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chloeh24's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
misspippireads's review against another edition
4.0
Deborah (Deb) Harkness and her sister Gwen survive a wagon train attack with two toddlers, Maddie Sue and Ronnie. Loner, Trace Riley rescues the quartet and takes them to his poorly built ranch.
Time Period: late 1860's
Location: Nevada
Reviewed from a library copy.
Time Period: late 1860's
Location: Nevada
Reviewed from a library copy.
princessjdl's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
4.0
defenders_iris's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Holy "tell don't show", Batman, the amount of times I was simply told things by the characters or the exposition instead of discovering it.
It started out sweet and had some high stakes with getting the group back to the ranch, but quickly fell into a rut after they arrived. I was excited to see a new character show up we'd never seen before, but then literally got a paragraph explaining his relation to the male love interest - which could have easily been handled within the dialogue. And Lake Tahoe's beauty getting distilled down into "there's a lake and trees and the main characters say it's pretty" was wild. Additionally, the willingness of the MC to throw away her interests and career was out of character, especially with what felt like author commentary about how she should have been more polite/more willing to do things around the house.
Also, if I have to read the phrase "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness" one more time, taken at face value like everything else in this book, I will throw something. Crying in this verse (Mark 1:3 for the curious) doesn't necessarily refer to sobbing although it can; it is more accurately translated from the Greek/Aramaic as calling out, as in to shout for someone or to call someone's name. https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/b/b-o-et.html Moreover, the verse itself refers more to the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah and John the Baptist calling people to come to God, rather than a personal crying out to God. While I'm not going to police how the characters interpret a verse, the singular, void of context interpretation here leaves a lot to be desired for a central theme of the book.
It started out sweet and had some high stakes with getting the group back to the ranch, but quickly fell into a rut after they arrived. I was excited to see a new character show up we'd never seen before, but then literally got a paragraph explaining his relation to the male love interest - which could have easily been handled within the dialogue. And Lake Tahoe's beauty getting distilled down into "there's a lake and trees and the main characters say it's pretty" was wild. Additionally, the willingness of the MC to throw away her interests and career was out of character, especially with what felt like author commentary about how she should have been more polite/more willing to do things around the house.
Also, if I have to read the phrase "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness" one more time, taken at face value like everything else in this book, I will throw something. Crying in this verse (Mark 1:3 for the curious) doesn't necessarily refer to sobbing although it can; it is more accurately translated from the Greek/Aramaic as calling out, as in to shout for someone or to call someone's name. https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/b/b-o-et.html Moreover, the verse itself refers more to the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah and John the Baptist calling people to come to God, rather than a personal crying out to God. While I'm not going to police how the characters interpret a verse, the singular, void of context interpretation here leaves a lot to be desired for a central theme of the book.
farmfreshlisa's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly am not a big fan of the lead characters. They seem too...childish? And I can’t see how the lead could have survived as a boy in the wilderness of that area for so long on his own! Seriously? Maybe if taken under the wing of a trapper or Indian. But on his own?
And the whole “I have never been around a woman” line that kept going...it annoyed me.
I am hopeful I will enjoy book 2 more...
I give this one 3 1/2 stars.
And the whole “I have never been around a woman” line that kept going...it annoyed me.
I am hopeful I will enjoy book 2 more...
I give this one 3 1/2 stars.
a_kira's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed book but dislike POV writing of villian character to progress story.
megan_apageofpeace's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Zero chemistry between the two main characters. This was basically a marriage of convenience story that ended as soon as they got married.
adventuresofaliterarynature's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite of Mary's books. It wasn't bad just not as great as some of her past works. I have read every book of hers since the beginning and sadly it seems like they're just becoming cookie cutter.
I liked the hero and the other characters were enjoyable. Eventually I'll read the rest of the series just to see what happened to them all.
I liked the hero and the other characters were enjoyable. Eventually I'll read the rest of the series just to see what happened to them all.
booksnooksandcooks's review against another edition
1.0
This was embarrassingly bad for a romance book. There was literally not an ounce of tension or romance between Trace and Deb. The historical parts of the book were fanciful, made up, or absorbed from reading other books. The characters were dull and did I mention that the romance was pathetic?
canra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75