Talk about a book that caters to all my childhood interests. Jack London was a definite favorite with both Call of the Wild and White Fang vying for my favorite book title. And Mounties because… Mounties. I think I’ve already mentioned my love of the 90’s show Due South, featuring Paul Gross as a Canadian Mountie transplanted to Chicago, but in case you need further proof: exhibit A) Rose Marie, featuring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald and exhibit B) Saskatchewan, starring Alan Ladd and Shelly Winters. That I never moved to Canada truly amazes me.
But I digress. Just take my word for it, the combo in the title is a necessity in life.
The Book
“Colt” is a western historical romance and book 1 of Kate Bridges’ Alaska Cowboys and Mounties series, introducing us to several of the Mounties from the series in the form of a group assignment. Our hero is leading an undercover team into the northwestern Canadian wilderness to track down criminals, but must also escort our heroine, Elizabeth, safely to her grandfather and fiance. The two have a long-standing interest in each other since his day job is bodyguard for her politician father, but social circumstances and assumptions have kept them apart.
As they travel together, facing the untamed wilds and having to rely on each other, they develop a deeper understanding of each other, their backgrounds, personal history and motivations.
My thoughts
I wanted to love this book, I did. It had everything going for it in my mind (as detailed in my intro), but something was just… off. Kate Bridges has a track record of award-winning writing, and I can’t say I disliked that aspect, although there were times some of the information seemed redundant. I loved the settings and felt the timeline/progression of the story were believable. Initially, it held my attention, I read pretty diligently about half way through, but then for some reason I just couldn’t keep reading. I set the book down and didn’t even think to pick it up again for weeks.
I thought about it for quite some time before I settled on what I think was the problem for me, and it was that age-old “show, don’t tell” adage. A lot of the emotional descriptions happened as internal monologues rather than coming through in the characters’ actions or interactions. At least that’s how it felt to me, judging by the many positive reviews most readers don’t see it that way.
So I’m going to say I liked the premise, enjoyed the story overall, and was entertained enough to try book 2.
Have you read “Colt”? What did you think? Haven’t read it, but want to add your opinion? Find details and buying information below.
The Details:
Alaska and the Yukon, 1898
Meet Colt, the strong and silent Mountie who’s forced to escort the beautiful, brainy and talkative Elizabeth through the northern wilderness.
Mountie Colt Hunter is on a dangerous undercover mission with his team of Mounties, traveling to Alaska and the Yukon, and the last thing he wants is the delicate doctor Elizabeth Langley joining them. Frustrated at being forced to escort her, Colt orders Elizabeth to go in disguise too–as his make-believe sister.
He wants Elizabeth to understand that she needs to follow his orders and step in line with his men. How else will they survive the dangers? And how will Colt survive the emotional battle dueling inside his heart, between duty and passion, every time he looks at her?
Elizabeth thinks that pretending to be his sister is ridiculous. But she can fake it as well as he can. She’s not the delicate city woman that Colt believes. Elizabeth is a hardworking doctor, trying to make it to the Yukon in search of answers to a troubling family secret and to meet with her grandfather. When they get to the Klondike, she’ll finally be free of Colt’s bossy attitude, free of his close proximity and free of the way he makes her heart race….
Originally published as Klondike Doctor in 2007.