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Forgiving
There's a place in every heart for forgiving....
SARAH
She came to Deadwood, a rough and tumble western town, with an ambitious dream of starting a newspaper. But her journey had another purpose--to find her sister and mend the family tie that was severed years ago, when Addie left home with a hardened heart--and without an explanation.
NOAH
The thought of this headstrong woman turning his town upside down riled Marshal Campbell to no end. But there was something about Sarah that the lawman found irresistible. Inside, he longed to treat her like a lady. But outside, he'd keep up his ornery image--and give her a rocky welcome to town...
Two strong-willed souls, Sarah and Noah would discover the timeless beauty of love--when the heart learns to take back the past and start again...
SARAH
She came to Deadwood, a rough and tumble western town, with an ambitious dream of starting a newspaper. But her journey had another purpose--to find her sister and mend the family tie that was severed years ago, when Addie left home with a hardened heart--and without an explanation.
NOAH
The thought of this headstrong woman turning his town upside down riled Marshal Campbell to no end. But there was something about Sarah that the lawman found irresistible. Inside, he longed to treat her like a lady. But outside, he'd keep up his ornery image--and give her a rocky welcome to town...
Two strong-willed souls, Sarah and Noah would discover the timeless beauty of love--when the heart learns to take back the past and start again...
452 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
134 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
LaVyrle Spencer
105 books1,586 followersLaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
April 8, 2022
This was a reread after some years, but I really enjoyed the book again and, surprisingly, it has hardly dated. (First published in 1992). In the last couple of years I've read or reread a few HRs from the '90s and found some of them to be overly melodramatic and/or too chaste and tame. But this book is still fresh and very readable in 2017.
Although it's a 'Western' HR, it's not a cowboy type book, and there is very little mention of Native Americans. Instead, this book is set in the frontier goldrush town of Deadwood, South Dakota, and focusses on a small group of characters who have come to this rowdy, very new town for a variety of reasons. Sarah Merritt, daughter of a (deceased) newspaperman, has come with a plan to start the town's first newspaper, and she brings her news press and equipment with her. Sarah is also drawn to the town because her only sister Addie, whom she hasn't seen for about five years, is already living there, as a domestic maid (or so Sarah thinks....)
Noah Campbell has recently been appointed as Deadwood's marshall. His parents and brother are farmers in the nearby Spearfish Valley, but Noah isn't drawn to the farming life and has gravitated towards life in town. It's a rowdy and rambunctious place, but Noah seems to be dealing with his job pretty well.
There is also a superbly drawn cast of secondary characters, with varied backgrounds, personalities, and physical types, all with their own reasons for living in this raw place (mostly men chasing gold). Spencer does a fantastic job of sympathetically, but realistically portraying her characters and their rough-and-tumble town. You can almost taste what it must have been like there.
Sarah and Noah meet right at the start of the book, and instantly there is conflict and aggravation between them due to the awkward circumstances of their first meeting. Things go from bad to worse, and they annoy the heck out of each other. So, the familiar enemies-to-lovers trope. But it's done beautifully. The book has a slow, even pace, and the gradual development of love between Noah and Sarah grows naturally. So, another familiar trope (or style) - the slow-burn. But again, done beautifully.
The other major aspect of this book is darker territory - it deals with sexual abuse and prostitution. Because Addie is not a housemaid - she's kept it well hidden from Sarah, but Addie is actually a prostitute in Deadwood. And she never dreamed that her sister would actually come to Deadwood and find out.
So, alongside the ups and downs of Sarah and Noah's growing love, there is the story of Addie. The fallen woman. Can she ever leave her past behind? Can the good townspeople forgive and forget her past? Can Addie ever forgive herself? This aspect of the book is handled sensitively and quite movingly. Kudos to Ms. Spencer for dealing so well with this taboo topic, (especially considering the book was published in 1992).
There were two scenes in this book that literally made me cry (doesn't happen very often when I'm reading!) Both of them involved Christmas night. (Maybe I'm just a sucker for Christmas!) But some sections of the book touch on deeply felt emotions. You can really imagine what it must have been like to live in such a place in 1876, many of them far from family and loved ones, and missing them deeply.
So, if you haven't read any LaVyrle Spencer, and are thinking maybe she's a bit too 'old school', think again. Or, if, like me, you read her books years ago, don't be afraid to jump in for a reread. This is a lovely book.
Although it's a 'Western' HR, it's not a cowboy type book, and there is very little mention of Native Americans. Instead, this book is set in the frontier goldrush town of Deadwood, South Dakota, and focusses on a small group of characters who have come to this rowdy, very new town for a variety of reasons. Sarah Merritt, daughter of a (deceased) newspaperman, has come with a plan to start the town's first newspaper, and she brings her news press and equipment with her. Sarah is also drawn to the town because her only sister Addie, whom she hasn't seen for about five years, is already living there, as a domestic maid (or so Sarah thinks....)
Noah Campbell has recently been appointed as Deadwood's marshall. His parents and brother are farmers in the nearby Spearfish Valley, but Noah isn't drawn to the farming life and has gravitated towards life in town. It's a rowdy and rambunctious place, but Noah seems to be dealing with his job pretty well.
There is also a superbly drawn cast of secondary characters, with varied backgrounds, personalities, and physical types, all with their own reasons for living in this raw place (mostly men chasing gold). Spencer does a fantastic job of sympathetically, but realistically portraying her characters and their rough-and-tumble town. You can almost taste what it must have been like there.
Sarah and Noah meet right at the start of the book, and instantly there is conflict and aggravation between them due to the awkward circumstances of their first meeting. Things go from bad to worse, and they annoy the heck out of each other. So, the familiar enemies-to-lovers trope. But it's done beautifully. The book has a slow, even pace, and the gradual development of love between Noah and Sarah grows naturally. So, another familiar trope (or style) - the slow-burn. But again, done beautifully.
