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Lipstick and Lead #1
Desperate
After the death of their father, the McKenzie sisters, Meg, Annabelle and Ruby try the normal ways for women to earn a living in a small western town. When they fail, the McKenzie sisters decide to take up their father's profession, bounty hunting. Tough, resilient and badass to the core, they soon learn that they don't need a man to protect them even if that man is the handsome sheriff who has stolen Meg's heart. Kick off this adventure with Desperate the first installment of this new historic western series, Lipstick and Lead.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2014
About the author
Sylvia McDaniel
120 books647 followersUSA Today bestselling author Sylvia McDaniel has published more than forty western historical romance, contemporary romance and even a few sci-fi novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.
Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.
Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.
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Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.
Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.
Sign up for Sylvia’s newsletter
Visit Sylvia at www.SylviaMcDaniel.com
Follow Sylvia on twitter
Join Sylvia on Facebook
Goodreads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 2, 2015
This is a prequel to a series, a short story that introcuces three sisters and apprises us of their situation. It's Texas in the wild west days; their father has just died, leaving these motherless sisters, ranging in age from 15 to 19, only 30 days to pay the outrageous mortgage on their farm.
Meg is the oldest and the one I like. She wears the pants, literally. She has the gumption to propose to the local sheriff. She even goes so far as to feed the man a stolen ham. I like how quick she is to stick up for herself and argue when she feels others are wrong.
But something bugged me. She wears pants and doesn't want to. She fancies herself a clothing designer and wants to wear pretty dresses but at the same time complains she can't work in clothes like that. Well, if you're such a great designer, design a dress you CAN work in. Hum. She complains about this a lot and in the light of the fact she at the same time claims she's a great designer, I lost sympathy.
The story didn't feel very historical either. Except for the fact they use outhouses and get around via horse and buggy and have a house of ill repute in the town, it could very well have occurred nowadays. The diner scenes especially were too modern. The youngest sister annoyed the heck out of me. She's an insolent little brat and too much of the story is spent focusing on her and Annabelle's cat fight over a man. But even more off-putting for me was the fact this woman/child nearly has sex. She's only 15. This was disgusting to me. We're not reading about the middle ages or the Native tribes here.
It's also historically inaccurate. These gals carry around Baby Colt Dragoons and stand around shooting cans in anger. I counted eight shots (with no reloading) from Ruby alone and a Baby Colt Dragoon only carried 5 rounds. Regardless of whether my research is accurate or not, revolvers back then def didn't carry more than 6 shots. And they didn't have electric lights and I doubt they had lanterns in the closets, so how does Ruby see her employer's son in that dark closet?
Final thoughts and full review are here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
Meg is the oldest and the one I like. She wears the pants, literally. She has the gumption to propose to the local sheriff. She even goes so far as to feed the man a stolen ham. I like how quick she is to stick up for herself and argue when she feels others are wrong.
But something bugged me. She wears pants and doesn't want to. She fancies herself a clothing designer and wants to wear pretty dresses but at the same time complains she can't work in clothes like that. Well, if you're such a great designer, design a dress you CAN work in. Hum. She complains about this a lot and in the light of the fact she at the same time claims she's a great designer, I lost sympathy.
The story didn't feel very historical either. Except for the fact they use outhouses and get around via horse and buggy and have a house of ill repute in the town, it could very well have occurred nowadays. The diner scenes especially were too modern. The youngest sister annoyed the heck out of me. She's an insolent little brat and too much of the story is spent focusing on her and Annabelle's cat fight over a man. But even more off-putting for me was the fact this woman/child nearly has sex. She's only 15. This was disgusting to me. We're not reading about the middle ages or the Native tribes here.
It's also historically inaccurate. These gals carry around Baby Colt Dragoons and stand around shooting cans in anger. I counted eight shots (with no reloading) from Ruby alone and a Baby Colt Dragoon only carried 5 rounds. Regardless of whether my research is accurate or not, revolvers back then def didn't carry more than 6 shots. And they didn't have electric lights and I doubt they had lanterns in the closets, so how does Ruby see her employer's son in that dark closet?
