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Hot on the Trail #0
Trail Blaze
Darcy Howsam has one last chance to be a respectable woman and to have a secure life: traveling along the Oregon Trail to become a mail-order bride for a miner in California. But when the man who paid her way to meet him at Ft. Laramie takes one look at her and rejects her, demanding his money back, Darcy finds herself alone and desperate.
Gregory Quinlan has staked his future on moving west and building a life in Oregon. A wife isn’t part of his plan. But when Darcy finds herself in trouble, he steps up to be a friend to her. The two hatch a plan to convince her should-be husband to take her back, only the more they work together, the more Greg falls in love. But what good is love when Darcy belongs to someone else?
Against the odds, on an epic pioneer journey, Greg must fight to fix the mistakes he’s made and win back the woman who won his heart with her smile.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam Level – Hot
Trail Blaze is a prequel novella to BOTH the Hot on the Trail series and the Montana Romance series, by Merry Farmer.
Gregory Quinlan has staked his future on moving west and building a life in Oregon. A wife isn’t part of his plan. But when Darcy finds herself in trouble, he steps up to be a friend to her. The two hatch a plan to convince her should-be husband to take her back, only the more they work together, the more Greg falls in love. But what good is love when Darcy belongs to someone else?
Against the odds, on an epic pioneer journey, Greg must fight to fix the mistakes he’s made and win back the woman who won his heart with her smile.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam Level – Hot
Trail Blaze is a prequel novella to BOTH the Hot on the Trail series and the Montana Romance series, by Merry Farmer.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2015
About the author
Merry Farmer
304 books1,145 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 4, 2015
I bought this book because I love Ms. Farmer's work. This novella doesn't fail. This is the story of Eric Quinlan's parents from her Montana Romance series called Fool For Love. This is also a prequel of her Hot on the Trail series about the Oregon Trail.
We meet Darcy as she's coming from the stagecoach to meet the man who sent for her to be his bride. She's hoping that a new life in a new place will be a step up from the bleak existence that she had on the east coast. That's when she meets Conrad, he was no ideal, but her unsinkable spirit would make it work. Only Conrad didn't want her. Said she was too puny and demanded she give his money back to him. Greg Quinlan watches the exchange and from that moment on becomes her champion, and he sets out to help her win Conrad back. But when it happens, is it what they really want. And if it isn't, is there any way to find their way together?
I can see a lot of Darcy in their son Eric. I can see a lot of Greg too. I love reading stories like this because it's like watching a true family. The child takes on characteristics from each parent. And no, there's no appearance by Eric. I just had to add that I can see both Greg's personality and Darcy's spirit in Eric. Their romance happens fairly quickly, but it doesn't feel rushed or insincere. Sometimes they heart just knows what it knows. I would definitely recommend this book. There's some nookie in it and it's really warm. Not as warm as others of her books I've read, but not a fade to black scene either. But don't let that stop you. Like with all her books, it's not an important part, it's merely a part of the story.
We meet Darcy as she's coming from the stagecoach to meet the man who sent for her to be his bride. She's hoping that a new life in a new place will be a step up from the bleak existence that she had on the east coast. That's when she meets Conrad, he was no ideal, but her unsinkable spirit would make it work. Only Conrad didn't want her. Said she was too puny and demanded she give his money back to him. Greg Quinlan watches the exchange and from that moment on becomes her champion, and he sets out to help her win Conrad back. But when it happens, is it what they really want. And if it isn't, is there any way to find their way together?
I can see a lot of Darcy in their son Eric. I can see a lot of Greg too. I love reading stories like this because it's like watching a true family. The child takes on characteristics from each parent. And no, there's no appearance by Eric. I just had to add that I can see both Greg's personality and Darcy's spirit in Eric. Their romance happens fairly quickly, but it doesn't feel rushed or insincere. Sometimes they heart just knows what it knows. I would definitely recommend this book. There's some nookie in it and it's really warm. Not as warm as others of her books I've read, but not a fade to black scene either. But don't let that stop you. Like with all her books, it's not an important part, it's merely a part of the story.
October 6, 2015
For a technically safe novella this bothered me. Maybe it was the time but he should never have stood by for weeks watching her be treated like that. I loved the hero in all other ways but this just drug on to long. Looking at other books this author writes elements I don't read so I guess this will be my only one from her.
June 10, 2020
This is an OK Western romance novella, with a mostly likable couple, but it was too short to have enough character development. I wanted more backstory on both Darcy and Greg.
I did get a little irritated with Greg a few times, because he was kind of wishy-washy on how he felt about Darcy. He would think that he loved her, but that he wasn't willing to help her pay off the money she owed. He was so sure that he wouldn't be able to support a wife if he used his money to help her. But he never bothered to discuss it with her, even though they had both admitted to being in love. If he had talked to her, she would have told him that just marrying him was enough and that it was OK if he couldn't buy land right away.
I did like Darcy, but thought she was kind of a doormat to the guy she was supposed to marry. He treated her terribly, and she let him get away with it. I get that she thought she had no choice, but it seems like she could have stood up to him a little more when he got really nasty and unreasonable.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
I did get a little irritated with Greg a few times, because he was kind of wishy-washy on how he felt about Darcy. He would think that he loved her, but that he wasn't willing to help her pay off the money she owed. He was so sure that he wouldn't be able to support a wife if he used his money to help her. But he never bothered to discuss it with her, even though they had both admitted to being in love. If he had talked to her, she would have told him that just marrying him was enough and that it was OK if he couldn't buy land right away.
