ONCE A REBEL

Author: Angela Ashton ISBN: 9781897445372 1/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: CHAMPAGNE BOOKS
Time Period: Victorian

Raped at 14, Galen Stewart awakens from a state of shock to find her foster father’s blood on her hands. Determined to stay two steps ahead of the man’s politician brother who’d rather see her dead than reveal his darkest secret, she’s forced to use the only gift Fate has seen fit to bestow upon her. Hiding beneath an array of identities, Galen works the oldest profession in the book. Instead of committing the carnal act, she concocts a tonic that sends her ‘Johns’ into a slumberous stupor while she plunders their pockets. The perfect plan until two of her patrons die of overdoses. To make matters worse, someone has gone to a lot of trouble to frame her for murders she didn’t commit. Sheriff turned bounty-hunter Joshua Hassett takes matters into his own hands. Besides the fact that he's been hired by the farmer’s ambitious brother, Joshua has his own reasons for wanting to find the elusive waif. When a surprising clue sends him on the hunt for a raven-haired harlot, Joshua’s world is turned upside down by an auburn-haired angel working one of the saloons. When she’s accused of murder, he sets out to prove her innocence and soon finds himself entangled in her web of lies. Once Joshua discovers the truth, will he be able to choose between his heart and his oath to uphold the law?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

ONCE A REBEL by Angela Ashton is the first book in the Orphan Train Series. The orphan train movement in the 1800s sent orphaned children west, toward a new life. While the intention was for these children to get a chance at a better life, there were many children who were taken as free labor and forced to do things no child should ever do.

Galen Stewart was one of the children who rode the orphan train, and by the time she’s fifteen she’s already worked in a saloon. Childhood has been stolen from her, life is hard and the decisions she makes bring the man who’s trailing her nearly to tears. Galen has been accused of things she hasn’t done, and the only one who can possibly help her has been hired to bring her to justice.

Angela Ashton weaves a heart-wrenching tale. Galen and Josh are destined to fight one obstacle after another and for them, it seems, there is no peace unless they find a way to clear Galen of the accusations plaguing her. There are many pages in this story that brought me to tears, and although I’m not particularly fond of tears I did think it was to the author’s credit that her words had such a profound effect. While ONCE A REBEL isn’t the easiest book to read because it does tear at the heart, it is certainly a well-written and intriguing tale. The unfortunate fact is that history isn’t always pleasant. Fortunately, there are authors like Ms. Ashton who manage to separate the ugly from the loving and showcase the latter.

Kay James