A fourteen year-old girl makes a perilous journey with her much younger brother to the Wild West in search of her gold-mining Pa.

It’s 1863, Haidie and Boots bravely escape the confines of an orphanage with the belief their Pa is alive in the Colorado territory. As they journey from Illinois, they face many challenges traveling west. They join a wagon train meeting interesting characters along the way, finding a new found family to reach their father.

Haidie is a fierce, determined character. She’s resourceful, scheming and willing to do it all to be reunited with her family.

This novel captures the heart of the Wild West, and the resilience of what it takes to survive on the open plain. The author brings to life strong, independent females throughout the story, each capable of making there way just as the men.

Thank you St. Martins Press

I love Western books, and this one has some amazing characters. I loved following Haidie's journey from Kentucky to Denver. There were so many vivid details as they traveled by wagon train across the plains. My only complaint is that the story wraps up a bit too neatly. But then again - the title is Tough Luck, and maybe it was time for Haidie to experience some luck after a hard life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Sandra Dallas for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Sandra Dallas never disappoints! Another fabulous read that I truly enjoyed. I listened to and read this story, the transition was seamless and the narrator did a fantastic job. Highly recommend to anyone enjoying a strong female lead in a frontier setting.

I LOVED this book. The writing captivated me immediately and I was completely immersed in this story about the travel west. The characters were vivid and jumped off the page (and mostly into my heart). Haidie is now one of my all time favorite characters. Her voice was unique and I was just soaking in this amazing storytelling. It was a wild and interesting and fun ride and I was not ready for it to end. I haven't read many westerns, but now I need more!

Note: The audiobook narration was perfect and really immersed me into the story to help me love it even more.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this arc.

As this is more of a young-adult focused book, I can make allowances for how neatly things line up at times as well as the toned down violence. I was enjoying myself too much watching Haidi take no prisoners, forge ahead, and prove herself. Haidi may be an expert liar but if she’s given her word or someone has treated her fairly, she’ll pledge herself and mean it. Haidie also gets some more lessons in growing up.

Given her youth, Haidie could have given up on her father and on getting justice. But Haidie is no quitter. With the situation they’re in, Haidie could have stopped shielding Boots from the danger they’re in or not supported his belief that they’d find their father a rich man. But Haidie loves her brother Boots. Haidie is strong and takes this all on her shoulders and makes getting to Denver happen.

Along the way they meet several people. Most are good or are mostly good. The bad ones are fairly obvious from the get-go and usually get their comeuppance. I like that if there is a question, most of the characters are willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt until such time as their true character has been revealed. In some cases, even after a person has disappointed them, someone will still act with honor towards them because that’s what honorable people do. You can be a cheat and scoundrel but I’m not going to stoop to your level.

Though this is a relatively short book, it’s tightly written with dialog that sounds period without also sounding overdone.

A common theme in Dallas' books is the strength of women, often in the face of how the men in their lives disappoint them. Not everything goes as Haidie thought it would, she has some hard lessons to learn, and she’s allowed to be mad about some of them. There are some loser men here but thankfully enough good’uns plus one or two who appear to pull themselves up a bit. The draw for me though is watching one fourteen year old girl overcome long odds against her. B+

There's a lot to like in this tale set in 1863 that sees 14 year old Haidie disguise herself as a boy when she grabs her little brother Boots and escapes the orphanage where their brother deposited them. They go on a quest to find their father, who left years before for Colorado. They're lucky that Teresa, who works at the orphanage goes with them and that they meet Jake almost right away. Jake is a freighter who takes them with him to Omaha. Along the way they meet Cornelius, a gambler, who will reappear at a fortuitous time. Then there are the bad guys and rotten they are. And a Conestoga wagon train where they meet a pair of sisters going it on their own. This is a Western to be sure but it's also the tale of resilience and determination with a spunky heroine. To be honest, it's got a bit of a YA vibe but that doesn't mean it isn't a real page turner. There are surprises along the way (no spoilers), terrific characters, and good atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great storytelling makes for a great read.

