Tenderfoot

by Mary E. Trimble

CORRIE STEPHENS is eager to learn about ranch life, but reluctant to become involved; it s just not worth the heartache. Rancher J McClure, on the other hand, has been alone too long. Tenderfoot draws the reader into the story s strong emotions based on family, love, and the first-hand adventure of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. A romantic suspense story, Tenderfoot takes place on a working cattle ranch in 1980, the year the world remembers for the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Although the story is fiction, incidents relating to the mountain are true and accurately portrayed.

291 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[J.V.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It is a tender love story but it was the vibrant details about ranching that I truly enjoyed. I felt like I knew what it was like to live on a ranch and how much a rancher loves his land. I highly recommend this book.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenderfoot is a romantic story full of suspense about writer, Corrie Stephens and her quest to find out all she can about ranching. In the midst of her quest to start life anew, she sells her home and ventures off to start a new life in Washington, settling into a small cottage on the land of rancher, J McClure. Corrie spends her time writing, ranching and meeting new people. She is living her life to the fullest since her divorce and is trying her best to stay out of J’s way. Against love after her husband cheated on her, she refuses to fall for J McClure. Corrie interacts with other townspeople trying to distract her emotions.

This story is a love story that takes place in 1980 when Mount St. Helens erupted. Corrie and her new friends, venture to camp out near the volcano thinking that an eruption won’t affect them. Despite the wishes of the authorities, scientists and especially J, they settle down a few days before the volcano erupted. Despite their efforts to not fall in love, J and Corrie’s feelings erupt as the volcano does.

The book was quite vivid allowing the reader to experience a range of emotions—anxiety, fear, pain, joy and excitement—as Corrie travelled throughout her new life. I must admit I was angry that Corrie would go up to the mountain and spend the night with two men that she didn’t know. But I became more angered that she would spend the weekend with them on this same mountain when the volcano was getting ready to erupt.

I wanted to believe she was smarter than that but found out differently. In order to spite J and love, she put her life at risk. I enjoy books the most that I can get lost in and that is exactly what happen with this book. I felt the pain from the ash and had clear images of the ash as it fell.

I couldn’t put this book down finishing it in one day. I’m not into romance novels but with the story based around the eruption of Mount St. Helens, I almost forgot it was truly a love story. Ms. Trimble is a great storyteller which is easily reflected in her ability to tie a non-fiction event so closely together with fiction. Well done and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get lost in a love story filled with mystery and excitement… I promise you won’t be able to put it down!

[Arletta Dawdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Trimble knows disaster and loss personally and, in TENDERFOOT, she conveys her understanding and knowledge of how events affect nature, the geography of the land and the souls of men and women. In her heroine, Corrie Stephens, Trimble has drawn a character of depth and determination. After the wreckage of her marriage, Corrie ventures into Washington ranching country to study and practice the lifestyle . With one book successfully published, she is looking for material for another.

When her aimless driving brings her into bumper to cow-butt contact with the ranching McClures, she finds her opportunity. A new life unfolds in stages as she comes up against J, the lonely widower whose cabin she rents, his truculent daughter, upright young nephew and tough out-spoken ranch hand. Families, neighbors, horses and cows, weather and suitors mark her growth in the shadows of Mount St. Helens. She takes every opportunity to meld into the life and does it successfully. Riding, calving, round-up, branding and sorting mark her growing skills. A school lecture and a rescue win over the daughter.

Parallel to these changes, Corrie makes friends with a local columnist and photographer and joins them in trips to the mountains to investigate changes to the volcano. Her college age daughter visits and tries to plead for daddy’s return; the miscreant appears, unexpected and unwanted and is soon sent on his way. Meanwhile, Corrie and J do the dance of reluctant, anxious would-be lovers.

The story flows smoothly, even as lava-flow threatens the land. Perhaps Trimble’s strongest, finest writing is to be found in the final chapters where adventure leads to tragedy and the impact of St. Helens rains down life-changes for many. This book is a fast read, compelled by strong characters, a delightful love story and the urgent threat hovering over all.

[Leslee Breene · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her debut inspirational romantic suspense, Mary E. Trimble does an admirable job of creating real life characters, vivid setting, and mounting tension as the Mount St. Helens volcano threatens to erupt.
Her characters wove their way into my heart. Through the story's characters, I was drawn into the dynamic details of a cattle roundup and devastating results of St. Helens eruption.

The story pulled me in right up to the explosive then tender ending.

[Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenderfoot, written by Mary E. Trimble, is a gripping story about the eventual explosion of Mount St. Helens and a young lady, Corrie Stephens' search for a new start in life. This captivating read will keep you turning pages, drawing you into the romantic story of Corrie and J McClure. The actual facts of Mount St. Helens' eruption give believably to the story with plenty of suspense to hold the reader's attention.

[Dawn Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I barely ever get to sit down and read a book, I am usually writing them, opening Tenderfoot up and finding myself engrossed was fun.
What a wonderful book, I read it in six hours.
I have a feeling that any Mary E. Trimble books that I pick up are going to grab me and hold me until the end just like this one did.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched, this book covers both Washington ranching and the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980. The suspense is awesome, especially if you know even a little about what happened. I enjoyed the many ranching and cattle facts and felt like I was there right along with Corrie Stephans learning about it. The characters are well-drawn, and the writing smooth. It will take me a while to settle down from the climax, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantic suspense novel taking place on a working cattle ranch in 1980, Washington state, during the time of the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens.
You know whats coming, but not when. A great read that brings history to life. 5 stars.

[Carol Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Tenderfoot Corrie Stephens, a writer researching rural life in 1980 happens to wind up—because of a dismal sense of direction --on a cattle ranch northeast of Mount St. Helens. As luck would have it, she arrives shortly before the explosive, deadly volcanic eruption. Her research brings her into contact with J, a hunky widower who owns the cabin she’s renting. While you might think two good looking, single main characters might get together right away; not so fast! The story expands on those real-life impediments to mid-life romance: children and emotional baggage.

We get to know the characters while learning about life on a cattle ranch. But that's not all! While Corrie and J's emotions are heating up, Mount St. Helens is simmering too. A newspaper writer and a photographer's coverage of the awakening mountain is an important subplot. Corrie is on the mountain with her friends when the massive eruption occurs. The story gives you a visceral feeling of what it must have been like to barely escape alive from the eruption.
The author's earlier books have been coming-of-age novels set in eastern Washington. Tenderfoot features a mid-life divorcee as the main character. Even though Corrie has been married for years and has a grown daughter, she experiences falling in love again like a school girl! Mary E. Trimble is unmatched when it comes to portraying the emotional journey of a pure-hearted female (of any age) falling in love.

Tenderfoot is a good story. It's full of well-researched fascinating facts about ranching and the eruption of Mount St. Helens. It's a book anyone can enjoy since the language and themes are as wholesome as a John Wayne movie.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought it from Mary so I have a personally autographed copy. The story pulled me in and kept me engaged and even anticipating. Enjoyed the local context. Brought back memories.