TOUGH LUCK is a feel-good, coming-of-age adventure.

Haidie was barely a teenager when she and her younger brother embarked on a trip across the American West in search of their father. It was 1863, right in the middle of the Civil War. Violent skirmishes between settlers and Native Americans were also a serious issue during this time. I expected a dark undercurrent, but instead hope led the way.

I loved Haidie’s bravery and devotion to her brother. While the pair faced challenges along the way, we only touched on these darker aspects of life in the Wild West.

This book isn’t marketed as YA, but it’s well suited to a younger audience.

The audiobook is well done. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw does a great job of immersing us in Haidie’s world.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download!*

I'm not usually a huge western fan but Sandra Dallas has made me a convert. Tough Luck is a humorously told story of strength and tenacity centering around a girl and her brother heading west to find the father who abandoned them. Along the way they face many adventures and encounter a multitude of both benign and unsavory characters. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw does a fabulous job narrating and pacing the story effectively. Readers will fall in the love with the protagonist and applaud the humor and satisfying ending.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy provided for an honest review.

This story is told in first person by Haidie, a fourteen-year-old girl living in Illinois in 1863 whose father went to Colorado four years ago for the gold rush and her mother just passed away. Haidie’s older brother sold the farm and left her and their little brother, Boots, at an orphanage. Haidie devises a plan to escape and travel to Colorado to find their Pa with Boots in tow. The story follows their misadventures along the way via wagon trail with Haidie dressed as a boy to find various odd jobs to earn their keep.

The characters in the novel were colorful and eccentric. The story was fun and entertaining almost in a tall tale of the west way. This is my second novel by this author, and I found myself procrastinating reading this one because I cried through the last. And now I’m kicking myself for not reading this one sooner because I laughed through Haidie’s adventures and her wonder at the new world around her.

Main character Haidie was a courageous young girl, determined and sharp as a whip. The kids meet many people who want to help them and many a swindler and con artist out for themselves. Shady folks who turn out to not be so shady and seemingly kind folks who will steal the horse right out from under you. Maybe a bit farfetched at times, but it all worked for me. It reminded me of watching old John Wayne westerns with my dad growing up, which is appropriate because I read that it was an homage to True Grit.

The audiobook is narrated by Mia-Hutchinson-Shaw. This was my first listen by this narrator, and I enjoyed her portrayal of Hadie and her adventures. If you’re an audiobook listener, I would recommend this format.

Recommended to readers who enjoy tales of the wild west and frontier historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job “playing the part” of Haidie. Sometimes the voice of Corny came across a little… flamboyant, but it seemed to fit the character. I think his voice really influenced how I felt about him.

I liked many of the characters and generally enjoyed going on this adventure with Haidie and Boots and plan to read more books by this author.

I LOVED this book. The writing captivated me immediately and I was completely immersed in this story about the travel west. The characters were vivid and jumped off the page (and mostly into my heart). Haidie is now one of my all time favorite characters. Her voice was unique and I was just soaking in this amazing storytelling. It was a wild and interesting and fun ride and I was not ready for it to end. I haven't read many westerns, but now I need more!

Note: The audiobook narration was perfect and really immersed me into the story to help me love it even more.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book. #partner

Saddle your horses! This western was a HOOT of a good time!

Haidie Richardson and her younger brother headed out west to gold mining territory in search of their Pa, and their adventure was an action-packed homage to True Grit that had me kicking up my boots.

At only 14 years old, Haidie was a force to be reckoned with! Smart, sassy, scrappy... I loved watching her outwit full grown men as she navigated territories typically dominated by males. Haddie was full of tenacity and clever earning her place along the wagon train. But it was her devotion to her brother and fervent hope in finding her father that most endeared her to me.

“I’ve never met a man I admired as much as you. “ –Corny

This was a vividly depicted, fast-paced tale. I enjoyed the sense of adventure alongside the looming danger. The secondary cast of characters delighted as well. From gamblers to preachers to spinsters... the whole gang added to the fun. And the ending! Perhaps a bit unlikely. Yet, I whooped in enjoyment.

