3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether the site allows half star ratings)

A historical romance. Many times, I get frustrated with historical settings, but this book was an exception. I felt drawn to Cora right away. I love that she is willing to try something usually reserved for men (ranch ownership)--though I do think she might have failed if not for Effie's help and friendship.

Many times it is difficult to remember that there was a time in history where women had less choices than they do now. Cora travels on her own--something most high-bred women wouldn't do. Most would have an escort--an older woman or another woman at least. Cora is able to buy her own property--and it's sad that her Ohio lawyer needs to give her papers to prove that she can do so. Cora plans to be a ranch owner at a time when most women were nurses, teachers, or wives/mothers. Perhaps a few were secretaries. Yes, most ranch wives probably helped on the ranch, but the ownership and most of the work fell to the men.

What kept this from a higher rating was the fact that I felt like I've read the plot before. I can certainly understand the struggle between pursuing one's love and wanting to spend Christmas with a daughter and other family--but honestly, Frank was already quite a ways away from his daughter and family when he made the decision to turn back. It was frustrating to me that he didn't just go on and find Cora right then. Effie was safe with his parents.

Of course, if he had, we wouldn't have gotten the scenes with George Stanton. To me, it kind of felt like the author had a certain page count to reach and hadn't reached it yet, so needed to find a way to extend the book. Or perhaps she's just setting up another book that will feature George Stanton learning how to not be so self-centered and finding his own lifetime love. Who knows? ( )