Why be a shrinking violet when you can be a voice for good?As a newcomer to the town of Belle, Wyoming, Emeline Haywood wasn’t prepared for the trouble that awaited her when a man with less than honorable intentions sought her out. Now, accepting a tutoring position for a greenhorn rancher and his two children, who have challenges of their own, seems like a good way to escape the townspeople’s … townspeople’s censure. What she thinks will be an easy job however, turns into anything but when disaster strikes. Not only that, but she finds herself taking on a secret identity to sway public opinion in favor of women’s right to vote. Can she hold it all together or will another scandal claim her peace once again?
Richard Dodge escaped the life his parents wanted for him when he married the woman of his dreams. But now, that woman is gone, and he’s left to raise their two children on his own. Heading westward to Belle, Wyoming to become a rancher seemed like a good idea even though he knew nothing about the profession. But the good folks in Belle are willing to teach him. Good thing he’s hired a new tutor who is willing to overlook his daughter’s deformity. If only he can keep the circumstances of her birth a secret…
Then tragedy strikes in Richard’s family and another member decides to target him. Can Emeline save him in time, and in the process, redeem herself? Will they both be given a second chance to right past wrongs?
Read all 5 books in the Spring/Easter collection of The Belles of Wyoming series. Each book is a standalone, but you won’t want to miss a single one!
The Homecoming – Christine Sterling
Blessings of Love – Ginny Sterling
Mercy’s Gift – Cyndi Raye
Moment of Grace – P. Creeden
Emeline’s Redemption – Julia Ridgmont
more
Good storyline and characters.
Both main characters came to Belle from back east. Richard came with his wife and two children; Emeline with her parents and siblings.
I believe it’s a year after the passing of his wife that Richard hires Emeline as a tutor for his children. He is taken with her immediately, and she with him. The children take a little longer to come around, but not much.
Before he can declare himself to her… drama enters the story. It was well played out, though a bit rushed (because of the type of story it is, not a flaw in the writing.)
There are secrets revealed and we’re given the start to a HEA.
I fell in love with Emeline and Richard’s story. Wyoming in the 1880’s was a hard place for people who had lived previously in the East. Such was the case for both of these characters. Richard came from a wealthy, political family but when he fell in love with a woman his parents didn’t approve of, he left the area and moved West after his wife died. With two young children, Richard needs a tutor so he asks Emeline to do this. Emeline has had her own problems as she was betrayed by a fiancé so she accepts the position. She also believes strongly in the women’s right to vote. I loved her passion about this and the way she went about it – secretly so as not to bring notice to herself or her family at first. Danger soon comes to Richard and misunderstanding prevails between Emeline & Richard. What will happen? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I enjoyed this installment of the Belles of Wyoming very much!
I love finding new authors who write books that are clean and engaging. Julia Ridgemont is not necessarily a new author, I’ve read some of her other books under a different name. She’s just writing in a new category, historical western romance.
I loved the characters in this book! Emeline is such a character. I loved the way she was so passionate about women getting the vote. And the way that she went about writing letters to let others know was really fun. Something kind of neat about her character was that she made the best of what she had been given. She would have rather been in New York, but her family moved to Wyoming. Instead of being miserable about that, she found a way she could work and serve and found her own happiness.
Richard was a good guy. I really liked the way his layers kind of peeled away as the book went on. At the beginning, I thought he was fine, but by the end, he was so much better seeming to me. Anyway… I loved the way he cared for his kids. He was just a great dad. And it was obvious that he cared for Emeline as well.
This is one of those quick read books. I like that for many things. But sometimes I want more of the story. And this one seemed just a bit quick for me. I thought it was well-written. The plot kept me guessing. I really enjoyed it.
I won this novella in a giveaway and didn’t really know anything about it ahead of time but I read it today. It is a clean, quick read. I liked the characters but as is often the case with a novella their relationship moved really fast. I think I would have preferred the story to be a little longer so see more development there but there just isn’t time in a novella.
This story deals with dysfunctional families, women’s rights, loving people as they are, accepting differences, and trusting God to help. That is a lot for a short story. It is packed deep. It also has unexpected twists in the plot. Well, maybe part of it I expected but I didn’t expect it when it happened and some of it was totally unexpected.
The Christian themes are strong so if you don’t like Christian lit you can give it a pass but the story was good and I also loved the historical note from the author at the end.
No sex, language or violence