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Train From Marietta
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Kate Tyler never fit in with high society...and became a nurse to tend to the desperate poor of the Depression. Offered the chance to work in a large California hospital, Kate departs for the West-and is kidnapped right off the cross-country train and held for ransom in the most lawless part of Texas. Her only hope lies with Tate Castle, a struggling rancher who will rescue this city woman to repay a favor from a friend. With a young daughter to raise and heartbreak in his own past, this ex-tracker is not about to take any more risks than necessary. But the pretty blonde shows she has more grit than he thought, sparking an attraction he never saw coming. All the while a relentless villain vows to derail Kate for good.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2006
25 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Garlock
86 books382 followersDorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 12, 2024
A good story and summer read. Kate is taking the train to California to work for her uncle as a nurse. At a train stop she gets off for fresh air and is kidnapped. She finds out her fathers partner is behind this and has hired two men and his nephew to keep her as a ransom. Plates father has a friend that is a Texas ranger and knows Tate and he agrees to go look for her. He finds her and helps her escape but there is lots of adventure ahead, During this time the attraction between Tate and Kate grows. Read the story to find out what happens.
December 26, 2018
A stirring depression tale of evil and love and a satisfying ending.
This story keeps you on the edge and leaves you wanting to keep reading! A good read!! You will not regret purchasing it.
This story keeps you on the edge and leaves you wanting to keep reading! A good read!! You will not regret purchasing it.
May 11, 2023
I LOVED this book! Set in the not so distant past, kidnappers target a wealthy young woman traveling by train westward. Would someone rescue her in time - the kidnappers, desperate men already, planned on killing her after her father pays the enormous ransom. Romance at it's best!
July 18, 2012
I *heart* me some Tat. Love me some Kate. And think Luke be the bee's knees.
Overall, an enjoyable summertime read.
Overall, an enjoyable summertime read.
Read
June 16, 2019Katherine Tyler, Kate, was born into a wealthy family whose mother died when she was young. Her father dedicated himself to his work and Kate never felt like she fit in. He remarried and had another daughter but both his new wife and daughter cared for little but society. Kate decided to go against societies dictates and work to become a nurse. She was on her way to live and work with an uncle in San Francisco when she was kidnapped off the train in Texas.
Her father's business partner had forced his nephew to aid in the kidnapping and he was planning to help her escape and leave head to Mexico himself. He knew his uncle would have them both killed if he did exactly what he was told. He agreed in part to make sure that nothing happened to Kate because his uncle was making arrangements for Eddy to possibly marry Kate's sister.
Kate's father was told to not contact the authorities but he called a friend in Texas who was a Ranger. The ranger contacted Tate Castle who sometimes helped the Rangers. Tate was on the train with Kate and remembered her. He agreed to help after he found out who was holding her. He thought that Kate wasn't capable of handling the situation she was in but he soon found out that she was made of much sterner stuff than he had thought possible. Her kidnappers were a man named Hayden who was a ruthless murdered. He had escaped from the authorities and Tate wanted him in prison. Another was Squirrelly whose father was a mob boss in NY.
Tate had been married but his wife left and they divorced shortly after their child was born. Their little girl had one leg that was shorter than the other. She had a hard time getting around and Tate did what he could. He didn't know exactly what to do and he didn't have the money needed to help Emily.
Tate found Kate and rescued her as one of her kidnappers, Squirrelly was trying to rape her. They ended up having to leave on foot due to being chased and because Tate wanted to cover their tracks. They were helped by an Indian boy and got away. Hayden eventually caught up with them. He and Tate fought. Hayden had nearly won the fight when Kate got hold of his gun and shot him. She had been taught to shoot by her father.
Eddy and Squirrelly waited in the cabin where they had held Kate, waiting for Hayden to return. They had nearly given up waiting and decided to check in town for messages on their next step. They found out that Kate had come to town by listening to gossip when the went to the store to check and see if any messages had been sent to them by Eddy's uncle. They went to town the day after Tate and Kate had arrived.
Tate was badly cut from the fight so Kate took him to the local doctor for stitching and medicine. They went home and Kate met Tate's daughter. She wasn't very nice at first but Kate told her stories proving her behavior wasn't acceptable. Tate's daughter learned to accept Kate and soon wanted her to stay.
Kate called her father and told him that his business partner had her kidnapped and her father made arrangements in NY for him to be arrested. He was surprised to find his wife was having an affair with his business partner and had known about Kate's kidnapping from the start. Her name was kept out of the papers and she was allowed to stay out of jail. Both his second wife and their daughter were given a small allowance to live on.