I did like Darcy, but thought she was kind of a doormat to the guy she was supposed to marry. He treated her terribly, and she let him get away with it. I get that she thought she had no choice, but it seems like she could have stood up to him a little more when he got really nasty and unreasonable.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
April 25, 2022
Ok book… should have been more spicy thou…
August 11, 2023
You know what? I was pleasantly surprised with how this prequel went in terms of reclaiming feminist power back in the gold mining days. This could have absolutely been one of those historical fiction type books where the female lead’s only goal was to find a husband and live happily ever after (not like that wasn’t the premise but whatevs).
August 19, 2016
I liked how this book was not your typical mail order bride book. When Darcy was to meet her intended it wasn’t the normal reaction that you expected. He didn’t want her and wanted his money back. An onlooker becomes Darcy’s champion and tries to assist her. Throughout the book you see Greg helping Darcy try to win back Conrad, her intended that doesn’t want her. But the time that they spend together brings Greg and Darcy closer.
This story gives hope and shows that if you open your eyes and heart then love could be right in front of you. Even though this was novella, it doesn’t have the typical novella feel. I didn’t feel that I was missing anything as I felt I read a whole story that wasn’t rushed.
I can’t wait to read more books by Merry Farmer and continue with the series to see what happens with the different characters.
This story gives hope and shows that if you open your eyes and heart then love could be right in front of you. Even though this was novella, it doesn’t have the typical novella feel. I didn’t feel that I was missing anything as I felt I read a whole story that wasn’t rushed.
I can’t wait to read more books by Merry Farmer and continue with the series to see what happens with the different characters.
April 14, 2016
This was such a well-crafted story, especially for a novella (I'm not usually a fan of novellas because I've read too many that are under-developed for my taste). The characters were interesting, as was the setting on the Oregon Trail. The story is predictable, but in the way of most romance novels. The predictability did not detract from the story.
My only critique is with the formatting. The point of view suddenly shifted between characters at times, which was initially confusing when it happened. Had there been a section break, it would have been easier to immediately pick up on the fact that the point of view was changing.
I definitely look forward to reading more by Merry Farmer!
My only critique is with the formatting. The point of view suddenly shifted between characters at times, which was initially confusing when it happened. Had there been a section break, it would have been easier to immediately pick up on the fact that the point of view was changing.
I definitely look forward to reading more by Merry Farmer!
September 10, 2016
This is my first book by this author and I'm interested enough that I'll read the next book in the series. Trail Blaze was a good afternoon read, but not a great one. What I liked about the book: for a novella the story is well paced and had great characters. I was entertained and enjoyed the story. What I didn't like about the book: abrupt ending, some editing issues, and somewhat simplistic story.
Heat level=5 (1=Christian, 5=fade to black and 10= erotica).
Heat level=5 (1=Christian, 5=fade to black and 10= erotica).
September 19, 2015
A quick, sweet prequel story about an unwanted mail-order bride and the man that sacrifices everything he has for a future with her. Great writing. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
~HEAT: 2/5 - 1 sweet, quick sex scene
~ENDING: HEA. No cliffhanger
~About 90 pages.
~HEAT: 2/5 - 1 sweet, quick sex scene
~ENDING: HEA. No cliffhanger
~About 90 pages.
April 25, 2015
Merry writing is fresh and easy to read. One of those type of books that one cannot put down.
August 29, 2015
I loved this book. The way Ms. Farmer tells a story and weaves it in with her other books is amazing. I look forward to reading more of her books. She is on my must buy list.
April 3, 2017
Poor reasonings.
Darcy Howsam can borrow money from Greg Quinlan so that she could pay Conrad, the man who didn't want her. She could use her skills to earn money and pay Greg back. Or she could borrow from anyone from the trail if Greg's money is just enough to buy a land.
If Greg wanted to help Darcy to become a Mrs. Somebody but can't be that Mr. Somebody, he should at least help her convince another decent man to be that Mr. Somebody, not push her to a bully like Conrad.
If Greg thinks that he doesn't deserve Darcy then he should do something to deserve her! Excuses! Now I know where Eric Quinlan, their future son got his stupidity, cowardlines, and low self-worth.
Darcy Howsam can borrow money from Greg Quinlan so that she could pay Conrad, the man who didn't want her. She could use her skills to earn money and pay Greg back. Or she could borrow from anyone from the trail if Greg's money is just enough to buy a land.
If Greg wanted to help Darcy to become a Mrs. Somebody but can't be that Mr. Somebody, he should at least help her convince another decent man to be that Mr. Somebody, not push her to a bully like Conrad.
If Greg thinks that he doesn't deserve Darcy then he should do something to deserve her! Excuses! Now I know where Eric Quinlan, their future son got his stupidity, cowardlines, and low self-worth.
December 30, 2018
This was an interesting short novel. I liked the chemistry they seemed to have. And I always love when the man has to lose what they think they don’t need to find they really do need it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews