A Sweet Misfortune ~ Review

A Sweet Misfortune
Vices and Virtues of the Old West #2
By Maggie Brendan

Rachel Matthews is trying to save money to redeem the deed to her family's ranch from her brother's friend John McIntyre.  And the only option she can find to earn money and provide her with a roof over head is to work as a dance hall girl at the Wild Horse.

When her brother gets word of what Rachel is doing he pleads with the only man he trusts to rescue his little sister before it is too late.  His friendship with Preston is the only thing that would make John bring Rachel into his home.  After all she's been performing as a dance hall girl, who knows what else she may have done in the performance of her profession!  She may now be a soiled dove.

John is determined to have the largest spread in Montana and dealing with Rachel and her resentments isn't a priority in his opinion.  But Rachel isn't about to be pushed into a corner and forgotten until her brother makes a reappearance in her life.  Rachel is kind-hearted, concerned about those around her and she's stubbornly determined to continue earning money towards her ranch.

But Rachel and John are both about to be dealt setbacks that change not only the course of their lives but could end their dreams.  Can these two discover what is truly important in their lives before it is too late?

Though Rachel's past as a saloon hall dancer is known and everyone is properly scandalized she is still shockingly a highly sought after potential bride.  What I find interesting is that before her extraction from the Wild Horse no one was too concerned about her welfare, she was.one of the forgotten who had no where to go when they were in need.

This is the second book in the Vices and Virtues of the Old West series, but it can be a stand-alone book as the characters and setting are unique.  The commonality between the first two books is the Montana Territory and the 1860s.  This book is what I call escape reading - something to pick-up for quick week-end read.  There are the usual romantic elements - boy and girl meet, boy-and-girl deny feelings, danger, other potential suitors, etc.  In my opinion this is an o'kay book, not awful but not great.  I don't bemoan the loss of time spent reading this book as it provided a welcome diversion from an especially trying week.  

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Rachel Matthews isn't one to rely on others to take care of her. Homeless and alone, she still wants to make her own way and her own money to buy back the family ranch--even if she's forced into the life of a dance hall girl. Horrified by her circumstances, Rachel's brother, who is away mining for gold, sends a friend to rescue her.

Cattle baron John McIntyre is focused on acquiring as much land as possible in Montana and has little time to deal with a dance hall gal. Rachel isn't sure she can take one more day in John's home--especially once she discovers that he's the one who holds ransom the key to her family's future.

Sparks fly between this spunky, independent heroine and the ruggedly handsome hero as they navigate the snarled terrain of pride, greed, faith, and love in Maggie Brendan's delightful series set in the Old West.

Maggie Brendan is the CBA bestselling author of the Heart of the West series and the Blue Willow Brides series, as well as The Trouble with Patience. Her books have received the Book Buyers Best Award from the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America and the Laurel Wreath Award. She lives in Georgia.