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The Lucky Hat Mine
A recipe for true love or murder? one Southern belle, one Colorado gold miner, a wife wanted classified, and a fainting goat. Let simmer.
What’s a Southern belle to do in 1863? Wife-wanted ads are always risky business, but Millie Virginia never imagined she’d survive the perilous trip across the Great Plains to find her intended husband in a pine box. Was he killed in an accident? Or murdered for his gold mine? Stuck in the mining town of Idaho Springs, Colorado territory, without friends or means, Millie is beleaguered by undesirable suitors and threatened by an unknown assailant. Her troubles escalate when the brother of her dead fiancé, Dominic Drouillard, unexpectedly turns up.
Dom is an ill-mannered mountain man who invades Millie’s log cabin, insists that his brother was murdered, and refuses to leave until he finds the killer. Compelled to join forces with her erstwhile brother-in-law, Millie discovers the search for Colorado gold is perilous, especially with a murderer on their trail.
The Lucky Hat Mine interlaces the tale of a feisty heroine with frontier legend and lore making for an arousing historical murder mystery.
What’s a Southern belle to do in 1863? Wife-wanted ads are always risky business, but Millie Virginia never imagined she’d survive the perilous trip across the Great Plains to find her intended husband in a pine box. Was he killed in an accident? Or murdered for his gold mine? Stuck in the mining town of Idaho Springs, Colorado territory, without friends or means, Millie is beleaguered by undesirable suitors and threatened by an unknown assailant. Her troubles escalate when the brother of her dead fiancé, Dominic Drouillard, unexpectedly turns up.
Dom is an ill-mannered mountain man who invades Millie’s log cabin, insists that his brother was murdered, and refuses to leave until he finds the killer. Compelled to join forces with her erstwhile brother-in-law, Millie discovers the search for Colorado gold is perilous, especially with a murderer on their trail.
The Lucky Hat Mine interlaces the tale of a feisty heroine with frontier legend and lore making for an arousing historical murder mystery.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
16 people are currently reading
1539 people want to read
About the author
J.V.L. Bell
9 books64 followersAuthor J.v.L. Bell is a Colorado native who grew up climbing 14,000 ft. mountains, exploring old ghost towns, and backpacking through the back country. She loves reading and researching frontier history and incorporating these facts into her novels. Her historic mysteries are interwoven with amusing historical stories and lore, and interesting Colorado characters and events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 12, 2016
The book The Lucky Hat Mine has everything to keep you completely immersed for hours: adventures, mystery, interesting historical details and, of course, romance. The romantic plot between Ms. Virginia and Mr. D. is developing on the background of Colorado Gold Rush in 1863, where at first Mr. D. appeared as a rude uncivilized miner. But as the time goes by in search for gold, a murderer and an answers about Ms. Virginia’s parents, Mr. D. shows up as a kind, caring and gentle man, saving Ms. Virginia’s life several times.
In my opinion, the book is very well written, has many interesting historical details; it is funny and makes you feel good while you reading and long after that. I would definitely recommend it to my friends, it is a good entertaining read, especially for a coming holiday season.
In my opinion, the book is very well written, has many interesting historical details; it is funny and makes you feel good while you reading and long after that. I would definitely recommend it to my friends, it is a good entertaining read, especially for a coming holiday season.
November 24, 2016
There was a lot more historical information in this light hearted read than I expected, but my favorite part of this book was the fainting goats. Hilarious.
February 28, 2017
Originally posted on Reveries Reviews.
This was a great book that kept me entertained and wanting more. It was funny, adventurous, and intriguing, truly a wild and whacky ride. However, I did find the content (mostly the constant stream of innuendo) to be a little more than I was comfortable with.
Plot {4/5}:
The plot was (mostly) amazing. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. In the middle it did drag just a little bit, but after Dominic arrived, it picked up again and was as entertaining and captivating as before.
I did solve the mystery involving the treasure Millie's father hid rather early. It seemed pretty obvious to me as soon as I heard of the treasure existing. However, I didn't guess the murderer until he was revealed. I was absolutely surprised, not having considered him as a potential suspect.
I was a little bit confused about the Christian content. This is by no means Christian fiction, and I wasn't expecting it to be. So ... why did Millie think about God so much in the first half of the novel ... and then suddenly drop it? I wanted to pull her aside and answer all her questions, poor girl. She sounds so confused.
Characters {5/5}:
The characters were all well-developed and original. I was able to keep them all separated in my mind (and there were quite a few). I really liked Buttercup. She was hilarious. And Dominic. I want to meet someone like Dominic; he was really great. Millie amused me, and I found myself empathizing with her on several points. Then there was Mary. She was sweet. I also liked Charlotte ... Charlotte was funny.
I think my favorite character was Dom. He was so straightforward, and he wasn't perturbed by anything.
Setting {5/5}:
Loved the descriptions of Colorado terrain. I want to go there someday! It sounds so gorgeous. Reminds me of the Cascades, only more rugged.
Writing {3/5}:
It could be partially due to the weird formatting I got when I downloaded it, but I occasionally found the writing hard to get through. It wasn't bad ... it just wasn't amazing. As this was an ARC copy, I'm not going to judge it too harshly, however.
Content {4/5}:
This is where the novel really failed in my eyes. Of course, none of this matters to someone who isn't as careful with content as I am (and there weren't any really explicit scenes), but there was a little too much to make me comfortable.
