BOOK REVIEW- Annie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 2)

Annie Markum was raised to be an obedient daughter, her father is a disapproving, joyless, rigid preacher who was sure only a church-going man was the only one he could approve of to marry his daughter. When she becomes a mail order bride to such a man, things didn't turn out as good as she had hoped.  She finds herself  widowed with no money, or help and very, very soon to be a mother.  She goes to the only friends she can think of , hoping to find work so that she can return to her father in New York.  She finds work  as a cook but in a local saloon, the very last place her father would ever approve of.  But pride doesn't pay the bills and she doesn't want to sponge off her friends and she will do whatever she needs to for her new baby girl.   Nick Cartwright met Annie at their friends wedding and just before her own.  He wanted her then and a year later he still does.  He's a saloon owner and he knows that is a major stumbling block in his desire to marry her.  Things begin to shift when Annie finds out all the money from her dead husband isn't gone, she will become a  rich woman soon.  Ah, but money never really was the problem between them.  There is another problem though, a hidden enemy not only wants Nick but also Annie's riches and is more than willing to kill to get it all.  
I liked this story although part of it was predictable, but there were a few surprises toward the end especially.  Annie had quite the struggle to deal with, her desire for Nick and her long held belief's that his owning a saloon was evil.   The author did a good job of showing that battle; although maybe that could have been a little shorter.  I also realize though as readers we don't want to see things dealt with too quickly, we see that as unreasonable.  Nellie Malone and her husband Blake, turned out to be quite the good friends in her time of need. It made me wish I had also read  their story, "Nellie" in Book 1. And Nick Cartwright, turned out to have more goodness in him than her father would have ever credited him with.  I liked him.  He put up with a lot from Annie but was always there for her.  He was always there for other people too.  He was a hero of course; a charming, slightly mischievous one of course. 


"I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review".