🎧Narrator Mia Hutcheson-Shaw delivers an engaging, high-energy performance that had me hooked from the start. She well depicted Haidie’s fierceness while giving each of the side characters nuance and distinction. A gold nugget of an audiobook performance!

🤠 For my friends who like westerns with scrappy young heroines.

TOUGH LUCK by Sandra Dallas (Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Narrator)

🎧 Thanks, @Macmillan.audio, for the audiobook review copy. #macaudio2025 (Available 29 Apr 25) 8 hours, 18 minutes

Well, tarnation. Pull up a seat in the dirt around this campfire and let me tell you a story about a scrappy young girl and her journey across the wild west in 1863. A known liar and card sharp, 14-year-old Haidie is determined to bring herself and her 10-year-old brother to find their Paw in Colorado after their Maw dies. On the way, they run into scoundrels, thieves, and women of ill repute, but also draw in their fair share of kind-hearted and helpful souls.

While not marketed as “Young Adult” fiction, this felt a bit like it (in a good way), as Haidie navigates life through hard work and luck. It’s an easy, fun western with engaging characters and a happy ending. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

I wasn't a big fan of the narration, as it felt "campy" in its delivery. That could have just been how the dialogue was written.

Sandra Dallas never disappoints! Another fabulous read that I truly enjoyed. I listened to and read this story, the transition was seamless and the narrator did a fantastic job. Highly recommend to anyone enjoying a strong female lead in a frontier setting.

I read this book earlier and was able to download the audio version thanks to NetGalley.
It’s another really good book about a young girl and her brother going to Colorado to find their father who may or may not have abandoned their family to go and find gold.

Perhaps it’s a bit hard to believe that teenagers were able to do the things they do, but it was a different time and I really didn’t care because it’s such a good adventure story with good characters that are well developed and a good story.

It’s 1863, 14 year old Haidie Richards and her brother make a perilous journey west to find their father who left to find gold in Colorado. Disguised as a boy, she makes the dangerous journey and meets characters upon the way.

This is an atmospheric tale of America’s West with an homage to “True Grit”. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the adventures they came across while traveling west. With a strong, all be it, young, female protagonist, she stays true to herself. This was a good quick read of Americas West in the eighteen hundreds.

Haidie’s father went west in search of gold in the 1860’s. They haven’t heard from him in years. Once their mother passes, Haidie and her younger brother Boots are placed in an orphanage. But with dreams of reconnecting with their Pa, they make a break for it. Disguised as a boy, Haidie will learn about dangers of travel, people, the wild, trusting folks and taking care of her brother.

Their journey is both perilous and wonderful. I haven’t read a ton of books from the 1800’s and this one was such a neat perspective. Haidie was a self-proclaimed liar who would do what she had to do to keep her brother safe. She lied all the time, but it didn’t make her unlikable. I found myself cheering her on the entire book.

The audio was beautifully performed by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted alc.


4.5/5

Having read many books by Sandra Dallas, I consider myself a fan and really enjoy her historical fiction settings in the American West. She returns to Denver and area mining towns in this book and also incorporates a westward wagon train. The main character is Haitie, a fourteen year old girl who runs away from an orphanage with her younger brother to make her way to Colorado to find her gold-seeking father. To protect herself and better her chances to find work, Haitie disguises herself as a boy with mixed results. The young people have many adventures and encounter lots of dangers both on the trail and once they arrive in Colorado but develop many allies who protect them and even help them swindle some swindlers. Overall, the book is very predictable and even “corny” but I appreciate western historical fiction for being different from the usual major wartime themes. And for readers who appreciate “clean” language and wholesome themes, this book comes highly recommended. I don’t really like predictability and corniness but am rating this book up to encourage readers to discover Sandra Dallas and her exploration of American Western history.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was very good. Voice inflections and accents were well done and did not distract from the story.