This is my first book by Sandra Dallas and I found myself pleasantly impressed. Based on the cover, I was expecting an older character with a more serious tone, however I did enjoy this more lighthearted and engaging western style story.
14 year old Haide and her younger brother Boots escape the orphanage in Illinois that their brother Cheet committed them into after their mother died. Their father had gone west to Colorado a few years prior, caught up in the gold rush. Off to Colorado go Haide and Boots and their adventures begin. The wagon train they join has a wide cast of believable characters and the authors descriptive writing about their journey, the terrain, the challenges and obstacles pull you in. Her use of the western language adds another layer of authenticity and depth to the story.
As their journey continues, more engaging characters are introduced and their backstories keep you intrigued. There is kindness, friendship and some romance as well as violence that aligns with the story, treachery and betrayal.
While the ending may be a bit too tidy and neat, and nothing is too deep or dangerous, overall I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventurous western stories, particularly those that have a very likable and strong protagonist, who is loyal, tough, intelligent and grows up in adversity.. A solid 3.5 stars!
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a pleasure and privilege to read this. All opinions expressed are my own.

After their mom dies and their brother dumps them at an orphanage, Haidie and her younger brother Boots determine to set out west to find their father who went looking for gold.

Haidie is strong and determined, and she’s a bit of a liar. She poses as a boy and relies on her cunningness and a bit of luck to make her journey, teaming up with an interesting cast of characters.

Tough Luck was a fun adventure out West and the ride along with Haidie was enjoyable and had no shortage of escapades.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press.

Historical fiction with a found family trope? Sign me up!

This book was a lot of fun. Haidie is such a great MC, and I loved her attitude, strengths and gumption throughout the book. She was resourceful when put in different sorts of situations, and her loyalty to her people was evident. Boots was a sweet sidekick to Haidie, and I enjoyed their sibling bond. The other characters they meet along their journey were great, and I loved how much they added to the story.

The writing in this book was one of my favorite things about it. It was descriptive and immersive, and I felt like I could picture the settings easily. The dialogue between characters was engaging, and the plot was relatively upbeat. This book was adventurous in a cozy kind of way, and the stakes were just high enough to keep me interested without feeling like things were too dramatic.

Is is the best I've read, no, but it kept my interest. I found it an easy read and entertaining. A solid 3 stars.

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Sandra Dallas for the arc!

From the very first page … this story grabbed hold of my heartstrings & brought them along on a journey full of adventure, danger, mystery, grit, determination & a whole lotta “tough luck”!

I loved Haidie & her brother Boots immediately & had just the best time with them! The plot & the pacing of the story was on point with an easy & captivating flow, the dialogue & banter between characters was humorous & entertaining and that ending was perfectly satisfying!

And oh my golly, the secondary characters in this book are fantastic! Some are colorful & quirky & easy to love … and some you just want to bonk on the head with a gold miner’s spade! But together they create the perfect meld of emotions and bring just the right touch to this sweeping saga!

Although I have quite a few of Sandra Dallas’ books on my tbr/wishlist … this is the first one I have read! I loved it so much, that now I am super excited to move on to her backlist! Pretty sure she just found herself a new fan!

Haidie and her brother, Boots, set off across the prairie to find their pa. Thing is, they ran away from an orphanage (where they didn't belong) and everyone is looking for them. So Haidie pretends she is a boy and winds up in all kinds of predicaments. This would make a good summer read as it moves at a quick pace and is an easy read. My only real complaint is the overuse of the term "Indian" to refer to the indigenous people they (very rarely) encounter.. Even though this is historical fiction, and that is terminology most likely used at the time this book is set, it would have been stronger if the author referred to the tribes by name rather than a generic racial slur. It was distracting and unfortunate considering how funny the remainder of the book is.

This book wasn't what I was expecting, and I'll admit I didn't finish it. Based on the cover and description, I anticipated a literary historical fiction with complex character studies and emotional depth. Instead, I found something quite different.

The writing itself is absolutely fine - the author clearly has talent. However, I just don't think I was the intended audience for this particular story. The tone was much lighter than I expected, with more humor and adventure elements than the serious historical narrative I was looking for.

