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Tough Luck
In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.
After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.
But patience is not one of Haidie’s virtues and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent “spinster” sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting.
Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.
After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.
But patience is not one of Haidie’s virtues and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent “spinster” sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting.
Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.
334 pages, Library Binding
First published April 29, 2025
204 people are currently reading
12484 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Dallas
50 books1,898 followersAward-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 578 reviews
November 10, 2024
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The Book Review Crew Blog
You are fourteen and a girl and have no rights. Tough luck.
I loved Sandra Dallas’ book Where Coyotes Howl and Tough Luck didn't disappoint. I love the female lead in this one. Let me introduce you to 14-year-old Haidie Richards. After her mom dies Haidie’s older brother sells the farm and puts Haidie and her younger brother, Boots in an orphanage. Well, Haidie is having none of that so she and Boots escape to go west to look for their dad in Denver. She cuts her hair, dons some trousers and decides to be a boy so that she can be allowed to help with the oxen in mules. Haidie is resilient and strong in both body and mind. She was such a wonderful caretaker of her brother Boots, the animals in her care and even the other travellers in her group. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.
This is a short book that packs a punch with very long chapters yet they didn’t feel long while I was reading them. This was such a beautifully heartbreaking story and the characters felt like real people I'd like to meet. I came to appreciate how hard it must have been to live through that time period and Dallas always does that with her books. I love the way the plot unfolded and how well the story flowed and the ending left me feeling satisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
You are fourteen and a girl and have no rights. Tough luck.
I loved Sandra Dallas’ book Where Coyotes Howl and Tough Luck didn't disappoint. I love the female lead in this one. Let me introduce you to 14-year-old Haidie Richards. After her mom dies Haidie’s older brother sells the farm and puts Haidie and her younger brother, Boots in an orphanage. Well, Haidie is having none of that so she and Boots escape to go west to look for their dad in Denver. She cuts her hair, dons some trousers and decides to be a boy so that she can be allowed to help with the oxen in mules. Haidie is resilient and strong in both body and mind. She was such a wonderful caretaker of her brother Boots, the animals in her care and even the other travellers in her group. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.
This is a short book that packs a punch with very long chapters yet they didn’t feel long while I was reading them. This was such a beautifully heartbreaking story and the characters felt like real people I'd like to meet. I came to appreciate how hard it must have been to live through that time period and Dallas always does that with her books. I love the way the plot unfolded and how well the story flowed and the ending left me feeling satisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
June 12, 2025
Who me? Reading a Western? This is a Sandra Dallas novel, so yes, I am...
In 1863, when their mother dies, Haidie Richards, 14, and her younger brother, Boots, 10, live in an orphanage, but not for long. They soon escape and plan to head from Smoak, IL, to the Colorado Territory. They're in search of their father, Manley, who left four years ago with a severe case of gold fever and high hopes of striking it rich.
Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, gain passage with folks traveling to the Western Territory and learn hard and fast lessons along the way. Once they arrive in Colorado, their lessons are far from over...
Tough Luck is a story I enjoyed with a compelling storyline, wonderful characters, and simple descriptive writing that immerses you in the timeline of the 1860s and the culture of the West. I love Haidie, our main character, who held the weight of this story on her tiny shoulders. Dallas made a wise choice by placing the first-person narration of this story in the hands of this brave character. She is a little spitfire!
This was an immersion read; the audiobook is narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, who recounts the story flawlessly in an accentuated voice appropriate for the timeline and delivers the perfect first-person voice for Haidie. The result is an entertaining listening experience.
This was not the first Sandra Dallas novel I have read. I read her second novel, The Persian Pickle Club, five years ago and loved it. I must admit, though, I fell in love with that beautiful, colorful cover first. Take a look for yourself and see if you agree.
Tough Luck was enjoyable to read and listen to, and just as I said when I finished The Persian Pickle Club, I need to read more from this talented author!
4.25⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Sandra Dallas for a DRC and an ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
In 1863, when their mother dies, Haidie Richards, 14, and her younger brother, Boots, 10, live in an orphanage, but not for long. They soon escape and plan to head from Smoak, IL, to the Colorado Territory. They're in search of their father, Manley, who left four years ago with a severe case of gold fever and high hopes of striking it rich.
Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, gain passage with folks traveling to the Western Territory and learn hard and fast lessons along the way. Once they arrive in Colorado, their lessons are far from over...
Tough Luck is a story I enjoyed with a compelling storyline, wonderful characters, and simple descriptive writing that immerses you in the timeline of the 1860s and the culture of the West. I love Haidie, our main character, who held the weight of this story on her tiny shoulders. Dallas made a wise choice by placing the first-person narration of this story in the hands of this brave character. She is a little spitfire!
This was an immersion read; the audiobook is narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, who recounts the story flawlessly in an accentuated voice appropriate for the timeline and delivers the perfect first-person voice for Haidie. The result is an entertaining listening experience.
This was not the first Sandra Dallas novel I have read. I read her second novel, The Persian Pickle Club, five years ago and loved it. I must admit, though, I fell in love with that beautiful, colorful cover first. Take a look for yourself and see if you agree.
Tough Luck was enjoyable to read and listen to, and just as I said when I finished The Persian Pickle Club, I need to read more from this talented author!
4.25⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Sandra Dallas for a DRC and an ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
May 16, 2025
3.5 stars.
