The Trouble with Patience: A Novel (Virtues and Vices of the Old West) (Volume 1)

I had a delightful time meeting Patience Cavanaugh who is one very strong woman, and has taken to owning a boarding house with a lot of grace and hard work. When we meet her she is just moving in and trying to come to terms with her finances and the amount of work that needs to be done.
Her first encounter with the Marshall Jedediah is almost hysterical, and I could picture her face as she swallowed the cup of coffee he offers. There is also some funny heckling going on from the current prisoner. You will also get a chuckle out of the men competing from Patience attention, going to the extremes of painting and helping fix up the boarding house.
There are some real shocks and surprises here, along with a bit of sorrow and murder. I was show more guessing and wrong as to why and who, but the story unfolds we come to realize that a lot of things are not as they appear.
I did really enjoy how the town seems to rally around Patience, and things go really well until her Mother arrives. A person I really took a dislike to, but again some big surprises are in store. Will Patience grow a backbone as far as her Mother is concerned, or will things go down hill while she is there?
There is also a strong reliance on God’s love and forgiveness in this book, and some really find and follow their faith.
I did love at the very end there is an epilogue, where I didn’t have to fill in the blanks in my mind, and the story continued to unfold. Enjoy!

I received this book through the Publisher Revell and their blogger’s tour, and was not required to give a positive review. show less

A great book set in the west. I liked how Patience managed to make a go of things herself and find a way to make things work by getting her boarding house going and coming up with ways to make it better while figuring ways to make additional money. I also liked how she was able to trust and forgive when she realized the truth about circumstances about Jedediah's background. I liked the story and the twists and turns and seeing how it was during this time of history.
I received this book free to review.

Nevada City, Montana Territory - 1866

"...Don't compare yourself to others. It's what's on the inside--in your heart--that matters. None of us are perfect. We are only made complete when we rest in the Good Lord." - Hannah Larson

Patience Cavanaugh is attempting to start a new life after a personal tragedy by bringing her grandmother's old boardinghouse back to life. Creekside Inn is beginning to thrive and life is going great until she spars with the town Marshal, Jedediah Jones. A tenuous beginning soon turns into a blossoming friendship but when Patience learns of Jed's prior occupation it could destroy it. Is forgiveness possible and, if so, is love on the horizon for these two lonely hearts?

Jedediah Jones is a changed man with show more regrets from his past but he's never regretted the past more than he does now. When he learns that his old job as a Montana Vigilante personally effected the woman he has come to care for his regrets lay heavy on his shoulders. With a criminal on the loose and Patience Cavanaugh on the outs with him, Jed's tension is mounting. Can he maintain law and order and capture the heart of the woman he loves?

The Trouble with Patience is book one in Maggie Brendan's new series, Virtues and Vices of the Old West, and the first I have had the pleasure of reading by this author. I'm glad I started with book one because it gives me a chance to familiarize myself with the characters which I am looking forward to revisiting. I love Patience's bold faith and outspokenness about forgiveness but, most of all, I love the fact that she had to struggle with it herself. It made her less fictional and more real because everyone has struggled with it at some point in their lives. While faith was a strong aspect of this book forgiveness was at the forefront and I believe readers will be able to identify with the characters on a personal level.

The storyline is unique and there are a couple of surprises to be expected which keeps the reader interested and engaged. The suspense isn't very strong but it is very enjoyable and coupled with the budding romances (plural!) I would call it a "page turner". Virtues and Vices of the Old West very aptly describes this series because both are plentiful. I believe Maggie Brendan has a winner with this series and I am anxiously awaiting to return to Nevada City and the characters I love so much. If you are a fan on historical romance with some suspense thrown in I recommend giving it a try!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. show less

From a Christian perspective, this was clean.

From a reader's perspective, I felt no connection or attachment to the characters. I didn't see much character development. It seemed weak and unrealistic in some places.

I think Maggie Brendan has the ability to write good stories, but I think she needs make them stronger. I'm sorry to say that I don't really have the desire to continue the series. If I don't fall in love with the book, I have no motivation to continue.

Patience Cavanaugh is precisely how I picture a Texas woman from the novel’s era. Maybe even from any era…

The Trouble With Patience by Maggie Brendan is a MUST READ!

From the amazingly eye-catching cover to the absolutely unforgettable characters – this novel is one you’ll be thrilled to add to your library.

This is my first book by Maggie Brendan and it has most definitely sparked my interest. I can hardly wait to go and find more fantastic books by this talented author!

Maggie Brendan weaves an intriguing story around realistic characters while still filling the pages with intricate details and story tidbits that make this a very real story!

There is hardship… yes – No Wild West story would be complete without it. There is show more also quite a bit of friction between our hero and heroine – again, what romance would be complete without it…

Virtues and Vices of the Old West – a PERFECT name for this series in my opinion.

As I said with the last historical fiction novel I reviewed – If only we’d had these kind of books in high school… I would certainly remember more about that time in history. Thank goodness we have such amazing writers who research so very thoroughly and then sprinkle in those facts among their fictional story!

BRAVO Maggie!

Review © JCMorrows 2015 show less

A heartwarming Christian Historical Romance! This is definitely a good one to add to your reading list. You'll quickly find all of the characters endearing, and feel right at home with them in 1866 Montana, where Patience has inherited a boardinghouse from her Grandmother. Patience has an early run in with the sheriff. Her struggles with him and her own opinion of herself are endearing. She learns Christian based lessons about herself and helps others to learn and grow, making the town a better place and enriching the lives of others she's touched. Even her mother is changed throughout the story. You'll also find a murder mystery and other romances entwined. Maggie Brendan is a fairly new author to me - I'll be sure to read any other show more books she's written! I'm a fan. There's an excerpt from the next book at the end of this one - I'm hooked - can't wait till it comes out.

A previous book written by Maggie is free on Amazon (double check before buying).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from Revell and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html. show less

I enjoyed this romantic western. The characters were all enjoyable and even some of the bad guys could be. Each character grew up in this story and it was well told. I received this from Revellreads for a fair and honest opinion.