With Rough Patches II, the follow-up to her acclaimed story collection Rough Patches, author Deanna Dickinson McCall has assembled another powerful collection centered on female protagonists in the ranch country of the contemporary American West. Shaped by challenging circumstances as well as the equally demanding landscapes they inhabit, her characters exhibit a brand of strength instantly recognizable to readers fortunate enough to know true “women of the West.” Against long odds, McCall’s protagonists courageously stare down adversity – sexism, illness and the unimaginable dangers of both the frontier era and modern-day ranch country. Yet, even in the darkest of moments, these characters push forward, armed with the hope and fortitude that has long defined the cowboy – and cowgirl – spirit. -- Amazon.com.