Squirrelly and Eddy found Kate and Squirrelly tried to kill Tate and rape Kate again. Eddy ended up killing Squirrelly for Kate's safety. Tate and Kate let Eddy leave and go to Mexico because he protected Kate.
Kate's dad came to visit and Tate and Kate admitted to being in love with each other. Tate was afraid to ask Kate to stay with him but eventually did ask her to marry him. She accepted and stayed. She was a mother too Emily.
After they were married, Emily was soon sister to a baby boy, John Amos. Kate's dad agreed to let Tate and Kate live their lives independently for the most part. Tate did agree to let Kate's dad pay for some special shoes to help Emily walk. Emily wasn't in as much pain anymore.
Her father's business partner had forced his nephew to aid in the kidnapping and he was planning to help her escape and leave head to Mexico himself. He knew his uncle would have them both killed if he did exactly what he was told. He agreed in part to make sure that nothing happened to Kate because his uncle was making arrangements for Eddy to possibly marry Kate's sister.
Kate's father was told to not contact the authorities but he called a friend in Texas who was a Ranger. The ranger contacted Tate Castle who sometimes helped the Rangers. Tate was on the train with Kate and remembered her. He agreed to help after he found out who was holding her. He thought that Kate wasn't capable of handling the situation she was in but he soon found out that she was made of much sterner stuff than he had thought possible. Her kidnappers were a man named Hayden who was a ruthless murdered. He had escaped from the authorities and Tate wanted him in prison. Another was Squirrelly whose father was a mob boss in NY.
Tate had been married but his wife left and they divorced shortly after their child was born. Their little girl had one leg that was shorter than the other. She had a hard time getting around and Tate did what he could. He didn't know exactly what to do and he didn't have the money needed to help Emily.
Tate found Kate and rescued her as one of her kidnappers, Squirrelly was trying to rape her. They ended up having to leave on foot due to being chased and because Tate wanted to cover their tracks. They were helped by an Indian boy and got away. Hayden eventually caught up with them. He and Tate fought. Hayden had nearly won the fight when Kate got hold of his gun and shot him. She had been taught to shoot by her father.
Eddy and Squirrelly waited in the cabin where they had held Kate, waiting for Hayden to return. They had nearly given up waiting and decided to check in town for messages on their next step. They found out that Kate had come to town by listening to gossip when the went to the store to check and see if any messages had been sent to them by Eddy's uncle. They went to town the day after Tate and Kate had arrived.
Tate was badly cut from the fight so Kate took him to the local doctor for stitching and medicine. They went home and Kate met Tate's daughter. She wasn't very nice at first but Kate told her stories proving her behavior wasn't acceptable. Tate's daughter learned to accept Kate and soon wanted her to stay.
Kate called her father and told him that his business partner had her kidnapped and her father made arrangements in NY for him to be arrested. He was surprised to find his wife was having an affair with his business partner and had known about Kate's kidnapping from the start. Her name was kept out of the papers and she was allowed to stay out of jail. Both his second wife and their daughter were given a small allowance to live on.
Squirrelly and Eddy found Kate and Squirrelly tried to kill Tate and rape Kate again. Eddy ended up killing Squirrelly for Kate's safety. Tate and Kate let Eddy leave and go to Mexico because he protected Kate.
Kate's dad came to visit and Tate and Kate admitted to being in love with each other. Tate was afraid to ask Kate to stay with him but eventually did ask her to marry him. She accepted and stayed. She was a mother too Emily.
After they were married, Emily was soon sister to a baby boy, John Amos. Kate's dad agreed to let Tate and Kate live their lives independently for the most part. Tate did agree to let Kate's dad pay for some special shoes to help Emily walk. Emily wasn't in as much pain anymore.
April 22, 2025
*** MINOR SPOILERS ***
This book is a standalone and it is the first book I have read by the author. I wanted to try someone new and I did not care for it.
This book is written in a spare style with mostly simple words. As a result, I felt that the book had a surface only feel to it. The relationship between Katherine and Tate had no relationship development. Shortly after Tate rescues Katherine, they are both thinking about how much they care about each other. At that point, they had barely spoken to each other. A little after midway through the book, the author writes that Kate was embarrassed and then, literally in the next sentence, writes Kate was not embarrassed.
Katherine has studied to be a nurse and is the daughter of a wealthy man. She plans to go to California to work with her uncle who is a doctor. When her train passes through Texas, she is kidnapped in a plot masterminded by her father’s partner. Katherine’s father contacts the Texas Rangers to get their help.
