Charlotte Beck Gets What She Wants, Even When She Doesn't Know It Is What She Wants

Spoiled wild child from America rocks the social elite on their ears with her crazy antics. She makes a splash across newspaper headlines by riding horseback with Indians while shooting the hat off Bill Cody's head in his Wild West Show. She always manages to wriggle free of consequences. She even manages to make it a trend to participate in the show. She sees her life moving along quite nicely when she trades inside business information with her father for a degree in mathematical studies. She longs to work in his company.
Charlotte's father wants her to marry and feels that English business man, and astronomer, Alex Hambly is the only one who can keep his daughter both happy and in check. He uses Alex's family financial woes and his daughter's desire to attend school to bind them into an arranged marriage contract. The couple grudgingly agrees, hoping something will happen in the four years before she graduates to change the situation. They drive each other crazy, build up the usual tensions and cave to the marriage anyway, even as they plot a way to get out of it as soon after saying their vows as possible.
This is where the question of faith comes to play a role, although it seems a small role, in the book. Can Alex go through with the annulment when he made a promise before God? The marriage Charlotte originally finds so inconvenient to her goals turns out to be what she wants after all.
I enjoyed this story, although it was a little predictable and Charlotte was very immature and frustrating. I did find the corset bonfire a little amusing. The truth behind her mother being gone was never explained in detail. Suspicions of adultery and questions of Charlotte's true paternity were hinted at, but her birth certificate was revealed at the end of the story and her mother's love for her father confirmed.
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Another amazing home run from talented author Kathleen Y'Barbo. Laughs, charm and romance make up this next installment in her awesome books! Rich in history and high in quirky charm, this romance novel will keep the reader engrossed from start to finish. Each character brings something different to the table, but they flow perfectly together. Charlotte Beck is a character who quickly steals your heart :-). I can't wait to read another Charlotte Beck novel . :-) ( )

This was a fun story for a number of reasons. First, I read it in less than two days because I kept wanting to know when they would change their minds. The anticipation kept me reading. Plus, I adored the hero. Charlotte was a bit of a twit at times and quite annoying, but she had her tender side, too...when she allowed someone to see it. Alex was so patient I wanted to give him a medal for that. He was also a good man like her father noted. I thought their scheme made sense at first, but I couldn't help admiring Alex's strength and heroism at times. He simply couldn't help being a gentleman.

My favorite scene was the one where they stumble upon the cabin. I was like...finally, only to have the inevitable deferred again. Of course, when the moment passed there were second thoughts...again. But I suppose it was best for a decision to be made with one's wits about them and being in Alex's arms would make any woman forget those wits. At least, that's how I felt. She never did find out about who he "almost" married. I wonder if that will come out in a future book.

I normally find stories with strong-willed and stubborn women a bit unappealing and unrealistic, but for some reason this story and the way the author wrote the character made me smile because it was handled in such a humorous fashion. I enjoyed her clumsy antics and crazy ideas. I enjoyed the historical tie-in to Buffalo Bill Cody as well. I thought it was funny how Charlotte was always trying to outwit or best her "competition" and that made the story shine. She was spunky and fun, and I could see how Alex would be intrigued by her. When she responded to his kisses, it made me smile. She simply didn't know what to say. They overpowered her so much that she lost some of that snark and wit. I liked that he had such an influence on her mood that he could soften her up with a gentle touch or heated kiss. Overall, this was a fun historical romance and I enjoyed it very much! ( )

If I had realized this was the last book in a series of three, I would have read the other books first. Having said that, this book stands well alone. I enjoyed the innocent chaos Charlotte caused wherever she went and how good she was at denial. "I'm sure that never happened." She was totally loveable - as Alex Hambly found out. It is so refreshing to read about a strong, intelligent woman in this time period (late 1800's) and to see her supported by the men in her life.

My library has this book listed as Christian fiction. I'm not sure I'd agree. There are a couple of, in passing mensions of faith and prayer but not to the extent that I would expect to see in 'Christian Fiction'. My preference would be to categorize it as 'Sweet Romance'.

A very nice, light, easy read that totally filled my craving for romance and history. ( )

Description:
~Wild American Charlotte Beck wants to attend Wellesley College to learn business.
~Daniel Beck, Charlotte’s father, wants her to settle down with a good man who can “tame” her.
~Alexander Hambly’s family is in financial ruin, but a rich wife could certainly fix their luck.
So, Daniel decides to make them an offer they can’t refuse. He will make sure they have the means to do what they want, as long as they marry each other. Problem is they can’t stand one another. So Charlotte and Alex make a deal to annul their fake marriage as soon as they get what they want; unfortunately fate has other plans. Maybe their marriage isn’t that inconvenient after all…

Review:
I have read the first couple books in the Women of the West series and I couldn’t wait to get into this one! Kathleen Y’Barbo creates amazing characters and has a wonderful writing style; Charlotte is stubborn, snarky, and sometimes annoying, but she also has another side: caring, intelligent, and spirited. Her relationship with her father is really entertaining, especially when she is trying to pool the wool over his eyes- to no avail. Besides the development of the characters, I liked the dialogue which fit perfectly with the book and the time period, (1880’s), and kept me laughing. I only wish that the ending had been different, (no spoilers). Overall, I was quite pleased with the addition of this book to the series and look forward to the books to come. Great book in a great series; recommended as a stand-alone, or to be read with its counterparts.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

***I received this eBook from Blogging For Books (WaterBrook Press) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )