I really enjoyed this romp through the Wild West. I think it was definitely closer to a YA book but maybe that's because of the Haidie's character. Either way, I was all in on Haidie and Boots's journey to find their father, traipsing across Indian territory and meeting up with some of the best darn characters you could hope for. While I found the story kind of flat and like I was being told it versus being immersed in it, I still loved this one and made time to sit and read whenever I could.

Keep an eye out for this historical fiction coming in April of 2025. Sandra Dallas writes another captivating story of the American frontier. After their brother puts them in an orphanage, Haidie and Boots escape to find their Pa out west. They join a couple wagon trains as they head to Colorado. ⁣
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What I loved:⁣
• Sandra Dallas’s storytelling! Her writing had me completely hooked, quickly turning the pages. ⁣
• The adventurous journey out west along the wagon train. ⁣
• The quirky cast of characters. ⁣
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What I didn’t care for:⁣
• Even though I loved how the story all came together at the end, personally I didn’t care for the way lying and cheating were glorified.

Tough Luck, told from young Haidie’s voice, pulled me into the plight of the Richards siblings and their journey from Illinois to find their Pa, whose last known whereabouts was in Colorado gold mine country. The details along the trail west felt true and possible, but once the trail came to an end in Denver, and the mines and retribution took over, I began to lose interest in the story. Even though I knew I was reading fiction, the plot began to seem far-fetched with an unbelievable HEA reunion of found friends (and abandoned family) by the last page.

I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

I loved every minute of this historical fiction / western, and I was rooting for Haidie. This truly celebrated what it means to be a spunky young girl, and was a powerful read that will stick with me for some time.

A fun little adventure.

I enjoyed following the kids' trip west, and I liked some of the characters they met along the way, especially Jake and his dog, and the two "old ladies".

However, the "bad" characters are too bad and for no reason - this might have been okay for the main villain at the end, but along the way she meets characters that are greedy/selfish/disloyal etc. just for the sake of being so and they make decisions against their own interest, which leads to their (minor spoiler) horrific deaths. Aside from being a bit gruesome for what otherwise seems like a story for kids, it added nothing to the story and didn't make sense. Also, the ending started to get a bit goofy.

This powerful story, an homage to Charles Portis’ classic ‘True Grit’, took me on a grand adventure.

I saw so much of myself in the spunky 14-year-old heroine, Mary Haidie Richards, from Smoak, Illinois. I loved that she was tenacious, resourceful, and resolute. I cheered her on from the get-go.

I loved the setting, the descriptive writing, the author’s sense of humour (Book of George and the wedding ceremony in ‘Latin’), the pacing and the individual and realistically crafted characters.

When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about this story and the characters!

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

When their mother dies, Cheets, Haidie, and Boots are left on their own. Their father went west to Colorado four years earlier to discover a gold mine and make his fortune. Cheets, the oldest, places the other two in an orphanage and tries to succeed as a gambler. Eventually, Haidie (a girl) and Boots (a boy) decide to run away and find their father. Since most people at that time (even in this time) feel that a young girl would not be capable of anything, Haidie decides to dress as a boy.

After many adventures and meeting a variety of very interesting and realistic characters, the brother and sister reach Colorado. If they find their father, will he want to see them? Is there a gold mine? How will they survive? Read this exciting book to find the answers.

That was an adventure. I absolutely loved this story and what I loved even more was the main character. A definite recommend.

Thanks publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else.

A completely delightful and very often funny book. There are unsavory sections; they do not make the book sad. The main character is Haidie Richards, a hard scrabble and, by her account, great liar, fourteen year old. She and her younger brother are put in an orphanage by her older, money grubbing, gambling brother when their mother dies. Haidie believes that her father, who left them to work mines in Colorado, is alive and deeply missing them. Haidie concocts a plan to get herself and her brother free from the orphanage and their adventure across the plains begins. Haidie is a character and so very enjoyable to read. It is her telling the story that creates a memorable novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: Tough Luck
Author: Sandra Dallas
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Historical Fiction, Western
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 288

Story is based in 1863 when Haidie and her little brother Boots who have been abandoned and decide to escape from the orphanage where they’ve been dumped and go west to find their father. Their father took off a few years ago for Denver to try and strike it rich in the gold rush, their mother just died and their older brother sold off the farm and dumped them at an orphanage.

This was my first author Sandra Dallas – it has been on my TBR list since July 17. I honestly don’t remember why I requested it as I am not big on Historical Fiction/Western stories.
Found out I was in for a surprise when this adventure!!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 29, 2025.

In 1863 a girl risks all to look for her father in Colorado Territory, not knowing what she will find. A great American West story.

I absolutely fell in love with this scrappy heroine! Haidie, a self-proclaimed liar, along with her younger brother, Boots, springs herself from an orphanage and heads out across the country to try and find their father who went West to look for gold but didn't return. Along the way, they come in contact with all kinds of unscrupulous characters but some solid friends as well. I can't wait for it to be published so I can share it with everyone I know!

This is the story of two young children, Haidie and Boots, who are placed in an orphanage by their older brother when their mother passes. They eventually run away and head west in search of their absent father, who is believed to be mining gold. The trip west is not easy and along the way they are faced with dangers they never imagined, like Indian attacks, scoundrels , and thieves. But, they also encountered people who would end up becoming more family then friend. The two learned to rely on each other and work hard. When they eventually get to Colorado, what they find is nothing like what they had anticipated!
Fast paced, adventure set in the late 1800's amid the gold rush and wagon trains. I loved the characters and all their different personalities. The plot was different than most and kept me hooked from cover to cover. Great historical fiction.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Sandra Dallas’ book Where Coyotes Howl and Tough Luck didn’t disappoint. I love the female lead in this one. Let me introduce you to 14-year-old Haidie Richards. After her mom dies Haidie’s older brother sells the farm and puts Haidie and her younger brother, Boots in an orphanage. Well, Haidie is having none of that so she and Boots escape to go west to look for their dad in Denver. She cuts her hair, dons some trousers and decides to be a boy so that she can be allowed to help with the oxen in mules. Haidie is resilient and strong in both body and mind. She was such a wonderful caretaker of her brother Boots, the animals in her care and even the other travellers in her group. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.

This is a short book that packs a punch with very long chapters yet they didn’t feel long while I was reading them. This was such a beautifully heartbreaking story and the characters felt like real people I’d like to meet. I came to appreciate how hard it must have been to live through that time period and Dallas always does that with her books. I love the way the plot unfolded and how well the story flowed and the ending left me feeling satisfied.

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.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #ToughLuck #SandraDallas #StMartinsPress

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.