Tate is a rancher in Texas with a law enforcement adjacent history. Because he is considered a good tracker, he is asked to see if he can find Katherine and he does. He is a father of a six year old girl. When you are introduced to Emily, she has just hit her caretaker, and I found that unappealing. When she appears again later in the book, she comes across as a spoiled brat.
Two of the three kidnappers are caricatures. Squirrely laughs manically and repeatedly threatens to r*pe Katherine. When he is finally left alone with her, he decides to do so. With fortunate timing, this is just as Tate arrives. The second kidnapper, Hayden, is a rattlesnake of a man who does not hesitate to lie, steal, or murder others. His orders are to kill the other kidnappers when the job is complete. One thing that I really did not care for is that Squirrely and Hayden are r*pists and their victims are described as “ruined”. This felt like a minimization of a terrible act of violence. They were r*ped. Squirrely also uses the term “split tail” frequently which reflects his crudity and disrespect, but I did not enjoy reading that term used as frequently as it was.
The third kidnapper, Eddy, is the nephew of Katherine’s father’s partner. He is bright enough to know that his uncle may try to kill him at the end of the job. He has plans to get some of the money and head to Mexico. I am not sure how he thought he would get the money in Texas when the plan was to exchange it in New York where his uncle and Katherine’s father live. He does not want to hurt Katherine and repeatedly tells the others to leave her alone. He also plans to do what he can to release her in the end.
When Tate rescues Katherine, he sends his horse off in order to lay a false trail. I am definitely not a survivalist, but it seemed like they should have used the horse to get further away. In addition, after they walk for a long time, they decide to sleep, and they do so until the middle of the next day. If they were worried about being followed by Hayden, I do not know why they would have slept in. Also, I would have thought the sun and heat would have woken them.
I know this is a pretty nitpicky point, but Katherine is wearing boots and Tate knocks off the heels because he believes it will help her walk better. Usually, boots are formed so the foot is curved appropriately for the toes to be down and the heel to be up. With the heel gone, I would have thought walking would be pretty awkward.
Tate is friends with the Native Americans and the Mexicans that live in the area. He treats them with respect.
In general, this book is filled with unappealing characters, there is no relationship development, and the writing is superficial.
In another nitpicky point, I thought there could have been a better title for the book.
I do not plan to read another book by this author. At a certain point, I only finished in order to write a review.
This book is a standalone and it is the first book I have read by the author. I wanted to try someone new and I did not care for it.
This book is written in a spare style with mostly simple words. As a result, I felt that the book had a surface only feel to it. The relationship between Katherine and Tate had no relationship development. Shortly after Tate rescues Katherine, they are both thinking about how much they care about each other. At that point, they had barely spoken to each other. A little after midway through the book, the author writes that Kate was embarrassed and then, literally in the next sentence, writes Kate was not embarrassed.
Katherine has studied to be a nurse and is the daughter of a wealthy man. She plans to go to California to work with her uncle who is a doctor. When her train passes through Texas, she is kidnapped in a plot masterminded by her father’s partner. Katherine’s father contacts the Texas Rangers to get their help.
Tate is a rancher in Texas with a law enforcement adjacent history. Because he is considered a good tracker, he is asked to see if he can find Katherine and he does. He is a father of a six year old girl. When you are introduced to Emily, she has just hit her caretaker, and I found that unappealing. When she appears again later in the book, she comes across as a spoiled brat.
Two of the three kidnappers are caricatures. Squirrely laughs manically and repeatedly threatens to r*pe Katherine. When he is finally left alone with her, he decides to do so. With fortunate timing, this is just as Tate arrives. The second kidnapper, Hayden, is a rattlesnake of a man who does not hesitate to lie, steal, or murder others. His orders are to kill the other kidnappers when the job is complete. One thing that I really did not care for is that Squirrely and Hayden are r*pists and their victims are described as “ruined”. This felt like a minimization of a terrible act of violence. They were r*ped. Squirrely also uses the term “split tail” frequently which reflects his crudity and disrespect, but I did not enjoy reading that term used as frequently as it was.
The third kidnapper, Eddy, is the nephew of Katherine’s father’s partner. He is bright enough to know that his uncle may try to kill him at the end of the job. He has plans to get some of the money and head to Mexico. I am not sure how he thought he would get the money in Texas when the plan was to exchange it in New York where his uncle and Katherine’s father live. He does not want to hurt Katherine and repeatedly tells the others to leave her alone. He also plans to do what he can to release her in the end.
