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Courting Carrie in Wonderland
Struggling through college and balancing her summer job with the Wylie Camping Company, Carrie simply doesn't have time to consider romance. War Veteran Sergeant Ned Ramsey isn't looking for love either, busy with his own complicated affairs. But as the magic of Yellowstone starts making its way into their hearts, both begin to see love move up their priority list.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2016
77 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
138 books804 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 21, 2017
Carla Kelly departs from her usual Regency era romances to a completely different time and place- 1903 Yellowstone National Park.
I must admit that the setting played a big role in my enjoyment of the story. My husband and I are avid hikers. Our goal in life (one of them, anyway) is to visit and hike in all 59 National Parks in the United States. So far we’ve been to 31. When the usual question gets asked:” What is your favorite park?” “Yellowstone” has been the answer for a while now. It’s a true wonderland with an incredible ecosystem diversity. Forests, meadows, lakes, mountains, canyons, waterfalls and, of course, the park’s magnificent geothermal activity. You might’ve heard of its most popular geyser named “Old Faithful” that erupts like clockwork every single day, but there are also hundreds of smaller geysers located all over the place. And my personal favorite- the serene but deadly-hot geyser pools with their astonishing jewel-like colors. Here is an example of one:
The novel is first and foremost the author’s ode to the beauty of the park. Otherwise, the story is typical Carla Kelly: two very likable working-class people, who overcame past adversities, meet and find love.
War Veteran Sergeant Ramsey Stiles is stationed in Yellowstone in charge of protecting the park’s natural resources and the safety of its visitors. Carrie McKay, a student at Montana Agricultural College, is there for a summer job - a job that with careful planning would make possible for her to continue to attend the college. Their first meeting was, should we say, unusual and very funny. He rescued her from a privy where a bear had been sitting earlier, blocking her exit.
From such a memorable beginning, their romance moved slowly in the understated and heartwarming manner. There is humor, self-doubt, honesty and compassion in their relationship that is touching but felt too low-key and uninspiring to really work for me.
Overall, 5 stars for location and historical setting and 3 stars for romance.
I must admit that the setting played a big role in my enjoyment of the story. My husband and I are avid hikers. Our goal in life (one of them, anyway) is to visit and hike in all 59 National Parks in the United States. So far we’ve been to 31. When the usual question gets asked:” What is your favorite park?” “Yellowstone” has been the answer for a while now. It’s a true wonderland with an incredible ecosystem diversity. Forests, meadows, lakes, mountains, canyons, waterfalls and, of course, the park’s magnificent geothermal activity. You might’ve heard of its most popular geyser named “Old Faithful” that erupts like clockwork every single day, but there are also hundreds of smaller geysers located all over the place. And my personal favorite- the serene but deadly-hot geyser pools with their astonishing jewel-like colors. Here is an example of one:
The novel is first and foremost the author’s ode to the beauty of the park. Otherwise, the story is typical Carla Kelly: two very likable working-class people, who overcame past adversities, meet and find love.
War Veteran Sergeant Ramsey Stiles is stationed in Yellowstone in charge of protecting the park’s natural resources and the safety of its visitors. Carrie McKay, a student at Montana Agricultural College, is there for a summer job - a job that with careful planning would make possible for her to continue to attend the college. Their first meeting was, should we say, unusual and very funny. He rescued her from a privy where a bear had been sitting earlier, blocking her exit.
From such a memorable beginning, their romance moved slowly in the understated and heartwarming manner. There is humor, self-doubt, honesty and compassion in their relationship that is touching but felt too low-key and uninspiring to really work for me.
Overall, 5 stars for location and historical setting and 3 stars for romance.
May 11, 2017
My husband and I love to visit National Parks, so I was especially intrigued that this story was set in Yellowstone's early days as a National Park. The policies regarding animals, the road construction and bridge building, and the presence of the army made it a much different place than it is today. Still other aspects were recognizable- the loveliness of the wilderness, the geysers, the pervading sulfur smell, and the joy of camping. The story moved a bit slowly for me, but the blossoming relationship between Carrie and Ramsay moved things along and since I've always enjoyed the author's historical perspective and unique voice, I decided to sit back and just enjoy the trip. Carrie and Ramsay both have experienced trauma and the peace and light they bring each other make their relationship a special one. I liked the circumstances that allowed them to spend more time together, escorting a retired Broadway star who is superior and demanding, yet hides a sensitive past. The way Carrie and Ramsay deal with her show their deeper characteristics- dignity, compassion, and humor. The sweet banter and understanding between the two make their romance just lovely.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
March 31, 2017
I've been to Yellowstone several times before and found it very interesting to get a glimpse of what it was like over one hundred years ago. I didn't realize that it was called "Wonderland" by some back then. I really enjoyed the descriptions.
The story started off at a meandering pace, picking up a little by mid-point. Ramsay and Carrie are each likable characters, especially when they set off on a new job assignment with Mrs. LaMarque. I love their sweet interactions and the way they both learn to deal with this temperamental woman. They have strengths that they don't even realize, which is endearing.
Yellowstone is a magical setting and no one is immune to its charms. I love the parts with the bears and the changes that the park goes through, as well as the wonderful character growth.
Content: mild violence (descriptions of war, etc); mild romance.
*I received a copy through the publisher, which didn't affect my thoughts in any way.*
The story started off at a meandering pace, picking up a little by mid-point. Ramsay and Carrie are each likable characters, especially when they set off on a new job assignment with Mrs. LaMarque. I love their sweet interactions and the way they both learn to deal with this temperamental woman. They have strengths that they don't even realize, which is endearing.
Yellowstone is a magical setting and no one is immune to its charms. I love the parts with the bears and the changes that the park goes through, as well as the wonderful character growth.
Content: mild violence (descriptions of war, etc); mild romance.
*I received a copy through the publisher, which didn't affect my thoughts in any way.*
March 19, 2017
At the opening of Courting Carrie in Wonderland, Teddy Roosevelt had just arrived in Wyoming. Life-long bachelor and soldier, Ramsay Stiles, had been awarded a medal and promotion because of his service in the Philippines. He was on duty when he saved the president from a possibly dangerous situation.
'Ram' loved the area surrounding Yellowstone Park. He fought some moments of PTSD but was encouraged by fellow soldiers and friends to settle down. Just shy of Chapter Six, now-Sergeant Major Stiles introduced himself to college student Carrie McKay. Outside a privy.
Orphaned Carrie McKay was working her way through the summer to pay for room and board at a nearby college in the fall. Beset by rumors and one particular female bully, she was trying to bury a sad childhood and better herself. Ramsay Stiles was enamored.
Heavier on the historical side with a light, clean romance, Courting Carrie in Wonderland incorporated fictional characters with real-life individuals and an ongoing, political issue.
In the afterward, Mrs. Kelly mentioned that several years prior to an unearthed 1907 edition of The Red Book -a manual issued to all Army scouts and non-commissioned officers- soldiers were expected to kill mountain lions, coyotes and timber wolves. Animals indigenous to that area of the United States that served an important ecological purpose. I have never visited Yellowstone but I am aware of the importance of our National Park System. I understand that predatory animals are essential to the environment even though some people don't care for them and prefer if they were destroyed.
Shame on us.
I enjoyed learning an unknown-to-me chronicle of events. I am also a big fan of Mrs. Kelly. Unfortunately the romantic element was less enjoyable. I was encouraged to keep reading because it linked the facts of what happened and the atmosphere of the era.
'Ram' loved the area surrounding Yellowstone Park. He fought some moments of PTSD but was encouraged by fellow soldiers and friends to settle down. Just shy of Chapter Six, now-Sergeant Major Stiles introduced himself to college student Carrie McKay. Outside a privy.
Orphaned Carrie McKay was working her way through the summer to pay for room and board at a nearby college in the fall. Beset by rumors and one particular female bully, she was trying to bury a sad childhood and better herself. Ramsay Stiles was enamored.
Heavier on the historical side with a light, clean romance, Courting Carrie in Wonderland incorporated fictional characters with real-life individuals and an ongoing, political issue.
