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Wyoming Frontier #1
Midnight Blue
Leaving her finishing school behind, Mara Shannon McCall comes back to Wyoming, determined to reclaim the ranch that was her father's legacy.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1989
89 people are currently reading
273 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 Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.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 Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.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 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 5, 2013
plot spoilers
I’m trying to think of something positive to say about this book, and one thing actually does come to mind. At almost the very end of the book, it was nice to hear that he had secretly gone to her graduation and sent her those gifts when she thought she had no one. I thought it was sweet how he told her he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t loved her. It would have been so much sweeter if I actually believed that statement, but no. I had to sit there and hear about his “bad life,” and all I’m thinking is that he CHOSE to do the wagon trains or w/e the heck he did for a living, and he chose to be a prizefighter. Again, that was his choice. So when he says that he had a bad life and found feminine comfort with a whore, I’m not feeling much sympathy. In fact, all I’m feeling is disgust.
But that one little moment doesn’t stand a chance against the paragraphs filled with stupid ignorant sentences, disgusting comments about his whores and just plain boring circumstances. . .which was the rest of the book.
Just about every sentence in every conversation ended in an exclamation point, and that was very exhausting to read. Did the author even read back through it, because she had to have realized her characters were speaking with way too much gusto. I felt like short of breath just reading it. Then upon their first meeting, when he and she actually realize who the other one is, he bursts out with “Hell and damnation! Sweet Jesus! Good God Almighty! Holy Sainted Mother of God! What the hell are YOU doing here?”
Okay, that was a little over the top if I must say so myself. We could have done with just one of those phrases and it would have been fine. Does anybody talk like that? You don’t string together a bunch of random and separate phrases and throw them together like that. All that accomplished was making him sound like a dumb hick that doesn’t know to cuss right. And she calls it a “hostile greeting.” Good lord, how pathetic. If somebody “cussed” me out like that I’d just cry from all the hostility. And what is with the exclamation points? If people in real life talked like they do in this book they’d wear themselves out. I’m actually surprised the author didn’t have the characters lose their voices, because she had to have realized they were yelling everything throughout the book.
Almost every character, save a spare few, came off as being very unintelligent and uneducated. It was quite the task to read through their conversations, what with the whole Irish brogue coming and going like the wind passing through, making special appearances at certain times and then disappearing as if the characters weren’t Irish at all.
She considers using words like “horse dung, crude, spoiled and rude” and saying things like “You have cow dungs for brains,” “you’re a stinking polecat,” and “You worthless, mouthy, slimy little piece of horse dung” as swearing. She actually thinks she’s insulting people with those childish words. It was pathetic.
Then she threatens to have a screaming fit if one more person tells her to leave her home, like that’s a really threatening thing to have happen. Ooohhhh noooooo, please don’t throw a screaming fit! That’s almost, ALMOST, as threatening as the word horse dung. Almost, but not quite.
To top it all off, like that stuff wasn’t bad enough, she decides to mix in a little bit of infuriating comments about his sordid past, like we want to hear about it. I find it highly disgusting and just plain wrong to have your husband talk about his whoring days like there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Travor brings up the nice topic of Pack’s blonde whore at the saloon and that they’re so close. Then when Travor calls her for what she is Pack defends her. When he notices Mara Shannon (and it’s not plain Mara, no, it’s gotta be Mara Shannon, and when everyone’s talking to each other they have to sneak in their names after each sentence, like we’ve forgotten who they were talking to) that she’s mad about it and disgusted with him, his lips twitched like he’s amused. He thinks she’s a snob and that she doesn’t understand about women like Candy, and that she doesn’t know what it’s like to “scrounge to keep body and soul together.” Oh, well you poor little thing! If you want to save your soul because you’re down in the dumps why don’t you go to church and pray to God, not see a freakin whore. How can they save your soul? Are whores miracle workers? Helllll no!
She felt insulted and hurt and vows never to forgive him in a million years, and then shortly after that she has a bad dream and clings to him for comfort like a little crybaby. It seemed to me like she had an awful lot to be unforgiveable towards him about, yet every time I turned around she was either talking to him like nothing was wrong or touching him for comfort. I felt like she was sending some pretty strong mixed signals out.
The circumstances of their marriage was completely messed up. She practically dared him to marry her, under the pretense of “protecting the land and standing up to Cullen.” Why would you pledge your life to someone just to save your land? Hello, you could do that without being married if you’d stand up for yourself and quit using baby insults like “cow dung for brains.”
He made a ride into town, telling Mara she can’t come with him, and he makes a special stop at the saloon to tell good ‘ol Candy he’s married. She initially asks to go to bed with him, and he declines, which if I’m being honest, was a little surprising considering their touching past together. Then he goes and ruins it by saying it isn’t that the offer isn’t tempting, but he’s a married man now. Good to know he actually respects his marriage vows. But he does kiss her twice before leaving “for old time’s sake.” Aw, isn’t that sweet? That’s cheating in my book. And the poor little whore is sad because she wanted to marry him but she wasn’t good enough. Pooorrr little thing! And the d.a. wants her to know Mara, like his “savior” of a whore and his wife can form a friendship. It takes the whore to point out that wouldn't be a good idea.
