I discovered this story while trolling the read shelves of GR friends, Marilyn & Liz. Domestic dramas aren’t my go-to genre because I so often get so pissed off at all the kids who get stuck with such crappy parents. However, there was something about Haidie that really appealed to me. I like kids who turn out to be bad@$$#$ in spite of their crappy parents and terrible childhoods.

The book summary basically lays out the primary storyline of Haidie and her little brother Boots becoming orphaned after the death of their mother, and homeless after their older brother Cheet, sells the farm and dumps them off at an orphanage. They convince a new nun, Theresa, at the orphanage that they will help her escape the orphanage (she was forced to become a nun by her father) if she helps them escape too. After escaping the orphanage, Haidie and Boots end up helping Theresa again by aiding her in escaping her abusive fake marriage. None of this is a spoiler since it’s basically how the story started.

Haidie and Boots make their way across the Midwest to Denver where they hope to find their father who came out years ago to mine gold. Along the way, they meet a cast of characters from the good and honest to the downright mean and scary. They become heroes by catching a couple of freight bandits and learn some very handy card tricks that they picked up by a kindhearted card shark. The ending comes fast in a worthy payback to a shyster banker.

The character development of Haidie and Boots along with a couple of other characters was well done. Love Haidie as well as Corny and the spinster sisters!!!. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining even if it was kind of corny. The writing was fine and, once again, seemed a little cheesy. The story reminded me of a YA story, a good one, but a story for teenagers nonetheless. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star rating. I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillian Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ToughLuck

There is always something about a book that takes place on the prairies many years ago that always draws me in.

This story gave me a Western Story feel as people set off in their covered wagons to find new beginnings or make it big with Gold Mines.

Some of those just have bad luck or as the book is Titled Tough Luck.

The narrator did a wonderful job and enjoyable to listen to.

1923 has been a favorite show at our house, so I knew I was going to love the feel of this book! It was marvelous! HIGHLY recommend this.

This was my first time reading Sandra Dallas' work, and it was such a fun read. I love historical fiction, and what really brought this story to life for me were the secondary characters. I especially fell in love with Jake, Teresa, Boots, Corny, and the old maids. Heck, I even loved Tyge the dog. The main character, Haidie, is also someone to be admired. Even though she's only fourteen years old, she's an old soul. She's a hard worker and she's fiercely loyal to her friends and family. I greatly admired her perseverance through all of the trials she faced. The narrator, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, did a wonderful job. Her voice reminds me a lot of my favorite narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, so needless to say I took a liking to her right away. I would highly recommend the audiobook version of Tough Luck to everyone.

Middle America, 1863, and 14 yr old Haidie Richards has fallen on the hardest of times. Four years ago her Pa left in search of gold in the Colorado mountains. Her mother has just been buried and her older brother has sold the farm, taken the proceeds and dropped Haidie and her younger brother at an orphanage. But Haidie’s survival skills kick in as she and her younger brother Boots set off on a cross country adventure in search of family. It eventually becomes clear that family takes on many meanings, while she protects her brother as they intersect with both heroes and villains along the way.

Similar to William Kent Krueger’s This Tender Land and Amor Towles’ Lincoln Highway, what they find at the planned final destination is very different from what she anticipated. With the same unapologetic spunk and fierce sibling loyalty as Duchess of Chris Whitaker’s We Begin at the End, Haidie’s coming of age runs fast and furious in Dallas’ new historical fiction novel.

Mia Hutchinson Shaw’s narration was easy on the ears, speeding the plot forward while making the essence of the characters sing. I look forward to future audiobooks including her talent.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun read! This book was classified as Historical Fiction and Women’s Fiction on NetGalley, but I think a YA tag would also have been appropriate as our protagonist is a 14-year-old girl. I went into this not knowing what to expect as I’ve never read any other works by Sandra Dallas and I was unfamiliar with True Grit, to which this novel was compared. Tough Luck could have taken a much more serious tone with a girl and her young brother traveling across the country in search of their father. But it read more like a Mark Twain with interesting characters popping in and out of the story, either helping or hindering the vulnerable pair. In a world of pandemics and divisive politics, this was a lovely little escape that I was sorry ended as quickly as it did. I would recommend this book and I hope to read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

*NO RATING*

I have read previous Sandra Dallas books and enjoyed two of them very much [The Persian Pickle Society and Prayers for Sale; I can really recommend these books], but the others only slightly, so I was hoping for a win with this one [I felt I was due for a good one LOL].
Unfortunately, this was not the case here. I didn't like ANY of the characters [not even the MC; what a snotty, conniving bratty child she is], the glorifying of lying and cheating [amongst other vices] made for a meh story and was, by the end, very irritating, I didn't really enjoy the story [though there were parts that were sad] and that end...well, it was just...sigh.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment and I am not sure I will ever read this author again.