Illinois, 1863. Boots, Haidie and Cheet’s father left the family home in search of gold and wealth in Colorado four years ago. Their mother passes, leaving the family farm for Cheet, the eldest sibling, to run. Cheet sells the farm for much less than it’s worth and abandons his younger siblings, planning to move on with his life without them dragging him down. Boots and Haidie make a plan to venture west in search of their father who they feel is sure to have found wealth and will welcome them back into his life.
This book was full of adventure. Haidie and Boots were incredible characters. I loved their relationship dynamic and that Haidie was more a mother figure than sister. Their bond was one of my favourite parts of this novel. The story is brilliantly told through Haidie’s perspective, which I loved. She was charming and entertaining with her inner thoughts. She was mature but still had a young innocence about her. Haidie and Boots find themselves in a variety of situations that is sure to have the reader entertained, emotional and rooting for them.
There are many characters introduced along their journey. Each new encounter unravels a unique layer to their story and enhances their personal growth. In a way, this is their coming of age story, but its also an entertaining romp through the American frontier. Several dangerous situations arise that had me worried and anxious. But there are also several surprising and heartwarming circumstances involving the kindness of strangers.
I am always fascinated to learn about this time period. The Wild West, where danger lurks beyond every grueling mile travelled into unknown territory. The bravery of people who embarked on this vast, hopeful and mysterious journey is inspiring.
I truly enjoyed following these unforgettable characters throughout their journey. Although I wouldn’t call this intense, gripping or fast paced, I cared deeply for the characters and will always remember them. I would have preferred more grit and realness, as I found a lightness to the writing that kept me from fully immersing myself in the atmosphere and storyline. I also found the ending wrapped up too neatly which had me lower my rating, but I can understand how this will please many readers.
Audio rating: 5 stars! The audio narrator did an excellent job narrating and greatly enhanced my connection to the book. Her tone, inflections and pauses were perfectly plotted. She had a twang to her pronunciations that had me feeling the atmosphere of the time period. I highly recommend the audio!
Special mention for this stunning cover!
Thank you to the publisher for my physical and audio copy!
This novel publishes on April 29th. Be sure to get your hands on a copy!
Illinois, 1863. Boots, Haidie and Cheet’s father left the family home in search of gold and wealth in Colorado four years ago. Their mother passes, leaving the family farm for Cheet, the eldest sibling, to run. Cheet sells the farm for much less than it’s worth and abandons his younger siblings, planning to move on with his life without them dragging him down. Boots and Haidie make a plan to venture west in search of their father who they feel is sure to have found wealth and will welcome them back into his life.
This book was full of adventure. Haidie and Boots were incredible characters. I loved their relationship dynamic and that Haidie was more a mother figure than sister. Their bond was one of my favourite parts of this novel. The story is brilliantly told through Haidie’s perspective, which I loved. She was charming and entertaining with her inner thoughts. She was mature but still had a young innocence about her. Haidie and Boots find themselves in a variety of situations that is sure to have the reader entertained, emotional and rooting for them.
There are many characters introduced along their journey. Each new encounter unravels a unique layer to their story and enhances their personal growth. In a way, this is their coming of age story, but its also an entertaining romp through the American frontier. Several dangerous situations arise that had me worried and anxious. But there are also several surprising and heartwarming circumstances involving the kindness of strangers.
I am always fascinated to learn about this time period. The Wild West, where danger lurks beyond every grueling mile travelled into unknown territory. The bravery of people who embarked on this vast, hopeful and mysterious journey is inspiring.
I truly enjoyed following these unforgettable characters throughout their journey. Although I wouldn’t call this intense, gripping or fast paced, I cared deeply for the characters and will always remember them. I would have preferred more grit and realness, as I found a lightness to the writing that kept me from fully immersing myself in the atmosphere and storyline. I also found the ending wrapped up too neatly which had me lower my rating, but I can understand how this will please many readers.
Audio rating: 5 stars! The audio narrator did an excellent job narrating and greatly enhanced my connection to the book. Her tone, inflections and pauses were perfectly plotted. She had a twang to her pronunciations that had me feeling the atmosphere of the time period. I highly recommend the audio!
Special mention for this stunning cover!
Thank you to the publisher for my physical and audio copy!
This novel publishes on April 29th. Be sure to get your hands on a copy!
June 3, 2025
I’ve enjoyed two other books by Sandra Dallas featuring strong, independent women moving west - Westering Women and Where Coyotes Howl. This one is about another strong female character, a 14 year old girl disguised as a boy to protect herself, making it easier to get work on a wagon train as she cares for younger brother. Haidie and Boots are on the run from the orphanage where their brother left them traveling from Illinois to Colorado Territory in search of their father. Meeting up with the good and bad alike, they manage to survive the trek and the dangers of being on a wagon train .
A great cast of characters - two more strong women, sisters carrying books to start a school , some good men who help them along the way. There are also scoundrels and thieves who interfere with their journey. All of the characters are well portrayed and depiction of the time of the gold rush is well done. In this compelling adventure of going West, a smart , persistent and resilient young girl comes of age meeting grief and disappointment with steadfastness and hope for the future. Perhaps a little too pat of an ending ,but I rooted for Haidee and Boots all the way.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through Edelweiss.
A great cast of characters - two more strong women, sisters carrying books to start a school , some good men who help them along the way. There are also scoundrels and thieves who interfere with their journey. All of the characters are well portrayed and depiction of the time of the gold rush is well done. In this compelling adventure of going West, a smart , persistent and resilient young girl comes of age meeting grief and disappointment with steadfastness and hope for the future. Perhaps a little too pat of an ending ,but I rooted for Haidee and Boots all the way.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through Edelweiss.