When Tate rescues Katherine, he sends his horse off in order to lay a false trail. I am definitely not a survivalist, but it seemed like they should have used the horse to get further away. In addition, after they walk for a long time, they decide to sleep, and they do so until the middle of the next day. If they were worried about being followed by Hayden, I do not know why they would have slept in. Also, I would have thought the sun and heat would have woken them.
I know this is a pretty nitpicky point, but Katherine is wearing boots and Tate knocks off the heels because he believes it will help her walk better. Usually, boots are formed so the foot is curved appropriately for the toes to be down and the heel to be up. With the heel gone, I would have thought walking would be pretty awkward.
Tate is friends with the Native Americans and the Mexicans that live in the area. He treats them with respect.
In general, this book is filled with unappealing characters, there is no relationship development, and the writing is superficial.
In another nitpicky point, I thought there could have been a better title for the book.
I do not plan to read another book by this author. At a certain point, I only finished in order to write a review.
September 6, 2018
Kate Tyler became a nurse who worked in a clinic in New York city during the Depression in spite of being born into a wealthy family. While on her way to help out in a California hospital, Kate is kidnapped as she steps off at a train stop for a breath of fresh air. Her father contacts an old friend of his in the Texas Rangers to ask for help in getting his daughter back. Two of the kidnappers are hardened criminals. The third is someone Kate knows who is being blackmailed into taking part in the crime. Dorothy Garlock spins another memorable adventure which takes place on the American frontier where good versus evil and true love is found in unexpected places.
June 20, 2020
An Acton packed adventure with well developed characters and an on the edge of your seat plot line. Set in the Depression Era, it spins the tale of young Kate, the daughter of a wealthy New York family, as her cross country dream trio to California to work with her uncle as a nurse with the poor in his hospital turns into a nightmare when she's kidnapped off the train from Marietta Texas. It follows a period the period of her two week harrowing ordeal and the man who helps to rescue her. I loved how strong Kate is and that she helps in her own rescue, more than once. I was pleasantly surprised by the way love takes root and blooms even in these harsh conditions.
February 22, 2023
This book was okay as a historical romance read. However, I did not like the story and it seemed to drag on at times so I did not really want to finish it. I finished the story and it was eh. There was an element of good writing but the story was not very interesting after the kidnapping part in the beginning. I thought the names of Tate and Kate were too cutesy for a romance novel and I read a part of the story that I saw in a movie in the 1980's as a younger person that happened to Tate and Kate, so that kind of turned me off to the book.
June 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Both Kate and Tate are great characters with great character.
My only problem with the book was Tate's reluctance to kill the bad guys when one was about to commit rape and the other was trying to kill both him and Kate. It made no sense to me.
Also, I hate when the bad guys (or women) do not get punished. Eddy and Kate's stepmother should have gone to jail.
My only problem with the book was Tate's reluctance to kill the bad guys when one was about to commit rape and the other was trying to kill both him and Kate. It made no sense to me.
Also, I hate when the bad guys (or women) do not get punished. Eddy and Kate's stepmother should have gone to jail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2018
Filled with Garlock’s wonderful people and terrible bad guys, a charming love story with a kidnapping thrown in. Loved it
February 9, 2019
Love her books especially the time periods.
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November 8, 2019This was a very good book. I enjoy reading her books.
December 8, 2020
I loved this book. I like this author.
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August 17, 2021Read August 2021
May 22, 2022
The year is 1937, from New York to Texas. A kidnapping, cowboys and Indians; a rescue with quick attraction leads to romance and a happily ever after for Kate, Tate, Emily and baby John.
July 29, 2025
A girl is kidnapped in Texas.
June 7, 2019
This book is typical Garlock, and that's a good thing. The story takes place in 1933, and this period between the wars is rarely used as a backdrop for a story (in my experience). Kate Tyler makes a passing comment about all the folks who don't have jobs. I was surprised that the amount of print used to place Adolph Hitler and the Depression in this span of years was rather skimpy.
Wealthy New Yorker, Kate Tyler was abducted from a Texas train and held for ransom. Although warned not to go to the authorities, her father contacts a Texas Ranger and asks for help. The Ranger, in turn, goes to his friend Tate Castle. This rancher lives near the location where the young woman was abducted -- and is one of the best trackers in the area.
The language used was incredibly simplistic; usually, the author is much more eloquent. There were some things that Garlock did very well in this novel. Before our time, nurses were much more subservient to the physician. The author shows that in the way Kate, a nurse, asks the doctor for directions. I'd forgotten that aspect of older times until I read this book.
