Title: Once a Dreamer
(Book 4 Champagne Orphan Train Series)
Author: Rebecca Goings
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Champagne Books
Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
Heat Rating: Sensuous to Sultry
Reviewed by: MarthaE
ISBN: 9781897445839
"Bringing the Historical Western Back, One Cowboy at a Time!"
Blurb: When her adoptive mother dies in a bank shootout, orphan Karina Vadislav is sent to live with Patrick Baker, her uncle in Dodge City, Kansas. After years of abuse, she flees, meeting Benjamin Sawyer, a gambler with a sordid past. He agrees to help her claim her inheritance in Topeka, posing as her husband to keep her safe. But there are men who are out for Ben’s blood and will stop at nothing to see him dead. Coupled with Karina’s bloodthirsty uncle, neither of them is safe on the trail.When bullets fly and truths are revealed, will Ben and Karina’s fragile love survive the ultimate betrayal?
Review: This is a very enjoyable, action packed, historical western!
Young Karina Vadislav was sent out west on the orphan train. She had three good years with a wealthy widow until her benefactress was killed in a bank robbery. Then Karina went to stay with the widow’s kin and became a slave to that vile man. She has survived a brutal and tragic existence over the past seven years and is intent on getting away from her awful Uncle, collecting her inheritance and returning back east to meet with her friends from the orphan train. .
Benjamin Sawyer doesn’t usually lose at cards but he got distracted by the young beauty who stumbled into the saloon! You can’t allow distractions, especially when playing with the infamous Doc Holliday! By a fluke, and with a little help from Doc Holliday, Karina finds herself marrying Ben. Ben hadn’t planned on marrying, but he has determined that he will do what’s necessary to get Karina away from her wicked uncle and protect her from being on the streets alone.
Ben doesn’t realize at first that Karina is on her way to collect an inheritance and that her Uncle has extra incentive to catch up to them. Ben has troubles of his own chasing close behind him and he may have put Karina in more danger. He is sure if Karina had known his background she wouldn’t have consented to the crazy idea of getting married. Now they are together on the run from an awful Uncle and a self imposed posse set on revenge. While they race through the prairie, they try, unsuccessfully, to fight off their hungry attraction for one another!
This story has a wonderful plot and a great heroine and hero! Karina is resourceful and determined to survive! Ben is honorable and trying to overcome a past which he isn’t proud of. They are both vulnerable and it is lovely and fun to watch the attraction win as trust and love grows between them. Of course that leaves their hearts wide open for betrayal or at least perceived betrayal!
The author has done a good job of character building on the villains and Doc Holliday too, adding a lot of interesting personalities! The story is filled with action and subtle humor! The writing has a very enjoyable flow and is pretty authentic. Of course that authenticity results in some rough language and some fairly raw descriptions. Beyond the brashness I really liked this fun, action packed romance!
[This is the review today for SaSR R&R Tuesday!]
