Marsha Keeper Bookshelf's Reviews > Desperate

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.