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Women of the West #1
Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy
Love can lead you out of the wilderness…1851, Overland Trail to California. As a baby, Callie was left on the doorstep of an isolated farmhouse in Tennessee. The Whitaker family took her in, but have always considered her more a servant than a daughter. Scorned by her two stepsisters, Callie is forced to work long hours and denied an education. But a new world opens to her when the Whitakers join a wagon train to California—guided by rugged Indian, Luke McGraw…A loner, haunted by a painful past, Luke plans to return to the wilderness once his work is done. But he can’t help noticing how poorly Callie is treated—or how unaware she is of her beauty and intelligence. As the two become closer over the long trek west, Callie’s confidence grows. And when disaster strikes, Callie emerges as the strong one—and the woman Luke may find the courage to love at last…
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
47 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Kennedy
36 books224 followersFirst place (GOLD) winner in the Romance category of the 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) awards for THE LAST OF LADY LANSDOWN.
I was born and raised in Fresno, California, where I graduated from Fresno High School. I lived in Canada for many years, enjoying skiing and riding horses, and am a graduate of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a B.S. in Computer Science.
I've had many jobs in my lifetime, including working for several years as a computer programmer/analyst. However, my true passion has always been writing, so I quit my day job (something you're never supposed to do) and started writing Regency romances. After publishing several Regencies with Ballantine, Signet, and Camel Press, I switched genres.
Now I'm writing western romances for Kensington Lyrical Press, all taking place in the Gold Rush days of the 1850's. I love this period of time. There's so much to write about! With my shelves full of research books, I doubt I'll change genres again.
I have two daughters and am forever proud of their accomplishments--and grateful, too, that both are the kind of loving, supportive daughters every mother hopes she'll have. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I belong to the Las Vegas chapter of Romance Writers of America.
I love hearing from my readers and can be reached at mailto:shirleyken360@gmail.com
I was born and raised in Fresno, California, where I graduated from Fresno High School. I lived in Canada for many years, enjoying skiing and riding horses, and am a graduate of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a B.S. in Computer Science.
I've had many jobs in my lifetime, including working for several years as a computer programmer/analyst. However, my true passion has always been writing, so I quit my day job (something you're never supposed to do) and started writing Regency romances. After publishing several Regencies with Ballantine, Signet, and Camel Press, I switched genres.
Now I'm writing western romances for Kensington Lyrical Press, all taking place in the Gold Rush days of the 1850's. I love this period of time. There's so much to write about! With my shelves full of research books, I doubt I'll change genres again.
I have two daughters and am forever proud of their accomplishments--and grateful, too, that both are the kind of loving, supportive daughters every mother hopes she'll have. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I belong to the Las Vegas chapter of Romance Writers of America.
I love hearing from my readers and can be reached at mailto:shirleyken360@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 20, 2015
Where do I even begin?
I guess I should start with the things I liked about the book, which are few.
What I liked (and I use the term loosely):
Callie grew some balls
It ended
Yes, I realize it’s a short list, but there’s a reason for that—it was a boring, terrible story with so little actual romance it pained me to trudge through it to the end. I wanted to throw the book into the recycle bin and rub my burning, blurry eyes. Burning and blurry because I had to force them to stay open while reading this book.
Maybe I’ll just move onto what I didn’t like about this book so I can move on with my life and forget how I wasted HOURS of my day on this book.
What I DISLIKED:
Callie
Her lack of backstory
Callie’s F#$%ed up family
Luke
Luke's lame backstory
The long, boring, swathes of story
Most secondary characters
Glossed over sex scene
Lack of any romantic intensity
While I respect Ms. Kennedy’s attempt to revamp the Cinderella story, it was poorly done. This book had such promise…until I actually started reading it.
Callie is a spineless, wet blanket with more woe is me’s than original thoughts. Sure, she breaks out of that mold and goes on to be “brave” and “courageous” but it was so plodding and clumsy I didn’t believe a word of it.
So, someone left her on the Whitaker’s porch when she was a baby? Really? That’s all the backstory we’re going to get? She isn’t the daughter of a wealthy rancher and his harlot lover? She isn’t the long lost sister of a rich lawyer from Boston? All you’re going to give me is the abandoned baby schtick?
LAME!
Callie’s "family", from her stepfather right on down to her brainless stepsister Nellie are a bunch of douchebags in need of a thorough plunge into a diseased whore’s cunt. Yeah, I said it. The one saving grace is Tommy who, most likely, is somewhere in the Autism Spectrum. That poor boy had to deal with a lot of shit, and I’m glad he ended up happy, healthy, and thriving on the other side of journey.
I wanted to like Luke, I really did but he was just too nice and too lame to be the alpha Ms. Kennedy tried to make him be. Soooo awesome (can you hear my sarcasm?) that he’s this brawny, long-haired trapper, but he is too…mushy for my tastes. Also, he just one day wakes up and realizes Callie the girl for him? Are you kidding me?
This book was so lacking romantic intensity I honestly thought it should be listed as historical fiction and not romance. One minute Callie is watching this super sexy dude bathe under a waterfall and the next minute she can’t think of anything else. There’s no in between parts where the two of them feel tension. At least I didn’t feel any. There was a lot of telling – I was TOLD Callie was weak-kneed (a term used several times, in fact) around Luke. No build up. No tension. No hot, heavy heat. Nothing.
BORING!
Also, I feel robbed by the letdown that is Luke’s tragic backstory. THIS is the reason you'll never fall in love and get married? SERIOUSLY! That is so damn dumb, I can't even...
Yes, it’s horrible that his family was massacred, but the lead-up and then the actual telling of the story was without emotion or tension or suspense. It fell flat, I rolled my eyes, and I lost any interest in Luke altogether.
So, the story was loaded with historical fact about the stark, brutal trail to the gold fields in the west, so loaded that it weighed the story down. Seriously? While it is historical fact and part of the reality of western treks, no one really wants to read about dead babies in their romance novels. It took me out of the story because it was terrible—plain and simple. One can’t read about dead babies in one paragraph and then comfortably get back into the supposed romance between Luke and Callie in the next.
Ever body DIES! The end.
Moving on…
Most secondary characters added little to the story except filling the “seats”. Yeah, they’re in a wagon train so there has to be other people, but they could’ve at least been INTERESTING people. The saving grace was Florida and her family. They weren’t AH-MAY-ZING, but they were way better than…err…who were all those other people again?
Now, let’s get to the juicy parts—oh, wait, there AREN’T ANY! I kept myself reading this mud soup in hopes that the love scene, when Luke and Callie FINALLY got together, would be so beautiful and sensual it would make up for everything else. Well…75% into the book (yeah, it took THAT LONG), they finally made love! Well, at least that’s what I think happened. I don’t know for sure because one minute she is helping him open the buttons on her dress and the next minute she is putting the dress back on – WHAM, BAM, fizzzzzle…
Wah, wah, waaaaah!
Picture a balloon silently deflating, and you’ll have a good idea of how that scene played out.
The dumb sister Nellie got more action than Callie did! WTF?!
Okay, I’m done.
Seriously.
I need to go pour myself a stiff drink and slap something.
I guess I should start with the things I liked about the book, which are few.
What I liked (and I use the term loosely):
Callie grew some balls
It ended
Yes, I realize it’s a short list, but there’s a reason for that—it was a boring, terrible story with so little actual romance it pained me to trudge through it to the end. I wanted to throw the book into the recycle bin and rub my burning, blurry eyes. Burning and blurry because I had to force them to stay open while reading this book.
