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♥♥♥ She's about to say, "I Do," when a telegram tells her, "Run!"

**A Stand-Alone Read** Penelope Barker believes in marrying for love…love of food on the table and a roof overhead. Marrying a crime boss then might mean a little scandal, but it also means plenty of hot meals, soft beds, and decent clothes.

Mere minutes before the wedding, Penelope receives a telegram from her sister warning her that the groom is a killer, and she must run. Trusting her sister, and admonished not to trust anyone else, Penelope dons a nun’s habit and jumps a train to Misery, Wyoming.

Lucius “Lucky” Burnett is a range detective—a term synonymous with hired gun. His wake of dead bodies never bothered him until an innocent child was killed. Now, Lucky believes he’s not decent company for anyone, especially a good woman.

Hired by the Lodgepole Ranch to find rustlers, he meets the puzzling, sassy nun on the train and the more they’re around each other in Misery, the more the attraction grows. There’s not a thing he can do about it, of course.

But when trouble finds Penelope, the truth behind her habit sparks gut-wrenching choices…for them both.

Will the sacrifices for love bring them what they want…or keep them apart for good?

Grab this Christian Clean and Wholesome Historical Western Romance in The Love Train series today!

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2022

110 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Heather Blanton

79 books301 followers
“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER

I write Christian Historical Western Romance. Yes, that often entails the use of firearms in a threatening manner. Sometimes there are fistfights. There may even be politically incorrect but historically accurate language. But also, there is always an inspirational message and strong allusions (at least) to the gospel.

A former journalist, I am an avid researcher and endeavor to skillfully weave truth in among fictional story lines. I love exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. I have walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw's note in my hand.

I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. My most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to my daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! My daddy also taught me to shoot and, trust me, I can sew buttons on with my rifle.

I can be reached several different ways:

http://ladiesindefiance.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorheathe...
https://twitter.com/heatherfblanton
https://www.pinterest.com/heatherfbla...

I am a proud member of Western Writers of America.

My novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets me write about strong, pioneer women and men who struggle to find God and then live out their faith in real ways. Like good old fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and more than a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in my stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. My stories aren’t preachy or cheesy, but I hope they are inspirational, heart-warming, realistic, illuminating, and glorifying to God.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Jeffrey.
380 reviews26 followers
June 28, 2022
"Buckle down yer chin straps and fasten yer seatbelts because you are in for a wild ride in the latest Love train series, Penelope, by Heather Blanton. Yessireee, there is nary a soft corner in this one! The heroine, Penelope Barker, is a hoyden through and through, in spite of her diminutive size and femininity. Her sister has desperately wired her, right before her wedding to a known criminal mob boss and told to run for her life. Borrowing a nun's habit from a sister at the church she was to be wedded, she heads for her sister out in the wild-wild west. She meets Lucius "Lucky" Burnett, who is range detective, another word for a hired gun. He has been hired by one of the largest, richest cattle ranchers in the area to investigate cattle rustling. Little do these two know it but they will meet at this huge ranch named "Lodgepole." Everyone thinks Penelope is a nun so the dialogue and sight gags on this phony nun are gut-busting! In this frontier tale, the bad guys are really-really bad and even the good ones are not so good. It is fast-paced, wildly funny and threaded through all of the recklessness is an achingly sweet romance between these two that borders on the impossible. Jolly well done!
Profile Image for Lori.
219 reviews15 followers
June 27, 2022
This story was a pure joy to read. I especially loved the “forward” By reading these, I can usually get a little idea about the author. This “forward” doesn’t disappoint. I love Heathers writing. Look at this lovely cover. Penelope’s face says a lot about who she is. This story is about Penelope and Lucinda and Lucky. Penelope is going to marry a man she despises so she her sister, Lucinda can “fly” with her journalism. Penelope is a very giving and loving person. She is strong and yet gentle. She takes care of her sister as best as possible. There are some twists that kept me turning the pages. Don’t miss out on this wonderful story. I will read another one of Heather Blanton’s books
Profile Image for Judy Esposito.
975 reviews14 followers
June 23, 2022
Penelope: Love Train Series Book 6

Love this book and the whole Series. I enjoyed this new author (to me) and the way she writes and will follow her to read more of her books. The sweet storyline was very entertaining and I liked following the characters, Penelope and Lucky to their HEA. JudyE
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,243 reviews49 followers
June 22, 2022
This Historical Western Romance is fairytale like. It is light reading for good entertainment.
Profile Image for Carol R Gehringer.
343 reviews25 followers
June 15, 2022
A nun on the run!!

When Penelope frinds out the truth about her intended groom -- minutes before the ceremony, she becomes a runaway bride -- in a nun's habit. Romance and adventure await Penelope after she boards the train. Will she find happiness or something else in Misery, Wyoming?