The other major aspect of this book is darker territory - it deals with sexual abuse and prostitution. Because Addie is not a housemaid - she's kept it well hidden from Sarah, but Addie is actually a prostitute in Deadwood. And she never dreamed that her sister would actually come to Deadwood and find out.
So, alongside the ups and downs of Sarah and Noah's growing love, there is the story of Addie. The fallen woman. Can she ever leave her past behind? Can the good townspeople forgive and forget her past? Can Addie ever forgive herself? This aspect of the book is handled sensitively and quite movingly. Kudos to Ms. Spencer for dealing so well with this taboo topic, (especially considering the book was published in 1992).
There were two scenes in this book that literally made me cry (doesn't happen very often when I'm reading!) Both of them involved Christmas night. (Maybe I'm just a sucker for Christmas!) But some sections of the book touch on deeply felt emotions. You can really imagine what it must have been like to live in such a place in 1876, many of them far from family and loved ones, and missing them deeply.
So, if you haven't read any LaVyrle Spencer, and are thinking maybe she's a bit too 'old school', think again. Or, if, like me, you read her books years ago, don't be afraid to jump in for a reread. This is a lovely book.
November 16, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Deadwood, is a town that is rough western town, with only a few women to speak of. Sarah has arrived searching for her sister and with plans to start her own newspaper. She is startled by all the attention she gets from the men in town, and not her intention starts a altercation and the local sheriff in town put her in "jail" of sorts. Marshall Noah Campbell has no need for another troublemaker, and this strange and independent woman who seeks trouble wherever she goes. Sarah won't let Noah tell her what she should and shouldn't do. But she is also on a mission to save her sister. Her sister Addie, ran away from home and along the way became a prostitute. Sarah barely recognizes her bitter younger sister who was once full of life. But Addie has some painful memories of the past that drove her away from home. Robert has been in love with Addie for years and has come to Deadwood to fight for her. Soon these two couples will have to build trust and fight to hold onto the love they have found...
Plot & Story Line
Forgiving is a wonderful and poignant romance that I couldn't put down. I read this book many years ago, and I have been looking for it for ages. And when I saw it at Half Price Books, I snatched it up and started reading it right away. And it was just as good as I remembered. Forgiving is a story about two couples where neither of them have a easy road to happy ever after. Our first couple Noah and Sarah. Now at first these two fight like cats and dogs, not wanting to admit the attraction they feel for each other. Once they resolve "certain" differences they have, they start to develop a deeper connection. But right when life seems to be falling into place for Noah and Sarah, a ugly secret from Sarah's past will test them in a very brutal way and their love will be tested. As for our other couple Robert and Addie have a tough battle at the beginning. Addie has a very tough shield that is hard to crack. But Robert refuses to give up on the girl he has never stopped loving. A woman now, who is hurting and doesn't believe in forgiveness or redemption.
This is a powerfully written story, and LaVryle Spencer is a talented writer that writes a compelling story about two couples that are intertwined with each other. This is a story that will battle with your emotions, but has some fun and sweet moments to enjoy. I lovc the good feels this story reveals to the reader.
The Cover
Simple and pretty!!! The Stepback I love even more, such a cozy christmas scene, and I love that it shows the two couples.
Overall View
Forgiving is timeless tale of redemption and the true power of love and healing. A TRUE PLEASURE TO INDULGE IN!
Summary
Deadwood, is a town that is rough western town, with only a few women to speak of. Sarah has arrived searching for her sister and with plans to start her own newspaper. She is startled by all the attention she gets from the men in town, and not her intention starts a altercation and the local sheriff in town put her in "jail" of sorts. Marshall Noah Campbell has no need for another troublemaker, and this strange and independent woman who seeks trouble wherever she goes. Sarah won't let Noah tell her what she should and shouldn't do. But she is also on a mission to save her sister. Her sister Addie, ran away from home and along the way became a prostitute. Sarah barely recognizes her bitter younger sister who was once full of life. But Addie has some painful memories of the past that drove her away from home. Robert has been in love with Addie for years and has come to Deadwood to fight for her. Soon these two couples will have to build trust and fight to hold onto the love they have found...Plot & Story Line
Forgiving is a wonderful and poignant romance that I couldn't put down. I read this book many years ago, and I have been looking for it for ages. And when I saw it at Half Price Books, I snatched it up and started reading it right away. And it was just as good as I remembered. Forgiving is a story about two couples where neither of them have a easy road to happy ever after. Our first couple Noah and Sarah. Now at first these two fight like cats and dogs, not wanting to admit the attraction they feel for each other. Once they resolve "certain" differences they have, they start to develop a deeper connection. But right when life seems to be falling into place for Noah and Sarah, a ugly secret from Sarah's past will test them in a very brutal way and their love will be tested. As for our other couple Robert and Addie have a tough battle at the beginning. Addie has a very tough shield that is hard to crack. But Robert refuses to give up on the girl he has never stopped loving. A woman now, who is hurting and doesn't believe in forgiveness or redemption.
This is a powerfully written story, and LaVryle Spencer is a talented writer that writes a compelling story about two couples that are intertwined with each other. This is a story that will battle with your emotions, but has some fun and sweet moments to enjoy. I lovc the good feels this story reveals to the reader.
I've come to admire you for dozens of reasons. You're bright, and hardworking, and plucky and you fight for what you believe in. Churches, Schools, Boardwalks, stopping an epidemic of smallpox, even closing the brothels. I know you're going to doubt my honesty once I leave you, but it's true. Even when I was locking you up in the mine, I thought you were one of the spunkiest beings I'd ever met. Spunky and fearless. Since then you've shown me I was right. You changed something between us.
The Cover
Simple and pretty!!! The Stepback I love even more, such a cozy christmas scene, and I love that it shows the two couples.
