Tough Luck: a story of youthful tenacity and hopeful hearts in the American West

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is the story of a young woman on the search for her father in 1863. Their father left four years to find his fortune in the Colorado Territory and is thought to be dead. After her mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are placed in an orphanage and put to work. She waits for her chance to leave. She is determined to find her father. Haidie doesn’t believe it and she isn’t going to wait for him any longer. She and Boots leave the orphanage and embark on the perilous journey deep into the American West. Disguised as a boy, she learns to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men. Haidie also finds new friends. She hopes that each day gets her closer to finding her father. Will she find him? Will she accept whatever she discovers? 

Tough Luck is a cross between True Grit (1969/2010) and The Journey of Natty Gann (1985). Filled with colorful characters and vivid details of Haidie’s journey and experiences, Tough Luck is a story of youthful tenacity and hopeful hearts in the American West. I enjoyed Haidie’s character as a no-nonsense young woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and get her hands dirty in order to get what she wants. The characters she meets along the way are either other hopeful hearts searching for a future or scoundrels who would prey on them. Ms. Dallas’s description of the American West and the people who lived there were so vivid that I thought I was right there next to Haidie as she traveled. I thoroughly enjoyed Tough Luck. If you enjoy Western adventures with a strong heroine, I highly recommend Tough Luck. 

Tough Luck is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on April 29, 2025. 

A Criminal Game: a Christian mystery thriller

A Criminal Game by D.L. Wood is the first book in The Criminal Collection series. After the death of her husband three years ago, Evie Diaz’s mission in life is to keep life steady for her young daughter. From her little Queens apartment to her night manager position at a luxury Manhattan hotel. Her one reprieve from the realities of life is liaising for a high stakes poker game held at the hotel. From movie stars to millionaires, big tips and flirty moments, it was a nice break for Evie. Until one night, when the game ends in trouble and all evidence points to Evie, the host goes after her with vengeance. Now she is on the run, she must unravel the plot and clear her name. Can she reveal the real culprit before she pays the ultimate price for a game she never played? 

Tagged as a Christian mystery thriller and with an opening prologue that was thrilling, I was eager to dive into this story of cat and mouse. However, I was not hooked. The events of the story take place within 24 hours and yet it was uninteresting. I didn’t quite understand why Evie was framed and the chase that ensued to find her. I liked Evie and her devotion to her daughter. I liked the Christian perspective that was nicely done, not overly preaching but very real. While it was like reading an action movie with near misses and car chases, which by design should have been exciting, but overall, I was bored. It may be that thrillers are a hit and miss for me that I don’t actively read in this genre.  However, if you enjoy mystery thrillers with a Christian perspective, I recommend A Criminal Game. 

A Criminal Game is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Bright Side of Disaster: when the life you wanted turns into the life you needed

The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center is a story when the life you wanted turns into the life you needed. Jenny Harris is very pregnant and engaged to Dean. At first, Dean was excited about marriage and the coming baby. However, as her due date comes closer, Dean is acting more and more distant. One night, he goes out for cigarettes and never comes back. The next day, Jenny goes into labor. As she is thrown into the life as a single mother and learning to care for her baby, there isn’t much time to dwell on her broken dreams. Slowly but surely, her support group grows from her mother, her friend, Meredith, and her very handsome neighbor. Out of the blue, Dean shows up on her doorstep, she is faced with a choice. Does she choose the life she wanted or does she choose the new life she didn’t know she needed? 

Katherine Center has been one of my go-to authors since I first read one of her books in 2018. I have slowly been her backlist as well as her new release. I came across The Bright Side of Disaster and was super excited. Ms Center’s stories are filled with life changing drama with laughs and emotion. However, The Bright Side of Disaster did not have the same impact I have come to expect from Ms Center. I didn’t care for any of the characters. Jenny was very irritating and I found myself rolling my eyes often. And the story didn’t have the emotional impact that I was expecting. Since this is one of her early works and knowing how her writing has evolved, I am glad that I read this book. While I did not enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed Ms Center’s other books, I do recommend The Bright Side of Disaster. 

The Bright Side of Disaster is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Way We Fall: a second chance romance with grief and questions of loyalty

The Way We Fall is the first book in The Story of Us series by Cassia Leo. Aurora “Rory” Charles had always had feelings for her best friend’s brother; however her friendship with Hallie was more important to take a chance with Houston. They are brought together in grief following Hallie’s death. They have a passionate and toxic relationship that has them questioning their loyalty to each other and to Hallie’s memory and ultimately tears them apart. Five years later, they are brought together again. However, Houston doesn’t recognize her at first, even though she knew him immediately. Soon, the memories and their passion comes back until Houston reveals a secret. A secret that can tear them apart once and for all. 

Described as a “twisted and passionate love story that pushes the boundaries of loyalty,” I looked forward to this story. However, from the start, I did not care for Rory or Houston. Rory was so immature. Houston was beyond a jerk. The secret was anti-climatic. The story’s plot had a darker themes like infidelity, mental health issues, suicide, and abortion, which could be deeply emotional and impactful. However, it was not handled well at all. The story, its dialogue, was more cringey and eye rolling, rather deeply thought provoking and emotional. Overall, I did not like this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend The Way We Fall. 

