This was a good book, it just wasn't the book for me.

It has everything I like in a book:

- Main characters who are slightly broken
- The leading lady has learned to be strong
- A dash of faith and family
- great supporting cast of likeable characters.

But nothing doing, after I got three quarters into the book, I couldn't go any further.

The pacing was too slow and I couldn't fall in love with the western setting.

If you love westerns, like the above points and don't mind a slower pace, then this book is for you.

This was my first book by this author but it won't be the last I really enjoyed it. I love a good historical western type romance with a tough female character. I also really enjoyed the male character and the inter struggles both characters had.

Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight is a winner! Willa is one tough tomboy who takes charge without a second thought. When a loan is coming due she has to find a way to get the money. She finds a tracker, Gideon Hartley but he has problems of his own. The story is one you feel like you can feel their pain, torment and triumphs as they join up as a team to claim the bounty money and save the farm. I was gifted a copy by the publisher through NetGalley. My opinion and review is voluntary.

I really enjoyed this book by Linda Goodnight. I received this book for my honest review from Netgalley. Although it took me awhile I was able to finish it:). Just needed time! Willa is a spinster, plain and simple she thinks. Her dad is killed by an outlaw and she is determined to get the killer and bring him to justice. She hires Gideon after a lot of talking, and helping him with his alcohol addiction. He has to be clean in order to be focused on the task of finding the killer. Gideon of course does not want Willa to go with him, but she will not take no for an answer. I liked all of the scenes and parts in the book that Willa went into to help Willa get the thieves. Although both her and Gideon almost died. Great Read!

After her father's murder, Willa is left to manage the ranch and her two younger sisters. Trouble with a slippery banker whose calling in their loans and a pushy suitor she's not interested in, lead her to conclude the only way out is to hunt down her father's kill and use the bounty to pay off her debts.

But she needs help.

Gideon's well-known as the best tracker in the region, but he's stuck in a rut of alcoholism. If she can convince him to guide her, can he get sober, and stay that way to accomplish their mission. Trust is hard to earn.

Willa's a strong, independent woman who considers herself well into spinsterhood. But as they travel together her heart begins to hope, until she finally realizes the danger she's put them in. If you enjoy action in a western setting you'll like this one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This historical western romance made me feel like I was thrown back in time with these characters and experiencing things right along with them. The book started with a slow build, showing the desperate financial situation the Malone sisters found themselves in. Willa’s determination to find the man who killed her father and bring him in for the bounty was an unheard of thing for a woman to attempt and extremely dangerous.

What a great twist for Willa’s one hope for an experienced tracker to be a man who was in the clutches of an addition to alcohol. I couldn’t help but like Gideon! He had some extremely tragic events from his past that drove him to drink. His journey to freedom from the hold that the alcohol had on him lasted throughout the entire story and was not an easy one. He was a great character who ended up eventually showing great strength both in character and in faith. His faith journey was beautifully woven into the book naturally, too.

I loved the way the romance grew between these two. It was realistic and slow building, with two people who were full of doubts regarding whether they were worthy of the other person’s love. There were some harrowing moments of danger in this story, as well, and a very satisfying conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Set in 1890 Oklahoma, Claiming Her Legacy is a well-written, inspirational story featuring Willa Malone, a feisty and tenacious heroine, and Gabriel Harley, a hero with a troubled past and an “aching soul.” A dangerous journey to seek justice and save Willa’s homestead ensues for this unlikely couple. Gabriel also experiences a gripping journey of faith and forgiveness. This captivating story grabbed me from the first line—“Papa was dead. Murdered.”—and held me til the end. After a somewhat slow start, the plot moves at a steady pace with lots of action. The characters, main and secondary, are well-developed and compelling. I especially liked Isaiah with his spiritual insight and guidance that helped Gabriel deal with his drinking problem and feelings of unworthiness. Ms. Goodnight’s flowing style and excellent storytelling skills make for an easy, enjoyable reading experience. I recommend this book especially for fans of western and inspirational fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**Thank you to NetGalley Love Inspired, and Linda Goodnight for allowing me this ARC ebook version in exchange for my honest review.

