In the first book of a six book series, we meet the main characters who come from all over the world to make their way to The United States of America. They all want to make their way out to the “wild west” for different reasons. There is Reuben who’s father sends him on the journey to set up a new ranch, Johannes who gets kicked out of his home country and told he can never come back, Sarah who is invited by her aunt to join her sewing business, Rebecca who is sent to the rugged land dues to her father’s will, and Jacob, a wicked man who will not think twice about killing someone for the shirt of his back.
All meet on the ship, the S.S. Edinburgh that is taking them to the new world. Reuben and Johannes become quick friends and ultimately agree to make the trip out west together. They later run into Rebecca and her new assistant, Inga. Once in St. Louis they arrange to get on a wagon train to go further west.
Meanwhile, to Sarah’s dismay, her aunt business isn’t thriving like she was lead to believe and she doesn’t know what to do. In walks Jacob, to save the day. With her aunt’s blessing Sarah goes on a train to set up her own sewing business there but on the train, something happens to change her life forever.
This book reminds me of the types of books I read when I was in high school. I got the Harlequin type romances from my mother and enjoyed them as guilty pleasures. However, they were like cotton candy to me. I read one but wasn’t sure I wanted to read another. They left me with a strange taste. I left those books a very long time ago, very turned off by them, calling them trash.
Had I known that Threads West would remind me of them, I wouldn’t have agreed to review it. However, I must say I am glad I did. I enjoyed it for a different change of pace and the journey it takes. The writing flows well and makes the reader want to know where the book will take him or her.
There are many flaws to some of the stories within it. For instance, one must totally suspend disbelief when Sarah’s aunt gives her permission for her to travel with Jacob to St. Louis. Especially when Sarah confesses that she doesn’t really trust him. Also, this book really just sets up the story for the next 5 books to follow.
There are no conclusions and it just ends abruptly. It cannot stand alone. I am interested to see if the next book takes up where this book left of or if half of it will explain what happened in the first book. Mr. Rosenthal wouldn’t recycle his material like that would he? It remains to be seen.
Threads West won the National Best Books Award in the fiction and literature: western category and finalist in the fiction and literature: romance category. Is it award worthy? This reader doesn’t think so but it is an entertaining and fast read. I will be tempted to take a look at the next book to see where it leads. Although it is doubtful I will go further than that, there is a limit to how much cotton candy I can digest.
3/5
Thanks to Rebecca Brown of The Cadence Group for this book.
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