In the afterward, Mrs. Kelly mentioned that several years prior to an unearthed 1907 edition of The Red Book -a manual issued to all Army scouts and non-commissioned officers- soldiers were expected to kill mountain lions, coyotes and timber wolves. Animals indigenous to that area of the United States that served an important ecological purpose. I have never visited Yellowstone but I am aware of the importance of our National Park System. I understand that predatory animals are essential to the environment even though some people don't care for them and prefer if they were destroyed.
Shame on us.
I enjoyed learning an unknown-to-me chronicle of events. I am also a big fan of Mrs. Kelly. Unfortunately the romantic element was less enjoyable. I was encouraged to keep reading because it linked the facts of what happened and the atmosphere of the era.
March 27, 2017
Carla Kelly is a historian, you can tell by the quality of her work and research. Courting Carrie in Wonderland is fascinating on many levels. I had no idea of the history of Yellowstone National Park. To me, it's a great place to visit, but I never considered it's past. I did not know that they kept the military stationed there to build roads, keep tourists in line, and control the wildlife. I didn't realize that the people stupidly fed the bears. (What were they thinking?) The bears were part of the tourist attraction.
Ok, so I loved the history of the park. I also thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Carrie and Ramsay. Both of the characters feel less than worthy of love. Both of them are incredible people with a lot to offer. The romance is sweet and progresses steadily to love. Their budding romance and insecurities were realistic and well written. Carla Kelly's humor came through when they met at the outhouse. It's a very humorous scene, which you should really read for yourself. :)
This is a clean romance.
Source: I received a copy of the book from the publisher to review.
Ok, so I loved the history of the park. I also thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Carrie and Ramsay. Both of the characters feel less than worthy of love. Both of them are incredible people with a lot to offer. The romance is sweet and progresses steadily to love. Their budding romance and insecurities were realistic and well written. Carla Kelly's humor came through when they met at the outhouse. It's a very humorous scene, which you should really read for yourself. :)
This is a clean romance.
Source: I received a copy of the book from the publisher to review.
March 28, 2017
In honor of full disclosure, this book started out really slowly for me. It took a good while for me to become fully invested and interested, but by about half way through, I couldn't put it down. This book is written in true Carla Kelly form and if you've ever read anything by her, you will know what I am saying. She has a writing style that is distinctly hers. I can always expect well researched settings that bring surroundings and characters to life and no nonsense personalities in characters.
This book is set in Yellowstone National Park. I'm so glad I've been there so I could easily visualize the places that were described and talked about. Yellowstone is a beautiful place and this book really showcased it's history.
Ramsay and Carrie and great characters who both have pasts that haunt them but in different ways. They are both generous and kind with a strong moral sense. They cannot let injustices in any way go by without acting. They are both upstanding individuals who I would be happy to have as friends in this real life. This love story was gentle and sweet. Ramsay and Carrie are perfectly suited for each other. There was really no resistance where their love was concerned and that was awesome.
Very enjoyable!
Content: clean
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set in Yellowstone National Park. I'm so glad I've been there so I could easily visualize the places that were described and talked about. Yellowstone is a beautiful place and this book really showcased it's history.
Ramsay and Carrie and great characters who both have pasts that haunt them but in different ways. They are both generous and kind with a strong moral sense. They cannot let injustices in any way go by without acting. They are both upstanding individuals who I would be happy to have as friends in this real life. This love story was gentle and sweet. Ramsay and Carrie are perfectly suited for each other. There was really no resistance where their love was concerned and that was awesome.
Very enjoyable!
Content: clean
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 22, 2017
I have to admit I almost stopped reading the book at the beginning. I found that it couldn't keep my attention and I didn't understand what was going on. But I read on and I really am glad I did! Carrie is a caring, stubborn and more of a modern girl from those times. Ramsey is a good man who does what is right and follows through whatever he believes in.
The relationship between Carrie and Ramsey was just right in the timing, neither too fast or too slow. They fit together perfectly. They love serving others and keeping busy. They have good people that they surround themselves with and both have had bad experiences in the past and have come through them without pity, self loathing or withdrawing from the world. That made them stronger!
I loved learning things of the Yellowstone Park while reading this. I've never been there but it made me want to go. Carla Kelly writes information after the book about this time and where alot of her information comes from and more on it. I loved reading that too!
If you like wolves, bridges, military, heroes, magic tricks, singing, President Roosevelt, cherry pies, Yellowstone Park, doing what you know is right then this might be for you!
The relationship between Carrie and Ramsey was just right in the timing, neither too fast or too slow. They fit together perfectly. They love serving others and keeping busy. They have good people that they surround themselves with and both have had bad experiences in the past and have come through them without pity, self loathing or withdrawing from the world. That made them stronger!
I loved learning things of the Yellowstone Park while reading this. I've never been there but it made me want to go. Carla Kelly writes information after the book about this time and where alot of her information comes from and more on it. I loved reading that too!
If you like wolves, bridges, military, heroes, magic tricks, singing, President Roosevelt, cherry pies, Yellowstone Park, doing what you know is right then this might be for you!
March 20, 2017
COURTING CARRIE IN WONDERLAND was an honest and heartfelt story splendidly told. It's a story where love creeps up on these characters from the start and the reader can't help but to love every minute of it. Historical and romance readers alike will love this story!
I loved every single page of this book! I adored these characters! I don't know how this author does it every single time, but the characters come alive so vividly and you can't help but fall in love with them. I loved the humor and sarcasm and whit. I loved the way the romance blossomed between two individuals who doubted so much about themselves and their chances with each other. I cried for them and hoped for them. I especially loved how perfectly their story ends, or begins, as it may be.
The author gives such a candid view of everything, making it all feel authentic and, at the same time, come alive. I could see the picturesque scenes from Yellowstone National Park and envision the people at work and at play there. I felt for the crazy circumstances with the wildlife, some inadvertently treated so poorly or without knowing the future consequences. The historical setting came alive with the easily visualized styles of dress and mannerisms. Now I'm hankering to go visit Yellowstone and see these wonders for myself, even though I know views are much more restricted than they were then.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! This was a beautiful and endearing story from beginning to end and definitely one that I highly recommend!
Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
I loved every single page of this book! I adored these characters! I don't know how this author does it every single time, but the characters come alive so vividly and you can't help but fall in love with them. I loved the humor and sarcasm and whit. I loved the way the romance blossomed between two individuals who doubted so much about themselves and their chances with each other. I cried for them and hoped for them. I especially loved how perfectly their story ends, or begins, as it may be.
The author gives such a candid view of everything, making it all feel authentic and, at the same time, come alive. I could see the picturesque scenes from Yellowstone National Park and envision the people at work and at play there. I felt for the crazy circumstances with the wildlife, some inadvertently treated so poorly or without knowing the future consequences. The historical setting came alive with the easily visualized styles of dress and mannerisms. Now I'm hankering to go visit Yellowstone and see these wonders for myself, even though I know views are much more restricted than they were then.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! This was a beautiful and endearing story from beginning to end and definitely one that I highly recommend!
Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
April 17, 2017
Romance, clean, mild faith elements.
Carla Kelly has done it again. This is far and above one of my favorite novels I have read of hers. Having been to Yellowstone several times, it was lovely to see it through her writers eyes in this novel.
Carrie and Ramsay's story was a lovely read, complicated, but filled with the daily events that knit hearts together. C.K. knows how to weave these moments into a charming, yet lush story, full of intricate details that just begs to be read. Louise LeMarque was a great side character. The moments in the park, just so lovely. If you have never been there, you will want to be there, just to visually see the grandeur, and beauty for yourself. The 3 choices at the end were wonderful. Loved how it all came together in the end. Don't miss out on such a great, magical read. Highly recommend this!
Carla Kelly has done it again. This is far and above one of my favorite novels I have read of hers. Having been to Yellowstone several times, it was lovely to see it through her writers eyes in this novel.