Language: "d*mn" several times, "oh my g*d" and variations of this a couple times, and Millie's favorite expression is "Oh, Lor.'"
Violence: murders, wars, gunshot wounds, etc. Nothing graphic.
Sexual: many men want Millie to marry them, some as a "bedwarmer" or something like that. Millie wonders repeatedly as to what married couples ... do. (Sorry. This is awkward. XD ) Mentions of married bliss, sleeping with a man, etc. Millie repeatedly reiterates how inappropriate it is for her and Dom to share a cabin. Dom touches Millie inappropriately. Several mentions of prostitutes. Lots of innuendo. Millie has to remove Dom's pants (he has long underwear on under them) while he's unconscious to tend a bullet wound at one point, which wouldn't be so bad if she weren't overthinking everything. Just ... that kind of stuff.
One star removed. Not recommended for younger teens. 15+ only.
Overall {3.5/5}:
Besides the content, this was an entertaining story that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys hilarious historical mysteries with a touch of romance.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
This was a great book that kept me entertained and wanting more. It was funny, adventurous, and intriguing, truly a wild and whacky ride. However, I did find the content (mostly the constant stream of innuendo) to be a little more than I was comfortable with.
Plot {4/5}:
The plot was (mostly) amazing. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. In the middle it did drag just a little bit, but after Dominic arrived, it picked up again and was as entertaining and captivating as before.
I did solve the mystery involving the treasure Millie's father hid rather early. It seemed pretty obvious to me as soon as I heard of the treasure existing. However, I didn't guess the murderer until he was revealed. I was absolutely surprised, not having considered him as a potential suspect.
I was a little bit confused about the Christian content. This is by no means Christian fiction, and I wasn't expecting it to be. So ... why did Millie think about God so much in the first half of the novel ... and then suddenly drop it? I wanted to pull her aside and answer all her questions, poor girl. She sounds so confused.
Characters {5/5}:
The characters were all well-developed and original. I was able to keep them all separated in my mind (and there were quite a few). I really liked Buttercup. She was hilarious. And Dominic. I want to meet someone like Dominic; he was really great. Millie amused me, and I found myself empathizing with her on several points. Then there was Mary. She was sweet. I also liked Charlotte ... Charlotte was funny.
I think my favorite character was Dom. He was so straightforward, and he wasn't perturbed by anything.
Setting {5/5}:
Loved the descriptions of Colorado terrain. I want to go there someday! It sounds so gorgeous. Reminds me of the Cascades, only more rugged.
Writing {3/5}:
It could be partially due to the weird formatting I got when I downloaded it, but I occasionally found the writing hard to get through. It wasn't bad ... it just wasn't amazing. As this was an ARC copy, I'm not going to judge it too harshly, however.
Content {4/5}:
This is where the novel really failed in my eyes. Of course, none of this matters to someone who isn't as careful with content as I am (and there weren't any really explicit scenes), but there was a little too much to make me comfortable.
Language: "d*mn" several times, "oh my g*d" and variations of this a couple times, and Millie's favorite expression is "Oh, Lor.'"
Violence: murders, wars, gunshot wounds, etc. Nothing graphic.
Sexual: many men want Millie to marry them, some as a "bedwarmer" or something like that. Millie wonders repeatedly as to what married couples ... do. (Sorry. This is awkward. XD ) Mentions of married bliss, sleeping with a man, etc. Millie repeatedly reiterates how inappropriate it is for her and Dom to share a cabin. Dom touches Millie inappropriately. Several mentions of prostitutes. Lots of innuendo. Millie has to remove Dom's pants (he has long underwear on under them) while he's unconscious to tend a bullet wound at one point, which wouldn't be so bad if she weren't overthinking everything. Just ... that kind of stuff.
One star removed. Not recommended for younger teens. 15+ only.
Overall {3.5/5}:
Besides the content, this was an entertaining story that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys hilarious historical mysteries with a touch of romance.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
February 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this historical mystery-romance. It is a clever tale of greed, murder and suspense with a good dollop of romance and humour.
I liked Millie and Dom. I found their banter and all their little arguments to be quite funny in places. I listened to the audio book and the humour in the pair verbally sparring came across very well. Millie was adorable every time she protested against being called Red.
The side characters were also well written and provided much amusement. The darker, dangerous characters were menacing enough that the suspense and intrigue had me on the edge of my seat right to the end. I felt the danger that Millie and Dom were in but I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't stop to ponder on who their adversary was.
I loved the romantic aspect of this story. For me, it was the perfect blend of romance and suspense. It was subtle and full of humour as the pair got to know each other. It took a second seat to he drama going on around them and the pace felt realistic.
I really enjoyed this book and would certainly look out for more by the author.
I liked Millie and Dom. I found their banter and all their little arguments to be quite funny in places. I listened to the audio book and the humour in the pair verbally sparring came across very well. Millie was adorable every time she protested against being called Red.
The side characters were also well written and provided much amusement. The darker, dangerous characters were menacing enough that the suspense and intrigue had me on the edge of my seat right to the end. I felt the danger that Millie and Dom were in but I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't stop to ponder on who their adversary was.
I loved the romantic aspect of this story. For me, it was the perfect blend of romance and suspense. It was subtle and full of humour as the pair got to know each other. It took a second seat to he drama going on around them and the pace felt realistic.
