review || WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA { release blast }

Enter to Win a 

Digital Copy of WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA

(Two Winners)

Wagon Train Cinderella by Shirley Kennedy

Publisher: Lyrical Press (2/3/2015)
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Tasty Book Tours
Purchase from || Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes || add to goodreads

Rating: ★★★★

jump to review

Love can lead you out of the wilderness…

1851, Overland Trail to California. As a baby, Callie was left on the doorstep of an isolated farmhouse in Tennessee. The Whitaker family took her in but have always considered her more a servant than a daughter. Scorned by her two stepsisters, Callie is forced to work long hours and denied an education. But a new world opens to her when the Whitakers join a wagon train to California—guided by rugged guide, Luke McGraw…

A loner, haunted by a painful past, Luke plans to return to the wilderness once his work is done. But he can’t help noticing how poorly Callie is treated—or how unaware she is of her beauty and intelligence. As the two become closer over the long trek west, Callie’s confidence grows. And when disaster strikes, Callie emerges as the strong one—and the woman Luke may find the courage to love at last…

{ excerpt } .

“Not so fast.” He rose and clasped her upper arms. “I find you…” After a brief pause, he pulled her roughly to him so she was wrapped tightly in his arms. He pressed his lips against hers, gently at first, but then more hungrily, caressing her mouth in a kiss so searing it made her senses reel. She slid her arms around his neck, pressed close, and returned his kiss with reckless abandon. Time stood still while blood pounded in her brain and her knees trembled until finally he broke away, clasped her shoulders, and shoved her away at arm’s length. “No more.”

She stood breathless. Luke kissed me. She had imagined kissing him many a time, but now that he had, she had no idea what to say.

Before she found words, he shook his head, as if to clear his mind. “Forget this happened.” His breathing slowed. He backed a step away, appearing to have gained control over the passion that had gripped him.

But I don’t want to forget. She swallowed her words. The purposeful look in his eyes told her not to argue.

The unbelievable moment of passion had passed. He took her arm. “Let’s get back to the camp. I’ll give you a ride.”

about Shirley || Shirley Kennedy was born and raised in Fresno, California and has lived in such diverse places as Denver; Houston; Torrance, California; Bogota ,Colombia; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she received a BSc degree in Computer Sciences at the University of Calgary. She worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for several years before she went back to her first love, writing.

In her early career as an author, Shirley wrote traditional Regency romances, one for Ballantine, the rest for Signet. Later on, she branched into other genres including Heartbreak Trail, a western romance (Camel Press), The Last of Lady Lansdown, a not-so-traditional Regency romance (Camel Press), and Deadly Gamble, a contemporary Las Vegas mystery (Inkspell Press). She’s an Indie publisher, too, and has just published Looking for Lucky, the poignant, suspenseful story of a lost dog.

She lives in Las Vegas Nevada, with her older daughter, Dianne, and Brutus and Sparky, her two editorial assistants who love to nap in the sunshine next to her computer while she works on her next book.

connect with Shirley || Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

{ review } .

I love anything Cinderella.

...well, except the first 30 minutes of INTO THE WOODS.

But I digress.

This book was no different (from I love anything Cinderella, not except the first 30 minutes of INTO THE WOODS -- just to clarify).

It was cute and sweet -- not anywhere near as 'raunchy' as what I typically read, but sometimes it's nice to tame it down a little bit... you know, once every ten books or so ;)

Callie is very much a Cinderella in this book -- even her stepsisters giggle and tell her so. She's not overly pretty, she cannot read or write because her stepfamily (or what we would simply call an adoptive family) believes she should be about chores and child care only. From just before dawn, to way past dusk, she is cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing. Her family doesn't even give her a place to sleep -- while they're in the wagon or a tent, she has to find shelter on her own. On occasion, sure her stepsisters allow her a small corner of the tent, but otherwise, she's on her own.

While on trek to California, the family ends up in a trail-train with a larger group. Callie's stepfather, very much a man in the thought he wants zero help, would rather trek to California on his own, but allows the small concession of following the train for a few days' time.

In this train, the family meets Florida and her family, and her brother, Luke.

FYI, Luke is the Prince Charming in this story.

Both of Callie's stepsisters would love to dance with him during the nightly bonfires, but Luke never shows. Much to their dismay, Luke eventually starts to take an interest in Callie -- at first it's simply because he sees how her family treats her, and later it's because he appreciates her.

WAGON TRAIN CINDERELLA was a cute, jovial type of read. Like I said, much different than what I typically read -- even different from the historical-type that I sometimes read. 

{ giveaway } .

a Rafflecopter giveaway