In A Sweet Misfortune: A Novel by Maggie Brendan, Rachel Matthews is working as a dance hall girl, until Rachel’s brother sends a friend of his, John McIntyre, to take her back to John’s ranch. This book reminded me of an old Western movie, and I loved seeing Rachel’s spunky and fiery spirit as she adapted to her new situation. One of my favorite characters was John’s grandmother, Estelle, who acted as a mentor for Rachel, gave her sage advice, and stood up for the young woman. Brendan does a good job of conveying the characters’ thoughts, and I was glad that John McIntyre had a very sensitive and empathic side to him. It was interesting to see how Rachel and John’s similar struggles drew them closer together.

You can find A Sweet Misfortune here.