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Ladies' Shooting Club #1
The Sheriff's Surrender
A murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the town’s women scared. But the men don’t seem able to stop the rash of thefts, assaults, and vandalism that follow. Half a dozen women band together to arm themselves against trouble. The gunsmith's plain sister, the emporium's owner, a couple of rancher's wives and saloon girls take their shooting lessons seriously. The men are skeptical at first and slightly amused. The new minister's wife shocks the town by joining the club, and other women follow her lead. When they show no sign of letting up on their drill, the men beg the sheriff to disband the club and put their women back where they belong. Those are fighting words to the ladies. Domestic rebellion threatens until a new murder grabs everyone's attention. Will the sheriff and his men find the killer and put him away? Or will that honor belong to the Ladies' Shooting Club?
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2009
About the author
Susan Page Davis
174 books421 followersFROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: I'm a native of central Maine, and grew up on a small farm with a wonderful mom and dad, three sisters and a brother. Most of my books take place in small towns, many of them in Maine.
My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!
Our children are all home-schooled. When Jim retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, we moved from Maine to Kentucky.
I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books.
Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.
For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!
Our children are all home-schooled. When Jim retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, we moved from Maine to Kentucky.
I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books.
Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.
For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 7, 2018
Having started our acquaintance with the Ladies Shooting Club trilogy last year with the third book, The Blacksmith's Bravery (long story), Barb and I are now reading the other two volumes in order. Neither of us were disappointed in this one! My including it on my Action Heroines shelf was a happy surprise; although all the books' covers feature gun-toting women, and a basic plot current of the trilogy is women learning to take responsibility for defending themselves and others, the heroine of the third book wasn't actually called on to engage in any gun-fighting action, so I assumed the same would be the case here. But (at the risk of a mild "spoiler" --though for some fans, this may add interest rather than spoil it :-) ), in this series opener, our heroine does need to step up to the plate with a Winchester. (Contrary to many fictional and movie depictions, rifles were used more for serious shooting in the Old West than six-guns). Despite that difference, though, both books have a lot of similarity in tone, content and style (though this one doesn't have any editorial issues). Since I gave the concluding volume five stars (that review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) that's a good thing!
In 1885 small-town Idaho, young Gert Dooley keeps house for her widowed brother, the town's gunsmith. One thing she can do to help him is test fire the guns he repairs; and she's gotten to be a crack shot over the years of doing this. When the town's longtime sheriff is murdered in his office (the titular sheriff is his replacement), the usually quiet community is spooked; and a widowed storekeeper friend asks Gert to teach her how to use her late husband's Colt, in case she needs it to protect herself or her business. There's initially no thought of creating a club as such; but as other crimes follow and other women join in the lessons, the Ladies Shooting Club takes shape. Reactions among the community's menfolk aren't uniformly supportive --but not uniformly hostile either; stereotypical role expectations of female helplessness weren't so ingrained in the late 19th-century West as they'd become later.
Despite the historical setting, the issue the novel poses is very contemporary, and hotly debated even today. Male chauvinists tend to see any use of weapons by females as transgressive of patriarchal norms. And while all self-described "feminists" claim to believe in "empowerment" for women in some sense, many of them either feel that pacifism is ideologically essential to feminism, or that the State and its agents have an absolute monopoly on legitimate use of lethal force, which renders citizen use of a gun for self-defense as morally equivalent to using it to attack an innocent. But another strand of feminism rejects that thinking, and views responsible and educated gun ownership as a legitimate tool of women's empowerment. It's not hard to deduce from this book what view of that matter Davis takes (and that's the view with which this reviewer also agrees).
There's nothing tract-like about this novel, however, any messages emerge naturally from the story itself. Christian faith plays a role in the lives of Gert and other characters, and of the town --the coming of a preacher and his wife to form a nondenominational community church is an important event, as it really was in many Western communities, where organized religion came more slowly than it did in the more easily-settled Eastern states-- but the author isn't "preachy" in her handling of this. The club is also a vehicle for creating female camaraderie and friendship that crosses social divides set by class, religion, and Victorian attitudes (it'll eventually include both the preacher's wife and a saloon owner and her girls), and some characters will have lessons to learn in that area. But the main focus is on the question of what's behind the sudden rash of arson and violence in the community; I've classified this as a Western (and there's horses, guns, a posse, and gun-play at the end), but it embodies very real characteristics of the mystery genre as well. (I guessed the identity of the villain early on, but I'm not sure many readers would --and you might have fun testing your own wits!) And in the background, we have regard and respect growing into love between a worthy man and woman.
Since we read this as the second book, in our experience, of the series, it was, as Barb said, "like visiting old friends." I'd recommend to new readers, though, that they read the books in order. And for us, it's now on to our third book (which should be the second), The Gunsmith's Gallantry!
