Sandra Dallas has a way of pulling you along and leading you through rough circumstances of life. Not all endings are happy, but there is always good along the way.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a powerful, moving story set during the Great Depression, following the lives of a group of women brought together by circumstance and grit. Dallas captures the resilience of these women as they face hardship, friendship, and unexpected hope in a dusty, small-town setting. Her writing shines with empathy, making each character feel real and their struggles deeply touching.

What I loved most is how Dallas brings out the quiet strength and warmth of women supporting each other, even in the toughest times. It’s a beautifully written reminder of the strength found in community and the courage to keep going, no matter the odds.

If you enjoy historical fiction with heart and depth, Tough Luck is an inspiring and heartfelt read that will stay with you.

I’ve had to step away from Sandra Dallas since Where Coyotes Howl because it just broke my heart and then danced a tango on the pieces. Then I saw her new book description and told myself it was time to step back into the amazing literary world of Sandra Dallas like the first jump into a pool after it’s reopened for the summer. Tough Luck tells the story of Haidie who sets off to find her father after her mother dies. Along the way, she meets up with a host of strangers who become a family for Haidie and her brother Boots. Whether it is disguising herself as a boy, to learning to drive a team of oxen, to shooting and killing her first buffalo, to being a part of an attack by Indians on the plains, Haidie discovers who she is and how the people she is with provide her with all the pieces to make a family.

The strength of Haidie reminded me immediately of another book character named Duchess in a Chris Whittaker novel that I read a few years ago. Haidie, while left in the world to figure it out for herself, shows a determination to prove to herself and others that she is capable of anything she puts her mind to. Tough Luck is a delightful story with wonderfully rich characters that will make it hard to put down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on April 29, 2025.

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Tough Luck
By:Sandra Dallas

This story is part historical fiction and part adventure. Two children placed in an orphanage by their older brother decide to head west to look for their father. Along the way, they encounter scoundrels, thieves and Indians. Through hard work, determination and the assistance of some good people they meet, they make their way to the Colorado Territory.

Sandra Dallas has created such marvelous characters in this book. The main character, Haidie, is remarkable. She is full of grit and determination, and her willful spirit is endearing. You will be captivated by this youngster and find yourself cheering her on.

I thoroughly enjoy Sandra Dallas's books, and this story will not disappoint her readers. It is a romping good adventure with charming characters. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was classified as a western historical fiction, which I felt did a big disservice to the book. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I was a bit disappointed when this turned out to be a cozy western. The western slang was very strong in the first chapter but luckily calmed down after. Overall a fine book, just not what I expected or was looking for based on the description. If you’re looking for a cozy western with found family, give this a read!

A quick and captivating tale of two youngins journey pioneering to the Wild West. The author’s writing keeps you interested and the novel is written in a way you can hear the characters talking in your head.

This story follows two young “orphans” dropped off at the orphanage by their eldest brother preceding their mother’s death. The orphans, Haidie and Boots, make an escape from the orphanage with dreams to find their dad out in Colorado, his last known whereabouts.

We meet plenty of significant characters along the way that are crucial to Haidie and Boots’ journey and allow for the story to come full circle. I enjoyed all the side characters and the bits and pieces they added to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.

This is so not my style—a western?! —but is was fun! Hailie is clever and courageous, and she takes care of her little brother Boots, whatever it takes, as they travel west from the orphan’s home to find their father in the gold mines of Colorado.
Is this believable? Not at all. But still fun. I’d recommend it!

I love Sandra Dallas and her writing style. Her books draw me in from the beginning. Her historical fiction writing always teaches me something I don't remember learning about in school. Anything about American's going west always draws me in and this was no exception. I have to say I thought the ending was going to be predictable, but ended up surprising me. I loved all the friends her and her brother made along the way as well. Good story!

I enjoyed this! It felt a bit fantastical at times and I wish our main characters were a bit more developed, but I did enjoy the storyline and how well-described the Wild West felt. You really did feel as though you were along for the ride with the characters.

I think this might almost fall into a YA category or maybe it would have better reception if edited a bit to appeal to younger readers. I believe I would have loved reading it as a young girl looking up to the tough girl main character.

I really enjoyed this western tale mixed with Oregon Trail stories. While the lead character is a mere 14 years old, there are enough other characters for this to be treated as an adult fiction. Haidie and Boots--two siblings left at an orphanage by their older gambler brother at the death of their mother--setting out across the country to find their father--a gold miner who hasn't been in contact for years. It's a tale of adventure for sure with a rousing host of characters.