Carrie and Ramsay's story was a lovely read, complicated, but filled with the daily events that knit hearts together. C.K. knows how to weave these moments into a charming, yet lush story, full of intricate details that just begs to be read. Louise LeMarque was a great side character. The moments in the park, just so lovely. If you have never been there, you will want to be there, just to visually see the grandeur, and beauty for yourself. The 3 choices at the end were wonderful. Loved how it all came together in the end. Don't miss out on such a great, magical read. Highly recommend this!
January 9, 2021
This was a very slow-moving but thoroughly enjoyable romance novel set in Yellowstone National Park in 1903. It's told mostly through the POV of the hero, a 34 year old war hero who is now stationed at Yellowstone, and the young woman he comes to love, a 23 year old orphaned college student working at a campground making pies for tourists to earn money to pay for her final year of college.
The book is as much an ode to Yellowstone as it is a romance novel. Historical details are packed throughout, giving an insight into the start of the national park system and how the attitudes of those preserving our natural areas and wildlife used to be so different. (Bears were fed for entertainment, predators were killed, and the soldiers there to protect both the natural features and the tourists felt free to make up "facts" about the natural features.) Real characters from history mingle with the fictional ones. The physical features of the park are described in loving detail. I was at Yellowstone only once, but it was unforgettable and amazing, and I loved visiting it again through this book.
The romance is very understated and chaste, sweet and satisfying.
The book is as much an ode to Yellowstone as it is a romance novel. Historical details are packed throughout, giving an insight into the start of the national park system and how the attitudes of those preserving our natural areas and wildlife used to be so different. (Bears were fed for entertainment, predators were killed, and the soldiers there to protect both the natural features and the tourists felt free to make up "facts" about the natural features.) Real characters from history mingle with the fictional ones. The physical features of the park are described in loving detail. I was at Yellowstone only once, but it was unforgettable and amazing, and I loved visiting it again through this book.
The romance is very understated and chaste, sweet and satisfying.
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June 11, 2018
My reviews are honest & they contain spoilers. For more, follow me:
I bought Courting Carrie in Wonderland last year, not sure why I didn’t read it right away. Carla Kelly’s books are auto-buy for me, and when I saw the cover, I wanted to read this one. Yet somehow I never got around to. So to amend that, I picked it up last week without reading any reviews, as I do for many of Ms. Kelly’s books. Have to wonder again, why I didn’t read it last year cause the story was simply amazing, heart-touchingly so!
TBH, I had no idea what ‘Wonderland’ in Courting Carrie in Wonderland stood for. I thought it was one of those titles with a touch of fancy, maybe the H and h went somewhere they liked calling wonderland? Seems like I was almost correct in that regard. This book is set in the Yellowstone National Park, a place I’ve never heard of (I don’t live in the US), which was known to be the Wonderland. Even while reading I didn’t check out anything in google. I just read on, seemingly trying to figure out the place through our H and h, Ramsay and Carrie’s eyes and Ms. Kelly’s narratives. I’ll be honest that I struggled to picture the Park and it’s specific attractions that were mentioned as they’re known: such as the Old Faithful, the Chittenden Bridge (previously the Melan Arch Bridge), the viaduct that linked the edge of the mountains creating a perilous road and many other descriptions of the scenery, the flora and the fauna. Even then I could tell it was a marvelous place. After I finished I couldn’t wait to find out how those noted areas looked like, and was blown away by the beauty of the Park. I could imagine why Ramsay and Carrie (or anyone for that matter) would love the place and want to stay there. Like, I had this urge to visit Yellowstone ASAP, though that dream may never materialize for me. :(
Newly minted Sgt. Major Ramsay Stiles arrived at Yellowstone with a new job and a shiny new medal to boast. He’s a veteran of the Philippine-American war, survived a cave full of insurgents with his head intact. He was able to save most of his men from that nightmare too, except for his own lieutenant, an error that will haunt Ramsay for a long time alongside the PTSD he still suffered from his own ordeals. For his bravery, Ramsay had won a medal of honor. But because the down-to-earth man he was, he wasn’t sure he deserved it. In fact, Ramsay would’ve been happy to remain as the Sergeant that his men liked to call ‘Sarge’ and be with his cavalry like before. He wasn’t comfortable with his elevated status and the recognition for his medal, because it turned out President Roosevelt recognized Ramsay months after he had pinned the medal on his uniform.
I’d like to mention here that several characters in this book turned out to be real life people. I’ve already mentioned President Roosevelt, whose name I already knew but there are plenty more. They make their appearances on and off throughout and play their role and, to me, it felt like Ramsay was a part of that too! He was assigned under Major Pitcher (a real life Park superintended) who asked Ramsay to tour the Park, hear the woes of all the amusement park and hotel owners within it, and report back to him. Ramsay wasn’t really happy about his new job, but he’d do whatever it was asked of him by his superiors.
In the beginning, I hadn’t realized that Yellowstone Park wasn’t a new place for Ramsay. He’d been there before and lived for years. He was recuperating from his wounds from the Philippines, both physical and emotional. As lovely as it was, Yellowstone could be a lonely place for a lonely man like him but Ramsay survived it all. He was ready to work again, and he thanked it all to the wolves of the Yellowstone. Why? I’ll try to elaborate in my review as I go....
As he was being assigned to supervise Yellowstone Park from every corner, Ramsay knew that the biggest woes of every camping sites and hoteliers, would be the animals that come for a visit. Black bears and coyotes were common, so were the wolves. Some hoteliers made a business out of feeding black bears the kitchen scraps because the tourists liked watching it, even feeding them when it was possible; something Ramsay didn’t approve of. He knew bears shouldn’t be eating that crap, and this habit of ‘ready food’ will take a negative turn when the food is gone. TBH, I was quite surprised that people came so close to the bears at all! The horror stories I’ve read about bear attacks........ *shudders* Yet, it seemed like a booming business despite Ramsay’s utter dislike of it.
The other thing Ramsay hated was the instruction given to the forts based in the Park (Ramsay was based in Yellowstone Fort) to kill any coyotes and wolves to make the park a ‘safer place’, the plan being to clear the park off of them. This was one of those commands that Ramsay knew will come back to bite everybody’s a$$ one day in future. But it was a command from the upper echelon and the men had to abide by it. But unlike any of them, Ramsay had a history with the wolves. When the loneliness and PTSD became too much to handle, especially in the winter-time, Ramsay had watched the packs. It not only kept him sane, but also gave him an idea of how a wolf pack worked which fascinated him to no end. Ramsay had kept notes of his observation, mainly for himself. He didn’t think those would ever be helpful for anyone. But because he knew the wolves, he knew what the Army was planning to do was so, so wrong.
In Ramsay’s 34 years on earth, he’d largely been lonely. There were no details from his childhood but I remember that he lost his parents young. The army has been his family for as long as he can remember. But these days, he felt the loneliness biting down in his bones. He felt restless, even when he liked to crack a joke or two about the whole thing at his own expense. So when he suddenly met a lovely strawberry blonde by an outhouse of Wylie Camp, while assuring her that there was no bear outside, he wouldn’t have thought this odd encounter will lead to somewhere. When Carrie McKay came out of the... uh, toilet :P, Ramsay tried his best not to smile at the oddity of meeting a beauty in a place like this. Because Ramsay indeed had noticed Carrie and was pretty much a goner from day 1. ;) He found his own strawberry blonde hair ridiculous but boy, he loved the same shade on Carrie!
Carrie’s story mirrors Ramsay’s as far as her place in the world went. She had also been alone since her mother passed away. She’s now 23, but barely scraping by. Carrie was studying in Montana Ag, had plans to become, I don’t know, a cook? Housekeeper? She was taking various courses on cooking, sewing etc. but it was obvious she adored baking, especially pies. So when she heard of Ramsay’s longing for a piece of cherry pie which he missed during his stay in the Philippines, Carrie couldn’t help feeling a deep compassion for him. She learned of his work and the medal he’d earned. She thought he was some high and mighty officer who’d never look at her twice. :P Of course, she was wrong. Funnily enough, Ramsay kinda thought the same about her; from a well-off family but working a part-time at Yellowstone to earn some pin money and, maybe, a bit of experience. There were plenty of boys and girls who did that at summer vacation. A beauty like her would never give him a second thought. If only they knew how alike they were than different.