The Way We Fell is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Something Right: a second chance romance with heart, drama and laughs

Something Right is the first book in The Blisswood Brothers by Evey Lyon. Grayson Blisswood finds himself back in his hometown after his father’s death in order to take guardianship of his teenage sister, Lucy. He traded his corporate job in the big city to small town antics and Olive Owl, the family winery and resort. Their neighbor is none other than Brooke Rivers, his high school sweetheart and the one he never forgot. Now she has an adorable three year old daughter and he finds himself finding ways to spend time with them both. Grayson realizes that the fire still burns; however, Brooke is determined to keep the distance between them friendly. What they didn’t know is that fate would throw open a secret Brooke is desperate to keep hidden. Will this secret tear them apart completely? Or will it lead to something right?

Something Right is a second chance romance with heart, drama and lots of fun moments. I was immediately drawn into this story and could not put it down. I loved all the characters. I read a few reviews that called Grayson a jerk for his reaction to the secret. And, yes, he acts like a jerk; however, I feel his reaction is realistic. And other characters helped kick him in the butt to open his eyes and made the situation feel very, very real. The entire story flowed that I was engaged. It was fun with a few laughs and smiles. There were dramatic and sweet moments. I closed the book with a smile and eager to read the rest of the story. If you enjoy second chance romance, I highly recommend Something Right. 

Something Right is available in paperback and eBook. 

Perfect Imperfections: finding love among the struggles of life and uncertainties

Perfect Imperfections by Mariah Ankenman is a story of finding love among the struggles of life and uncertainties. Ellie Clark deals with anxiety steaming from her OCD compulsions which makes forming relationships difficult. As one of the head aviary keepers at the Sunlight Zoo, she enjoys spending her life around the birds who don’t judge her idiosyncrasies. Her life is about to change in ways she never imagined one fateful day as she makes the split second decision to rescue a child who falls into the penguin pool. In the aftermath, she finds an unusual bond with Charlotte, the young girl, and an attraction to her handsome father, Sullivan. Dr Sullivan Green has focused his life on his medical practice and raising his daughter since his ex-wife left them both. He is taken by surprise at the yearning he feels when near Ellie. As they began to spend time together, the attraction between them built until passion ignited. However, when the ugliness of their lives interfere, they must find the courage to take a risk on love. 

Perfect Imperfections is the type of story that takes you by surprise. When I started the book, I was intrigued as the story jumps into the event which brings them together. It started to slow down a bit and I wondered if I even wanted to continue. But I did and I am so glad I did. It speeds up once Ellie and Sullivan acknowledge their feelings. Once it did, the book was hard to put down. I enjoyed all the characters from Ellie, Sullivan and Charlotte to the supporting characters of Cam, Ellie’s best friend, and Gavin, Sullivan’s younger brother. The story was so sweet and oh so emotional. There were multiple scenes that I cried as I read. I cried sad tears. My heart broke with the characters as they deal with the ugliness of life. I cried happy tears and I closed the book with a smile. The banter was great and made me laugh and smile. The heartfelt moments made my heart melt. The depiction of mental health, especially OCD, was eye opening. I highly, highly recommend Perfect Imperfections. 

Perfect Imperfections is available in paperback and eBook

Always You and Me: when a second chance at love explores what could have been

Always You and Me by Dani Atkins is a story of love, hope and second chances. On the eve of her wedding to Adam, Josh, Lily’s childhood best friend, walks back into her life with an unexpected declaration only to walk away once again. After six years of blissful happiness, Adam falls ill and his final wish is for Lily to find Josh and forgive them both. After a year of grief, Lily feels guilty that she has put off fulfilling Adam’s final wish and sets about tracking Josh down. However, finding him proves to be difficult and she forces herself to show up at his remote Scottish cabin unannounced and uninvited. When a fierce snowstorm forces them together, Lily and Josh must untangle their feelings, the past and why Adam sent her on this path in the first place. The reason behind Adam’s wish leaves Lily questioning where to turn next. Can Lily and Josh choose love and find the forgiveness needed for a happily ever after? 

Always You and Me is a love story which reminded me of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook as Lily is caught between loving two men and must choose a path. Unlike The Notebook, Lily has a second chance to explore the road not taken. The story was interesting with flashbacks into Lily and Josh’s history as well as her relationship with Adam. Each character is heavily flawed and yet feels very real and relatable. I enjoyed Lily and Josh’s characters even though at times they acted in ways that were frustrating and had me thinking “You idiot!” Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Always You and Me. I had a chuckle at the book’s warning: “Caution: this book may cause you to reach out to exes thinking your life can be like this.” While I do not have exes, I can see how the story can have that effect on someone wondering and exploring “what could have been.” If you enjoy second chance romances, I highly recommend Always You and Me. 

Always You and Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook