After Winnifred Morgan loses her pa, she trades her dresses and bonnets for trousers and boots and beats the boys in a race for a position as Woodruff and Ennors’ newest stage driver. Teaming up with shotgun guard Benjamin Sharpe to protect the express box full of treasure, Winnie outplays several attempts to rob her coach. But trouble is waiting in the wings, for her pa carried a secret to his … to his grave… and now those who seek it are coming after Winnie!
The Stage Driver’s Daughter combines the adventure and danger of a true western with the sort of romance that can withstand it.
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LIFE AS A WHIP
What a fascinating, page-turning tale that has strong characters, plenty of angst, action, and adventure. It will bring two people together, and for the life of one, he can’t believe that others aren’t seeing the truth—but he will help keep the secret.
Winnifred “Win” Morgan is a young woman who was raised by her father and rode beside him on his stagecoach runs for so many years; she is a natural herself. But her father was murdered, the company he and his friend founded is defunct, and no one will hire a female as a whip. It will take determination and grit, but Win Morgan will drive again as whip.
Benjamin Sharpe ended up going west with his younger brother, Jacob, to try and protect him. Jacob was a dreamer and one who was impatient to get what he wanted. He will eventually sneak off with another man, Simon, and rather than earning a living, Jacob and Simon will become outlaw road agents. Benjamin will go to work for Wells Fargo as a shotgun guard to help protect the silver that has been mined and hopefully to find Jacob.
The plot will have Win Morgan compete against several others for the position of whip for Woodruff and Ennors. Winning the race will also leave some sore losers—but Win Morgan has emerged the winner and newest employee. Win will team up and must run a route into the White Pine Mountains tri-weekly. She was taught by the best and planned on making her pa proud.
“The best stage drivers are either braver or more foolish than most. I ain’t afraid to drive that route, Mr. Thim.”
“The stage never stops, Winnie, her pa would remind her. Each whip plays his role, never arriving tardy, for should he be late, it affects all the rest like ripples in a still pond.”
“Coaching was more than her livelihood; it was her home; her life. As far as her future went, the only thing Winnie felt certain of was that she’d be driving for a very long time.”
The story details the harrowing rides, dealing with the outlaws, the people she encounters, and the secrets that Benjamin will keep about her. He doesn’t even let on that he is aware that he knows, but when threats are being made against her by someone, Benjamin will share what he learns and address the truth about her identity. Benjamin has his own secrets, and when they are uncovered, it will cause a rift between them.
The story is a clean, adventurous western tale that has plenty of historical elements, along with the journey and perilous rides that Win will encounter as whip with Benjamin as shotgun. Her bravery, skills, and tenacious attitude is a testament to strong women of the west. But what will come of Benjamin and Winnie? Will they be able to put the past behind them and look towards the future—and will they follow her pa’s secret?
“Winnie, my dear, you’re the only woman I know who could find love in the seat of a stagecoach.”
Her father has died and she decided to become one as well. She goes from dresses to trousers and has beaten some men to be a driver. She teams up with him as he is a shotgun guard. There is a secret her father took to the grave and now they are after her. What was the secret? Can she stay one step in front of them? See if they can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Stagedriver’s Daughter is a well-written historical western romance. I was engaged in the story from the very beginning. Winnifred was a character full of spunk, intelligence, and well taught as a whip by her father.
The story is suspenseful, mysterious, and has a sweet romantic ending. It has lots of surprises along the way that will keep you entertained. I have to warn you that it does have an ending that doesn’t completely conclude the story, which I sense another book coming in the series.
I love westerns set in the 1800s and this was entertaining as well as inspirational. Can’t wait for the next installment.
A fast moving story that starts with a bang, The Stage Driver’s Daughter has action, adventure, mystery, and romance. I loved the main characters, Win and Benjamin. A complex mixture of insecurities, bravado, and tenacity Win sees nothing wrong with disguising herself as a man to get the job of her dreams: stage driver. Fearless in the face of danger, she thinks she can handle anything curves life throws at her. Then she meets Benjamin Sharpe, and her life turns upside down. Benjamin is a swoonworthy hero. Good looking, yes, but filled with integrity. Guilt-ridden at his perceived failures, he’ll stop at nothing to find his brother. The author uses dialect-laden dialogue to evoke the era without being distracting. Her descriptions immersed me into the dust, sweat, and smells of the old West. There are several “Oh wow” moments, and the ending is perfect. Highly recommended, even for those who don’t read western fiction.
Lively, Clean Western Frontier Adventure
This lively story takes place in the 1860’s Silver Days of Nevada. It is a historical western with a little romance on the side. The story is very good and it seems to be historically accurate. The romance is sweet and clean while the western is gore-free. The story is quite the page-turner. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
The Stage Driver’s Daughter is the first book I have read by Krystal M. Anderson and what a wonderful story she tells! Winnifred Morgan is such a strong female character posing as a man and winning the right to drive the stage. Benjamin Sharpe is the shotgun guard who rides along to protect the valuables. He soon figures out her secret but keeps it to himself. I loved the character and storyline development with lots of action. I really enjoyed this story!
This is the first book by this Author that I have read, a well written story thatkept me turning pages. I enjoyed reading stage coach driver Winnifred Morgan and Wells Fargo shotgun guard Benjamin Sharpe’s story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.