Final thoughts and full review are here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
March 29, 2019
Reviewed at Historically Romantic
Although DESPERATE is listed as the first story in the Lipstick and Lead series, I’d consider it more of a prequel since the story is really focused on the McKenzie sisters and their changing circumstances. I first encountered the McKenzie sisters as secondary characters in QUINLAN’S QUEST, part of The Alphabet Mail-Order Brides multi-author series. They were feisty and lively enough that my curiosity was engaged in how they got their beginning. I’m glad I went back, even though there were several frustrating moments with the formatting which I firmly place on Amazon’s head. I’ll continue the series, especially now that these “child women” have had a chance to face life, mature a bit and it looks like things are about to get interesting in their new profession as bounty hunters.
The McKenzie sisters, ranging in ages from 16 to 19, are faced with reality as their father is injured in the line of duty and will leave them to face keeping their farm and family intact. As the story opens the girls are very much teenagers, not mature and more prone to sisterly cat fighting over silly things. That is about to change in many ways. Meg, the oldest, is a strong young woman who has given up her own dreams in order to tend to the farm, pass her own dresses to her sisters and wear pants herself. Ruby, the youngest is opinionated, spoiled, bratty and well, she’s 16 so it’s what I expect from that age of no longer a child but not yet a woman. Annabelle, I didn’t get a good read from as she’s the middle sister and while quite willing to step into the fight my impressions of her were more general. Overnight these teenagers will have to become adults as their farm is in danger of being taken from them, and they have to find jobs in their small town. And that is were the reality slams home for them as those jobs are demeaning, unfair, and dangerous. And to be frank, each one of those they taught a lesson to, including the sheriff, so deserved everything they got and could have been handed a bit more in my opinion.
By the ending of DESPERATE I liked all of these adult women so much more, and really want to see what life has in store for them. Books don’t have to be “hot off the presses” to grab my attention so I’ve no problem following the McKenzie sisters to see what adventures are in store for them. I enjoyed myself, and that’s the whole point of reading Romance.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Although DESPERATE is listed as the first story in the Lipstick and Lead series, I’d consider it more of a prequel since the story is really focused on the McKenzie sisters and their changing circumstances. I first encountered the McKenzie sisters as secondary characters in QUINLAN’S QUEST, part of The Alphabet Mail-Order Brides multi-author series. They were feisty and lively enough that my curiosity was engaged in how they got their beginning. I’m glad I went back, even though there were several frustrating moments with the formatting which I firmly place on Amazon’s head. I’ll continue the series, especially now that these “child women” have had a chance to face life, mature a bit and it looks like things are about to get interesting in their new profession as bounty hunters.
The McKenzie sisters, ranging in ages from 16 to 19, are faced with reality as their father is injured in the line of duty and will leave them to face keeping their farm and family intact. As the story opens the girls are very much teenagers, not mature and more prone to sisterly cat fighting over silly things. That is about to change in many ways. Meg, the oldest, is a strong young woman who has given up her own dreams in order to tend to the farm, pass her own dresses to her sisters and wear pants herself. Ruby, the youngest is opinionated, spoiled, bratty and well, she’s 16 so it’s what I expect from that age of no longer a child but not yet a woman. Annabelle, I didn’t get a good read from as she’s the middle sister and while quite willing to step into the fight my impressions of her were more general. Overnight these teenagers will have to become adults as their farm is in danger of being taken from them, and they have to find jobs in their small town. And that is were the reality slams home for them as those jobs are demeaning, unfair, and dangerous. And to be frank, each one of those they taught a lesson to, including the sheriff, so deserved everything they got and could have been handed a bit more in my opinion.
By the ending of DESPERATE I liked all of these adult women so much more, and really want to see what life has in store for them. Books don’t have to be “hot off the presses” to grab my attention so I’ve no problem following the McKenzie sisters to see what adventures are in store for them. I enjoyed myself, and that’s the whole point of reading Romance.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
April 18, 2018
ILIPSTICK SHOWS A BIT OF SEXY IN A WOMAN IN PANTS!
5 STARS to Sylvia McDaniel for her sensual and delightful Novella Desperate: A Sweet Western Historical Romance, Lipstick and Lead Book 1. It is the beginning of 3 sisters whose Bounty Hunter Farmer Father dies with money owed on the mortgage. They are dirt poor, and the oldest Meg had taken to wearing pants since she did farm work plus had refitted what dresses she had for her 2 younger sisters whom she acted as a mother almost, besides she didn't have any dresses that fit. This is a very entertaining Novella, you will laugh out loud, and have complete understanding for Annabelle 's work problem and be both angry & sympathetic with Ruby about hers. Love the way the Sisters relieve the stress after they get home and the hard decisions that they have to make! I am definitely looking forward to Book 2.
