blends the pace and dramatic flare of a thriller, with the intrigue of a detective novel, and the depth and wisdom of a story about one man’s attempt to change the very foundations of his life.
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Most people hate Justin Thatcher, so by all accounts, he’s made it.
A rags-to-riches success story, Justin has a media craving juvenile delinquent son, a former father-in-law and boss who has him over a barrel, and except for the doorman he over tips, no friends. And then his father dies. Justin takes his son from Manhattan back to the Montana family ranch to confront a past he thought he understood, rediscover the woman he never stopped loving, and come to grips with his legacy as a father and a man.
Funny how death changes everything.
Going back home is the last thing he wants to do. But Justin’s real motive for returning is to make a small fortune by selling the ranch, a beautiful mountain property ripe for development. The only problem his is brother, who works the land, refuses to sell.
Once Justin is back, strange things begin to happen. He discovers that his father’s death, assumed an accident, is really a murder. His alienated son turns out to have a knack for horses and ranch life. The woman who raised him, and disappeared when he was young, turns out not to be who he thought she was. As he navigates these changes, he survives a blizzard, uncovers the complex truth about his father, and reunites with his first love. But can this quick trip for money become the journey of Justin Thatcher’s life? Will he remain in Montana and live up to the values it instills in him? Can he truly change?
“River Stone” deftly blends the pace and dramatic flare of a thriller, with the intrigue of a detective novel, and the depth and wisdom of a story about one man’s attempt to change the very foundations of his life.
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Colorado Author’s League award
"River Stone" won the top prize in the Book-Length Mainstream Fiction category in the 2012 awards from the Colorado Author's League.
Featured reviews:
“‘River Stone’ is magnificent. It soars gracefully like the Golden Eagle. Its plot twists grab our attention like mountain switchbacks – a tale of relationships, deceit, greed, love, despair, hope, failure, triumph and zest for life. River Stone is riveting and fascinating. JB Winsor writes with grandeur befitting the West.” – Douglas S. Looney, New York Times best-selling author
“River Stone is a great read.” – James Sheeler, Pulitzer Prize winner.
What readers say about ‘River Stone’
“This novel has it all – love, sex, regret, family conflict, small town intrigue and powerful sense of nature … the building suspense makes it hard to put down.” – Russ McGoodwin
“Really enjoyed ‘River Stone.’ It’s a perfect beach read – interesting characters, great scenic descriptions and some beautiful, evocative writing like ‘long droughts wither friendships.'” – Linda Shoemaker