If you enjoy inspirational historical romance this book is your genre! The book takes place in Oklahoma in the 1890's with a very 'way out west' feel. The themes are strong in redemption, as well as very era consistent for issues in the west. Definitely recommend picking up this book!

Three adult half-sisters struggle to maintain a small farm in the early days of the Oklahoma Territory. Their father, a kind and trusting man, (but too often drunk and foolish) left them to seek gold, and was murdered. His legacy was crushing debt that will leave them homeless in a few short months if they don't starve first (he also ran up credit for food and a claim stake).

The oldest sister, Willa, is pragmatic. She must make a miracle happen (or very near it), and she can only see one nearly impossible way; track the outlaw who killed their father and collect the large reward. Her first challenge; find a tracker, second, convince and dry-out the only tracker available.

Gideon, a tracker of some fame, has been blotting out horrible memories with alcohol for so long, drying-out might kill him. His biggest problem; he's sure Willa will die without his 'sober' help, and he's nearly sure he isn't strong enough to resist whisky.

Charlie, killer and gang leader. His biggest threat; underestimating a very determined woman with two sisters to save from starvation (or marriage to a cockroach of a man), and a tracker who has to keep her alive.

I enjoyed most of this book, but it followed some of the typical romance story formulas which made the man appear generous and noble, and the woman just waiting to hear him speak again (and tell her when to sit or eat or wait, so she can obey immediately for loving her). I had higher hopes for this.

CLEAN READ = Thank you!

Also, I struggled to see how some of Gideon's poetry or scripture (etc.) quotes applied to circumstances, sometimes there were too many.

Debauched = I disagree with Willa's use of this word. It is traditionally used to mean debased in a sensual (sexual) way. It was a term used for women who were caught in affairs or who had run away with a man and had relations. Willa only knows that Gideon is a drunk. It would be shocking and un-Christian for her to assume anything else without evidence. Dissipated would be more accurate.

3/5 Stars
-1 Star No consideration for Willa's inexperience with relationships
-1 Star Word choices, typical romance formula

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

#ClaimingHerLegacy #NetGalley
#ChristianHarlequin
#ChristianHistorical Fiction
#ChristianRomance
#CleanHarlequinRomance
#LoveInspiredBook
#AWesternHistoricalNovel

Claiming Her Legacy is the first book I’ve read by Linda Goodnight even though she’s authored a good number of books.

Goodnight brings the reader along as Willa and her two half-sisters fight to keep their home and Gideon fights his demons with whiskey. The first half of the book is focused on character development and setting up the second half of the book and drags once in a while, but the wait is worth the payoff.

And I can’t help but wonder whether we’ll see some of these secondary characters in future books.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What a magnificent book! The lady on the cover reminded me of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. In this case, judging the book by its cover was justified! Willa, in Oklahoma, 1890, needed a guide, Gideon, to help her in her quest to capture the man who killed her father. Then she could collect the bounty reward and save her home, which she shared with her 2 sisters. While Willa showed faith and bravery, Gideon needed to get beyond his addiction to alcohol, and working with Willa was his motivation. How the enjoyable story comes together was a true Western story with the good guys defeating the bad guys.

Oklahoma, 1890

Frontier women don’t ride off alone to track an outlaw—not even women as capable as tomboy spinster Willa Malone. But Willa desperately needs the bounty money offered for her father’s killer if she’s to keep their homestead and take care of her sisters. That means she needs an expert tracker's help.

Gideon Hartley has the skill, but the handsome trail guide also has a troubling secret… Gideon has spent years trying to numb his pain with whiskey. Little by little, their quest—and Willa’s belief in him—is restoring the sense of purpose he thought he’d lost. Journeying into the heart of danger, they’ll have to face down the past together if they hope to protect their future…

I typically do not post back cover blurbs, chapter and verse, in my blog reviews but I'm doing so with Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight because it makes it patently obvious why I downloaded this ARC so fast I nearly broke my one-click finger. Longtime blogger readers know that I love gritty historical westerns and at least twice a year I lament that Maggie Osborne retired from writing. I've been on a, largely, fruitless search since then for writers who consistently write "gritty historical westerns" and deliver the kinds of heroines that were Osborne's stock in trade. So yes, I nearly broke a finger downloading this ARC even though I knew going into it that it was an inspirational and therefore not entirely "in the mold" of Osborne.