WARNING: 17 & UP
5 STARS to Sylvia McDaniel for her sensual and delightful Novella Desperate: A Sweet Western Historical Romance, Lipstick and Lead Book 1. It is the beginning of 3 sisters whose Bounty Hunter Farmer Father dies with money owed on the mortgage. They are dirt poor, and the oldest Meg had taken to wearing pants since she did farm work plus had refitted what dresses she had for her 2 younger sisters whom she acted as a mother almost, besides she didn't have any dresses that fit. This is a very entertaining Novella, you will laugh out loud, and have complete understanding for Annabelle 's work problem and be both angry & sympathetic with Ruby about hers. Love the way the Sisters relieve the stress after they get home and the hard decisions that they have to make! I am definitely looking forward to Book 2.
WARNING: 17 & UP
December 1, 2020
Meg, Annabelle and Ruby are three young ladies left to fend for themselves after their bounty hunter dad dies. After working in town to keep the bank from taking their ranch the sister's learn a valuable lesson...men are just lowlife scalawag!
Sylvia McDaniel has written a sweet western romance with characters that come off the pages and pull you into their tale, a story that is well-written, with a good plott, drama and intrigue and three men who done them wrong. Desperate is the beginning of their journey in Lipstick and Lead.
Sylvia McDaniel has written a sweet western romance with characters that come off the pages and pull you into their tale, a story that is well-written, with a good plott, drama and intrigue and three men who done them wrong. Desperate is the beginning of their journey in Lipstick and Lead.
September 30, 2022
This is the prequel that sets up this series. It's a story about sisters (15, 17, and 19) needing to do what they need to do during hard times. They are young, but no one is going to get the better of them, and they have to grow up fast. I'm so glad I didn't live during this time period because some of the events are tough. I am so curious to see who these sisters grow up to be.
My understanding is that the rest of the books in this series are romances, but this one is not.
My understanding is that the rest of the books in this series are romances, but this one is not.
August 9, 2018
Sylvia McDaniel has written a faily great introduction to western series. I read jst about anything and found this one for free. After reading it I bought the next book in the series. I am about halfway through it. These books are a quick read; quite alot of action and somewhat humorous. I find Ms McDaniel an author which I like to read.
October 16, 2020
I enjoyed reading this one a lot. I felt so many emotions with each page and chapter. These sisters rock a lot. I liked how strong unique women they were in that time and age. It is packed with action suspense thrill love romance and good fights sparks fly within them. I recommend this and can't wait for the rest
March 19, 2021
Meg, Annabelle, and Ruby McKenzie have just lost their bounty-hunter father. All alone, they wonder how they can support themselves. Can they marry? Can they find suitable jobs? Or, is the best option to follow in their father's footsteps as bounty hunters? I likes this book due to its strong female characters, who may have a flaw or two, but are survivors who make their way through challenging circumstances. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 19, 2022
I love the McKenzie sisters!
Packed with fire, sass and a bond only sisters can have, Meg, Anabelle and Ruby will have you laughing, crying and cheering them on from page one.
When the worst happens they know they cannot rely on anyone else....so let the games begin.
An intriguing start to the series, I look forward to reading book 2.
I got this book as a free download.
Packed with fire, sass and a bond only sisters can have, Meg, Anabelle and Ruby will have you laughing, crying and cheering them on from page one.
When the worst happens they know they cannot rely on anyone else....so let the games begin.
An intriguing start to the series, I look forward to reading book 2.
I got this book as a free download.
June 28, 2022
Meg, Annabelle and Ruby only have each other after their dad has an accident and doesn't make it. The three have to take menial jobs and things don't go as planned. This book was very interesting and the three sisters were trying to keep the farm and make the balloon payments on the farm. They each come up with the same idea and decide how to implement it. Looks like a really good series!
August 6, 2017
Ruby come Megs hair. She took the curly machine in Megs long hair. Meg saw on her sister then the sister did soft curly hair in her.
