Meadowlark

From the back cover: Their marriage was a test--in more ways than one. South Pass City was a mighty tough town, even by Wyoming Territory standards. And although Garrick Swenson seemed like a tough man, his sensitive sould was plagued with guilt. Then one day he rescued a beautiful lady from drowning, and Garrick suddenly thought of a way to make up for his past sins. Becky White was at the end of her rope, with no home, no money, and no father for her unborn baby. Then, like some gruff angel from heaven, Garrick came to her aid, offering the protection of his name, no strings attached. But the more time she spent with Garrick, the more Becky found herself craving a true marrige in every sense of the word. And my review: While not the most oustanding historical romance I've ever read, MEADOWLARK is an enjoyable one-time read. Set in a gold-rush town, this book breathes new life into the often used "marriage of convenience" plot. The characters were well-rounded, real people. They weren't perfect, but flawed in human ways. And yet they weren't so flawed as to be unlikeable. That's a difficult balance to achieve, and Carolyn Lampman does a superb job here. I really liked that the attraction between Becky and Garrick was based on more than just sex. Not that they weren't physically attracted to one another, but it wasn't the only thing drawing them together. Their physical desire for one another was a added bonus to their growing feelings of love. That's just as it should be. The historical backdrop was also well done. The historical details were woven into the novel so well that they never distracted from the plot. With so many historical romances reading like history textbooks, this is a welcome change. My only complaint with the book was that they never admitted their love for each other until the very very end of the book. They were close to doing so when a series of "big misunderstandings" kept them from voicing their true feelings. Granted, they each wouldn't admit their love out of what they thought were noble causes (each thought the other wanted to be free and was willing to let go), but still, it was irritating. I found myself muttering, "Just say the words!" as I read the book. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the second half of the book, where the mystery/intrigue comes to a head, climaxing in a courtroom drama. If they had both known how the other felt, it would have been more satisfying when things turn out well. Instead of rejoicing in their victory, they still think they won't be together, which was just the tiniest bit depressing. However, even with the "big misunderstanding", the characters refrained from childish bickering. This is so rare in romances these days, when often all the conflict between the hero and heroine is nothing but petty squabbling. Since they author refrained from using that horrible plot device, that made MEADOWLARK a four star book, rather than a three star. This book didn't inspire me to go

A one-of-a-kind story. Excellent plot with a fascinating setting for anyone who loves the old West and the romance it evokes. A wonderful story with excellent,strong characters.

this book was great i could not put it down. i ahve read all of carolyn lampman's books and this is one of her best.