"Tough Luck" by Sandra Dallas follows young Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots as they escape the orphanage their brother put them in after their mother passed away. Determined to find their Pa who left for Colorado a few years ago Haidie disguises herself as a boy as she and Boots hit the trail West. Along the way they meet a unique and loving cast of characters as they travel across the plains.

Sandra Dallas tells a lighthearted and fun story of two kids on a quest across the plains to find their Pa. This story is the perfect historical fiction read for those looking for something unique! I loved spitfire Haidie and her unwavering loyalty to mischievous Boots. While they find themselves in and out of trouble their love for each other, and the folks they meet along the way make for such an enjoyable story.

Stories of the American West are generally not my genre, but Sandra Dallas always does them justice.

Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots are left at an orphanage by their older brother when their mom passes. Though, as Boots rightly claims, they aren’t actually orphans. Their father Manly Richards headed west from their home in Smoak, Illinois for the gold mines of the Colorado territory a few years prior to find fortune. Determined to find him, the two younger siblings plan through the winter at the orphanage and steal away for the open road as soon as spring arrives.

On their journey they meet many new friends who help the young duo, they learn to drive oxen, how to handle Indian raids, deal with card sharks, and much much more. And when they finally make it to Denver, they find even more trouble to deal with. With the help of a few of their friends, Haidie, a survivor, makes sure their luck won’t run out.

This lightning fast read, will have you rooting for our unlikely heroine as she does what needs to be done to survive in an environment that sees much failure. Her tenacity and grit are awe inspiring for one so young, and her love for her brother will pull at your heart strings.

Mia Hutichinson-Shaw does an outstanding job narrating the many voices, but ultimately makes you fall in love with spitfire Haidie.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course the author Sandra Dallas for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Tough Luck is out on April 29th. All opinions are my own.

I love stories that take me back to a different time when the people were as hardcore as the hardships they suffered. In this western historical fiction, two siblings end up traveling by wagon train to try to find their father who left their family in 1863. Haidie dresses as a boy alongside her younger brother, Boots, so that they can find work to make their trip. They meet lots of interesting people along the way (some good and some bad) and have tons of adventures.

I did a combination of e-book and audiobook for this one. The narration by Mia Hutchison-Shaw was excellent, whether she was voicing the rich banker or a scallywag, it always seemed to fit. The story was very entertaining.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars.

Illinois, 1863. Boots, Haidie and Cheet’s father left the family home in search of gold and wealth in Colorado four years ago. Their mother passes, leaving the family farm for Cheet, the eldest sibling, to run. Cheet sells the farm for much less than it’s worth and abandons his younger siblings, planning to move on with his life without them dragging him down. Boots and Haidie make a plan to venture west in search of their father who they feel is sure to have found wealth and will welcome them back into his life.

This book was full of adventure. Haidie and Boots were incredible characters. I loved their relationship dynamic and that Haidie was more a mother figure than sister. Their bond was one of my favourite parts of this novel. The story is brilliantly told through Haidie’s perspective, which I loved. She was charming and entertaining with her inner thoughts. She was mature but still had a young innocence about her. Haidie and Boots find themselves in a variety of situations that is sure to have the reader entertained, emotional and rooting for them.

There are many characters introduced along their journey. Each new encounter unravels a unique layer to their story and enhances their personal growth. In a way, this is their coming of age story, but it also an entertaining romp through the American frontier. Several dangerous situations arise that had me worried and anxious. But there are also several surprising and heartwarming circumstances involving the kindness of strangers.

I am always fascinated to learn about this time period. The Wild West, where danger lurks beyond every grueling mile travelled into unknown territory. The bravery of people who embarked on this vast, hopeful and mysterious journey is inspiring.

I truly enjoyed following these unforgettable characters throughout their journey. Although I wouldn’t call this intense, gripping or fast paced, I cared deeply for the characters and will always remember them. I would have preferred more grit and realness, as I found a lightness to the writing that kept me from fully immersing myself in the atmosphere and storyline. I also found the ending wrapped up too neatly which had me lower my rating, but I can understand how this will please many readers.

