This was a great story... until the end. Don't get me wrong, I loved the plot. It was riveting and engaging. I was rooting for Franklin the entire story. The ending, however, seemed very anti-climatic to me. I won't give away any details or spoilers, The setting in Deadwood was well described. I can imagine walking through the rough and tumble town, passing the drunken miners, and can feel how Jane might have felt walking through the town.

The characters, especially Franklin, seemed fairly simple to figure out. Jane's stubbornness got her into a situation she almost couldn't escape from. I understand her need to repay the debts her deceased husband left her, but at what cost to herself? Franklin's character, in my opinion, didn't grow or change at all. He was a good man from beginning to end, and there are still things about him I don't understand.

The message of the story was about trust. Trust in the Lord, hold out hope even when you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel because God knows what he's doing. Franklin and Jane both had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I will look for more books by this author.

This book is worthwhile for a couple of reasons. First, it provides an enlightening commentary on a certain period in US history. I must say that reading westerns is certainly not a hobby of mine, but I'm glad I read this book. Second, the heroine is unbelievably courageous. I can't imagine a young woman having more severe problems than she experienced. She certainly is an example of one trusting the Lord to get a believer through anything. However, to me, there are a few weaknesses in the book. The cover comments tell us that Franklin Lloyd was an evil sort of person; I found him extremely caring and loyal. Also, we don't know what happened to Molly. Further, the ending is satisfying, but too abrupt. To wait and wait for that sort of ending and then have the couple just ride away is not good enough, in my estimation. In spite of these things, I am glad I read this book. In the future, I'll be glad to read anything by Tracey Cross or Tracey Bateman (same person).

Book didn't get indepth and was easy to read. I couldn't put it down. Found nothing wrong with the story line and would recommend.

If it's at all possible for a book to be re-written, this is the book. The author,Tracey Cross, could have used some guidance and opinions. I wanted so much to like this book as I am a fan of Christian fiction and of Deadwood.The storyline was terrific, but the story itself needed desperate help.I gave this book two stars. One for the excellent storyline and the second for the fact that had it been written better, I would want a continuing series about these characters. The rest of the stars weren't given because of the way the story was written, the holes and many questions that were left unanswered and the sloppiness of the way she threw in the fire at the end. We all know the fire is key because that's what really happened in Deadwood, but she just made it an after thought and couldn't come up with an ending on her own and tossed it in there to make it look better. But there was no correlation between the fire and the story. Poor job.

First off, the paragraph on the back of the book, describes Franklin Lloyd as a greedy moneylender and he was Jane's greatest enemy. Reading the book, I didn't at all think of Mr. Lloyd the way he was described on the back cover. I fell in love with him instantly. If I were I were Mr. Lloyd and this famikly owes me money because of the deadbeat dad, I would want my land too!

Another problem I had with the book was the main character Jane. Very wonderful, independent, headstrong woman with excellent morals. She was very stubborn. Her stubborness was addressed a thousand times in the book and it was very obnoxious. I was starting to think of Jane more as stupid and moronic than stubborn. The author just needs to know when to quit. Trent Bedlow was an excellent character. He played the villian. He was in love with Jane and Jane didn't love him. The dialogue between the two was very irritating to read. Everytime, I read their conversations I was embarrased for the writer. I don't know how many times it was stressed that Jane was proper with good morals and she didn't feel it to be right that he called her Jane, or that it was improper for him to touch her back or arm and she shouldn't live with him. I didn't like how Jane always talked down to him, I just wanted to talk to her myself and tell her what to do This is your captor Jane, just play along until Franklin rescues you. It was her attitude for giving Trent reasons for her not to trust him. If she played Lovee from the begining, she might have gotten walking privelages and be able to make the escape or rescue easier. Ms. Cross needs to develop her characters a little better and work on dialogue. The ending was a mishmosh. You don't know how the rescue came to be. It was like the author got a call that the book needed to be finished in a half an hour and she rushed an ending. You don't know how they ended to be up where they were and how these characters appeared out of nowhere... it made no sense. Molly was in the saloon at the end and disappeared off the face of the earth. Did she burn to death? did she escape? Did she go with Jane and be a happy little family? That was one of the holes. Molly was had a small role in the book, but it was important role because Jane was always worried about her and her well-being. Her character helped Jane figure out the evil in Trent and she was dropped like a biscuit. The children's escape was dumb and confusing. I wish this story was re-written by someone with experience. I would definately read the new version, if that were the case.