The two sisters were my fave characters outside of Haidie. :)
And I snickered at the reference to Theresa being "incorrigible". ;)

SUre the tale is unlikely. But it's fun with a rousing conclusion.

Two things--first off. The cover. Haidie has to cut her hair off and goes as a boy for 98% of the book. So having the long braid down the back doesn't match at all.

Secondly--there is a place near the end where they are plotting the final scheme--and Haidie is referred to as a girl by people who at that time still don't know she is a girl. So I hope the editors find that and fix it.

There is swearing G-D several times. And there are references to prostitution. And violent death of two characters in reference, not detail.

Just a solid 4 stars. Clever. Original characters.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC to review. All opinions are 100% my own.

I enjoyed reading a story about the West from the point of view of a female character. Women had different problems and challenges as exemplified in settling the West as many of the characters were unusually women! As much as I like reading about all the different female characters, the problem in the story and the resolution seemed to be too easily and perhaps not realistically solved. All in all, I enjoyed the main character, Haidie, a refreshingly honest and optimistic person despite the problems in the story. I would recommend this story to others.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s lighthearted and funny, but has some serious moments as well. I love the Colorado and US history. The characters are great and very diverse. It was a fast read. A good happy western that is not too heavy.

I loved this book! It was a rich story and Haidie was such an endearing protagonist. I don't often read historical fiction but I always love it when I do and reading this book makes me want to delve into that genre more!

The character’s voice in the first chapter was a little much and it took me awhile to get into it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the glimpse into this time period as it’s not a time period I frequently read about. Haidie is a kick-ass heroine and I would love to hear more of her further adventures!

This was initially pitched to me as similar to Kristin Hamnah and this is an instance where I believe this did the author a disfavor. She does not write like Krostin Hannah and I went into this expecting something different.

However, the author is talented and writes a cozy frontier tale. It felt a little disbelievable - like a family-friendly watered down version of the danger and adventure of the trail..... but, it also felt warm and familiar.

The characters are quirky and colourful and an overall delight. There was humour and heart and righteous indignation to be found throughout. It wasn't a heavy read and felt like it might be appropriate for an audience who enjoys the rough side of frontier living a little censored.

Story of the American West. Haidie and her brother Boots are deemed orphans after their mother dies. Haidie's older brother who is a gambler puts them in an orphanage. She knows her father who left the family to find gold is still alive and wants to go West to find him. She and her brother escape the orphanage to find him. I loved this book, it's a story of determination and outwitting the sinners of the world.

Haidie Richards and her brother escape the orphanage to find their father out west. I really liked the many characters in the journey - the mule drivers, "spinster" sisters, gambler, and of course the ugly dog. Sandra Dallas did a great job showing the sense of community engendered by people working together. I'd recommend this great blend of historical fiction and western.

If there is such a thing as a Cozy Western, <i>Tough Luck</i> is the perfect example of it.

Haidie, a 14 year-old girl, is bound and determined to make her way to Denver after her mother dies - after all, her father went there to find gold and he must have - that’s why he stopped writing. He’s too busy being rich and successful. Along with her younger brother, Boots, Haidie sets off on her adventure out west in 1863 and meets all manner of people and finds herself in all manner of situations along the way - but all with a rose-tint over it.

I really - <i>really</i> - enjoyed Haidie as a character. She took no shit and would do anything to achieve her goals. However, I felt that she wasn’t fully developed as an MC; this was an issue I had with the other characters as well. Everyone was so vibrant, but they were just caricatures.

I felt the same way about the adventure - sure, Haidie et al. run into outlaws and Native Americans (called Indians in the book), have horses stolen and have to fight for their lives - but nothing ever felt actually dangerous. Haidie’s plot-armor jumped off the page, as did her brother’s. Nothing could happen to these characters because everything had to work out in the end.

And work out it did. To be honest, when I figured out everything was going to work out for Haidie and her family so neatly, I was a bit let down. It was all too perfect for any reality of the 19th century gold rushers and I couldn't suspend my disbelief by the end.

Still, this is a good story and one that is a perfect brain-break for readers. I love stories about women in the Old West, and I think Haidie has her place in that canon.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Another NetGalley read! This book was right up my alley, loved the depiction of traveling west and the point of view. It was an easy, fun read & I would recommend it!