SheLove2Read's Reviews > Silver Lining

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!

Where do I start? "Low Down" nurses her fellow miners through a smallpox outbreak when no one else would. As a token of their gratitude they offer her "anything her heart desires", little knowing what was to come. After goading for her several moments she finally says she'd like to have a baby. She doesn't want marriage or a commitment, just a baby. Suddenly the miners and the local preacher take to this like duck to a water and the next thing Low Down knows, she's the prize for a husband lottery.

Max McCord draws the fated marble and marries Low Down, even though he is engaged to someone else and slated to marry in 2 weeks. He tries to tell the preacher that but they hold him to it. So Max, being an honorable man, marries Low Down and they set off for his hometown (close to Denver) to stay with his family. He and Low Down agree to get her pregnant and then quietly divorce, since neither of them wanted a marriage in the first place.

Low Down starts the book as a scruffy, dirty, hasn't taken a bath in several months woman miner. In fact, her own husband realized he doesn't know her real name until after they are married! "Louise Downe" she replies upon being asked. She goes on to explain she is an orphan and was adopted on the orphan train from NYC by a Missouri Couple. They were cruel to her and the mother called her a "Low Down good for nothing *&^%" most of her life. So at 13 she ran away and has been called Low Down ever since. After a good bath and some new clothing, Louise is while not a ravishing beauty, still a very "handsome" woman of 28.

Back in Max's hometown we discover that his fiancee is pregnant! This only makes the scandal of Max's marriage that much worse and his fiancee is forced to marry Max's brother Wally in order to deflect some of the scrutiny and shame. Its a tense situation for everyone, but mostly Louise, who in a gesture of trying to fit in and not cause her new "family" any more trauma, takes horrible remarks made about her in silence. That is not to say it doesn't affect her, but she tries to brush it off saying that her past has prepared her for it and "it doesn't matter". Max, while not being outright mean to Louise, does have some moments where he blames her for all his troubles.

Louise is what I'd call a tortured heroine. Having grown up an orphan in an abusive foster home, she has never known love. Having her own baby she believes will be all she will ever need in life - someone to love unconditionally that will love her back the same way. She puts everyone else ahead of herself, including those who are spiteful and mean to her and never seeks retribution. Some might say that's being a doormat but if you read the book, you'll see that Louise just doesn't expect anything less - its what she's used to.

Alot happens at the end of the book and there most definitely is a happily ever after, which in my opinion makes this a desert island keeper. A western Cinderella story!