Surrender a Dream

Adelaide Amanda Pinkney (Addie), a 24 year Chicago orphaned librarian is left a Californian farm by her maternal aunt and uncle in a will. Addie is more than happy to leave behind the dirty grimy city of Chicago and its poverty filled streets and armed with books on farming she heads out West to her new future. Upon her arrival at her lawyers office in the town of Bleeding Heart, she finds out that another person has a claim to the farm. This other person being in the form of tall, handsome and rugged but rather lacking in manners, Montana Creed. The dispute is decided by a judge who decrees that the land belongs to Montana but the buildings belong to Addie ie the water belongs to Montana but the pumps would belong to Addie. Both Addie and Montana move onto the farm, she into the house and he camping outside in the grounds, figuring that possession is 9 points of the law. Both decide that they want to keep the farm and concocts up ideas to annoy and drive away the other. Addie refuses Montana use of her water pumps to water his horse, Jericho. Montana points a gun at her, until she calls his bluff. He then goes onto to frighten her by letting his horse into her bedroom, knowing that she has a fear for horses. Failing to drive her away, he tries to intimidate her through his amourous intentions, only for her to fall into his arms and in love with him as he tries his best not to do the same whilst she feeds him with awful food such as biscuits made part from plaster of paris! After all a way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Oh, this was a wonderful book, full of so much humour, witty dialogue and funny situations. It was so much fun to watch Montana and Addie wind each other up and then falling deeply in love. The book starts on a serious note and ends in the same fashion but the middle is mainly full of Jill Barnett's trademark humour. I have read nearly all of the novels written by Jill Barnett and have enjoyed every single one of them. I don't even have to read the back cover to know that it's going to great read. Lealing

Adelaide Amanda Pinkney was growing tired of her native Chicago's bustling crowds and growing poverty problems. Plus, after the loss of both her parents, she was without family other than her aunt and uncle who own a farm in California. Once she receives news they've perished in an accident and left her the farm, she's only too happy to make the permanent trip out west. Reaching California, she discovers there's another claim on her land in the form of Montana Creed. Tall and rugged, Montana as a child watched his father slaughtered and his land stolen by the railroad. He pledged one day to own his own land to continue his father's dream. When these two lonely, stubborn souls collide in a battle of wills, they just may gain more than a mere piece of land. Normally, I don't get into historicals set in the old West. But this book has quickly become one of my favorites, and definitely one of Jill Barnett's best. The battle of wills between these two characters leads to some hilarious moments. A funny and touching feel-good book. There is an accident, which occurs toward the end, that changes the overall feel of the story from sweet and funny back to more serious (the very beginning is also serious). But the changes in mood are well done and we still get the ultimate ending we're all looking for. I've read most of Ms. Barnett's work and have yet to find a novel of hers I didn't like. You just can't go wrong with her!

Call me biased because Jill Barnett is one of my favorite authors. I adore the way she writes romance. She's funny and sweet, only she's not sickly sweet because she makes her characters seem real and passionate at the same time. In Surrender a Dream, she has to tempermental characters who are at odds because they've both inherited the same plot of land. Given that it's the 1800's, California and both characters are determined that their destinies lie in their inheritance, it's no little wonder that they're at each other's throats. They both take measures to get the other to abandon his/her dream of getting the land. Their plotting and baiting of each other is very amusing especially when their emotions get invovled in the battle. Somehow Ms. Barnett manages to convey a brave, intellegent heroine that is also funny. I say somehow only because some of her other heroines can easily be described as beginning brainless. Ms Barnett can even take an issue of vulnerablity and make it humorous aka, the heroine's fear of horses, particularly the hero's. Yet regardless of which book of hers you may decide to pick up, you'll find humor, passion, sweetness and characters full of depth which I know for a fact, touch me at least. Even if the characters are a little bird-brained, or in this case, steller, odds are, even if you don't like her often interesting plots, you'll see how good a writer, or at least a comedian she is.

Adelaide Amanda Pinkney owned the equipment and the buildings. Montana Bartholomew Creed owned the land. Each vowed to get rid of the other. Amanda put plaster of paris in the biscuits. Montana set his horse loose in the house, knowing she was afraid of horses. After many futile attempts to discourage the other, in the end the only solution was for the two most stubborn land claimants in history to compromise by becoming husband and wife. But even then, Addie knew her husband wasn't telling her everything. And until he did, she couldn't be completely secure in her marriage.I always have a rollicking great time when I read one of Jill Barnett's books, and this one is no exception. Just thinking of the scene where Addie runs into a bakery wagon and spills baked goods all over the street or the one where she hooks a wagon up to her bicycle to transport blocks of ice brings a smile to my lips. Watching the relationship blossom as Montana teaches Addie to adapt to farm life and Addie teaches Montana the true meaning of love is a very real pleasure. You can't go wrong with this well-written tale!

This book is a keeper. The taunts and sarcasm thrown by the two main characters at each other were so hilarious. I love the way the relationship between Montana and Addie developed - from outright dislike and enmity to mutual support and care and finally to a sweet, sensitive relationship that could only be termed love. Jill Barnett's great! I only wish she could write faster!