The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O'Dwyer Hardcover – December 21, 2022

This book was highly recommended by a friend when it first came out. She knew I liked books with a strong, intelligent MC, preferably female. I read it and enjoyed the story a lot. The descriptions of the Southwest were detailed and interesting. The story has haunted me since first reading so I went back and reread it. The emotions of Kathleen were compelling and I so wanted her to succeed in her quest to be a teacher and to find her place in this harsh land. The ending was as disturbing on second read as on the first. I want a sequel! While "westerns" aren't my usual genre, this is so much more than a shoot 'em up western. Was definitely worth a second more in depth read. I enjoyed this book a lot. (More stories from this author soon?)

Very good story that was well written. The descriptive narrative transported you back to the old west.

With great insight of diverse peoples, Robert Temple weaves a tale that is unexpected and compelling. While chronicling Miss Kathleen O'Dwyer's journey from back East to the Southwest, the author leads us to encounter the thrill of freedom on the open Plains and the peril of unexpected enemy attacks. All set to the backdrop of a glorious description of the landscape and its natural inhabitors, the journey takes unexpected turns as new characters come into play. In these characters, Temple lays bare human nature in all its beautiful and ugly facets. Best of all, the golden threads throughout this woven tale of the early 1800s are some of the very issues individuals and societies deal with today, and Robert Temple addresses them with great clarity. This is a must read!

This book made me laugh, cry a little, and get very angry for Kathleen who was strong and way before her time in regard to women’s rights. As Kathleen’s character developed I found myself wanting to be her friend and this made the book hard to put down. Mr. Temple’s mastery of the written word will keep you captivated and sometimes returning to reread his descriptions of the geography as the story develops. One of the best reads I’ve experienced in a long time, certainly a must read.

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review.a historic and a female willing to take on the world..That is after running from a life the good folk of St. Louis was trying to box her into. A bit of trigger warning is due to the predated conversations, Because if something aren't for "sensible" women to witness or hear, then why even do men think its a good idea to do them? That was if Tom's lack of sense didn't get the traveler wiped out before getting to see the full end of the trails. Hard times and harsher areas will tighten up or break anyone back in that era of time.   A single woman, whom it's not proned a whims to leave the solo traveling to the (menfolk) on the wagon trail, Kathleen was amazed at the the wilds of the Santa Fe trail..hot dang Kate does put up with the (sensitive) of men because wow she stands her ground on more then one accusation.

It's been so long since I've read a western that I'd forgotten how exciting they can be. Even though I haven't read a bunch of books in this genre, I've never read one with a female protagonist. For this reason, I was particularly curious.School teacher Kathleen O'Dwyer sets off on a wagon train heading to New Mexico but later ends up traveling with a mountaineer named James Colter. Though ambivalent of his character, Kathleen finds herself drawn to him. Together they go forth on a number of adventures from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, they encounter a mix of people, such as fellow travelers, Native American tribesmen, and missionaries.The book has a lot of action (and occasionally violence), however, there is also a more character-driven side to it. The latter was my favorite part of the story. I liked Kathleen even though I couldn't personally relate much to her. Well-written and keeping a good pace, The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O'Dwyer is a nice read. Unfortunately, the ending is awfully abrupt despite the satisfying conclusion. I did a double-take when I reached the acknowledgments page. It's an otherwise rich story for being under 250 pages. I enjoyed it.A huge thanks to the author for reaching out and sending me a free digital ARC to read and review!

‘The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O’Dwyer’ is a fictional story set in 1828 and begins with Kathleen, a young woman with potential, strength, and a lot of drive. She wants to be a school teacher and goes all the way just to achieve her goal, but nothing is easy, and all the hurdles she faces become the essence of this lovely tale.Kathleen is a strong female protagonist. At her time and age, you do see how she thinks ahead of her time. Her character development is admirable. The added romance and love story is also an interesting notion to the mix.The author has paid attention to detail. He has done his research about the time and era Kathleen lives in. The work is written well. I wasn’t a big fan of the book cover, but the content inside made up for that. The story’s pace is steady, and the constant action-adventure nature of the plotline keeps you wanting.I recommend this book to historical fiction readers.

The Strange Courtship of Katheen O’Dwyer is an easy read of an exciting story from the early West during the transition of New Mexico from Spanish rule. It is historical fiction containing many interesting facts based on critical research. The author has chosen a strong female as his main character, surrounded by strong men: the mountain man, James Colter; the conquistador, Colonel Miguel Esteban Montoya; Father Alverez, the Mexican priest; and Juan Diego, leader of the Mimbreno Apaches. Each scene or chapter is like eating popcorn. When you finish one, you want to grab the next kernel.