In 1885 small-town Idaho, young Gert Dooley keeps house for her widowed brother, the town's gunsmith. One thing she can do to help him is test fire the guns he repairs; and she's gotten to be a crack shot over the years of doing this. When the town's longtime sheriff is murdered in his office (the titular sheriff is his replacement), the usually quiet community is spooked; and a widowed storekeeper friend asks Gert to teach her how to use her late husband's Colt, in case she needs it to protect herself or her business. There's initially no thought of creating a club as such; but as other crimes follow and other women join in the lessons, the Ladies Shooting Club takes shape. Reactions among the community's menfolk aren't uniformly supportive --but not uniformly hostile either; stereotypical role expectations of female helplessness weren't so ingrained in the late 19th-century West as they'd become later.
Despite the historical setting, the issue the novel poses is very contemporary, and hotly debated even today. Male chauvinists tend to see any use of weapons by females as transgressive of patriarchal norms. And while all self-described "feminists" claim to believe in "empowerment" for women in some sense, many of them either feel that pacifism is ideologically essential to feminism, or that the State and its agents have an absolute monopoly on legitimate use of lethal force, which renders citizen use of a gun for self-defense as morally equivalent to using it to attack an innocent. But another strand of feminism rejects that thinking, and views responsible and educated gun ownership as a legitimate tool of women's empowerment. It's not hard to deduce from this book what view of that matter Davis takes (and that's the view with which this reviewer also agrees).
There's nothing tract-like about this novel, however, any messages emerge naturally from the story itself. Christian faith plays a role in the lives of Gert and other characters, and of the town --the coming of a preacher and his wife to form a nondenominational community church is an important event, as it really was in many Western communities, where organized religion came more slowly than it did in the more easily-settled Eastern states-- but the author isn't "preachy" in her handling of this. The club is also a vehicle for creating female camaraderie and friendship that crosses social divides set by class, religion, and Victorian attitudes (it'll eventually include both the preacher's wife and a saloon owner and her girls), and some characters will have lessons to learn in that area. But the main focus is on the question of what's behind the sudden rash of arson and violence in the community; I've classified this as a Western (and there's horses, guns, a posse, and gun-play at the end), but it embodies very real characteristics of the mystery genre as well. (I guessed the identity of the villain early on, but I'm not sure many readers would --and you might have fun testing your own wits!) And in the background, we have regard and respect growing into love between a worthy man and woman.
Since we read this as the second book, in our experience, of the series, it was, as Barb said, "like visiting old friends." I'd recommend to new readers, though, that they read the books in order. And for us, it's now on to our third book (which should be the second), The Gunsmith's Gallantry!
February 15, 2024
3.5 Stars
What I Liked
The concept. It's hilarious, and I was laughing from the blurb alone.
Gerti. I liked how she wasn't some gorgeous woman who wowed everyone with her appearance. Instead, she's normal. A bit plain, even. Plus, she has a good head on her shoulders and enough common sense that allows her to help others put things into perspective.
Ethan. He's humble, which I liked. And I'm always fond of the reluctant sheriff/hero trope.
There are many good secondary characters as well. Libby, Hi, and even Bitsy and her girls were fun to read about.
The faith. While there's not a ton, I can tell this is a Christian book. (Characters recite verses, pray, and go to church.) One of my favorite things about this was how Davis illustrated the importance of hiding His Word in our hearts, because you never know when you'll be without a Bible.
I also liked how Davis showed the importance of mentorship. Through gentle guidance, folks you wouldn't expect to see in a church end up coming.
There was a passel of humor that made me snicker on occasions as well.
What I Wasn't Fond Of
I don't know if this was the author's intention or not, but there is a feminist undertone to parts of this book. At one point, Gert spews something akin to, "You're one of the men who thinks women should only be in the kitchens making bread." While women's rights (the real women's suffrage, not this current string of nonsense destroying our nation) was indeed going on, and men were resistant to women being more independent, this is an unfair accusation.
Yes, a woman's first job is in the home, raising her children for the Lord and honoring her husband. But that doesn't mean a woman learning how to protect herself is bad. That was an inconsistency. This takes place in Idaho. Out west, women knew how to shoot. The majority of men's reactions in this book felt unrealistic given this time era and location.
Content Warning
Saloons are mentioned, and several girls are scantily clad due to their employment in said businesses. Murders happen, and while not gruesome, we are told they're not pretty sights. Two men are shot.
Other
The term, "hell-bent for leather" is used.
Conclusion
The Sheriff's Surrender has a fun plot, a nice amount of faith, and a solid cast of characters. I'm not thrilled with the feminist undertones, however. But all the same, it was a nice read. Those who enjoy Christian historical romance will likely want to try out The Sheriff's Surrender.