Long story short, Ramsay had to find ways, make excuses to visit Carrie even if it took him days to tour around the park on horseback. And Carrie would bake cherry pies and save a slice for him everyday hoping Ramsay would visit. I found it way too adorable for words. :D Nevertheless, for me, things were moving slow. I was having a bit of a hard time connecting with the story, and while I found the characters interesting, I could see neither Carrie nor Ramsay doing anything about their obvious attraction and longing for one another unless there’s a big shove and even a bigger push. They were both too gentle, too nice and both had their own negative experiences in life to take any impulsive step. But that’s not to say that their relationship was at a stand-still. Nope. It was budding. They begin to become more comfortable in each-other’s company, talk about the park, various other things and their own lives. And pies, just how much Ramsay loved Carrie’s baked pies. :D
When they were at it, Ramsay gets summoned by Major Pitcher. A command from the president himself has arrived. Someone is coming to the Yellowstone Park for a visit; someone prestigious enough that the President won’t trust anyone but Ramsay with her well-being.
Ramsay hated being an escort to some rich, spoiled AND lazy old woman because he’d seen how badly a majority of them treated their servants or people who they thought were below their notice. However, this was one command Ramsay couldn’t deny so he went to receive former Opera singer, a socialite and now an elderly widow, Mrs. Louise Lamarque....... and found himself in the middle of a drama. Quite literally. Though not from the lady in question, but her maid. The maid won’t step out of the train in fear that the Indians were gonna scalp and kill her while making a good racket about it too. -_- Within a few mins., Ramsay had had enough. He had to find a solution and pronto so he advises Mrs. Lamarque to ditch the maid and hire someone new for the duration of her stay at Yellowstone. The lady must listen to him or do her own chore herself because Ramsay had a plan. Who better than the ever efficient Carrie McKay to fill out the role?
I could only think “brilliant” to that move Ramsay made on behalf of Carrie. If that didn’t spell love then I don’t know what did. He was smitten with Carrie and her well-being was always on his mind. He knew the widow was filthy rich and this was the perfect opportunity for Carrie to make some good money so her next semesters went smooth, without any worries over the tuition fees. All she has to do is to survive a few days with the Dragon who needed nothing to look down on anyone she thought unworthy of her attention; even if they were half a head taller than her much like Ramsay himself was.
Carrie took the news quite well. After the initial misgivings, she was willing to do it; quite up for the challenge since she needed the money. The amount Ramsay had bargained from the widow in exchange of an efficient maid was quite ridiculous to ignore. Needless to say, Louise Lamarque wasn’t impressed. In fact, she was quite annoyed with Ramsay and thought him insufferable. LOL Ramsay was being tough on her so she doesn’t start misbehaving with Carrie. Now it was all up to Carrie to earn that ridiculous sum.
Ironically, I thought Louise Lamarque was the ‘shove’ that Ramsay and Carrie needed. I can’t adequately express it all, only that while they were working to keep the Dragon happy, things starting transforming for them all. And I don’t only mean for Ramsay and Carrie, who got to see each-other more often than usual which that helped in their courtship immensely. Yep, by then Ramsay was quite sure only Carrie will do for him—all he needed was the time and the tactics to convince her that he’s the only one for her as well ;). This whole journey also did wonderful things for Mrs. Lamarque. She gained two dear, genuine friends she would’ve otherwise never even thought about having. The story which was going slow until now, suddenly had meaning tenfold and I was quite engrossed by the whole transformation. Alongside the brilliant narratives of the Yellowstone Park, there was Mrs. Lamarque’s one last wish to visit the Yellowstone Grand Canyon Falls because of an unrequited love of many moons ago; something that remained a closely guarded secret in her heart until she confided in Ramsay and Carrie. You may wanna look up Thomas Moran’s paintings of Yellowstone, the reason behind Mrs. Lamarque’s wish. :)
But fate won’t be so kind to Carrie and Ramsay because he was going to be charged by the Army for not following one commend in his whole career; all because he loved wolves and wanted to save them. Ramsay didn’t think he had anything to offer to Carrie any longer, but little did he know that she wasn’t going to let go of the love her life so darn easily. She was going to do whatever it was possible for her. But then they should’ve realized that they had friends; not one, not two but many. A park full of people who knew and admired him, admired Carrie too. Ramsay’s own men who felt the same, the other army officers, not to mention the President himself and their dearest friend, Mrs. Lamarque! You see, Ramsay wasn’t even expecting any of them to help him cause that’s just how he was. No entitlement of any kind. What a wonderful, down-to-earth man! He was ready to do his own battle, alone.
So as you can see, I simply loved the storytelling, loved the characters, especially both Carrie and Ramsay. I wish the ending was a bit fleshed out because to me it felt somewhat hasty. I thought it’ll be longer than it was, with Ramsay doing his time or whatever punishment the Army doled out on him. But I guess I’m happy he had friends who made sure that an honest and earnest man like him didn’t lose his credibility for protesting something that was wrong to begin with. Last but not the least, there’s a fantastic Afterword where Ms. Kelly details some historical facts and notes so relevant to the story in its own way that I loved it too!
All in all, a great read. Recommended if you enjoy historical romances set in the early 20th century, love the Yellowstone National Park, pies and clean romances.
I bought Courting Carrie in Wonderland last year, not sure why I didn’t read it right away. Carla Kelly’s books are auto-buy for me, and when I saw the cover, I wanted to read this one. Yet somehow I never got around to. So to amend that, I picked it up last week without reading any reviews, as I do for many of Ms. Kelly’s books. Have to wonder again, why I didn’t read it last year cause the story was simply amazing, heart-touchingly so!
TBH, I had no idea what ‘Wonderland’ in Courting Carrie in Wonderland stood for. I thought it was one of those titles with a touch of fancy, maybe the H and h went somewhere they liked calling wonderland? Seems like I was almost correct in that regard. This book is set in the Yellowstone National Park, a place I’ve never heard of (I don’t live in the US), which was known to be the Wonderland. Even while reading I didn’t check out anything in google. I just read on, seemingly trying to figure out the place through our H and h, Ramsay and Carrie’s eyes and Ms. Kelly’s narratives. I’ll be honest that I struggled to picture the Park and it’s specific attractions that were mentioned as they’re known: such as the Old Faithful, the Chittenden Bridge (previously the Melan Arch Bridge), the viaduct that linked the edge of the mountains creating a perilous road and many other descriptions of the scenery, the flora and the fauna. Even then I could tell it was a marvelous place. After I finished I couldn’t wait to find out how those noted areas looked like, and was blown away by the beauty of the Park. I could imagine why Ramsay and Carrie (or anyone for that matter) would love the place and want to stay there. Like, I had this urge to visit Yellowstone ASAP, though that dream may never materialize for me. :(
Newly minted Sgt. Major Ramsay Stiles arrived at Yellowstone with a new job and a shiny new medal to boast. He’s a veteran of the Philippine-American war, survived a cave full of insurgents with his head intact. He was able to save most of his men from that nightmare too, except for his own lieutenant, an error that will haunt Ramsay for a long time alongside the PTSD he still suffered from his own ordeals. For his bravery, Ramsay had won a medal of honor. But because the down-to-earth man he was, he wasn’t sure he deserved it. In fact, Ramsay would’ve been happy to remain as the Sergeant that his men liked to call ‘Sarge’ and be with his cavalry like before. He wasn’t comfortable with his elevated status and the recognition for his medal, because it turned out President Roosevelt recognized Ramsay months after he had pinned the medal on his uniform.
I’d like to mention here that several characters in this book turned out to be real life people. I’ve already mentioned President Roosevelt, whose name I already knew but there are plenty more. They make their appearances on and off throughout and play their role and, to me, it felt like Ramsay was a part of that too! He was assigned under Major Pitcher (a real life Park superintended) who asked Ramsay to tour the Park, hear the woes of all the amusement park and hotel owners within it, and report back to him. Ramsay wasn’t really happy about his new job, but he’d do whatever it was asked of him by his superiors.