Maybe I’ll just move onto what I didn’t like about this book so I can move on with my life and forget how I wasted HOURS of my day on this book.
What I DISLIKED:
Callie
Her lack of backstory
Callie’s F#$%ed up family
Luke
Luke's lame backstory
The long, boring, swathes of story
Most secondary characters
Glossed over sex scene
Lack of any romantic intensity
While I respect Ms. Kennedy’s attempt to revamp the Cinderella story, it was poorly done. This book had such promise…until I actually started reading it.
Callie is a spineless, wet blanket with more woe is me’s than original thoughts. Sure, she breaks out of that mold and goes on to be “brave” and “courageous” but it was so plodding and clumsy I didn’t believe a word of it.
So, someone left her on the Whitaker’s porch when she was a baby? Really? That’s all the backstory we’re going to get? She isn’t the daughter of a wealthy rancher and his harlot lover? She isn’t the long lost sister of a rich lawyer from Boston? All you’re going to give me is the abandoned baby schtick?
LAME!
Callie’s "family", from her stepfather right on down to her brainless stepsister Nellie are a bunch of douchebags in need of a thorough plunge into a diseased whore’s cunt. Yeah, I said it. The one saving grace is Tommy who, most likely, is somewhere in the Autism Spectrum. That poor boy had to deal with a lot of shit, and I’m glad he ended up happy, healthy, and thriving on the other side of journey.
I wanted to like Luke, I really did but he was just too nice and too lame to be the alpha Ms. Kennedy tried to make him be. Soooo awesome (can you hear my sarcasm?) that he’s this brawny, long-haired trapper, but he is too…mushy for my tastes. Also, he just one day wakes up and realizes Callie the girl for him? Are you kidding me?
This book was so lacking romantic intensity I honestly thought it should be listed as historical fiction and not romance. One minute Callie is watching this super sexy dude bathe under a waterfall and the next minute she can’t think of anything else. There’s no in between parts where the two of them feel tension. At least I didn’t feel any. There was a lot of telling – I was TOLD Callie was weak-kneed (a term used several times, in fact) around Luke. No build up. No tension. No hot, heavy heat. Nothing.
BORING!
Also, I feel robbed by the letdown that is Luke’s tragic backstory. THIS is the reason you'll never fall in love and get married? SERIOUSLY! That is so damn dumb, I can't even...
Yes, it’s horrible that his family was massacred, but the lead-up and then the actual telling of the story was without emotion or tension or suspense. It fell flat, I rolled my eyes, and I lost any interest in Luke altogether.
So, the story was loaded with historical fact about the stark, brutal trail to the gold fields in the west, so loaded that it weighed the story down. Seriously? While it is historical fact and part of the reality of western treks, no one really wants to read about dead babies in their romance novels. It took me out of the story because it was terrible—plain and simple. One can’t read about dead babies in one paragraph and then comfortably get back into the supposed romance between Luke and Callie in the next.
Ever body DIES! The end.
Moving on…
Most secondary characters added little to the story except filling the “seats”. Yeah, they’re in a wagon train so there has to be other people, but they could’ve at least been INTERESTING people. The saving grace was Florida and her family. They weren’t AH-MAY-ZING, but they were way better than…err…who were all those other people again?
Now, let’s get to the juicy parts—oh, wait, there AREN’T ANY! I kept myself reading this mud soup in hopes that the love scene, when Luke and Callie FINALLY got together, would be so beautiful and sensual it would make up for everything else. Well…75% into the book (yeah, it took THAT LONG), they finally made love! Well, at least that’s what I think happened. I don’t know for sure because one minute she is helping him open the buttons on her dress and the next minute she is putting the dress back on – WHAM, BAM, fizzzzzle…
Wah, wah, waaaaah!
Picture a balloon silently deflating, and you’ll have a good idea of how that scene played out.
The dumb sister Nellie got more action than Callie did! WTF?!
Okay, I’m done.
Seriously.
I need to go pour myself a stiff drink and slap something.
January 23, 2015
Rated 3.5 - A Cinderella rendition taking place on a wagon train journey to California, this novel will appeal to those who enjoy the adventurous spirit of those brave pioneers of the 1850s. More reviews at TBRMountainRange.com.
Callie Whitaker is traveling with her family and their hired hands on the Overland Trail to California in 1851. Abandoned on the Whitakers' doorstep as a child, Callie is eternally grateful to her stepmother and stepfather for taking her in. Since leaving their farm in Tennessee, Callie is bone-weary from laboring each day on the trail. Her two stepsisters are much too fragile to do any strenuous work, per her stepmother, so Callie does the bulk of it.
Callie is fetching water when she first encounters mountain man Luke McGraw. He's bathing in a stream, but Callie can't look away because she's so mesmerized by his masculinity. Of course, Luke sees the humor in the situation and makes light of Callie's gawking. Luke is part of a wagon train camped across the meadow from her family, with about fifty wagons in their company, which Callie's stepfather agrees to join a few days later.
Callie's stepfather is insensitive and has strict rules, even though his daughters and stepdaughter are old enough to make their own decisions. The only one too small to have a say is seven-year-old Tommy who is mostly forgotten due to his inability to learn. Callie's stepmother is almost as cruel as her stepfather; expecting Callie to take care of the family's needs as well as take care of her stepbrother.
Callie has no choice but to go along to California with the only family she knows, but she can't help wishing they never left Tennessee. The trail is hard and dangerous. Will her fears be realized, or will the wagon train be fortunate enough to reach California before the impending snow challenges them more?
This novel has elements that I find appealing when looking for historical fiction, as well as a few aspects that didn't make it perfect for my preferences. There's the wagon train journey and hardships that I find captivating. Logan, a main character, is a trapper and I'm especially fond of these loners. This outdoorsy hero has his appeal with his rugged good looks and he is aloof as you would expect, but he doesn't do anything during the journey that illustrates him as a trapper. Even so, his tenderness toward Callie is necessary for her growth as a woman. The wagon master, another main character, is more true to his character and met my predictions more so than Logan. The Cinderella character is full of light and servitude as you would expect, but I felt that Callie was too agreeable with her family who enslaved her. But that also portrays her inner light and sense of survival which will be drawn upon before the end of her story.
Although this novel kept me reading, I didn't feel the characters' emotional connection. I didn't especially miss it, until one dire circumstance toward the end of the book when I should have felt the characters' bond poignantly and I didn't, so I backtracked to be sure I had read it correctly. I continued to read because I wanted to know the outcome and was pleased with the conclusion, but because the really dark moment felt disconnected from deep point of view for me, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
The historical detail is well done so I think fans of pioneer stories will like this book if you're okay with a less emotive story. Although there are romantic situations, they're not sexually explicit. The multiple romances aren't necessarily sweet, because they don't all wait until marriage, but there are no rape scenes, thankfully, and no kidnapping of women. This makes me appreciate the author's hard work even more, by making this story an original piece of historical fiction without relying on the normal scenarios of this subgenre, while adding in some interesting tidbits about Diggers and concentrating on the dangers of the wagon train movement during the gold rush.
I would have liked more specifics from the characters' everyday lives, such as how they acquired the food, expecting a trapper to hunt, which I don't remember reading about. The foodie in me wanted to know more about cooking on a fire, preparation and acquiring of sustenance, since it can be a major obstacle on a journey of this length. The detail that was included was good, especially toward the end, but I just wanted more because I am curious.
