Prescription pill parties can be deadly....

Lexie Alexander just wants to help her best friend, Kelly Winston, but Kelly doesn't remember what happened at the prescription pill party she attended. Unfortunately, Kelly's boyfriend, Jared Montgomery, has been found dead after the party and now Lexie's uncle, Texas Ranger Ethan Stone, is asking questions and investigating the case as a possible murder. Meanwhile, teacher Sadie Thompson wants to intervene and stop the prescription drug ring that is destroying the lives of teenagers in her school. Will Ethan be able to protect Sadie and Lexie from the increasingly dangerous situation at the local school?

SEVERED TRUST is the fourth book in The Men of the Texas Rangers series but can easily be read as a standalone story. I have not read the prior three books but have already loaded the first one onto my Kindle after finishing SEVERED TRUST because yes, it is that good!

Margaret Daley tackles some very sensitive subjects in SEVERED TRUST, including prescription drug abuse, peer pressure, and when teenagers should break a confidence to tell an adult. For those unfamiliar with some of those topics, SEVERED TRUST is a real eye opener as Margaret Daley doesn't hold anything back. Her characters are realistically drawn and they deal with some tense and deeply emotional issues. My heart aches for Lexie as she struggles with making a stand for her friend and for what is right, even as peer pressure and danger lurk around every corner. While SEVERED TRUST is geared more towards an adult audience, I can envision it as a great conversation tool for older teenagers as the issues addressed are current and very relevant to the circumstances many face on a regular basis.

SEVERED TRUST is the kind of book you continue thinking about long after the last page is turned. Faith is central to several of the characters but Margaret Daley isn't preachy. Instead, Margaret Daley shows her characters living out their faith. Taking a stand for what is right is never easy, as the characters in SEVERED TRUST demonstrate, but their commitment and dedication shine even when things seem dark. SEVERED TRUST is a thought-provoking book that tackles the gritty realities while maintaining a sense of hope. Highly recommended!