In the beginning, I hadn’t realized that Yellowstone Park wasn’t a new place for Ramsay. He’d been there before and lived for years. He was recuperating from his wounds from the Philippines, both physical and emotional. As lovely as it was, Yellowstone could be a lonely place for a lonely man like him but Ramsay survived it all. He was ready to work again, and he thanked it all to the wolves of the Yellowstone. Why? I’ll try to elaborate in my review as I go....
As he was being assigned to supervise Yellowstone Park from every corner, Ramsay knew that the biggest woes of every camping sites and hoteliers, would be the animals that come for a visit. Black bears and coyotes were common, so were the wolves. Some hoteliers made a business out of feeding black bears the kitchen scraps because the tourists liked watching it, even feeding them when it was possible; something Ramsay didn’t approve of. He knew bears shouldn’t be eating that crap, and this habit of ‘ready food’ will take a negative turn when the food is gone. TBH, I was quite surprised that people came so close to the bears at all! The horror stories I’ve read about bear attacks........ *shudders* Yet, it seemed like a booming business despite Ramsay’s utter dislike of it.
The other thing Ramsay hated was the instruction given to the forts based in the Park (Ramsay was based in Yellowstone Fort) to kill any coyotes and wolves to make the park a ‘safer place’, the plan being to clear the park off of them. This was one of those commands that Ramsay knew will come back to bite everybody’s a$$ one day in future. But it was a command from the upper echelon and the men had to abide by it. But unlike any of them, Ramsay had a history with the wolves. When the loneliness and PTSD became too much to handle, especially in the winter-time, Ramsay had watched the packs. It not only kept him sane, but also gave him an idea of how a wolf pack worked which fascinated him to no end. Ramsay had kept notes of his observation, mainly for himself. He didn’t think those would ever be helpful for anyone. But because he knew the wolves, he knew what the Army was planning to do was so, so wrong.
In Ramsay’s 34 years on earth, he’d largely been lonely. There were no details from his childhood but I remember that he lost his parents young. The army has been his family for as long as he can remember. But these days, he felt the loneliness biting down in his bones. He felt restless, even when he liked to crack a joke or two about the whole thing at his own expense. So when he suddenly met a lovely strawberry blonde by an outhouse of Wylie Camp, while assuring her that there was no bear outside, he wouldn’t have thought this odd encounter will lead to somewhere. When Carrie McKay came out of the... uh, toilet :P, Ramsay tried his best not to smile at the oddity of meeting a beauty in a place like this. Because Ramsay indeed had noticed Carrie and was pretty much a goner from day 1. ;) He found his own strawberry blonde hair ridiculous but boy, he loved the same shade on Carrie!
Carrie’s story mirrors Ramsay’s as far as her place in the world went. She had also been alone since her mother passed away. She’s now 23, but barely scraping by. Carrie was studying in Montana Ag, had plans to become, I don’t know, a cook? Housekeeper? She was taking various courses on cooking, sewing etc. but it was obvious she adored baking, especially pies. So when she heard of Ramsay’s longing for a piece of cherry pie which he missed during his stay in the Philippines, Carrie couldn’t help feeling a deep compassion for him. She learned of his work and the medal he’d earned. She thought he was some high and mighty officer who’d never look at her twice. :P Of course, she was wrong. Funnily enough, Ramsay kinda thought the same about her; from a well-off family but working a part-time at Yellowstone to earn some pin money and, maybe, a bit of experience. There were plenty of boys and girls who did that at summer vacation. A beauty like her would never give him a second thought. If only they knew how alike they were than different.
Long story short, Ramsay had to find ways, make excuses to visit Carrie even if it took him days to tour around the park on horseback. And Carrie would bake cherry pies and save a slice for him everyday hoping Ramsay would visit. I found it way too adorable for words. :D Nevertheless, for me, things were moving slow. I was having a bit of a hard time connecting with the story, and while I found the characters interesting, I could see neither Carrie nor Ramsay doing anything about their obvious attraction and longing for one another unless there’s a big shove and even a bigger push. They were both too gentle, too nice and both had their own negative experiences in life to take any impulsive step. But that’s not to say that their relationship was at a stand-still. Nope. It was budding. They begin to become more comfortable in each-other’s company, talk about the park, various other things and their own lives. And pies, just how much Ramsay loved Carrie’s baked pies. :D
When they were at it, Ramsay gets summoned by Major Pitcher. A command from the president himself has arrived. Someone is coming to the Yellowstone Park for a visit; someone prestigious enough that the President won’t trust anyone but Ramsay with her well-being.
Ramsay hated being an escort to some rich, spoiled AND lazy old woman because he’d seen how badly a majority of them treated their servants or people who they thought were below their notice. However, this was one command Ramsay couldn’t deny so he went to receive former Opera singer, a socialite and now an elderly widow, Mrs. Louise Lamarque....... and found himself in the middle of a drama. Quite literally. Though not from the lady in question, but her maid. The maid won’t step out of the train in fear that the Indians were gonna scalp and kill her while making a good racket about it too. -_- Within a few mins., Ramsay had had enough. He had to find a solution and pronto so he advises Mrs. Lamarque to ditch the maid and hire someone new for the duration of her stay at Yellowstone. The lady must listen to him or do her own chore herself because Ramsay had a plan. Who better than the ever efficient Carrie McKay to fill out the role?
I could only think “brilliant” to that move Ramsay made on behalf of Carrie. If that didn’t spell love then I don’t know what did. He was smitten with Carrie and her well-being was always on his mind. He knew the widow was filthy rich and this was the perfect opportunity for Carrie to make some good money so her next semesters went smooth, without any worries over the tuition fees. All she has to do is to survive a few days with the Dragon who needed nothing to look down on anyone she thought unworthy of her attention; even if they were half a head taller than her much like Ramsay himself was.
Carrie took the news quite well. After the initial misgivings, she was willing to do it; quite up for the challenge since she needed the money. The amount Ramsay had bargained from the widow in exchange of an efficient maid was quite ridiculous to ignore. Needless to say, Louise Lamarque wasn’t impressed. In fact, she was quite annoyed with Ramsay and thought him insufferable. LOL Ramsay was being tough on her so she doesn’t start misbehaving with Carrie. Now it was all up to Carrie to earn that ridiculous sum.
Ironically, I thought Louise Lamarque was the ‘shove’ that Ramsay and Carrie needed. I can’t adequately express it all, only that while they were working to keep the Dragon happy, things starting transforming for them all. And I don’t only mean for Ramsay and Carrie, who got to see each-other more often than usual which that helped in their courtship immensely. Yep, by then Ramsay was quite sure only Carrie will do for him—all he needed was the time and the tactics to convince her that he’s the only one for her as well ;). This whole journey also did wonderful things for Mrs. Lamarque. She gained two dear, genuine friends she would’ve otherwise never even thought about having. The story which was going slow until now, suddenly had meaning tenfold and I was quite engrossed by the whole transformation. Alongside the brilliant narratives of the Yellowstone Park, there was Mrs. Lamarque’s one last wish to visit the Yellowstone Grand Canyon Falls because of an unrequited love of many moons ago; something that remained a closely guarded secret in her heart until she confided in Ramsay and Carrie. You may wanna look up Thomas Moran’s paintings of Yellowstone, the reason behind Mrs. Lamarque’s wish. :)
But fate won’t be so kind to Carrie and Ramsay because he was going to be charged by the Army for not following one commend in his whole career; all because he loved wolves and wanted to save them. Ramsay didn’t think he had anything to offer to Carrie any longer, but little did he know that she wasn’t going to let go of the love her life so darn easily. She was going to do whatever it was possible for her. But then they should’ve realized that they had friends; not one, not two but many. A park full of people who knew and admired him, admired Carrie too. Ramsay’s own men who felt the same, the other army officers, not to mention the President himself and their dearest friend, Mrs. Lamarque! You see, Ramsay wasn’t even expecting any of them to help him cause that’s just how he was. No entitlement of any kind. What a wonderful, down-to-earth man! He was ready to do his own battle, alone.