I found the journey to be the most fascinating part of WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA. Even with my quibbles, it's a satisfying read and I will look for more by author Shirley Kennedy. For those who love a Cinderella rendition, many characteristics of Cinderella's personality are spot on, including the naiveté which may annoy some until she acquires a backbone. For those who enjoy a pioneer story, you will get the flavor of the trail and be engaged in the adventure.
WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA is enjoyable, with an eBook price prior to publication that matches the story well, making it an agreeable purchase for those who love this subgenre as much as I do. I'm hoping Ms. Kennedy writes more stories of the west, maybe one about Callie's younger stepbrother, Tommy?
Reviewed by Dorine,courtesy of Romance Junkies. ARC provided by NetGalley.
Callie Whitaker is traveling with her family and their hired hands on the Overland Trail to California in 1851. Abandoned on the Whitakers' doorstep as a child, Callie is eternally grateful to her stepmother and stepfather for taking her in. Since leaving their farm in Tennessee, Callie is bone-weary from laboring each day on the trail. Her two stepsisters are much too fragile to do any strenuous work, per her stepmother, so Callie does the bulk of it.
Callie is fetching water when she first encounters mountain man Luke McGraw. He's bathing in a stream, but Callie can't look away because she's so mesmerized by his masculinity. Of course, Luke sees the humor in the situation and makes light of Callie's gawking. Luke is part of a wagon train camped across the meadow from her family, with about fifty wagons in their company, which Callie's stepfather agrees to join a few days later.
Callie's stepfather is insensitive and has strict rules, even though his daughters and stepdaughter are old enough to make their own decisions. The only one too small to have a say is seven-year-old Tommy who is mostly forgotten due to his inability to learn. Callie's stepmother is almost as cruel as her stepfather; expecting Callie to take care of the family's needs as well as take care of her stepbrother.
Callie has no choice but to go along to California with the only family she knows, but she can't help wishing they never left Tennessee. The trail is hard and dangerous. Will her fears be realized, or will the wagon train be fortunate enough to reach California before the impending snow challenges them more?
This novel has elements that I find appealing when looking for historical fiction, as well as a few aspects that didn't make it perfect for my preferences. There's the wagon train journey and hardships that I find captivating. Logan, a main character, is a trapper and I'm especially fond of these loners. This outdoorsy hero has his appeal with his rugged good looks and he is aloof as you would expect, but he doesn't do anything during the journey that illustrates him as a trapper. Even so, his tenderness toward Callie is necessary for her growth as a woman. The wagon master, another main character, is more true to his character and met my predictions more so than Logan. The Cinderella character is full of light and servitude as you would expect, but I felt that Callie was too agreeable with her family who enslaved her. But that also portrays her inner light and sense of survival which will be drawn upon before the end of her story.
Although this novel kept me reading, I didn't feel the characters' emotional connection. I didn't especially miss it, until one dire circumstance toward the end of the book when I should have felt the characters' bond poignantly and I didn't, so I backtracked to be sure I had read it correctly. I continued to read because I wanted to know the outcome and was pleased with the conclusion, but because the really dark moment felt disconnected from deep point of view for me, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
The historical detail is well done so I think fans of pioneer stories will like this book if you're okay with a less emotive story. Although there are romantic situations, they're not sexually explicit. The multiple romances aren't necessarily sweet, because they don't all wait until marriage, but there are no rape scenes, thankfully, and no kidnapping of women. This makes me appreciate the author's hard work even more, by making this story an original piece of historical fiction without relying on the normal scenarios of this subgenre, while adding in some interesting tidbits about Diggers and concentrating on the dangers of the wagon train movement during the gold rush.
I would have liked more specifics from the characters' everyday lives, such as how they acquired the food, expecting a trapper to hunt, which I don't remember reading about. The foodie in me wanted to know more about cooking on a fire, preparation and acquiring of sustenance, since it can be a major obstacle on a journey of this length. The detail that was included was good, especially toward the end, but I just wanted more because I am curious.
I found the journey to be the most fascinating part of WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA. Even with my quibbles, it's a satisfying read and I will look for more by author Shirley Kennedy. For those who love a Cinderella rendition, many characteristics of Cinderella's personality are spot on, including the naiveté which may annoy some until she acquires a backbone. For those who enjoy a pioneer story, you will get the flavor of the trail and be engaged in the adventure.
WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA is enjoyable, with an eBook price prior to publication that matches the story well, making it an agreeable purchase for those who love this subgenre as much as I do. I'm hoping Ms. Kennedy writes more stories of the west, maybe one about Callie's younger stepbrother, Tommy?
Reviewed by Dorine,courtesy of Romance Junkies. ARC provided by NetGalley.
January 31, 2015
Book Description...
"Love can lead you out of the wilderness…
1851, Overland Trail to California. As a baby, Callie was left on the doorstep of an isolated farmhouse in Tennessee. The Whitaker family took her in, but have always considered her more a servant than a daughter. Scorned by her two stepsisters, Callie is forced to work long hours and denied an education. But a new world opens to her when the Whitakers join a wagon train to California—guided by rugged Indian, Luke McGraw…
A loner, haunted by a painful past, Luke plans to return to the wilderness once his work is done. But he can’t help noticing how poorly Callie is treated—or how unaware she is of her beauty and intelligence. As the two become closer over the long trek west, Callie’s confidence grows. And when disaster strikes, Callie emerges as the strong one—and the woman Luke may find the courage to love at last…"
Title: Wagon Train Cinderella
Author: Shirley Kennedy
Publisher: Kensington Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Wagon Train Cinderella" by Shirley Kennedy
What I enjoyed from this read...
This was definitely one of those 'Cinderella Fairy Tales' that really was very similar to the original story only a different spin on it. This Cinderella is on her way to California on the Overland Trail.
This Whitaker family were some horrible people and t I liked how this author was able to bring into Callie's life some very interesting people like (Luke and Florida) to mention a few that indeed did aid her on this wagon train journey to California. I loved how this author gets Callie to open her eyes as she begins to see life very differently than she had ever seen it. There will be lessons learned, friendship made and even some forgiveness. I was sorry to see that Callie who was step person in this Whitaker family was not able to get the forgiveness from one special person who had put her through so much. Now, who was that? Well, you will have to pick up this well written read to see for yourself just who that was. There will be a lots of twist and turns in the good and bad in this read and the readers attention will be their front and center turning the pages to see what will be coming next in this enlightening as well as entertaining read. Truly, in the end it will be good to see how this all turns out and if this 'Cinderella.gets her Prince Charming.'
January 3, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are good romance novels and there are trashy romance novels. This book is neither. Set in the mid-1800s, Wagon Train Cinderella is exactly what it's uninventive title describes as Callie Whitaker journeys with her step-family across the wild west fueled by dreams of California gold. Along the way she meets her prince, a mountain man named Luke McGraw, and finds the courage to stand up for herself amongst the family that has always treated her like the a lowly servant.
The story was very entertaining and I think pretty accurately portrayed the trials and tribulations that must have been present among wagon train parties. Fans of the time period and historical fiction will be pleased, romance readers, however, will likely be disappointed as the romance left much to be desired (literally).
In the end, it wasn't a bad book, and may have deserved a third star if it weren't for several issues I had with the author's writing style. First, there was way too much telling instead of showing. I know that Callie grows and changes on her journey mostly because Luke tells her so many times. I know that Callie's stepsisters are lazy because they're described so. We rarely witness them being lazy, or Ma being mean to Tommy, or anything that would signify that Callie loves Luke (other than her saying she does). We just hear about it, which is a pretty lazy way of telling a story, and leaves readers feeling very disconnected from the characters. Not only was this a cause of my lack of empathy toward Callie, but I also found her meek and submissive attitude in the beginning a bit of an extreme, which made me think of her as really ignorant. She didn't notice here sisters weren't actually sickly and delicate? She planned on spending her whole life being treated horribly by her family? I liked the sass she found in the end, but it was too late for me to really feel any emotional attachments to her.
