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Sandra Dallas once again brings the Old West to life in Tough Luck, a rollicking adventure filled with humor, grit, and heart. The story follows fourteen-year-old Haidie Richards, who escapes a dreary Illinois orphanage with her little brother, Boots, to search for their gold-mining father in Colorado. Disguised as a boy, Haidie joins a wagon train and sets off across dangerous territory, armed with more nerve than experience.
Along the trail, she meets a colorful cast of characters—a kind freighter, a gambler with a soft spot, two feisty spinster sisters, and one loyal dog who might just steal the show. As Haidie learns to handle mules, men, and misfortune, she also discovers the strength that comes from friendship and community.
Dallas writes with warmth and humor, making Haidie’s voice as sharp and funny as any frontier gunslinger’s. Sure, some plot turns are easy to see coming, but that doesn’t make the journey any less enjoyable. Tough Luck is an old-fashioned Western with a modern heart—perfect for readers who like their adventures brave, their heroines bold, and their endings hopeful.
If you loved True Grit but wished it had a little more tenderness, this one’s for you. The audio version, narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was excellent.
** Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for comps of the eBook and audiobook. Opinions are my own.