March 30, 2025
4 stars for an engaging western/historical fiction book set in 1863 US during the US Civil War. This book reminds me of the heroine in the movie True Grit. The blurb:
" After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them."
But Haidie and her brother leave the orphanage to find their father. Haidie manages to find a man driving a freight wagon west through Iowa. She has disguised herself as a young boy and the man, Jake Crowfoot, agrees to take them with him, in return for their help in managing the mules and other chores. Jake leaves them in Omaha, Nebraska, but not before he helps them find a wagon train going west to Denver. They join up with a man looking for help.
They have many adventures and do manage to find their father. He is something of a disappointment, but there is a satisfactory ending. Haidie is presented as a very resourceful woman. The book shows that the role of women in the settlement of the west was important. While this book is historical fiction, the characters and the plot are believable. The dialogue is authentic and easy to follow.
Thank You Austin Adams at St. Martin's Publishing Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Pub Date Apr 29 2025
" After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them."
But Haidie and her brother leave the orphanage to find their father. Haidie manages to find a man driving a freight wagon west through Iowa. She has disguised herself as a young boy and the man, Jake Crowfoot, agrees to take them with him, in return for their help in managing the mules and other chores. Jake leaves them in Omaha, Nebraska, but not before he helps them find a wagon train going west to Denver. They join up with a man looking for help.
They have many adventures and do manage to find their father. He is something of a disappointment, but there is a satisfactory ending. Haidie is presented as a very resourceful woman. The book shows that the role of women in the settlement of the west was important. While this book is historical fiction, the characters and the plot are believable. The dialogue is authentic and easy to follow.
Thank You Austin Adams at St. Martin's Publishing Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Pub Date Apr 29 2025
November 29, 2024
This powerful story, an homage to Charles Portis’ classic ‘True Grit’, took me on a grand adventure. I saw so much of myself in the spunky 14-year-old heroine, Mary Haidie Richards, from Smoak, Illinois. I loved that she was tenacious, resourceful, and resolute. I cheered her on from the get-go.
I loved the setting, the descriptive writing, the author’s sense of humour (Book of George and the wedding ceremony in ‘Latin’), the pacing and the individual and realistically crafted characters.
When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about this story and the characters!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I loved the setting, the descriptive writing, the author’s sense of humour (Book of George and the wedding ceremony in ‘Latin’), the pacing and the individual and realistically crafted characters.
When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about this story and the characters!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 29, 2025
4.5 stars.
Set in 1863, during the time of the Civil War and the Colorado Gold Rush, this is a wonderful coming of age story that is undeniably tender and sweet, with unforgettable characters, and a captivating storyline.
Fourteen-year-old Haidie, dressed as a boy, and her ten-year-old brother, Boots, run away from an orphanage in Illinois to head west to Colorado to find their father. They haven't seen their father in four years, but they believe that he has struck it rich in the gold mines. Haidie and Boots' older brother, Cheet, sold the family home after their mother died and divested himself of his siblings in order to gamble away their small inheritance.
The two courageous children look danger in the eye and join up with a wagon train going west. They are exposed to the good and bad in people along the way. Haidie bravely becomes an unlikely hero and with determination and love, she and Boots find new friends and family along the way. This book was hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Set in 1863, during the time of the Civil War and the Colorado Gold Rush, this is a wonderful coming of age story that is undeniably tender and sweet, with unforgettable characters, and a captivating storyline.
Fourteen-year-old Haidie, dressed as a boy, and her ten-year-old brother, Boots, run away from an orphanage in Illinois to head west to Colorado to find their father. They haven't seen their father in four years, but they believe that he has struck it rich in the gold mines. Haidie and Boots' older brother, Cheet, sold the family home after their mother died and divested himself of his siblings in order to gamble away their small inheritance.
The two courageous children look danger in the eye and join up with a wagon train going west. They are exposed to the good and bad in people along the way. Haidie bravely becomes an unlikely hero and with determination and love, she and Boots find new friends and family along the way. This book was hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2025
By golly, I had fun with this one! 🤩
Blurb: “After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.
But patience is not one of Haidie’s virtues, and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent “spinster” sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting.
Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.”
The Plot: I have to take a moment and thank my little brother for expressing a desire to watch as many John Wayne movies as we possibly could because those gems helped me love Westerns more than I did in the past. I don’t think I have ever smiled as much as I did with this book. From the very beginning when Haidie and Boots’s brother, Cheet (his name is quite fitting), sells their family farm and sends his little siblings to an orphanage, to the journey to Colorado where they meet some of the greatest people I have ever read about, and to the end of the story where everything went down, I was hooked to the story and fell in love with the characters the two siblings met along the way. So much happened in ten chapters yet it wasn’t confusingly complicated. The story was straightforward and to the point. No loopholes, loose ends, or unnecessary plot points. This was so freaking fun and I can’t wait to read this again! 😁
The Characters: Okay, this aspect has to be my favorite part of the book. I wish I could tell you about all the characters and their awesomeness, but I’d hate to spoil the story for you. Haidie, widely known as a liar (which made me laugh 😂), was spunky, smart, and had true grit. 😉 Boots, her little brother, was sweet. I enjoyed his presence in the story. And all the other amazing cast of characters like Jake, Corny, Teresa, and Ben were brilliant! I rooted for Haidie and everyone in her life to the very end. 🥰
The Writing: Excellent! Sandra Dallas knows how to write a Western novel. The characters and their dialogue were believable and relatable, the plot was intriguing and engaging, and the imagery of the setting was wonderful. I will be reading more of her books in the near future. 💖
Overall Thoughts: I can’t say anything more other than that I loved this book! I truly enjoyed everything about it and I highly recommend it. It’s as good as “What the Silent Say” by Emerson Ford and I cannot shut up about that book, so you know what that means? Uh-huh. I’m not going to shut up about this book either. 😆
Content Warnings: death, murder, grief, blood, loss of a parent, some violence
Publication Day: 04/29/25 (It publishes on my birthday?! Heck yeah, baby!)
