Dear Penelope

by Sharon Ihle

After being jilted at the altar, Penelope, taking a job at a reputable saloon, talks the saloon owner into marrying her for a month to fool her family, a marriage of convenience that leads to something more. Original.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Westerns

342 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Pseudonyms: June Cameron, Sharon MacIver.

Sharon Ihle is the best-selling author of more than a dozen award-winning historical romances set in the American West. She lived in San Diego County until 2000. She then left the sunny beaches of California and moved to the frozen plains of North Dakota.

Reviews

[Golden Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay my thoughts about this one... At first it was annoying because of the heroine. ^^ Too naive and stupid at times. I have given up on her actually, then later the book became boring because nothing special or anything at all but since I am more than halfway through the book I still continued. Lastly the hero annoyed me as well for keeping a secret to his wife about another woman and the problem just ended okay it was not that bad or anything the OW is just barren and tadaaaaaaan it ended.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Preston arrived in Emancipation, WY, expecting to marry her fiance, Charlie White. However, when she shows up at Charlie's Bakery, she meets, Cherry Barkdoll, Charlie's new fiance and hears about a letter she never received. Having no return money she applies to Sebastian Cole, owner of the Pearly Gates saloon for help since he did a good deed for her earlier at the train station. Instead of money he gives her a hostess job and a room at the hotel to earn the money. She also meets Hazel Allison, owner of the Weekly Rustler and gets a part time job setting type. When her brother and then her father come to town to haul her home she talks Seb into marrying her for a month to get them gone and her independence. This is the beginning of a humorous romance highlighted by the advice column she starts writing for the paper. Great fun.

[Ingrid Spera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this difficult to read. There was a lot of unnecessary drama and I couldn't really relate to her or even really like her because I feel like she was a bit too selfish for my tastes... but a cute and quick read.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Dear Penelope was refreshing. I loved the town ran by all women and how the romance unfolds by these two somewhat flawed characters. Definitely a must read for western romance fans.

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an oke, light read.
I had the impression parts of the story were missing.
Some story lines seemed to end abruptly or disappeared.

[Mary Jo Dial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyteller!

A great storyteller who paints the perfect picture with her words! Made me smile, made me tear up and made me laugh!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an imaginative and amusing book from the witty pen of Sharon Ihle. Lucy Preston thinks she is on her way to her destiny in Emancipation, Wyoming. Instead, she narrowly misses a date with the undertaker when an angry bull takes a strong disliking to Lucy's hat and person. Our heroine escapes with the assistance of the owner of the Pearly Gates Saloon, Sebastian Cole.

Disappointed by the absence of her fiance, Charlie White, at the train depot, Lucy sets out to find him. She is shocked to find that Charlie has a new fiance, Cherry. Profoundly upset, Lucy doesn't have enough funds to make it back home (Kansas City).

Lucy heads to see the only other person she knows in town -- saloon-keeper, Sebastian. It doesn't take her long to talk the man into a job as a hostess in the saloon. As added insurance, Lucy also takes a part-time job setting type at a down-on-its-luck newspaper.

Readers quickly learn that Lucy has not found her niche in life. There are no boots she can miss tripping over (including her own) while carrying a tray full of beer and other spirits. If it weren't for Lucy's winning personality with his customers, Sebastian could hardly afford to keep this accident-waiting-to-happen.

It's not hard to imagine how good Lucy is at setting type for the newspaper. However, Lucy's kindly boss decides to let Lucy try her hand at helping readers with problems -- in print. 'Dear Penelope' is an instant hit. But there is trouble on the horizon; Lucy's family is aware she did not marry Charlie and they are not happy she is working in a saloon.

Loving her first taste of success and independence, Lucy is horrified that her family will drag her back to Kansas. She asks Sebastian to marry her for a month. And then the fun begins...
One person found this helpful

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! It starts out with Lucy arriving in Emancipation, Wyoming in 1896. She is getting married to Charlie who runs a bakery. But...then she finds out he is engaged to another girl. His letter he sent her telling her NOT to come got blown up during a train robbery. So now she has to earn her keep and figure out what to do next. Seb walks into her life and offers her a job as a waitress at his saloon
(that is a nice place for women and men). She takes the job and slops her way through the entire book. She is such a klutz....which is funny. A few days after arriving there she finds the newspaper office and she gets a job there. One thing leads to another and she becomes an advice column writer...DEAR PENELOPE. The questions are so funny that she has to answer. Seb and Lucy's relationship heats up and so much more. I highly recommend this book!

[Cathi95 · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Romance 2005)In 1896, young Lucy leaves her home back East to marry her fiance in Emancipation, Wyoming, but arrives to find him engaged to another woman. Not wanting to return home to her family and past life, she decides to stay there. She takes a job at a saloon and catches the eye of the owner. This is a very lightly written story with true love conquering all and many laughs. I recommend it as a quick fun read, as long as you don't concern yourself too much with historical reality.

[Meiska · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was silly almost all the way through. I felt like I was living the dream life of the author had she been alive during this time and shoving her beliefs down my throat. However, the book still managed to hook me during some sleepless nights and it's not a completely horrible fluff read.

[Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found in SHB's pile when we installed the Readers Stand 8/5/2010
Volumn looks new and I think I'll read it again. started reading again 4/28/2011 very good solid 3 star on second reading. finis 1/May 2011 c. 10:50 pm

[Kt Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about women gaining independence and basically taking over their town. Also a sweet romance novel...absolutely loved the characters. I read half the book one day and woke up and continued to finish it the next!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

She got jilted and is making the best of a possibly bad situation.

[Celene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ever "true" romance, and because of that, it will always hold a special place in my memories.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent, only read it because it was free from Amazon. Glad I gave it a try. Likeable characters, decent story line and it kept me reading for hours on end without getting bored.

[Dhaverma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to force myself to finish this one. I felt like it was written for a 10 year old to read.