Secondly, it irritates me to no end when paragraphs are broken up by phrases like, "What was she thinking?" or "How could she be so silly?" Again, this is another example of telling and not showing. If readers are following along, they should be able to realize she's being silly without being told. If anything, these phrases drew me out of the story by taking away from the flow of the third person point of view.
Like I said, it wasn't a bad book by any means, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is very interested in the historical time period. Everyone else though, can probably find better romance novels, or trashier ones if that's what you're into.
There are good romance novels and there are trashy romance novels. This book is neither. Set in the mid-1800s, Wagon Train Cinderella is exactly what it's uninventive title describes as Callie Whitaker journeys with her step-family across the wild west fueled by dreams of California gold. Along the way she meets her prince, a mountain man named Luke McGraw, and finds the courage to stand up for herself amongst the family that has always treated her like the a lowly servant.
The story was very entertaining and I think pretty accurately portrayed the trials and tribulations that must have been present among wagon train parties. Fans of the time period and historical fiction will be pleased, romance readers, however, will likely be disappointed as the romance left much to be desired (literally).
In the end, it wasn't a bad book, and may have deserved a third star if it weren't for several issues I had with the author's writing style. First, there was way too much telling instead of showing. I know that Callie grows and changes on her journey mostly because Luke tells her so many times. I know that Callie's stepsisters are lazy because they're described so. We rarely witness them being lazy, or Ma being mean to Tommy, or anything that would signify that Callie loves Luke (other than her saying she does). We just hear about it, which is a pretty lazy way of telling a story, and leaves readers feeling very disconnected from the characters. Not only was this a cause of my lack of empathy toward Callie, but I also found her meek and submissive attitude in the beginning a bit of an extreme, which made me think of her as really ignorant. She didn't notice here sisters weren't actually sickly and delicate? She planned on spending her whole life being treated horribly by her family? I liked the sass she found in the end, but it was too late for me to really feel any emotional attachments to her.
Secondly, it irritates me to no end when paragraphs are broken up by phrases like, "What was she thinking?" or "How could she be so silly?" Again, this is another example of telling and not showing. If readers are following along, they should be able to realize she's being silly without being told. If anything, these phrases drew me out of the story by taking away from the flow of the third person point of view.
Like I said, it wasn't a bad book by any means, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is very interested in the historical time period. Everyone else though, can probably find better romance novels, or trashier ones if that's what you're into.
December 18, 2014
Hmm. What to say about this book? I liked some things and wasn’t so sure about others, but I think I’ll just do some dot points:
• This is not a great romance as such. The romance is largely a background situation, and what is at the forefront – and what I really enjoyed – was the long, terrible, difficult journey taken across America in a wagon train in the mid-nineteenth century.
• This is a Cinderella story, so you have to expect some of the clichés that come with it. One of my pet hates is the blonde beauty who is – of course – a stupid bitch. We definitely have that in this book. We also top it off with the romance genre’s other favourite cliché: the gorgeous blond man who is also the villain.
• However, almost everyone redeems themselves and does a totally turnaround. It was a little too perfect for me.
• What I worried was a whole lot of misogyny at first turned into something different by the end, so I appreciated that. I liked little sentences here and there like:
Too often the romance genre forgets women shouldn’t be enemies!
• However, what kind of woman’s name is “Florida”?! Maybe it was used in America back then…?
• Again, I really enjoyed the research that went into the hardships of the time. This isn’t the stuff you learn in school in other countries.
• I do think that putting the romance into the background meant we missed some big opportunities for emotional events. A back-from-the-dead situation should not be so straightforward and easily resolved with rational conversation!
I did enjoy some things about this book, but it felt a bit old-fashioned in tackling topics (and if you’re looking for a steamy romance, you’ll be disappointed – this is fade to black!). Stories based on fairy tales seem to trouble me more and more these days because characters come in types rather than being well-rounded.
However, I found the history of the period well-researched and fascinating.
So, good and bad in this one.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
• This is not a great romance as such. The romance is largely a background situation, and what is at the forefront – and what I really enjoyed – was the long, terrible, difficult journey taken across America in a wagon train in the mid-nineteenth century.
• This is a Cinderella story, so you have to expect some of the clichés that come with it. One of my pet hates is the blonde beauty who is – of course – a stupid bitch. We definitely have that in this book. We also top it off with the romance genre’s other favourite cliché: the gorgeous blond man who is also the villain.
• However, almost everyone redeems themselves and does a totally turnaround. It was a little too perfect for me.
• What I worried was a whole lot of misogyny at first turned into something different by the end, so I appreciated that. I liked little sentences here and there like:
Callie looked forward to these wash days when the women could get together.
Too often the romance genre forgets women shouldn’t be enemies!
• However, what kind of woman’s name is “Florida”?! Maybe it was used in America back then…?
• Again, I really enjoyed the research that went into the hardships of the time. This isn’t the stuff you learn in school in other countries.
• I do think that putting the romance into the background meant we missed some big opportunities for emotional events. A back-from-the-dead situation should not be so straightforward and easily resolved with rational conversation!
I did enjoy some things about this book, but it felt a bit old-fashioned in tackling topics (and if you’re looking for a steamy romance, you’ll be disappointed – this is fade to black!). Stories based on fairy tales seem to trouble me more and more these days because characters come in types rather than being well-rounded.
However, I found the history of the period well-researched and fascinating.
So, good and bad in this one.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
May 24, 2017
Reading the summary for this, I was really excited because this is the type of book I love. So disappointed. There was nothing special about this and the romance really wasn't there in my opinion.
April 1, 2020
I feel that I should forgive this story just a little bit given that "Cinderella" is in the title and thus this story is more fiction-y than normal. But I just can't.
December 29, 2020
gave this a 4/10? in my original reading but I think I remember downgrading it to a 3 during our book club discussion. def verging on blatant racism (and wholly arrived at racist stereotyping) with the various depictions of indigenous folk and repeated internal refrain from the heroine of "at least I am not a slave!" which made what was otherwise a fairly unremarkable meh to a meh, no thanks.
January 18, 2018
A recommend for readers who are into old west stories.
May 15, 2015
A loner, haunted by a painful past, Luke plans to return to the wilderness once his work is done. But he can’t help noticing how poorly Callie is treated—or how unaware she is of her beauty and intelligence. As the two become closer over the long trek west, Callie’s confidence grows. And when disaster strikes, Callie emerges as the strong one—and the woman Luke may find the courage to love at last…
Wagon Train Cinderella is one of those books that had a lot of enthusiasm and charm…but not really a lot of talent. I did enjoy the premise and, well, the heart of what it was trying to do, but the execution was like watching a middle school play. (Well, that’s not fair, I think it was shorter than a middle school production.)
I liked the idea of this book, both the basic premise and a lot of the smaller ideas in the storyline. Most of the characters were (in concept) very entertaining and the relationships they all had with each other created a nice, complex character backdrop. There were lots of different ways people interacted, and the book wasn’t hyper focused on one relationship (or one dynamic over many relationships). Callie had a different role with everyone she met, and I loved that. It was nice to see her struggle to deal with being cowed by her stepfather and clinging to the friendship of a new acquaintance and still feeling like a true character in both roles. The development of both Callie, the rest of her family, and all the relationships within was a great (idea) too.
It’s just…well, the problem comes in the execution. The writing in this novel is very stilted and juvenile, and there’s far too much telling going for me to get a real emotional experience out of it. I felt like I was reading the outline of someone’s personal character growth, not a finished story. Lots of lines felt clunky, and at times chunks of a person’s character were either entirely informed or contradictory. Luke kept being described as cold and standoffish, and yet from our very first meeting with him he’s nothing but helpful and cheeky. Maybe he was intended to be cold except to Callie, but it just doesn’t come through in the writing. Plus, setting the book on the Oregon Trail like that fractures what little plot we’ve got into vignettes about ‘hardships of traveling west.’ They were interesting vignettes, but all the same, I didn’t get a sense of cohesion from the book.
Overall, I did enjoy the reading experience, but mostly in an academic sort of way.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Wagon Train Cinderella is one of those books that had a lot of enthusiasm and charm…but not really a lot of talent. I did enjoy the premise and, well, the heart of what it was trying to do, but the execution was like watching a middle school play. (Well, that’s not fair, I think it was shorter than a middle school production.)
I liked the idea of this book, both the basic premise and a lot of the smaller ideas in the storyline. Most of the characters were (in concept) very entertaining and the relationships they all had with each other created a nice, complex character backdrop. There were lots of different ways people interacted, and the book wasn’t hyper focused on one relationship (or one dynamic over many relationships). Callie had a different role with everyone she met, and I loved that. It was nice to see her struggle to deal with being cowed by her stepfather and clinging to the friendship of a new acquaintance and still feeling like a true character in both roles. The development of both Callie, the rest of her family, and all the relationships within was a great (idea) too.
It’s just…well, the problem comes in the execution. The writing in this novel is very stilted and juvenile, and there’s far too much telling going for me to get a real emotional experience out of it. I felt like I was reading the outline of someone’s personal character growth, not a finished story. Lots of lines felt clunky, and at times chunks of a person’s character were either entirely informed or contradictory. Luke kept being described as cold and standoffish, and yet from our very first meeting with him he’s nothing but helpful and cheeky. Maybe he was intended to be cold except to Callie, but it just doesn’t come through in the writing. Plus, setting the book on the Oregon Trail like that fractures what little plot we’ve got into vignettes about ‘hardships of traveling west.’ They were interesting vignettes, but all the same, I didn’t get a sense of cohesion from the book.
Overall, I did enjoy the reading experience, but mostly in an academic sort of way.
Rating: 3 out of 5
December 19, 2014
Shirley Kennedy has written a very engaging novel in “Wagon Train Cinderella”. The story is set in 1851 and beyond on the Overland Trail to California. It involves a wagon train trying to get to California before the big snows start to fall. It is full of the dangers, limitations, deprivations and sorrow that accompany these folks on their way to a new life.
The heroine is Callie Whitaker, a foundling who was taken in by the Whitaker family when she was a baby, but who is really nothing more than a slave to the family. Luke McGraw is accompanying his sister and her brood to Oregon. It was a dream of Florida Sawyer’s husband that his family goes to Oregon and so Luke is helping his sister reach that dream. The other characters in the book are very interesting studies. The story shows that there are so many personalities living in these conditions and each person is changed in different ways. Some come into themselves and show strength and fortitude that was not evident before and some become bitter and resentful because of the hardships of the trail.
For the most part I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a lover of all historical fiction, and very much enjoy novels portraying the early days of our country. My fascination with this westward migration does not transfer to thinking that I would have enjoyed such a journey. (I would have stayed in St. Louis.) However, I truly enjoy reading about what might have been. I was very involved in this book until the last few chapters. I felt that the book was being rushed to a finish. Without giving anything away about the story, I felt that one of the main characters was just dropped suddenly, although I felt that it wasn’t really the end. That’s what kept me reading. I think this is a good novel revealing a lot about the westward trek to California and Oregon during the middle 1800’s.
I was sent a free Kindle copy of this book by NetGalley.com in return for my honest review of the book.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-dx.
The heroine is Callie Whitaker, a foundling who was taken in by the Whitaker family when she was a baby, but who is really nothing more than a slave to the family. Luke McGraw is accompanying his sister and her brood to Oregon. It was a dream of Florida Sawyer’s husband that his family goes to Oregon and so Luke is helping his sister reach that dream. The other characters in the book are very interesting studies. The story shows that there are so many personalities living in these conditions and each person is changed in different ways. Some come into themselves and show strength and fortitude that was not evident before and some become bitter and resentful because of the hardships of the trail.
For the most part I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a lover of all historical fiction, and very much enjoy novels portraying the early days of our country. My fascination with this westward migration does not transfer to thinking that I would have enjoyed such a journey. (I would have stayed in St. Louis.) However, I truly enjoy reading about what might have been. I was very involved in this book until the last few chapters. I felt that the book was being rushed to a finish. Without giving anything away about the story, I felt that one of the main characters was just dropped suddenly, although I felt that it wasn’t really the end. That’s what kept me reading. I think this is a good novel revealing a lot about the westward trek to California and Oregon during the middle 1800’s.
I was sent a free Kindle copy of this book by NetGalley.com in return for my honest review of the book.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-dx.
March 6, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this story1 I am a huge western romance fan, and not too many authors seem to write in this genre. This book was reminiscent of the old western movies and television shows such as Wagon Train, Death Valley and Rawhide. The wagon trip was so realistic and written so well that I felt like I was on the trail with them.
This is very much a Cinderella story. Callie was found as a little baby and the Whitaker family took her in. No one in the family likes her; they just use her as an unpaid servant. Her two stepsisters (they use the term even though it isn't exactly the correct term) ignore her and make fun of her. Callie is a very docile person who thinks she owes the family her service because they took her in and took care of her.
On the wagon train, Callie meets Luke, who is the hero in the story. He is very supportive of her and encourages to become tougher and stand up for herself. I am very pleased to say that Callie becomes a very independent woman who stands up for herself.
There are many twists and turns in this book that kept me glued to the story. There are several "villains" who made me very angry as I was reading Calli's story. Also there were also several other characters, besides Calli, who changed for the better.
I would recommend this book to any Western lover. The romance between Luke and Calli is nice, but it is not a big part of the story which concentrates more on the wagon trip and the character of Calli.
Ms. Kennedy is a wonderful writer, and her characterizations are so spot-on that I had some kind of feeling towards everyone of them.I just saw that the author has written another western, and I plan to read that next. I hope she plans to write many more westerns; we need more authors willing to write for those of us who love this genre.
I absolutely loved this story1 I am a huge western romance fan, and not too many authors seem to write in this genre. This book was reminiscent of the old western movies and television shows such as Wagon Train, Death Valley and Rawhide. The wagon trip was so realistic and written so well that I felt like I was on the trail with them.
This is very much a Cinderella story. Callie was found as a little baby and the Whitaker family took her in. No one in the family likes her; they just use her as an unpaid servant. Her two stepsisters (they use the term even though it isn't exactly the correct term) ignore her and make fun of her. Callie is a very docile person who thinks she owes the family her service because they took her in and took care of her.
On the wagon train, Callie meets Luke, who is the hero in the story. He is very supportive of her and encourages to become tougher and stand up for herself. I am very pleased to say that Callie becomes a very independent woman who stands up for herself.