Blanton pens another winning Western, filled with cattle rustlers, fist fights, estranged family members, rescues, and more in this book.

A delightful rom-com. Can be read as a standalone book or part of the series.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.
56 reviews
June 19, 2022
Exciting Adventure and Romance

A thoroughly entertaining and exciting western adventure filled cattle rustling, gunfire, romance and faith. Heather Blanton is great story teller holding the reader’s interest until the end!
Profile Image for Mallory Reynolds.
39 reviews
June 19, 2022
Heather always writes an entertaining story with characters that are flawed who learn about forgiveness and love, all without being preachy.
1,185 reviews6 followers
June 15, 2022
Loved this story! Penelope meets Lucky on the train to Misery, after receiving a telegram from her sister telling her that her soon-to-be-husband is a murderer. Penelope leaves him at the altar, disguising herself as a nun. She meets Lucky on the train to Misery, and circumstances keep bringing them together. Lucky saves her life more than once. When her past catches up to her, will Lucky be willing and able to save her, or will he leave her to face the consequences?

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
70 reviews
June 16, 2022
Riveting!

Somehow, I was kept laughing and biting my nails from the tension of worrying about the safety of Penelope and Lucky at the same time. I have most books figured out near in beginning but there was so much going on in this one that it was complicated enough to make it impossible to figure out. everything until the end.
152 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2022
Penelope: :Sweet Historical Romance(Love Train Series Book 6)

Wonderful! Love this story, kept me up reading to the small hours. Loved Penelope as a nun and all the twists of the story. Happy she and Lucky got their HEA.
Profile Image for Pat  Comer.
520 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2022
Great Book.

Thank you Heather Blanton, I really enjoyed Lucky and Penelope's story, it was wild, exciting, and a little scary. But it all turned out good, I like happy endings.
70 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2022
Praise for Penelope

Once again, Heather Blanton delivers a story with suspense and salvation, romance and redemption. Always a pleasure to read. Maybe Daily Wire will present her writing in movie form since Hallmark has abandoned quality entertainment for warmed-over wokeness.
526 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2022
Penelope

This book is a sweet historical romance with lovable characters and a lot of action. The story kept me guessing from one page to the next. I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Sandra Bagwell.
548 reviews3 followers
Read
June 16, 2022
I love second chance stories

Forgiveness and Love in a clean, sweet second chance story with western flair. I enjoyed this story from cover to cover.
2,313 reviews82 followers
June 14, 2022
Christian Historical Romance

Between the romancing and the rescuing, this story had me on the edge of my seat!
Profile Image for Julie Lence.
Author 22 books48 followers
September 1, 2022
Penelope by Heather Blanton is a fantastic story that I read in 1 day. About to marry a man of questionable integrity just so she doesn't have to worry where her next meal will come from, Penelope receives a telegram from her sister minutes before she walks down the aisle; a cryptic message urging her to not marry. Enlisting the help of a nun, Penelope flees the church, dons the nun's garb and hops on the next train to Misery. Onboard, she meets Lucky, a skilled 'problem solver' cattle barons often hire who is also headed to Misery. Certain 'Sister' Penelope will throw her Bible at him if she learns the horrible thing he's done, Lucky keeps quiet his troubles, and his attraction to her. If only she weren't a nun...

In Misery, things heat up as Ms. Blanton spins a story ripe with romance, mystery, and the pursuit of justice. A powerful cattle baron intent on finding the culprit stealing his cattle, with one son who is angry at everyone and everything, and another with a stutter, Penelope and Lucky meet up again at his ranch for reasons they keep secret from each other. Penelope's sister has cautioned her to keep hidden and trust no one lest her nefarious finance find her, and Lucky, with guilt weighing him down as he flushes out the baron's thief, has some reservations about Penelope. Is she or isn't she a nun? If not, what is she hiding?

In this short story, I was caught up in the mystery that Lucky was hired to solve. The cattle baron and his sons make for interesting characters, and with Penelope's jilted intended lurking in the back of my mind, I was eager to discover how he fit into the story, plus I really liked Penelope and Lucky. After their initial attraction to each other, I enjoyed watching them dance around their feelings as their desire for one another deepened.