What I Liked
The concept. It's hilarious, and I was laughing from the blurb alone.
Gerti. I liked how she wasn't some gorgeous woman who wowed everyone with her appearance. Instead, she's normal. A bit plain, even. Plus, she has a good head on her shoulders and enough common sense that allows her to help others put things into perspective.
Ethan. He's humble, which I liked. And I'm always fond of the reluctant sheriff/hero trope.
There are many good secondary characters as well. Libby, Hi, and even Bitsy and her girls were fun to read about.
The faith. While there's not a ton, I can tell this is a Christian book. (Characters recite verses, pray, and go to church.) One of my favorite things about this was how Davis illustrated the importance of hiding His Word in our hearts, because you never know when you'll be without a Bible.
I also liked how Davis showed the importance of mentorship. Through gentle guidance, folks you wouldn't expect to see in a church end up coming.
There was a passel of humor that made me snicker on occasions as well.
What I Wasn't Fond Of
I don't know if this was the author's intention or not, but there is a feminist undertone to parts of this book. At one point, Gert spews something akin to, "You're one of the men who thinks women should only be in the kitchens making bread." While women's rights (the real women's suffrage, not this current string of nonsense destroying our nation) was indeed going on, and men were resistant to women being more independent, this is an unfair accusation.
Yes, a woman's first job is in the home, raising her children for the Lord and honoring her husband. But that doesn't mean a woman learning how to protect herself is bad. That was an inconsistency. This takes place in Idaho. Out west, women knew how to shoot. The majority of men's reactions in this book felt unrealistic given this time era and location.
Content Warning
Saloons are mentioned, and several girls are scantily clad due to their employment in said businesses. Murders happen, and while not gruesome, we are told they're not pretty sights. Two men are shot.
Other
The term, "hell-bent for leather" is used.
Conclusion
The Sheriff's Surrender has a fun plot, a nice amount of faith, and a solid cast of characters. I'm not thrilled with the feminist undertones, however. But all the same, it was a nice read. Those who enjoy Christian historical romance will likely want to try out The Sheriff's Surrender.
January 21, 2019
Cover may look a trifle cheesy, but the story's good quality and super low on the romance, which is a plus for me. Gert and her Ladies' Shooting Club start out by shooting to protect themselves from the unknown criminal who killed the sheriff, but end up in the middle of a whole bunch of other things that are going on in town.
The story premise is unique and, though the women are banding together to be independent, Davis still stays away from any anachronistic feminism, instead crafting strong and unique characters who bend stereotype because they've grown beyond it--not because they are angry, abrasive women out for a good fight. This approach and the excellent writing really won me over.
The story premise is unique and, though the women are banding together to be independent, Davis still stays away from any anachronistic feminism, instead crafting strong and unique characters who bend stereotype because they've grown beyond it--not because they are angry, abrasive women out for a good fight. This approach and the excellent writing really won me over.
May 5, 2020
When the sheriff is shot, a guy who doesn't know what he is doing becomes sheriff.
Meanwhile, the sister of the local gunsmith/handyman starts a shooting club so that the ladies can defend themselves from whoever is prowling around killing people. Some folks in the town don't like the club, and there are fissures in the club itself, as saloon girls want to join with the more "respectable" element.
The new sheriff and the leader of the shooting club get together and solve the case.
Not bad.
Meanwhile, the sister of the local gunsmith/handyman starts a shooting club so that the ladies can defend themselves from whoever is prowling around killing people. Some folks in the town don't like the club, and there are fissures in the club itself, as saloon girls want to join with the more "respectable" element.
The new sheriff and the leader of the shooting club get together and solve the case.
Not bad.
June 23, 2021
Review pending
December 27, 2009
I have eagerly been awaiting the release of this book! At first, I thought I was going to be disappointed...but, the more I read the better it got. I wanted this book because I thought it was going to be a Historical Romance, but as it turns out, it's more of a Romantic Suspense/Mystery than just a Romance, in my opinion. It took me awhile to get into the story, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Now I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Gunsmith's Gallantry, due for release in June 2010.
When The Sheriff's Surrender begins, we find Gert Dooley sighting in a rifle that her brother, Hiram, has just repaired. As it turns out, Gert is proclaimed to be a sharp-shooter in Fergus, Idaho. One of my favorite aspects of the story is the repartee between siblings, Gert and Hiram...it's so sweet how they understand each other.
Once folks start getting murdered, the ladies of Fergus come to Gert, asking her to teach them how to shoot, in order to protect themselves when their men aren't around to do so. Most of the men in town frown upon such behavior, but the ladies stick to their scheduled meetings, and start learning how to shoot all types of guns under Gert's expert tutelage.