Overall View
Forgiving is timeless tale of redemption and the true power of love and healing. A TRUE PLEASURE TO INDULGE IN!
June 12, 2024
I'm convinced someone else must have written the last 10% because the heroine did not act like herself at all in the earlier parts of the story.
I liked the first Sarah a lot - she's plucky, industrious and upright (probably a little too moralistic for some lol). It was a nice contrast against Noah, the hero, who was a little sleazy in the beginning and a lot more sexually experienced than she was. For people who were such opposites, they communicated really well with one another. Things that could have easily been blown out of proportion were handled with maturity and mutual respect. One wonders how the third-act conflict could have gone down That badly.
The third-act conflict did not make a lick of sense -
If you want to enjoy this story, skip the last 10% and tell yourself the couples get their happily ever after. I would have given this four solid stars if not for the abysmal last bit.
I liked the first Sarah a lot - she's plucky, industrious and upright (probably a little too moralistic for some lol). It was a nice contrast against Noah, the hero, who was a little sleazy in the beginning and a lot more sexually experienced than she was. For people who were such opposites, they communicated really well with one another. Things that could have easily been blown out of proportion were handled with maturity and mutual respect. One wonders how the third-act conflict could have gone down That badly.
The third-act conflict did not make a lick of sense -
If you want to enjoy this story, skip the last 10% and tell yourself the couples get their happily ever after. I would have given this four solid stars if not for the abysmal last bit.
May 4, 2024
Deeply moving, emotional, rich in historical detail like only Lavyrle Spencer can do. Love the frontier town setting (Dakota territory 1876) and memorable secondary characters. Enemies to lovers reminiscent of her book The Gamble. Second chance romance storyline that will have you tearing up. Absolutely unforgettable and page turning. A must read for 🇺🇸 HR fans or anyone that wants to read a moving love story with grit, redemption, and whip-smart dialogue. The chemistry between the MC's will have ya swooning!
They don't write them like this anymore.
Loved.
They don't write them like this anymore.
Loved.
September 29, 2019
It all sort of fizzled out at the end ... dragged a bit. An enjoyable read but nothing too mind-blowing!
February 27, 2023
*4.5 stars. A beautiful story that typifies its title. This is so much more about found family & forgiveness than it is a romance, but I was still here for it. LaVyrle always brings such heart and total warmth to her books. I loved Sarah & Addie’s relationship in this, it reminded me of me and my twin sister in ways. Will I say the romance was somewhat underdelivered? Yes. But it was all together so enjoyable.
July 8, 2012
"Forgiving" takes you through about every emotion possible. You go from "aww how sweet" to "why in the heck did he do that", not to forget the "Dang it! I hate this book, yet love it at the same time"!
"Forgiving" is about a young, middle-aged woman who has come to a new town, to inform a sister she hasn't seen in years that her father has died. Not only is she excited to see her sister, but she also plans to open up a printing press there as well. Unfortunately, her sister doesn't share her feelings, and infact wants her to leave town immediately. Also, when she tries to establish herself in town with her printing press, the new sheriff makes it a rough start.
What is it that has turned her sister so nasty and why is this new shariff so persistent in putting her where he thinks she belongs?
"Forgiving" is about a young, middle-aged woman who has come to a new town, to inform a sister she hasn't seen in years that her father has died. Not only is she excited to see her sister, but she also plans to open up a printing press there as well. Unfortunately, her sister doesn't share her feelings, and infact wants her to leave town immediately. Also, when she tries to establish herself in town with her printing press, the new sheriff makes it a rough start.
What is it that has turned her sister so nasty and why is this new shariff so persistent in putting her where he thinks she belongs?
June 26, 2024
But really, 3.5. Lots of stubborn miscommunication here
December 29, 2014
Mixed feeling about this one. The setting is 1876 South Dakota, the mining town of Deadwood. You can tell the author did a lot of research about the historical town and events surrounded it. The reader gets a very good sense of place and time period through many factoids sprinkled throughout the story. The sprinkle was more like pouring in some places and was dragging the story a bit. There were two love stories in the book. The first one future a strong and independent business woman Sarah who came to Deadwood to find her sister and to start a printing business and the non-nonsense town’s sheriff. The two of them met in less than ideal circumstances, disliked each other right away but reluctantly came to respect and love each other. The second love story was about Sarah’s younger sister Addie who worked as the “upstairs girl” aka prostitute and the man who saved her. The second story was very dark, disturbing and realistic but resolution seemed to happen too fast and too good to be true. There was also strange omission about the sisters’ mother who left them when they were very young and ran away with her lover. There was no further mentioning about this traumatic event except in a passing sentence. Overall –a good story from a master storyteller but one-time read for me.
September 21, 2022
I tend to either love or hate LaVryle Spencer's books and this one falls into the love category. Pretty big CW for sexual abuse from a family member (in the past and mostly off page but not completely).
November 16, 2024
Forgiving by LaVyrle Spencer (1991) is another of her marvelous stories full of grit, warmth and totally engaging characters.
📰 It’s 1876 when Sarah arrives in Deadwood in the Dakota Territory to establish a newspaper. She’s a 25 year old plain spinster who learned about running a newspaper from her father. She’s also come to find her younger sister who left home 5 years earlier with no explanation.
📰 It’s a rough gold mining town with very few women except the whores. She immediately clashes with the local marshal, Noah… another strong willed person. He can’t figure out why he’s attracted to her.
📰 In addition to the main love story there’s a secondary one between Sarah’s sister Addie and her childhood sweetheart, Robert. All are slow burn with lots of hurdles along the way.
📰 The first half of the book was much more interesting with Sarah getting to know the town and its people… there’s vivid descriptions, and sharp dialogue. However, I thought it slowed down after a few shocking twists, and dragged along until the ending.
