Calico Ball (Timeless Western Collection, #1)

by Sarah M Eden, Kristin Holt, and Carla Kelly

[phyllish]

Calico Ball Collection
by Carla Kelly, Sarah M. Eden, Kristin Holt, Mirror Press

Indians, Mail Order Brides and Dentists

The Keeper of the Western Door by Cala Kelly – 4 1/2 stars

The Keeper of the Western Door was a tender story. Mary was such an interesting character. She was part Seneca Indian and part Caucasian. She endured much prejudice from the officers’ wives at the fort where she worked for a woman she had thought to be a friend. Her journey of self-awareness was well written. Mary tells a Seneca story of a spider and a badger that is woven neatly throughout as she personally learns the lessons from the tale.

Rowan is so tenderhearted and yet such a great leader. I loved the way he was always looking out for those in his care and offered his protection especially to Mary.

A Convenient Arrangement by Sarah Eden – 5 stars

At first, I was thinking that Mirabelle is a lot like me. She had a very positive, cheerful outlook and tried really hard to ignore the less pleasant aspects of life, of which she had experienced many. She was also great at winning the hearts of those around her, especially those who were not inclined to be won. But she was also assertive in a way I have never been, willing to haggle over prices with the tightfisted shopkeeper, and I can’t do that.

Quinn was another one of those adorably clueless men, strong and silent. He thought that he could get a mail-order wife so that he didn’t have to worry about another man snatching up his perfectly capable maid. He wasn’t looking for a relationship and especially wasn’t looking for love.

This was a funny, sweet, tender story. I was drawn to the characters and enjoyed reading it.

Isabella’s Calico Groom by Kristin Holt – 5 stars

I have to confess that the first time I read “painless dentistry” in the story, I immediately thought of “Painless Potter” a Bob Hope character in The Paleface, but I blame that on the fact that my husband and I both love goofy old movies and not on anything that author Kristin Holt wrote in the story!

This was a fascinating story that pulled me into the Wyoming town of Evanston in 1890. Statehood, women’s rights and the needs of the poor were all prominent issues at that time and each played a role in this story. As with the two previous novellas set in Evanston by Krisitn Holt at this time, the female character is one who has chosen a profession, which is shocking enough, but that the profession chosen is one that has predominantly been a man’s domain is almost scandalous!

I loved the characters and the deep heartfelt struggles Henry and Isabella dealt with. And loved the details that added so much richness and imparted so much information about the way that things were done almost a century and a half ago. A great deal of research goes into every book this author writes, and she freely shares it on her blog and her Pinterest board. If you have an interest in learning more, be sure to visit both.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

Get a preview of Calico Ball Collection – Book Review at amongTheReads.net


I would like to thank Kristin Holt for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.