So as you can see, I simply loved the storytelling, loved the characters, especially both Carrie and Ramsay. I wish the ending was a bit fleshed out because to me it felt somewhat hasty. I thought it’ll be longer than it was, with Ramsay doing his time or whatever punishment the Army doled out on him. But I guess I’m happy he had friends who made sure that an honest and earnest man like him didn’t lose his credibility for protesting something that was wrong to begin with. Last but not the least, there’s a fantastic Afterword where Ms. Kelly details some historical facts and notes so relevant to the story in its own way that I loved it too!
All in all, a great read. Recommended if you enjoy historical romances set in the early 20th century, love the Yellowstone National Park, pies and clean romances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2017
Lovely, lovely book. Kelly is in fine form here.
'Wonderland' was one of the advertisement descriptors for Yellowstone National Park in the park's early years. This story is set during the summer of 1903, when the tourism industry is already well established at the park. Indeed, I found the details of how the tourists navigated the park to be just about as interesting as the romance.
Our heroine, 23 year old Carrie McKay, is a classic Kelly gal. Hardscrabble early life, orphan, rescued by benevolent family, target of vile rumors from well-heeled 'mean girl'--you get the picture. She needs every cent she can earn during the summer, working for the Wylie Camp company, to cover her college expenses. Our hero, 34 year old Sergeant Major Ramsey Stiles, is part of the Army Company stationed at Fort Yellowstone. The park is their responsibility. Of course, Stiles has a dramatic backstory--this is Carla Kelly wielding the pen, after all. [He's just back from the Philippine Islands and some intense jungle warfare. He's got a shiny medal he feels he doesn't deserve and some really bad nightmares].
The romance unfolds slowly and sweetly--they become friends before they become sweethearts. There's an equal mix of humor and drama and marvelous secondary characters.
The story takes a turn for the very dramatic towards the end; I wasn't sure how Kelly was going to get the hero out of his very deep hole, but she pulled it off in a fairly believable manner.
The HEA is well-deserved and I just know that Carrie and Ramsey will do just fine together.
This is one book where the author's afterward is as good as the story. Kelly pulls no punches about how disastrous to the environment the program to eradicate the wolf population was. I do wish she had also addressed how long the 'begging bears' problem continued.
While modern readers will enjoy a look at the early years of the park, the (very real and not glossed over) attitudes of some towards the wild animal residents will not be easy reading.
'Wonderland' was one of the advertisement descriptors for Yellowstone National Park in the park's early years. This story is set during the summer of 1903, when the tourism industry is already well established at the park. Indeed, I found the details of how the tourists navigated the park to be just about as interesting as the romance.
Our heroine, 23 year old Carrie McKay, is a classic Kelly gal. Hardscrabble early life, orphan, rescued by benevolent family, target of vile rumors from well-heeled 'mean girl'--you get the picture. She needs every cent she can earn during the summer, working for the Wylie Camp company, to cover her college expenses. Our hero, 34 year old Sergeant Major Ramsey Stiles, is part of the Army Company stationed at Fort Yellowstone. The park is their responsibility. Of course, Stiles has a dramatic backstory--this is Carla Kelly wielding the pen, after all. [He's just back from the Philippine Islands and some intense jungle warfare. He's got a shiny medal he feels he doesn't deserve and some really bad nightmares].
The romance unfolds slowly and sweetly--they become friends before they become sweethearts. There's an equal mix of humor and drama and marvelous secondary characters.
The story takes a turn for the very dramatic towards the end; I wasn't sure how Kelly was going to get the hero out of his very deep hole, but she pulled it off in a fairly believable manner.
The HEA is well-deserved and I just know that Carrie and Ramsey will do just fine together.
This is one book where the author's afterward is as good as the story. Kelly pulls no punches about how disastrous to the environment the program to eradicate the wolf population was. I do wish she had also addressed how long the 'begging bears' problem continued.
While modern readers will enjoy a look at the early years of the park, the (very real and not glossed over) attitudes of some towards the wild animal residents will not be easy reading.
March 24, 2017
Authors always hear "Write what you know" (Disclaimer--I have never been a pirate...but the day's not yet over.) and Carla Kelly is an excellent example of this dictum. I enjoy her Regency era stories, but I really like her tales set in the American West. They have a feeling of authenticity that too few authors can bring to their work, and her background with the U.S. Park Service comes through.
In Courting Carrie in Wonderland we get a history of the beginnings of Yellowstone Park, the crown jewel of the park service. We also get an absolutely charming love story, about a girl with too few opportunities striving to make something of herself, and an Army Noncom dealing with PTSD and, well, Army life. These two loners find each other at "Wonderland", an early name for the camping areas where city slickers could get a taste of the great outdoors in the summer.
Ms. Kelly is an autobuy for me, but I'm always happiest when it's one of her Western tales, and I hope to see more in the future.
In Courting Carrie in Wonderland we get a history of the beginnings of Yellowstone Park, the crown jewel of the park service. We also get an absolutely charming love story, about a girl with too few opportunities striving to make something of herself, and an Army Noncom dealing with PTSD and, well, Army life. These two loners find each other at "Wonderland", an early name for the camping areas where city slickers could get a taste of the great outdoors in the summer.
Ms. Kelly is an autobuy for me, but I'm always happiest when it's one of her Western tales, and I hope to see more in the future.
March 19, 2017
What I adore about Carla Kelly is that she takes (well researched) parts of history that no one else writes about and then uses every day characters so that it feels like you're looking at a moment in history. While her heroes and heroines are pretty much the same from book to book, their back stories are different and they are able to develop together in their setting -- it's always done with a deft hand.
The setting is the early days of Yosemite National Park and the amount of detail is just right making it well worth the read just for that alone.
The setting is the early days of Yosemite National Park and the amount of detail is just right making it well worth the read just for that alone.
March 29, 2017
I'm one of the newer fans and late comers to Carla Kelly's wonderful story telling, but I can honestly say that she has wrapped me around her writing voice, no matter which genre she writes.
Her historical fiction stories are well researched and she thrives when she incorporates her fictional characters with history.
As someone that has seen the Yellowstone National Park only in pictures and film, I was excited to read this book and was happy that it really brought the scenery to my living room.
If you're in a mood to take a trip through a time long past and meet some interesting and entertaining, heartwarming characters, I highly recommend this story. It's filled with humor, sweet romance, wonderful scenery and rich historical detail.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
Her historical fiction stories are well researched and she thrives when she incorporates her fictional characters with history.
As someone that has seen the Yellowstone National Park only in pictures and film, I was excited to read this book and was happy that it really brought the scenery to my living room.
If you're in a mood to take a trip through a time long past and meet some interesting and entertaining, heartwarming characters, I highly recommend this story. It's filled with humor, sweet romance, wonderful scenery and rich historical detail.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
March 16, 2017
One thing I've always loved about Carla Kelly's books is her characters. I've yet to read any of her books where I didn't end up liking the characters. Her characters feel like real people, with real strengths and weaknesses, who struggle with their circumstances, and sometimes make poor choices. That is no different with this book. I liked Ramsay Stiles right away. He's a down-to-earth soldier whose coming to grips with his combat experiences in the Philippines and the medal of honor he won. He's rather modest with a tendency to blush. He loves Yellowstone and does his best to take care of both the tourists and the wildlife. Unfortunately, he devotion to the wildlife leads him to make some choices that have rather serious consequences. Carrie McKay's had a tough life, with an abusive father who eventually abandoned her and her mother, and growing up with hardly enough food. She's learned to work hard for what she wants, but her gossip spread by another continues to make things hard for her. She's in Yellowstone to work for money to pay her college tuition.
I loved the way that Ramsay Stiles and Carrie McKay meet, with her seeking reassurance from the privy that the bear that was sitting outside has left. How funny is that. Ramsay and Carrie click right from the start, over pie, of all things. But life has a way of interfering with even the best relationships and Ramsay and Carrie have to decide what is most important to them and worth fighting for. I loved the theme of wildlife conservation that runs gently through the book and looking back with what we know now about the importance of wolves and other predators to Yellowstone's ecosystem, I completely sympathized with Ramsay's beliefs. Unfortunately for Ramsay, few others agree with him and his efforts to protect the wolves get him in some serious hot water.