📰 Spencer excels at exploring the full range of human emotions from anger, indifference, loneliness, to acceptance, understanding, forgiveness and love. Overall tho, this wasn’t as powerful as some of her other HRs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📰 It’s 1876 when Sarah arrives in Deadwood in the Dakota Territory to establish a newspaper. She’s a 25 year old plain spinster who learned about running a newspaper from her father. She’s also come to find her younger sister who left home 5 years earlier with no explanation.
📰 It’s a rough gold mining town with very few women except the whores. She immediately clashes with the local marshal, Noah… another strong willed person. He can’t figure out why he’s attracted to her.
📰 In addition to the main love story there’s a secondary one between Sarah’s sister Addie and her childhood sweetheart, Robert. All are slow burn with lots of hurdles along the way.
📰 The first half of the book was much more interesting with Sarah getting to know the town and its people… there’s vivid descriptions, and sharp dialogue. However, I thought it slowed down after a few shocking twists, and dragged along until the ending.
📰 Spencer excels at exploring the full range of human emotions from anger, indifference, loneliness, to acceptance, understanding, forgiveness and love. Overall tho, this wasn’t as powerful as some of her other HRs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 6, 2025
It took me forever to read this book but I still loved so much. LaVyrle writes such compelling starchy heroines and the craft that goes into her world building is impeccable. Again problematic settler colonialism/Indian issues aside, she painted this adolescent immature growing town, Deadwood, in South Dakota with such breadth, lushness, and texture. And it absolutely mirrors the growth of the characters. Sarah and Noah are restrained and not super swoony and perhaps that’s why it’s not a 5 star because you know, missing the BIG ROMANCE feels, but god did I still root for them. I loved them so much of characters. The romance builds as enemies, then friendship, and just a rocky, angsty “third act” break up so that HEA is so earned. And all of the secondary and tertiary characters, they’re not cardboard props but all have such depth and complexity. I loved this and continue to be in awe of Spencer’s talent.
BIG BIG TW though: child sexual assault, abuse, incest
Please take care.
BIG BIG TW though: child sexual assault, abuse, incest
Please take care.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
A very well written adult Western romance. I liked Noah and Sarah's story but the characters weren't really memorable. A few swoony moments, but mostly in the heartache way. The author squeezes in a lot of American history which was a bit much at times but she did an amazing job making me feel like I was in an 1870s goldrush town with her lush descriptions of the locale and detailed daily activities of the people. The secondary romance of Addie and Robert was one of my least favorite tropes of prostitute turned good, and there were parts of the story that were really grim, but everyone gets their HEA in the end.
May 26, 2024
I don't typically enjoy western themed books, but Spencer did a great job putting me in this era without it being a cheesy macho cowboy meets damsel in distress story. It also really put into perspective how much life was changing during this time and what that meant to every-day working folks, like the arrival of the telegraph and the train through the town. What an exciting time!
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August 27, 2025Sarah Merritt arrived in Deadwood in Sept 1876. Her father had died & her sister lived there. She found out that the single women were prostitutes, including her sister, Adelaide, who was called Eve. Sarah had shipped her father's printing press to Deadwood to start a newspaper.
Sarah wasn't used to getting men's attention like she did there. The 1st men she ran into carried her luggage to the hotel. She went to find her sister & ran into an auburn bearded man, Noah Campbell. He offered to pay for her services & they took an instant disliking to each other. Sarah was determined to find out why Addie had turned her into the woman she was now.
Sarah found out at breakfast that the bearded man was Marshall Noah Campbell. Sarah called him out for frequenting brothels. Noah just laughed but didn't like it when it was in print.
Sarah found the printing press but had no place for it so the men in town set it up under a tree. Noah told her to stop printing because she hadn't obtained a license & it was causing a traffic jam. He tried to arrest her & a riot broke out. The marshal's gun accidentally went off, wounding a friend, True Blevins. Sarah yelled loud enough to get everyone's attention & agreed to let Noah arrest her. He took her to a mine shaft because there was no jail thinking he would return to her crying. He found her writing in a journal. She was released after explaining what had happened to the makeshift judge, the store owner. The men in town found a place for the press and an office for her.
Noah took True home to his family to heal when he could travel & told his parents about Sarah. His mother said she'd like to meet her. She felt Sarah might be a good match for Noah then mentioned maybe his brother, Arden, might be interested when Noah didn't appear to be. Arden was 21 to Sarah's 25 yrs.
Noah's family came by the next week. Arden pretty much drug her to dinner & the theater. She got her 1st kiss & she liked it. Arden was too young & eager for her so she didn't go out with him anymore. She got asked out after she was seen out with Arden. She enjoyed the restaurant owner closing his business & fixing a private dinner for the two of them. Patrick Bradigan, her typesetter, told her he was in love with her & wanted to marry her. She turned him down too & was afraid he might quit.
Sarah had moved into the same boarding house as Noah so they saw each other quite a bit. They talked a few times & Noah was surprised to find out he liked her company.
Sarah bought a cat & took it to Addie. Addie named the cat, Ruler, like one they'd had as kids. Addie talked some to Sarah after that. Sarah told Noah about her visit with Addie.
Smallpox hit the town & the brothel's were closed. She'd made a friend, Emma. Emma's son, Josh Dawkins, sold her paper's & her daughter, Lettie, had gotten small pox but survived. Very few had died because Sarah had noticed people were getting sick & talked to Noah. They got together with the Dr's in town & sent someone to pick up vaccines. People in town were vaccinated & the sicke were isolated. This helped the disease to not become an epidemic.
Sarah was surprised when Robert Baysinger, Addie's boyfriend from St Louis came to town to see Addie & start a press stamping business. This would allow the crushing of rock in order to obtain the minerals, gold, more easily. Sarah had told him that Addie was a prostitute.
