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katemac89's review
5.0
Well-written, gritty historical romance
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but I ended up reading it in a single day. It was fast-paced and well written. Emma is a great heroine and Dean grew on me like he did her!
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but I ended up reading it in a single day. It was fast-paced and well written. Emma is a great heroine and Dean grew on me like he did her!
katkinney's review
5.0
This western historical romance sucks you in from page one. Emma Leigh was abandoned by her father and brother and is now on her own on the streets of Washington DC. Starving and with no other options, she turns to work in a brothel to survive. When she discovers she’s pregnant and the life of her child is placed in jeopardy, Emma makes the decision to flee out West in search of her brother who she hasn’t seen in over a year. This is a story of resilience, of the desperate position many women have found themselves in throughout history, and is beautifully told with lovely descriptions and smart dialogue. I could smell every rainstorm, imagine the train ride, feel Emma Leigh’s fear as she hid in the train station, and loved the description of all the time period clothing. When she gets to Arizona and finds herself again with no options, other than a bartender, Dean, who takes pity on her, another chapter of her life starts. I loved this story.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
clonazine's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't what I was expecting for a "sweet" romance. Don't get me wrong there wasn't any sexual content but there was a lot of bad language.
If you're looking for a western romance I would definitely recommend it to you (and if you don't mind 1 POV narrative) but I don't think this book is for the "clean-romance readers". There was a misuse of Jesus's name and as I said before lots of bad language.
In the end THE SECRETS WE KEEP is a story about a woman overcoming obstacles and fighting for her future and I'm sure a lot of readers will empathize with Emma's struggles.
If you're looking for a western romance I would definitely recommend it to you (and if you don't mind 1 POV narrative) but I don't think this book is for the "clean-romance readers". There was a misuse of Jesus's name and as I said before lots of bad language.
In the end THE SECRETS WE KEEP is a story about a woman overcoming obstacles and fighting for her future and I'm sure a lot of readers will empathize with Emma's struggles.
pageswithpayten's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Cara Devlin for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This is my very first ever Western Romance. This one was very out of my reading comfort zone. I’m usually not a fan of Historical Fiction and Western movies always make me think of my grandparents but something about this book called to me on NetGalley. I figured why not give it a try?
I fully expected horses, gun-slinging, swinging saloon doors opening to a room full of rough men and some good old fashioned West action. I was not disappointed. I wasn’t sure what amount/style of romance to expect with a western historical fiction. I would say this book was very tame on the romance side!
This is my very first ever Western Romance. This one was very out of my reading comfort zone. I’m usually not a fan of Historical Fiction and Western movies always make me think of my grandparents but something about this book called to me on NetGalley. I figured why not give it a try?
I fully expected horses, gun-slinging, swinging saloon doors opening to a room full of rough men and some good old fashioned West action. I was not disappointed. I wasn’t sure what amount/style of romance to expect with a western historical fiction. I would say this book was very tame on the romance side!
pretty_little_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was quite a good book. I actually enjoyed it.
Let's talk about character developments and their arcs throughout the book. Dean's character is one that changes over the entire course of the novel. That said, the only change that Emma undergoes is here attitude towards her brother. She has always been resilient so I didn't find much of a change in that aspect but 0nly her independence which emerged slowly in regards to her search for the brother.
Apart from that the romance was okay but could have been better - more specifically, the interactions and encounters between Deana and Emma were not deep or convincing enough for the romance to blossom.
The historical aspect was actually quite good and may have been perhaps the only redeemable feature worthy of the 3 stars.
Let's talk about character developments and their arcs throughout the book. Dean's character is one that changes over the entire course of the novel. That said, the only change that Emma undergoes is here attitude towards her brother. She has always been resilient so I didn't find much of a change in that aspect but 0nly her independence which emerged slowly in regards to her search for the brother.
Apart from that the romance was okay but could have been better - more specifically, the interactions and encounters between Deana and Emma were not deep or convincing enough for the romance to blossom.
The historical aspect was actually quite good and may have been perhaps the only redeemable feature worthy of the 3 stars.
blackngoldgirlsbookspot's review against another edition
3.0
I’m a sucker for historical westerns, but I’ve been on a Regency kick for quite some time, so it’s been a while since I’ve read one. I devoured this one in one night. Kudos to the author for keeping this reader up well past her bedtime.
Emma Leigh has been down on her luck, waiting for years for her brother to send for her, and has turned to the world’s oldest profession in order to survive. When a client assaults her, she makes a split second decision to flee Washington for the desert in search of her wayward brother. The rough and tumble Arizona mining town becomes her new refuge—the barkeep Dean and midwife Jo, her only support system.
The Trouble We Keep has bar fights, gunslinging, and of course outlaws and a flood, everything one expects in a good western. While there are some anachronisms (a zipper in a ladies’ dress in 1901), I still enjoyed this rather sweet romance. What can I say? I love a gruff hero who turns out to have a heart of gold. I think I need to read a western marriage of convenience story next! It’s been too long since I’ve gone to the prairie with my favorite trope and now I want everything to be cowboys and barmaids.
* I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Emma Leigh has been down on her luck, waiting for years for her brother to send for her, and has turned to the world’s oldest profession in order to survive. When a client assaults her, she makes a split second decision to flee Washington for the desert in search of her wayward brother. The rough and tumble Arizona mining town becomes her new refuge—the barkeep Dean and midwife Jo, her only support system.
The Trouble We Keep has bar fights, gunslinging, and of course outlaws and a flood, everything one expects in a good western. While there are some anachronisms (a zipper in a ladies’ dress in 1901), I still enjoyed this rather sweet romance. What can I say? I love a gruff hero who turns out to have a heart of gold. I think I need to read a western marriage of convenience story next! It’s been too long since I’ve gone to the prairie with my favorite trope and now I want everything to be cowboys and barmaids.
* I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
whatrhisreading's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rlangemann's review
Solid historical fiction, unique characters. PSA: Pretty heavy sexual content (the main character escapes prostitution) and language.
sarahlw96's review
4.0
The Trouble We Keep is the most gorgeous romance I've read so far this year. I loved every second of it and although Devlin is a totally new author to me, this won't be the last one I read from her.
Pregnant, alone and on the run, Emma Leigh heads West in search of her brother to find a better life, but naturally nothing is ever that simple.
I have never read anything remotely 'Western' before and I am now all in, this was such a fun world and I never knew how much I would appreciate a book set in a world with swinging saloon doors. The characters are fantastic, the setting is unique and the romance is *chef's kiss*.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Pregnant, alone and on the run, Emma Leigh heads West in search of her brother to find a better life, but naturally nothing is ever that simple.
I have never read anything remotely 'Western' before and I am now all in, this was such a fun world and I never knew how much I would appreciate a book set in a world with swinging saloon doors. The characters are fantastic, the setting is unique and the romance is *chef's kiss*.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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