Audio rating: 5 stars! The audio narrator did an excellent job narrating and greatly enhanced my connection to the book. Her tone, inflections and pauses were perfectly plotted. She had a twang to her pronunciations that had me feeling the atmosphere of the time period. I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you to the publisher for my physical and audio copy!

This novel publishes on April 29th. Be sure to get your hands on a copy!

All my historical girlies have to read this one! I loved every moment of it! I listened and really enjoyed the performance!

Haidie and her little brother become orphans when their father left them to find gold in CO and then their mother dies. This is their journey west to find their father. I loved how the characters the kids met along the way all weave together for the final conflict in the book. This was my first read by this author but I will check out more! Tough Luck was a fast paced, enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and author for the advance listener copy through NetGalley.

It’s 1863, the Civil War is raging across North and South, and Mary Haidie Richards has been snookered. Her pa has gone out West to seek his fortune in gold and her Ma has died unexpectedly. True to his name, her older brother Cheet sells the farm to gamble on a riverboat. He's nineteen, and he can dispose of it any way he wants to. She is fourteen and a girl and has no rights. Tough luck.

One thing about Haidie is she is a liar. She doesn't do it to be ornery or because she is wicked. She lies because it is to her benefit, and (it might be to yours, too, if you'd like to try it!). She may be a liar, but when she give her word, she keeps it. Another thing about Haidie is she can be a sneak thief if she wants to be. Finally, Haidie is good at plans. So when Cheet dumps Haidie and her younger brother Boots at the Good Shepherd Home, she forms one: They're going to be the best damn orphans they ever had. Then they're going to run off and find their pa.

Haidie comes from a family of cheats. Her brother does. And her grandpap did, too. And she herself is awful good at it. The best scammers look just like somebody’s brother. And as Haidie’s brother Cheet once said, only a fool loses, when he can win by cheating. They are all confederates in this crime. Cards are also a family calling, and when Haidie’s pa discovers the Hangover Mine, he wins five thousand dollars on it and deposits the money and the deed at the bank for safekeeping.

But the next morning when Pa goes to get the money and the deed, the banker Mr. Thacker says he's never seen him in his life. Pa shows him the receipt, and the banker replies that it wasn't one of his or his signature, either. Desperate, Pa says the banker could keep the money if he'd just give Pa back the deed. But the banker claims he'd won it off a fellow in a poker game. Then the banker smiles at Pa and says, Tough luck! But when the dust stirred up by Mr. Thacker’s carriage settles and the curtain is pushed back, who will have the final call for “Tough luck”?!!

Of insolents and incorrigibles, Sandra Dallas’ Tough Luck is grandiloquent!

I had the Advance Listener Copy of Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas and narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Haidie and her brother Boots set off from Illinois to Denver in search of their father. More than a year ago their dad left his wife and three kids to find gold in the mines outside of Denver Colorado. They’ve had three brief letters from him but nothing in months. Their mom got sick and died and their older brother sold the farm cheated his brother and sister out of their share and dumped them in an orphanage. Haidie plans her escape with Boots and they hire on with a man to travel by wagon train from Illinois to Denver. This is the story of the journey and the people they meet along the way. Great characters in this story. The narration was fantastic. This book releases April 29, 2025. I need to thank Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

After her mother dies, Haidie must keep her family together, meaning she has to go find her father in gold rush Colorado. The last they heard from him, he had struck it rich, and Haidie and her brother Boots have nothing left, and that includes their swindler older brother who gave them up to the orphanage. Their journey West is a true coming of age story about finding your true grit, blood isn't always thicker than water, and friends come from all different places.

I've been a Sandra Dallas fan for years. She has an ease of writing, even if her stories are a little predictable. This was a character-driven story that had all types of people, including those you love to hate. Dallas just does character development so well. I listened to the audiobook version, and Hutchinson-Shaw got the job done. I will always read what Sandra Dallas publishes, and I'm never left disappointed.