The bank manager donated land to build a church/school. An ad was placed for a teacher and a jail was built. The telegraph arrived on Dec. 1st.
Noah hadn't like Robert when he arrived. He thought Robert was there for Sarah. She didn't recognize the jealousy & was surprised by Noah's rudeness.
Robert went to see Addie & the disappointment showed in his eyes when he saw Eve. She told him find someone else. When she got up the next morning, she told Sarah to leave her alone. Sarah went home & cried herself to sleep.
Mrs Roundtree, owner of the boardinghouse woke Sarah up for dinner. Noah apologized for what he had said the previous evening, thinking he had upset her. They talked & Noah found out that Robert had come for Addie. They talked about her progress with Addie he asked how she had gotten along with Arden. Noah was surprised when she said she'd rather go visit his parents with him than with Arden.
Noah walked Sarah home the evening the telegraph was connected. He asked if he could kiss her. Sarah had hoped that Robert would turn to her but didn't think about than anymore after Noah kissed her. She told Noah that she couldn't get past the idea of him having relations with her sister.
Robert visited Addie early each evening.
Sarah helped put on a Christmas play at the Langrishe theater. Noah came by & watched her work and realized that he had fallen in love with her. After the Christmas Eve performance, he walked her home. He snuck into her room later that night & kissed her until she responded but she still couldn't get past the fact that he'd been with Eve.
Christmas had Robert remembering when he first met Addie. He had come by to collect grease for his mother to make soap. He had seen Addie at school & didn't realize that he was at her house. His family was poor & Addie seemed to have plenty. Her house was opposite his house that was noisy & crowded. Addie played the piano & her cook gave him cookies. She treated him as if they were equals & they became fast friends along with Sarah. Robert knew he was going to make something of himself & marry her one day.
During their daily visits, Addie became more withdrawn. He thought she might be dying & went to ask her father. Her father got angry but told Robert he could marry her in 2 years but to stay away until then. Robert agreed to see her less often following her father's instructions. On her next birthday, Robert prepared a picnic. They both admitted to loving each other. He made an attempt to have sex with her. She told him that if he loved her he wouldn't make her do that. She ran away the next day. He didn't know where she was until Sarah wrote to him that Addie was in Deadwood.
Robert went to see Addie & purchased her time. He told her he wanted to talk. Addie finally told him that her father, Isaac, had slept with her from the time their mother had left. Beginning when she turned 12, he forced her to have sex with him. Robert never suspected & Sarah didn't know.
Robert took Addie with him to the hotel & they talked until they fell asleep. They went to see Sarah on Christmas day. Robert told Addie he would let her decide if & when she was going to tell Sarah.
Sarah took them to her office because her Mrs. Roundtree didn't want Eve in her parlor. Sarah went to see Emma who told her that Addie & Robert were welcome to come for Christmas dinner & she would help Addie learn to cook and do other household chores.
Noah & True had gone to Noah's family home for Christmas. Noah told True how he felt about Sarah. He told Sarah he loved her and wanted to marry her when they got back 2 days after Christmas. She told him she would but she had to get Addie settled first.
Sarah moved into the hotel with Addie until they found a house. Addie could sew & made new clothes for herself & some curtains. They bleached Addie's hair. Sarah invited Robert & Noah for dinner on New Years. The men got along & Noah gave Sarah an engagement brooch.
Sarah announced in the paper that a preacher was coming so they built a church. One of the men in town saw Noah kissing Sarah so Addie knew they were getting married. Addie had to find something to do so she joined the women's league & started a business making curtains. She met the new preacher, who was young and good looking. He asked Addie to take walks with him & this sparked a jealousy in Robert till he finally asked Addie to marry him.
They were having dinner one night & Robert brought up what their father had done to Addie. He thought Sarah & Noah knew. Addie told them. Sarah cried for hours & withdrew from life. She pushed Noah away & couldn't stand for anyone to touch her. Their wedding was cancelled. Robert & Addie were the 1st couple married by the new preacher. Sarah stayed that night with Emma & told her what her father had done. Emma didn't know how to help.
Sarah lost interest in the paper. She went to work for something to do. She yelled at Patrick in July & he left town. August was hot & Noah took some men out to catch someone who had robbed the stage. Robert commented on how much he had changed because he was not as friendly as used to be. Over the summer, new businesses came to Deadwood. A school teacher was hired & school began. It became the county seat as the population soared. in Nov, Addie announced that she was pregnant. Sarah told them she would move out by the end of the year. Robert went to speak to Noah & told him he needed to try again with Sarah. Noah was scared to death of being rejected by her again.
Robert took Addie to the Davis' for dinner the Saturday after talking to Noah. Noah went to see Sarah. He was scared but they talked & he asked her to get up and walk to him. She did & they kissed. It had been 7 months since they broke up. They were finally together again. They were married on Christmas Eve. They made love & she didn't pull away. Noah's patience had won out. He and Sarah were going to be just fine.
Sarah wasn't used to getting men's attention like she did there. The 1st men she ran into carried her luggage to the hotel. She went to find her sister & ran into an auburn bearded man, Noah Campbell. He offered to pay for her services & they took an instant disliking to each other. Sarah was determined to find out why Addie had turned her into the woman she was now.
Sarah found out at breakfast that the bearded man was Marshall Noah Campbell. Sarah called him out for frequenting brothels. Noah just laughed but didn't like it when it was in print.
Sarah found the printing press but had no place for it so the men in town set it up under a tree. Noah told her to stop printing because she hadn't obtained a license & it was causing a traffic jam. He tried to arrest her & a riot broke out. The marshal's gun accidentally went off, wounding a friend, True Blevins. Sarah yelled loud enough to get everyone's attention & agreed to let Noah arrest her. He took her to a mine shaft because there was no jail thinking he would return to her crying. He found her writing in a journal. She was released after explaining what had happened to the makeshift judge, the store owner. The men in town found a place for the press and an office for her.
