Melinda and the Wild West: The Award Winning Original Version

A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho Series, Book 1

By: Linda Weaver Clarke

Narrated by: Carolyn Kashner

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Melinda Gamble wants to make a difference in the world. Without hesitation, she accepts a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho. She has many challenges such as trying to help a rebellious student, coming face-to-face with a notorious bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and finding herself in a terrible blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. No matter the trial that comes her way, she is ready to fight for what she believes in. But it’s a rugged rancher who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared - love.

©2006, 2012 Linda Weaver Clarke (P)2018 Linda Weaver Clarke

So Sweet

After reading another fabulous book by Linda Weaver Clarke, I really did not know how Melinda and the Wild West would compare. I actually enjoyed it more than the other fabulous series.

I found the story unique and the characters so lovable. I was blown away with the compassion Melinda uses on her students and other folks. Jenny is one of those students and I loved her perception of the world around her. I love how Jenny thinks her dad Gilbert knows everything, but I love how much she teaches her dad about life, with her unfiltered view. Melinda handles her new life and career out West as well as she can, and I learned right along side her. The plot was somewhat predictable, but did not go exactly like I thought it would. I liked the little surprises. I really cannot wait to listen to the rest of the series. This is my new favourite book by Clarke.

Carolyn Kashner is a great narrator and has clear voices for each of the characters. I quite enjoyed the various children's voices.

I received a copy of this book at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

Melinda and Gilbert

I happened to listen to every other book in this series first, so I was already relatively familiar with Melinda and Gilbert as characters in all the other books of this series. Thus, it was a real pleasure to finally hear their story of how they met and how they came to be a couple. I think the most surprising part of this book was the dynamic between Melinda and Gilbert's daughter Jenny. I love how Gilbert was protective of Melinda and how we see him gradually care for her more and more throughout. I also enjoyed the love triangle between Melinda, Gilbert, and Henry. This author always does a great job of incorporating meaningful values and lessons into her stories which is unique and refreshing. Another well written sweet romance.

This narrator does a great job in this performance as well as the rest of the series. She is a perfect fit for these sweet romances and really brings out Melinda's tenacity and Gilbert's stubbornness. She is pleasant to listen to and I have enjoyed each of her performances.

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Great beginning of a great series

This is Book 1 of A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho Series. This is a wonderful story for all ages. I can see why this book is an award winner! The main character is refreshingly strong willed. She is a lady who comes to Idaho from Boston in 1896 to teach school. She discovers she loves the west and the people in it. The students thrive in the caring atmosphere. She falls in love with a man who supports her and her choices. You will enjoy this story and the rest of the series! There are also some interesting historical facts in the story which I enjoyed. I was gifted a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review,

Melinda and Gilbert

What a gem this story is! I fell in love with Melinda and Gilbert and their journey to love. Melinda is heading west and finds herself in Bear Lake, Idaho. She is the teacher and finds the kids for the most part good, but Jenny Roberts is one that the others like to put down. Melinda sees something good in Jenny and takes her under her wing and helps to increase her self confidence. But that is not all! New in town, she finds herself in the midst of everything...a bank robbery, a bear attack and a blizzard that will change her life. Stuck in the Roberts home, Gilbert, Jenny's father and Melinda get to interact. She finds herself not only in love with Jenny ,but she falls for Gilbert too! But is Gilbert willing to give his heart away again? Linda Weaver Clarke writes a beautiful story of love with the history intricately woven in. It's historically accurate and full of little nuggets we get to hear. I love the interaction between Gilbert and Melinda. He is a broody man, and he really is a lot of fun to get to know. The reading of Black Beauty is one of my favorite parts! Carolyn Kashner does a wonderful job bringing this story to life and she has a great voice for stories in this time periods. I enjoy her singing of the hymns giving the listen a little infusion of the times. Melinda's story is a great start to Bear Lake, Idaho and I can't wait for the others in the series.

Loved it!

I just finished listening to this very interesting book by Linda Weaver Clarke. It was certainly my favorite of all the books from this author. I guess this could be because it deals with times and places that I could really relate to, especially living in Utah and being familiar with Idaho and Bear Lake. I really enjoyed her narrator, Carolyn Kashner, who did a wonderful job interpreting the various characters. This is the original version and was very well done. She is an excellent narrator. I enjoyed the fact that I had this Audible book on my cell phone and could stick my phone in my pocket with my ear buds and listen while I worked, rested, and "multi-tasked". It was really enjoyable.

As easterner Melinda heads west to Idaho to teach school, she finds a most exciting beginning to her new life, a bank robbery. This book has many events that were of actual history of the places that she writes about. I love how she wove fiction and history together to keep the reader involved with the characters, times and places. This book was written about some of the events and places in the lives of her ancestors. This also has a special appeal to me as a genealogist. And there is always something special about bringing real events out in your reading. Much more believable!

This is a very family friendly romance set in a difficult but fascinating time in history, as the doors to the west were opened to those seeking a better life for themselves.

I really enjoyed the book and have enjoyed all the books of this series. I recommend it!

Melinda and the Wild West

I just loved Melindas story. It captured my heart right away. The Author and Narrator bring the Characters to Fruition with a fantastic flow. I absolutely loved Melindas personalitie, and her spunk. This is a fantastic story that I definitely recommend. I could not put this read down.
Shauna Joesten

not good

I really wanted to like this story but the narrator was just no good she should be reading children stories just not good

I Was Surprised By How Much I loved It!

I usually don’t read books set in this time period but I’m a fan of this author so when she offered a copy for a reveiw, I decided to listen to it. It’s the first in this series, and I loved it.

The story is about Melinda, who moves to Idaho (to become a teacher) which is nothing like her home in Boston. She encounters all kinds of hardships and is a bit out of her element, but she conquers her fears and begins to feel like this is the life she is meant to live.

There is adventure, scary moments, excitement, and love. Melinda has a student named Jenny whose mother died years ago. She was well taken care of by her father but her previous teacher and her fellow students mistreated her. Melinda changes that.

The narration was great. I really enjoyed this book!

Loved It!

Melinda and the Wild West is the first book of A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho Series. It is an exciting, yet tender, western romance set in 1896. It follows the two main characters, Melinda and Gilbert, who start as strangers, but ultimately fall in love.

The story begins when Melinda moves from her home in Boston to the wild, wild, west of Paris, Idaho to begin her new job as the town’s teacher. After some very exciting and scary events, such as a bank robbery and ferocious grizzly bear attack, she quickly learns how different the west can be. When she begins teaching, she meets all of her students. One little girl, named Jenny Roberts, had been greatly misunderstood by the previous teacher and labeled as a troublemaker. Jenny lives with her father who is a rancher. Her mother died long ago, while giving birth to Jenny. Melinda is very compassionate and understanding of Jenny’s situation. She tries to connect with her and Jenny quickly learns to love Melinda. When Melinda meets Gilbert, Jenny’s father, they first butt heads. Over time, however, they develop a great respect for each other that blossoms into romance.

I very much enjoyed this story. It is written in such a way that one is able to connect with the characters. The narrator also did a good job. She was able to narrate clearly and provided different voices for the different characters. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good western romance!

Not A Genre I Usually Read, But I Loved It!

I usually don’t read books set in this time period but I’m a fan of this author so when she offered a copy for a reveiw, I decided to listen to it. It’s the first in this series, and I loved it.

The story is about Melinda, who moves to Idaho (to become a teacher) which is nothing like her home in Boston. She encounters all kinds of hardships and is a bit out of her element, but she conquers her fears and begins to feel like this is the life she is meant to live.

There is adventure, scary moments, excitement, and love. Melinda has a student named Jenny whose mother died years ago. She was well taken care of by her father but her previous teacher and her fellow students mistreated her. Melinda changes that.

The narration was great. I really enjoyed this book and will start the 2nd book in the series soon.

Melinda and the Wild West

Good characters and a family-friendly story, the narrator brought it all to life and made it very easy to get immersed in it

great book

great book family romance well written and narrater was good too can't wait for book 2