I really enjoyed this book and would certainly look out for more by the author.
February 10, 2017
A fun historical cozy based in gold mining country in Colorado during the Civil War. Where the men outnumber the women by huge numbers as you can imagine. The hardships of living in the Rockies and the winters. There must have been a lot of research done as the book starts in New Orleans and then travel to a small mining town in the territory of Colorado. All the men courting this one single woman. There are some laugh out loud funny moments. There are times you want to cry. The ending is the best, it's what you hope happens. Loved it.
February 9, 2017
"Ahhhhhhh" (That's the sigh of a contented reader who just found a book that was exactly what she hoped it would be.)
The Lucky Hat Mine is a classic old west tale complete with miners, murder and mail order brides.But... the mail order bride's husband-to-be was the murder victim and all the miners are lining up to propose.
Literally.
And repeatedly.
Fortunately, our heroine is made of stern stuff and despite the fact that she spouts off rules of etiquette at every occasion and constantly reminds the men to watch their language, she gets along just fine, and even thrives, in the Colorado mining town she has landed in.
Would I recommend it?
There is a goat in this book! A fainting goat. So, clearly, yes. Also there is a great strong female lead, humor, a smidgen of romance, a murder mystery all wrapped up in a western. What's not to love!?!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!
The Lucky Hat Mine is a classic old west tale complete with miners, murder and mail order brides.But... the mail order bride's husband-to-be was the murder victim and all the miners are lining up to propose.
Literally.
And repeatedly.
Fortunately, our heroine is made of stern stuff and despite the fact that she spouts off rules of etiquette at every occasion and constantly reminds the men to watch their language, she gets along just fine, and even thrives, in the Colorado mining town she has landed in.
Would I recommend it?
There is a goat in this book! A fainting goat. So, clearly, yes. Also there is a great strong female lead, humor, a smidgen of romance, a murder mystery all wrapped up in a western. What's not to love!?!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!
March 5, 2017
A recipe for true love or murder? Ingredients: one Southern belle, one Colorado gold miner, a wife wanted classified, and a fainting goat. Let simmer.
Sort of reminds me of a western (which is a good thing) but with a little romance thrown in. You get a glimpse in what it was like traveling across territories back then and how treacherous it was. How men can be gunslingers or wish they were. Men will propose marriage to get a piece of something they want.
The MC Millie drove me a little crazy with all the reciting of the proper lady book she carries, but I guess it's understandable cause she's from the South. But sometimes you just got to let your hair out. Overall it was a good read. Ms. Bell had great with her research of the time period. I look forward to reading more from her. This is a good read for anyone who likes historical fiction.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sort of reminds me of a western (which is a good thing) but with a little romance thrown in. You get a glimpse in what it was like traveling across territories back then and how treacherous it was. How men can be gunslingers or wish they were. Men will propose marriage to get a piece of something they want.
The MC Millie drove me a little crazy with all the reciting of the proper lady book she carries, but I guess it's understandable cause she's from the South. But sometimes you just got to let your hair out. Overall it was a good read. Ms. Bell had great with her research of the time period. I look forward to reading more from her. This is a good read for anyone who likes historical fiction.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2018
THIS is fun, wild read about early Idaho Springs, CO. A red-headed, mail order bride, a fainting goat, bandits, eager suitors, threatening break-ins to her cabin, a treasure map, a gold mine, a fine, new cookstove, and an obnoxious brother in law. Lor', what has Millie Virginia from Louisiana got herself into?
This is Idaho Springs as you've never known it. Every page has a shocking, and/or hilarious surprise. Every man has his eye on Millie, on her mine, and on her goat. All appreciate her great cooking, but someone wants her dead. Who could it be? And why?
READ THIS! Like with Paint Your Wagon, you will laugh out loud, trip over rocks on the trail, struggle to maintain your dignity, and learn to carry your six shooter in your apron pocket. And you will not regret the time spent.
This is Idaho Springs as you've never known it. Every page has a shocking, and/or hilarious surprise. Every man has his eye on Millie, on her mine, and on her goat. All appreciate her great cooking, but someone wants her dead. Who could it be? And why?
READ THIS! Like with Paint Your Wagon, you will laugh out loud, trip over rocks on the trail, struggle to maintain your dignity, and learn to carry your six shooter in your apron pocket. And you will not regret the time spent.
March 8, 2017
A nice enjoyable, light read, a solid 3 stars. I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review, and must say I liked it, even if it's not my typical read. The main character has answered a "wife wanted" ad placed by a man in the Colorado goldfields and finds him in a pine box upon her arrival. Having lived in Colorado for the past almost 40 years I had to give it a go. It's well written and Ms. Bell did some homework on her history. While a bit short on mystery for me, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a light historical to while away a few hours.
December 22, 2019
This one gets a big, fat 3 stars. It’s a cliche woven around a cliche, culminating in a very, very predictable cliche. It’s kinda like a made-for-TV movie that was momentarily, eye-rollingly entertaining. It’s not one I’d recommend, but there were a few cute moments, and I did stick with it to the end, so that’s saying something, right?
November 5, 2016
This is a fun story written by author J.v.L. Bell. It is part comedy, historical,, cozy murder mystery, mail order bride book. It's a very cute story. Thanks to NetGalley and Hansen Publishing for the advance copy.
March 31, 2017
A really fun read, and the historical facts that coincide with the story are great! The characters are interesting and colorful...I highly recommend this as an audiobook for a road trip as that is how I enjoyed it!!
October 26, 2017
Absolutely entertaining, funny, clean romance and historically interesting information about the gold rush in Idaho Springs, Co during the Civil War years. I had the privilege to meet the author and can't wait for the sequel coming soon.
December 8, 2016
This book was amazing! I'll review it soon. 4.5 stars.
January 22, 2018
Delightful tale of pioneer history in the Rocky Mountains. It made the towns around me come alive.
April 18, 2017
Millie Virginia is a Southern bred young woman trapped in a dead-end position as governess to two irascible children whose mama is a delicate but deadly New Orleans flower. As a child she was orphaned and has no family to turn to. To escape her situation, Millie answers a newspaper ad for a wife. After several weeks of correspondence her new fiancé, Mr. Johannes Drouillard, sends her a ticket and additional funds to travel to the tiny town of Idaho Springs. Millie undertakes the journey by sailing up the Mississippi River and then going by wagon train and finally stage coach to the Colorado mining town only to find that her intended husband was found dead the week before. No sooner does Millie step off the stagecoach than she is bombarded by proposals of marriage from every unattached man in town. And there are others who offer to buy her fiancé’s mine from her as she learns that she is his only heir. The question then arises, was Johannes (Mr. D) murdered for his mine or was it simply a mining accident that caused his death? With the death of her fiancé, Millie finds herself alone and without the means to survive the approaching winter. However, she does now own the cabin and the mine of Mr. D and is referred to by all in Idaho Springs as Widow D. She assimilates to her new life with the help of the one creature who accompanied her on her journey, a goat named Buttercup who faints whenever she is confronted by the slightest upset to her routine. But all is not lost as Dominic Drouillard (Mr D’s brother and half owner of the mine) shows up and moves in. He is determined to find the reason behind his brother’s death since he is positive it was murder.
What follows is a terrific take on a murder mystery. Set on the rough and tumble Western Frontier, in a mining town full of colorful characters who will in turn make you laugh and cry, you’ll find yourself reading ‘just one more chapter’ until you suddenly realize that you’ve reached the end. All of the characters are finely drawn. From our heroine Mille to the likeable Mr. Shumate the blacksmith (one of her suitors), to the Shakepeare quoting miner, and yet another suitor who aims to ‘cook that goat’, right to the swarthily handsome Dominic who will leave you guessing as to his real intentions, you’ll find yourself drawn back to the 1860s and the prospect of finding gold. And find it you will in the pages of this story!
What follows is a terrific take on a murder mystery. Set on the rough and tumble Western Frontier, in a mining town full of colorful characters who will in turn make you laugh and cry, you’ll find yourself reading ‘just one more chapter’ until you suddenly realize that you’ve reached the end. All of the characters are finely drawn. From our heroine Mille to the likeable Mr. Shumate the blacksmith (one of her suitors), to the Shakepeare quoting miner, and yet another suitor who aims to ‘cook that goat’, right to the swarthily handsome Dominic who will leave you guessing as to his real intentions, you’ll find yourself drawn back to the 1860s and the prospect of finding gold. And find it you will in the pages of this story!
February 21, 2017
NOTE: I was asked to review The Lucky Hat Mine for Rosie’s Book Review Team. Because I was traveling, I wasn’t able to download it from Netgalley or even download the offered copy of the audiobook. But when I heard that the audio was narrated by Nancy Wu, I went straight to my Audible UK account and bought a copy. And I’m so glad I did, although the mix of humor, historical detail, and great story earned me some odd looks as I laughed out loud while walking the dog. The following review uses the format from Audible's review process.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS STORY?
This is a western, both due to its historical period and initial tales of crossing the prairie by covered wagon. But author JvL Bell takes on almost every western trope and makes it her own. For example, in your standard Western, women come in two kickass models: good (frontier wives/ preachers’ daughters) and bad (dance-hall girls/Soiled Doves such as Big Nose Kate, Doc Holliday’s common law wife). Occasionally, the Soiled Doves—if they had a Heart-of-Gold—become good saloon owners (like Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke) or even wives. But Miss Permelia Abingdon Virginia—Millie to her friends—is a genteel Southern lady. Despite being raised in an orphanage, she’s worked darn hard to become one, memorizing and frequently quoting from her two bibles: THE LADIES’ BOOK OF ETIQUETTE and MANUAL OF POLITENESS: a complete handbook for the use of the lady in polite society by Florence Hartley, (actually published in 1873, whist the story is set in 1863), and TRUE POLITENESS, A hand-book of etiquette for ladies by An American Lady (1847).
But when the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) makes Millie a virtual household slave to the LeGrand family, leaving her with almost no chance for marriage and a family of her own, she decides take an almost unthinkable gamble and become a mail-order bride. After enduring the horrors of a westward journey, she arrives at the gold-mining town of Idaho Springs Colorado to find that her proposed husband is in a pine coffin, “resting in the river” (because it was just too warm to leave him exposed to air)—leaving her to become “The Widow D” and heir to her dead fiance’s gold mine.