Noah took True home to his family to heal when he could travel & told his parents about Sarah. His mother said she'd like to meet her. She felt Sarah might be a good match for Noah then mentioned maybe his brother, Arden, might be interested when Noah didn't appear to be. Arden was 21 to Sarah's 25 yrs.
Noah's family came by the next week. Arden pretty much drug her to dinner & the theater. She got her 1st kiss & she liked it. Arden was too young & eager for her so she didn't go out with him anymore. She got asked out after she was seen out with Arden. She enjoyed the restaurant owner closing his business & fixing a private dinner for the two of them. Patrick Bradigan, her typesetter, told her he was in love with her & wanted to marry her. She turned him down too & was afraid he might quit.
Sarah had moved into the same boarding house as Noah so they saw each other quite a bit. They talked a few times & Noah was surprised to find out he liked her company.
Sarah bought a cat & took it to Addie. Addie named the cat, Ruler, like one they'd had as kids. Addie talked some to Sarah after that. Sarah told Noah about her visit with Addie.
Smallpox hit the town & the brothel's were closed. She'd made a friend, Emma. Emma's son, Josh Dawkins, sold her paper's & her daughter, Lettie, had gotten small pox but survived. Very few had died because Sarah had noticed people were getting sick & talked to Noah. They got together with the Dr's in town & sent someone to pick up vaccines. People in town were vaccinated & the sicke were isolated. This helped the disease to not become an epidemic.
Sarah was surprised when Robert Baysinger, Addie's boyfriend from St Louis came to town to see Addie & start a press stamping business. This would allow the crushing of rock in order to obtain the minerals, gold, more easily. Sarah had told him that Addie was a prostitute.
The bank manager donated land to build a church/school. An ad was placed for a teacher and a jail was built. The telegraph arrived on Dec. 1st.
Noah hadn't like Robert when he arrived. He thought Robert was there for Sarah. She didn't recognize the jealousy & was surprised by Noah's rudeness.
Robert went to see Addie & the disappointment showed in his eyes when he saw Eve. She told him find someone else. When she got up the next morning, she told Sarah to leave her alone. Sarah went home & cried herself to sleep.
Mrs Roundtree, owner of the boardinghouse woke Sarah up for dinner. Noah apologized for what he had said the previous evening, thinking he had upset her. They talked & Noah found out that Robert had come for Addie. They talked about her progress with Addie he asked how she had gotten along with Arden. Noah was surprised when she said she'd rather go visit his parents with him than with Arden.
Noah walked Sarah home the evening the telegraph was connected. He asked if he could kiss her. Sarah had hoped that Robert would turn to her but didn't think about than anymore after Noah kissed her. She told Noah that she couldn't get past the idea of him having relations with her sister.
Robert visited Addie early each evening.
Sarah helped put on a Christmas play at the Langrishe theater. Noah came by & watched her work and realized that he had fallen in love with her. After the Christmas Eve performance, he walked her home. He snuck into her room later that night & kissed her until she responded but she still couldn't get past the fact that he'd been with Eve.
Christmas had Robert remembering when he first met Addie. He had come by to collect grease for his mother to make soap. He had seen Addie at school & didn't realize that he was at her house. His family was poor & Addie seemed to have plenty. Her house was opposite his house that was noisy & crowded. Addie played the piano & her cook gave him cookies. She treated him as if they were equals & they became fast friends along with Sarah. Robert knew he was going to make something of himself & marry her one day.
During their daily visits, Addie became more withdrawn. He thought she might be dying & went to ask her father. Her father got angry but told Robert he could marry her in 2 years but to stay away until then. Robert agreed to see her less often following her father's instructions. On her next birthday, Robert prepared a picnic. They both admitted to loving each other. He made an attempt to have sex with her. She told him that if he loved her he wouldn't make her do that. She ran away the next day. He didn't know where she was until Sarah wrote to him that Addie was in Deadwood.
Robert went to see Addie & purchased her time. He told her he wanted to talk. Addie finally told him that her father, Isaac, had slept with her from the time their mother had left. Beginning when she turned 12, he forced her to have sex with him. Robert never suspected & Sarah didn't know.
Robert took Addie with him to the hotel & they talked until they fell asleep. They went to see Sarah on Christmas day. Robert told Addie he would let her decide if & when she was going to tell Sarah.
Sarah took them to her office because her Mrs. Roundtree didn't want Eve in her parlor. Sarah went to see Emma who told her that Addie & Robert were welcome to come for Christmas dinner & she would help Addie learn to cook and do other household chores.
Noah & True had gone to Noah's family home for Christmas. Noah told True how he felt about Sarah. He told Sarah he loved her and wanted to marry her when they got back 2 days after Christmas. She told him she would but she had to get Addie settled first.
Sarah moved into the hotel with Addie until they found a house. Addie could sew & made new clothes for herself & some curtains. They bleached Addie's hair. Sarah invited Robert & Noah for dinner on New Years. The men got along & Noah gave Sarah an engagement brooch.
Sarah announced in the paper that a preacher was coming so they built a church. One of the men in town saw Noah kissing Sarah so Addie knew they were getting married. Addie had to find something to do so she joined the women's league & started a business making curtains. She met the new preacher, who was young and good looking. He asked Addie to take walks with him & this sparked a jealousy in Robert till he finally asked Addie to marry him.
They were having dinner one night & Robert brought up what their father had done to Addie. He thought Sarah & Noah knew. Addie told them. Sarah cried for hours & withdrew from life. She pushed Noah away & couldn't stand for anyone to touch her. Their wedding was cancelled. Robert & Addie were the 1st couple married by the new preacher. Sarah stayed that night with Emma & told her what her father had done. Emma didn't know how to help.