After the sheriff is murdered, Ethan Chapman is elected as the interim sheriff until a permanent replacement can be found. He's not particularly looking forward to his new job, but soon becomes engrossed with finding the heartless killer. When the town council starts pressuring Ethan to find the killer, or they will elect his replacement, Gert and The Ladies' Shooting Club offer their services as his deputies, along with a handful of Fergus' upstanding businessmen.
Once the mystery started playing out, I was quickly drawn into trying to decipher who the killer was. As it turns out, I was right! I love when that happens. :) If you enjoy reading suspense/mysteries, with light romance, this series will be for you. Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself as an early Christmas gift!
While I was reading Ms. Davis' newest release, I couldn't help thinking back to her Frasier Island series...which I absolutely loved...they also have a Romantic Suspense theme, but are set in a Contemporary environment.
When The Sheriff's Surrender begins, we find Gert Dooley sighting in a rifle that her brother, Hiram, has just repaired. As it turns out, Gert is proclaimed to be a sharp-shooter in Fergus, Idaho. One of my favorite aspects of the story is the repartee between siblings, Gert and Hiram...it's so sweet how they understand each other.
Once folks start getting murdered, the ladies of Fergus come to Gert, asking her to teach them how to shoot, in order to protect themselves when their men aren't around to do so. Most of the men in town frown upon such behavior, but the ladies stick to their scheduled meetings, and start learning how to shoot all types of guns under Gert's expert tutelage.
After the sheriff is murdered, Ethan Chapman is elected as the interim sheriff until a permanent replacement can be found. He's not particularly looking forward to his new job, but soon becomes engrossed with finding the heartless killer. When the town council starts pressuring Ethan to find the killer, or they will elect his replacement, Gert and The Ladies' Shooting Club offer their services as his deputies, along with a handful of Fergus' upstanding businessmen.
Once the mystery started playing out, I was quickly drawn into trying to decipher who the killer was. As it turns out, I was right! I love when that happens. :) If you enjoy reading suspense/mysteries, with light romance, this series will be for you. Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself as an early Christmas gift!
While I was reading Ms. Davis' newest release, I couldn't help thinking back to her Frasier Island series...which I absolutely loved...they also have a Romantic Suspense theme, but are set in a Contemporary environment.
January 26, 2018
An interesting look at a women's shooting club. A little vague in some areas but I did enjoy the women's multiple view points; but could of done without Ethan's point of view. I wish he had been in the background with just the women up front. It was good though. The book cover looks a little too modern also.
December 15, 2009
The leading ladies name is Gert, which was hard to get over. This book is a western wrapped around a romance, twisted around a mystery and tied together with a feminism bow. Did that analogy make sense? No. Was this book a fun read? Yes!
September 3, 2011
The Sheriff's Surrender is a good read. There's some romance surrounded by mystery. Then, there is the western of the Ladies Shooting Club thrown in. A very enjoyable read.
December 13, 2020
The Sheriff of Fergus, Idaho is murdered, which drew the women of the community to form the Ladies' Shooting Club of Fergus with Gert Dooly teaching all the ladies how to shoot and protect themselves if the needed. Ethan Chapman becomes the new temporary sheriff with a murder to solve. Three fires, another murder and attempted murder keeps the story moving quickly with most of the male population against the ladies learning to shoot.
The sheriff takes a posse out and while they are gone overnight Gert and her ladies put their heads together and find the killer still in town. When the posse returns The Sheriff's Surrender to Trudy (Gert) when the killer is dead and his helpers are in jail. I enjoyed this historical fiction with the witty conversation, fast action and enjoyable descriptions of the times and setting.
The sheriff takes a posse out and while they are gone overnight Gert and her ladies put their heads together and find the killer still in town. When the posse returns The Sheriff's Surrender to Trudy (Gert) when the killer is dead and his helpers are in jail. I enjoyed this historical fiction with the witty conversation, fast action and enjoyable descriptions of the times and setting.
November 11, 2020
Ready, Aim, Fire
An enjoyable read. A feisty group of women show how it's done. My only criticism is that there were too many characters introduced rapid fire in the first chapter.
An enjoyable read. A feisty group of women show how it's done. My only criticism is that there were too many characters introduced rapid fire in the first chapter.
October 22, 2014
About this book:
“A Murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the Townswomen Scared.
Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards from years of test-firing guns her brother repairs. But long after giving up on marriage, she yearns for rancher Ethan Chapman to see she’s more than a crack shot with a firearm. When murder strikes in the sleepy town, Gert forms the Ladies’ Shooting Clue to teach the women how to protect themselves, their families and their businesses.
Ethan Chapman didn’t ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation into the mysterious death of his predecessor. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place—being pressured by the townswomen to restore order and safety to Fergus, and by men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies’ Shooting Club.