He has the nerve to say he’s a man with the needs God gave him. Don’t you even bring God into that and use him as an excuse to explain your filthy ways. Pack wants to make Mara Shannon understand about his friendship with Candy and Nan. He doesn’t want her to think bad of him. Here’s some advice, if you’re doing something you’re going to be ashamed of DON’T DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Then to throw some more crap in the pot Ace comes over, who is apparently just crazy about old Mara Shannon, even though they met like a total of two times before this, and slaps her for marrying Pack and sort of mauls her a little bit and she does nothing about him. She just stands there and basically takes it. Then, under the guise of getting a lamp, she runs outside and locks herself in the privy. Pack eventually finds her and she launches herself at him and is hitting him, which is going wayyy overboard considering what happened with Ace wasn’t that bad compared to what could have happened. If she’d bother to look she’d realize it’s Pack that’s holding her. But no, her unfocused eyes and her fright is preventing her from the gift of sight, so we have to set there and tolerate this little episode that lasts like a page long. She’s yelling things out like “get away from me! I’ll not let you kill him! Bastard! Belly-crawling snake! Stinking polecat! (ouch, that hurts!) I’ll die before I go with you!” Even when Pack speaks and tells her to stop, the sound of his voice doesn’t even get through to her. “You make me want to puke” she goes on. “Pack’s ten times the man you are, even if he does have two whores. He’ll kill you when he comes home!”
Crazy how her bout of courage comes long after Ace is gone. . .and in the arms of the person she’s trying to protect. Boy, where were this childish insults when Ace was holding her up against the wall? She gets a bruise on her cheek and jaw, which is a tad bit ridiculous seeing as how he only slapped her. It’s not like he socked the crap out of her or anything.
We find out he only had one whore, because Nan is actually a misused whore that he never went to bed with. He only saved her life and abstained from using her. Is that supposed to make us feel better about him? Because I can tell you it’s not. When Pack finally deigns to bring Mara to town, Nan sees him and throws herself at him, and I mean that literally. She jumps on him and wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and kisses him on the mouth. She repeatedly insults Mara by saying she has no guts and through it all Pack is standing there not sticking up for his wife. In his quest to explain himself he’s actually sticking up for another whore while his wife is getting insulted left and right. Mara, of course, assumes Nan’s his whore, but he’s like no, discard that thought Mara Shannon. She only thinks of me as an older brother. Just because she jumped me and wrapped herself around me and was kissing me on the mouth doesn’t mean there’s anything going on there. Rest assured, I’m only an older brother in her eyes.
She says, and I quote, “He’s not in my bed, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want him there. I’d a give him a hell of time, wrung ever’ dropt outta him ‘n not charged him a dime.” But Pack, being the spokesperson for whores, says “she’s grateful, and I think she loves me like she would a brother.”
Do women think of their brothers like that? I have two older brothers and I can tell you I’ve never had thoughts of that nature. Maybe she doesn’t find anything wrong with that though.
I recommend this book to someone who doesn’t have enough emotion in their lives, because you’ll be feeling a heck of a lot of emotions while reading this book, and I mean that in no way complimentary.
I’m trying to think of something positive to say about this book, and one thing actually does come to mind. At almost the very end of the book, it was nice to hear that he had secretly gone to her graduation and sent her those gifts when she thought she had no one. I thought it was sweet how he told her he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t loved her. It would have been so much sweeter if I actually believed that statement, but no. I had to sit there and hear about his “bad life,” and all I’m thinking is that he CHOSE to do the wagon trains or w/e the heck he did for a living, and he chose to be a prizefighter. Again, that was his choice. So when he says that he had a bad life and found feminine comfort with a whore, I’m not feeling much sympathy. In fact, all I’m feeling is disgust.
But that one little moment doesn’t stand a chance against the paragraphs filled with stupid ignorant sentences, disgusting comments about his whores and just plain boring circumstances. . .which was the rest of the book.
Just about every sentence in every conversation ended in an exclamation point, and that was very exhausting to read. Did the author even read back through it, because she had to have realized her characters were speaking with way too much gusto. I felt like short of breath just reading it. Then upon their first meeting, when he and she actually realize who the other one is, he bursts out with “Hell and damnation! Sweet Jesus! Good God Almighty! Holy Sainted Mother of God! What the hell are YOU doing here?”
Okay, that was a little over the top if I must say so myself. We could have done with just one of those phrases and it would have been fine. Does anybody talk like that? You don’t string together a bunch of random and separate phrases and throw them together like that. All that accomplished was making him sound like a dumb hick that doesn’t know to cuss right. And she calls it a “hostile greeting.” Good lord, how pathetic. If somebody “cussed” me out like that I’d just cry from all the hostility. And what is with the exclamation points? If people in real life talked like they do in this book they’d wear themselves out. I’m actually surprised the author didn’t have the characters lose their voices, because she had to have realized they were yelling everything throughout the book.