I have listened to this narrator[Mia Hutchinson-Shaw] before and enjoyed her; unfortunately, she was doing an English accent [and doing it very well I must say; I had no idea she wasn't British], and I'd not heard her in her regular voice, WHICH I found that I do not care for [I WOULD absolutely listen to her read a book where she uses the English accent; that was truly fantastic]. Which was, of course, a real disappointment. I am sure that many will enjoy it, but for me [I am unfortunately pretty particular about my narrators/narration as I really rely on audiobooks now for "reading", and I end up not liking as many narrators as other people do], it hindered and already unlikable story even more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and narrator, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Tough Luck is a gripping, heartfelt western that follows two resilient young siblings, Haidie and Boots, as they journey westward in search of their missing father—a gold miner who left in pursuit of treasure and never returned.

Set in the 1860s, the story captures both the hardships and hope of the time. As a parent, I found myself particularly moved by the dangers these two kids faced, and their strength, perseverance, and sense of responsibility was both admirable and emotional.

The audiobook narration is absolutely outstanding. Mia handles a wide range of characters—across different ages and genders—with authenticity and depth, bringing the entire world of the story to life.

While I gave it 4 stars due to a small feeling of something missing (perhaps a slightly more satisfying resolution or emotional beat), it’s still a powerful and adventurous listen.

Tough Luck is a fantastic choice for readers looking for a tale of courage, endurance, and old-west adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had hopes for this one- I love historicals and I love western settings. But this was a huge disappointment.

First, it reads a lot like YA, but the subject matter isn't YA. Prostitution comes up quite a bit- though it isn't called that.

Second, all of these terrible things kept happening, yet they miraculously solved the problem quickly and with little effort. There wasn't any strife. You couldn't feel their turmoil. It was very shallow.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Charming historical fiction about a young woman in 1863 who is determined to find her wayward father in the Colorado Territory.

After the death of their mother, 14-year-old Haidie and her little brother, Boots, are dumped in an Illinois orphanage by older brother Cheats. They soon escape, and with Haidie dressed as a boy, are on the road west.

The characters are wonderful—even the nasty ones. The kids meet lots of interesting folks along the way and they work hard to earn their keep. Haidie is determined to find and confront their father, no matter who or what gets in the way.

Dallas provides plenty of humor and the language and perspective are very entertaining. The audio narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was downright perfect.

The book will be published on April 29, 2025 by St. Martin’s Press. The audiobook (8 hours, 18 minutes) was recorded by Macmillan Audio. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to the book in return for an honest review.

Listen to this on audio it was an arc read. I thought it was really cute. Pretty wholesome, and the narrators were good. It’s about a couple of orphan kids that believe that their father is still alive and they go across country to try to find him. Reminds me of like a cowboy western type movie. They run into good and bad people, make relationships with good people, and as they are on the hunt for their father meet a lot of different characters. Basically I think it was a good read and I would recommend it.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is the story of two orphans who set out west to find their father. The novel vividly depicts the harsh realities of life on the trail to a new territory, highlighting the dangers, hardships, and perseverance required to survive.

As the siblings journey across the rugged landscape, they encounter numerous challenges, including unpredictable weather, scarce resources, and the constant threat of outlaws. Despite these hardships, they also meet many kind and generous people who offer them guidance, shelter, and support. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about resilience, trust, and the meaning of family, ultimately discovering that sometimes the greatest strength comes from the kindness of strangers.

This story was well written and an easy to listen to, The narrator did a great job depicting the characters voices and bringing life to the the story.

A couple of tough, young siblings escape an orphanage and set out across the plains to Colorado on a quest to find their Paw who had left four years prior to find gold but never returned.

They are aided along the way by a rag-tag cast of characters who recognize young Haidie for her bravery and her brain. She can outsmart even the dirtiest scoundrels.

For fans of historical fiction of the mid-1880s in the American west, this book is action packed with creative capers and schemes to survive.