I received an arc from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
Blurb: “After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.
But patience is not one of Haidie’s virtues, and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent “spinster” sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting.
Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.”
The Plot: I have to take a moment and thank my little brother for expressing a desire to watch as many John Wayne movies as we possibly could because those gems helped me love Westerns more than I did in the past. I don’t think I have ever smiled as much as I did with this book. From the very beginning when Haidie and Boots’s brother, Cheet (his name is quite fitting), sells their family farm and sends his little siblings to an orphanage, to the journey to Colorado where they meet some of the greatest people I have ever read about, and to the end of the story where everything went down, I was hooked to the story and fell in love with the characters the two siblings met along the way. So much happened in ten chapters yet it wasn’t confusingly complicated. The story was straightforward and to the point. No loopholes, loose ends, or unnecessary plot points. This was so freaking fun and I can’t wait to read this again! 😁
The Characters: Okay, this aspect has to be my favorite part of the book. I wish I could tell you about all the characters and their awesomeness, but I’d hate to spoil the story for you. Haidie, widely known as a liar (which made me laugh 😂), was spunky, smart, and had true grit. 😉 Boots, her little brother, was sweet. I enjoyed his presence in the story. And all the other amazing cast of characters like Jake, Corny, Teresa, and Ben were brilliant! I rooted for Haidie and everyone in her life to the very end. 🥰
The Writing: Excellent! Sandra Dallas knows how to write a Western novel. The characters and their dialogue were believable and relatable, the plot was intriguing and engaging, and the imagery of the setting was wonderful. I will be reading more of her books in the near future. 💖
Overall Thoughts: I can’t say anything more other than that I loved this book! I truly enjoyed everything about it and I highly recommend it. It’s as good as “What the Silent Say” by Emerson Ford and I cannot shut up about that book, so you know what that means? Uh-huh. I’m not going to shut up about this book either. 😆
Content Warnings: death, murder, grief, blood, loss of a parent, some violence
Publication Day: 04/29/25 (It publishes on my birthday?! Heck yeah, baby!)
I received an arc from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
March 15, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Apr. 29, 2025
“Tough Luck” by award-winning journalist-turned-author Sandra Dallas is a delightful Western about a fourteen-year-old girl and her brother who venture across the American West in order to be reunited with their father after the death of their mother.
Haidie is the main character, a young girl who, after the death of her mother, was left in the care of her older brother, Cheet. Cheet, being true to his name, abandoned Haidie and her ten-year-old brother, Boots, to an orphanage. Delightfully spunky and resilient, Haidie and Boots escape the orphanage and make their way West, running into a variety of eclectic characters along the way. Haidie was charming and likable and, combined with her dedication to her brother, Boots, there was no way I wasn’t cheering for her.
I am not a Western fan, normally, but I did enjoy the historical feel of Dallas’ novel, with saloons and gambling dens and mule-pulled covered wagons, and there was almost constant adventure, all experienced through Haidie’s eyes. I would not have enjoyed this novel as much if it weren’t for the kind yet brave protagonist.
Throughout the novel, Haidie and Boots’ ultimate goal is to be reconnected with their father, who abandoned them to find gold in Colorado. It was not clear at the start if they would be reunited or not and how it would go, but Dallas made sure that this plot line was concluded in an engaging and satisfying way. Of course, there are several plot lines that exist outside of this one, as Haidie and her brother meet a variety of other characters on their travels, and each one was brought to a successful conclusion, with no unanswered questions.
If anyone was going to turn me onto reading Westerns, Sandra Dallas seems to be the author who could do it. Dallas has written eight Western novels and has won many awards for her fiction and non-fiction works, and there’s no question that she has the talent. “Tough” is gritty and endearing with a smooth flow, tight plot and powerful characters.
Expected publication date: Apr. 29, 2025
“Tough Luck” by award-winning journalist-turned-author Sandra Dallas is a delightful Western about a fourteen-year-old girl and her brother who venture across the American West in order to be reunited with their father after the death of their mother.
Haidie is the main character, a young girl who, after the death of her mother, was left in the care of her older brother, Cheet. Cheet, being true to his name, abandoned Haidie and her ten-year-old brother, Boots, to an orphanage. Delightfully spunky and resilient, Haidie and Boots escape the orphanage and make their way West, running into a variety of eclectic characters along the way. Haidie was charming and likable and, combined with her dedication to her brother, Boots, there was no way I wasn’t cheering for her.
I am not a Western fan, normally, but I did enjoy the historical feel of Dallas’ novel, with saloons and gambling dens and mule-pulled covered wagons, and there was almost constant adventure, all experienced through Haidie’s eyes. I would not have enjoyed this novel as much if it weren’t for the kind yet brave protagonist.