Sarah lost interest in the paper. She went to work for something to do. She yelled at Patrick in July & he left town. August was hot & Noah took some men out to catch someone who had robbed the stage. Robert commented on how much he had changed because he was not as friendly as used to be. Over the summer, new businesses came to Deadwood. A school teacher was hired & school began. It became the county seat as the population soared. in Nov, Addie announced that she was pregnant. Sarah told them she would move out by the end of the year. Robert went to speak to Noah & told him he needed to try again with Sarah. Noah was scared to death of being rejected by her again.
Robert took Addie to the Davis' for dinner the Saturday after talking to Noah. Noah went to see Sarah. He was scared but they talked & he asked her to get up and walk to him. She did & they kissed. It had been 7 months since they broke up. They were finally together again. They were married on Christmas Eve. They made love & she didn't pull away. Noah's patience had won out. He and Sarah were going to be just fine.
May 10, 2012
long, long, long book....the hero and heroine have a great chemistry but nothing romantic/sexual happens until the last 3 pages of the book...such a long build up for such a small fizzle...it would be worth the long long long story if the sex was awesome, which i can say was NOT...no description, no hot and bothered, no panting and screaming...barely a low simmer..dissapointing for the characters of the book.
August 16, 2015
LaVyrle Spencer is one of my favorite authors just for the reason of the topic that she picks....Love stories of people who you would not think were suited for each other. This one is a western taking place in Deadwood during the gold strike. The two main characters are the Marshall of the town and a woman who comes to town to start a newspaper and clean up the town in her own way. You know I am a sucker for a good western....others reading it might not give it a 4 star rating.
August 29, 2010
I have not found a LaVyrle Spencer book, yet that is not beautifully written, she just has a gift. The story in "Forgiving", however, is a little slow-going. Wonderful, interesting characters, just not too much going on for the better part of the book.
February 28, 2019
I thought that LaVyrle Spencer had stopped writing. When I finished the book I checked the copyright and it was 1991, so I don't know if this happens to be one of the books I missed or what. It touches on a serious topic and I liked the way she handled it.
Read
February 5, 2015I loved this book so much I could almost cry over it....wonderful dialogue, plot, background....another classic from Ms. Spencer.
If only every book at Barnes and Nobles was as captivating as this one....
If only every book at Barnes and Nobles was as captivating as this one....
January 23, 2022
January 2022 reread: I wish the whole book was just Adi and Robert. How compelling that would have been!
Future Kerry: don’t reread this. It’ll only put you in a bad mood
Future Kerry: don’t reread this. It’ll only put you in a bad mood
June 16, 2020
Lindo, lo más rescatable es la profundidad de sentimientos que plasma la autora.
November 16, 2021
Fun..........
October 11, 2020
Ok so, I don't really know how to rate this one. Whilst I loved Morning Glory, Forgiving in comparison paled significantly. There was always just so much going on- stories zig zagging back and forth, characters tumbling and changing and yet still remaining stagnant. I don't know how to explain it but Forgiving gave me a headache by the end of it.
The book starts of slow as we meet Sarah on her quest to find her sister Addie, locking heads with Marshal Campbell along the way. We find that Addie is not a maid but rather a prostitute and this sets of Sarah (and later Robert) on a journey to get back the girl they once loved. From there onward, there's a whole lot of emotional cartwheeling, stubbornness, awful truths , unfulfilled love, unrequited advances, sparks of jealousy and the stifling of feelings. Basically, whilst the characters and the setting were very well written, I didn't care about them. They didn't stick with me and by the time I was 3/4 way through- the book felt like a hot mess. It just wasn't my cup of tea at all- from the dizzying rounds we went through, to the rushed ending, the book instead felt like a sum of well-written parts thrown together and tied by a flimsy thread.
I'm sure fans of LaVyrle Spencer and the genre may like this one though.
March 11, 2021
Sarebbe potuto essere da 5 stelle se non fosse stato un po' troppo prolisso. Quando ormai la storia sembrava conclusa e le coppie fatte e ho visto che mancavano ancora più di 80 pagine alla fine del libro mi son detta: ora succederà certamente qualcosa che mi fa scoppiare di nuovo la coppia e così è stato, e io francamene di questo ulteriore problema da affrontare ne avrei fatto a meno, dopo tutti i precedenti e dopo che ormai il ritmo del libro era rallentato fin troppo e sembrava solo si stesse allungando il brodo.
Inoltre avendo scelto come ambientazione una città realmente esistita e abbastanza famosa per la storia americana l'autrice ha deciso di intercalare alla trama principale notizie storiche reali e personaggi storici realmente esistiti tipo Calamity Jane. E questo arriccchisce senza dubbio il libro e non è fuori luogo perchè la protagonista è una giornalista quindi fare cronaca è il suo lavoro, però forse ha un poco esagerato nella quantità di notizie storiche che ha deciso di inserire, e così facendo ha rallentato molto il ritmo del libro, specie verso il finale.
Non crediate comunque che data questa premessa il libro non mi sia piaciuto, al contrario l'ho amato molto, nonostante potesse essere certamente più scorrevole, ma questo difetto passa in secondo piano rispetto al suo più grande pregio, che per me sono stati i personaggi, veramente tra i più realistici che io abbia mai letto. Con pregi difetti e debolezze veramente umane.
Inoltre avendo scelto come ambientazione una città realmente esistita e abbastanza famosa per la storia americana l'autrice ha deciso di intercalare alla trama principale notizie storiche reali e personaggi storici realmente esistiti tipo Calamity Jane. E questo arriccchisce senza dubbio il libro e non è fuori luogo perchè la protagonista è una giornalista quindi fare cronaca è il suo lavoro, però forse ha un poco esagerato nella quantità di notizie storiche che ha deciso di inserire, e così facendo ha rallentato molto il ritmo del libro, specie verso il finale.