Idaho Springs’ woman-starved and gold-hungry residents immediately begin proposing marriage and offering to buy the mine. Shocked, Millie refuses all offers and moves into her dead almost-husband’s cabin. As she continues to rebuff proposals and receive ever-increasing offers to purchase her mine, Millie starts to carve out a tentative life for herself, befriending Mary, a black woman living in the next cabin, as well as her other new neighbors. But nothing in her etiquette bibles has prepared her for her unexpected new roommate—Dom, her dead fiance’s brother.
As the story unwinds with a side-mystery involving her mysterious parents, Millie survives proposals, attempts on her life, and a pregnant fainting goat. And she does it all with humor, appreciation for the people she meets, hope for the future, and a healthy dose of strong willed determination.
HAVE YOU LISTENED TO ANY OF NANCY WU’S OTHER PERFORMANCES? HOW DOES THIS ONE COMPARE?
Narrator Nancy Wu is one of my favorite audiobook performers. In this one, she absolutely shines as she employs different accents and voice pitch to make the various characters come alive. I think most of the large supporting cast of characters could not possibly have seemed so hilariously real without Ms. Wu’s ability to give each their own voice. But it was the way she performed with obvious joy in the story and the humor that made the book really live for me.
WAS THERE A MOMENT IN THE BOOK THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED YOU?
There were many moments that had me laughing out loud, but perhaps the most moving one is where Millie, who is terrified of caves, goes into a collapsed mine tunnel to rescue her pet fainting goat Buttercup.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
I love the way Millie’s character develops, from a young girl relying on the etiquette she’s learned to grow beyond her life as an orphan, eventually becoming a strong-willed (but always proper) woman who takes charge of her own destiny. The other characters in the book were also amusing, but not well-defined. My only real disappointment was in how the story seemed to end suddenly. The romance that grows between Dom and Millie is sweet, but her incessant wonder/worry about just what a husband’s “rights” might be stops a little too abruptly. I would have liked to see her move beyond the bedroom to embrace her new life and destiny.
The setting is particularly effective. Not only does the author provide detailed word pictures of the area, but she fills in with a number of amusing and historically-accurate stories and details. Overall, The Lucky Hat Mine is an engaging, funny, clean romance. With fainting goats. Who could resist?
WHAT DID YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS STORY?
This is a western, both due to its historical period and initial tales of crossing the prairie by covered wagon. But author JvL Bell takes on almost every western trope and makes it her own. For example, in your standard Western, women come in two kickass models: good (frontier wives/ preachers’ daughters) and bad (dance-hall girls/Soiled Doves such as Big Nose Kate, Doc Holliday’s common law wife). Occasionally, the Soiled Doves—if they had a Heart-of-Gold—become good saloon owners (like Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke) or even wives. But Miss Permelia Abingdon Virginia—Millie to her friends—is a genteel Southern lady. Despite being raised in an orphanage, she’s worked darn hard to become one, memorizing and frequently quoting from her two bibles: THE LADIES’ BOOK OF ETIQUETTE and MANUAL OF POLITENESS: a complete handbook for the use of the lady in polite society by Florence Hartley, (actually published in 1873, whist the story is set in 1863), and TRUE POLITENESS, A hand-book of etiquette for ladies by An American Lady (1847).
But when the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) makes Millie a virtual household slave to the LeGrand family, leaving her with almost no chance for marriage and a family of her own, she decides take an almost unthinkable gamble and become a mail-order bride. After enduring the horrors of a westward journey, she arrives at the gold-mining town of Idaho Springs Colorado to find that her proposed husband is in a pine coffin, “resting in the river” (because it was just too warm to leave him exposed to air)—leaving her to become “The Widow D” and heir to her dead fiance’s gold mine.
Idaho Springs’ woman-starved and gold-hungry residents immediately begin proposing marriage and offering to buy the mine. Shocked, Millie refuses all offers and moves into her dead almost-husband’s cabin. As she continues to rebuff proposals and receive ever-increasing offers to purchase her mine, Millie starts to carve out a tentative life for herself, befriending Mary, a black woman living in the next cabin, as well as her other new neighbors. But nothing in her etiquette bibles has prepared her for her unexpected new roommate—Dom, her dead fiance’s brother.
As the story unwinds with a side-mystery involving her mysterious parents, Millie survives proposals, attempts on her life, and a pregnant fainting goat. And she does it all with humor, appreciation for the people she meets, hope for the future, and a healthy dose of strong willed determination.
HAVE YOU LISTENED TO ANY OF NANCY WU’S OTHER PERFORMANCES? HOW DOES THIS ONE COMPARE?
Narrator Nancy Wu is one of my favorite audiobook performers. In this one, she absolutely shines as she employs different accents and voice pitch to make the various characters come alive. I think most of the large supporting cast of characters could not possibly have seemed so hilariously real without Ms. Wu’s ability to give each their own voice. But it was the way she performed with obvious joy in the story and the humor that made the book really live for me.
WAS THERE A MOMENT IN THE BOOK THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED YOU?
There were many moments that had me laughing out loud, but perhaps the most moving one is where Millie, who is terrified of caves, goes into a collapsed mine tunnel to rescue her pet fainting goat Buttercup.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
I love the way Millie’s character develops, from a young girl relying on the etiquette she’s learned to grow beyond her life as an orphan, eventually becoming a strong-willed (but always proper) woman who takes charge of her own destiny. The other characters in the book were also amusing, but not well-defined. My only real disappointment was in how the story seemed to end suddenly. The romance that grows between Dom and Millie is sweet, but her incessant wonder/worry about just what a husband’s “rights” might be stops a little too abruptly. I would have liked to see her move beyond the bedroom to embrace her new life and destiny.