Throughout the novel, Haidie and Boots’ ultimate goal is to be reconnected with their father, who abandoned them to find gold in Colorado. It was not clear at the start if they would be reunited or not and how it would go, but Dallas made sure that this plot line was concluded in an engaging and satisfying way. Of course, there are several plot lines that exist outside of this one, as Haidie and her brother meet a variety of other characters on their travels, and each one was brought to a successful conclusion, with no unanswered questions.
If anyone was going to turn me onto reading Westerns, Sandra Dallas seems to be the author who could do it. Dallas has written eight Western novels and has won many awards for her fiction and non-fiction works, and there’s no question that she has the talent. “Tough” is gritty and endearing with a smooth flow, tight plot and powerful characters.
April 10, 2025
I discovered this story while trolling the read shelves of GR friends, Marilyn & Liz. Domestic dramas aren’t my go-to genre because I so often get so pissed off at all the kids who get stuck with such crappy parents. However, there was something about Haidie that really appealed to me. I like kids who turn out to be bad@$$#$ in spite of their crappy parents and terrible childhoods.
The book summary basically lays out the primary storyline of Haidie and her little brother Boots becoming orphaned after the death of their mother, and homeless after their older brother Cheet, sells the farm and dumps them off at an orphanage. They convince a new nun, Theresa, at the orphanage that they will help her escape the orphanage (she was forced to become a nun by her father) if she helps them escape too. After escaping the orphanage, Haidie and Boots end up helping Theresa again by aiding her in escaping her abusive fake marriage. None of this is a spoiler since it’s basically how the story started.
Haidie and Boots make their way across the Midwest to Denver where they hope to find their father who came out years ago to mine gold. Along the way, they meet a cast of characters from the good and honest to the downright mean and scary. They become heroes by catching a couple of freight bandits and learn some very handy card tricks that they picked up by a kindhearted card shark. The ending comes fast in a worthy payback to a shyster banker.
The character development of Haidie and Boots along with a couple of other characters was well done. Love Haidie as well as Corny and the spinster sisters!!!. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining even if it was kind of corny. The writing was fine and, once again, seemed a little cheesy. The story reminded me of a YA story, a good one, but a story for teenagers nonetheless. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star rating. I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillian Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ToughLuck
The book summary basically lays out the primary storyline of Haidie and her little brother Boots becoming orphaned after the death of their mother, and homeless after their older brother Cheet, sells the farm and dumps them off at an orphanage. They convince a new nun, Theresa, at the orphanage that they will help her escape the orphanage (she was forced to become a nun by her father) if she helps them escape too. After escaping the orphanage, Haidie and Boots end up helping Theresa again by aiding her in escaping her abusive fake marriage. None of this is a spoiler since it’s basically how the story started.
Haidie and Boots make their way across the Midwest to Denver where they hope to find their father who came out years ago to mine gold. Along the way, they meet a cast of characters from the good and honest to the downright mean and scary. They become heroes by catching a couple of freight bandits and learn some very handy card tricks that they picked up by a kindhearted card shark. The ending comes fast in a worthy payback to a shyster banker.
The character development of Haidie and Boots along with a couple of other characters was well done. Love Haidie as well as Corny and the spinster sisters!!!. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining even if it was kind of corny. The writing was fine and, once again, seemed a little cheesy. The story reminded me of a YA story, a good one, but a story for teenagers nonetheless. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star rating. I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillian Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ToughLuck
April 29, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book tagline: In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.
I love a good adventure novel. I love fierce and loving female protagonists. Luckily for me, Tough Luck has both. After being dumped at an orphanage by their older brother, Cheet, Haidie Richards makes a plan to take her younger brother, Boots and head for Colorado and find their father. Along the way, Haidie and Boots will meet all kinds of different people, and sometimes they are surprised as to who becomes their ally.
I laughed and smiled and even felt my eyes getting misty a time or two as Haidie and Boots made their journey. A book that I devoured in one sitting.
Sandra Dallas is a remarkable author, and I wholeheartedly recommend that other readers check out their books. Trust me, you are in for a real treat!
Expected Publication 29/04/25
Goodreads Review 07/04/25
Book tagline: In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.
I love a good adventure novel. I love fierce and loving female protagonists. Luckily for me, Tough Luck has both. After being dumped at an orphanage by their older brother, Cheet, Haidie Richards makes a plan to take her younger brother, Boots and head for Colorado and find their father. Along the way, Haidie and Boots will meet all kinds of different people, and sometimes they are surprised as to who becomes their ally.
I laughed and smiled and even felt my eyes getting misty a time or two as Haidie and Boots made their journey. A book that I devoured in one sitting.
Sandra Dallas is a remarkable author, and I wholeheartedly recommend that other readers check out their books. Trust me, you are in for a real treat!
Expected Publication 29/04/25
Goodreads Review 07/04/25
August 2, 2024
I have read quite a few books by Sandra Dallas. My favorite is The Diary of Mattie Spencer. I particularly enjoy her western historical novels. Her latest book is titled Tough Luck and I was happy to receive an advanced reader’s copy. Her stories are well written and they hold my interest. Tough Luck is about two children who join a wagon train to find their father who left them to find a gold mine. They travel across the Wild West, encounter Indian attacks and bad cowboys. I found this particular book to be a bit unbelievable and unrealistic. That being said I did enjoy it and I was left with the good feeling and happy ending that Sandra Dallas delivers with all of her books. .
