Adversity (The Midnight Gang Book 1)

I found Ren Browne through social media (and a shared love for Heated Rivalry), and I’m so glad I did! I really love the way she develops her characters and how she tells the story through their eyes. I finished this book in just a couple of days and couldn’t wait to jump into the next one!

This was a great take on a western. Cora is the oldest daughter of a family who has been scammed into buying a useless plot of land in Arizona. The book opens with her burying her father after he’s been killed. When Cora’s mother makes plans to leave and go back to Boston Cora runs away. She eventually meets up with two outlaws, Aiden and Cypress. The three of them have a great dynamic and they both want to take care of Cora right away. I loved that they taught her how to shoot and ride a horse better. There is and ongoing plot of the three of them being wanted after Aiden kills some men. The book is mostly about their relationship with each other which I liked. Cypress and Aiden are good together and Cora’s addition just makes them complete. Things come to a head in the third act but fortunately the gang prevails. I look forward to the next book in the series and to see what adventures these three get up to again. No third act breakup 5/5 on the Spicy Scale MMF - Swords do cross Violence Western Romance

Do you love a good western? What about a loving romance between multiple people? Now what if they were combined? Let this be the book for you then! Ren perfectly created characters that both bring the western setting to life but also prove that an unconventional relationship can be full of love and yearning no matter what crosses their path, good and bad. I loved, loved seeing the evolution of Cora’s character from meek and more mild than her counterparts to feeling wild and free but finally at home in herself as she travels with Aiden and Cypress. Now for the boys, god these boys, I love them SO much. From the wit and charm of Cy to the rugged tenderness of Aiden, it’s hard not to see why Cora fell for them the way she did. Each character seems to evolve in their own way as the story progresses and Ren did an amazing job of building the world they made their way through. The book is perfect for fans of western romances, smooth talking gambler, stoic gunslingers and a little bird that’s gained her wings. The story is rich, the plot is quick and the book reads like a proper old western film. I can’t wait to see more of these characters in other books!

Thank you to Luna Literary for an ARC of this book. Adversity follows Cora, a woman on her own in the wild west after witnessing the death of her father and after running away from her mother and her younger sisters. She is truly down on her luck as she tries to make things work on her own. In a small town they are visiting, she meets Aiden and Cypress - two outlaws that are just passing through and after almost getting hurt, they take Cora with them. The three run into loads of trouble as Cora falls for both men and both men fall for her. I don't read a lot of westerns so I don't have much to compare it to but I loved how rugged things were. From the way they dressed to the way they travelled to the situations they ended up in, it perfectly encompassed the wild west and how things used to be out there. I liked Cora, she goes through a lot and it was nice to see her growing as a person, becoming more comfortable in her skin and able to handle more things. Aiden and Cypress had me grinning at my kindle, I love morally grey MMCs and they both delivered that so well. My main issue with this book is that I felt like I had missed something. In the POV chapters of Aiden and Cypress, they talk a lot about knowing Cora belongs with them and how they can't lose her so I was truly expecting there to be a big reveal involving a history with her but there wasn't one.

This is my first read in the world of Historical and Poly. I must say I loved te storyline and the development of the characters. I loved how each was unique and enjoyed learning a bit of what made them.. them! I will be reading Providence next!