I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are just some people that are rotten to their very core. No matter how you try to justify or forgive their behavior in the end the result will ultimately be the same -- guilty as charged. Strange how even within a family you can harbor that element of evil. Once again the age old question pops up -- nature or nurture. I am always amazed that families can be made up of such very different people -- those with a soul and those without. Janet Dailey does an admirable job of illustrating just how different family members can be in book two of her Tyler of Texas trilogy -- TEXAS TOUGH. Any title under the Janet Dailey banner catches my eye. TEXAS TOUGH is guaranteed to grab hold tight right through to the exciting end.

Lauren Prescott and Sky Fletcher could not be more different. Lauren born and raised with many privileges of the wealthy and powerful. Sky was the bastard child of an Indian woman and unnamed white father. But each faced challenges in their lives that basically molded them into strong people. Difficulties can either beat you down or inspire you to reach great heights and make you into a strong independent person. That is the common thread between Lauren and Sky.

The fact that they both are strongly attracted to each other is bound to present many problems -- some seemingly insurmountable. But no matter how they convinced themselves that it is best to ignore that attraction it seems as if life keeps throwing them together. And there is no doubt that separately they are strong intelligent people but as a couple they are just plain super. In TEXAS TOUGH Janet Dailey is honest and forthright in her quest to help this couple find the heart of their connection.

Sky is grappling with the tenuous relationship between him and the men who he just learned are his brothers. He loves the Tylers and is clearly grateful for all their support and friendship since coming to their ranch as a teenager. In Sky's mind there are more important issues at the ranch to tackle. His connection to the Tylers is better left as it is -- at least for now.

Lauren's father is driven to excess with his political goals and isn't above using his own daughter to garner backing. Their relationship has always been conflicted. Now back at the Prescott ranch Lauren is realizing how little concern for her welfare her own father has. She knows that she has to learn how to stand on her own two feet even if that means acquiescing to Sky's limiting their relationship.

Sky doesn't really want to stay away from Lauren but she has enough to deal with without adding her father's animosity for what he considers a half breed. The unexpected appearance of Sky's unsavory cousins are throwing a big wrench in the works.

In TEXAS TOUGH Janet Dailey has created a town where many residents are unsavory to say the least -- dangerous to be sure. As you read TEXAS TOUGH you are faced with a multitude of perils -- some human and other nature itself. Janet Dailey proves you have to be tough -- TEXAS TOUGH.