Kisses in Keystone

Seven Brides of South Dakota, Book 2

By: Kari Trumbo

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Hattie Arnsby’s been a slave to men and whiskey for the last year. She’s drowned herself in drink to avoid her life at the Red Garter Saloon in Keystone, SD. When a handsome deputy finds her after a year of searching, she finally sees a sliver of hope.

Hugh Bradley is deputized to find Hattie and bring her home, but her captors aren’t ready to set her free. He must help her be rid of the drink and the binds of the brothel.

But when Hattie’s handed temptation, will she run back to her past or embrace the love growing between them?

Kisses in Keystone, the second-chance novel in the Seven Brides of South Dakota series by Kari Trumbo, combines romance, history, action, and faith into a story you won’t want to put down.

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©2018 Kari Trumbo (P)2018 Kari Trumbo

HUGH AND HATTIE—BY THE GRACE OF GOD

The second story in the Seven Brides of South Dakota will have Hugh Bradley, sent by the Arnsby family to locate Hattie. Hattie has been missing for about a year, and Sheriff Seth Bullock has deputized Hugh. The journey will bring him to Keystone to find a strung-out, emancipated Hattie. While he can get her out of the Red Garter, they must remain in Keystone until her status is handled.

Hattie Arnsby left her family's safety for a pipe dream, with faith that Roy was going to save her and marry her—but that dream quickly became a nightmare. He used her, then sold her to Ros at the Red Garter, and that is where Hugh will find her. Now they need to wait for a circuit judge to decide if she was coerced? Did she sign a document? And what will the future hold?

"He tricked me. He told me he cared. I don't want to be here anymore. I am Hattie Arnsby. Take me home, whoever you are."

"Good to find you, Miss Arnsby. Sorry it took me so long. I'm Hugh Bradly, and I'll get you out of her as quickly as I can."

I loved the dialog, characters, interaction, and realism of this tale. It has the good, the bad, and the ugly of life and people—but it also offers hope and a future with patience. The story is a clean, godly-based historical western without curse words or intimate scenes. It does have a happy ending and can read well as a stand-alone

The story was an emotional roller coaster ride as we listened to the audiobook. The author, Ms. Kari Trumbo, brings her characters to life and allows the reader or listener to become immersed in this tale. Both my husband and I talked about how sad it was that another human could do vile things to another person. Hattie wanted love and freedom and instead found abuse and prison. Forced to be a prostitute and staying so drunk she could escape from the pain of her life. But, this story is about perseverance, acceptance, not judging, learning to trust, learning that God never leaves us, and even when we think He has abandoned us, it is, in fact, us who has turned away from Him. When calling upon God, and listening to His voice, and following His lead, that salvation is given. This is one of the highs in this story.

"How can I believe in a God that ignores those who need Him most?"

Several people will play critical roles in helping Hattie see that God is there for everyone, and even when you doubt, He still loves you. Ezzy, the seamstress, Hugh Bradley, and several others will gently talk to Hattie about God and His love—and when Hattie listens and trusts, God directs her too.

"All right. You have my attention, God. The last two times I've wanted to give up, you presented a way of escape. I heard you tell me to jump, now what?"

Hugh and Hattie will both be challenged—when Sheriff Bullock and the Arnsby family can't come to Keystone—the telegram tells him to marry her—to protect her. Why would Hattie want to be forced to marry a stranger? Will God open Hugh's eyes to His word? Will Ezzy help Hattie see that she is more than a calico queen and has a chance for a future with Hugh? Will a wedding gown matter what color it is—or is finding a man who loves you no matter what has happened the happily ever after part?

"You wear whatever dress you want to wear. A wedding is one special day, a marriage is a lifetime."

Overcoming Addiction & Finding Self-Worth Again

Hattie’s addiction to alcohol and being charmed by the lying self-serving pimp who sold her into enforced prostitution caused her to fall deeper into despair and more dependent on alcohol to deal with a brutal life where she was starved, beaten, and used by men on a daily basis. Hugh was sent by her family to find and bring her home. But after all she’s been though and how people treat her Hattie doesn’t feel worthy to be part of her family anymore. She also lets her craving for alcohol cause her to wonder if she should just give up and go back to a hated but known life as a prostitute. This story was heart wrenching as Hattie had to learn to love herself again and believe that she was worthy of a better life. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of human trafficking and those who would choose to use others in despicable ways for their own gain in today’s world. And the topic of addiction is so relevant with so many people losing their way to it in so many different forms today. I felt Hattie’s despair as she tried to overcome it and find her self worth again while battling forces that tried to take away her freedom again.

The narrator had a nice even tone with inflections in the right places.

Romance with a Christian influence.