As usual, Carla Kelly has written a delightful romance with unusual and interesting themes attached to it. I can heartily recommend this book for those who enjoy historical romance with both humor and heart.
I loved the way that Ramsay Stiles and Carrie McKay meet, with her seeking reassurance from the privy that the bear that was sitting outside has left. How funny is that. Ramsay and Carrie click right from the start, over pie, of all things. But life has a way of interfering with even the best relationships and Ramsay and Carrie have to decide what is most important to them and worth fighting for. I loved the theme of wildlife conservation that runs gently through the book and looking back with what we know now about the importance of wolves and other predators to Yellowstone's ecosystem, I completely sympathized with Ramsay's beliefs. Unfortunately for Ramsay, few others agree with him and his efforts to protect the wolves get him in some serious hot water.
As usual, Carla Kelly has written a delightful romance with unusual and interesting themes attached to it. I can heartily recommend this book for those who enjoy historical romance with both humor and heart.
March 18, 2017
Hoarded this. Beautiful setting, a lyrical ode to Yellowstone, written by someone who loves it. Carla Kelly writes beautifully. Her novels are peopled with characters who you want to know even though they are the children of Ms Kelly's mind. I felt bereft when I finished. 2 X 5 stars!!!!
December 19, 2018
Yellowstone National park is Wonderland. I LOVED the history of the park. The story of the wolves, bears and other animals was incredibly interesting. What we take for granted took a long time coming. Great story!
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July 5, 2024I really loved the setting of this book, in Yellowstone in 1903!
May 25, 2017
I liked this book but is not my favorite Carla Kelly. It was too slow moving and I wanted more romance.
August 16, 2017
I enjoyed learning more about what Yellowstone was like about 100 years ago. It makes me want to visit the park again!
April 3, 2017
I would give this a 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed reading about Yellowstone Park in the early days. It took me a bit to get into the book and some parts were kind of slow for me. I did like the ending.
March 17, 2017
Carla Kelly really has a way with writing a great romance story! I also really like the way she includes history in her romance story.
I really enjoyed the love story in this book. Ramsey is in the army, stationed in Yellowstone Park aka Wonderland. I thought it was really funny the way that Ramsey was ordered by his superiors to find a wife. And he thought there was no way that could ever happen. He's in the army remember, and his assignment in Yellowstone Park is to talk with everyone in the park, both workers and visitors and make sure that everyone is happy. All. The. Time. Wow. Now he can pass on the hardest assignments to his superiors if he needs to, but his job is really full and busy. I really love his love for animals, and the way he sees things needing to change to be better for the animals in the park. No more handouts for the bears or trying to kill the wolves would be his highest ideals.
Then there's Carrie. She's working as a pie maker in the Wylie Camping Company, just as she does every summer. She's trying to pay her own way through school and she needs every penny she can make from her salary to her tips. I loved Carrie. I loved the way she had risen over her circumstances and was working hard to make her life better. But she's never down or grumpy, she always takes her circumstances as they are and is just happy about life.
I loved the twists and turns that brought these two together. I loved the way they met! Carrie hanging out in the outhouse waiting for a bear to leave. She doesn't realize he already has and is calling out to whoever is outside to answer her. Ramsey comes upon the scene, not realizing there had been a bear! It's just a really funny scene.
This is a cute, clean story that I really enjoyed reading! I love Carla Kelly's books!
I really enjoyed the love story in this book. Ramsey is in the army, stationed in Yellowstone Park aka Wonderland. I thought it was really funny the way that Ramsey was ordered by his superiors to find a wife. And he thought there was no way that could ever happen. He's in the army remember, and his assignment in Yellowstone Park is to talk with everyone in the park, both workers and visitors and make sure that everyone is happy. All. The. Time. Wow. Now he can pass on the hardest assignments to his superiors if he needs to, but his job is really full and busy. I really love his love for animals, and the way he sees things needing to change to be better for the animals in the park. No more handouts for the bears or trying to kill the wolves would be his highest ideals.
Then there's Carrie. She's working as a pie maker in the Wylie Camping Company, just as she does every summer. She's trying to pay her own way through school and she needs every penny she can make from her salary to her tips. I loved Carrie. I loved the way she had risen over her circumstances and was working hard to make her life better. But she's never down or grumpy, she always takes her circumstances as they are and is just happy about life.
I loved the twists and turns that brought these two together. I loved the way they met! Carrie hanging out in the outhouse waiting for a bear to leave. She doesn't realize he already has and is calling out to whoever is outside to answer her. Ramsey comes upon the scene, not realizing there had been a bear! It's just a really funny scene.
This is a cute, clean story that I really enjoyed reading! I love Carla Kelly's books!
March 21, 2017
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love Yellowstone National Park, so I was excited when I heard about this book. However, there is so much more to it than a romance set in Yellowstone. Real pioneers in Yellowstone intermingle with the main characters, providing a rich background on the infrastructure development of America's first national park. I also enjoyed the description of how the buffalo were being protected after their numbers had been decimated by hunters as contrasted with how the wolves were being treated in Yellowstone. The main character's struggle to find peace after his war experiences also resonated with me. For some reason, just being in Yellowstone soothes and renews my spirit. It was fun reading about the early history of some of my favorite locations in Yellowstone. When I visit next month I will be looking for the locations I didn't recognize. This book has made it to my favorites bookshelf.
April 10, 2018
A thoroughly delightful and comfortably clean romance along the lines of Cinderella set in Yellowstone National Park at the turn of the last century. That being said, I was disappointed with the story's end. I would have given them a somewhat less impulsive journey.
Following are some vocabulary and location notes for my enlightenment...
p.58 chautauqua : (shə-TAW-kwə) was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
p.177 katzenjammer kids: an American comic strip created by Rudolph Dirks and drawn by Harold H. Knerr for 35 years (1914 to 1949)
p.197 gauch: (ɡōSH) lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.
p.230 Liberty Cap: This towering rock of travertine (a type of limestone deposited by hot springs; Liberty Cap is believed to be an extinct thermal feature) has been greeting visitors to Yellowstone National Park before the Park's creation in 1872.
p.237 hoodoos: (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney or earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin
p.241 Golden Gate and Swan Lake Basin: The Golden Gate was first used as a roadsite in the mid-1880's. Starting in September 1883 and finishing in June, 1885, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Lt. Dan Kingman, Engineer Officer of the Department of the Platte, built a five-mile section of road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Swan Lake.
p.242 Apollinaris Spring: The taste of the water in Apollinaris Spring reminded early Yellowstone visitors of the water in a naturally carbonated spring in Germany
p.269 aplomb: (əˈpləm) self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
p.276 Thomas Moran: his vision of the Western landscape was critical to the creation of Yellowstone National Park. His pencil and watercolor field sketches and paintings captured the grandeur and documented the extraordinary terrain and natural features of the Yellowstone region
p.282 rotogravure: (rōdəɡrəˈvyo͝or) a printing system using a rotary press with intaglio cylinders, typically running at high speed and used for long print runs of magazines and stamps.
p.282 William Henry Jackson: was an American painter, Civil War veteran, geological survey photographer and an explorer famous for his images of the American West
p.292 Roaring Mountain: was named for the numerous fumaroles on the western slope of the peak which during the early 1900s were loud enough to be heard for several miles
p.293 Emerald Spring: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photos...
p.295 Porcelain Geyser Basin: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photos...
p.298 Lamar Valley: https://www.google.com/search?q=lamar...
p.300 intransigence: (inˈtranzəjəns) refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
p.302 Solfatara Plateau: https://www.google.com/search?q=solfa...
p.351 Gallatin Mountains: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
p.360 Chittenden Bridge: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
p.381 extirpation: (ěk'stər-pā'shən) n. The surgical removal of an organ, a part of an organ, or a diseased tissue.
p.384: Kingman Canyon: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
Following are some vocabulary and location notes for my enlightenment...
p.58 chautauqua : (shə-TAW-kwə) was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
p.177 katzenjammer kids: an American comic strip created by Rudolph Dirks and drawn by Harold H. Knerr for 35 years (1914 to 1949)
p.197 gauch: (ɡōSH) lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.
