Review: Tugged at my heartstrings.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2013
This book holds a very special place in my heart.  I spent many, many summer vacations in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where this story takes place, and it is my favorite place on this earth.The story of Fox and Maddie drew me in immediately, probably because of the location, but I soon found myself totally engrossed in their individual stories.Maddie depicted the true strength of the women of her time in traveling across the country to begin a new life.  While surprised by the living conditions she remained determined to make a decent home for herself, her father, her grandmother, and her little brother and she never faltered in her efforts to do so.  She has resigned herself to never being able to find a suitable husband in this untamed area of the country and carries on in spite of it.I have to admit that Fox irritated me a bit with his determination to spend his life in self-punishment for his interactions with General Custer just prior to Little Bighorn, but, without this there would not have been a story.  As I watched his story unfold I came to understand and admire him.  I even fell in love with him, just as Maddie did.The depiction of life in Deadwood at the time was amazing and having visited there, I could see in my head what the characters saw as they walked through the town and visited the different shops and saloons, even the cemetery, where Wild Bill is buried. Ms. Wright did an amazing job of portraying life during the gold rush period in South Dakota, and blending her characters with the real legends that inhabited the area at that time.As Maddie takes a huge risk to make Fox realize how much he loves her and deserves to have a life with her, the story takes another unexpected turn and adds a new dimension to her family’s life and story.  She takes a journey into history that will forever change how she thinks and lives the rest of her life, and she and Fox become even closer to each other.There are many stories going on throughout this book and all of the characters are strong and interesting to know.  I loved the little bits of humor woven throughout the book and I shed a few tears at the trials these characters had to endure.  This book is truly special and I will definitely be reading more by this author.