This is a story that tells of the trouble a headstrong woman, Hattie gets into, due to her dependence on alcohol and believing a rogue. Fortunately for Hattie, Hugh has been sent by her relatives to find her. There follows some dangerous times and a definite Christian theme. Hugh and Hattie are attracted to each other but Hattie wonders if Hugh can forgive her past. Hattie also has to work to overcome her addiction. The narrator had an easy voice to listen to and she changed her voice for the different characters.

Old West romance that shows Love helps healing!

The great second book in this series of seven sisters in South Dakota. In this story of a damaged woman who needs rescuing from some of her bad life choices, rides a hero that feels he needs to do something good to redeem himself. It is a very touching Christian romance as these two broken people feel love starting to grow. Very enjoyable listen made even better by the good narration.

Second book is twice as fun!

Hattie has run away thinking she will be free from the pressures of family only to be caught up in a very destructive life. 


Hugh has been asked to find Hattie and bring her home only to find how dangerous her new life has become. 


As he rescues Hattie from her new life, will he also be able to show her that she can also be redeemed and loved?



I really liked this book. The plot and characters were good and I really felt like this book is a stand alone. (the first book did not have that feeling since it came from a different series) Kari did a good job with the tension of the characters and the situations without getting graphic in Hattie's situation and bad choices. Meghan did a beautiful job with the narrative, pacing and both female and male characters! Looking forward to book 3!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Men want only one thing. Will this man be any dif

Standalone book, but picks up where Dreams in Deadwood left off.
Hugh Bradley and his family moved to Deadwood, SD to join his younger brother, Aiden, and new wife Jennie’s family. New to the area and needing work, the local sheriff hired Hugh for a special job. Aiden’s sister-in-law Hattie had been kidnapped and he needed someone to find her. After searching for 9 months Hugh found her in the worst place possible, The Red Garter Saloon. She had been made false promises of marriage from a man named Roy. He had treated her well, gave her the liquor she craved, then sold her in Keystone. Now she was locked in a room and Roy had her “working” for him. The only thing that got her through the day & night was the bottle of whisky he gave her. When Hugh went to take Hattie away, he was stopped and told he couldn’t have her. There were legal contract issues that had to be decided in two weeks by a judge. Hugh didn’t know what to do. All he had was a small 2 room cabin big enough for one. Hattie was small, sickly, and afraid of any man that came near her. Was this man any different than all the others? Hugh knew he had to get her sober and trust him before going to court. Would he be able to find the tough spirited girl she once was? Ms. Trumbo put a lot of emotion and character development in Hattie’s story. She portrayed the subject matter of prostitution and abuse without going into vivid details. Each book in the series has an HEA, but leaves you wanting to continue with the next book to find out more about these couples. I enjoyed the audible version narrated by Megan Kelly.

Kisses in keystone

Loved the book and the audiobook was also excellent. Narrator did a great job. Can’t wait for next in the series

Sweet & Clean Romance

This is the second book in this series and for me, it's the second book by this author I have read or listened to. I purchased and read book one and enjoyed it so when I saw that one of my favorite narrators, Meghan Kelley was narrating this book I really wanted to listen to it.

This is a sweet and clean romance even though the main female lead, Hattie is, at the start of the book, a drunken, alcoholic prostitute. But don't be so quick to judge her because she has only just turned 18 and there were extenuating circumstances which lead her to this place.

Hugh is the brother in law of one of Hattie's sisters and has spent the last 11 months trying to find Hattie to bring her home to her family. He has been deputized by the Deadwood Marshal for this very purpose.

When he eventually found Hattie, the Madam of the Red Garter was not prepared to let her go and they were forced to spend time alone together in a very small cabin while Hugh tries to help Hattie get free of her addiction and they await the circuit judge.

This is the beginning of Hattie's transformation from a weak, entrapped soiled dove to a free woman who has made some bad choices, many of which can be blamed on her dependence on whiskey. She may be free of the Red Garter, and hopefully Roy the man who tricked her into being there, but she isn't free of Keystone just yet.

There are many trials still to be faced for both Hattie and Hugh, but in facing these trials Hattie finds her lost faith and with Hugh and God's help is able to return to her family. Hattie never expected to find love, she believed that no decent man would ever want her but by God's good grace she and Hugh found each other.

The writing style flowed well, the story never lagged and the characters were very well developed. The Narration by Meghan Kelly was every bit as good as I expected it to be and I thoroughly enjoyed being totally immersed in this wonderfully uplifting tale.

I was given this audiobook as a gift and am voluntarily writing my review.

Awesome series

This is going to be a great series to read, so happy for the outcome of this sister!

Good Plot & Narration

A good history story of life in the late 1800’s and a life of the brothel. Hattie to cope, was with whiskey. Could a life change without it, when Hugh is deputized and now looking for her. Good pilot and good connection between Hattie and Hugh. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion