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Reviews
Courting Calamity: 4 Historical Stories by Jennifer Uhlarik, Gabrielle Meyer, Amanda Barratt
melmo2610's review
3.0
The first 3 stories in this collection are cute and fun reads that I enjoyed. The fourth story which based on a real life tragedy is heartbreaking. I read the first few chapters of it and skimmed the rest because I knew that would be too much for me.
michellef's review
5.0
Courting Calamity is a Christian fiction anthology.
Lady and the Tramps by Jennifer Uhlarik (California, 1874)
Wells Fargo Detective Jake Hickens has a safe to protect from outlaws. Meanwhile, Mattie Welling and her orphan charges are approached by the same outlaws. Can Jake protect Mattie and the orphans, as well as the safe? I liked this story.
The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creek by Kathleen Y’Barbo. (Texas, 1890)
Abigail Cooper was born beautiful, and Lizzie Cooper was born smart. Lizzie was known best as Abigail’s sister. Abigail was the favored daughter. Marrying Abigail seemed right to Zeke. If Zeke wasn’t married within a month he would be in jail. This was a great story.
The Bride of Basswood Hill by Gabrielle Meyer. (Minnesota, 1900)
Alex would be honoring a dying man’s last wish if he married Sofia Bellini. But could Alex love her, or was he just marrying her to appease the dying man’s wish? This was a sweet story.
Echoes of the Heart by Amanda Barratt (New York City, 1909)
This story features immigrants coming to America and a fight for justice and equality. Readers are reminded that Abraham Lincoln gave a speech denouncing slavery at Cooper Union. This was my favorite story.
All of the stories were wonderful and although a short story, they were meaty. I give Courting Calamity 5*/5*
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Lady and the Tramps by Jennifer Uhlarik (California, 1874)
Wells Fargo Detective Jake Hickens has a safe to protect from outlaws. Meanwhile, Mattie Welling and her orphan charges are approached by the same outlaws. Can Jake protect Mattie and the orphans, as well as the safe? I liked this story.
The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creek by Kathleen Y’Barbo. (Texas, 1890)
Abigail Cooper was born beautiful, and Lizzie Cooper was born smart. Lizzie was known best as Abigail’s sister. Abigail was the favored daughter. Marrying Abigail seemed right to Zeke. If Zeke wasn’t married within a month he would be in jail. This was a great story.
The Bride of Basswood Hill by Gabrielle Meyer. (Minnesota, 1900)
Alex would be honoring a dying man’s last wish if he married Sofia Bellini. But could Alex love her, or was he just marrying her to appease the dying man’s wish? This was a sweet story.
Echoes of the Heart by Amanda Barratt (New York City, 1909)
This story features immigrants coming to America and a fight for justice and equality. Readers are reminded that Abraham Lincoln gave a speech denouncing slavery at Cooper Union. This was my favorite story.
All of the stories were wonderful and although a short story, they were meaty. I give Courting Calamity 5*/5*
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
cakt1991's review
4.0
“Lady and the Tramps” by Jennifer Uhlarik
4 stars
This one is a fun Western with the heroine helping orphan children and a thread of suspense that brings Mattie and detective Jake together. Both leads are memorable, and I liked their romance.
“The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creek” by Katherine Y’ Barbo
4 stars
This one was cute! I liked Lizzie and Zeke’s camaraderie, and I like how, while things didn’t work out how Zeke thought they would with the woman he initially thought he wanted, he found the right woman for him in Lizzie.
“The Bride of Basswood Hill” by Gabrielle Meyer
5 stars
One of the bright stars of the collection, I love how it explores an arranged marriage that was meant to be temporary and the struggles of an immigrant in assimilating into society. It’s a bit idealistic, but given the reality of the issues is often harsh, I needed this dose of sweetness to provide me a sense of optimism.
“Echoes of the Heart” by Amanda Barratt
4.5 stars
I was excited for this one in particular because of one review I read in advance from a so-called “Christian” decrying the “liberal politics” of the book…as if it’s not a basic human desire to have fair working conditions? I liked the focus on this historical workers’ strike, punctuated by tragedy, and I found it poignant in light of many of the real life issues we’ve been dealing with lately. However, I did find the romance to be weaker by comparison, though Lorenzo and Aileen’s relationship is a small bright spot in an otherwise intense story.
***
A fairly solid collection, I love how it captures the gallant tradition of brave heroes and distressed heroines with distinct stories set in fun settings and time periods. And on the whole, it’s one of the better collections I’ve read from Barbour. If you love inspirational/sweet romance, you won’t want to miss this!
4 stars
This one is a fun Western with the heroine helping orphan children and a thread of suspense that brings Mattie and detective Jake together. Both leads are memorable, and I liked their romance.
“The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creek” by Katherine Y’ Barbo
4 stars
This one was cute! I liked Lizzie and Zeke’s camaraderie, and I like how, while things didn’t work out how Zeke thought they would with the woman he initially thought he wanted, he found the right woman for him in Lizzie.
“The Bride of Basswood Hill” by Gabrielle Meyer
5 stars
One of the bright stars of the collection, I love how it explores an arranged marriage that was meant to be temporary and the struggles of an immigrant in assimilating into society. It’s a bit idealistic, but given the reality of the issues is often harsh, I needed this dose of sweetness to provide me a sense of optimism.
“Echoes of the Heart” by Amanda Barratt
4.5 stars
I was excited for this one in particular because of one review I read in advance from a so-called “Christian” decrying the “liberal politics” of the book…as if it’s not a basic human desire to have fair working conditions? I liked the focus on this historical workers’ strike, punctuated by tragedy, and I found it poignant in light of many of the real life issues we’ve been dealing with lately. However, I did find the romance to be weaker by comparison, though Lorenzo and Aileen’s relationship is a small bright spot in an otherwise intense story.
***
A fairly solid collection, I love how it captures the gallant tradition of brave heroes and distressed heroines with distinct stories set in fun settings and time periods. And on the whole, it’s one of the better collections I’ve read from Barbour. If you love inspirational/sweet romance, you won’t want to miss this!
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