Almost every character, save a spare few, came off as being very unintelligent and uneducated. It was quite the task to read through their conversations, what with the whole Irish brogue coming and going like the wind passing through, making special appearances at certain times and then disappearing as if the characters weren’t Irish at all.
She considers using words like “horse dung, crude, spoiled and rude” and saying things like “You have cow dungs for brains,” “you’re a stinking polecat,” and “You worthless, mouthy, slimy little piece of horse dung” as swearing. She actually thinks she’s insulting people with those childish words. It was pathetic.
Then she threatens to have a screaming fit if one more person tells her to leave her home, like that’s a really threatening thing to have happen. Ooohhhh noooooo, please don’t throw a screaming fit! That’s almost, ALMOST, as threatening as the word horse dung. Almost, but not quite.
To top it all off, like that stuff wasn’t bad enough, she decides to mix in a little bit of infuriating comments about his sordid past, like we want to hear about it. I find it highly disgusting and just plain wrong to have your husband talk about his whoring days like there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Travor brings up the nice topic of Pack’s blonde whore at the saloon and that they’re so close. Then when Travor calls her for what she is Pack defends her. When he notices Mara Shannon (and it’s not plain Mara, no, it’s gotta be Mara Shannon, and when everyone’s talking to each other they have to sneak in their names after each sentence, like we’ve forgotten who they were talking to) that she’s mad about it and disgusted with him, his lips twitched like he’s amused. He thinks she’s a snob and that she doesn’t understand about women like Candy, and that she doesn’t know what it’s like to “scrounge to keep body and soul together.” Oh, well you poor little thing! If you want to save your soul because you’re down in the dumps why don’t you go to church and pray to God, not see a freakin whore. How can they save your soul? Are whores miracle workers? Helllll no!
She felt insulted and hurt and vows never to forgive him in a million years, and then shortly after that she has a bad dream and clings to him for comfort like a little crybaby. It seemed to me like she had an awful lot to be unforgiveable towards him about, yet every time I turned around she was either talking to him like nothing was wrong or touching him for comfort. I felt like she was sending some pretty strong mixed signals out.
The circumstances of their marriage was completely messed up. She practically dared him to marry her, under the pretense of “protecting the land and standing up to Cullen.” Why would you pledge your life to someone just to save your land? Hello, you could do that without being married if you’d stand up for yourself and quit using baby insults like “cow dung for brains.”
He made a ride into town, telling Mara she can’t come with him, and he makes a special stop at the saloon to tell good ‘ol Candy he’s married. She initially asks to go to bed with him, and he declines, which if I’m being honest, was a little surprising considering their touching past together. Then he goes and ruins it by saying it isn’t that the offer isn’t tempting, but he’s a married man now. Good to know he actually respects his marriage vows. But he does kiss her twice before leaving “for old time’s sake.” Aw, isn’t that sweet? That’s cheating in my book. And the poor little whore is sad because she wanted to marry him but she wasn’t good enough. Pooorrr little thing! And the d.a. wants her to know Mara, like his “savior” of a whore and his wife can form a friendship. It takes the whore to point out that wouldn't be a good idea.
He has the nerve to say he’s a man with the needs God gave him. Don’t you even bring God into that and use him as an excuse to explain your filthy ways. Pack wants to make Mara Shannon understand about his friendship with Candy and Nan. He doesn’t want her to think bad of him. Here’s some advice, if you’re doing something you’re going to be ashamed of DON’T DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Then to throw some more crap in the pot Ace comes over, who is apparently just crazy about old Mara Shannon, even though they met like a total of two times before this, and slaps her for marrying Pack and sort of mauls her a little bit and she does nothing about him. She just stands there and basically takes it. Then, under the guise of getting a lamp, she runs outside and locks herself in the privy. Pack eventually finds her and she launches herself at him and is hitting him, which is going wayyy overboard considering what happened with Ace wasn’t that bad compared to what could have happened. If she’d bother to look she’d realize it’s Pack that’s holding her. But no, her unfocused eyes and her fright is preventing her from the gift of sight, so we have to set there and tolerate this little episode that lasts like a page long. She’s yelling things out like “get away from me! I’ll not let you kill him! Bastard! Belly-crawling snake! Stinking polecat! (ouch, that hurts!) I’ll die before I go with you!” Even when Pack speaks and tells her to stop, the sound of his voice doesn’t even get through to her. “You make me want to puke” she goes on. “Pack’s ten times the man you are, even if he does have two whores. He’ll kill you when he comes home!”
Crazy how her bout of courage comes long after Ace is gone. . .and in the arms of the person she’s trying to protect. Boy, where were this childish insults when Ace was holding her up against the wall? She gets a bruise on her cheek and jaw, which is a tad bit ridiculous seeing as how he only slapped her. It’s not like he socked the crap out of her or anything.
