Tag Archive for "Oregon Trail" - Teddyrose Book Reviews Plus

Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

Publisher: Mill City Press (Nov 17, 2015)
Category: Historical Fiction, Romance, Pioneer Woman, Strong Female Character, Western
Tour date Mar/Apr, 2017
ISBN: 978-1634138291
Available in Print & ebook, 560 pages

Description of Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

IN THIS EPIC TALE of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change—until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path.

Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life.

When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having.

My Thoughts Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

It is 1861 and 26 year old spinster, Emily Wainwright knows that she has no chance of finding a man now. When she was younger, she was engaged to the love of her life but he dis in a accident. She is still heartbroken. However, Samuel Todd just showed up at her doorstep and asked her to go on a carriage ride with her.

Things move quickly between them and he gives her a proposition. They can get married and cross the Oregon trail to get land and become homesteaders. Emily reads about the Oregon trail and her adventurous spirit is awakened. She accepts.

It takes months of preparation and learning a new way of living. The journey tests everyone’s mental and physical endurance. When the trip begins, Emily walks and Samuel drives the team of oxen, as is the custom. It sounds like Emily gets the sort end of the stick but the hard surface of the bench that Samuel sits all day is painful. Emily gets blisters but her feet toughen up over time. The two seen to be getting along fine but all of a sudden Samuel shows his true colors.

Once they arrive, they find the perfect spot and get to work. However Samuel becomes more and more aggressive with Emily and also leaves for months at a time. Samuel then gets consumption and dies. With the help of her neighbors, Emily keeps the homestead going. She also starts making money selling her herbal remedies. However, her farmhand, Andrew, her neighbor’s son, decides to leave to fight for the Union in the Civil war. Before he leaves he arranges for a new farmhand to take over, Cole Walker.

Will Emily find love and learn to trust again?

‘The Blue Hour’ is part adventure and part romance. Vicki Righetini captures the time and place in history with skill and poetic prose. I have read other books that take place on the Orgon trail but none as detailed and exciting as this one. I wish this was a series because I didn’t want this book to end. I am sure the story and characters will stay with me for the rest of my life. ‘The Blue Hour’ is a must read for historical fiction readers!

5/5

I received the ebook version for my honest review.

About Vicki Righettini

Vicki Righettini is an award-winning, nationally produced playwright, and her recently-published historical novel, The Blue Hour, was a badge winner and Pitch Perfect Pick at Underground Books. Originally from Los Angeles, Vicki lived in Oregon for over twenty years, where she developed an abiding love of the land and the Oregon way of life. Before turning to full-time writing, she worked for forty years as a singer/actress and performing arts instructor. Her blog, Between a Book and a Hard Place, focuses on the ups and downs of the creative process (http://www.vickirighettini.com). Vicki lives in San Diego with her software-developer, Jeopardy!-champion husband, and the world’s shyest cat.

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2h2UZGy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VRighettini