Book Review: Badlands Bride by Cheryl St. John

At First Sight: Growing up the daughter of a news paper owner, Hallie Wainwright always wanted to be a reporter, but everyone else in her family had other ideas. As a way to keep her from being underfoot at the news paper, her father suggests Hallie writes a story about Mail Order brides, since a group of such women are about to leave Boston to go West in that capacity.

Once Hallie realizes of the ploy, and when one of the brides changes her mind, Hallie decides to go West herself and get all the scoop about Mail Ordered brides, and finally prove to her father that she has what it takes to be a great reporter. 

But things are complicated in the Wild West, the journey is long and uncomfortable, and when Hallie and the brides reach their destination, they encounter a blink-and-you-miss-it town, and Hallie gets mistaken for the bride who balked. 

Cooper DeWitt, the scorned groom, is vaguely relieved that his intended bride changed her mind - once he finally believes Hallie is who she says she is - since he saw his father suffer a lot when he married a city woman. Still, he sent for a bride because he needed help and, since Hallie is stuck with him without means of leaving, Cooper offers her shelter and a job: to teach his young nephew to read and write, and to help him put his business' books in order.

With only a handful of people for company, Hallie quickly grows close to the people around her - Cooper, his sister in law and nephew, mostly - and finally feels useful for the first time in her life.  

Second Glance: Oh, I loved this book. With a relatively small cast of characters, I really got a sense of the time and place the story was set in, of the hardships of life in the frontier. And I loved both Cooper and Hallie. I was surprised at how much I liked Hallie, actually, because I usually don't like the heroine who does something really dumb just to prove a point, but Hallie assumes it and works hard and makes a place for herself in Cooper's life, even without realizing it. 

Cooper was good too, and I loved all the references that were peppered across the book about the Sioux culture, as Cooper was brought up by them (he's constantly talking about how the whites' are this or that, and he's, like, blond, but he thinks he's just another one of the tribe).

I did feel like the ending dragged a little, but not for long, and the the resolution is quite satisfying and surprisingly funny.

Bottom Line: Badlands Bride is really nice read, a love story between two people who eventually realize that their place in life is by each other's side, regardless of their differences. Not my favorite St. John but I really liked it all the same.

2/3

Wed Under Wester Skies

Wed Under Western Skies is an anthology including 3 stories by 3 authors, all three stories are historical Americana set in the West. I'm going to do short reviews of each story.

Abandoned by Carolyn Davidson tells the story of Elizabeth Travis, a young woman who was left half dead after a group of Indians raided the wagon trail where she traveled with her father.

Elizabeth was found the next day by Cameron Montgomery, a scout for another wagon trail making its way to Oregon. Cam is immediately taken by Elizabeth, even in her bruised state, and takes her with him. Vowing in an instant to keep her safe forever. There is one problem though, Elizabeth doesn't remember who she is.

I liked Abandoned, it was a quick read and I did sort of believe the connection between Cam and Elizabeth and, over all, was a very well rounded story. Rating 3.5/5

Almost a Bride by Cheryl St. John brings us back to Copper Creek, where we get re-acquainted with Charmaine Renlow - from both Sweet Annie and His Second Hand Wife (which I LOVE). Over the years, Charmaine has seen all of her friends marry and start their own families, patiently waiting for her beau to finally propose, but he has been dragging his feet.

Jack Easton just moved to the outskirts of Cooper Creek so his young son can go to school with the rest of the local children, he has no intention to bring a woman into his life - he was happy with his first wife, but doesn't want to marry again - he mostly wants to be left alone. But, while working together on a project for the school, Charmaine and Jack are thrown together and they can help to be a bit fascinated about each other.

I loved Almost a Bride, my only complaint is that it was so short! I had been waiting to read Charmaine's story for a long time (and it was a big to do for me to get my paws on this book since it's out of print!!!) and I really think she deserved her own book. Jack was a nice hero for her. But yeah, definitely wished for more! Rating 4/5.

His Brother's Bride by Jenna Kernan tells the story of Nate Justice - owner of a hardware shop and a saloon in Colorado city - who reluctantly marries his brother's widow, Clara, to take care of her and of his niece Kitty. Clara is quite desperate so she agrees to Nate's marriage proposal and moves all the way from New York to Colorado. He doesn't think he's good enough for her and she doesn't think she's good enough for him either.

And that's why I didn't care much for this story. From the start they both feel inadequate due to things that happened in their pasts and that's understandable but it also got a bit annoying how many times. Clara lives terrified of her past coming back, but well, won't spoil. Rating 2.9/5

Over all
1/3

List Maniac #4 - On Favorite Books Read in 2009

Okay, so there are my favorite books I read during 2009 - regardless of when they were published

In random order.

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robing Brande (Review) - I was surprised at how much I loved this book and at how much it took me back to my middle school experience. But I loved Mena (I could never get her parents though), and the Connors and all the puppies!!