This book was fast to read. I read this book on 30 minutes.
I like this book. The book was okey to read.
This book was fast to read. I read this book on 30 minutes.
I like this book. The book was okey to read.
July 30, 2018
Delightful
Takes of women going beyond the expected always interest me.
Long ago I tried "the little woman" route and it was awful.
I very much enjoy reading about others who push the boundaries.
Takes of women going beyond the expected always interest me.
Long ago I tried "the little woman" route and it was awful.
I very much enjoy reading about others who push the boundaries.
January 22, 2019
A must read series
What a great start to this series.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
Can three sisters survive in the West without a man?
Read and find out their solution to the problem.
What a great start to this series.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
Can three sisters survive in the West without a man?
Read and find out their solution to the problem.
April 10, 2019
Loved this backstory for the McKenzie sisters.
This is the story of why they become bounty hunters and I really enjoyed it.
I sent it to my nana since she likes historical with strong and feisty women.
This is the story of why they become bounty hunters and I really enjoyed it.
I sent it to my nana since she likes historical with strong and feisty women.
August 31, 2019
Meg, Annabelle and Ruby
This is a very cute and well written story. The plot and the characters have been well thought out too. There is lots of humor as well as loss, excitement and sisterly love.
This is a very cute and well written story. The plot and the characters have been well thought out too. There is lots of humor as well as loss, excitement and sisterly love.
March 20, 2022
smart as hell
Three sisters who have to Get along is hard enough, but to have to survive together in a man’s world is even tougher. Take a glimpse into what life was really like and how these sisters survive.
Three sisters who have to Get along is hard enough, but to have to survive together in a man’s world is even tougher. Take a glimpse into what life was really like and how these sisters survive.
March 24, 2022
Meg, Annabelle, and Ruby
When these three girls were left with a balloon payment due on their farm after their father died, they tried working honest jobs in town. When that fell through they had to find another idea.
When these three girls were left with a balloon payment due on their farm after their father died, they tried working honest jobs in town. When that fell through they had to find another idea.
July 22, 2022
Loved it!
Amazing start to a new series! Love that this book allows you to hear from each of the sisters before reading their stories. Can't wait to read the rest and see how they develop!
Amazing start to a new series! Love that this book allows you to hear from each of the sisters before reading their stories. Can't wait to read the rest and see how they develop!
October 6, 2017
My kind of womem
Loved them! The story line is clean and interesting. Can't wait to read the rest of this series and enjoy their futures.
Loved them! The story line is clean and interesting. Can't wait to read the rest of this series and enjoy their futures.
January 10, 2018
Enjoyed the story as to why and how the girls got into this line of business. A good start to the series.
February 10, 2018
Desperate
Three sisters with a Wild idea. Bounty hunters! Promising series and this beginning is really good! Makes you want the next book right now.
Three sisters with a Wild idea. Bounty hunters! Promising series and this beginning is really good! Makes you want the next book right now.
February 12, 2018
Short read. Cute story. I love non-confirming women, especially for the time period.
July 5, 2018
What a fun book!
I loved this book! Was fun to read one that didn't make the women out to be helpless! Loved Ruby and her taking care of herself!
I loved this book! Was fun to read one that didn't make the women out to be helpless! Loved Ruby and her taking care of herself!
July 6, 2018
Good read -- 5 stars!
July 9, 2018
Not long enough
Good 👍but not long enough. I will try the next book and see how it goes. It's true how women were treated back then and now.
Good 👍but not long enough. I will try the next book and see how it goes. It's true how women were treated back then and now.
January 8, 2019
A good opening
Enjoyed the build up to the next books in the series. Three strong women taking control of their lives.
I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
Enjoyed the build up to the next books in the series. Three strong women taking control of their lives.
I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
September 7, 2020
Good read
It looks like the beginning of a good series which I hope includes a bit of humor in the midst of adventure. Enjoy 👍
It looks like the beginning of a good series which I hope includes a bit of humor in the midst of adventure. Enjoy 👍
April 12, 2021
Good story
Read
March 22, 2022The girls went through so much after their father died but after their failure at work because of being so pretty but the men didn’t realize how strong the women were. Great read.
January 28, 2023
Not deep by any means, but intriguing as a light read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews