This was my first Sandra Dallas novel and I really enjoyed it!

The author's writing style completely transported me into the Gold Rush days. From the characters' dialogue to the descriptions of their environment, I was totally immersed in the timeline throughout the whole story. The main character Haidie is a 14-year-old spitfire of a girl and the story is perfectly told from her POV. We see her mature and evolve as she meets more people along the trail and is exposed to different personalities and ways of life and her growth and development was beautifully captured. The side characters were excellent and added humor, wisdom and love to the story.

The second half dragged a bit and the ending was tied up just a bit too neatly for my personal preference, but overall this was a great read! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an early digital copy through NetGalley.

I thought this story was really interesting when I requested to read it. I felt it had some good parts but it kind of dragged on in my opinion.

I enjoyed this book. As with all Sandra Dallas’ books, this one has fantastic characters! I loved Haidie! She is a go getter and a hot mess all in one. This book keeps you entertained from start to finish!

As someone who grew up watching the John Wayne version of True Grit, I was a little apprehensive going into this book if it would be good or not. It ended up exceeding my expectations and made the story it's own.

Haidie is are main character, a young girl who is looking for her pa, after ma died and her older brother abandoned them at an orphanage after selling the family farm. Haidie and her younger brother Boots are determined to find Pa, who went off searching for gold in Colorado. Haidie first has to find a way for them to leave the orphanage, and then after that, for them to find a way to get all the way to Colorado safely. This is no easy feat and is one that takes them on an adventure of a lifetime. They meet so many different characters along the way, with some of them being good, helpful, and wanting the best for Haidie and Boots, and others who are liars and cheaters and willing to do anything for a little bit of money.

Overall, this book, while paying homage to True Grit, tells an alternative version of what Haidie could have done in order to get to Colorado and see what happened to her Pa, it's really its own story entirely. This story is one that shows the harsh realities of the Old West especially how it was on the wagon trains, and then in the old gold mining towns. It does not glamorize much and instead shows what Haidie would have really seen if she were travelling in this time period as a young woman, and the things she has to do in order to keep herself safe on the journey.

I recommend this one for anyone wanting a little Oregon Trail nostalgia without all the dysentery.

Tough Luck was such a gem. I picked it up not knowing what to expect, and now I’m a full-on fan. This book was so well done—clean, clever, and just plain fun to read. It’s got that old-school Western grit, but with a heroine who brings her own bold, irreverent voice to the table. I didn’t want to put it down.

The story follows Haidie Richards, a determined and scrappy girl who breaks out of an orphanage with her little brother, Boots, in search of their missing gold-mining father. Disguised as a boy, she heads west in 1863 with nothing but stubbornness and blind hope. What follows is part Oregon Trail, part True Grit, with a cast of oddball characters—including two fiercely independent sisters, a charming card shark, a loyal (and vicious) dog, and more than a few unsavory types. There’s mule wrangling, danger, dust, and heartbreak, but also hope and grit and a whole lot of heart.

What I loved most was how vivid the writing was. The details are so alive you can almost feel the dirt under your boots and hear the creak of wagon wheels. Haidie’s voice is strong and full of personality without feeling forced. The book hits that sweet spot where it feels adventurous and classic, but still fresh and easy to read.

Now, my only gripe—and it’s random, but it stuck with me—is the cover. I know, I know, we’re not supposed to judge, but seriously? It feels like the artist didn’t even glance at the manuscript. The girl’s hair is wrong, the horse is the wrong color, and the whole aesthetic misses the wild, rugged, slightly chaotic West that the actual story captures so well. I kept wishing the cover matched the spirit of the book, because the story inside deserves way better.

Still, five stars all the way. The storytelling is just too good. I already want to get my hands on more from this author. If they write it, I’m reading it.

I feel horrible saying this but I read a third of the book and was so bored I gave up. That’s not my usual style, I hate having to DFN.
There are other rave reviews, so perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind and should give it another chance…..one day.

Looking for a mild and fun western? You’re in luck! Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is the perfect western adventure for even the most sensitive of readers.

Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots find themselves abandoned at an orphanage after their mother dies. Instead of accepting their fate, Haidie convinces Boots to escape and go looking for their Father, who four years earlier left to seek his fortune in gold mining in the Colorado territory. She travels disguised as a boy with Boots on a wagon train headed to Colorado. On the trail they meet delightfully funny and honest characters as well as some not so honest men.

You will find yourself rooting for Haidie Richards every step of the way. When she meets lovely people who help her out, you’ll rejoice! When she gets into a precarious situation, you will worry about her. This book never becomes graphic but alludes to the violence and dangers of being a young woman traveling on a wagon train.

The atmosphere of this book is spectacular. You can feel the breeze from the plains and hear the soft rock of the wagon wheels as they roll along.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love the female lead in this one. When she is faced with her older brother abandoning her and their younger brother, Boots, she does NOT stand for it. She decides to live life as a boy so she's allowed to do harder work. She takes wonderful care of her family while also trying to find her father. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.
This short(er) novel truly packs a punch with this story. I would highly suggest this novel and would read more of Sandra's books.

This historical fiction from the 1800's followed a young girl and her brother set to travel west in search of their pa. Their adventures along the way are well detailed and enjoyable. I did not feel like the book dragged and was a very enjoyable read. I don't always find that historical fictions are hard to put down, but this one was. I was a little concerned when I realized there was only 10 chapters to the book but they moved quickly. The writing was well done and it does a good job of putting the reader's mind in the time period with the detail and descriptions. I really enjoyed Hadie and Boots' story and would recommend!