Willa Malone is my favorite sort of heroine - the no-nonsense, "plain" tomboy who takes care of two younger, prettier, and "fragile" sisters (or are they?). All the sisters had different mothers and all of them are gone now. Daddy, being a dreamer, takes out a loan and heads off to chase gold. What he finds are some claim-jumpers who rob him blind and kill him. Now the vile banker is calling in the loan and Willa has to find a way to keep the homestead or they're left with nothing but undesirable options. I mean, the best of them is her youngest sister with the deformed foot marrying a much older man who rarely bathes and wants a broodmare. Willa's plan? To track down the outlaw who murdered their pa. Yeah, yeah - Daddy deserves justice but Willa is much more interested in collecting the bounty on his head. But for that she needs a tracker and the best one around is a drunk who keeps falling into whiskey bottles.

Gideon Hartley left his Texas home because of a tragedy, and Daddy Issues. Gideon took exception to many things, but Daddy swindling the sharecroppers was near the top of the list. So he takes his tracking skills and starts bounty hunting. Except, of course, there's that pesky past tragedy - which leads to a whole lotta drinking, meaning Gideon is well and truly an alcoholic. Even if he didn't think Willa was nuts, he's in no condition to hit the trail.

Of course we know what eventually happens. Gideon agrees to help Willa and off they go. The problem is that this doesn't happen until the 60% mark. What happens before then? Well, a lot of set-up, plus the author decides it's better for Gideon to dry out before they hit the trail. I mean, I get it - I just wish she had sped up the proceedings a bit.

While this is a gritty historical western, it's still set in a small town (of course it is - sigh) but at least Goodnight makes it interesting. Sweet Clover is full of interesting secondary characters and there's a dark underbelly (the vile banker, the saloon, the prostitutes who work upstairs...) so it's not all sunshine and roses and the 19th century equivalent of cupcake shops. Bonus points for the moment in the story when Willa realizes that maybe the saloon girls aren't universally "bad" and perhaps aren't there because they "want" to be.

The inspirational aspect of this story is well done. For one thing I really appreciated that Willa doesn't fall for "magical thinking" (God will provide...) - she's very much of the God helps those who help themselves school. Gideon's return to his faith centers around forgiveness - mainly forgiving himself and working to put his baggage with Dear Old Dad behind him.

The last 40% doesn't let me down, and while readers should not expect any sex scenes (duh, inspirational) it's been a dog's age since I've read a book where I've anticipated the first kiss so much.

Was it exactly what I wanted it to be? Well, no. I'm pretty sure Osborne isn't masquerading as Goodnight. But this was a solid reader and should (hopefully) be the start of a series. I need more historical westerns y'all. Here's hoping this sells well.

Final Grade = B-

Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight is a Western Historical Romance. The characters are well-written, and this book shows a lot of the problems that happen in the Old West. This is a great read that will stay with you long after reading.

This book is so good! It's a well written Western Historical Romance that hooks you on the first page. It's full of adventure, danger, suspense and clean romance. The author brings the book to life with her words, and you feel like you are there. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HARLEQUIN via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was simply so, so good. I was immediately gripped and drawn into the story by the desperation of Willa, a young tomboy spinster who carries the burden of paying off her murdered father’s staggering debt or else losing her family’s homestead to an unscrupulous banker. Her plight weighed on me heavily especially when her only option for raising the needed money was to hire unwilling Gideon, a handsome and charming trail guide who was haunted by his past and was living from drink to drink as he battled his demons. Their journey was filled with suspense and it kept me turning pages late into the night. I loved the way the author skillfully helped the reader understand her characters’ thoughts, motivations, and changing feelings throughout the book as they grew close and began to care for one another. This book is definitely a keeper and one I will read again. Highly recommend! I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

These characters! "Plain and simple" Willa Malone is a tough little woman who considers herself a spinster who must care for her younger sisters since their father has been murdered. She will do anything to protect them and their property. The local banker is calling in a loan their father took out. The only way Willa can see fit to pay that loan is to go after the outlaw who stole his life. The bounty will provide the money she requires. She just needs a guide to go with her.
Gideon Hartley, poetry spouting gambler, an alcoholic who daily drowns his heart, tamping down horrific nightmare inducing memories, has a reputation for the best guide in the territory.
What a battle of wills when these two tangle. Two flawed and broken people who's stories lead to a magnetic plot with endearing, at times heart-rending, scenes throughout. What a powerful story! Wonderful characters and a smooth flow to the story from the first page drew me in. The handling of the alcoholic illness is accurate and honest in my opinion.
I want to thank the publisher, Love Inspired, author Linda Goodnight and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this book. This is my unsolicited opinion, I enjoyed this book very much and want to read the stories of the two younger Malone sisters.

