Review of Always a Lady ~ Bandit Creek Book

Book Review of ALWAYS A LADY by Victoria Chatham

Print Length: 81 pages

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B007K4FX7E

Book Synopsis:

Lady Serena Buxton follows her husband from England to Bandit Creek, Montana. Randolph is a partner in the Ellis gold mine, but when she arrives, she is horrified to find that Randolph is missing.

Sheriff Wilson seems to be keeping a watchful eye on her. Why? Douglas King, the mine manager, treats her as if she is already a widow. What does he know? The bank manager refuses her request for access to Randolph’s account. With no husband and no money, what is a girl to do?

Serena has an unsuspected and quite shocking talent. She can belly dance. With the help of two enterprising local ladies, Serena prepares for a public performance. But when the news leaks out, she finds the only venue she can secure is in the Men’s Club owned by King. Like it or not, she has no option but to ask him regardless of what terms he may insist on. Billed as Ayesha, Oriental Dancer Extraordinaire, she prepares for her show which she hopes will make enough money for her to stay in Bandit Creek until Randolph is found.

The whole town, as well as a train full of people from nearby Missoula, turns out for her performance. The Club is packed. But who is in the crowd, watching? Will King insist on exacting his fees? And will Serena be reunited with the husband she loves?

Author Information:

Victoria Chatham is a writer of Regency romance and credits her late husband for giving her a well needed push – make that kick-in-the-pants – to take her writing seriously.

It was his opinion she should write a historical novel but, having disliked history at school because she couldn’t remember dates, was an idea she firmly resisted. Her first completed novel was a contemporary romantic suspense, but she never quite felt comfortable with the book. But then a glimmer of an idea grew into a Regency romance, a genre she always felt comfortable with. Her favorite books are those of that doyen of the Regency era, Georgette Heyer, and more recently Mary Balogh, Sabrina Jeffries, Stephanie Laurens and others.

Victoria was born in Bristol, England and grew up in an area well known for its Regency style architecture. She frequently visited both Cheltenham and Bath, the latter famous for its water. She and her cousins, under the eagle eye of their grandmother, learned what many a young Regency lady may have learned. Manners, deportment, elocution and what knife and fork should be used for which course at dinner and which wine is served in which glass – and why. A writer is encouraged to ‘write what you know’ so many of these early lessons have proved extremely useful in adding small details to her writing.

Already at work on her second Regency novel, Victoria has also written a historical novella for the Bandit Creek book series, and a short story for the April Fool’s Bandit Creek Anthology, Fool’s Gold to be released on – when else – April 1st, 2012.

Apart from her writing, Victoria is an avid reader. Her love of horses gets her away from her computer to volunteer at Spruce Meadows equestrian centre and Dare2Dream, a horse-rescue ranch. Her constant buddy is her dog, Jay, who allows her to take him for a walk every day. As Jay is now 105 years old in people years, she firmly believes she is the only Seeing Eye person in existence.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Chatham?120985624667624

Twitter: www.twitter.com/VChathamAuthor

Book Review:

              “Always a Lady” is a charming Novela set in the fictional town of Bandit Creek, a brainchild of Carla Roma and her multiple collaborators. The town of Bandit Creek is nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Here you’ll meet fascinating residents, learn about the buried town at the bottom of nearby Lost Lake and discover a world of intrigue and excitement. The stories range the years from 1867 to the present, covering all genres and sexual ratings.

       “Always a Lady” is a historical fiction about belly dancing in the old west.  Yes, belly dancing.  A different idea for me.  I loved the women of Bandit Creek, the feisty bordello owner, Lorelei Sutton, and Maggie O’Connor, the bakery owner.  These two women and Lady Serena turned a difficult circumstance into something remarkable.  This was a great introduction to Bandit Creek, but way too short for a story unto its self.   I really wanted more from this story.  I want to know more.  I really wanted more background information on Lord and Lady Serena, more about the town, more about why they were there.

            However, all that said, for a novella and the length that it was, it enjoyed the light and frothy read.  I give it 4 out of 5 clouds for the category of novela.