Callie Broderick is an orphan who is ready for a big change in her life. She’s masterminded a plan to ride a stagecoach out west to California where her fiance Albert awaits her. She’s willing to be a mail-order bride to get away from her poor life and past. However, as she comes to know the coachman, Jude Johnson, she starts questioning her choice to marry this unknown Albert.

I joined this blog tour on a whim because I do like a good western from time to time. Plus there’s spanking, which I always find both amusing and potentially erotic. This book was fun though there’s not much depth to it. Callie feels like she’s 16, though the description puts her at 18. She’s got this rough past as an abused orphan and yet she seems to lack some street smarts. Her character could have used a bit more to it.

Then we have Jude Johnson. He’s an ex-soldier and an experience coachman. He provides a steady, and sometimes stern, hand for Callie to clasp on to…. when he’s not using it to smack her bottom. He’s a decent guy and he felt like twice Callie’s age. I wanted to know more about him and his past. He carries a confidence that is attractive.

The main premise of the book was good. Callie wants to leave her old life behind and this chance to be the wife of a man with a stable income in far off Sacramento seems like a dream come true. She’s exchanged letters with Albert over the past several months and he appears to be a decent person. I did wonder how Callie came to read and write so well and how she came about the paper, ink, and postage to exchange so many letters. It’s these little things that would have made this a really good story had they been included.

So let’s talk about those spankings, because that is honestly why some of us picked this book up. The first few spankings were chaste punishments for Callie doing something that she shouldn’t. Her relationship with Jude really does start off with this older man in charge punishing a young disobedient pup feel to it. But then things start to shift as they become friends. Plus Callie is afraid of the dark and needs comforting nightly in order to sleep. That puts them in an intimate if still chaste position on a regular basis.

Eventually, we get 1 sex scene. It’s over quickly and lacks in description. While the romance and anticipation leading up to it were sweet, the actual love scene needed more page time. A lot more page time. The ending for Jude and Callie was a nice one and I can see how the author may well build upon this. Perhaps there will be a sequel. After all, there’s plenty more than spankings for the two to explore.

I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.

The Narration: Gideon Welles can read to me any time he wants to. This is one of the sexiest voices I have heard in some time. He is excellent as Jude Johnson. He’s got just the right amount of gruffness to his voice. His female voice for Callie was decent. He also had distinct voices for the other characters in the story. I liked his regional accents as well. ( )