The author may have used super-simple words in this book, but she sure can write action! The last 1/3 of the book was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful; I couldn't put it down.
I didn't think this tome was one of her best, but she certainly wrote realistic action scenes! 4 stars
Wealthy New Yorker, Kate Tyler was abducted from a Texas train and held for ransom. Although warned not to go to the authorities, her father contacts a Texas Ranger and asks for help. The Ranger, in turn, goes to his friend Tate Castle. This rancher lives near the location where the young woman was abducted -- and is one of the best trackers in the area.
The language used was incredibly simplistic; usually, the author is much more eloquent. There were some things that Garlock did very well in this novel. Before our time, nurses were much more subservient to the physician. The author shows that in the way Kate, a nurse, asks the doctor for directions. I'd forgotten that aspect of older times until I read this book.
The author may have used super-simple words in this book, but she sure can write action! The last 1/3 of the book was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful; I couldn't put it down.
I didn't think this tome was one of her best, but she certainly wrote realistic action scenes! 4 stars
January 30, 2013
OK, I'm only giving this 2 stars and that's being generous because I really didn't like it. I am giving it 2 stars though because there was something in it compelling enough for me to finish reading it. I was in the mood for some romance but not like this. This was pretty corny writing that read like a bad romance novel. I don't think I've ever read any of Garlock's books... and based on this one I don't think I will be reading anymore.
Started out promising and, Kate, the main character is extremely likeable. Her love interest, Tate, is also pretty likeable. But the declarations of love and all the gushing over each other and being so happy with each other... it was just so shallow. Oh well.
Started out promising and, Kate, the main character is extremely likeable. Her love interest, Tate, is also pretty likeable. But the declarations of love and all the gushing over each other and being so happy with each other... it was just so shallow. Oh well.
April 3, 2021
Katherine a nurse whose father owns a steel mill takes a train west for job with her Uncle a doctor in California. Halfway to her destination, she was kidnapped in rural Texas. At risk to the kidnappers, she gets away with the help of rancher Tate. Together with help of Native American friends they escape into the hills. Will they survive the amoral Texan trailing them or the New York gangster or her father’s partner’s nephew in town? Will Kate the rich man’s daughter of a rich man from NYC give all that up to live in the wilderness? Will Tate’s daughter accept her? Can two people from such different worlds grow to care for each other & make a life together?
February 10, 2011
Train From Marietta by Dorothy Garlock is story of adventure in Texas and romance in the 1930s. When Kate plans to take the train from New York to California to practice medicine with her uncle, little did she know that she would be kidnapped along the way and her plans would change when she finds romance. Dorothy Garlock is one of my favorite authors and this book did not let me down. I love how she can tell the story in such a way that it makes me feel as though I’m right there or watching a movie. I enjoyed this book very much!
June 24, 2015
Train From Marietta is such a special book to me. I have read it twice and highly recommend it to all who love a great love story. It hits close to home for me since I went to school one semester at Sul Ross State University in Alpine and attended the 1st ever parade in Fort Davis, TX. I've always called this land "God's country." Dorothy Garlock has a wonderful way of telling a story that is so true to the time and era in which the book is set. She is a true Americana Author. 5 stars for this wonderful book.
June 14, 2011
I've read this book before but barely remembered it so I decided to read it again. I think that I loved this book alot more the second time. The story itself is interesting and Luke always cracked me up. The way that he is straightforward with what he askes and makes Kate and Tate explain what certain things are makes me laugh. This is definitely a book to read if you want a great cowboy-1930's book.
February 8, 2008
I bought this at Books-A-Million for $4.00 and it was one of the best buys I made that day. I will have to aquire more of this lady's books. I just love the way she tells a story and to set this book in the 1930's depression era was fantastic. Great character development. Jusst really like the way this laady writes
October 19, 2009
A delightful book set in the 1930s with a feeling of the time and characters to match. This one is set in the West with a kidnap, evil kidnappers, a bright Indian boy, a spunky female and a good, strong rancher to the rescue.
Dorothy Garlock does not disappoint.
Dorothy Garlock does not disappoint.
June 20, 2007
This is not something I would normally read, but my Mom leant it to me and I had nothing else to read since I was waiting for my ILL books to arrive. . .
July 29, 2008
A surprising story that takes a NY City girl right out of the East and plops her down in the Mid-South.......a really good read.
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August 8, 2008great book
December 8, 2012
Some exciting parts, but the romance stuff got in the way for me. I think the author is a good writer, but just not my favorite style.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews