Started out good but slowly became sappy. Couldn't finish.

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This is a strange story from a woman who has written a generous number of really great books. This isn't one of them. The story started out with an interesting premise but dipped into tedium rather soon.

Katie is running away from the only home shes known; when her mother died she was handed over to the Schraders, who promptly turned her into a slave for 12 years. When she gets to town, she realizes the only job open to her is in a saloon.

When she arrives in the saloon, she is immediately befriended by John Roper, foreman at a local ranch. When he sees the bruises and finds that she has no one to take care of her, he hires Katie to cook and wash for him.

The Schraders file charges against John for stealing Katie and raping her (both lies), the judge tells John to marry Katie to protect her and himself. I had a problem with their ages: Katie isn't quite 18 and John is 30. I know May-December marriages were common in that day but Katie was incredibly innocent and naive. It was the combination of 12 years and Katies extreme lack of experience that I found troubling.

Another thing that grated was Katie calling John by his first name. Folks just didnt do that, especially since the relationship was between employer and employee (at first).

In order to add drama to this pitiful tale, the author wrote John as having a cruel streak. It just didnt fit the rest of the story; I know his history, but it just didnt ring true.

Finally, Katie decided to be TSTL late in the book. Between Katies strange behavior, a plot that really dragged and the book sounding like it had been written by Pollyanna, I was unimpressed.

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I love Carolyn Davidson. I have read most of her books. She is one of my favorite authors, but I have to say that this book was not one of her best. Usually her female characters are a lot stronger but Katie definitely is not.

John treats Katie as if she will break at any minute. Katie is way too meek towards John. I know she is young and had a hard life, but she never says no to him. I was hoping that Katie would grow stronger thru the book since she was finally surrounded by love, but where John is concerned she's not strong. She just keeps saying whatever you want John...I'm your wife.

John on the other hand seems to overreact at times in the book. Almost like a spoil brat who is not getting his way. Some of the things that he gets mad at are so silly or even unbelieveable.

The book is OK. If you are a Carolyn Davidson fan, I would recommend reading it but just don't put it on the top of your list. She has written much better books.

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This book is one of the reasons why Carolyn Davidson is one of my favorite authors. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of tender romance stories.

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