The setting is particularly effective. Not only does the author provide detailed word pictures of the area, but she fills in with a number of amusing and historically-accurate stories and details. Overall, The Lucky Hat Mine is an engaging, funny, clean romance. With fainting goats. Who could resist?
January 16, 2020
If your looking for an old fashioned, old west romance/mystery this book has it, but it has SO much more and with a little more grit than most! The historical detail about Colorado and women in history made this book amazing,
I stayed up way past my bedtime reading about the southern young woman looking to better her life answering a wife wanted ad out in the wilds of gold mine country in early Colorado. That young lady, known as Millie was stronger than even she thought and her tale of getting to her husband to be, only to find him dead when she arrives, is only the first tale that takes you into a 1800's world of woman willing to make it on her own.
With laugh out load moments and education through out the book this is a must read for anyone that enjoys a little history with their romance and mystery.
I stayed up way past my bedtime reading about the southern young woman looking to better her life answering a wife wanted ad out in the wilds of gold mine country in early Colorado. That young lady, known as Millie was stronger than even she thought and her tale of getting to her husband to be, only to find him dead when she arrives, is only the first tale that takes you into a 1800's world of woman willing to make it on her own.
With laugh out load moments and education through out the book this is a must read for anyone that enjoys a little history with their romance and mystery.
January 4, 2020
Humorous dialogue and excellent main characters
A unique snapshot into life in a mining area of the mid 1860's without going into huge amounts of fact. A little is enough to get the flavour without it being laborious, leaving you to either simply sit back having enjoyed the story or wanting to research the little snippets of facts dropped into the book.
Written well with humorous dialogue between Millie and Dominic. Millie, being determined to be a lady, resorts to a book on ladylike behaviour, while Dominic, a coarse rugged mountain type man irritates her (deliberately most of the time) with his manners and behaviour. Together they wish to discover the murderer of Millie's intended husband who is also Dominic's brother.
A unique snapshot into life in a mining area of the mid 1860's without going into huge amounts of fact. A little is enough to get the flavour without it being laborious, leaving you to either simply sit back having enjoyed the story or wanting to research the little snippets of facts dropped into the book.
Written well with humorous dialogue between Millie and Dominic. Millie, being determined to be a lady, resorts to a book on ladylike behaviour, while Dominic, a coarse rugged mountain type man irritates her (deliberately most of the time) with his manners and behaviour. Together they wish to discover the murderer of Millie's intended husband who is also Dominic's brother.
October 23, 2017
J.V.L. Bell has written a fun, rollicking novel about Colorado gold mining in the mid-1800's.
Millie Virginia answers a wife-wanted ad after a brief correspondence with a gold miner in Idaho Springs, Territory of Colorado. She leaves her position as a house maid in New Orleans, takes a paddle-boat up the Mississippi, crosses the Great Plains in a prairie schooner, then finally travels by stage coach to Idaho Springs. It was a long trip, fraught with danger and hardships.
Finally arriving in Idaho Springs, she learns her intended husband died a week before, supposedly of a mining accident. Luckily, he has written a will, leaving the mine and cabin to Millie. But this is just the beginning of Millie’s troubles. She’s swamped with too-eager suitors, miners who can’t wait to get their hands on her fiancè’s gold, decent meals, and a pretty wife to boot! To top it off, she receives threats by an unknown assailant. To add to her troubles, Dom Drouillard, the brother of her dead fiancè, shows up, certain that his brother was murdered. Uninvited, Dom moves into the cabin and plans to stay until he finds his brother’s killer.
The Lucky Hat Mine is a well-told, often humorous tale with a mysterious edge and a good dollop of romance. In addition, the novel holds many interesting bits of Colorado mining history and folklore. The author’s research in period clothing, cooking, and mining communities is impressive.
Millie Virginia answers a wife-wanted ad after a brief correspondence with a gold miner in Idaho Springs, Territory of Colorado. She leaves her position as a house maid in New Orleans, takes a paddle-boat up the Mississippi, crosses the Great Plains in a prairie schooner, then finally travels by stage coach to Idaho Springs. It was a long trip, fraught with danger and hardships.
Finally arriving in Idaho Springs, she learns her intended husband died a week before, supposedly of a mining accident. Luckily, he has written a will, leaving the mine and cabin to Millie. But this is just the beginning of Millie’s troubles. She’s swamped with too-eager suitors, miners who can’t wait to get their hands on her fiancè’s gold, decent meals, and a pretty wife to boot! To top it off, she receives threats by an unknown assailant. To add to her troubles, Dom Drouillard, the brother of her dead fiancè, shows up, certain that his brother was murdered. Uninvited, Dom moves into the cabin and plans to stay until he finds his brother’s killer.
The Lucky Hat Mine is a well-told, often humorous tale with a mysterious edge and a good dollop of romance. In addition, the novel holds many interesting bits of Colorado mining history and folklore. The author’s research in period clothing, cooking, and mining communities is impressive.
March 14, 2017
Millie Virginia works for a family in the south. Not much better than a slave she embarks on adventure out west when she answers a wife want add for a man in Colorado. After arriving from the treacherous trip she finds that her betrothed is dead. He left her all that he had and she decides to stay. Though it seems that someone doesn’t want her there and people are starting to suspect that her husband to be death was really murder. She’s survived the great trip there will the Southern Belle survive the crude conditions of Colorado with a murderer on the loose?
In an Oyster Shell – It was an interesting, intriguing book with a confusing ending.
The Pearls – I am not a fan of historical fiction and I found myself liking this one. I am always impressed when someone can get me to like something that I don’t usually like. I don’t like historical fictions because I feel that they can get bogged down by historcial facts. The author of this book worked the necessary facts seamlessly into the narrative.
The setting of the trail west and the Colorado territory was interesting in comparison to the South that Millie is used to. It made for a great story seeing her in every setting and how she adapted.
The romance was fun and unexpected. Though I had my suspicions. It was contentious at times but ends in a HEA which was nice. The contrast between the two love interests made for great narrative.
Full Review: Writing Pearls
In an Oyster Shell – It was an interesting, intriguing book with a confusing ending.
The Pearls – I am not a fan of historical fiction and I found myself liking this one. I am always impressed when someone can get me to like something that I don’t usually like. I don’t like historical fictions because I feel that they can get bogged down by historcial facts. The author of this book worked the necessary facts seamlessly into the narrative.
The setting of the trail west and the Colorado territory was interesting in comparison to the South that Millie is used to. It made for a great story seeing her in every setting and how she adapted.
The romance was fun and unexpected. Though I had my suspicions. It was contentious at times but ends in a HEA which was nice. The contrast between the two love interests made for great narrative.
Full Review: Writing Pearls
April 27, 2017
This book was a light hearted historical romance/mystery set in 1860's gold rush era Colorado. The lead character, Millie, was charming, feisty, and independent. There were plenty of humorous episodes and interesting historical details woven through out the book. The romance was predictable but sweet. I especially enjoyed the setting - Idaho Springs, Colorado. My main critique would be with the author's handling of race and race relations in that era; I felt it was just too glib, simplistic, and dismissive and I wish the author had put more thought, energy, and sensitivity into this aspect. Otherwise, this book is an easy, quick, and enjoyable read.
December 17, 2019
Excellent
Well written, love that pioneer period. You really have a feel for that time, from the time Millie starts her journey. I could really put myself in Millies shoes. I loved her attitude, and was happy when her dead husbands brother arrives. He would be exactly how i picture a strong pioneer man. I really look forward, to reading what unfolds. I hope they find the killers of his brother.
Well written, love that pioneer period. You really have a feel for that time, from the time Millie starts her journey. I could really put myself in Millies shoes. I loved her attitude, and was happy when her dead husbands brother arrives. He would be exactly how i picture a strong pioneer man. I really look forward, to reading what unfolds. I hope they find the killers of his brother.
Read
October 13, 2019In early September, I drove 1,900 miles in three days. One of the things that made the many solitary miles tolerable was listening to Julie VanLaanen (Bell)'s Lucky Hat Mine on CD. Yes, you can be pretty sure that the fainting goat will be fine, evil will be punished, and romance will blossom somehow. But there are times when a well-told story, with well-drawn, adventurous characters, that ends well is exactly what you want to hear. So, thank you, JVL Bell, for a good tale well told!
The audio book was very well produced!
The audio book was very well produced!
March 1, 2020
This was a cute read that included some interesting information about mining and life in Colorado in the mid-1800's. It also has some humor, romance and mystery. (And, the fainting goat was a great touch!) Just an overall fun book to read!
January 3, 2018
The Lucky Hat Mine tells the story of a mail-order bride whose intended doesn't make the wedding. Her story of what she does then is intriguing, funny, sad, and fascinating. A good book to read about mining in the West!
October 18, 2020
Whimsical romance soaked in adventure with historical tidbits sprinkled throughout for flavour and mystery served as a side dish. This book was quickly devoured.
June 12, 2017
There is a lot to love about this book. My main concern with books is the characters, so that is what I will mostly talk about. I'm not a history buff so I don't know anything about accuracy.
The book seemed pretty wordy, which I love. I feel there were a great deal of adjectives, not just the same ones used over and over. There were some innuendos I wasn't expecting, but its not graphic or over done.
I also like the title of the book, when they explain why the mine is names the Lucky Hat Mine, that bit is really cute.
The characters are amazing, its easy to like them, and the ones who are supposed to be creepy are really good at that. The main character is a redhead, and she has a redhead attitude. I love her insistence for propriety, despite where she is living. Millie (main character) is headstrong, brave and caring. Her friend Sarah from the begining is sweet, but at first I was like :"why would you give her a goat?" That being said Buttercup actually became one of my favorite characters. She is funny and I like that she is so involved in the story.
The man she was supposed to Mary you never meet, but I grew sad about his death after she earned about him, he was obviously a good man.
Mary is a fabulous character with a heart breaking story, and is darling.
The love interest, Dom, reminds me of a rugged mountaineering, slightly more vulgar Gilbert Blythe. He was infuriating but darling in the way he cared about her and how she showed it.
The book seemed pretty wordy, which I love. I feel there were a great deal of adjectives, not just the same ones used over and over. There were some innuendos I wasn't expecting, but its not graphic or over done.
I also like the title of the book, when they explain why the mine is names the Lucky Hat Mine, that bit is really cute.
