Sandra Dallas’s “Tough Luck” is a heartwarming tale of 14-year-old Haidie and her younger brother Boots, orphaned after their mother’s death. Years later, Haidie sets out to find their father, who journeyed West for gold. Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, the audiobook is captivating, with her perfect twang bringing each character to life.

This book follows a sister and brother on their adventures to Colorado to find their father and the interesting cast of characters meet along the way! Not quite the type of plot that keeps me riveted but certainly enjoyable!

The Richards family has a farm in the Midwest in the 1800's. The father left for Colorado to find gold, leaving the oldest son, Cheater, to run the farm and daughter Haidie to look after her younger brother Boots. The mother died four years later, and Cheater sold the farm to gamble on riverboats and put Hadie and Boots in an orphanage. Hadie had other ideas and she and Boots snuck out of the the orphanage to head to Colorado to find their dad. She cut her hair and put on pants and passed herself as a boy and talked their way onto rides across the country to find their dad. Along the way they met various characters that added depth and interest to the story.

I enjoyed listening to this historical novel. I thought the plot was interesting, the characters well developed, the story believable and the narration well done. The history is not overly complex, and the timeline adds a setting for the story. I recommend it to people who enjoy early light American historical fiction.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Macmillan audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

I had such a great time with Haidie! This was my first book by Sandra Dallas, but it certainly won’t be my last. Dallas crafts a charming and heartfelt story, one that feels like a refreshing departure from the influx of WWII historical fiction. The setting and time period are richly drawn, offering a glimpse into a less frequently explored era.

What truly made this book special was its cast of side characters. Each one was wonderfully developed, with compelling arcs that added depth to the story. While the ending wrapped things up a little too neatly for my taste, the journey to get there was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind too much.

Listening to the audiobook elevated the experience even further. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration was outstanding—she infused each character with the perfect twang, bringing them to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. If you’re considering picking this one up, I highly recommend the audiobook format!

A lovely, feel-good historical read that I’m glad I didn’t miss.

Thank you to Sandra Dallas, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1863, and Haidie's Pa has gone west in search of gold, while she and her two brothers stay on the farm with their Ma. But when Ma dies, and Haidie's older brother sells the farm, she and her younger brother Boots wind up at an orphanage. Desperate to find their Pa, Haidie and Boots take off on their own journey west, where they encounter a colorful cast of characters—some friends, some foes. Will Haidie and Boots find their Pa out west? Or will they be forced to live out the rest of their childhoods at an orphanage?

This book is a HOOT! It's a clever, action-packed ride of rip-roaring fun. I just loved Haidie! She's quick-witted, strong and capable. I loved the found family vibes with some of the folks they meet on their journey west, and the shenanigans they get into along the way. I loved the author's last book, Where Coyotes Howl, so much, though it was a sad and somber account of life on the prairie. And while this one was completely different—more lively and upbeat—i enjoyed it just as much! I can't wait for whatever Dallas writes next!

I was already halfway into this book when the audiobook became available on NetGalley, so I finished it up on audio and WHAT A TREAT it was!!! Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is exceptional! Her performance is jaw-droppingly good, with a cinematic quality to it. She flawlessly voices a large cast of characters, each with a distinct and unique voice. What a performance!!! Highly recommend this format!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC.

Who me? Reading a Western? This is a Sandra Dallas novel, so yes, I am...

In 1863, when their mother dies, Haidie Richards, 14, and her younger brother, Boots, 10, live in an orphanage, but not for long. They soon escape and plan to head from Smoak, IL, to the Colorado Territory. They're in search of their father, Manley, who left four years ago with a severe case of gold fever and high hopes of striking it rich.

Boots and Hadie, disguised as a boy, gain passage with folks traveling to the Western Territory and learn hard and fast lessons along the way. Once they arrive in Colorado, their lessons are far from over...

"Tough Luck" is a story I enjoyed with a compelling storyline, wonderful characters, and simple descriptive writing that immerses you in the timeline of the 1860s and the culture of the West. I love Hadie, our main character, who held the weight of this story on her tiny shoulders. Dallas made a wise choice by placing the first-person narration of this story in the hands of this brave character. She is a little spitfire!

This was an immersion read; the audiobook is narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, who recounts the story flawlessly in an accentuated voice appropriate for the timeline and delivers the perfect first-person voice for Hadie. The result is an entertaining listening experience.

