4 out of 4 stars
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Life in the American frontier back in the 1860s was rough. It's nothing like some of the romantic stories that were told of speculators roughing it into the unknown and returning with wagons loaded with treasure beyond their wildest imagination. The order of the day was the Indian raids, the scalping, and the gory stories of whole families going missing without a trace. Many settlers packed up and returned to civilization as they could not cut it according to the very rough standards one needed to survive there.
Nathan Carter harbors a dream to head out to the Nebraska territory, take up the United States government's offer of available land, and make it big as a farmer, living off his produce. He sees no future for himself stocking his family's store in Ohio, and his father's odd behavior towards him pretty much guarantees he will not be welcome in his homestead. All is set for his departure except the not-so-little matter of Rebecca Martin. He must convince his childhood sweetheart that this is one adventure they must take to succeed in life. Can he get her on his side, or will the trappings of high society be too much of a temptation for her?
Gloria Zachgo delivers a highly realistic take on what it was like roughing it out in the Old West, where law and order meant different things to different people. The characters in her story are so detailed in their presentation and complete, with their human flaws displayed for all to see. It is practically impossible for a reader to go through this book without identifying intimately with at least one of them. The author's use of journal-like writing presents a first-person account of events. It is unusual but exceptionally efficient. It may not be a novelty, but it is eye-catching. The story itself has a bit of everything in it. I am pretty sure there will be more than a few raised eyebrows at the end of the book. However, it's nothing for which I should fault the story.
Historical fiction readers will be impressed with the attention to detail this book carries. It stays in tune with the timeline right down to the dialect. I will also encourage romance genre readers to give this book a try. It will not disappoint.
With a uniquely exciting storyline and the professional level of editing on offer (yes, there are only a few errors in this book), I have to rate Never Waste Tears 4 out of 4 stars. Gloria Zachgo deserves plaudits for this work.
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Never Waste Tears
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