Sandra Dallas delivers compelling historical novel with Tough Luck, following 14-year-old Haidie Richards as she and her younger brother escape an orphanage to search for their father in 1860s Colorado. Disguised as a boy, Haidie braves the harsh frontier, forming bonds with a ragtag group of travelers while learning resilience and self-reliance. Dallas’ vivid storytelling immersed me in the rugged West, blending adventure, heartbreak, and hope.

Haidie was a standout protagonist: spirited, determined, and deeply caring. The first-person narration brought her voice to life, making her journey feel personal and poignant. Though the chapters were long, the pacing never dragged, thanks to Dallas’ engaging prose and well-developed side characters.

Fans of "Where Coyotes Howl" will appreciate this tale of grit and survival. A satisfying, emotionally rich read that cements Dallas’ skill for bringing history to life. 4.0/5 stars!

This is my first Sandra Dallas novel, but it won’t be my last. Dallas’s writing style fits this story well, very spare, much like the novel True Grit that she’s paying homage to. Even though the writing style wasn’t fancy, the characters were well-developed and I enjoyed following their story. If you’re a fan of westerns or historical fiction, you’ll want to be sure to pick this one up.

I’m a sucker for an orphan story, and this one didn’t disappoint! I loved the bravery of Haidee and her brother Boots as they set out on a journey to find their father in Colorado. The characters surrounding them were unforgettable! We need more books like this :)
—Dianna Rostad USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of You Belong Here Now

After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots escape the orphanage to search for their long-absent father. Disguised as a boy, Haidie braves the dangers of the Western frontier, gaining unlikely allies along the way—including a card shark, two spinster sisters, and a fierce dog. When she finally uncovers the truth about her father, Haidie must rely on her new community to pull off a clever plan for justice.

If you love a main character who is a liar, this is the book for you. Hadie lies about everything and anything, which made it difficult to like her. Some of the lies were for their survival, but others just seemed like she was lying for the sake of lying. And she never faced any consequences for it.

The story is well paced. I enjoyed the details of the time period and many of the characters she meets along the way. The story was little far-fetched at times, but I was happy there was a ‘happy’ ending.

Overall, this was an interesting read. If you’re looking for a grittier kind of western, this is the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and the author for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.
I was pleased to receive this exciting read by a favorite author. The author has created a atmosphere that is realistic and fun to read. Set in the gold rush era a brave older sister takes her little Brother across the country in a wagon train. They are seeking their Father who left to find gold. She is skilled at convincing people and accomplished at pretending to be a boy to protect herself.
The characters are richly defined. The adventure exciting. The many mishaps they encounter help them to be incredibly courageous and continue their journey.
This is a fascinating story of a time when people were stronger and brave in a rough landscape. It is the American story of resilience.
I loved this book and read it cover to cover. Well Done to the author.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a thrilling adventure that takes readers to the Wild West. As a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly WWII stories, I was excited to read something different in this western set in 1863. The story follows the journey of two siblings, Haidie and Boots, who embark on a westward trek after their mother’s passing. Their older brother, Cheet, is mentioned here and there but not actively involved in the story. The trio’s names are particularly amusing, adding to the overall charm. Haidie and Boots set out in search of their father, who had left four years earlier to work in a gold mine in Colorado. The story vividly portrays the grit and tenacity of the two siblings, keeping me engaged and eager to turn the pages until the very end.

A special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
It was truly a fun read. I love westerns and themes centralized venturing it to the West. Haidie is a spitfire character that immediately pulled me in with her quick with, thinking and loyalty to her little brother Boots. They were literally down in their luck and she completely turned it around. She never gave up and even when she was starting to think it was all for not she knew she couldn't. She had to complete this journey, take care of Boots like she promised and fine her Pa. A quick story of perseverance, coming together and helping each other outwit those who mean to cheat others out of their good fortunes.
The side characters were superb., the good and scoundrels and that dog!

This is a story of hardship and hope, as two young siblings escape from an orphanage to make their way west to Colorado to find their father, who left them to find gold.
The older sibling is a girl but ends up disguising herself as a boy so the the two of them could join a wagon train to go west, already knowledgeable in the ways of handling oxen and mules, they find a place on the wagon train with the scout of the train and his ugly guard dog.
There are many incidents which happen on this journey and the siblings find out a lot about peoples characters, and how they can get around the worst side of people.
Once in Colorado and with help of some of their friends from the journey, they set off to try and find out about their fathers whereabouts.
The story is easy to read, and is a homage to the story “True Grit” Which I have not read .
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

I've seen Sandra Dallas books on bookstore shelves and online bookstore pages many times over the years but I'd never read her and didn't even really know much about what she writes. I found this story to be very charming! After the death of their mother, a young sister and brother go west to try to find their father, who left for the gold fields years before. The sister, Haidie, is our hero and she's great. She's smart and brave, but not perfect. She admits right up front that she's a very good liar. Her adventures were entertaining and there were several very memorable supporting characters. A quick, fun read. I'll definitely read more of Dallas' books.

Sandra Dallas’s TOUGH LUCK was a fun, unexpected read I hated to see end. Haidie was smart and resourceful, and I loved how she took care of her little brother, Boots and, just being who they were, found family on their way to find their father. The characters were engaging, and the descriptions and storytelling left me wanting more.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a comforting read with a familiar fabric...

Sandra Dallas's Tough Luck offers a comforting return to her signature historical fiction. Set during the Great Depression in a Colorado mining town, it follows resilient women facing hardship with community spirit. Dallas excels at creating an authentic sense of time and place, and her characters are empathetic and easy to root for.

While heartwarming, the narrative arc feels somewhat predictable, and the pacing can be slow. The challenges, though significant, sometimes lack a truly raw edge. Ultimately, Tough Luck is a solid, enjoyable novel that delivers on the promise of a Sandra Dallas book—a gentle reminder of human kindness and enduring spirit.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for taking me back to a point in history where girls sometimes dressed as boys to survive.