Melissa Lenhardt

This genre-bending novel (western, historical fiction, gender roles) is centered on a group of straight, queer, and transgender women who have been exploited or abused by men and form an outlaw gang in late 19th century Colorado. It is also set in the height of the women’s suffrage movement. For some, like Hattie LaCour and Margaret Parker, who were run off their ranch by an exploitative, greedy businessmen, there are few choices for survival and keeping their families together: marriage, prostitution, or turning outlaw. The novel is written as if it were a true story rescued from the dustbin of history and unfolds through a collection of fictional W.P.A. oral history recordings, newspaper clippings, the diary entries of one of the main characters, and letters, newspaper clippings. While I ordinarily find this device lazy (e.g. Daisy Jones and the Six), in this novel it worked for me.… (más)

I thought this was a great book. The main story takes place in the late 1800's, in the wild west. The story is told from a lot of different points of view, which really adds to the story. The story is about a gang of very successful and unique Outlaws. They are all women. In addition to being incredibly smart and resourceful, they have the advantage that no one believes women could ever be Outlaws; also, men of the time were too prideful to admit to being bested by a woman. The story is introduced by an historian who uncovered snippets of their story over several years, until it began to fall into place; Garet, the woman who is considered the main leader; Claire, a woman who was held up by the gang, and who begged to join them and Hattie, who also was a key figure in the group, but she is telling it as she is looking back from near the end of her life.
Garet came to the West from England during her Honeymoon and she and her husband fell in love with the country and stayed. Garet is an exception horsewoman, and had a successful ranch, taming horses, until her husband passed away. While her husband was alive, their ranch soon became known for being a refuge for those who needed help. When her husband died, she had a band of loyal friends. The story the unfolds, is fascinating. This is a good read.… (más)

The story starts off with Dr. Catherine Bennett having to flee New York after being falsely accused of murdering a doctor. It's the wife of the doctor that is accusing her and Catherine hasn't a clue to why she would do something like that. And, what's worse is that Catherine does not have a good alibi. Catherine and her maid Maureen quickly leaves the town, and she changes her name to Laura Elliston, but it doesn't take long for someone to recognize her so she abandons her plans for California and set her sight on Colorado instead. However, this may not be the best idea since the uncharted territories of Colorado can be quite dangerous.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!… (más)