We find out he only had one whore, because Nan is actually a misused whore that he never went to bed with. He only saved her life and abstained from using her. Is that supposed to make us feel better about him? Because I can tell you it’s not. When Pack finally deigns to bring Mara to town, Nan sees him and throws herself at him, and I mean that literally. She jumps on him and wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and kisses him on the mouth. She repeatedly insults Mara by saying she has no guts and through it all Pack is standing there not sticking up for his wife. In his quest to explain himself he’s actually sticking up for another whore while his wife is getting insulted left and right. Mara, of course, assumes Nan’s his whore, but he’s like no, discard that thought Mara Shannon. She only thinks of me as an older brother. Just because she jumped me and wrapped herself around me and was kissing me on the mouth doesn’t mean there’s anything going on there. Rest assured, I’m only an older brother in her eyes.
She says, and I quote, “He’s not in my bed, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want him there. I’d a give him a hell of time, wrung ever’ dropt outta him ‘n not charged him a dime.” But Pack, being the spokesperson for whores, says “she’s grateful, and I think she loves me like she would a brother.”
Do women think of their brothers like that? I have two older brothers and I can tell you I’ve never had thoughts of that nature. Maybe she doesn’t find anything wrong with that though.
I recommend this book to someone who doesn’t have enough emotion in their lives, because you’ll be feeling a heck of a lot of emotions while reading this book, and I mean that in no way complimentary.
June 7, 2025
I've read several Dorothy Garlock books and enjoyed them. The few I reviewed on Goodreads in the past were from her Jazz Age Series. This story takes place around 1870 (five years following the American Civil War) in the Wyoming territory.
Just a few quick snippets:
Heroine: Mara Shannon McCall decides to leave the Denver school she's been staying at since she was eleven years old. When she comes of age, she turns down a teaching position at the same school and heads back to Wyoming to live on the property her parents left her. She's Irish, beautiful, strong willed, stubborn, and has a good heart.
Hero: Jack ("Pack") Gallagher is Brita Gallagher McCall's son. He's also Irish, large and extremely strong and easy on the eyes. He was very close to Mara's father before he died. Mara met him once when her father brought Pack to the Denver school years before to visit. Pack can be stubborn, rough in appearance, but also has a soft heart and is very protective of Mara.
There are other important sub-characters in the story such as Sam Sparks and Emily Rivers. The author provides the reader with a two-fer (one book containing two romance stories.)
There's plenty of action, a mystery involving some stolen Confederate gold bars, Mara Shannon spurning advances from gnarly men, miscommunication between the MC's, and also sadness.
I found this to be a very good story even though it's predictable. Ms. Garlock writes emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings. I found myself reaching for the tissues in the last few chapters.
If readers enjoy Maggie Osborne's work, then they might also like Ms. Garlock's books. This is an author I will definitely read again.
Just a few quick snippets:
Heroine: Mara Shannon McCall decides to leave the Denver school she's been staying at since she was eleven years old. When she comes of age, she turns down a teaching position at the same school and heads back to Wyoming to live on the property her parents left her. She's Irish, beautiful, strong willed, stubborn, and has a good heart.
Hero: Jack ("Pack") Gallagher is Brita Gallagher McCall's son. He's also Irish, large and extremely strong and easy on the eyes. He was very close to Mara's father before he died. Mara met him once when her father brought Pack to the Denver school years before to visit. Pack can be stubborn, rough in appearance, but also has a soft heart and is very protective of Mara.
There are other important sub-characters in the story such as Sam Sparks and Emily Rivers. The author provides the reader with a two-fer (one book containing two romance stories.)
There's plenty of action, a mystery involving some stolen Confederate gold bars, Mara Shannon spurning advances from gnarly men, miscommunication between the MC's, and also sadness.
I found this to be a very good story even though it's predictable. Ms. Garlock writes emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings. I found myself reaching for the tissues in the last few chapters.
If readers enjoy Maggie Osborne's work, then they might also like Ms. Garlock's books. This is an author I will definitely read again.
September 15, 2025
The first half of this book was good. It was different with not only romance but action, history and a second love story.
Pack Gallagher was grumpy and rude. He had reason enough for his life was not that easy. But let's be honest, life in the 1800s was not easy by any standards especially not for women.
Mara McCall could attest to that, she lost both her parents, was left and forgotten in a boarding school only to come back to her father's land and be unwelcomed, pushed by everyone around her to leave her land and being accosted and harrassed by few and many.
For a wee bit, I didn't know who the MMC was because there was another man, a beautiful man who turned out to be the side character with a beautiful love story of his own. And let me just be clear my two stars go for him and Emily.
Mara was likeable enough, with a poor choice of words, very headstrong and unbeknownst to the dangers that lurk in every corner and shadow in those times. In an attempt to show them that she's of age and independent enough, she kept putting herself in situations where she could have been badly assaulted, abused and probably even killed.
So far so good until the plot turned into a parade of the MMCs "whores". One of which he has never been to her bed yet everytime she sees him she jumps on him with her legs around his waist, and mauling his face with kisses. Well, to each his own, except when that same scenario happens infront of Mara who is his wife at the time and being insulted by this little whore. What does Pack do? He laughs, excuses the whore as being overly affectionate that he sees her as his sister meanwhile said whore says that's because he never gave me a chance, she is willing and waiting though to give him the best time in the sheets! Yup, and in all this interaction Pack never once defends his wife or apologises for this behaviour. Strike One.
