The Pony Express Romance Collection - 9 Stories from various authors

Horse lovers beware!

I don’t read a lot of these collections, but I was drawn to this one by the horses.  I also recognized a few of the authors that I’ve enjoyed in the past, but honestly, it was the horses.  I LOVE horses!

Normally, I would save my final thoughts for the end of the review, but due to the number of individual stories included in this collection, I wanted to put my general thoughts at the top.

Let me start off by saying I was extremely disappointed at the number of horses abused, injured and killed in this book.  As a horse lover, I was saddened to note that 5 stories had something happen to one or more horses.  Also, for a Pony Express collection, there’s more about the stations than the riders.  Only two of the stories have a rider as the hero.  I only gave one story five stars, the rest I wasn’t as fond of for one reason or another.  For specifics, you can read the individual reviews below.

A Place to Belong – Barbara Tifft Blakey

Abigail lives with her uncle at a stop on the Pony Express route.  She helps out with the stagecoaches that come through and around the ranch.  Jacob is one of the workers and is waiting for God’s direction in his life.  When Indians attack, Abigail’s cousin is injured, and Jacob comes to the rescue.  After that, they start to see each other differently.

This one was a little strange to me.  Jacob was a holier-than-thou type, and Abigail spoke like a middle school girl instead of a strong young woman (“Oh, I’m so glad, glad, glad.”).  She even fainted at one point.  She started out strong (after the attack), but then cried, fainted, had a tantrum, then cried some more.  The whole romance between them was odd as well.  She claims to have started to “love” Jacob after he saves her cousin, but she thought she was in love with a Pony Express rider at that point.  Oh, and I hated the part where the horse got injured.  It just didn’t work for me.  2 stars.

An Unlikely Hero – Mary Davis

June 1861

When BethAnn takes a job as cook along the stagecoach route, she hopes to earn some money while surrounding herself with big, strong men in case her past catches up with her.  No one would call Fox big or strong, but he shows up time and again to help BethAnn when she needs it most.  He is attracted to her, but feels like she won’t be able to fall in love with a man like him.

I loved this story.  I picked it up and didn’t put it down till I got my happy ending.  I loved the characters, and the story was well done.  I’m pretty critical of short stories, the authors only have a short time to develop their characters and tell a decent story, and this author did a great job.  Highly recommended – 5 stars!

The Gambler’s Daughter – Darlene Franklin

December, 1860

Caroline has come to find her father.  It’s Christmas Eve, and she thinks she’s found him at a station for the Pony Express.  There’s no one in, so she sends away her ride and waits.  But her father isn’t the one who comes through the door.  Apparently, her father abandoned the station and now a young man is running it.  A woman comes from town, they get snowed in and spend Christmas together.  The mystery of Caroline’s father continues as his journal is found and clues about his disappearance emerge.  Martin shares a great deal of the father’s history and doesn’t want to repeat the man’s, or his own mistakes.

This one was a bit of a struggle for me to get through.  I felt like I was on the surface of a story that never got into the story itself.  Martin and Caroline don’t have the kind of interactions that would make me invested in their relationship.  I felt like more time was spent on the mystery of the father: what had happened, where he was, what was in the journal, etc…  On the whole, if I hadn’t expected a romance, I might not have been as disappointed. 3 stars.

Her Lonely Heart – Cynthia Hickey

Kansas, 1860

Sadie’s husband died, leaving her in charge of their station.  She’s been doing her best, but she’s lonely.  Luke is looking for his runaway brother, and when Sadie’s son also runs off, Luke offers to stay and do what he can until his brother returns.  He’s a city doctor, and his father has high expectations for him.  Once Luke sees what a wonderful woman Sadie is, he starts to imagine his life could be on the prairie.  With threats of Indian attacks and the difference in their lifestyles, it’s hard to imagine them finding a way to make it work.

I liked this one for the most part.  I didn’t understand how the father’s opinion changed so quickly, but it didn’t bother me that much.  And, oh my gosh!  Another story where they’re hurting the horses!  WHY?!  Other than that, I loved the characters, and the story was well done.  4 stars.

My Dear Adora – Maureen Lang

San Francisco, 1862

Chip’s brother was a Pony Express rider who was attacked and left for dead.  Now, Chip is making sure those final deliveries make it to their recipients.  The final delivery is a letter to a woman living in San Francisco.  He’s not sure how he’s going to find her, but from reading her letter (since the envelope was destroyed), he’s already half in love with her.

Adora ran away from home and didn’t find the life she was expecting.  She has a beau, but there’s just something about him that has her holding back.  When Chip shows up with a letter that gives her hope for the future, she starts to wonder what to do with her feelings for Chip.

I liked this one, for the most part.  Again, the only horse I read about was one that was shot (really!?), so that was a bit disappointing.  I really liked Chip’s character, but I wish Adora had been a bit smarter.  She’d heard that inconsistencies in Dirk’s stories and noticed them, so I wondered why she had such a hard time believing there might be something to it.  Even though this story had very little to do with the Pony Express, it was still a good tale.  4 stars.

Ride Into My Heart – Debby Lee

Utah, 1861

Kimimela (Kimi) is part Indian and working at a station along the Pony Express route.  She’s out for an evening of target practice when she sees her friend get shot.  She saves him, but the threat of the men returning is real.  Gabe is a rider that takes his job seriously, and he wants the men caught.

This one started out pretty good, and it suffered from a lack of interaction between Gabe and Kimi.  There were a few times a scene was mentioned that I think should have been included in the story (when she yells at him outside the barn after the fire), but instead I read about Kimi making a new friend or baking biscuits.  I don’t understand why writers will classify a story as a “romance,” but have little to no interactions between those characters so the reader can become invested enough to care about their relationship.  Personal pet peeve.  BUT! Kudos to the author for not harming a horse in this story – in fact Kimi is upset she scares a horse.  3.5 stars

Echoes of the Heart – Kansas, 1860 – Donna Schlachter

Catherine has an education, but when it’s lost and her family can’t take care of her, she ends up in servitude to a man with less than honorable intentions.  Her escape comes when she takes the identity (and stolen items) of her friend who has died.  Her friend was bound for Kansas to be wed to a station master.  Benjamin is a man who deals with an injury and doesn’t think anyone can love him.  When Catherine shows up (claiming to be Maggie) and has letters to prove her story, Benjamin doesn’t know what to say since he can’t read or write.

This was a pretty good story.  There were some inconsistencies here and there, but overall a decent tale.  Benjamin and Catherine have lots of little misunderstandings that keep them from knowing how the other one truly feels.  Maybe a little too many coincidental overheard snippets to be believable, but I still liked this one.  4 stars.

Abundance of the Heart – Connie Stevens

Nebraska, 1861

Mercy comes to a station and finds out some of the horses are injured.  Having a special talent for dealing with horses, she immediately plants herself at the station and isn’t leaving until those horses are better.  Fletcher runs the station, and at first thinks of Mercy as something of a nuisance.  As time goes by, they come to see each other in much different terms.

Sigh…another one where the horses are injured.  This time with a whip, machete and spurs.  The abuse runs throughout the whole story and is depressing.  I absolutely loved the part of the story that involved Mercy and Fletcher and their growing feelings.  The problem is what the author does to the horses.  I mean, a machete – really?! 3 stars.  Would have been higher had the abuse been less prevalent.

Embattled Hearts – Pegg Thomas

Alannah is trapped on the trail with her abusive stepfather.  The man wants her to marry his son, but instead Alannah runs away with her brother.  Stewart, a station master, finds the pair and offers them shelter.  Alannah’s brother rides off to join the Pony Express and find somewhere safe to take his sister while she disguises herself as a worker at the station.  Knowing her stepfather won’t stop looking, she’s afraid of what will happen.

This one was good, one of the best in the book.  I liked the characters and the story was well paced.  There was a small instance where a horse falls and ends up limping, but I was still able to enjoy this story.  4.5 stars – I removed a half star because I’m tired of the horses getting hurt.

*I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Letters from Grace (Love and War #1) - Rachel Muller

This is the first book in the series.  There are two more that follow this one: Maggie's Mission (Maggie is a prominent character in this book), and Phillip's War.

Grace has been in mourning for two years.  Her fiance, Jack, was killed at Pearl Harbor, and she's vowed to never risk her heart again for a soldier.  When her friends, Danny and Maggie, finally get her to attend a dance, she meets a handsome soldier, Luke.  Before he leaves for duty, he asks Grace to write to him, since he has no family left, and she agrees. Soon after his departure, Grace meets a doctor, William.  He offers her safety and a normal future, but can she love him?  Will Grace choose love or safety?  Is Luke destined to remain alone?

Scattered within Luke and Grace's story is Maggie and Danny's story.  Maggie is a nurse trying to do her part, and Danny is training to be a parachute jumper.  His job is dangerous, but he wants to get back to the woman he loves.

It's not all sunshine and roses, this is war, after all.  I didn't expect it to be, and I thought that particular part of the story was well written.  The story itself seemed to be overly sappy at times, and overly preachy in others, but that didn't bother me much.

I feel like the author did a spell check, but didn't necessarily pay too much attention to the grammar.  There were a noticeable number of mistakes, and I feel if the author had used an editor, I wouldn't have read things like "none-o-clock train." "sooth her broken heart," and "coo-coo clock."  I was distracted and a little annoyed by these mistakes, but they didn't really affect my overall enjoyment of the story.  I actually enjoyed it...until I got to the end.

I don't give spoilers, but at a certain point (around 92%), I literally put the book down and said, "WHAT!?"  Both women seem so changeable at the end that my opinion of the story overall went from "this is a good book" to disliking both female characters.  I was all set to read the next book until I got to the end.  For me, it changed everything.  I'm saddened to say it, but this one's a pass.

Five Children and It - Edith Nesbit

When I was looking for my classic for my 2017 reading challenge, I saw this book in the list.  I'd never heard of it, and when I looked it up, the idea of the story interested me.

This is the story of four children and their baby brother, nicknamed 'Lamb'.  The children are exploring the area around their new home when they come across a Sand Fairy.  This isn't an ordinary fairy, it will grant the children one wish a day.  The wishes will only last till sundown, but that turns out to be the best part.

I really enjoyed this book!  While there were times it was apparent this was written a long time ago, the essence of the story remains intact.  I found it amusing and was smiling more than once as I read how none of the wishes went quite as the children intended.

There are two sequels to this book, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and The Story of the Amulet.  I'll probably be reading them later this year.  If I had to narrow down an ideal age range, I would say 10-13, because any younger and they may not be able to keep up with the older language.  Regardless, this adult had a great time reading it.  Good Book!

A Lady in Disguise (The Daughters of Hampshire #3) - Sandra Byrd

This is the third book in the series.  The first two are Mist of Midnight and Bride of a Distant Isle.  This is the first book I have read by this author.

Elizabeth’s father is dead, and she wants answers.  The problem is, any snooping done on her part is met with threats.  Her father’s old partner is breaking into her home, his old friend is warning her away from seeking answers, and then there’s the mysterious Lord Lockwood.  Her recently inherited country estate is near his, and she looks to him for advice.

While she looks into her father’s death, she has her sewing business to keep going.  She’s taken in some women and need to make sure she has enough work to keep them employed.  She enjoys creating costumes for the theater, it makes her feel closer to her mother, who was an actress.

I believe this story had potential, but the author’s writing style wasn’t for me.  There were so many excessively long, awkwardly written sentences that I found myself reluctant to keep reading.  I wasn’t able to connect with Elizabeth at all, and since this is written in the first person, it created a problem for me.  It’s a pass.

*I received a copy of this book from Howard Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Total Forgiveness - Book AND Study Guide - R.T. Kendall

This year, I want to pursue forgiveness.  I’ve known for years that I need to forgive so I’m following God’s Word, but I also want to forgive because it does me no good to hang on to anger and bitterness.

I picked up Total Forgiveness searching for practical ways to start the path to forgiveness, and I had two particular people in my head that I’ve struggled to forgive in the past.  I felt like the book was filled with reasons WHY to forgive and not enough ways HOW to forgive.  I didn’t agree 100% with everything the author said, but overall, it’s a good book.  I read the book before getting into the study guide.

