As the first book in the new ‘Vices and Virtues of the Old West’ series written by Maggie Brendan, The Trouble with Patience was published early in 2015 by Revell.   Although not as vividly real to life as many similar historical novels, it possesses endearing characteristics nonetheless. With an enjoyable setting and interesting storyline, this book is a fast, easy read.

Undecided whether this is the novel for you? Here are 3 reasons to read The Trouble with Patience… (And 2 reasons not to!)

Positive Reasons:

1) For all fans of western stories, complete with cowboys and sheriffs, gold mines and ranches, The Trouble with Patience is sure to score. Although this story takes place after law was established in the west, flashbacks and reminisces bring to life the days when citizens were forced to bring (often harsh) justice on their own – whether deserved or not.

2) The storyline weaving through the novel is interesting and, in many cases, unexpected. While readers will immediately know which two characters ultimately end up together, many other plot-points remain a mystery until, piece-by-piece, they are uncovered.

3) The light, spring-in-your-step tone of the novel is fun to read, and the relatively short length makes it a breeze to finish quickly. Although a couple of darker moments occur, they are not treated with much gravity and the mood predominantly remains light.

Negative Reasons:

1) The characters that make up the story of The Trouble with Patience do not by any means walk off the page with their vividness. Dialogue often sounds contrived, and various responses to situations feel unnatural. Although Patience and Jedediah – the two point-of-view characters at the heart of the story – portray histories and emotion, they fail to come to life… They remain in the pages of the book.

2) The most unlikeable aspect of the story comes from a writing style that does not flow smoothly, and has difficulty portraying the illusion of reality with dexterity. In many cases, the words do not come across as those from a seasoned author’s pen, and continually pull the reader from being ‘shown’ what is happening to being ‘told’ what each character is doing.

In summary, The Trouble with Patience will prove an enjoyable read for fans of light-hearted western stories with unexpected twists and turns. On the other hand, for readers looking for a more thought-provoking and memorably written novel, with characters who may become friends, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.