Strike two, after getting married Pack goes back to his other whore, this one yes is his lover, and of course she tries to get him in her bed, how does he answer? Well he laughs and says it is tempting? 😳😳😳 tempting!!!! But he is married now so he kisses her twice. Yup twice!!!! there is no arguement that this is cheating in anyone's book and then he asks her to be friends with his wife (as if that you stupid mule headed man is something that your wife will accept) to which his whore answers I don't think your wife would like that. No kidding?! He keeps it cordial with her and even tips his hat in town whenever he sees her even while his wife is next to him. 🙄
Pack is not an MMC that I would root for. He excuses his whorish ways to the way God created men. Nope you delusional b*tthead, God tells you to curb your urges and save yourself for your wife.
He feels sorry for himself because he thinks he is not good enough yet he had the resources to be a better man rather than being a lowlife.
He is controlling and bossy and doesn't take Mara's wishes into consideration. And I guess the author realised that that's why she tried to compensate it with the revelation at the end of the book of how important of a role he played in Mara's life.
Too late Dorothy Garlock, I already hate the guy. 🤷♀️
Anyway, Sam and Emily? That should have been the main story. They're beautiful together.
📝 ticking another Bingo square
(22) "Book title contains a colour"
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Pack Gallagher was grumpy and rude. He had reason enough for his life was not that easy. But let's be honest, life in the 1800s was not easy by any standards especially not for women.
Mara McCall could attest to that, she lost both her parents, was left and forgotten in a boarding school only to come back to her father's land and be unwelcomed, pushed by everyone around her to leave her land and being accosted and harrassed by few and many.
For a wee bit, I didn't know who the MMC was because there was another man, a beautiful man who turned out to be the side character with a beautiful love story of his own. And let me just be clear my two stars go for him and Emily.
Mara was likeable enough, with a poor choice of words, very headstrong and unbeknownst to the dangers that lurk in every corner and shadow in those times. In an attempt to show them that she's of age and independent enough, she kept putting herself in situations where she could have been badly assaulted, abused and probably even killed.
So far so good until the plot turned into a parade of the MMCs "whores". One of which he has never been to her bed yet everytime she sees him she jumps on him with her legs around his waist, and mauling his face with kisses. Well, to each his own, except when that same scenario happens infront of Mara who is his wife at the time and being insulted by this little whore. What does Pack do? He laughs, excuses the whore as being overly affectionate that he sees her as his sister meanwhile said whore says that's because he never gave me a chance, she is willing and waiting though to give him the best time in the sheets! Yup, and in all this interaction Pack never once defends his wife or apologises for this behaviour. Strike One.
Strike two, after getting married Pack goes back to his other whore, this one yes is his lover, and of course she tries to get him in her bed, how does he answer? Well he laughs and says it is tempting? 😳😳😳 tempting!!!! But he is married now so he kisses her twice. Yup twice!!!! there is no arguement that this is cheating in anyone's book and then he asks her to be friends with his wife (as if that you stupid mule headed man is something that your wife will accept) to which his whore answers I don't think your wife would like that. No kidding?! He keeps it cordial with her and even tips his hat in town whenever he sees her even while his wife is next to him. 🙄
Pack is not an MMC that I would root for. He excuses his whorish ways to the way God created men. Nope you delusional b*tthead, God tells you to curb your urges and save yourself for your wife.
He feels sorry for himself because he thinks he is not good enough yet he had the resources to be a better man rather than being a lowlife.
He is controlling and bossy and doesn't take Mara's wishes into consideration. And I guess the author realised that that's why she tried to compensate it with the revelation at the end of the book of how important of a role he played in Mara's life.
Too late Dorothy Garlock, I already hate the guy. 🤷♀️
Anyway, Sam and Emily? That should have been the main story. They're beautiful together.
📝 ticking another Bingo square
(22) "Book title contains a colour"
Square Count: 95
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February 10, 2021
Great read! I found this one for 50 cents at my library so I had to pick it up. I really like Dorothy Garlocks writing and the whole country feel of her books. It read like a hallmark movie- only way more interesting lol. The story was solid with great fleshed out characters and I loved that we got to see two love stories for the price of one! I loved both couples! ❤️
I can definitely recommend this one to a historical romance fan (it’s actually what I’d call mid-western HR) -but just know it was written many years ago and the language might be off-putting for some. Then again, it’s kinda meant to be since a lot of it comes from the bad guys.
I can definitely recommend this one to a historical romance fan (it’s actually what I’d call mid-western HR) -but just know it was written many years ago and the language might be off-putting for some. Then again, it’s kinda meant to be since a lot of it comes from the bad guys.
June 6, 2019
Mara Shannon McCall was leaving finishing school and going home to Wyoming - to a house and land she barely remembered. No one was at the train to meet her so she borrowed a wagon and began the nostalgic journey to her ranch. As she got close to the home of her birth, she saw a man on the road. Horribly beaten, Mara struggled with the man to put him in the wagon. As the broken man glanced at her, Mara looked into midnight blue eyes.
