Hattie Arnsby’s been a slave to men and whiskey for the last year. She’s drowned herself in drink to avoid her life at the Red Garter Saloon in Keystone, SD. When a handsome deputy finds her after a year of searching, she finally sees a sliver of hope.Hugh Bradley is deputized to find Hattie and bring her home, but her captors aren’t ready to set her free. He must help her be rid of the drink and … be rid of the drink and the binds of the brothel.
But when Hattie’s handed temptation, will she run back to her past or embrace the love growing between them?
Kisses in Keystone, the second-chance novel in the Seven Brides of South Dakota series by Kari Trumbo, combines romance, history, action, and faith into a story you won’t want to put down.
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Hattie drinks to drown her sorrows of her life. When her drinking becomes problematic it ends her in a place she doesn’t want to be. She needs saving and maybe deputy Hugh Bradley is just what she needs. Love the characters and their stories!
He had no clue what he was getting into…
I’m going to confess right now that I was a little leery of this story, despite the fact that I did enjoy the first book in the Seven Brides Of South Dakota series. The reason? Well, it’s quite simple. I didn’t like Hattie Arnsby in book one and wasn’t sure I could change my mind about her in Kisses In Keystone. But, hey, on the plus side it shows the talent of author Kari Trumbo to elicit such emotion from me. Though, lo and behold, I actually did warm up to her by the end of the story. While, she’s still not my favorite character I was able to see her in a more sympathetic light as I listened to her battle her addiction and try so hard to overcome her circumstances which were initially brought on by her own poor judgment.
My second confession is that it took me awhile to see the tie-in between Kisses In Keystone and the Biblical account of Hosea. When I finally did catch on I was a bit worried that it would follow the story a little too well and I would only feel sorry for Hugh and hate Hattie. I shouldn’t have worried, Kari Trumbo handles it with skill. The addition of the western setting and the threads of danger serve to keep this slightly edgier story of redemption entertaining.
This is the second Seven Brides Of South Dakota book that I’ve ‘read’ in audiobook. As with its predecessor I found the production to be well done and the narrator to be a good match for the characters. Historical romance is one of my favorite genres, and if you enjoy it as well, this audiobook would be a good choice…
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
KISSES IN KEYSTONE by Kari Trumbo (historical) free
Book 2, Seven Brides of South Dakota
This book is about Hattie Arnsby, who was taken into a life of prostitution and alcoholism. Deputy Hugh Bradly has been searching for her. He is lead to the book of Hosea while dealing with her.
This is not as much of a ‘fun” read because it deals more with heart wrenching situations and difficulties. These were dealt with, but delicately.
All of that being said, it was a good book with a happily-ever-after. Make sure to read the next in the series!
I received this audiobook free with no requirement of review. I am reviewing this book of my own accord and am giving my honest opinion.
Hattie’s addiction to alcohol and being charmed by the lying self-serving pimp who sold her into enforced prostitution caused her to fall deeper into despair and more dependent on alcohol to deal with a brutal life where she was starved, beaten, and used by men on a daily basis. Hugh was sent by her family to find and bring her home. But after all she’s been though and how people treat her Hattie doesn’t feel worthy to be part of her family anymore. She also lets her craving for alcohol cause her to wonder if she should just give up and go back to a hated but known life as a prostitute. This story was heart wrenching as Hattie had to learn to love herself again and believe that she was worthy of a better life. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of human trafficking and those who would choose to use others in despicable ways for their own gain in today’s world. And the topic of addiction is so relevant with so many people losing their way to it in so many different forms today. I felt Hattie’s despair as she tried to overcome it and find her self worth again while battling forces that tried to take away her freedom again.
Can I just say Kari Trumbo is an amazing author and one I intend to read everything she has written! I started this series backward and listened to the audibles on books 4 & 5 before coming back to 1 & 2. But it did not matter because each one is amazing on it’s on! Plus the narrator Meghan Kelly is absolutely perfect in her reading, defining every character to the point you can see them in your mind. I was very interested and a little worried about what happened to Hattie Arnsby since in book 1 she just took off with a stranger. Unfortunately everything she was promised was a lie and she ends up in a terrible place, the Red Garter Saloon in Keystone.
Fortunate for her Hugh Bradley had been deputized to find her and bring her home, but it took him awhile and when he rescued Hattie, she was truly at the end of her rope.
I loved this story so much. It showed the power of love and receiving the Lord’s blessings at the time you need them most. Did I say I adored Kari Trumbo? Yes, yes I do.
You too can be restored and made new!
The ending was perfect and reminds each of us, despite our own sins or the evils that fall upon us, God loves us and is willing to not only heal us, but restore us, and make us new again! Thank you Jesus!
This is Hattie’s story and she has gotten herself into a disastrous situation. She is a drunk and a whore being beaten up on a regular basis.
Hugh has been deputized to find her and has been searching for almost s year. He is one of the most compassionate, understanding and honorable men that I have read about in a fiction story and what a pleasure he is.
I totally love his ethical behavior!
The romancing is sweet and the acknowledgement of the love that these two characters eventually own up to is cute!
In general, a lovely, easy to read story which has been narrated by Meghan Kelly and what a fine job she does with this too. These two make a great team!
I requested and listened to an audiobook and my voluntary review is unbiased.