From what I read, the characters were certainly likeable, especially the protagonist's relationship with her family. The historical setting seemed well-researched, too. I can definitely see how the right reader would thoroughly enjoy this book.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a lighter touch, clever dialogue, and a faster pace, you might find this book delightful. For me, it simply wasn't what I was in the mood for at this time. Sometimes a book-reader mismatch happens, and that's perfectly okay!

I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to check it out.
4 stars for good writing.

Tough Luck is written from the perspective of a 14 year old girl who lost her mother, has a missing father, and had her brother drop her and another brother off at an orphanage in the 1860s. The Civil War is in the very far background of this novel, but as this is set in the West, it’s just mentioned in passing.

This is a story of perseverance, love, and friendship. Haidie believes that her father is alive and decides to go look for him in the mining towns of Colorado. She encounters, and relies on, many strangers to make her way across the west. I cannot imagine trying to make a cross-country trip now as a 14 year old, knowing that I’d have to take care of myself and a younger sibling. The heart that Haidie has and the clever ideas that she gets wrapped up in, make you not want to put this one down.

This was fun! A spitfire heroine, a cast of lovable, rugged side characters, the Wild West! I am also from Denver so seeing the history of my city was so interesting and fun. I thought it was engaging, kept my on toes, and had good characters. I do hope it went through sensitivity reading for Native Americans as I did not see that mentioned anywhere and I think given this book’s content that would be super important. I’d like to know more about that and if it is something that was done for this book and I’d also like information on the cover artist. I am rating it 3 stars until I know more information that would impact my overall view of this novel.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author Sandra Dallas knows how to spin an entertaining tale. I thoroughly enjoyed her book, Lost Souls, and this one is even better. Starting out in the 1800s in Illinois, Dallas tells the tale of Haide Richards and her younger brother, Boots. After their mother's death and a brief stint in an orphanage, Haide and Boots head west to Colorado in search of their father. The only thing they knew was that he was searching for a gold somewhere are Georgetown. Their adventures include wagon trains, Indians, cheaters, and a slew of other characters--some good, some bad. Haide, disguised as a boy is as brave as they come and impresses just about everyone that crosses her path. She has a distinct personality, that you can't help but like as she braves not only the elements, but the people who surround her. As Haide and Boots travel from Illinois to Colorado, she not only looks after Boots, but keeps her focus on finding her wayward father. What she finds, however, is not what she expects. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction or just a plain good story! Looking forward to Dallas's next book!

I read Where Coyotes Howl 2 years ago, I believe, and I really enjoyed that book. I went into this one thinking I'm going to really like this one, too. Although it isn't a bad book and it was a cute story, I felt it was disjointed and felt more like I should be reading an elementary school play. I felt like this lacked character development, and the chapters were so long that it was difficult to stay engaged. As I said, it was a cute story, but not one that will leave a lasting memory.

It’s 1863, 14 year old Haidie Richards and her brother make a perilous journey west to find their father who left to find gold in Colorado. Disguised as a boy, she makes the dangerous journey and meets characters upon the way.

This is an atmospheric tale of America’s West with an homage to “True Grit”. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the adventures they came across while traveling west. With a strong, all be it, young, female protagonist, she stays true to herself. This was a good quick read of Americas West in the eighteen hundreds.

This is a true gem of a book. TOUGH LUCK is a fabulous romp through the American West of the Civil War era. Our protagonist, Haitie, is a young teen searching for her missing father. She travels from the Midwest to Colorado by wagon train, horseback and hiking. She’s heard her father has a gold mine in Colorado and she believes he wants to be reunited with his children. Her younger brother is by her side as they confront all manner of novelties: unmarried spinsters, women of poor repute, animals, and crooked, crooked men. She is filled with gumption and a practiced liar herself. She has a solution for every pickle she finds herself in and each is a delight to read. I read this book in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I love a western historical fiction. 🌾 Haide and her brother Boots escape from an orphanage to head west. They hope to find their dad who left them in search of gold in Colorado. Along the way they encounter quite the cast of both lovable and despicable characters that help move the story along. It’s relatively fast paced and filled with action. ⛺️🐴 It very much reminded me of the TV show 1886 and Hell on Wheels. The twist at the end had me grinning and I kicked myself for not realizing it sooner. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy with me in exchange for my honest review.