Bringing the man to her home was the worst thing she could have done - but Mara stood up and demanded care for the injured man. Nothing was the way Mara remembered, but Mara squared her shoulders and started working.
Thus begins an inspiring tale of holding fast to a dream, even when circumstances make it seem impossible. Challenged and threatened, Mara refused to leave her dream; she's a spunky woman who doesn't scare easily.
This story is also about protection; at first, Mara protects Pack (the injured man) from those who would finish killing him. Later, Pack protects her from the evil surrounding her. Mara and Pack have fully realized characters who are breathing and suffering from the first chapter.
Garlock did a wonderful job with the secondary characters of Emily and Charles Rivers and Sam. It was much harder for Sam and Emily to get together but Sam was a patient man.
I would call this book a sleeper; at the beginning, it seemed like a nice little story. However, the drama and death that lurks at the edge bring the book to a whole new level before the last page. Recommended! 4.5 stars
Bringing the man to her home was the worst thing she could have done - but Mara stood up and demanded care for the injured man. Nothing was the way Mara remembered, but Mara squared her shoulders and started working.
Thus begins an inspiring tale of holding fast to a dream, even when circumstances make it seem impossible. Challenged and threatened, Mara refused to leave her dream; she's a spunky woman who doesn't scare easily.
This story is also about protection; at first, Mara protects Pack (the injured man) from those who would finish killing him. Later, Pack protects her from the evil surrounding her. Mara and Pack have fully realized characters who are breathing and suffering from the first chapter.
Garlock did a wonderful job with the secondary characters of Emily and Charles Rivers and Sam. It was much harder for Sam and Emily to get together but Sam was a patient man.
I would call this book a sleeper; at the beginning, it seemed like a nice little story. However, the drama and death that lurks at the edge bring the book to a whole new level before the last page. Recommended! 4.5 stars
October 13, 2024
2.5 stars - I have read 70 books this year already, all western historical romance, and this was the first one I wanted to give up on. The MFC had a temper, but how it’s written it feels childish, laughable. I don’t care much for this kind of word throwing. The writing style wasn’t really captivating, although the story idea was good.
The hero was apparently a strong, gentle man, but I didn’t really get the feel…
The hero was apparently a strong, gentle man, but I didn’t really get the feel…
March 31, 2025
Wonderful book
I only have two books by Dorothy Garlock, but both of them are among my favorite books. I loved this book, Mara and Pack are among my best loved heroes and heroines. Dorothy Garlock sure knew how to write. She has a way of making you want to know everything about her characters because she knows how to make the reader care for them. I intend to try to find every book she wrote.
I only have two books by Dorothy Garlock, but both of them are among my favorite books. I loved this book, Mara and Pack are among my best loved heroes and heroines. Dorothy Garlock sure knew how to write. She has a way of making you want to know everything about her characters because she knows how to make the reader care for them. I intend to try to find every book she wrote.
February 19, 2021
Good Irish love story
Love the Irish but not the stubbornness that goes with it! Mara and Pack have sparks flying, not the good kind, this storyline is a page turner and tear jerker. Loved it.
Love the Irish but not the stubbornness that goes with it! Mara and Pack have sparks flying, not the good kind, this storyline is a page turner and tear jerker. Loved it.
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August 21, 2024Western with romantic elements, Wyoming Territory, 1870s or 1880s
Content warnings for multiple and explicit violent scenes, murders
Does end in an HEA for the hero and heroine and restitution for some of the victims.
Content warnings for multiple and explicit violent scenes, murders
Does end in an HEA for the hero and heroine and restitution for some of the victims.
August 13, 2017
Delightful
Garlock's Midnight Blue is full of twists and heart. I was surprised over and over again. This was and enjoyable, smart, delightful read. Well done.
Garlock's Midnight Blue is full of twists and heart. I was surprised over and over again. This was and enjoyable, smart, delightful read. Well done.
October 9, 2018
Heart warming.
April 2, 2020
Loved it.
December 8, 2022
At times a little sophomoric and at times trite. But an interesting story nonetheless
August 25, 2024
Almost all of Dorothy garlock books will get 5 stars from me I would say she's my favorite author has a way of bringing it to life
July 17, 2025
Highly recommend this western romance - Angst, spice, and a hero who had me from the first page on which he appeared.
June 27, 2023
I read this book at least once a year and I still can't get enough!
January 24, 2020
I lowered my rating. In re-reading this book I really didn’t like Mara. She was annoying and had so many crisis of confidence I found her boring. Pack wasn’t very nice and there didn’t seem to be any reason they would fall in love. I remember reading and liking the book when I was younger but this one doesn’t hold up to the test of time for me.
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May 8, 2012Excellent Book !!!!!
April 6, 2013
I've definitely read better by this Author!
September 13, 2014
A nice change of pace for Ms. Garlock. The hero is very rough around the edges, unlike many of her heroes set in this time period. But beyond how he appears on the surface...
