BOOK REVIEW
A Woman's Prerogative is a romantic adventure by Steven C. Brandt. It follows the relationship of wealthy Greta Sadler, 32, the only child of Reinhold Sadler, the president of the prestigious Sadler Corporation, and Alex Mackenzie, 34, a reputable geologist and professor at the University of Nevada-Reno. As Greta and Alex each set out to prove themselves professionally, their paths become increasingly intertwined, yet they are pulled in different directions. Set in Nevada, the story has historical roots to the 1840s-1860s gold and silver rushes.
As the couple faces family secrets, their own evolving ambitions, betrayals, blackmail, and the hunt for a lost gold mine, will their relationship be strengthened or pulled apart? A short prologue highlights the Sadler and Makenzie family histories with information that is pertinent as the story develops.
Despite Reinhold Sadler's strong misgivings about Alex's relationship with his daughter, he reluctantly agrees to sell Alex 20 acres he desires for prospecting even though he is unwilling to walk away from Greta as part of the deal proposed by Reinold.
Six months earlier Alex’s younger brother, Quid—whose life has been troubled since he left the Navy—moved to Reno. At a High Sierra Jamboree, he introduces Alex to Frank Adams, an experienced gold seeker, who convinces Alex to help him finally locate the Lost Pants Mine. Since the three men are limited financially, Alex comes up with a creative way to finance the property deal with Reinhold. Thus, begins the trio’s gold mining adventure.
Meanwhile, as Greta adjusts to her potential, heir-apparent role as the first female president of the corporation, she is initially surprised by revelations of the company's impending bankruptcy, a lack of support from family shareholders, and Nevada's "good ol' boy" network that undervalues women. An earthquake, paternity suit, kidnapping, and family mutiny heightens the suspense and will keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Brandt's portrayal of the gold mining adventure was particularly engaging. As one who is not usually drawn to the typical hunting for treasure sagas, I was pleasantly surprised by how captivating this portion of the story was. I found Alex and the two supporting men, Quid and Frank, to be well-developed characters. As I read, I could easily conjure images of Alex as a handsome academic, and romantic; Frank, the wise old prospector with a big heart; and Quid, the immature younger brother. However, try as I might, I was less able to connect with Greta. While I appreciated Brandt's focus on portraying her as a knowledgeable, assertive businesswoman with political ambitions, I felt she lacked depth and warmth. Despite their romantic involvement, her interactions with Alex often came across as though he was one of her employees. Additionally, in her business dealings, I often felt I was being told rather than shown the story.
Despite the weaker characterization of Greta, I appreciated the book's pace and realistic conclusion, which was satisfying but also hinted at the possibility of a sequel. Additionally, the book appears to be professionally edited, as I only noted a few errors. In consideration of the related research and gold mining adventure, I'm pleased to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to readers who enjoy romantic adventures with historical roots. It will also appeal to those who would like an exciting taste of gold prospecting mixed in with the art of turning around an ailing company.
Review by Cecilia L., a professional reviewer for the OnlineBookClub of 1million members. Nov 2018