I am a sucker for a good frontier story. I blame Little House on the Prairie for a portion of that devotion, but I think it’s more about the grit and determination it must’ve taken to live during such primitive times, and Claiming Her Legacy shows a side that is hard to imagine.

Willa Malone is not only mourning the death of her father, who was killed in a senseless robbery while mining for gold, but is also tasked with caring for her two younger sisters, working their flailing homestead, and trying to repay the many debts that were left by her father. The desperation this poor woman feels is palpable, and my heart went out to her, almost feeling the weight mount on my own shoulders. She didn't ask for this lot in life, but she is fighting with everything she has, as this is truly her last shot. Talk about strength! I can only imagine that desperation!

Gideon Hartley, the washed up bounty hunter that Willa pesters like a gnat to help her find her father’s killer, is a character we all can identify with. He has quit the tracking life and has succumbed to escapism in the form of drinking, a vice that he can’t seem to free himself from. Though not all of us can understand that kind of thirst I believe we all have had a similar struggle in some form or another, and thus can identify the inner struggle that Gideon endures throughout the story.

Claiming Her Legacy is a novel that has it all. Suspense, intrigue, love, and hope shroud this story, enveloping you in this world. You will find yourself cheering for the girls, hoping that they will all get their happily ever after. They are truly inspiring in their own right, flaws and all. The ending is sheer perfection and I found myself with a goofy grin on my face, completely satisfied with this novel.

It’s truly a charming read and one that I highly recommend.

Willa Malone thought it was a good idea to track down her father’s killer so she could claim the reward for his capture. She would use the money to pay her father’s debts and save the family’s homestead. The only things is she needs Gideon, a broken and has been tracker to help her locate this outlaw.

Gideon has so much guilt for a family tragedy and hatred for his father that he let it nearly ruin his life. It was rewarding to see that he was able to put the past behind him once and for all. It was so encouraging to see that his past did not need to affect his future. Allowing God to help him overcome his weakness and find forgiveness made this an uplifting story.

Relying on her strong sense of justice and Christian conviction, Willa accomplishes the impossible task of going into the unlawful west to look for her father’s killer. If you are familiar with the story of True Grit, Willa reminds me of Maddie Ross. She was my favorite character because of her determination and spunk.

I received a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Claiming Her Legacy had the perfect pace as it set the scene and introduced the characters before they embarked on their adventure. Linda Goodnight wrote each side character with just the right amount of story and mystery that I found myself throughout the book hoping that each of them gets their own story. Willa and Gideon are my new favourite couple, two strong people battling their own weaknesses and insecurities while longing for love and meaning. I just love Willa, she’s tough, practical and no-nonsense but deep inside she’s like every other female who just wants to be treasured and beautiful. She felt so real with her mix of staunchness and vulnerability. If you’re like me and love a ‘reformed bad boy’ trope, then Gideon will hit you in all right places. There’s a delightful romantic tension throughout the book and though the build up is slow I didn’t even notice or mind because I was so caught up in the story. And like any slow build up, the ending is sooo satisfying!

Claiming Her Legacy is a wonderful story filled with redemption, justice, love, and healing. The characters of Willa & Gideon are portrayed by showing their strengths as well as their flaws. I enjoyed reading about their growth as the story unfolded. Willa is independent, and strong beyond what she should be, also very determined. Gideon, taken over by hatred, regret, and alcohol lives haunted by the past. Together, they bring out the best in each other.

The storyline is filled with adventure, peril, and times of great danger. Also, times of compassion. The story had me running all the emotions. A very well-written and inspirational God-filled story which I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of the book and a positi