As I worked my way through the study guide, I noticed a few things.  It’s not a 1:1 ratio with the chapters in the book, so it wouldn’t be super easy to go through them at the same time.  The book has 7 chapters, while the study guide is set up so you go through it over 13 weeks or sessions.  The study guide restated the main points of the book, but it also had specific questions for me to work through, making me evaluate my particular issues in a more personal way.  I don’t think you need both.  If I had to pick one or the other, I would definitely recommend the study guide.  I felt that it was more helpful and got me thinking more deeply about the situations I needed to work through.  The way I saw it - the book was more general information while the study guide had the practical guidance I was looking for.

Then Came You (Bradford Sisters novella) - Becky Wade

This is a novella that tells the story of the parents of the Bradford Sisters.  I really don't like the cover, but when I saw that it was written completely through correspondence, it appealed to my genealogy side.  I've read oodles of cards and letters my ancestors wrote. I even typed up the love letters my great-grandparents exchanged before they got married.

We start out with Garner and his depressing life.  The woman he loves has left him with a new baby.  He's not sure what to do or how to move forward, and horrible things keep happening while he tries to heal.  We're also reading about Kathleen, a recent graduate who wants to move away from Washington state and work her way through the ranks at Estee Lauder in New York.  Instead, she ends up at Garner's family company working in Customer Service.

I really enjoyed the unique writing style the author used.  It's written completely in journal entries, cards, phone conversations/messages.  I was afraid it would leave the characters flat, but it was done well.  The journal entries of Garner and unsent letters from Kathleen were great ways the author added depth to the characters.

The first book in the series, True to You, is about Nora, Kathleen and Garner's daughter. It's due out May 2.  Good Novella!

A Stolen Heart (Cimarron Creek Trilogy #1) - Amanda Cabot

This is the first book in the Cimarron Creek Trilogy.

Lydia has traveled all the way to Texas to meet up with her fiancé, Edgar.  Unfortunately, once she steps off the stagecoach, things go from bad to worse.  Edgar is missing, but not only that, he’s already married and has a baby on the way!  Lydia feels betrayed, but she’s determined to get answers about Edgar.

Travis doesn’t mind helping the beautiful stranger from the north, he’s vowed never to marry anyway, and she needs help.  Being a lawyer AND the sheriff keeps him busy, but when a bunch of petty crimes begin to escalate, he doubts his abilities.  Critical comments from his crotchety father don’t help either.

I really liked this book.  It was an easy read, with neat characters.  I liked Catherine, who will show up in the next book, and Aunt Bertha.  There’s joy and heartache in this book, but it’s got the happy ending and I was glad to read it.

The second book should be out next year and will tell the story of Catherine, who we meet in this book, and Austin, a new character.  I look forward to it!  While Catherine shows up in this book, I have a feeling these are going to be able to be read alone or out of order.  According to the note after the epilogue, the third book in the series will have Thea, from Paper Roses, in it.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Tides Turn (Waves of Freedom #3) - Sarah Sundin

This is the third and final book in the series.  The first two were Through Waters Deep and Anchor in the Storm.

Tess wants to be useful.  When her job at the department store doesn’t pan out the way she’d originally planned, she decides to join the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service).  She doesn’t want to hear one more person tell her she’s beautiful.  She’s had a crush on Dan for a while, but she knows how he feels about women.

Dan is serious about his career in the Navy.  Last time he let a woman into his life, she threatened his career, and he’s determined not to let that happen again.  He’ll “stay the course” as his mentor has urged him to do.  He wants to be at sea, but he’s stuck in Boston for a time, and discovering Quintessa will be working alongside him is an unwelcome distraction.

As time goes by, a little of his brusque attitude leaves him, and he helps Tess discover that she’s more than a pretty face.  She enjoys her work with the WAVES, but she’s also working with the FBI to discover spies in a group of French.  Dan and Tess balance each other’s personalities, but they don’t see how it could work.

I always find myself a little disappointed when these books don’t tell me what happened after the war ended.  This book ends in a natural way, with Tess and Dan together, but there’s just something about me that wants to know everyone made it through the war okay.  I know the characters are fictional, but Sundin does a great job breathing enough life in them, I wish I knew what happened!