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (Review) - One of my favorite authors writing one of my favorite type of story: A take on Beauty and the Beast! Nice characters, nice plot, awesome dog!

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (Review) - There is not one book by her that I haven't liked, Melina writes realistic fiction about teens with a perfect pitch and distinct voice. She could write a groceries list, I would still read it and love it. And I was so glad to finally get my paws on this book after waiting for 2 years!

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong (Review)- I'm not a paranormal fan but Darkest Powers is one of my favorite exceptions, Book 1 (The Summoning) was OK, but The Awakening blew my socks off! And I CAN'T WAIT for The Reckoning, I think is my second most coveted book for next year.
And yeah, I LOVE Derek.

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley (Review) - Okay,s o I'm not Asian, I have only once seen snow - and I had to climb up a volcano for it, but it was worth it - yet I totally connected with Syrah and her love for snow and her family and, I was also mostly raised by an old person (my Grandma Sophie) so I loved Bau-Mu.

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot (Review) - Even though I'm a longtime fan of Meg Cabot, there was a while there when I didn't really love many of her books, they were OK, they were fun, but I knew there would be no re-reading in the future. Then I got Airhead last year and surprise! I really liked it. And when Being Nikki came out earlier this year, it was LOVE!

His Secondhand Wife by Cheryl St. John (Review) - I had never bothered to read much Americana, I never though I would like historical romances set in America, but my romance reading friends told me "You have to read Cheryl St. John, then you make up your mind", and I'm seriously glad I did read it. Noah and Katy's story just so romantic, and now I'm an avid reader of this author.

Forever Princes (Princes Diaries #10) by Meg Cabot (Review) - It was an awesome book to start the year! Usually when a series ends there is something or other that I don't quite like, but it wasn't the case with this book!! It reminded me of everything I loved about Mia and left me with warm fuzzies when it was all done.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (Review) - I had read some of her books before and while I really liked some of them, others were not so awesome to my taste, but in Virginia I found an awesome heroine whom I would love to call a friend.

His Secondhand Wife by Cheryl St. John

Noah Cutter is surprised when he finds not only that his younger brother Levi has gotten himself killed but that he also left behind a wife he told no one about.

Driven by his sense of duty, Noah locates Katherine and finds her working at a laundry house, poor and pregnant and without the support of her mother. So, Noah does the honorable thing and asks her to come with him to his ranch, where she and the baby will be safe and provided for.

Katherine isn't sure if she can believe Noah, after all his brother left her behind as if she were so much garbage, but something tells her that Noah is the only chance her baby has to have a good life. So she goes off with him to his ranch in the outsides of Copper Creek, Colorado.

Noah is a bit of the town's loner, he has had scars all over his body and part of his face since he was in his early teens due to an accident and, thanks to his not-so-kind stepmother, has always believed people are better off spared the sight of him. So, having Katherine move in with him is less than ideal, especially since he thinks she's pretty much the most beautiful girl he has ever seen.

After his stepmother, Estelle, drives the idea into his head that Kate could someday re-marry and take his niece or nephew away, Noah asks a still pregnant Katherine to marry him.

When most books end in marriage, for Noah and Kate it's just the beginning as Kate struggles to make a place for herself in Noah's life beyond being the mother of Levi's child - for a long time she thinks the Cutters don't want her, just the baby - and Noah struggles with the fact that he might be falling in love with Kate and the belief that she could never love him back, since she loved his handsome brother and there is no way he could compare to Levi.

This book is a definite hanky-read, I was in tears just a few pages in cried most of my way through, but the story is so wonderful I couldn't put it down. The romance grows slowly and sweetly and it's one of the best stories I've read lately.

Characters from Sweet Annie, show up and you do get a little update on their lives, which is nice.

Anyway, I'm in love with this book.

Grade:

Sweet Annie by Cheryl St. John

Annie Sweetwater has always been different from the rest of her family and friends in the small town of Copper Creek, Colorado. She was born with a bad hip that makes her limp. Her family adores her but also are over protective of her, at times thinking of her as a doll rather than a person.

When she was ten years old, Annie met Luke Carpenter - who had just moved to Copper Creek with his uncle - and he made her two wonderful gifts: took her for a horse ride, and he treated her like a normal girl. Sadly, her parents didn't take well to Luke, and from then on they didn't let Annie have anything to do with Luke, even though they lived in the same town.

Ten years later, Luke owns his own livery, which he build on his own since Annie's father is the town's banker and wasn't inclined to give him a loan; and he hasn't forgotten Annie; in fact, he's more in love than ever. And it is her love for him that will give her the strength to finally claim the 'normal' life she longs for.

Oh, I completely loved this book, it's the first Cheryl St. John book I've read and it was lovely. The way Luke sees Annie for the beautiful person that she is rather than pass judgment on her for her physical imperfections made me fall in love with him as well. And as Annie begins to fight for what she wants made her a great heroine.

Grade:
3/4