March 31, 2025
4.5 rounded up ✨
Thanks you SMP & Mac Audio for my gifted copies 🫶🏼
It's 1863, and Haidie's Pa has gone west in search of gold, while she and her two brothers stay on the farm with their Ma. But when Ma dies, and Haidie's older brother sells the farm, she and her younger brother Boots wind up at an orphanage. Desperate to find their Pa, Haidie and Boots take off on their own journey west, where they encounter a colorful cast of characters—some friends, some foes. Will Haidie and Boots find their Pa out west? Or will they be forced to live out the rest of their childhoods at an orphanage?
This book is a HOOT! It's a clever, action-packed ride of rip-roaring fun. I just loved Haidie! She's quick-witted, strong and capable. I loved the found family vibes with some of the folks they meet on their journey west, and the shenanigans they get into along the way. I loved the author's last book, Where Coyotes Howl, so much, though it was a sad and somber account of life on the prairie. And while this one was completely different—more lively and upbeat—i enjoyed it just as much! I can't wait for whatever Dallas writes next!
I was already halfway into this book when the audiobook became available on NetGalley, so I finished it up on audio and WHAT A TREAT it was!!! Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is exceptional! Her performance is jaw-droppingly good, with a cinematic quality to it. She flawlessly voices a large cast of characters, each with a distinct and unique voice. What a performance!!! Highly recommend this format!
Thanks you SMP & Mac Audio for my gifted copies 🫶🏼
It's 1863, and Haidie's Pa has gone west in search of gold, while she and her two brothers stay on the farm with their Ma. But when Ma dies, and Haidie's older brother sells the farm, she and her younger brother Boots wind up at an orphanage. Desperate to find their Pa, Haidie and Boots take off on their own journey west, where they encounter a colorful cast of characters—some friends, some foes. Will Haidie and Boots find their Pa out west? Or will they be forced to live out the rest of their childhoods at an orphanage?
This book is a HOOT! It's a clever, action-packed ride of rip-roaring fun. I just loved Haidie! She's quick-witted, strong and capable. I loved the found family vibes with some of the folks they meet on their journey west, and the shenanigans they get into along the way. I loved the author's last book, Where Coyotes Howl, so much, though it was a sad and somber account of life on the prairie. And while this one was completely different—more lively and upbeat—i enjoyed it just as much! I can't wait for whatever Dallas writes next!
I was already halfway into this book when the audiobook became available on NetGalley, so I finished it up on audio and WHAT A TREAT it was!!! Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is exceptional! Her performance is jaw-droppingly good, with a cinematic quality to it. She flawlessly voices a large cast of characters, each with a distinct and unique voice. What a performance!!! Highly recommend this format!
June 1, 2024
In a nod to TRUE GRIT, the author's latest histfic novel is set in Colorado in the 1860s. The gripping tale uniquely captures the burgeoning American West, as a brother and sister follow their father to the hopeful land of gold mining. A winner!
October 10, 2024
If there is such a thing as a Cozy Western, Tough Luck is the perfect example of it.
Haidie, a 14 year-old girl, is bound and determined to make her way to Denver after her mother dies - after all, her father went there to find gold and he must have - that’s why he stopped writing. He’s too busy being rich and successful. Along with her younger brother, Boots, Haidie sets off on her adventure out west in 1863 and meets all manner of people and finds herself in all manner of situations along the way - but all with a rose-tint over it.
I really - really - enjoyed Haidie as a character. She took no shit and would do anything to achieve her goals. However, I felt that she wasn’t fully developed as an MC; this was an issue I had with the other characters as well. Everyone was so vibrant, but they were just caricatures.
I felt the same way about the adventure - sure, Haidie et al. run into outlaws and Native Americans (called Indians in the book), have horses stolen and have to fight for their lives - but nothing ever felt actually dangerous. Haidie’s plot-armor jumped off the page, as did her brother’s. Nothing could happen to these characters because everything had to work out in the end.
And work out it did. To be honest, when I figured out everything was going to work out for Haidie and her family so neatly, I was a bit let down. It was all too perfect for any reality of the 19th century gold rushers and I couldn't suspend my disbelief by the end.
Still, this is a good story and one that is a perfect brain-break for readers. I love stories about women in the Old West, and I think Haidie has her place in that canon.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
Haidie, a 14 year-old girl, is bound and determined to make her way to Denver after her mother dies - after all, her father went there to find gold and he must have - that’s why he stopped writing. He’s too busy being rich and successful. Along with her younger brother, Boots, Haidie sets off on her adventure out west in 1863 and meets all manner of people and finds herself in all manner of situations along the way - but all with a rose-tint over it.
I really - really - enjoyed Haidie as a character. She took no shit and would do anything to achieve her goals. However, I felt that she wasn’t fully developed as an MC; this was an issue I had with the other characters as well. Everyone was so vibrant, but they were just caricatures.
I felt the same way about the adventure - sure, Haidie et al. run into outlaws and Native Americans (called Indians in the book), have horses stolen and have to fight for their lives - but nothing ever felt actually dangerous. Haidie’s plot-armor jumped off the page, as did her brother’s. Nothing could happen to these characters because everything had to work out in the end.
And work out it did. To be honest, when I figured out everything was going to work out for Haidie and her family so neatly, I was a bit let down. It was all too perfect for any reality of the 19th century gold rushers and I couldn't suspend my disbelief by the end.
Still, this is a good story and one that is a perfect brain-break for readers. I love stories about women in the Old West, and I think Haidie has her place in that canon.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
April 30, 2025
After their father left and their mother died, Haddie and Boots were left with only their older brother, Cheet.
