Edwina Parkhurst, Spinster [Large Print]

Edwina Parkhurst has a guilty secret, one that she has lied, contrived, and connived to keep hidden. Knowing full well that what she does is denounced as a terrible sin, preached against in pulpits, seen as Satan's handiwork by the God-fearing people in her world, and especially by the family she loves and has supported for years, Edwina continues her sinful ways. She has no choice if she is to keep a roof over her family's heads, food on the table, and garments suitable to their station.

I had never read any other works by this author but I bought the book because of the wonderful outline given by another reviewer and because I am a sucker for "spinster" stories. What a wonderful find this book was for me. The characters are absolutely likeable, loveable and believable. Edwina is willing to run the risk of total shame and ruin if anyone finds out how she is earning the money necessary to keep her family clothed, housed and fed. At the time this story takes place her activity was indeed considered sinful, especially for a woman. The hero, Talmadge Jones, comes into the story in such a way that we can feel sympathy and empathy for him before we condemn him for the way he earns his living. These two must survive situations which are (at least for me) almost too over-the-top. Could she really have come from her sheltered background and endured all the physical hardships associated with their plight? Then I remind myself, this is fiction, anything is possible in fiction. I highly recommend this book. It is absorbing, tender, and sweet. It also shows a heroine who must take drastic action seldom depicted in the usual western historical novel. Now for the bad news. This book is very poorly edited. It contains a large number of instances where I had to read, then re-read sentences and passages to correct them in my head in order to make the story make sense. I am greatly surprised that it was allowed to go into print like this. And that is too bad, it really did slow me down when I was reading and got very irritating at times. Please don't reject the book because of the editing flaws. If you know about the problem going in, you can know it won't get better and make whatever mental adjustments you need to in order to enjoy this wonderful story. And it is just that, a wonderful story. I wish I could find more written by this author.

Edwina Parkhurst has a guilty secret, one that she has lied, contrived, and connived to keep hidden. Knowing full well that what she does is denounced as a terrible sin, preached against in pulpits, seen as Satan's handiwork by the God-fearing people in her world, and especially by the family she loves and has supported for years, Edwina continues her sinful ways. She has no choice if she is to keep a roof over her family's heads, food on the table, and garments suitable to their station.Everything changes when she agrees to accompany her married sister to Oregon to rejoin her abusive husband, a trip that takes them through the wilds of Nevada's High Desert. A trip that has the sister and her daughters stolen by outlaws and strands Edwina in the desert winter. Dressed as a boy, driving a buggy destined for a 'calico queen,' and taking care of a man she thinks is an outlaw, she is hard put to keep on lying to Tal Jones, her captive, a blind gunfighter.Wanting nothing more than to make enough money to go south where it's warm, Tal agreed to protect the freight wagons of whiskey, but he didn't expect to get shot in the head, lose his eye-sight, and wind up with a boy who was becoming more and more attractive every minute. And, of course, that isn't right.And, of course, Edwina isn't a boy.