Maggie Osborne

While on the trail headed West, Low Down nurses a band of travelers through the box and ends up in an arranged marriage to an admittedly handsome man. Original.

Silver Lining

Siya S

Navya 

Absolutely enjoyed this and loved every single thing, though I hoped we could get an epilogue. 
I was looking for a book that will make me sad and cry and this book did fulfill my wish :)

Saayan

I really loved The Promise of Jenny Jones but was somewhat disappointed by this one. Would have loved to learn more about Low Down's past.

Jo H

My Year of Historical Romance - Book 13
Gold Rush/Gilded Age (unspecified), MidWest USA

3 very conflicted stars. Taste aside, I really don't understand where all the 5 star reviews come from for this book because the writing was pretty basic and there was not nearly enough humour to make up for the issues I had with the plot and the narrative choices. In fact, a lot of this book reminded me of some of the reasons why I had put HR on the backburner for so long. 

I looked up Silver Lining following a mention in a thread of one of my GR groups and was lucky enough to find a used copy cheaply and quickly (no digital edition, unfortunately) with a view to reading sooner rather than later. As someone who lives for unconventional romance plots, I loved the idea of an HR based on a downtrodden woman wanting a baby but the not ties of a husband to go with it. This could, of course, be also considered somewhat controversial for the times but a talented author can almost always make the controversial work. Considering the FMC is a lone woman prospecting, and calls herself Low Down rather than her actual name of Lousie Downe (because that is all she really thinks she is worthy of being called) her wanting something of her own to love and to cherish unconditionally who could love and cherish her unconditionally back wasn't too much of a stretch to me. Yes, of course, she would have suffered some indignities from having an illegitimate child at that time, but as she was not part of the higher echelons of 'polite' society, she would not have been that much of an outlier and would have found some of 'her' people at some stage as many others did.

I have to say that at the end of chapter 1 I nearly DNF'd (a rarity for me) the book because a forced marriage in the name of Good Christian Values [insert eyeroll here] to someone who should not have been in the running considering he was as good as married already was not what I signed up for. The fact that virtually the entire remainder of the plot of the book being based on Max jilting his bride to be virtually on the eve of their wedding day is a major flaw to me. There is much said about Max and his principles, how the men had all agreed to give Low Down the only thing she asked for, and the fact that Max was one chosen was something he could not renege on... but what about the fact he was reneging on his fiance just two weeks before he was supposed to marry her? Good Christian Values should have allowed him to not forsake the vows he was on the verge of making with one woman for the sake of those made towards another who didn't actually want them, especially given that it was a sham. This just irritated me no end but after some internal monologues, I decided to continue on. 

Some of the things I didn't like

I'm not sure why, but I went into this book thinking it was set in the 1930s. I finished it only being roughly aware of what period it was set in as there was mention of electricity and other things being something new to be experienced by some. It is unclear exactly what time period this book represents, and for a historical piece that is a major flaw.

As already mentioned, Low's forced marriage (by the end of chapter 1!) to someone who should not have been considered a viable option. 

Whilst Louise did mention in passing early on that she had been with a man previously, of course she had not enjoyed the experience/s. I hate when this choice is made for FMCs, they may as well still be virgins.

"Chink Alley"... I'm sure that in the year 2000 when this book was released there was a less offensive way of describing a particular area of town, then the author continued on to use the unnecessary "chinamen" a number of times throughout the text. Historical Accuracy (TM!) doesn't play a part considering a lot of the other much more contemporary language used throughout the book.

Max being apparently unaware that some women lived in less than perfect circumstances... insert major eye roll here as even in 'those days' it was well known that not everyone was born to privilege and existed on the bottom rungs of society.

The cliched pregnancy plot... I saw that coming a mile off, and Philadelphia was a cartoon villain from the get-go. I've said a number of times in reviews that I'm not particularly quick of the mark to spot 'twists', but this is yet another that I saw coming a mile off because it was so damn obvious. having been done so many times before. And as for there being (view spoiler)[visible proof of her philandering by way of a non-white (and dead due to her own actions) baby, well given the period it was highly distasteful to me to use that particular narrative when we know what happened to many black men who spoke to white women, let alone had sex with them (hide spoiler)].

Everything about Philadelphia, Max's jilted fiance was painful to read. She was given no redeeming characteristics at all and even her own weak-willed father blaming her for his own dreadful actions against Max and his ranch. She was selfish, entitled, lazy, scheming, condescending, rude, judgemental, hypocritical... she was just plain nasty. However, in a case of art reflecting life, the blinding beauty of her white womanhood had men gagging for her and her father deciding to carry out despicable punitive actions against Max's business in her name. She ended up in a situation she didn't want that was entirely of her own making and up until the end never once accepted any of the responsibility for her actions. Also, why her POV was needed, and there was quite a bit of it in the later half of the book, in this romance will forever be beyond my comprehension.

Throughout the book, Lousie describes the act of babymaking 'poking' (which I found quite funny TBH) but very early on, a very self-aware Max wrongfully describes their first 'poking' as making love in chapter 5... After propping his pillow against the headboard, he smoked in silence, thought about what had transpired, and questioned the anger building in his chest. It wasn’t difficult to identify the source. He had betrayed a woman who didn’t know yet that he wouldn’t be marrying her, a woman he had intended to remain faithful to for the rest of his life. Guilt twisted into a knot behind his rib cage.

He hadn’t done well by Low Down, either, he realized, frowning into the darkness. He’d done his duty and nothing more. He hadn’t kissed her, had shown her no particular tenderness. He’d indulged just enough foreplay to ensure that she was ready for him, and then he’d proceeded with little thought for her satisfaction or pleasure. That wasn’t how a man expressed gratitude for his life; it was how he coupled when he was paying for his pleasure.

Lowering his head, he rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, regretting everything about the last twenty minutes.

Low Down.

His head snapped up, and he stared at the sleeping form beside him.

He’d been married to this woman for four days, he’d just made love to her, and he didn’t know her name.

Then, chapter 12 opens with Louise fussing about carrying out the household chores that make her a 'proper wife'. She also mentions to Max that she doubts she'll ever be much of a cook and he replies that all women can cook as comes naturally to them like getting up in the morning, having babies and living life... forgetting of course that his villainous now jilted bride has no experience in cooking (and had no intention of ever gaining such experience) or babies and probably only gets up in the morning with help of servants...

Whatever happened to Philadelphia after the ultimatum she was given at the end? We will never know so yet another narrative failure IMO. 


Things I did like

Low Down (from now on referred to by her actual name Lousie) is an incredibly endearing character who overcame some particularly nefarious odds but managed to live on her own terms by the start of the book. She continues on throughout as a hardworking woman who openly delights in the things that many people, even in those times, took for granted, but is not afraid to voice her opinions when she sees fit. She is rightfully apprehensive at times but bravely faces up to the things that get in her way and that at times includes other people and their opinions of her. She is also crude with her language and not particularly 'ladylike', but she is unapologetic about who she is thankfully. Despite all that makes her 'undesirable', Louise proves her feminity and her strength of character over and over again from start to finish and all without pushing anyone else under the bus. She, rather than Philadelphia, is a prime example of a good woman.

Also, because of the circumstances of her growing up, she is unconsciously aching for a proper home and family. When Max's family are somewhat standoffish but stand with her she is so thankful because she can see what she has always longed for. Chapter 12 that I mentioned above does start with Lousie fretting about stuff in a way that is quite OOC, but at the same time she is also pondering what some of those 'normal' family things mean,  Tugging her shawl close against a cold wind and leaning against the corral rails, she squinted up at the house. In her time she’d ridden past hundreds of houses with lines of wash waving in the yard. Sometimes laughing children ran in and out between freshly laundered sheets, and that was nice to see.

There was nothing that spoke so powerfully of family and home as a line of wash, that snowy proof of a woman’s labor on behalf of those she loved. Home was where a person could hang out the wash without fear that someone would steal her shirts and long johns.

Home was also where the squeak of a windmill was a comfort and not a lonely sound. And home was where you planted flowers in the expectation that you would be there to see them bloom year after year.

Louise had never had that kind of home, and she doubted she’d be here in the spring to plant flowers around the front porch. But she’d already realized part of a dream she hadn’t known she’d dreamed. She was looking at a house with wash on the line, and, miraculously, it was hers. That was her petticoat pinned next to Max’s nightshirt, and her everyday stockings flapping against his heavy boot socks. If a solitary figure were to ride past and wonder what sort of woman lived in the house with the wash in the yard—this time the woman would be her.

A shine of moisture filmed her eyes. Oh Lord. How could she have wanted this so much and not have known it? This actually hit me viscerally on a very personal level.

Also later on in Chapter 12, there is a scene where Louise initially takes control of sex, because she realises that Max needs her consent to purge his demons (his thoughts of that lowlife Philadelphia - so issues there!) away in the form of rough sex. It was not in the least bit sexy to me, but it shows that consent was written into some books way before it was 'trendy' to do so. In fact, given that Louise was the one insisting on the 'poking' from early on because of her want for a baby she was in control the whole way.

Max's family. They were not entirely on board with what he did, and Lousie was not totally comfortable with them from the outset but they proved themselves worthy of her love and respect and they bandied around her when it was needed. Wally put himself in a horrible position for the love of his brother and actually found his calling. The women clearly were not damsels unable to fend for themselves and when push came to shove the whole family went out of their way to support Max and Louise when the pressure was on.

So, it's pretty obvious that I had some very mixed feelings about this book, but one thing I can add is that past a certain point it was a page turner, albeit not a particularly enjoyable one. Overall, I found Max quite contrary because yes he was principled, a man of honour but some of his principles were skewered IMO, and sometimes the things he said were infuriating to me. Also he was so blind to his fiance's nature that he believed himself in love with her yet was happy to go off and leave her for months on end so he could get in touch with his late father's lost dream. However, Max did prove himself throughout to be a hardworking, honest and loving man who was strong enough to fight through when the odds were against him. And after their first time, and the other time I mentioned above, he made sure to engage Louise in their 'poking' enough that she realized just how enjoyable babymaking, and even kissing could be! Even though I was a hard sell on the reason for their match, and had to forgive some communication issues as always, at the end of the story their journey as a couple was plausible enough for me to believe. 

And did Low Down get the baby she was forced into marriage for??? Read it and see.

Silver Lining

Reviews