Cheet sold their home, put his brother and sister in an orphanage, and took off with the money.
Haidie had plans, though. She was going to find her father. They were not going to stay in the orphanage. She and Boots escaped and found a man going west that would take them with him.
He was a kind man, but some of the others they met along with way definitely were not.
We travel with Haidie and Boots as they learn how to survive during this time period, and also find out about their father.
An enjoyable, uplifting read with wonderful characters. You will LOVE Haidie.
Sandra Dallas always gives us a great story.
Enjoy the ride and the fun - remember, it was the Wild West!! 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Cheet sold their home, put his brother and sister in an orphanage, and took off with the money.
Haidie had plans, though. She was going to find her father. They were not going to stay in the orphanage. She and Boots escaped and found a man going west that would take them with him.
He was a kind man, but some of the others they met along with way definitely were not.
We travel with Haidie and Boots as they learn how to survive during this time period, and also find out about their father.
An enjoyable, uplifting read with wonderful characters. You will LOVE Haidie.
Sandra Dallas always gives us a great story.
Enjoy the ride and the fun - remember, it was the Wild West!! 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 27, 2025
4 stars. 🎧
September 30, 2024
Tough Luck & True Grit share definite similarities: fourteen-year-old spunky heroines, an adventurous search for justice, colorful secondary characters, period accurate details, and an emotional denouement that made me cheer with joy. Story telling doesn’t get much better than this.
I do give author Sandra Dallas full credit for making Tough Luck her own story, though. Written from the cheeky perspective of young Haidie, we closely follow her thoughts and reactions, tempered only by the slow pace of the oxen driven wagons transporting her and her young brother Boots across the American prairie to Denver. Furthermore, their mission to find their estranged father, stricken by gold fever, is brought vividly to life by the villains they encounter and defeat, and the heroes they meet along the way who help them and become their friends.
The final scenes will make your head spin with its clever con to dupe a con man! Brava, Sandra Dallas! I highly recommend Tough Luck. It is a spirited, dramatic, humorous, and uplifting adventure across the American west of 1863. Does it have true grit? Darn tootin.
I do give author Sandra Dallas full credit for making Tough Luck her own story, though. Written from the cheeky perspective of young Haidie, we closely follow her thoughts and reactions, tempered only by the slow pace of the oxen driven wagons transporting her and her young brother Boots across the American prairie to Denver. Furthermore, their mission to find their estranged father, stricken by gold fever, is brought vividly to life by the villains they encounter and defeat, and the heroes they meet along the way who help them and become their friends.
The final scenes will make your head spin with its clever con to dupe a con man! Brava, Sandra Dallas! I highly recommend Tough Luck. It is a spirited, dramatic, humorous, and uplifting adventure across the American west of 1863. Does it have true grit? Darn tootin.
December 3, 2024
Tough Luck, told from young Haidie’s voice, pulled me into the plight of the Richards siblings and their journey from Illinois to find their Pa, whose last known whereabouts was in Colorado gold mine country. The details along the trail west felt true and possible, but once the trail came to an end in Denver, and the mines and retribution took over, I began to lose interest in the story. Even though I knew I was reading fiction, the plot began to seem far-fetched with an unbelievable HEA reunion of found friends (and abandoned family) by the last page.
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
May 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Each year, I look forward to Sandra Dallas's new book. I am thrilled to have been chosen to read this advance copy.
This is one of my favorite Sandra Dallas books now. This is an adventurous story with great characters. I felt like I was along for the ride since the storytelling is so good. I highly recommend this book!
Each year, I look forward to Sandra Dallas's new book. I am thrilled to have been chosen to read this advance copy.
This is one of my favorite Sandra Dallas books now. This is an adventurous story with great characters. I felt like I was along for the ride since the storytelling is so good. I highly recommend this book!
July 9, 2025
There was nothing objectively wrong with this, I just kept thinking “why was this written?”.
April 17, 2025
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ARC this book is out 4/29/26. I wanted so much to love this book because historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. In 1859 Hattie Richard’s father leaves for Colorado in search of gold. While her father is gone, her mother passes. The eldest brother then sells the farm and sends Hattie and her younger brother boots to an orphanage. In 1863 Hattie and her brother leave the orphanage on a cross country journey to Denver looking for their father. I liked the first half of the book better than the second. I felt it was too unrealistic the things they encountered as children by themselves on their journey. I also was bored with the second half. There are a lot of other people who enjoyed this book, hopefully if you read it, you will love it.
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June 24, 2025
Sandra Dallas sure did her research for TOUGH LUCK and it really shows while you are reading. You will feel as if you are right in the middle of a very long trip to Colorado. I loved traveling along with Haidie as she was determined to find her father. Sandra Dallas really knows how to write about love, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author. Spend the afternoon on your couch under a blanket with a hot drink, devouring this beautiful story. You will love every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
April 9, 2025
I didn't realize I had already read and adored one of this author's books. Little SoulsI can say that I adored this one also! It was different but still magical.
As you can see by the book's description, Tough Luck is about a brother and sister who make their way across the country to find their Dad, who disappeared four years ago, to strike gold in Colorado. They face some hardships on their way West but make many new friends along the way.
The writing is tight, the plot is refreshing, the dialogue is delightful, and the characters are...well, true characters. I had a lot of chuckles during this voyage West and my heart in my throat during the rougher times.
