Blog Tour/Review: Softly Falling by Carla Kelly

Tour Schedule

Softly Falling, by Carla Kelly
2014, 298p, Clean Historical Fiction
My Rating=4.5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review



Beautiful Lily Branson learns that her wayward father has lost his Wyoming cattle ranch in a card game to handsome cowboy Jack Sinclair, no less! When a series of deadly winter storms sets in, Lily and Jack must work together to save the cattle—as well as their hearts.

This is my second Carla Kelly novel and I am a fan! Lily Carteret is a proper lady who sets out for Wyoming to stay with her father, who she hasn't seen in nine years. He drinks and gambles and she's not thrilled but has nowhere else to go. When she meets him, he seems to want to change but he continues to disappoint her. Lily's mother has died but was from Barbados and her father is white so her skin is the color of "cambric tea" according to her father. There are a few people who don't like or trust her based on her skin color, but the majority of the people accept her right away.

Jack Sinclair meets Lily at the train station. He is a hardworking foreman at The Bar Dot ranch who takes her under his wing and helps her figure out what direction to take. He's big on having a plan and is willing to help Lily, especially since he wants to be included in her plan! Their relationship was slow moving but I did enjoy it and how they were always there for each other, especially when things got rough. There are also some great side characters throughout the book and I especially loved Mr. Li, Preacher, the children and the butler.

This book is so authentic that I felt like I was there with them, living through one of the worst winters ever. I almost felt guilty that I was wrapped up in a blanket while reading about the suffering they were enduring. I enjoyed seeing how the community worked together to make it through such a difficult time.

My only complaints are that it moved slow in some parts and the romance was light. However, there's still lots to love about this book so if you're looking for a good book to read when you're bundled up in front of the fire this winter, this is a great pick!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books & Things

Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas for Donald I. Fine Co., Signet, and Harlequin, Carla is the recipient of two Rita Awards (think Oscars for romance writing) from Romance Writers of America and two Spur Awards (think Oscars for western fiction) from Western Writers of America. She is also a recipient of a Whitney Award for Borrowed Light and My Loving Vigil Keeping.

Website * Blog