Non crediate comunque che data questa premessa il libro non mi sia piaciuto, al contrario l'ho amato molto, nonostante potesse essere certamente più scorrevole, ma questo difetto passa in secondo piano rispetto al suo più grande pregio, che per me sono stati i personaggi, veramente tra i più realistici che io abbia mai letto. Con pregi difetti e debolezze veramente umane.
May 30, 2021
I think I read this book about fifty years ago, but I can’t remember much more than the setting. I found it in a lending library at my apartment. I used to love LaVyrle Spencer’s books, and I found that I still do. I was so sad when she retired from writing. Her books were easy escapism.
Forgiving was interesting in that it centered on sexual abuse in the 1880’s and what it did to one you did girl, how it affected her life. We are used to it in more modern fiction, but not so much in a resurrected favorite. The abuse affected two sisters severely even though the father only seduced one of them. The story has so much depth to it.
The book takes place in Deadwood in the Dakota Territories during the wild, muddy gold mining days. Sarah Merritt went to Deadwood to look for her sister Adeline who had run away five years before. She also intended to start a newspaper using her late father’s printing press. She found Addie working in a house of ill repute and could not talk sense into her.
Spencer includes excellent background detail about life in Deadwood as Sarah covers political issues in the town. The description of living conditions paints pictures with words. She describes how plaster walls became popular both for keeping out the cold and for brightening up the rooms. You understand the real life in the town, not just saloons and gunfights.
I highly recommend this book.
Forgiving was interesting in that it centered on sexual abuse in the 1880’s and what it did to one you did girl, how it affected her life. We are used to it in more modern fiction, but not so much in a resurrected favorite. The abuse affected two sisters severely even though the father only seduced one of them. The story has so much depth to it.
The book takes place in Deadwood in the Dakota Territories during the wild, muddy gold mining days. Sarah Merritt went to Deadwood to look for her sister Adeline who had run away five years before. She also intended to start a newspaper using her late father’s printing press. She found Addie working in a house of ill repute and could not talk sense into her.
Spencer includes excellent background detail about life in Deadwood as Sarah covers political issues in the town. The description of living conditions paints pictures with words. She describes how plaster walls became popular both for keeping out the cold and for brightening up the rooms. You understand the real life in the town, not just saloons and gunfights.
I highly recommend this book.
August 30, 2018
It is heart~warming, funny, and endearing with a dash of darkness as life is not always fun. After the death of her newspaperman father in St. Louis, Sarah Merritt went to Deadwood, Dakota determined to find her runaway younger sister (Adelaide, who went missing 5 years ago) and also to put up Deadwood's first newspaper. She thought that her sister, was an upstairs maid employed by a Mrs. Rose Hossiter. Well, Adelaide no longer answers to that name, she is now called Eve and she works as an upstairs girl (the town's moniker for a saloon girl) at Rose's (brothel owners like Rose are called "landladies" their side of the American Frontier) so Noah Campbell informed Sarah as she herself was propositioned by no less than Sheriff Campbell upon finding her in front of Rose's saloon. Very good reading for those who love the lighter side of life in the American Frontier when the West was almost tamed.
December 19, 2020
I read this book when I was 14, bought it off the shelves of a makeshift secondhand bookstore wedged between the store for rice grains and a bakery. This was the exact same cover, with chewed off edges. If I can buy a copy again, I would.
I have been collecting Lavyrle Spencers since then. If she hasn't been writing HR, I would still be drawn to her writing. She paints her characters, their way of life and the climate of the time in a masterful, thoughful style. I am yet to come across another HR author who writes in the same level as her.
Forgiving is one of her more challenging stories in terms of associated issues associated, in this case rape and prostitution. For a book published in the early 90's this is a sincere attempt by the author to present the complexity of human relationships and how all of us is capable of forgiving to move on. A refreshing reread!
I have been collecting Lavyrle Spencers since then. If she hasn't been writing HR, I would still be drawn to her writing. She paints her characters, their way of life and the climate of the time in a masterful, thoughful style. I am yet to come across another HR author who writes in the same level as her.
Forgiving is one of her more challenging stories in terms of associated issues associated, in this case rape and prostitution. For a book published in the early 90's this is a sincere attempt by the author to present the complexity of human relationships and how all of us is capable of forgiving to move on. A refreshing reread!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
Sarah Merritt has come to Deadwood to start a newspaper and to find her sister Addie. She immediately tangles with Marshal Noah Campbell and ends up in jail. This is one of those enemies-to-lovers tropes, but it also has a slow burn, sometimes too slow. It's a double romance also, as Addie has been working as a prostitute. Sarah tries to rescue her, but it isn't very easy.
This author is great to read as she really researches her historical details. I liked learning about early gold mining, Deadwood, and printing, as well as a wealth of other knowledge about the late nineteenth century.
The romances were good, though I couldn't always sympathize with Sarah's fits-and-starts attitude toward Noah. No spoilers but I think I liked the secondary romance better.
This author is great to read as she really researches her historical details. I liked learning about early gold mining, Deadwood, and printing, as well as a wealth of other knowledge about the late nineteenth century.
The romances were good, though I couldn't always sympathize with Sarah's fits-and-starts attitude toward Noah. No spoilers but I think I liked the secondary romance better.
January 16, 2022
This book is an unusual historical romance. It is set in the Dakota territory in the 1870s when it was still very much the Wild Wild West. It also has 2 heroes and heroines looking for love. It encompasses several dark story lines which felt quite contemporary. I enjoy historical romances and found this one to be a breath of fresh air. The emotional conflicts between the men and women in the 2 couples felt very real and moved the plot along nicely. It only slowed down to become ordinary at the very end when the author needed to find a happy ending for all involved. A very good and different read.
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