This book was a nice read, and I liked how both Tess and Dan had to change their attitudes for their relationship to work.  The romantic balance was well done, and I appreciate that in a book set during a war.  Even when Dan and Tess are separated, it’s not for long and they pop up in each other’s thoughts.  I love the way the author weaves little historical details throughout her books.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Secret Courage (London Chronicles #1) - Tricia Goyer

This is the first book in a series called The London Chronicles.

Emma is an American utilizing her talents of observation to help the war effort.  She mourns the loss of her brother while examining photographs from reconnaissance planes.  She meets Will at a bookshop and wants to know more about him.

Will is a spy.  He's at Danesfield House to discover what's happened to a contact of his, and also he's falling hard for Emma.  He's got to protect his cover, but he doesn't want to hurt Emma.

This book was a bit disappointing for me.  The Kindle version I read was full of mistakes, but I hope those were fixed before release.  Even if I ignore that, the story was kind of helter-skelter.  Parts are repeated, and the story line gets bogged down by memories and flashbacks.  I wish the author had focused more attention on the spy parts of the story.  I think it would have made a more interesting tale.

The ending was a bit of a letdown as well.  I don't want to give too much away, but it wasn't exactly satisfying.  Since it's part of a series, Will and Emma’s story may continue on in another book, but I like having a complete tale.  I thought this book looked really interesting, and I wanted to like it, but it wasn't one I ended up enjoying. 2.5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Harvest House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Treasured Grace (Heart of the Frontier #1) - Tracie Peterson

Grace's husband is dead.  She's on her way west with her two sisters and decides it would be best to stay at the Whitman Mission through the winter.  She has healing capabilities, but Dr. Whitman doesn't want her using them.  The nearby tribes aren't dealing well with the sickness, and while she initially resists, Grace ends up doing what she can for them.

Alex is a friend to the Native Americans and helps Grace out multiple times.  He's drawn to her but guards his heart because of a painful past.  When there's a tragedy at the mission, he's more than willing to help Grace and her sisters.

The book read like a really depressing episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  You have Grace the healer and her buckskin-wearing hero by her side.  The problem was all the tragedies.  From beginning to end, there's death, disease, murder, rape and depression. And it's basically nonstop.

I read to be entertained.  I'm also a happily-ever-after reader, where I have to have a happy ending.  Technically, there was a happy ending, but it was only in the last few pages.  Even after the sisters are "saved" from the mission, the bad times aren't over with. The book was well written, but there was just so much depression and death that I just didn't like it.  I'll give it 3 stars for a well-written tale, but it wasn't for me.

Next up is Beloved Hope, the tale of Grace's younger sister.  It's due out in July.  I'll probably give it a pass.

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains: Carmela's Quandary - Susan Page Davis

I was drawn to this book by the author and the subject matter.  I’ve read things in the past by the author that I really enjoyed, so I wanted to check this book out.  It isn’t labeled as part of a series, but it has a similar cover to My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Pricilla’s Reveille by Erica Vetsch, which came out in January.  It also resembles My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho: Rebecca’s Plight by Susanne Dietze, due out in May.  They’re also similar in the insane length of their titles.  Other than that, the books seem to have no other connection.

Carmela has been travelling around with her uncle for the past eight years telling lies.  She was only a girl when her parents died, and her uncle has forced her to travel around the country, giving performances telling of her time with the Indians.  The problem is, she was never captured by Indians.  She wants to tell the truth, but she doesn’t see a way out.  When the stagecoach they’re travelling on is attacked by outlaws, Carmela gets separated from her uncle…and attached to Freeland.  Literally.

Freeland lost his prisoner in the attack and now his most pressing issue is to get Carmela to safety.  Eventually, she reveals the truth, and he wants to help.  Carmela isn’t even sure if her uncle is alive, but she sees the opportunity to try and start over.

I liked the first part of this book, when Carmela and Freeland are together.  But then they get separated for a HUGE chunk of the book.  I got glimpses into what they were both doing, but they weren’t together.  Later, they meet up for about a minute before separating again.  They don’t really get back together until the last part of the book, and by then, I wasn’t as interested in the relationship.  It was more Carmela’s plight at that point.

The way Carmela and Freeland get pulled apart for so long for so much of the book bothered me.  It put the story off-balance, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have.  It was just okay.

*I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.