Holding the Fort (Fort Reno, #1)

[phyllish]

It is amazing how much I still learn about the West while reading fiction after all these years.  Regina Jennings packed so much history into Holding the Fort, written about the actual military fort, Fort Reno.  It is clear she did a lot of research for this book, and yet not a minute of the book was dry or uninteresting.

When I read the description of this book, I honestly expected to find the premise a little unbelievable.  It seems like mistaking a dance hall singer for a governess is quite a stretch.  The author, however, made this work in a very credible (and humorous) manner.

I loved how totally out of her element that Louisa was.  She knew she was over her head, but tried so hard to act her way through.  And quite admirably.  I was also touched by the way she felt so little about herself after having been scorned by the "church ladies" back in Wichita.  It was heart-breaking to see how she was judged without anyone trying to find out if the accusations against her were true.  Sadly, even today we in the church are so quick to judge and so slow to show mercy and lead sinners into grace.  I hope at least some of the people reading this book take that message to heart.

The attraction between Louisa and Daniel was so sweet and tender.  The way that Daniel was so determined to do everything properly was great.  I especially loved the way he "took" Louisa on a date and in doing so also showed his daughters the way an honorable man treats a woman.

The characters were all delightful.  There were some intense scenes when tension between the military and the Indians grew, and there was great humor scattered throughout the story, keeping it lighthearted through the entire book.

I will be sure to read more books by this author.

 

 This review was originally posted on Among the Reads