When another person is murdered, Ethan must turn to Gert and her ladies to help in the investigation. But will Ethan, Gert, and the Ladies’ Shooting Club find the murderer before he strikes again?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Ladies’ Shooting Club” series. {There are a total of three books in this series.}
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are quoted; Prayers; A few talks about God & forgiving; Church going & hymns are sung; Prayers.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘darn’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘shut up’, two ‘stupid’s, a “h*ll-for-leather”; two curses are said but not written; Mentions of shooting rats & coyotes and then killing other animals for food; Mentions (and going into a) of saloons, drinking, smoking, and gambling; Guns & shooting; Two people are murdered (semi detailed); Blood (semi-detailed); Mentions of someone vomiting; Ethan remembers the Indian was he fought in (Boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- a semi-detailed kiss; Notices & wanting to touch; a ‘wanton’, saloon girls wear “scanty clothing”; Love, falling in love and barely any emotions.
-Gertrude Dooley
-Ethan Chapman
P.O.V. switches between them, Milzie, Libby & Cyrus.
Set in 1885
319 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This is the second time I’ve read this book, both times have gotten a 3 star rating from me. While I like the plot, I do get a bit queasy about blood and murder, so other girls the same way may not like “The Sheriff’s Surrender”.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“A Murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the Townswomen Scared.
Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards from years of test-firing guns her brother repairs. But long after giving up on marriage, she yearns for rancher Ethan Chapman to see she’s more than a crack shot with a firearm. When murder strikes in the sleepy town, Gert forms the Ladies’ Shooting Clue to teach the women how to protect themselves, their families and their businesses.
Ethan Chapman didn’t ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation into the mysterious death of his predecessor. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place—being pressured by the townswomen to restore order and safety to Fergus, and by men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies’ Shooting Club.
When another person is murdered, Ethan must turn to Gert and her ladies to help in the investigation. But will Ethan, Gert, and the Ladies’ Shooting Club find the murderer before he strikes again?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Ladies’ Shooting Club” series. {There are a total of three books in this series.}
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are quoted; Prayers; A few talks about God & forgiving; Church going & hymns are sung; Prayers.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘darn’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘shut up’, two ‘stupid’s, a “h*ll-for-leather”; two curses are said but not written; Mentions of shooting rats & coyotes and then killing other animals for food; Mentions (and going into a) of saloons, drinking, smoking, and gambling; Guns & shooting; Two people are murdered (semi detailed); Blood (semi-detailed); Mentions of someone vomiting; Ethan remembers the Indian was he fought in (Boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- a semi-detailed kiss; Notices & wanting to touch; a ‘wanton’, saloon girls wear “scanty clothing”; Love, falling in love and barely any emotions.
-Gertrude Dooley
-Ethan Chapman
P.O.V. switches between them, Milzie, Libby & Cyrus.
Set in 1885
319 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This is the second time I’ve read this book, both times have gotten a 3 star rating from me. While I like the plot, I do get a bit queasy about blood and murder, so other girls the same way may not like “The Sheriff’s Surrender”.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
January 22, 2018
The romance was a bit light in the book, but otherwise it was quite good.
The characters had depth, even the "bad guys". Women who would be stereotypes in other books ("The saloon worker", "daughter of the proud rich man", etc.) had depth and often the main character learned that she had judged them without knowing them.
For part of the book, you see things from the point of view of an elderly homeless woman. I really enjoyed these sections because they contained such a different take on events. People's reactions to the homeless women also seemed realistic, with some people feeling disgusted by her smell and feeling guilty about it afterwards knowing she needs help.
In a lot of books, characters who disagree with the main character are always pure evil. This was not the case here. There were a lot of people who disagreed for a lot of reasons and the author still painted them as humans with their own flaws and positive traits.
I did think the main love interest lacked a bit of depth when he starts saying his experience in war has traumatized him so much he could never be in a relationship. This was strange to me since we have chapters from his point of view and the ONLY time he mentions/thinks about war is when he's saying it's an obstacle to the romance.
I was unable to solve the mystery on my own, which was refreshing. Too often the "mystery" is obvious from the start.
The characters had depth, even the "bad guys". Women who would be stereotypes in other books ("The saloon worker", "daughter of the proud rich man", etc.) had depth and often the main character learned that she had judged them without knowing them.
For part of the book, you see things from the point of view of an elderly homeless woman. I really enjoyed these sections because they contained such a different take on events. People's reactions to the homeless women also seemed realistic, with some people feeling disgusted by her smell and feeling guilty about it afterwards knowing she needs help.
In a lot of books, characters who disagree with the main character are always pure evil. This was not the case here. There were a lot of people who disagreed for a lot of reasons and the author still painted them as humans with their own flaws and positive traits.