1,027 reviews12 followers
June 24, 2022
The author has written a sweet and heartwarming story, yet one full of action which includes: mystery, danger, deception, humor, redemption and romance. This is Penelope and Lucky's story, and the character development is outstanding. Penelope was a runaway bride disguised as a nun while traveling west on the train Lucky was a range detective who had been hired to find the rustlers of the Lodgepole Ranch. As the couple meet an attraction grew between them. Lucky knew he could not act on his feelings due to Penelope's position as a nun. Than danger came calling and things changed and Penelope's disguise was blown. Can Lucky keep Penelope and himself safe? Will their attraction grow into a HEA? Be sure and read this outstanding story to find out; I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.
1,252 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2025
As an avid reader, a different plot is appreciated. When Penelope is about to marry a western rogue with a reputation, she receives a telegram from her sister mentioning to run from this 'killer'. Disguised as a nun, she runs into 'Lucky' who was employed to check out cattle rustling on the train. Amused by this strange nun, little did they realize they're heading to the same place in Misery, Wyoming. Little did they know how much they would intertwine in each other's lives by saving one another from their demise in this interconnected story. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a fast-past, humorous take on a popular theme in this clean western adventure.
Profile Image for Theresa.
327 reviews
December 30, 2022
Sister Penelope

Penelope's sister Lucinda causes a lot of discord in Penelope's life. She's about to get married when she receives a telegram from Lucinda. She quickly leaves the church with the help of a nun and heads to Misery Wyoming. Once there, the mystery continues as she receives more puzzling telegrams from her sister. Lucky is hired at the ranch Penelope is staying at to take care of rustlers. He ends up being in the right place at the right time to rescue Penelope on numerous occasions.
Profile Image for Princess A.
109 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2024
"Penelope" by Heather Blanton is a historical romance set in the American West. The story follows Penelope, a strong-willed woman who faces significant challenges and romantic entanglements as she navigates her life in a rugged and often unforgiving environment.

Blanton’s novel is known for its engaging characters, vivid setting, and a blend of romance with personal and social issues. The book typically combines themes of love, resilience, and personal growth, making it a compelling read for fans of historical romances with a strong, dynamic heroine.
Profile Image for Lana Burton.
334 reviews15 followers
February 20, 2025
A soon to be bride running for her life in a nun’s habit, no less! Heather Blanton really knows how to start her books off with a bang! And, this book is so twisted up and so unpredictable it is wild! I loved Penelope so much. Loved how careful she was to act like a nun, talk like a nun, give advice like a nun…but she hated that habit, especially the veil portion. But, she was about the farthest thing from a nun in her “previous life”. You’ve really got to get this book and see what all in Penelope gets in and out of, and how, in the end, the Lord is in control of it all.
Profile Image for Marie.
5,313 reviews53 followers
September 5, 2024
A past that will rob them of a future?

Both Penelope and Lucky are fighting the demons and shadows of their past, shadows that haunt them and make them doubt their worth and their futures.
But their current actions show strong, kind, respectful and loving people who deserve the happiness and security of a future filled with love. They show compassion and understanding, rather than jumping to quick judgement, and they make you want to be a better person.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Debbie Turner.
191 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2022
Penelope and Lucky meet on a train and they both feel a connection but Penelope is dressed as a nun and Lucky is on his way to help some ranchers catch some cattle rustlers.

But they are surprised that they are going to the same town. Not to mention, they end up on the same ranch.

There is deceit, mystery and even romance.

A great addition to the Love Train series.
262 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2022
Now this was a good clean romance!

The story was well written and edited. It flowed naturally and wasn’t choppy. I loved the way the characters developed as well as the unexpected plot turns that kept me guessing. Most of all, I loved how the acknowledgment of God’s role in their lives helped them overcome their past mistakes. Well done!
454 reviews4 followers
January 13, 2023
Wow! What excitement!

This has so much danger, adventure, murderous cattle thieves, Indians, and throw in some romance and love. This story was so exciting and heartwarming and fascinating! Definitely will keep you interested and inspired! Great characters with stubborn and independent Penelope and dashing good looking hero Lucky.
2,405 reviews13 followers
March 15, 2025
Penelope

This was an interesting story. It involved Penelope and her supposed to be husband to be. He as a criminal in Omaha, underhanded deals etc. Penelope received a telegram, when she was getting ready to marry her man,not,leave him, he was evil. She left and fled to a ranch in Wyoming, more to come, enjoy
198 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2022
very good

I really enjoyed this well-written story. Kudos to the author. The main characters were very likable and their interaction was amusing and set the pace for the growing romance.
71 reviews
July 5, 2022
Kit Morgan is amazing!

You do not want to miss this action packed story. A hero, a heroine and bad guys all around. Throw in a little girl and a stammering young man and you have an amazing book, good thing everyone could rest on the train!
Profile Image for Sharon Nolan.
222 reviews2 followers
July 8, 2022
Penelope: Sweet Historical Western Romance

Penelope trusted her sister Lucinda : so when Lucinda sent her a telegram not to get married …and run … Penelope did just that!!! I enjoyed reading this story!!!




Profile Image for Merry.
471 reviews
October 6, 2022
I would do anything for my sister

My sister has taken care of me for so long that I need to get her to branch out and be the journalist that she can be, so marriage seemed to be the right thing to do but…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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