Ramona Flightner

This is the third book in the series, and I haven't read the first two. This is one of those instances where you really need to, as this book constantly refers back to happenings and people from the earlier stories with no further explanation for the reader. To be fair, I picked it up from Bookbub and didn't realize it was the third book. I don't know why authors don't just put the first book in a series on sale rather than pick one in the middle when it is essential to read them in order.
Anyway, there are a lot of people here to keep track of. The O'Rourkes have twelve children (I think) and there are various other characters who may or may not be relevant to this particular story but keep getting thrown in on a page. For example, there are three sons in St Louis for the winter, but this fact is brought up numerous times, even though they have nothing to do with this story. I think even the author got confused at times as there was one scene where an Aileen showed up even though everyone had supposedly been sent out of the room. I read those pages twice trying to figure out who she was (apparently the heroine of one of the earlier books, but I don't know why she got to stay in the room here).
Niamh and Cormac are the hero and heroine. Their story is told using a lot of flashbacks, so mostly telling, not showing which slowed the pacing down some. I never understood why two people in the historical American West didn't seem to have to work. Mostly Niamh wanders around, sometimes playing with her daughter and Cormac has oxen? I was looking for a good Western historical romance, but obviously this one wasn't for me. I gave it an extra star because I shouldn't have bought it to begin with and that's not the author's fault.… (mais)

Drifting from Deadwood by Ramona Flightner is the final book in The Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series. I thought is was well-written and it progressed at a nice steady pace which made for an easy to read and engaging book. It can be read as a standalone if you have not had a chance to read the rest of the books in the series. I liked that Eleanor was a strong woman with an independent streak. She has a ranch to run and two young boys to raise. Eleanor is thankful to have her friend, Zeke O’Neill as the foreman, but he is getting on in years and unable to make the needed repairs to the ranch. Unfortunately, thanks to a gossipmonger in town, there are rumors that Zeke is more than a friend and is the actual person running Broken Pine Ranch. Lance Gallagher is a man running from the past (that never works). He responds to Eleanor’s ad for help and quickly begins making much needed repairs. Eleanor’s two sons, Peter and Simon instantly take to Lance who begins instructing them. Lance and Eleanor each have issues that are holding them back. They will have to overcome them if they are to get their happily-ever-after. I was happy to see an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. This was the first book I have read by Ramona Flightner and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future. Drifting from Deadwood is a sweet historical romance with drama, action, romance and humor.… (mais)

While I love the fact that this book is a clean read, I have mixed feelings about the ending of the book. I realize that this is book one of a series, but I felt that there were TOO MANY things left untied. All we really know is the choice her cousin made. We know (and understand the choice) that Gabriel McLeod made. It just seemed that everything was going well and then suddenly came to a dead-end right at the train station. Yes, I realize that more will be explained in book two, but I just felt that more could have been done to wrap up book one a little neater. Or at least provide a better set-up to dive into book two.… (mais)

I would like to thank Ramona Flightner for sending me an e-copy of Banished Love in exchange for an honest review.

Historical romance has always been my favourite genre and was particularly interested in this book as I knew it touched on the suffragette movement. It made a nice change from the usual historical romance books that I have read. I rarely write a blurb as to what a book is about, as one can easily read the author’s synopsis for themselves. This book hooked me soon after Clarissa bumped into the ladder in her uncle’s store.

I loved the cover of this book and this alone would have attracted my attention, had I not received this e-copy.… (mais)