I did think the main love interest lacked a bit of depth when he starts saying his experience in war has traumatized him so much he could never be in a relationship. This was strange to me since we have chapters from his point of view and the ONLY time he mentions/thinks about war is when he's saying it's an obstacle to the romance.
I was unable to solve the mystery on my own, which was refreshing. Too often the "mystery" is obvious from the start.
December 18, 2009
I loved this book. Susan Page Davis does a wonderful job setting up this series in this book and while she is setting up and the reader is getting to know the characters,it remains interesting and never drags
Fergus makes a great setting and I loved learning about the town a little bit at time. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them grow and change when they were faced with different situations.
The mystery storyline was also superb. Several plausible suspects are given throughout the book, but I didn't feel anything was given away early. It kept me guessing and kept me interested.
The characters were fascinating. From Gert who I really liked to Libby the store owner to Bitsy the saloon owner and her girls, all of the characters add to the story and teach us about understanding and loving others. The characters all have a real feel to them and I can't wait to read more books in this series to get to know them more.
The romance in this is a small part, but it is there and enjoyable. Overall this book was a very enjoyable and feel-good read. This is my first book by Susan Page Davis and I will seek out more of her books.
Fergus makes a great setting and I loved learning about the town a little bit at time. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them grow and change when they were faced with different situations.
The mystery storyline was also superb. Several plausible suspects are given throughout the book, but I didn't feel anything was given away early. It kept me guessing and kept me interested.
The characters were fascinating. From Gert who I really liked to Libby the store owner to Bitsy the saloon owner and her girls, all of the characters add to the story and teach us about understanding and loving others. The characters all have a real feel to them and I can't wait to read more books in this series to get to know them more.
The romance in this is a small part, but it is there and enjoyable. Overall this book was a very enjoyable and feel-good read. This is my first book by Susan Page Davis and I will seek out more of her books.
January 16, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. I do wish that the book had spent more time helping us get to know Gert better. It seemed like lots of time was spent with the mystery and with Ethan, and less with Gert. My heart went out to poor Milzie! I felt so bad for her and kept hoping that someone would befriend her. The mystery part of this book, I really liked. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of the book when the murderer was found out. I was very pleased with the way the book ended, and if you enjoy a sweet romance with a mystery thrown in, then I believe you will also.
November 25, 2020
"The Sheriff's Surrender" is a humorous Christian romance (with the mystery) set in 1885 in Idaho. Ethan and his friend tried to solve a murder even though they had no training and only a few clues. The women of the town went to Gert to learn how to shoot to protect themselves, which some of the men don't like. Ethan faced pressure from these men to stop the gun practice but the women pressured him to allow them to help patrol the town until the murderer was caught. These women were capable, interesting characters that started to bond despite their many differences. The light humor came from these differences and amusing situations. Ethan and Gert admired each other's character and worked well together.
My only problem with the story is that some things were left unresolved. Gert figured out whodunit (which is eventually guessable from the clues) and several women were involved in the showdown. We're not told exactly who did what in the critical moments. Even though there were witnesses, two women remained in jail at the end, one of whom claimed to have helped. I don't understand why this was left unclear and unresolved. There was no sex about language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable novel.
My only problem with the story is that some things were left unresolved. Gert figured out whodunit (which is eventually guessable from the clues) and several women were involved in the showdown. We're not told exactly who did what in the critical moments. Even though there were witnesses, two women remained in jail at the end, one of whom claimed to have helped. I don't understand why this was left unclear and unresolved. There was no sex about language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable novel.
July 7, 2017
2.5 stars.
It was an okay book, it wasn't bad but it was far to easy for me to put the book down and not want to pick it up again. Plus I'm not chomping at the bit in order to get the next book in the series.
But that could be just me.
If you're reading this for romance, don't expect much. You know who's going to end up with who, but this wasn't even a slow burn for me. The foundation was there but it didn't do much for me.
I wasn't drawn to the characters overly much, although I did enjoy the concept of the women's shooting club. And Ethan as the Sheriff was alright, but he didn't inspire confidence. I get it he was reluctant to take the job. But he still didn't inspire me.
The plot was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up a little towards the middle and end.
Overall it's a nice story, but it didn't inspire any strong emotions
Recommended: Sure, I know there were those who enjoyed the book.
Buy:Borrow: Borrow.
It was an okay book, it wasn't bad but it was far to easy for me to put the book down and not want to pick it up again. Plus I'm not chomping at the bit in order to get the next book in the series.
But that could be just me.
If you're reading this for romance, don't expect much. You know who's going to end up with who, but this wasn't even a slow burn for me. The foundation was there but it didn't do much for me.