The characters are amazing, its easy to like them, and the ones who are supposed to be creepy are really good at that. The main character is a redhead, and she has a redhead attitude. I love her insistence for propriety, despite where she is living. Millie (main character) is headstrong, brave and caring. Her friend Sarah from the begining is sweet, but at first I was like :"why would you give her a goat?" That being said Buttercup actually became one of my favorite characters. She is funny and I like that she is so involved in the story.
The man she was supposed to Mary you never meet, but I grew sad about his death after she earned about him, he was obviously a good man.
Mary is a fabulous character with a heart breaking story, and is darling.
The love interest, Dom, reminds me of a rugged mountaineering, slightly more vulgar Gilbert Blythe. He was infuriating but darling in the way he cared about her and how she showed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
Review originally published at http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
I was offered a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.
1863. Decided to escape a life serving a family, Millie Virginia answers a wife-wanted ad and leaves New Orleans in a very dangerous trip towards the mining town of Idaho Springs, Colorado territory, to meet her future husband, somebody she does not know apart from a couple of letters and a picture. After all her expectations, upon her arrival she finds out that her fiancé was found dead at his mine one week before, and against all common sense, she decides to stay at his house and accept the mine that he has left her before he died. Soon after, Millie starts receiving threats to her life and then suddenly one day, Dom, her fiancé's brother appears at her cabin, not knowing about his brother's death. Dom will turn Millie's life upside down and together they will discover that perhaps Millie's fiancé's death was not just a terrible accident.
This was a book that I really enjoy from beginning to end. The characters got me completely hooked. Millie was naive, but also ver strong willed, and with a temper. I loved the way she started to know her fiancé, by the things he left behind at his cabin, his clothes, his books and the special stove he bought for her. I also loved the way Dom made her evolve and find a world that she did not imagine before. Mary's character was also endearing, but the rest of characters were flat, and just a background for the main story.
I usually shy away from love stories. It is not that I am not a romantic person, but I dislike shallow romances just for the sake of it. This was different. The characters were deep and they evolved with the story in a way that it almost felt natural, and even though romances are the parts I tend to dislike in a book, I really enjoyed this one. Millie and Dom felt real people to me, with real motivations and reactions. I will miss them now that I have finished the book.
Another important character in this book was Buttercup, the fainting goat Sarah gave to Millie during her trip. After a while she became an important part of Millie, and I found her adorable in a way that only pets can be. Buttercup was the first reason for Millie to evolve, this is why I think she was an important character inside the story.
It is quite clear that there was a lot of research done to write this book, and I learned that Bell is a Colorado native who spent much time hiking through ghost towns and learning old history. This is what gave depth to the book, Bell really knows what she is talking about.
The narrations was beautifully done. Nancy Wu did not only give a distinctive voice to all the characters, but she delivered a very special interpretation of Millie. I had to laugh hard at the times she repeated again and again about her auburn hair with red streaks. I think Wu really caught the exact tone for this novel and this character, and the result was spot on.
Hilarious, endearing and intriguing, this book has everything for everybody to enjoy it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I am sure it will stay with me for a very long time.
I was offered a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.
1863. Decided to escape a life serving a family, Millie Virginia answers a wife-wanted ad and leaves New Orleans in a very dangerous trip towards the mining town of Idaho Springs, Colorado territory, to meet her future husband, somebody she does not know apart from a couple of letters and a picture. After all her expectations, upon her arrival she finds out that her fiancé was found dead at his mine one week before, and against all common sense, she decides to stay at his house and accept the mine that he has left her before he died. Soon after, Millie starts receiving threats to her life and then suddenly one day, Dom, her fiancé's brother appears at her cabin, not knowing about his brother's death. Dom will turn Millie's life upside down and together they will discover that perhaps Millie's fiancé's death was not just a terrible accident.
This was a book that I really enjoy from beginning to end. The characters got me completely hooked. Millie was naive, but also ver strong willed, and with a temper. I loved the way she started to know her fiancé, by the things he left behind at his cabin, his clothes, his books and the special stove he bought for her. I also loved the way Dom made her evolve and find a world that she did not imagine before. Mary's character was also endearing, but the rest of characters were flat, and just a background for the main story.
I usually shy away from love stories. It is not that I am not a romantic person, but I dislike shallow romances just for the sake of it. This was different. The characters were deep and they evolved with the story in a way that it almost felt natural, and even though romances are the parts I tend to dislike in a book, I really enjoyed this one. Millie and Dom felt real people to me, with real motivations and reactions. I will miss them now that I have finished the book.
Another important character in this book was Buttercup, the fainting goat Sarah gave to Millie during her trip. After a while she became an important part of Millie, and I found her adorable in a way that only pets can be. Buttercup was the first reason for Millie to evolve, this is why I think she was an important character inside the story.
It is quite clear that there was a lot of research done to write this book, and I learned that Bell is a Colorado native who spent much time hiking through ghost towns and learning old history. This is what gave depth to the book, Bell really knows what she is talking about.
The narrations was beautifully done. Nancy Wu did not only give a distinctive voice to all the characters, but she delivered a very special interpretation of Millie. I had to laugh hard at the times she repeated again and again about her auburn hair with red streaks. I think Wu really caught the exact tone for this novel and this character, and the result was spot on.
Hilarious, endearing and intriguing, this book has everything for everybody to enjoy it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I am sure it will stay with me for a very long time.
August 7, 2019
This was a really fun read!
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