This was not the first Sandra Dallas novel I have read. I read her second novel, "The Persian Pickle Club", five years ago and loved it. I must admit, though, I fell in love with that beautiful, colorful cover first. Take a look for yourself and see if you agree.

"Tough Luck" was enjoyable to read and listen to, and just as I said when I finished "The Persian Pickle Club", I need to read more from this talented author!

4.25⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Sandra Dallas for a DRC and an ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The audio for this novel was very engaging, highly recommend!

14-year-old Haidie and her younger brother Boots are left in an orphanage by their oldest brother after their mother passes away. Despite the lack of communication over the years, Haidie is determined to find their pa, who set out West to mine for gold. Tough Luck follows the pair on a wild adventure as they make their journey from Illinois to Colorado.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listen!

Loved this so much. It's been awhile since I did a historical fiction novel. They used to be the only thing I read through all of high school. This book sucked me in right away, thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, and the characters and plot made for an enjoyable listen. I've already added more from this author to my reading pile.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the audiobook so much! I had the honor of reading it first but listening gave me a whole new perspective. The narration was so engaging it made me love it all over again I can’t wait for my own copy!!! Here is my honest opinion of the book from when I read it!
Beautifully written, Tough Luck pulled me back with Haidie and Boots to the Wild West and the Gold rush. I found myself holding my breath while reading, angry and yelling at the book and even crying at times. There was love and betrayal, joy and sadness, suffering and contentment along the way. At the end, I felt as though I myself had taken a the long journey with these endearing children in search of their Pa. Sandra Dallas is an absolutely amazing author with an incredible skill of telling a story.. I cannot wait to hold my own copy hopefully I will be able to get an autographed one!!!

Unfortunately I DNF’d this at 20% because it felt too juvenile. Was this written for YA or Adult? I was confused. I couldn’t handle the constant goofy old-timey sounding metaphors. The main character was supposed to be “scrappy”, but she just sounded like a caricature. And I kept feeling offended, like the characters were making fun of me for believing in God.

However I did LOVE the audiobook narrator!

4 stars

This is a charming, uncomplicated book, and prospective readers - regardless of their feelings about Westerns - will find a lot to like here.

Haidie and her younger brother Boots are adrift after the death of their mother and more recent unpredictable behavior of their ambitious but also irresponsible father. Since Haidie is not a typical child, she puts that adventurous spirit to incredible use and sets out, Boots in step and new masc identity in full effect, and takes matters into her own hands. She's going to find that wild father of hers one way or another.

As a person who sometimes struggles with the pacing of Westerns, I came into this read cautiously optimistic. My hopes became reality. Haidie is a very likeable character, and there are a number of other folks who appear and add spice to the journey. This is a great coming of age tale, and there's a nice dash of feminism sprinkled in, at least in accordance with what's realistic for the period.

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. It's an enjoyable book, but I have an added recommendation to read this as a palate cleanser between overly cerebral and/or dark texts. This is relatively light and easy, and in this creepy world, that's exactly what I need.

4.5

This is a clean story about a 14 year old girl and her brother set in the 1860s. Their father went west to find a gold mine, their ma passed away and their older brother sells the farm and places them in an orphanage. Haidie decides to run west to find their pa. She dressed like a boy on the trail. The story takes her and younger brother to Denver and lots of escapades take place there and along the way. This is a book that is good for many ages, i would let my 10 & 13 year old read it.

It reminded me of books from my youth and just really enjoyed it.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrator did a great job with the different characters.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my gifted copy.

1863. Fourteen year old Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots are dumped in an Illinois orphanage by their oldest brother after their mother passes away. Determined to reunite with their father who has gone to Colorado to mine gold, the siblings adventure begins when they run away from the orphanage. Disguised as a boy, Haidie and Boots eventually join a wagon train and journey through the Wild West and into Indian country. Wild adventure and eccentric characters abound throughout Tough Luck.
I loved the audiobook and the narrator Joel Richards gives a terrific performance. I’ve been hooked on Westerns since I watched Gunsmoke and Bonanza as a kid, and I loved every minute of this novel.
Highly recommend!

Sandra Dallas writes some of the best American historical fiction on the market. Her latest centers on a young girl and her brother in the old west during theGold Rush. Looking for her missing father, Haidie disguises herself as a boy and manages defined plenty of mayhem along the way. Filled with fascinating historical details and a spunky heroine, this is a must read