Dreams in Deadwood

By: Kari Trumbo

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

He has a vice as bad as her father. 

Jennie Arnsby wants nothing more than to turn around and go home. Her family is on their way to Deadwood, South Dakota, when Aiden finds his way to their small wagon train. His teasing and banter leave her wanting to toss him out the back and in the dust. When they are separated outside the city, she is left wondering if she'll ever see him again. 

Aiden Bradly wants to find his gold and return home. Nothing more. He can't afford to get tangled with a woman. He's doing just that until he meets the feisty Jennie. She gets him thinking about his past and forgiveness, but what's more important, his past or his new future? 

Aiden will either redeem his past or claim a treasure greater than he could ever imagine, but he must choose one. 

Dreams in Deadwood is book one of the Seven Brides of South Dakota series by Kari Trumbo. A romantic, Wild West romp in pioneer South Dakota.

©2017 Kari Trumbo (P)2018 Kari Trumbo

Very Sweet and endearing Western Romance 💟

This is book one of a series and this first book did not disappoint. The story is engaging with many emotional and endearing moments that is sure to satisfy western and historical romance lovers. Quality narration gave this book an added spark and dimension. Looking forward to more in this series. I received a review copy of this book at my request and left this honest review 😀

8 people found this helpful

Sweet Historical Western

This is a wonderful surprise, not the typical historical I am used to. So many are the woman arriving as a mail order bride and fall for the prospective husband. Kari Trumbo gives this time period a little twist by having a family of sisters relocating to Deadwood, South Dakota and on the way meet Aidan, a young man also heading towards Deadwood in search of gold. Little does Aidan know, that Jennie, one of the girls will be his nugget! Guilt drags Aidan home to Kansas, leaving Jennie behind with her sisters. Will their love be enough to bring him back? I have to say, although it's a sweet romance, there are a few scenes that are so romantic, it's heartwarming. It will be fun to get to know the other 6 brides in this series!

Meghan Kelly truly brings this story to life. Her portrayal of each character is wonderful, each with a distinctive voice and definite personality. Her voicing of Jennie for me is particularly good, as you can hear Jennie's hesitation, indecision and love all at war with just the sound of Meghan's voice. It's a pleasure to listen to it.

3 people found this helpful

Heartwarming Gold Rush Era Romance

Dreams in Deadwood by Kari Trumbo is the first book in the Seven Brides of South Dakota series. It is a clean romance set during the gold rush era. Unlike most books of this genre (with yet another mail-order bride), here we have a family of sisters relocating to Deadwood, South Dakota. The story centers around Jennie Arnsby who wants nothing more than to turn around and go home. Along the way, Jennie and her family meet Aiden Bradly who left Kansas in search of the riches that the gold rush promised. After basically being robbed of everything including his horse, he finds his way to their small wagon train.

Jennie and Aiden struck up a “hate ‘em til you love ‘em” romance. However, this is not your stereotypicalI romance; instead, we have an understated romance that develops slowly. Near the end of the book it only seems natural when Jennie falls in love with Aiden while nursing him and his wounds back to health. However, Aiden never gives up his desire to return home to Kansas, which he eventually does, without the gold he promised his family and without Jennie. I was reminded of the famous quote by Richard Bach: If you love someone, set them free. If they come back to you, they are yours. If they do not, they never were.” Since this is a romance, there was no doubt that Aiden would return. My favorite part of the book was when Aiden convinced his parents and brother to move to Deadwood. His homecoming, both in Kansas and in Deadwood, was truly heartwarming.

The highly talented Meghan Kelly narrates this story and her narration is simply wonderful. Meghan provides different voices for male and female characters, young and old. She has great intonation and pace, and she demonstrates urgency in all the right places. I can’t wait to listen to the next 6 books in this series!

2 people found this helpful

A cute romance with adventure.

Jennie is traveling to Deadwood with her family when Aiden comes across their path. She's not sure what to make of his attention and keeps him at arms length. This was a charming story that had me yelling back at the audiobook during the last few chapters, lol.

2 people found this helpful

An amazing historical romance treasure!

A young girl pulled from home to go with her sisters to a new home, growing up, learning what love is, and how to embrace change & the future. A prodigal son who leaves home sure he can find fortune, finds love and healing instead, and returns home, risking all to make amends. I haven't found a story of Kari's yet that I don't absolutely love and learn from. This one blessed my heart with it's story of redemption, the prodigal son, and the strength of family & faith. This story has the perfect blend of history, action, true life lessons, and romance. One of my favorite parts was the marriage advice Jenny's mom gives her, and the hope chest they prepare together. The narrator did an excellent job, her accent and character voices made them come to life for me. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

2 people found this helpful

Sweet western romance

Two stubborn hearts wrestle with each other and try to push away from a love that is obvious to everyone around them. I enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio book version from audible. It sure made housework more enjoyable. I have to admit that toward the last several chapters I was actually searching for extra things I could do so as to have more time to listen!

