BOOK BY: Sandra Dallas
I never thought I’d finish reading a novel about liars.
But Sandra Dallas spins an intriguing tale set in 1863 Illinois.
In Tough Luck, Haidie is a professional liar at only fourteen years of age. Fact is, she comes from a line of liars and cheaters. After her mother dies, her brother sells the family farm, sending Haidie and her younger brother to an orphanage. Determined to stay with her brother, Haidie continues the lies until they eventually escape.
Only to connect with more liars who are willing to help her get to Colorado to find her father.
The only truly “good” people, still lie to help Haidie, and see nothing wrong with doing so.
Gambling, prostitution, fake marriages, extra-marital affairs, cross-dressing, polygamy, deception, domestic abuse, violence, theft, and murder fill the pages as Haidie and Boots (her brother) travel from Illinois to Colorado.
I suppose the redeeming factor in the entire narrative is that Haidie and her friends deceive the ultimate deceiver, winning back something that belongs to her family.
And yup. They all lie to get what they want.
And they all do get what they want in the end.
Somehow, that just seems wrong.
I prefer stories that delineate good and evil. This one did not.
The narrative is strong, however, pulling readers into Haidie’s world and the descriptions give readers an idea of everything Haidie is experiencing. These are the only reasons I kept reading.
If you enjoy western stories that are gritty, you may like Tough Luck. But if you prefer stories that are wholesome and clean with strong morals, pass this one by.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.