September 3, 2016
I enjoyed reading.
April 27, 2013
this book is awesome!!!
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July 26, 2017Mara Shannon McCall's parents had come to America from Ireland to escape the famine. Her father had struck gold in Colorado and sold his mine and used the money to purchase 2,000 acres of land in Wyoming. Her mother died and her father sent her to a school for ladies in Denver when she was 11. He died when she was 14 and the school became her home. She finished school and became a teacher there. She left at 19 to return to Wyoming.
Her cousin Aubrey and his wife Brita lived in the house. Each had a child before their marriage. Aubrey had Cullen and Brita had Jack, who went by Pack after he earned money packing goods over the mountains to the miners. They had twin sons, Travor and Trellis who were now 14.
No one met Mara at the stage when she arrived and she picked up a badly beaten man on her way to the house. She later found out that it was Pack. He earned money by bareknuckle fighting and he won a fight that some wanted him to lose. He was beaten, shot and left to die but Mara found him.
Cullen was running things around the house because no one stood up to him. Aubrey spent most of his time drinking, Brita was crippled with arthritis and the boys weren't old enough. Pack was away most of the time hauling freight for a business he owned with Willy.
Mara arrived and put Cullen in his place. He had been letting outlaws stay on the property for money. He decided that he would wait for Pack to leave and then he would rape Mara to force her to marry him for the land only Pack didn't leave. He stayed to heal from his wounds and it took a while. His mother, Brita died 6 weeks after Mara arrived. Pack told Mara that she couldn't stay at the house without a husband so she told him to marry her. Mara wanted to stay so she asked him to marry her. He wanted to and did. He knew that he was falling for her but was afraid to tell her and knew that with her temper that they would not have a dull life. She soon realized that she was in love with him too but she was stubborn.
Cullen was furious that she married Pack and after the marriage, Pack told Cullen that he had to leave. The twins and Aubrey could stay but Aubrey had to quit drinking, which he did. Travor had first been rude to Mara but grew to respect her. He was patterning his life after Cullen but soon changed to following Pack around. Trellis had always been close to his mother and helped around the house quite a bit. Mara tried to find things for him to do that weren't considered woman's work so the men wouldn't give him such a hard time.
One of the guys at the ranch was Sam. He was searching for some Confederate gold bricks for the government and had followed a man to Wyoming but he had dropped out of sight. He had paid to stay at the ranch and met their neighbors, Emily and Charlie Rivers. He fell in love with Emily and eventually they married. Sam had lost his family in the war. Emily had been raped back East and Charlie had killed the 3 men who had raped her. He thought that he was wanted so he stayed away from people. Sam asked a friend of his to see if he could make some glasses for Emily because she was very near-sighted. He came to Wyoming and knew Charlie and Emily. He told Charlie that he wasn't wanted because he had killed the men who were wealthy and the families in the area didn't know what to do with them. They had raped others but always wore masks. They didn't wear them when they raped Emily because she couldn't see well and they didn't think she could identify them. Charlie had saved the families embarrassment of a trial with him killing them. He wasn't wanted for what he had done. Charlie was relieved to find out. He was an engineer and accepted a job building a penitentiary in Wyoming after he found out that he wasn't a wanted man.
Shortly after Mara arrived at the house, she met the Marshal, Ace January. She didn't like the way he stared at her the entire time he was around. She did her best to stay away from him. Pack went to town one day and Ace came by to see Mara. He was furious that she had married Pack and was acting crazy. He hit Mara across the face and she knew she was in trouble. She went to the outhouse and locked herself in. It started to storm and Ace had left when Mara had gotten away and didn't return. Pack came and found Mara hiding in the outhouse. She fought him and he thought that Cullen had attacked her.
Pack returned during the storm and stayed with Mara all night. When he got up in the morning, he found out that his cook had shot and killed the Marshal. Ace had killed the guy that Sam had been looking for. They guy had told Ace that he buried gold bricks where Mara planted her garden. Ace was digging it up when the cook found him. Ace planned to take Mara with him and leave Wyoming. He had convinced himself that Mara wanted him. He pulled a gun to shoot the cook but the cook was faster.
Pack and Sam went to see the sheriff with the cook and the gold. Sam used the reward money for the gold to buy into getting some cattle for his and Emily's ranch with Pack. The cook wasn't charged because it was self-defense. They found out that the cook had been a gunfighter in his younger days. He had come to Wyoming to get away from his wife. He thought that he wanted to settle down but it turned out that he like being alone more.
Mara married Pack and she told others that he had married her to get half her land. What she didn't know was that the land wasn't hers. It was left to Pack by her father. When Cullen left, he went to Denver and found out. He wanted to take Mara down a few pegs so he came back and told her. Mara found out that her father hadn't paid for her schooling. Pack had. Pack had even been at her graduation. The Christmas gifts that she had been given while at the school that she thought was from the head-mistress were actually from Pack. Pack was in Laramie to fight and get enough money to purchase cattle when Cullen told her. They twins and Aubrey chased him off before he could physically hurt Mara. Mara had treated Pack badly about the fight and was mad that he was fighting. She apologized when he returned for how she had treated him.
