Friday, August 26, 2016

Melinda and the Wild West by Linda Weaver Clarke

Title:  Melinda and the Wild West
Series:  The Bear Lake Family Saga #1
Author:  Linda Weaver Clarke
Publication Date:   July 15th 2016 by Red Mountain Shadows Publishing (first published December 1st 2006)
Length:  228pgs
Genre:  historical romance
Shelf:  review
My Rating: ★★★★★
Book Links: GoodreadsAmazon(US)Amazon(CA) - B&N - Kobo - Indigo - Google PlaySmashwords - Audible

Back Cover Blurb:

In 1896 Melinda Gamble a very elegant, very naïve young woman from Boston decides to give up her life of monotonous comfort for the turbulent uncertainty of the still untamed Wild West. Driven by her intense desire to make a difference in the world, Melinda takes a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho, where she comes face-to-face with a frightening bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and an intense blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it is a ruggedly handsome and very mysterious stranger who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared love.

My Review:

What a fantastic journey back in time! Clarke takes readers back to the western expansion with a story that will capture your heart and allow your imagination to run wild. I love the tidbits of history and trivia throughout. They kept my attention and really allowed me to picture the full range of things going on at the time. The tale was both fun and emotional. I love how Clarke develops this world in all its natural glory while also drawing out emotions and choices of the fantastic characters that we come to know and love.

Clarke has filled this novel with characters who tug at your heart. Melinda is a fantastically complex and intriguing heroine to carry this story forward. I love getting to know her as she insinuates herself into this world that she moves into. Her love interest is equally captivating. I love his strength and the depth of his caring. It was a fantastic mix. The family and friends that they find themselves surrounded by serve to fill out the story in a fantastic manner that really brings this small town to life.

This novel will be loved by readers of all ages. I couldn’t get enough of the characters or of the picturesque world that Clarke creates for her readers. It was simply breathtaking.

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