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Linda Weaver Clarke
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Melinda and the Wild West: Original Version (A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Linda Weaver Clarke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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Melinda Gamble wants to make a difference in the world. As a school teacher 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, startling a 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. An Award Winning Novel for the Reviewer's Choice Award!
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho
  2. Print length
    239 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    July 27, 2018
  6. File size
    1370 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A writing style that opens the mind in a way that lets us…feel the thoughts and emotions of the characters. It is impossible to avoid becoming part of the story... She writes historical fiction as if she were taking the reader back in time." --- Lloyd E. Reid

"Linda Clarke is a fresh new face in the fiction market. Her vivid descriptions, engaging characters, and clever word usage make reading her work a pleasure. I look forward to enjoying her books for many years to come." ---Betsy Brannon Green, best-selling suspense author

"Such memorable characters! What an incredible blessing in the lives of her future readers ---Kerry Blair, best-selling mystery author

From the Publisher

Linda's knowledge of and interest in the historic Old West provides a fascinating plunge into the lives of her fictional, yet undeniably real characters. Her adeptness at intertwining fact and fiction allows the past to spring to life with the newness and intrigue of unexplored territory. -- Courtney Littler, Editor for American Book Publishing

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07FYYTRSX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Mountain Shadows Publishing (July 27, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 27, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1370 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 239 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1724240994
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

About the author

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Linda Weaver Clarke

Linda Weaver Clarke

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Linda Weaver Clarke has traveled throughout the United States, teaching and encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of an award-winning sweet romance, Melinda and the Wild West, for the “Reviewers Choice Award.” She is the author of historical romances, swashbuckling romances, a romantic cozy mystery series, a mystery/suspense series, non-fiction, and a children’s book. Clarke is the author of 32 books. All her books are family friendly.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
46 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lorin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2019
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading this wonderful book! This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot! I had a hard time putting this book down! I will be reading the next book in this wonderful series!
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Cyn
3.0 out of 5 stars The story is okay, plot is good but the narration needs lots of work.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017
Let’s start with the story it was really hard for me to get into this audio, I am so sorry but I have to say the narrator really takes away from the story. I will get into that a little later on. The author does give you an interesting story with a bank robber, an attack from a bear along with a very sweet young girl who will steal your heart. There is a love triangle that pulls you in with lots of misunderstandings. Gilbert is a very sweet man who doesn’t want love, marriage or anything to do with romance. His one marriage was enough to last a lifetime. His daughter doesn’t see it this way she has fallen in love with her new teacher and wants her father to fall right along with her.

With an audio there is not very often that I rate below a 3, there is usually something that really pulls me in. I am very sad to say this is not the case with this narrator. When reading the normal part of the story that is out of character she exaggerates a lot and her voice is just too happy and perky, you can hear the smile in her voice even when things are going bad. With that said she does give emotion to her character voice very nicely but it just blends in too much with the rest of the narration it really takes away from it. I am sure she doesn’t talk this way in normal life and has a very pleasant voice. I felt like I was listening to a much younger book maybe a child’s book. If you listen closely at times her normal voice comes through which is pleasant. My feelings are that she should use it when she is not in character. I have listen to other samples of her earlier work and they work for me, she doesn’t have the exaggeration as she does in this one. She gives a very emotional listen from every part of the story that it gets mixed up with the emotions of the characters. Yes it is a clean wholesome story but it is an adult story that should be read like an adult. I really hate to say this but I had a really hard time getting through this audio. Her male character voices are close to others, her female’s one are nice. There is no background noise at all nor are there any volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. It is a very clean and clear audio. Ms. Riley I am so sorry to have to give this review on your performance but it just didn’t work for me nor did it pull me in and want me to listen. I fell so bad and am so sorry.

The story it’s self is clean and wholesome with values that teach children how to act, what is important and the author does a well written part on bullying. Gilbert’s daughter’s story will break your heart. All she wants is to be treated like everyone else but an adult turned other children against her. Melinda Does her best to draw the little girl in and works on changing how others treat her. The romance between Gilbert and Melinda is wishy washy with lots of misunderstandings. Melinda is a very push woman. If my children had a teacher like her I think I would have to tell her where she could get off. She is a strong woman who stands up for what she believes in. The plot is very good but at times I thought Melinda was a little too much and should step back and be a teacher which she is very good at. She does some bullying of her own. Gilbert is a gentleman but does call her out a time or two when she oversteps herself. I do feel that too much detail was given and more time should have been spent on the romance between them. I thought some things were left out where there was too much of other things.
All in all this was a nice clean wholesome romance with meaning and values.
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Margo
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading, Very Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
I started this Family Saga not knowing the author or her writing style, so once I started I was hooked from book 1 right through the entire series. Well written in a way that keeps your attention and wanting more. Great Family Saga, thank you Linda Weaver Clarke
One person found this helpful
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Cindy Nipper
5.0 out of 5 stars Romance Historical Sweet
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023
I listened to this book before, but, for some reason, I hadn't marked it as read. So as I listened to it again, I kept thinking maybe I just didn't finish it for some reason, but I did finish it. I just can't comprehend why I never marked it as read and left a review.

Anyway, I enjoyed the story, but wasn't particularly fond of the narration or the singing. I think the tone just hit me wrong.
I definitely preferred her male characters over the female voices!
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Leona Olson
5.0 out of 5 stars Melinda and the Wild West, A family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013
Melinda and the Wild West, A family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho by Linda Weaver Clarke

From Amazon.com:
"In 1896 Melinda Gamble a very elegant, very naive young woman from Boston decides to give up her life of monotonous comfort for the turbulent uncertainty of the still untamed Wild West. Driven by her intense desire to make a difference in the world, Melinda takes a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho, where she comes face-to-face with a frightening bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and an intense blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it is a ruggedly handsome and very mysterious stranger who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared love."

Leona's Review:
Melinda Gamble is moving out West from Boston to become a schoolteacher in Paris, Idaho. The year is 1896 and as she told her mother " Mama, it's 1896. Women can make choices about their own lives more than ever". (page 3) Melinda will live with her Aunt Martha and Uncle William, her father's sister.
Adventures begin right away as she encounters a band robbery by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. She meets the father of one of her school children when he finds her wading in the cool stream. Gilbert Roberts is a widower and the father of 8 year old Jenny. He is only interested in his daughter and his cattle ranch.
Being a schoolteacher is a learning experience for Melinda as well as living in the Wild West when she encounters a grizzly bear, a blizzard and a man who frustrates her. " "Are you still here, Miss Gamble?" Gilbert asked, as if wearied by her presence. "Yes. and I'm not leaving until we talk about this further:" Melinda was slightly out of breath as she tried to keep up with Gilbert's fast pace. "Miss Gamble, I'm done talking." "But I'm not. Melinda said with a firm and stubborn tone in her voice." (page 54)
I loved the descriptions of the area and the lake. Melinda taught the school children about why pencils are yellow, who declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, about the history of the area and about the Mormons and the Indians. The reader learns or is reconnected with the readings of Jules Verne and the book, Black Beauty.
I loved the stories of the skunk oil in school, the descriptions of the clothing and food, the hardships our first settlers endured and the children school outings when they drink water from the cliff with their tin cups.
This is a sweet and tender romance between two people from different walks of life, East meets West.
No violence of bad language.
Melinda and the Wild West is dedicated to: The Memory of Gilbert and Sarah Weaver (1835-1909) My great-grandparents: the first pioneers who settled Paris, Idaho.
God is present in many areas of Melinda and the Wild West. Melinda and Gilbert sing Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains'. This was composed by a Mormon pioneer from St. George, Utah. (page 113)
"Far, far away on Judea's plains.
Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on Earth, good-will to men;
Peace on Earth, goodwill to men! (page 114)
I received a signed complimentary copy of Melinda and the Wild West from the author. I give it a 5 star for the history, love story and the families that make the story.
You may find Linda Weaver Clarke at [...]
Leona Olson
[...]
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