He had won the fight and she nursed his wounds. They would become cattle ranchers with the money he had won and he promised her that he wouldn't fight again.
Her cousin Aubrey and his wife Brita lived in the house. Each had a child before their marriage. Aubrey had Cullen and Brita had Jack, who went by Pack after he earned money packing goods over the mountains to the miners. They had twin sons, Travor and Trellis who were now 14.
No one met Mara at the stage when she arrived and she picked up a badly beaten man on her way to the house. She later found out that it was Pack. He earned money by bareknuckle fighting and he won a fight that some wanted him to lose. He was beaten, shot and left to die but Mara found him.
Cullen was running things around the house because no one stood up to him. Aubrey spent most of his time drinking, Brita was crippled with arthritis and the boys weren't old enough. Pack was away most of the time hauling freight for a business he owned with Willy.
Mara arrived and put Cullen in his place. He had been letting outlaws stay on the property for money. He decided that he would wait for Pack to leave and then he would rape Mara to force her to marry him for the land only Pack didn't leave. He stayed to heal from his wounds and it took a while. His mother, Brita died 6 weeks after Mara arrived. Pack told Mara that she couldn't stay at the house without a husband so she told him to marry her. Mara wanted to stay so she asked him to marry her. He wanted to and did. He knew that he was falling for her but was afraid to tell her and knew that with her temper that they would not have a dull life. She soon realized that she was in love with him too but she was stubborn.
Cullen was furious that she married Pack and after the marriage, Pack told Cullen that he had to leave. The twins and Aubrey could stay but Aubrey had to quit drinking, which he did. Travor had first been rude to Mara but grew to respect her. He was patterning his life after Cullen but soon changed to following Pack around. Trellis had always been close to his mother and helped around the house quite a bit. Mara tried to find things for him to do that weren't considered woman's work so the men wouldn't give him such a hard time.
One of the guys at the ranch was Sam. He was searching for some Confederate gold bricks for the government and had followed a man to Wyoming but he had dropped out of sight. He had paid to stay at the ranch and met their neighbors, Emily and Charlie Rivers. He fell in love with Emily and eventually they married. Sam had lost his family in the war. Emily had been raped back East and Charlie had killed the 3 men who had raped her. He thought that he was wanted so he stayed away from people. Sam asked a friend of his to see if he could make some glasses for Emily because she was very near-sighted. He came to Wyoming and knew Charlie and Emily. He told Charlie that he wasn't wanted because he had killed the men who were wealthy and the families in the area didn't know what to do with them. They had raped others but always wore masks. They didn't wear them when they raped Emily because she couldn't see well and they didn't think she could identify them. Charlie had saved the families embarrassment of a trial with him killing them. He wasn't wanted for what he had done. Charlie was relieved to find out. He was an engineer and accepted a job building a penitentiary in Wyoming after he found out that he wasn't a wanted man.
Shortly after Mara arrived at the house, she met the Marshal, Ace January. She didn't like the way he stared at her the entire time he was around. She did her best to stay away from him. Pack went to town one day and Ace came by to see Mara. He was furious that she had married Pack and was acting crazy. He hit Mara across the face and she knew she was in trouble. She went to the outhouse and locked herself in. It started to storm and Ace had left when Mara had gotten away and didn't return. Pack came and found Mara hiding in the outhouse. She fought him and he thought that Cullen had attacked her.
Pack returned during the storm and stayed with Mara all night. When he got up in the morning, he found out that his cook had shot and killed the Marshal. Ace had killed the guy that Sam had been looking for. They guy had told Ace that he buried gold bricks where Mara planted her garden. Ace was digging it up when the cook found him. Ace planned to take Mara with him and leave Wyoming. He had convinced himself that Mara wanted him. He pulled a gun to shoot the cook but the cook was faster.
Pack and Sam went to see the sheriff with the cook and the gold. Sam used the reward money for the gold to buy into getting some cattle for his and Emily's ranch with Pack. The cook wasn't charged because it was self-defense. They found out that the cook had been a gunfighter in his younger days. He had come to Wyoming to get away from his wife. He thought that he wanted to settle down but it turned out that he like being alone more.
Mara married Pack and she told others that he had married her to get half her land. What she didn't know was that the land wasn't hers. It was left to Pack by her father. When Cullen left, he went to Denver and found out. He wanted to take Mara down a few pegs so he came back and told her. Mara found out that her father hadn't paid for her schooling. Pack had. Pack had even been at her graduation. The Christmas gifts that she had been given while at the school that she thought was from the head-mistress were actually from Pack. Pack was in Laramie to fight and get enough money to purchase cattle when Cullen told her. They twins and Aubrey chased him off before he could physically hurt Mara. Mara had treated Pack badly about the fight and was mad that he was fighting. She apologized when he returned for how she had treated him.
He had won the fight and she nursed his wounds. They would become cattle ranchers with the money he had won and he promised her that he wouldn't fight again.
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