4.25 Tears? At the end of a western of all things? I'll blame it on the steriods. Loved this, the story telling reminding me of sitting around the campfire and telling stories of days gone by. Calamity Jane, presented in all her many colors, hard drinking, expert marksman, friend or possibly more of Wild Bill, defender of the weak. To the Glass children she would be much more.

Really didn't know much about this woman, knew who she was of course, but few details. Quite a bit of this story is an accurate historical portrayal, and the author did a fantastic job of fitting her fictional story within it's frame. The life of prostitutes, the difficulties of life on the frontier, the violence, the town of Deadwood and the horrible smallpox epidemic that cost so many their lives. This story though was Jane's, her own love of storytelling, her strengths and her many weaknesses. The atmosphere was amazing, so realistic, vivid. Even adored the support characters, but my heart fell for young Hour. A young girl, who will owe much to Jane and will add much to this wonderful story.

So glad more and more Westerns are once again being written, such a colorful time of our past. Not all good, but colorful with some amazingly hardy people waiting in the wings.This was quite a large sisters read and I think the first time we all loved the story.

ARC from Edelweiss. ( )