I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Lucky Red, Bridget has lived with her father on their struggling farm for years, taking care of him through his increasing alcoholism. When he gets them an opportunity in Kansas, though, she finds herself facing new challenges. Then, a snakebite leaves her an orphan, so she struggles to Dodge City on her own. There, she has no choice but to find work in a brothel, which is run by women. To Bridget’s surprise, she settles into her new life with relative ease. But when a woman gunslinger, Spartan Lee, arrives in town, Bridget falls head over heels—though loving someone like that always comes with risks. Soon, the brothel is in danger, and Bridget has to evolve again to defend her new home and friends.

I read the occasional western, but I have yet to find one to blow me away. However, this sounded like Outlawed, which I read a while back and enjoyed, so I was looking forward to this one.

I liked Bridget okay, generally. She’s a little naive at the beginning, though is always aware of how hard life can be. I liked her pluckiness, and the way she’s able to adapt to even the most difficult situations.

I also really liked Constance, a friend in the brothel, and even enjoyed the scenes with grumpy Lila and distant Kate, the women who run the place. The whole cast in the brothel are great, and it’s interesting to see how they have become an odd family. This book doesn’t shy away from the fact that their profession, especially at the time this story takes place, carries risk and a stigma, but it also humanizes these women and allows them to be complex and sympathetic.

As for Bridget’s love interest, Spartan, I was less impressed. I feel like there wasn’t enough development of who she was and what she wants for me to be fond of her, or to feel like their relationship was something I could root for. She’s certainly an interesting character in concept (a woman gunfighter! Yes!) but I wanted more actually in the book. While Bridget may have known her somewhat, I didn’t feel like I did.

As for the plot, there was a lot of time dedicated to Bridget’s life in Dodge City before Spartan even arrived, which I wasn’t expecting. So much time is spent with her regular customer Jim, and it ultimately felt like it didn’t go anywhere. Then, there’s a significant plot twist—which was super well done, by the way—that changes everything. I really wanted there to be more time spent exploring the fallout of that, but instead it felt pretty rushed. It was like we just jumped to the final act, and I wanted it to be drawn out more. I think the final confrontation would have held more weight that way, but perhaps that’s just me.

In the end, Lucky Red was good, but not great. I liked several of the characters, and the setting feels vivid and lived-in. I can really picture Dodge City through Bridget’s eyes. However, the romance was lackluster for me, as was the plot after the major twist. The pacing didn’t really work, in my opinion, which is a shame. Still, slightly let down though I was, I found a decent amount to enjoy here. So if you’re looking for a queer western to read, this might be a book for you.

Lucky Red will be published on June 20th, 2023!