What readers think of Girl Waits with Gun, plus links to write your own review.

This book started with such promise. Amy Stewart is a very good writer. Her descriptions are wonderful and her characters are strong. It wasn't until the end that I realized that the story was based on real people, and I think that may be the problem. I could easily see 50-100 pages being edited out of this book and it being a much stronger work. It felt like the same thing kept happening over and over and it became tiresome. I'm all for historical accuracy, but if you're already taking artistic license by mixing fictional characters and real people (as she admits she did), than perhaps you can streamline the facts to make for a story that is more interesting to read.

What a fun read! Girl Waits with Gun is the fictionalized story of one of the first women deputies in the country. Constance is imposing, strong-willed, and ready to take on obstacles that lesser women OR men would never tackle. But she must defend her family and home from aggressive and brutal men, and she will NOT back down. Based on newspaper accounts and family interviews, Amy Stewart replays history and creates a gripping story along the way. Please tell me this is the first of many in the Constance Kopp series!

A good piece of historical frolic. I have grown very fond of fiction based on fact. This sweet book takes the reader back to simpler times, but times where women were kept from the unseemly sides of life and often held in seclusion for what was labeled their own protection. But these three heroines, Constance, Norma and Fluerette were thrust into a snare of a brutal silk factory owner by sheer chance. Ranging from Constance's determination to set out justice for herself and her sisters, free from harassment, to Fleurette's pubescent fantasies of daggers and dancers and dangers and nicely balanced by Norma's desire to be left alone to pursue her farm and pigeons, Ms Stewart has given us a wonderful story of women who can protect themselves, mostly, but ultimately. This was a refreshing, enjoyable peek into what was a woman's world at the turn of the century. Her descriptions brought to life the streets of chaos and turmoil from new age of industry and all its consequences. Her character development allowed the reader to feel the characters and hide with them as their assailants lobbed bricks through the windows and one could almost taste the acrid air within the factories. I will miss these three ladies and wish I could have watched as Constance grew into her new and for that period of time, exciting career as one of our first female deputy sheriffs!

I think the rating of the book will largely depend upon the expectations of the reader, some may be disappointed with the lack of the usual sex and violence many seek today. But if what you are looking for is a book with heart and sincerity along with reality and fact and a sense of warmth and resolve... I recommend it with a fond smile.

3.5 stars...looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

A very disappointing read. I do believe, or would like to believe that we are waaaaay beyond the 'feisty female' protagonist. Main character (see, I have already forgotten her name) is so deeply stereotypical in too many ways. The writing was redundant and plodding in too many places. Life is far too brief (and this book far too long) to read this kind of writing.