I wasn't drawn to the characters overly much, although I did enjoy the concept of the women's shooting club. And Ethan as the Sheriff was alright, but he didn't inspire confidence. I get it he was reluctant to take the job. But he still didn't inspire me.
The plot was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up a little towards the middle and end.
Overall it's a nice story, but it didn't inspire any strong emotions
Recommended: Sure, I know there were those who enjoyed the book.
Buy:Borrow: Borrow.
November 6, 2020
First, the front cover of this book was a total turn-off; I cannot tell why, it just did not appeal to me. This story is about a town that tries to stay alive after the gold rush fails to fill folk's pockets. The prospectors have moved on and the town tries to encourage others to come to their little town. The Ladies Shooting Club emerges after the sheriff dies under mysterious circumstances. I cannot imagine that so many women did not know how to shoot during this time in American history.
I read a great number of books each year and am always looking for a unique plotline. Certainly having the town's ladies (and other women) join together to learn to shoot (to help protect the town) qualifies as unique. However, I felt the story dragged. I really didn't feel any compelling reason to finish the book; it just wasn't that interesting. The murderer wasn't much of a surprise and the ending was just ridiculous.
I read a great number of books each year and am always looking for a unique plotline. Certainly having the town's ladies (and other women) join together to learn to shoot (to help protect the town) qualifies as unique. However, I felt the story dragged. I really didn't feel any compelling reason to finish the book; it just wasn't that interesting. The murderer wasn't much of a surprise and the ending was just ridiculous.
August 11, 2020
Gert Dooley can shoot. She wants rancher Ethan Chapman to see she’s more than a crack shot with a firearm. The sheriff of Fergus, Idaho is murdered and Ethan is named his replacement. The women in town are scared to think a murderer is loose among them, so Gert forms the Ladies' Shooting Club. Ethan is pressured by the men who insist he disbands the Ladies’ Shooting Club.
Another murder sends Ethan to Gert and her ladies for help in the investigation. Can the Ladies’ Shooting Club unmask the murderer before he strikes again?
I really enjoyed this book. The colorful characters made the book exciting. Gert, a fiery female, moves the plot along. And what a plot. Put me into the Wild West. I look forward to more books in this series.
Another murder sends Ethan to Gert and her ladies for help in the investigation. Can the Ladies’ Shooting Club unmask the murderer before he strikes again?
I really enjoyed this book. The colorful characters made the book exciting. Gert, a fiery female, moves the plot along. And what a plot. Put me into the Wild West. I look forward to more books in this series.
June 26, 2023
What a good mystery. It just kept building!
There are a whole mess of characters in small-town Fergus, Idaho, from interesting to downright annoying.
Ethan is forced into interim sheriff after the former sheriff is found dead, & he has a genuine heart for people. As things go from bad to worse, the town's sharpshooter, Gert, starts teaching ladies how to defend themselves and suddenly a society is born! Ethan and Bert along with her brother Hirem band together to try and solve the mystery.
There's also a fair amount of Bible believing folk and faith is shared throughout.
I recommend this 1885 historical (pt 1 of 3).
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Very Good
I purchased a paperback. All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 40𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 📚 2023
There are a whole mess of characters in small-town Fergus, Idaho, from interesting to downright annoying.
Ethan is forced into interim sheriff after the former sheriff is found dead, & he has a genuine heart for people. As things go from bad to worse, the town's sharpshooter, Gert, starts teaching ladies how to defend themselves and suddenly a society is born! Ethan and Bert along with her brother Hirem band together to try and solve the mystery.
There's also a fair amount of Bible believing folk and faith is shared throughout.
I recommend this 1885 historical (pt 1 of 3).
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Very Good
I purchased a paperback. All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 40𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 📚 2023
March 13, 2018
I found myself a bit underwhelmed in general with this book; while I did enjoy the female friendships that were formed, as well as the one between Hiram and Ethan, the mystery itself was way too convoluted. I felt like it should have been solved long before it was. However, the biggest annoyance was that in order to build up the women of the story as the heroes who solve the crimes and save the day for the town, the male characters, especially Ethan, were unnecessarily dumbed down. The romance was also a bit lukewarm. However, the message of inclusion in Christ was effective and a worthwhile one to be reminded of.
June 26, 2018
Could have been five star rating
A truly new idea for a set of characters that made me smile more than once. Enjoyed all the characters in this book. Developed plot and people.
So why only 4 stars? Silly errors. Most of them being words left out. Please author's. Beta readers! And an editor who edits!
And a final comment about the cover a good one appropriate for the plot but the title is off. It feels like the title was picked early in the writing of the book but the characters pulled the author in a different direction.
A very enjoyable read. -- the errors were minimal.