These characters have great chemistry and I especially enjoyed the banter. I laughed out loud several times and found myself talking to the characters more than once wishing they could only hear me and straighten up!

If you are looking for a sweet, yet fun western romance, then do yourself a favor and snag a copy of Dreams in Deadwood by Kari Trumbo. It is sure to keep you turning pages laughing, and sighing with contentment.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

1 person found this helpful

Baggage from the past can be hard to overcome...

I've heard a lot of good things about Kari Trumbo over the last few years but up until now hadn't read any of her books. Dreams In Deadwood remedied that oversight. It was a sweet historical romance with some great themes of not allowing the pain of the past to turn into fear that dictates your future, and most importantly, putting your trust in the One who will never let you out of His hand. I enjoyed the story, though I thought Jenny was a bit childish at times and I wanted to shake Aiden, and I hope to find out what happens to the wayward Arnsby sister in the next book...

I listened to the audiobook version of Dreams In Deadwood and found it to be pretty good. The narrator had a lively voice and gave each character their own distinct way of speaking. I've always loved it when a person does different voices when reading aloud so this was right up my alley. Overall I felt that the production did justice to author Kari Trumbo's story and I wouldn't hesitate to listen to more from the Seven Brides Of South Dakota series.

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

1 person found this helpful

The Best!!!

This started it all. Well the Arnsby's going to Deadwood, SD anyway! Jennie Arnsby was about to turn eighteen and she was stuck on a wagon train going to SD. All she wanted to do was stay in Cutter's Creek with her mother, but she was told she had to go with her sisters. Her older sister Ruby and her husband Beau pretty much lead everyone and Beau had deemed himself their protector, taking the place of a father figure (of course their real father was another matter).
Along the way they ran into a man who had lost his horse when he died and he ended up hitching a ride with them because he through Deadwood was as good as any! Aidan just wanted to find gold, or that is how it started out.
This is a journey of finding out how you can make the best of the life you are given and just have to do what is right and clear your conscience. Aidan was a wounded soul but he took a journey to find his heart.
Meghan Kelly is one of the best narrators and brought this story alive! I love this family and an anxious to read/listen to them all. Thank you Kari Trumbo for this inspiring series!

1 person found this helpful

A sweet Western romance

Dreams in Deadwood is a sweet Western romance about a girl who meets a down on his luck prospector while on a wagon train. The characters are religious but not so much as to make the story preachy. There is a fair amount of action as well. Sometimes the story feels a bit melodramatic, but it’s a pleasant book to read or listen to anyway.

The narrator does a good job with the story though I found her voice a little abrasive at times.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

1 person found this helpful

Deadwood finally becomes home.

Jenny, the second oldest of8 sisters comes to Deadwood South Dakota by wagons in the 1800’s. The oldest sister Ruby and her husband are caring for all the girls. This story is of Jenny maturing and realizing what is really important. She also comes to realize home is where family is not necessarily a place. She met Aiden when he joined their wagons along the trail. He had his own demons and regrets. They finally figured their future out. As the name of the series is 7brides of Deadwood we can surmise that over time we’ll get the rest of the stories. There are little hints of what is to come but not really cliffhangers. This is a good book and the narration is great. Clean read. I would recommend this.

1 person found this helpful

Sweet romance

If you like sweet historical romance then this is for you.
The story is predictable but if you like this sort of thing then it should not bother you. Its more to do with the journey of how they get to the end.
I really liked the narrator and this is not the first audiobook I have heard her narrate. Her voice suites these types of books.

Aiden and Jennie

This is a really sweet story about a family of sisters, one of whom is married and her husband is responsible for all of their well being. They travel to Deadwood and try to settle there.
One of them falls in love with a guy who is a miner and the story plays itself out showing the blossoming love between them and their denials and eventual acceptance of this relationship.
Many things happen to make their lives interesting and exciting and it is all brought together nicely by Kari Trumbo in a satisfying climatic ending.
Meghan Kelly has done a remarkable narration and I was once again happily entertained by her talent and this made the story even more enjoyable for me.
I listened to an audiobook version and my unbiased review is given voluntarily.