There are many twists and turns in this book that kept me glued to the story. There are several "villains" who made me very angry as I was reading Calli's story. Also there were also several other characters, besides Calli, who changed for the better.
I would recommend this book to any Western lover. The romance between Luke and Calli is nice, but it is not a big part of the story which concentrates more on the wagon trip and the character of Calli.
Ms. Kennedy is a wonderful writer, and her characterizations are so spot-on that I had some kind of feeling towards everyone of them.I just saw that the author has written another western, and I plan to read that next. I hope she plans to write many more westerns; we need more authors willing to write for those of us who love this genre.
January 9, 2015
Taken in by the Whitaker family when she was left on their doorstep as a babe, Callie has grown up the outsider in the family. Never quite a real member, the Whitakers used her to perform all the tasks to menial for their true children, in other words, Callie is basically their servant, and is constantly picked on by her step sisters, who do nothing while Callie does it all.
Now on a treacherous journey by wagon train to California, Callie sees the world like she never has before, and thanks to the dependable and handsome, Luke McGraw she begins to come out of the dark cloud her life has been to see the possibilities before her.
Luke McGraw has been a loner for sometime. Once he has done his job with the wagon train, he intends to return to his simple life in the wilderness. Watching Callie being mistreated by her entire family just sticks in his craw, and he sets out to give Callie the confidence she has sorely been lacking in her life. When Luke discovers that Callie hasn't even been afforded basic reading skills, his friends help her to learn to read.
During this journey so much happens to change the lives of everyone involved. This journey is a tough one as well as enlightening. It's as dangerous as it is majestic, and watching the personal journeys that Luke and Callie take is a wonder in of itself.
Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy is so appropriately named. While Callie is certainly Cinderella-like, her Prince Charming, Luke is a bit more gruff than the average prince. Callie's family are awful to her, but the full reasons are a bit unclear. The journey contains mush dissension between the families and its leaders. The tension sometimes outweighing the story. I did enjoy the story line between Luke and Callie very much and found this story to be entertaining.
~KIMBERLY~
Now on a treacherous journey by wagon train to California, Callie sees the world like she never has before, and thanks to the dependable and handsome, Luke McGraw she begins to come out of the dark cloud her life has been to see the possibilities before her.
Luke McGraw has been a loner for sometime. Once he has done his job with the wagon train, he intends to return to his simple life in the wilderness. Watching Callie being mistreated by her entire family just sticks in his craw, and he sets out to give Callie the confidence she has sorely been lacking in her life. When Luke discovers that Callie hasn't even been afforded basic reading skills, his friends help her to learn to read.
During this journey so much happens to change the lives of everyone involved. This journey is a tough one as well as enlightening. It's as dangerous as it is majestic, and watching the personal journeys that Luke and Callie take is a wonder in of itself.
Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy is so appropriately named. While Callie is certainly Cinderella-like, her Prince Charming, Luke is a bit more gruff than the average prince. Callie's family are awful to her, but the full reasons are a bit unclear. The journey contains mush dissension between the families and its leaders. The tension sometimes outweighing the story. I did enjoy the story line between Luke and Callie very much and found this story to be entertaining.
~KIMBERLY~
February 3, 2015
received in exchange for an honest review; full review with tour goodies at blog:
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...
It was cute and sweet -- not anywhere near as 'raunchy' as what I typically read, but sometimes it's nice to tame it down a little bit... you know, once every ten books or so ;)
Callie is very much a Cinderella in this book -- even her stepsisters giggle and tell her so. She's not overly pretty, she cannot read or write because her stepfamily (or what we would simply call an adoptive family) believes she should be about chores and child care only. From just before dawn, to way past dusk, she is cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing. Her family doesn't even give her a place to sleep -- while they're in the wagon or a tent, she has to find shelter on her own. On occasion, sure her stepsisters allow her a small corner of the tent, but otherwise, she's on her own.
While on trek to California, the family ends up in a trail-train with a larger group. Callie's stepfather, very much a man in the thought he wants zero help, would rather trek to California on his own, but allows the small concession of following the train for a few days' time.
In this train, the family meets Florida and her family, and her brother, Luke.
FYI, Luke is the Prince Charming in this story.
Both of Callie's stepsisters would love to dance with him during the nightly bonfires, but Luke never shows. Much to their dismay, Luke eventually starts to take an interest in Callie -- at first it's simply because he sees how her family treats her, and later it's because he appreciates her.
WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA was a cute, jovial type of read. Like I said, much different than what I typically read -- even different from the historical-type that I sometimes read.
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...
It was cute and sweet -- not anywhere near as 'raunchy' as what I typically read, but sometimes it's nice to tame it down a little bit... you know, once every ten books or so ;)
Callie is very much a Cinderella in this book -- even her stepsisters giggle and tell her so. She's not overly pretty, she cannot read or write because her stepfamily (or what we would simply call an adoptive family) believes she should be about chores and child care only. From just before dawn, to way past dusk, she is cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing. Her family doesn't even give her a place to sleep -- while they're in the wagon or a tent, she has to find shelter on her own. On occasion, sure her stepsisters allow her a small corner of the tent, but otherwise, she's on her own.
While on trek to California, the family ends up in a trail-train with a larger group. Callie's stepfather, very much a man in the thought he wants zero help, would rather trek to California on his own, but allows the small concession of following the train for a few days' time.
In this train, the family meets Florida and her family, and her brother, Luke.
FYI, Luke is the Prince Charming in this story.
Both of Callie's stepsisters would love to dance with him during the nightly bonfires, but Luke never shows. Much to their dismay, Luke eventually starts to take an interest in Callie -- at first it's simply because he sees how her family treats her, and later it's because he appreciates her.
WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA was a cute, jovial type of read. Like I said, much different than what I typically read -- even different from the historical-type that I sometimes read.
February 3, 2015
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Wagon Train Cinderella is a fast-paced read with lots of adventure and sweet romance. I haven't read a book from this time period in a long time, and I really enjoyed the rich history. Keep in mind, everything isn't all sunshine and roses-- after all the story does take place among a wagon train heading West.
But since it is a romance at heart, you know that no matter what is thrown at main character Callie, she will come out okay. That's rather important since the author brings up the ill-fated Donner party early on. Not a direction I want my romance reads to take...
At the beginning I only felt sympathy for Callie. Abandoned by her mother, mistreated by the family who took her in... it was awful. And the poor thing put up with it since it was all she ever knew. But wow, did that girl grow a backbone quickly. She became a formidable woman and a character I grew to admire.
The story flows quickly, taking it's roots from the fairy tale Cinderella. But Callie didn't have a fairy godmother-- she grew all on her own through blood, sweat, and tears, along with a deep sense of duty and what's right. I enjoyed the pacing as well as the plot. Callie changed very fast, which was for the best since she was hard to take as a meek mouse.
If you like fairy tales and sweet romance, coupled with the adventure of a wagon train journey, be sure to check out Wagon Train Cinderella. Don't let the cover fool you-- there are no balls for this Cinderella. Just a ton of hard work and some good old-fashioned gumption.
Wagon Train Cinderella is a fast-paced read with lots of adventure and sweet romance. I haven't read a book from this time period in a long time, and I really enjoyed the rich history. Keep in mind, everything isn't all sunshine and roses-- after all the story does take place among a wagon train heading West.
But since it is a romance at heart, you know that no matter what is thrown at main character Callie, she will come out okay. That's rather important since the author brings up the ill-fated Donner party early on. Not a direction I want my romance reads to take...
