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!

I've been reading Sandra Dallas books for a long time so I was so excited to get an advanced copy of her newest. I read it so quickly because it captivated me from the very beginning. This book is just full of great characters and good story lines. The main character is very likeable and definitely had me rooting for her throughout the book. It made me laugh, cry and everything in between. Definitely did not disappoint! I highly recommend you pick it up. Sandra Dallas once again brought a great story full of wild adventures, heartbreak, and a little history all rolled up into one great book.

The tale of a fourteen year old girl who, disguised as a boy, escapes an orphanage with her little brother in tie. She joins a wagon train to Colorado in search of her father, who left 4 years ago for the gold rush. This was a solid 4 star read and I enjoyed the trials of the main character as she faced the challenge of being a female in the old West

In this first book I’ve read by Sandra Dallas, Tough Luck (St. Martin's Press 2025),  Haidie Richards and her brother, Boots, are orphaned when their father disappears and their mother dies. Their brother though eighteen doesn't feel capable of raising them--really, he'd rather pursue his gambling career--so stashes his siblings in an orphanage. That doesn’t suit Haidie. Despite being young, she is a talented planner and accomplished liar and figures out how to escape the orphanage and make their way across the country to the Colorado Territory where her father's last letter said he was mining gold. She faces down every challenge despite her youth in a clever and entertaining way, which makes for a delightful story of bravado and quick thinking with enough twists to satisfy any action lover. The characters are well developed and easy to like. The plot never slows or bores. For those intrigued by the expansion of America's Western frontier, especially that part powered by the hunt for gold, this is highly recommended.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas tells the story of Haidie and her brother Boots as they go west to search for their father after their mother dies. In 1863, adventure and mortal peril are a constant battle for the kids as they make grand friends along the way. The characters are full of grit and sass, you will enjoy meeting them as the story progresses.

I would recommend this book for all readers especially historical fiction readers who enjoy feeling immersed in a time period long past. I found the descriptions of traveling by wagon reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie and the main character is full of spunk, courage, and tenacity. This book explores the Wild West which makes it stand out as a different setting and time period for books out there today.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Old time western. Lots of fun characters and adventures.
We follow 14 yr old Haidie and her 10 yr old brother Boots across the rugged plains to Denver. We experience life on a Wagon Train, an Indian attack, bandits and gamblers.
But more wonderful people than bad.
Never a dull moment.
Cute, warm story.
I was given this ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I would say this is just an ok book. We jump right in and the writing style really threw me off. I understand what the author was doing with trying to write in the slang and tone the characters would’ve spoken in but man that was rough lol. Overall once you get into it, the story was pretty good. However I don’t think I would be recommending this book to anyone.

This book had quite a few quirky characters that are sure to keep your attention. The story was well written and it held my interest for majority of the book. The last 20% of the book was confusing in parts seemed choppy. Overall- just another "OK" book. Didn't love it, didn't hate it- just wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I have read other books set during this time period that were better.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for free. This review is voluntary and mine alone.

I love westerns and the gold rush era in general, so I was thrilled when I came across the book and it did not disappoint. My favorite part about this book were the characters. Each had a distinctive voice and personality, it felt like I had met these people before in real life. The plot of the main characters going on a journey to find their father was perfectly paced and the ending was well done.

Great story of resilience and ingenuity.

Set in the Gold Rush days, the Richards family is torn apart - their dad has left to strike it rich in the Colorado gold mines, their mother dies, and their oldest brother puts Haidie and her younger brother Boots into an orphanage left to fend for themselves. Haidie devises a plan for them to escape and head west to find their father.

The trials and tribulations of heading west were so well described, as were all of the characters met along the way. Particularly enjoyable for those that enjoy westerns and anything from the gold rush era.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sandra Dallas for the eARC.

Sandra Dallas is a new to me author and I enjoyed the strength that the characters demonstrated through their many trials. I loved the adventure as they embark on a journey to Colorado and doing what it takes to survive shows courage and determination. Definitely a must read book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a little like a fairy tale Western. We share the adventures of Haidie and Boots who have been placed in an orphanage after the death of their mother. Both Haidie and Boots want to search for their father who left to mine for gold in Colorado, but must escape from the orphanage first. And so their adventure begins.
As interesting as Haidie and Boots are, the characters they encounter along the way are just as much fun. Theresa (a young novice nun, but not by choice), Jake Crowfoot, Corny, Ben Bondurant, and the old maid sisters are all charming and yes, too good to be true, but if you set aside your disbelief, the adventures are too enjoyable to disregard.
A fast and entertaining tale that lightens the spirit. After reading some books that focus on the other side of humanity (and there are a couple of those here, too) I found the overall effect was of a palate cleanser. A fantasy of sorts, but a pleasurable distraction that kept me involved.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I have never read a book from Sandra Dallas that I did not like and I can say that Tough Luck was one of the best. How someone can think up some characters and bring them to life is beyond me. Each character was unique and someone that was bad but so good. Conservations were genuine but stuck to the times. I believe anyone could pick up this book and enjoy it.

Summary: After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are sent to an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and they haven't heard from him in quite some time. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.

Haidie decides to take matters into her own hands, and escape the orphanage to go find their father. Tough Luck follows Haidie and Boots harrowing journey across the western states to be reunited with their father with plenty of adventures along the way.

Review: Tough Luck is told in the voice of 14-year-old Haidie, which really adds to the story - her voice is so fresh, genuine and funny. The narrative is fast paced and action packed and has so much heart. The writing is fairly simple overall but it really worked for me. This is a fun, lighthearted read full of colorful characters. Although some of the topics are serious, Haidie's storytelling has a flair of humor and entertainment - and doesn't take itself too seriously.

4 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.