Kendrick Denham left his family farm back east, fought in the war with Mexico, then answered gold’s call after it was discovered in California. In late 1852, when he reached Columbia, known as “The Gem of the Southern Mines,” he realized the easy-to-find placer gold was no longer that easy to find. He decided he would do better providing fresh meat to the townspeople. With extremely few women in … in the region, and most of the respectable ones already married, Kendrick entertains no ambitions for a wife and family. Then the county sheriff rides over from Sonora. With a cryptic expression, he hands Kendrick a six-month-old baby girl. “The mother named you as the father.”
Now her late husband’s stepson, whom she finished raising, is of age to inherit the farm left to him by his birth father, Lydia Meyer and her two young sons have been forced out of her home of over ten years. She leaves Pennsylvania headed for the wild gold fields of Columbia, California. She dreads living off the charity of her older sister who is just as disagreeable and overbearing as their late mother had been. Warned that most of the miners in California, many of whom left families back east to seek their fortunes, tend to be unsettled, uncouth, and prone to drinking and gambling, she worries it may be impossible to find a good father for her children. Even if she weds again, will it be another loveless marriage like her first?
Then there is baby Madeline, who is cast adrift in the world, all alone, with no one to love her. What will become of her?
KENDRICK is a stand-alone sweet American historical romance that is part of the multi-author series, Bachelors & Babies. Under the sub-title, “Too Old for Babies,” it is also part of the author’s own series, Too Old in Columbia.
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The time line was rushed. Everything was done well but, the voice of the author came through too much on the twins. They could have dawdled more and talked about their lives and expectations. But the twins are like we need a grand romantic gesture. Hence, the cute proposal where the twins speak for Kendrick and Lydia. A little bit of heat wouldn’t be amiss either. Just enough show a real spark.
Strong four and half stars
This is a great storyline, different from the other bachelor and babies book. Certainly an individual story. Once you star you really don’t want to put it down.
There is very little talk of rape and “whoring” so if the advanced younger readers do read this they may have questions after they read this. But there really isn’t enough mention of those to not recommend this to my advanced reading preteen friends and others you won’t waste your time on this one
Kendrick has made a good living as a butcher and have no plans for a family until he becomes the caretaker and father of an adorable six months old girl. Luckily he gets some help when the twins of his neighbors show up. Lydia is forced to come to live by her sister but she and her sons aren’t very happy about it. Will helping the neighbor with his little daughter bring some happiness in their life?
This is such a fun story with some mystery, an adorable baby and of course the funny twin sisters. You’re gonna love all the characters in this story. Great book in this fun series.
I loved Lydia, Kendrick, Madeline and the whole slew of characters. Very entertaining and enjoyed the book. Thank you Zina Abbott.
This is another wonderful story in the Bachelors and Babies Series. I really liked this one as it is so different from the others so far. Great hero and heroine. Nasty neighbor and heroines sister that share a bit of his property and is a pain for everyone in town.
Sweet little baby he gets, dropped off at his butcher store.
It just a really good clean story. I loved most of the characters except the heroines sister and our hero’s nasty neighbor. And of course a wonderful HEA.
Columbia, California 1854
Life had settled down and Kendrick Denham was making a living running his butcher shop in town. After he gave up searching for gold he figured it would work. What he didn’t expect was for the sheriff in the nearby town to bring him a baby and say the mother named him as the father! What? There was no way it could be his, but when he read the letter attached to little Madeline, he understood.
Lydia Meyer and her two young sons had no options after her husband died but to go to Columbia to live with her sister Dorcas (and what a piece of work she is!) and her children. They live right behind Kendrick’s butcher shop and home and he tries his best to stay out of the way of Lydia’s sister. But Dorcas’s twin daughters are the best!!
When Lydia arrives, she ends up helping Kendrick and it seems just what she needs to focus on. I really want to tell you everything about this story which truly is wonderful and heartwarming! Humor, a little mystery, adorable twins, a sweet little baby, adorable twins and a really amazing man and kindhearted woman make this one of the best sweet books I have read.
Zina Abbott uses her knowledge and research to bring this time period alive and I learned a lot! Great addition to the series and one you will not be able to put down once you start!!
WOW!!! This story has it all. There is humor, twists and turns, mystery, lots of action, a set of young adorable conniving twins and an abandoned baby. This is Kendrick and Lydia’s story. Upon the death of her husband, Lydia is forced to move to Columbia, CA to live with her sister. To his surprise, the sheriff arrives at Kendrick’s butcher shop with a six month old baby stating that, before she died, the baby’s mother named him the baby’s father. Lydia agrees to help Kendrick care for the baby. Will this interaction lead to a HEA? Be sure to read this fun filled book to find out. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Kendrick Denham. Bachelor, butcher and a man with no plans whatsoever of a wife and family. He likes his life just the way it is. His butcher shop is doing well, he raises chickens to sell for meat, sells the eggs and that is all he needs.
Lydia Meyer. Mother of two who has been forced away from the home she has lived in for the past 10 years upon the death of her husband. His oldest son has inherited and informed her she must leave. The only place she can go is to her sister Dorcas’s home in California. NOT that she really wants to… they don’t get on well. In fact Dorcas doesn’t get on well with almost anyone. Her twin daughters are a gem in this story! They have some plans!
A baby is brought to Kendrick’s shop one day by the sheriff. Stating that the mother named him as the father, and she is now his responsibility since the Mother has passed away. How is Kendrick to prove this is not true? He knows nothing about caring for an infant.
Lydia needs something to focus her life on and helping Kendrick just might be the thing she needs the most. This book has it all. Humor… yes chickens and goats can bring about some pretty funny things. Children, babies, and two people that can create a loving family if they can just figure it all out.
Once again I am so impressed by the Authors meticulous research for the time and place of this story. I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.