At the beginning I only felt sympathy for Callie. Abandoned by her mother, mistreated by the family who took her in... it was awful. And the poor thing put up with it since it was all she ever knew. But wow, did that girl grow a backbone quickly. She became a formidable woman and a character I grew to admire.
The story flows quickly, taking it's roots from the fairy tale Cinderella. But Callie didn't have a fairy godmother-- she grew all on her own through blood, sweat, and tears, along with a deep sense of duty and what's right. I enjoyed the pacing as well as the plot. Callie changed very fast, which was for the best since she was hard to take as a meek mouse.
If you like fairy tales and sweet romance, coupled with the adventure of a wagon train journey, be sure to check out Wagon Train Cinderella. Don't let the cover fool you-- there are no balls for this Cinderella. Just a ton of hard work and some good old-fashioned gumption.
December 30, 2014
Callie stepparents decided to sell all their stuff and properties and start an amazing journey to California. Of course this journey, to Callie, will be an immersion to herself and an improvement to who she will want to be at the end of their trip.
Callie is treated like a slave from her parents and sisters, but during the trip she will start feeling brave and more selfconfident, so all the family will have to change their perception about her and start treating her with more respect.
Shirley Kennedy guides us to an introspective journey where the most dangerous perils are inside ourselves and the only way to won is not to be afraid of the change. This doesn't mean that she will not only face herself during the journey, but she will also have to fight against snow, fear or hunger. Because this trip will have indians, fire and murders.
For Callie the most important thing in her life is her family, but seems that she doesn't see how bad they threaten her.
I was amazed that after all the painful things the family made to Callie she still wants to help them arrive to California, no matter what. For me this is the bravest thing she makes, because she knows that they will not appreciate her help, but she knows that, without her, they will die, and she risks her life for them. This is a beautiful reminder of Cinderella; one way or other she will stand for herself, and fight back. And the prince, of course, will never doubt her!
So, will the shoe fit for Callie?
Callie is treated like a slave from her parents and sisters, but during the trip she will start feeling brave and more selfconfident, so all the family will have to change their perception about her and start treating her with more respect.
Shirley Kennedy guides us to an introspective journey where the most dangerous perils are inside ourselves and the only way to won is not to be afraid of the change. This doesn't mean that she will not only face herself during the journey, but she will also have to fight against snow, fear or hunger. Because this trip will have indians, fire and murders.
For Callie the most important thing in her life is her family, but seems that she doesn't see how bad they threaten her.
I was amazed that after all the painful things the family made to Callie she still wants to help them arrive to California, no matter what. For me this is the bravest thing she makes, because she knows that they will not appreciate her help, but she knows that, without her, they will die, and she risks her life for them. This is a beautiful reminder of Cinderella; one way or other she will stand for herself, and fight back. And the prince, of course, will never doubt her!
So, will the shoe fit for Callie?
February 10, 2015
"Wagon Train Cinderella" by Shirley Kennedy. This is truly Callie's story. Although there is a romance aspect to it, Callie and Luke, it is definitely a background story. I would have really liked to have seen more of the two of them. They fell in love but I didn't really understand why. For me, there wasn't enough interaction between the two. Callie - at times I liked her and times she annoyed the heck out of me. She discovered many things about herself during the journey, which were awesome. She's a lot stronger then she ever believed and smarter too. However, her loyalty to her family seemed a bit far stretched, based on how they treated her. I'm all for forgiving, etc., but her family certainly didn't seem to love her yet she sacrificed for them, no matter what. I did enjoy the trials and tribulations that were experienced while on a wagon train - the harshness and reality of just how difficult travel was back in the 1800's were brought to light and not made less for the sake of the story. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed in this one. I'm a sucker for Cinderella stories but this one didn't quite do it for me as far as a fairy tale/romance aspect. However, like I said, on the historical side, it was well written. (Received copy from NetGalley for honest review)
December 12, 2014
This was a very good western story about one woman who decided her own destiny. She wasn't always that way because she began life as a foundling at a farm in Tennessee. Callie grew up uneducated in a family who took her for granted. She was the one who did all the chores while her two step sisters did nothing but harp at her. Her Ma and Pa Whitaker treated her like a slave but she knew no better. Then one day the family decided to leave the farm and go West. So they loaded up a wagon and off they went alone.
One day they met up with a wagon train going the same way. Even though Pa Whitaker didn't much like the other folks, he was a strict man who held his family in iron control. When Callie met Luke McGraw who was helping his sister and kids get to where they were going. He sees how the family treats Callie and suggests that she stand up for herself. With the kind offer of how to read and write, Callie gains new confidence in dealing with her family.
They is so much to say, but Callie does get her say and her destiny is sealed with lots of adventures and love.
I appreciate this ARC title from Net Galley to read and review. Look forward for more exciting stories from this talented author.
One day they met up with a wagon train going the same way. Even though Pa Whitaker didn't much like the other folks, he was a strict man who held his family in iron control. When Callie met Luke McGraw who was helping his sister and kids get to where they were going. He sees how the family treats Callie and suggests that she stand up for herself. With the kind offer of how to read and write, Callie gains new confidence in dealing with her family.
They is so much to say, but Callie does get her say and her destiny is sealed with lots of adventures and love.
I appreciate this ARC title from Net Galley to read and review. Look forward for more exciting stories from this talented author.
January 29, 2015
I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.
4 1/2 Stars
I'm not usually a fan of this type of romance, where there is as much, if not more, suffering than there is good times. But Ms Kennedy did such a wonderful job of making the story so realistic, that at times I felt like I was on that wagon train with Callie and her family. Though this book was a romance, it was more about personal growth, specifically Callie's growth, than anything. She went from being a true Cinderella character to being a confident, strong young woman. She went from using "Yes, Ma" as just about the only phrase she used to standing up to not only her parents, but just about every man on the wagon train. Ms Kennedy did an amazing job of making her characters real and relatable.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of western romance, but also anyone looking for a book that you can jump into and live what the characters are living. I would caution that there are some very heavy topics explored, and some heart stopping moments that you'll want to keep the tissues around for.
4 1/2 Stars
I'm not usually a fan of this type of romance, where there is as much, if not more, suffering than there is good times. But Ms Kennedy did such a wonderful job of making the story so realistic, that at times I felt like I was on that wagon train with Callie and her family. Though this book was a romance, it was more about personal growth, specifically Callie's growth, than anything. She went from being a true Cinderella character to being a confident, strong young woman. She went from using "Yes, Ma" as just about the only phrase she used to standing up to not only her parents, but just about every man on the wagon train. Ms Kennedy did an amazing job of making her characters real and relatable.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of western romance, but also anyone looking for a book that you can jump into and live what the characters are living. I would caution that there are some very heavy topics explored, and some heart stopping moments that you'll want to keep the tissues around for.
March 31, 2015
The cover picture bears little resemblance to the story. No ball gowns. The girl we meet is called a stepdaughter, though she was an orphan taken in by a family; probably people used whatever terms suited them. She has to do the cooking and washing for the family as they trail a hundred head of cattle for sale.
The guide to the wagon train which the family reluctantly join, thinks this young woman is by far the finest of her family and he has no time for slackers. But it's going to be a long journey, and anything can happen.
The trail life is vividly described with campfire singing and dancing, a woman wearing pantaloons under her skirt although they are not respectable, offers of hasty marriages and frontier law. Dangers include weather, hunger and displaced native people. Attitudes of the time are well portrayed and I was delighted to learn how to yoke the oxen to the wagon.
