Customer Reviews

No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Series, Book 1)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Finding a cowgirl outfit under the tree thrilled me as a five-year-old, and riding horses on my grandfather's farm later on was the ultimate treat, until I saw Colorado for the first time. That confirmed my love of all things western. While reading Maggie's book, I once again experienced the majesty of the Rockies and felt the warm camaraderie of ranch life. I faced my fears in a challenging trail drive and laughed and cried with the characters. Because the author researched the American west of the late 1800s, I learned many fascinating details of life in that time period, and felt drawn into the story of Crystal's new life there.

In the book, Crystal gradually develops from a pampered Southern belle to a capable leader who nonetheless retains her feminine charm. Her relationships also grow as she seeks God's help in her struggles. Luke, a tough, independent cowboy, starts to rethink his assumptions as he gets to know the intriguing Crystal. He discovers a personal God who changes him from the inside out. All through the book, whether rollicking in a barn dance or grieving the loss of a friend, Crystal and Luke's shared experiences mature them and bring them closer.

If you're looking for adventure, romance or inspiration, come visit Aspengold Ranch and sit a spell. You won't want to leave.

Maggie Brendan is the new heart of western romance! She's got a pulsepoint for the mood, style, and moment of those delicious days gone by and weaves a plot tighter than a barbed wire cattle fence! Here's a book you can savor--if you like your heroines feisty and your cowboys lean and just a little mean. Wrangling romance between Crystal and Luke leaves the reader longing for more and Brendan doesn't disappoint with her teaser for the upcoming second novel. Maggie Brendan is a debut author with a very wise voice, warm, mellow, and charming. If you love Lavyrle Spencer, then take a ride on this Western plain and discover a writer and storyteller whose work you will follow for many years to come! Whoo-ee! Watch this new gal 'cause her wagon is hitched to the stars!

I was excited to read this book, being a fan of historical romances but quickly realized this one wasn't for me. The characters needed to be fleshed out more to make their conflict more believable. The ending was obvious from the beginning with a few awkward events thrown in as plot twists but none of them seemed very accurate to me. For example our pampered Georgia peach who lacks most domestic skills assumes the running of a ranch and even goes on a trail drive within months of her arrival in Colorado- uh huh. I also found the dialogue between characters to be stilted and almost silly at points which took me out of the story. I did finish the book hoping it would get better (it did not) but there are definately better historical/christian romance writers out there to spend an afternoon reading.

This is a wonderful story by a very talented writer! I cannot wait for the next installment! So refreshing to have a love story to read that I do not have to keep away from my daughters!

When Crystal Clark's father died, she was unable to maintain the family home. So she sold it, settled the estate and accepted her aunt's invitation to stay with her in Colorado until she could decide what her next step would be. Although Crystal had been courted by a rising young politician, he had not asked her to marry him, nor did he offer to help with her finances. Now she found herself on a rustic ranch with a group of people who seemed a lot more rugged than she was accustomed to. Would she be able to adjust to a way of life she had never experienced?

Crystal's aunt Kate and the cowboys could not have been more welcoming. There was some reservation on the part of Carmen, the young woman who helped Aunt Kate with the housekeeping chores; Luke Weber, the ranch foreman, seemed to be withholding acceptance as well. But Crystal soon felt at home, and her willingness to help and her joyful nature won everybody over. She was eager to learn and proved to be an excellent student, able to do a lot more than sit on the porch fanning herself.

There are few things more rewarding to a reviewer than having the opportunity to review a debut novel that has all the elements necessary for a crackling good read with the promise of more to come. NO PLACE FOR A LADY is the first in a series planned by author Maggie Brendan, which is good news for anyone looking for a story with enough excitement to get males interested in reading a romance novel. There's never a dull moment, and Crystal gets many opportunities to demonstrate her faith and her character as tragedy strikes and she is left to run the ranch and make decisions that she could only make with God's help.

Maggie Brendan has a unique way with words, from her delightful descriptions of the Colorado Rockies to her heart-wrenching dialogue following tragedy that strikes more than once. Her characters come alive to the reader and make you wish you were there amongst such a caring and capable group. The front cover of the book asks the question "Can a Southern belle tame the heart of a rugged cowboy?" Any romance reader worth her salt knows the answer! But how this Southern belle does it is what makes us keep turning the pages and smiling.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding

If you've ever wondered what Scarlet O'Hara's life would be like as a cowgirl, then make sure you read No Place for a Lady. As a lover of southern heroines, I immediately felt a kindred spirit with Crystal Clark, the beautiful and spunky southern belle who must leave her Georgia home to live with her Aunt Kate on a cattle ranch in Aspengold, Colorado, set in the heart of the Yampa Valley. Of course, with all great historical romances, a cool and aloof love interest is waiting for her there, named Luke Weber, and just like Crystal, I had no trouble falling madly in love with him. In fact, all of the characters leapt off the page and into my heart; I could see them in every detail, even down to the stench of oiled leather and cowhide. The structure of the story kept me enthralled from the first page all the way to the last, and I thought about it long after I had finished reading. I even harbored the thought of putting on a pair of spurs and heading out west with a pair of low riders, boots and a Stetson so I could make myself at home on the saddle of a wild, majestic horse, just like Crystal and Luke! Truly, the natural beauty and simplicity of the life of a cowboy and ranch owner came to life in this story, not to mention the truth of love winning out against the odds of social division, tragedy and loss, and the conniving plans of a wonderfully interesting nemesis, April McBride. This is certainly a book that will stay on your shelf for years to come so you can share with your children and grandchildren.

Well, somehow I read the second book in the series, "Jewel of His Heart", before reading this book, which is #1. I'm sorta glad I did because I actually like the 2nd book better and may not have been inclined to buy another book had I read them in order. While "No Place for a Lady" is an enjoyable piece of Christian fiction, I agree with one reviewer that the characters are not well developed (particularly Crystal)and therefore some of their actions are not believable. Nor does this book have the depth I found in the second installment. Nevertheless, I still found it an enjoyable read and do plan on reading the third and final book in the series.

Well, I can't complain about the price (free), and I'm definitely glad I didn't pay any money for this one. It was clear from the first chapter where it was going, but I kept on reading just to see if maybe I'd get surprised. I didn't.

This reminded me of the little novels that used to sometimes be published in magazines long ago (probably showing my age here). There was just nothing to make you think, no particular interesting feature.

Oh, what a fun read! Maggie Brendan is a new author who will lasso your heart right out the gate with her debut novel, No Place for a Lady, where Southern charm happily collides with the Wild West. The first novel in Ms. Brendan's Heart of the West series, No Place for a Lady unfolds the story of Southern belle, Crystal Clark, who leaves the gentility of the Old South to head west to her aunt's Colorado cattle ranch after the death of her father. What she finds is the rugged beauty of the Colorado highcountry, along with a dangerously handsome cowboy who is as wild and unpredictable as this rugged country that has captured her heart. With vivid imagery, heart-tugging romance and a feel for the old West that will jangle your spurs, Maggie Brendan is definitely an author to watch ... and read ... over and over again.

This book is about a southern belle leaving Georgia in 1892 and moving West to Colorado in the Yampa Valley. A very descriptive account of her loves and her hardships that she encountered.

My husband really enjoyed it, thought it kept your attention to the point of wanting to know what was going to happen next. He liked it because it was so descriptive and after living in Colorado for 40 years, the book was true to the location and history.

Maggie Brendan did an outstanding job giving me the want to keep reading through the night. The descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was back in Colorado. I'm looking forward to the series!