p.230 Liberty Cap: This towering rock of travertine (a type of limestone deposited by hot springs; Liberty Cap is believed to be an extinct thermal feature) has been greeting visitors to Yellowstone National Park before the Park's creation in 1872.
p.237 hoodoos: (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney or earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin
p.241 Golden Gate and Swan Lake Basin: The Golden Gate was first used as a roadsite in the mid-1880's. Starting in September 1883 and finishing in June, 1885, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Lt. Dan Kingman, Engineer Officer of the Department of the Platte, built a five-mile section of road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Swan Lake.
p.242 Apollinaris Spring: The taste of the water in Apollinaris Spring reminded early Yellowstone visitors of the water in a naturally carbonated spring in Germany
p.269 aplomb: (əˈpləm) self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
p.276 Thomas Moran: his vision of the Western landscape was critical to the creation of Yellowstone National Park. His pencil and watercolor field sketches and paintings captured the grandeur and documented the extraordinary terrain and natural features of the Yellowstone region
p.282 rotogravure: (rōdəɡrəˈvyo͝or) a printing system using a rotary press with intaglio cylinders, typically running at high speed and used for long print runs of magazines and stamps.
p.282 William Henry Jackson: was an American painter, Civil War veteran, geological survey photographer and an explorer famous for his images of the American West
p.292 Roaring Mountain: was named for the numerous fumaroles on the western slope of the peak which during the early 1900s were loud enough to be heard for several miles
p.293 Emerald Spring: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photos...
p.295 Porcelain Geyser Basin: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photos...
p.298 Lamar Valley: https://www.google.com/search?q=lamar...
p.300 intransigence: (inˈtranzəjəns) refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
p.302 Solfatara Plateau: https://www.google.com/search?q=solfa...
p.351 Gallatin Mountains: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
p.360 Chittenden Bridge: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
p.381 extirpation: (ěk'stər-pā'shən) n. The surgical removal of an organ, a part of an organ, or a diseased tissue.
p.384: Kingman Canyon: https://www.google.com/search?biw=142...
March 19, 2017
Courting Carrie in Wonderland
By Carla Kelly
Sergeant Major Ramsey Stiles was finally back in Yellowstone after serving in the Philippines in the Philippine-American War, (a war, I might mention, I don't recall ever being mentioned in any of my history classes and I still have the books). The peace and magic of America's Wonderland just what he needed to heal from the horrors he experienced. The only problem, his new job comes with a lot more paperwork as he works to keep everything working together for the tourists, the army, and the animals.
Carrie McKay loves her job working with the Wylie Camping Company but, due to an incident in her past, her experiences are not the most pleasant thanks to a lying tongue that seeks to keep her from succeeding.
When Carrie finds herself in need of a little help Ramsey just happens to be nearby and this chance meeting is about to change both their lives in ways that neither would have ever anticipated or expected.
This story is more than a romance that takes place in the setting of the Yellowstone, one gets an education about Yellowstone in the earlier years. One also gets a look at the lack of appreciation those with power have in regards to the need for nature to balance itself. One is transported to this land that was known as Wonderland.
This historical romance is a lesson that you'll not mind learning and you'll want to revisit again and share with like-minded reading friends. There is a lot of story packed into this nearly 400 paged book. Fans of Carla Kelly will enjoy this newest work.
I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own.
By Carla Kelly
Sergeant Major Ramsey Stiles was finally back in Yellowstone after serving in the Philippines in the Philippine-American War, (a war, I might mention, I don't recall ever being mentioned in any of my history classes and I still have the books). The peace and magic of America's Wonderland just what he needed to heal from the horrors he experienced. The only problem, his new job comes with a lot more paperwork as he works to keep everything working together for the tourists, the army, and the animals.
Carrie McKay loves her job working with the Wylie Camping Company but, due to an incident in her past, her experiences are not the most pleasant thanks to a lying tongue that seeks to keep her from succeeding.
When Carrie finds herself in need of a little help Ramsey just happens to be nearby and this chance meeting is about to change both their lives in ways that neither would have ever anticipated or expected.
This story is more than a romance that takes place in the setting of the Yellowstone, one gets an education about Yellowstone in the earlier years. One also gets a look at the lack of appreciation those with power have in regards to the need for nature to balance itself. One is transported to this land that was known as Wonderland.
This historical romance is a lesson that you'll not mind learning and you'll want to revisit again and share with like-minded reading friends. There is a lot of story packed into this nearly 400 paged book. Fans of Carla Kelly will enjoy this newest work.
I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own.
October 6, 2017
I haven't read anything for awhile. My wife and I read this together. It is a masterpiece. Carla Kelly has intertwined Yellowstone in the early 1900's with a romance of an older soldier, who had recently earned a Medal of Honor due to his heroism in an insurrection in the Philippines, and Carrie, a younger woman who had had a tough life. The Army man is Ramsey Stiles.
It is fascinating to read the intricacies of these two as she works in the kitchen of a guest camp and he patrols all over Yellowstone Park, which the book calls Wonderland. Ramsey is first smitten by her cherry pie then her warm spirit and, of course, her beauty. The cementing feature of the book is a Ms. Lamarck, who at first is very cantankerous but turns in to be a confidante of Carrie and benefactor of Ramsey.
Carla Kelley, who my wife Kristy and I met at the Welsh Festival 2017 at Malad, Idaho, has outdone herself again.
It is fascinating to read the intricacies of these two as she works in the kitchen of a guest camp and he patrols all over Yellowstone Park, which the book calls Wonderland. Ramsey is first smitten by her cherry pie then her warm spirit and, of course, her beauty. The cementing feature of the book is a Ms. Lamarck, who at first is very cantankerous but turns in to be a confidante of Carrie and benefactor of Ramsey.
Carla Kelley, who my wife Kristy and I met at the Welsh Festival 2017 at Malad, Idaho, has outdone herself again.
March 26, 2018
Army Sargeant Major Ramsey, stationed at Yellowstone National Park, has been ordered to find a wife by his superiors, luckily he meets spunky Carrie the cook's assistant and love ensues. I really enjoyed the setting: 1903 at the start of the National Park system is a unique time period in romancelandia, and I love seeing it. But holy cats, this needed to be half the length--I've only ever read her Harlequin books, which I love, and she really needs that constraint. This is a book about two lovely, kind, grown up people falling in love and how everyone around them succumbs to their charms and adores them, too. Nothing happens until the end, but they are so beloved and sweet and wonderful that you can't imagine that anything bad will permanently happen to them. I liked this, but it took awhile to shove myself through it.
Also, it was altogether too modern in some parts. And I haven't been able to stop singing Ta ra di boom de ay for days.
Also, it was altogether too modern in some parts. And I haven't been able to stop singing Ta ra di boom de ay for days.
April 27, 2023
Sergeant Major Ned Ramsey is so grateful to be in his beloved Yellowstone National Park, especially after his harrowing experiences fighting in the Philippines. Carrie is cooking for the Wylie Camping Company this summer to earn money to pay for college in Montana, and when the two of them meet each other, sparks fly. But when Ramsey is tasked by, none other than President Teddy Roosevelt, to guide an elderly stage star and socialite around the park, he enlists Carrie to help him, and through the experience, each of them learn things about themselves and each other which change them forever.
I liked the story, and I loved learning about the origins of Yellowstone. It was a sweet, clean romance, and I enjoyed it.
I liked the story, and I loved learning about the origins of Yellowstone. It was a sweet, clean romance, and I enjoyed it.
May 24, 2019
I loved this historical novel and hearing about the history of Yellowstone National Park through a well read story that seemed so real. Kelly did a great job taking you to the wonders of Yellowstone. I could easily see it again through my younger eyes as I went there many times in my youth and early married life. The only thing I questioned was that they seemed to travel awfully fast by horseback and carriage and I wondered if you could actually get where the characters did in the amount of time given them for the journey. It seemed to take much longer when i went by car! But i really enjoyed this work by Carla Kelly and will definitely look at other of her works.
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