A truly new idea for a set of characters that made me smile more than once. Enjoyed all the characters in this book. Developed plot and people.
So why only 4 stars? Silly errors. Most of them being words left out. Please author's. Beta readers! And an editor who edits!
And a final comment about the cover a good one appropriate for the plot but the title is off. It feels like the title was picked early in the writing of the book but the characters pulled the author in a different direction.
A very enjoyable read. -- the errors were minimal.
January 14, 2018
Enjoyable
This story is about the people in a town after the gold rush had petered out and how they survived. The Ladies Shooting Club was formed after the sheriff was killed and the women did not feel safe. This club helped to open the members eyes about the other women's lives and how much they all had in common.
The mystery of who killed the sheriff grew as other people died. It was intriguing to see how the crime was solved without the use of modern technology (fingerprinting was not even available.
This story is about the people in a town after the gold rush had petered out and how they survived. The Ladies Shooting Club was formed after the sheriff was killed and the women did not feel safe. This club helped to open the members eyes about the other women's lives and how much they all had in common.
The mystery of who killed the sheriff grew as other people died. It was intriguing to see how the crime was solved without the use of modern technology (fingerprinting was not even available.
May 4, 2018
I really enjoyed the first book in the Ladies' Shooting Club series. What a great group of women! They all had different personalities and came from different places in life, yet they all worked together and became true friends. I loved the way they all jumped in to help each other, and to help the town. And help they did!
I liked the suspense and the mystery. It was well done. The romance is very light. I wouldn't have minded a little more of that. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am curious about what the next one in the series holds.
I liked the suspense and the mystery. It was well done. The romance is very light. I wouldn't have minded a little more of that. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am curious about what the next one in the series holds.
January 12, 2021
This is the first book I read from this author and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait to read other books from this great writer! Amazing job! a must-read! A fantastic book that has it all! I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a romance enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. Great book!
January 14, 2018
The Sheriff's Surrender
An interesting story of life in the 1880's , Ethan had not planned on being named Sheriff when the previous one,was,murdered. The Women shocked the,town when the formed the,Gun Club and had Gert teach they how to shoot so they could defend themselves when the men weren't around. A good variety of characters from all walks of life. Finding out who was,killing people and starting fires proved to be quite a challenge. I gave it 5 stars.
An interesting story of life in the 1880's , Ethan had not planned on being named Sheriff when the previous one,was,murdered. The Women shocked the,town when the formed the,Gun Club and had Gert teach they how to shoot so they could defend themselves when the men weren't around. A good variety of characters from all walks of life. Finding out who was,killing people and starting fires proved to be quite a challenge. I gave it 5 stars.
January 18, 2018
Women with guns!
Gurt spent her time taking care of her brother who never got over the death of his wife and his best friend Ethan who she consistently invited over for meals. But the real story is how women who felt threatened turned to Hurt who happened to be a fine markswoman to teach them to shoot and handle their weapons to defend themselves. They became known as the Ladie's Shooting Club and they became so much more.
Gurt spent her time taking care of her brother who never got over the death of his wife and his best friend Ethan who she consistently invited over for meals. But the real story is how women who felt threatened turned to Hurt who happened to be a fine markswoman to teach them to shoot and handle their weapons to defend themselves. They became known as the Ladie's Shooting Club and they became so much more.
June 6, 2019
Lovely Romance
This was a sweet Christian romance that in my opinion referred to faith without detracting from the story. I loved the characters, including some who were less than lovable. A great plot with plenty of suspense that kept me guessing. I enjoyed how the author portrayed the characters as they worked through the difficulties of their pasts to move forward to the future.
This was a sweet Christian romance that in my opinion referred to faith without detracting from the story. I loved the characters, including some who were less than lovable. A great plot with plenty of suspense that kept me guessing. I enjoyed how the author portrayed the characters as they worked through the difficulties of their pasts to move forward to the future.
December 4, 2020
This is a quick light read and enjoyable. I did not look at it for its historical accuracy but really question that anyone had so much resistance to women at that time using guns. It made for a story line so I had to suspend disbelief and buy into the plot. The characters were well developed and easy to care about. If you are looking for a light mystery romance in a historical setting I think you will enjoy this.
August 9, 2017
Ladies to the rescue
If you like tales about strong willed women of the west, you'll enjoy this one. Susan spins a great tale that will have have you laughing and cheering for the gutsy ladies of Fergus. I will be reading book 2 of this series as soon as I manage a little sleep, as I couldn't seem to put this one down until it was finished.
If you like tales about strong willed women of the west, you'll enjoy this one. Susan spins a great tale that will have have you laughing and cheering for the gutsy ladies of Fergus. I will be reading book 2 of this series as soon as I manage a little sleep, as I couldn't seem to put this one down until it was finished.
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