Haidie Richards made such a good scoundrel that you sometimes forget that she is not really a boy but a nearly grown (for that era) woman. The side characters were wonderfully quirky and lent a lot to the story.
This will be a perfect read for those who like historical fiction, quirky characters, HEA's, and a good scam job! The ending may confuse you a bit as it did me, but it all works out for the best.
I'm on my way now to buy myself several more of Ms. Dallas's other books. Hmmm, now which one should I buy first?
*ARC supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/ Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.
As you can see by the book's description, Tough Luck is about a brother and sister who make their way across the country to find their Dad, who disappeared four years ago, to strike gold in Colorado. They face some hardships on their way West but make many new friends along the way.
The writing is tight, the plot is refreshing, the dialogue is delightful, and the characters are...well, true characters. I had a lot of chuckles during this voyage West and my heart in my throat during the rougher times.
Haidie Richards made such a good scoundrel that you sometimes forget that she is not really a boy but a nearly grown (for that era) woman. The side characters were wonderfully quirky and lent a lot to the story.
This will be a perfect read for those who like historical fiction, quirky characters, HEA's, and a good scam job! The ending may confuse you a bit as it did me, but it all works out for the best.
I'm on my way now to buy myself several more of Ms. Dallas's other books. Hmmm, now which one should I buy first?
*ARC supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/ Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.
April 27, 2025
This was a very well written story. I read Where Coyotes Howl and loved it, so I was really looking forward to this book. This book has so many ups and downs. I loved that the main character was a 14 year old girl who was basically thrust into a difficult situation. While I did enjoy the writing, I feel like this book would have been more enjoyable for me if there was either more chapters or I had listened to the audiobook. With only ten chapters in this book, it’s almost like it was broken up into larger bigger chunks of what happened. This took away from the story a bit for me and felt like it took too long to get through since I’m one of those people who like to end on a chapter and not the middle of one, but that was impossible to do with this book. Again, I truly think the story itself was amazing and well written, I just wish it hadn’t felt like it dragged on so much.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2025
A fun Western adventure led by a young teen woman.
Clean fiction with no sex scenes or vulgarity.
Some references to the seedier side of the gold-mining American West of the late 1800’s.
Recommended.
July 3rd, 2025
Clean fiction with no sex scenes or vulgarity.
Some references to the seedier side of the gold-mining American West of the late 1800’s.
Recommended.
July 3rd, 2025
August 3, 2025
Sandra Dallas is an auto-read author for me, one of those authors where I will pick up the book just because she wrote it. Some of her books are so emotional and sad, but every single one is wonderful. I was extra excited when I saw that this one was inspired by True Grit, which I also loved. I love any story set on the frontier, so I was destined to love this one too.
And I did! What stood out to me most is that this one isn't sad. We follow 14 year old Haidie and her brother Boots as they join up with a wagon train and head out West in order to find their father, who is out trying to find gold. Haidie disguises herself as a boy to make the journey, which shows her determination, bravery, and strength. This story felt more like a Western coming-of-age adventure story than anything else. I was rooting so hard for Haidie and Boots to end up in a good place once they came to the end of their journey. I loved all of the connections they made along the way, especially the older sisters that were also traveling with the wagon train. They were both fiercely independent at a time in history where women weren't encouraged to be that way, and they inspired Haidie to be confident in her independence as well.
Really great! Sandra Dallas and her stories of strong, independent women never let me down.
I received a digital review of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts in the form of a review. Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press!
And I did! What stood out to me most is that this one isn't sad. We follow 14 year old Haidie and her brother Boots as they join up with a wagon train and head out West in order to find their father, who is out trying to find gold. Haidie disguises herself as a boy to make the journey, which shows her determination, bravery, and strength. This story felt more like a Western coming-of-age adventure story than anything else. I was rooting so hard for Haidie and Boots to end up in a good place once they came to the end of their journey. I loved all of the connections they made along the way, especially the older sisters that were also traveling with the wagon train. They were both fiercely independent at a time in history where women weren't encouraged to be that way, and they inspired Haidie to be confident in her independence as well.
Really great! Sandra Dallas and her stories of strong, independent women never let me down.
I received a digital review of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts in the form of a review. Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press!
September 9, 2024
4 ⭐️
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley!
This book gave me the same vibes as the historical fiction books I loved to read as a kid. Haidie runs away from an orphanage with her younger brother to find their Pa, who moved out west to look for gold. She has to disguise herself as a boy to make it safely across the planes. Along the way they run into so many colorful characters and have to deal with a lot of mishaps. Quite entertaining and written in a way that makes you feel you’re right there with them.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley!
This book gave me the same vibes as the historical fiction books I loved to read as a kid. Haidie runs away from an orphanage with her younger brother to find their Pa, who moved out west to look for gold. She has to disguise herself as a boy to make it safely across the planes. Along the way they run into so many colorful characters and have to deal with a lot of mishaps. Quite entertaining and written in a way that makes you feel you’re right there with them.
September 7, 2025
Boring and predictable. Reads like a version of True Grit written for the Hallmark Channel. Disappointing.
April 20, 2025
This one was not really was I expected. Based on the blurb, I thought I was in for something deeper, but it actually felt way more lighthearted than that. Almost like a YA western with a bit of heart and humor thrown in. I read another reviewer refer to this one as a “cozy western” and honestly?? That fits. It’s fast, fun, and not too heavy. Perfect for a weekend listen or if you're in the mood for something kinda different!
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