Romance is on the back burner as this is mainly a coming of age story, with good character detail, growth and understanding. But we cheer for the romance too. This tale could be read by mature young adults or adults wanting an exciting, detailed historical adventure.
The guide to the wagon train which the family reluctantly join, thinks this young woman is by far the finest of her family and he has no time for slackers. But it's going to be a long journey, and anything can happen.
The trail life is vividly described with campfire singing and dancing, a woman wearing pantaloons under her skirt although they are not respectable, offers of hasty marriages and frontier law. Dangers include weather, hunger and displaced native people. Attitudes of the time are well portrayed and I was delighted to learn how to yoke the oxen to the wagon.
Romance is on the back burner as this is mainly a coming of age story, with good character detail, growth and understanding. But we cheer for the romance too. This tale could be read by mature young adults or adults wanting an exciting, detailed historical adventure.
January 4, 2015
Callie is on a wagon train with her so called family. Her step family as she was dropped off at their door step. They have treated her like a slave but this trip across the the states might be a good thing to happen to her.
Luke is helping his widowed sister on the wagon train. As time goes by He sees right through the family and sees how bad they treat Callie. He starts to protect her a bit on the way and keeps her company some times. Her sisters are always wanting to go off to parties that they have when they stop and Callie stays behind to take care of the chores her mother wants done.
Callie misses out some on this activities but Luke's sister tries to help the two get together.
The story is wonderful on the telling of the journey to the west. You can picture yourself watching these people and the tough times that they have along the way. Some die, get sick etc. You see that is wasn't a bed of roses. The romance is in the back of the story but was a nice touch and clean.
I enjoyed this book and will find others by this author.
Luke is helping his widowed sister on the wagon train. As time goes by He sees right through the family and sees how bad they treat Callie. He starts to protect her a bit on the way and keeps her company some times. Her sisters are always wanting to go off to parties that they have when they stop and Callie stays behind to take care of the chores her mother wants done.
Callie misses out some on this activities but Luke's sister tries to help the two get together.
The story is wonderful on the telling of the journey to the west. You can picture yourself watching these people and the tough times that they have along the way. Some die, get sick etc. You see that is wasn't a bed of roses. The romance is in the back of the story but was a nice touch and clean.
I enjoyed this book and will find others by this author.
March 13, 2015
I liked this book, but it didn't have enough romance for my tastes. Callie is moving to California with her step family, she was left on their door step in Tennessee right after she was born, they pretty much treat her like a slave instead of a member of their family. Callie meets Luke by chance on the wagon train and becomes interested in him, but she doesn't think she is good enough for him or that he would ever be interested in her.
This story had a lot of action in it about the hardships on a wagon train, but it really didn't feel like a romance. There were only a couple of kissing scenes and there were no love scenes at all. I like my romances to be actual romances and I like steamy love scenes, the action in the book was good to read though.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This story had a lot of action in it about the hardships on a wagon train, but it really didn't feel like a romance. There were only a couple of kissing scenes and there were no love scenes at all. I like my romances to be actual romances and I like steamy love scenes, the action in the book was good to read though.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 19, 2015
It's been a long time since I've read a western novel. I had high hopes. The thing about this novel is that the storyline is pretty compelling which makes you keep reading but the characters are too stock and one dimensional. The character arcs are trite and the book is too didactic. It doesn't give the reader enough intelligence but has to continue to "tell" us how the characters are growing and changing instead of letting us "see" that for ourselves. "Amateurish" kept popping into my head as I read. What I did like was the detail about the wagon train and trip itself. It rang true and honest. The worst part about the book was the front cover. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the book in the least. The title could also have been better, as it related very little to the Cinderella story.
January 28, 2015
This enjoyable romance set on the wagon train to California and Oregon made for quite the engaging read. The terrible treatment meted out to Callie by her family has turned her into a quiet shadow, but watching her blossom on the trail felt real, as she vacillated between spreading her wings and retreating back into herself. I was also glad to see that her sisters also eventually grew and matured as their circumstances changed. Luke and his family were also great characters, sharing knowledge and a friendly hand to help Callie learn her worth. I wasn't too caught up with the subplot revolving around Magnus the train leader- parts of that did seem a little overdone. Still, all in all, a good read and a decent reworking of a classic tale.
April 1, 2015
"3 out of 5 stars. Callie (an adopted daughter who is actually treated like a servant instead of family) follows her family on a wagon train from Tennessee to California. Throughout the journey, Callie comes into her own and becomes independent, learning that she is stronger than she thought.
I liked the beginning and its steady buildup. However, I found that while the ending might have been more historically accurate in regards to the toughness of the trip, I just wasn't happy with how it turned out, even though I appreciated the HEA."
Read more of this review and a teaser here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/03/made-grade-wagon-train-cinderella-by.html
I liked the beginning and its steady buildup. However, I found that while the ending might have been more historically accurate in regards to the toughness of the trip, I just wasn't happy with how it turned out, even though I appreciated the HEA."
Read more of this review and a teaser here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/03/made-grade-wagon-train-cinderella-by.html
January 5, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting spin on Cinderella, minus the cute mice. It was labeled a romance but that wasn't the main focus in this book. Callie is emotionally beaten down by her stepfamily. They embark on this horrible wagon train ride to California where she learns very to become a strong woman rather than the meek slave she is treated like. It enjoyed the book but would of liked more romance but the writing and storyline kept me interested. I'd recommend this book.
This was an interesting spin on Cinderella, minus the cute mice. It was labeled a romance but that wasn't the main focus in this book. Callie is emotionally beaten down by her stepfamily. They embark on this horrible wagon train ride to California where she learns very to become a strong woman rather than the meek slave she is treated like. It enjoyed the book but would of liked more romance but the writing and storyline kept me interested. I'd recommend this book.
June 10, 2018
I really wish I hadn't read this book. The writing was immature and weak, character development was nonexistent, I didn't buy the romance, and I hated the main character. She was too perfect and I couldn't relate to her at all. She had no negative emotions but wasn't strong enough to stand up for herself. She forgave far too quickly and suffered zero consequences for any of her actions. The love interest barely knew her - there was no love, only lust. I thought it was stupid. Don't read this book.
August 3, 2019
Meh. I've learned not to judge book names or covers d/t The Book That Shall Not Be Named. However, this book was forgettable and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know. It was fairly clean which was nice. My biggest problem is because most of my Oregon/California Trail knowledge comes from Jubilee Trail by Gwen Bristow, which is entirely unfair but there you have it. This book shows very little research and mostly a bunch of commonly known facts about traveling West. It also disagrees with the omniscient JT and therefore must be wrong.
December 12, 2014
Wow, I thought Cinderella's family was bad! At least she had a loving father to remember.
She doesn't know what she looks like? :(
Ooh, intrigue.
Wow, we really don't appreciate trains and airplanes as we should. Two hundred years ago, they would never have imagined going cross-country in a matter of hours.
WTH? NOOOO!
Karma. Enough said.
Hot damn!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
She doesn't know what she looks like? :(
Ooh, intrigue.
Wow, we really don't appreciate trains and airplanes as we should. Two hundred years ago, they would never have imagined going cross-country in a matter of hours.
WTH? NOOOO!
Karma. Enough said.
Hot damn!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2016
Roughly halfway through this book I thought to myself that this might be at least a 4-star book. Unfortunately towards the end of the book there was a strange plot twist which I immediately saw through and then the pace became very hurried. It seemed like the author was on a deadline. I did like a lot of the storyline and the character development of our main character. There were many things to like about this book, I only wish she had taken more time with the ending.
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