This was my first book by Sandra Dallas. Although Westerns aren’t my favorite to read, this completely held my interest. In a nod to “True Grit”, this is a story set in 1863 Colorado about a 14-year-old girl (who poses as a boy) and her little brother who join a wagon train to find their father who left them to find a gold mine in Colorado. They encounter Indian attacks, cowboys and all sorts of cheats & liars along the way. Was it unrealistic? Sure. Did I still have a fun time with the adventure? Also yes. I really enjoyed the audio narrator. She did all of the voices very well, and I found her to be very engaging.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a comfy cozy book that keeps you engaged from start to finish. You fall in love with the main characters, Haiti and Boots. At points in the book, I cheered for them, and others, I was concerned for them. Haiti and Boots takes off on a cross-country trip to find their Father. You have a front row seat to everything that happens to them during this time. I felt like I was taking the trip with them. I was presently surprised on this modern day western!

I enjoyed the narration for this book. I do wish that it was dual narration instead though. Maybe a male to do the male parts and a female to do the female parts. But with that being said, the female that did the narration did a great job.

I really enjoyed Tough Luck! I recommend it to people that enjoy historical fiction and westerns. Although don't limit yourself like me, I didn't think I would enjoy a western, I was pleasantly surprised.

Sandra Dallas’s “Tough Luck” is a heartwarming tale of 14-year-old Haidie and her younger brother Boots, orphaned after their mother’s death. Years later, Haidie sets out to find their father, who journeyed West for gold. Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, the audiobook is captivating, with her perfect twang bringing each character to life.

This book follows a sister and brother on their adventures to Colorado to find their father and the interesting cast of characters meet along the way! Not quite the type of plot that keeps me riveted but certainly enjoyable!

The Richards family has a farm in the Midwest in the 1800's. The father left for Colorado to find gold, leaving the oldest son, Cheater, to run the farm and daughter Haidie to look after her younger brother Boots. The mother died four years later, and Cheater sold the farm to gamble on riverboats and put Hadie and Boots in an orphanage. Hadie had other ideas and she and Boots snuck out of the the orphanage to head to Colorado to find their dad. She cut her hair and put on pants and passed herself as a boy and talked their way onto rides across the country to find their dad. Along the way they met various characters that added depth and interest to the story.

I enjoyed listening to this historical novel. I thought the plot was interesting, the characters well developed, the story believable and the narration well done. The history is not overly complex, and the timeline adds a setting for the story. I recommend it to people who enjoy early light American historical fiction.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Macmillan audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

I had such a great time with Haidie! This was my first book by Sandra Dallas, but it certainly won’t be my last. Dallas crafts a charming and heartfelt story, one that feels like a refreshing departure from the influx of WWII historical fiction. The setting and time period are richly drawn, offering a glimpse into a less frequently explored era.

What truly made this book special was its cast of side characters. Each one was wonderfully developed, with compelling arcs that added depth to the story. While the ending wrapped things up a little too neatly for my taste, the journey to get there was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind too much.

Listening to the audiobook elevated the experience even further. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration was outstanding—she infused each character with the perfect twang, bringing them to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. If you’re considering picking this one up, I highly recommend the audiobook format!

A lovely, feel-good historical read that I’m glad I didn’t miss.

Thank you to Sandra Dallas, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1863, and Haidie's Pa has gone west in search of gold, while she and her two brothers stay on the farm with their Ma. But when Ma dies, and Haidie's older brother sells the farm, she and her younger brother Boots wind up at an orphanage. Desperate to find their Pa, Haidie and Boots take off on their own journey west, where they encounter a colorful cast of characters—some friends, some foes. Will Haidie and Boots find their Pa out west? Or will they be forced to live out the rest of their childhoods at an orphanage?

This book is a HOOT! It's a clever, action-packed ride of rip-roaring fun. I just loved Haidie! She's quick-witted, strong and capable. I loved the found family vibes with some of the folks they meet on their journey west, and the shenanigans they get into along the way. I loved the author's last book, Where Coyotes Howl, so much, though it was a sad and somber account of life on the prairie. And while this one was completely different—more lively and upbeat—i enjoyed it just as much! I can't wait for whatever Dallas writes next!

I was already halfway into this book when the audiobook became available on NetGalley, so I finished it up on audio and WHAT A TREAT it was!!! Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is exceptional! Her performance is jaw-droppingly good, with a cinematic quality to it. She flawlessly voices a large cast of characters, each with a distinct and unique voice. What a performance!!! Highly recommend this format!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC.