Summary:Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expects to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from him, but ends up with a feisty copperhaired orphan thrown over his shoulder who was on her way to marry Sullivan's bitter enemy.
Emily McCarthy is an orphan out of options. Forced to marry because she was too old for her orphanage, she doesn't take kindly to her "rescue." Still she trusts God can turn any situation to good especially when it seems Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Sullivan's crossed a dangerous man unused to losing and Emily may just be the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.
My take on this book:
This book takes place Dec 1884 in Chicago Ill. we are introduced to Emily McCarthy, an 18 yr old girl who has lived in the Aldersgate Home for Girls most of her life, she had been working as a teacher but was suddenly informed by the director that she has been promised to Bartholomew Axel as his new bride. He had advertised in the paper and an arrangement had been made between him and the school that Emily would travel to Repton Montana to become his wife. Emily can't imagine doing such a thing but she really has no other options. Within miles of reaching her destination the stagecoach is robbed, well sort of, the robber only took a small amount of the money on board, and he also takes Emily.
Our first glimpse of Luke Sullivan is of him being part of a vigilante gang that is hanging a man for stealing, the man about to be hanged gives Luke a peace of information that confirms that Mr. Axel had cheated his father out of the family farm and in Luke's mind ultimately cost him his family, so he decides to quit his job and head back home, his home was an orphanage as well called New Hope, and upon overhearing that Mr. Axel's fiance along with his money will be traveling by stagecoach, he decides to extract a little revenge.When he kidnaps Emily and takes her to New Hope with him, she isn't sure whether she should be afraid of him or thank him.
This was a perfectly written historical cowboy fiction. It had a bit of everything Indians and cowboys, a rotten bad guy,cows and cattle rustlers, horses, and alot of action. I really enjoyed how we could read the story from both perspectives, Luke's as well as Emily's. The friction between them early on made for some funny moments. The underlying christian theme was very refreshing, it wasn't overdone but it was there.
A very fast paced book that is not your typical inspirational read, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read with a splash of humor thrown in.
5/5
I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.
What is your favorite part of the book?
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