Jack Briggs has been a scout for the army, made the trip to Oregon in three months with his pack mule and he’s decided it’s where he wants to live and this will be his final trip west. Going by wagon train is much slower, it will take six months, and they need to cross the mountains before it starts snowing.

Penelope Findley’s married to Oliver and like many people traveling the Oregon Trail they’re not prepared for the hardship, danger and have overloaded their wagon. Disaster strikes when they cross a river, one of the oxen slips, the wagon and Oliver are taken by the fast moving current.

Penelope’s suddenly a widow, she lost most of her belongings and the Long family take her in. The Longs have six children, two hired hands and Penelope tries not to be a burden. They managed to save a box of her supplies, she sells the three remaining oxen and gives the money to the Long’s. Jack notices that Penelope's losing weight, she’s struggling with walking to Oregon and he asks her to marry him. As a married man he’s entitled to twice the amount of land, he makes it sound like it will be a marriage of convenience and the couple develop feelings for each other.

Penelope has kept her past from Jack, she’s worried that if he knew her history, he wouldn’t have married her and now it’s too late to tell him. When her husband's cousin arrives at her new home, he threatens her, and will Penelope lose Jack and the future they have planned together? Penelope learns that you can't escape the past, the importance of telling the truth and Jack discovers the peace found in forgiveness.

I received a copy of A Fair Trade from NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press in exchange for an honest review, a dramatic historical romance written by Laylah Abrams, and three stars from me.

One look at Penelope Findley steals Jack Briggs breath. He’s been content to live off the land but yearns for someplace he can call home. As he leads the Findleys across the wild frontier to Oregon, he vows to make Penelope his. But she’ll have nothing to do with him as long as she’s married. When her husband dies along the way, Jack makes his move. He offers her protection and stability in a pretend marriage. He wants the free land allotted to married settlers, or so he tells her. They agree but his heart secretly worships her. When he discovers her disreputable past, will he abandon her or will his love redeem them both?



A Fair Trade is a touching historical western romance with a flawed hero and a tainted heroine. They have several obstacles to overcome but the biggest seems to be Penelope herself. She can’t seem to forget the past and it grew tiresome after awhile. The getting rid of Penelope’s husband appeared to be contrived and I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. What I loved, though, was Jack. He’s a hero after my own heart and he’s my favorite character. His attraction for Penelope which soon turns to love is clear and I kept rooting for him. The descriptive narration of the setting and landscape swept me away to the wild frontier. The ending is satisfactory and made all the hardship worthwhile.



If you’re looking for historical western romance with depth, you’ll love A Fair Trade. Fans of Lindsay McKenna will adore this romance.



Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.



My Rating: 4 stars

Jack Briggs is as rough and tumble as they come, but he is looking to settle down. He is leading Penelope and her husband to Oregon. Penelope snubs Jack until her husband is killed. Jack offers her a marriage of convenience. He would be able to receive free land in Oregon, and she would retain her independence and payment for her help. As the trip continues, their relationship changes. Will her sordid past and desire for independence keep them from developing lasting relationship? Read and find out.