I didn’t know that this was a series. Therefore, I found the story to be very confusing! Nevertheless, I am looking forward to reading the book because it seems very interesting! I recommend this for fans of Western novels!

I had to read other books of the series before I started this one. It is worth of attention, presenting not easy life of women and survival skills seeking better life for themselves and their family.

It felt like catching up with old friends when I started reading Outcast which is the 3rd book in a series. 3 independent, strong women give us a very realistic glimpse in what life was like in the pioneer days in the Dakota’s. Heartbreaking at times and awe inspiring how these brave ladies overcame challenges and made the best with the cards they were dealt. I sincerely hope Ms. Dahmen keeps writing because I want to keep visiting Flats Junction. Fantastic read but not a stand alone, trust me…do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of this series. You would not want to miss a word. Thank you to the author, netgalley & publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

In her novel Outcast 1883, master storyteller Sara Dahmen continues the story of Kate, the owner of the general store in Flats Junction, who is determined to succeed. I voluntarily read this complimentary copy of this well-written book about friendship, love, loyalty, deception but most of all acceptance of others. If you love historical fiction, you will love this third book in this series!

I didn’t realise this was a series of books, but luckily I’ve got the other books to read, I’ll be reading them in order and look forward to reading this in the series.

I received a free electronic ARC of this historical novel from Netgalley, author Sara Dahmen, and publisher BooksGoSocial, Promontory Press Inc. Another in the 'Flat's Junction' series, this is a special trip into the past. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Outcast of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Historical American fiction is my favorite genre, and this author does it best. I am pleased to recommend Sara Dahmen to friends and family. Her books are intricate and very detailed, pulling you into the past from the first page. And if you haven't watched the series '1883' on Paramount please do so. You will be blown away.

Marie Kotlarczyk is the coppersmith and tinsmith in her small town of Flats Town, in the Dakota Territory, one of only two women in the town who aren't 'just' housewives and mothers. Her husband, Thaddeus, is the blacksmith, and they have four children, 2 girls, and two boys. Their little town is isolated, and though situated on the train tracks, many scheduled train runs are canceled during winter, due to bad weather or train roadbed damage caused by faulty metal breaking in the cold, or crooks breaking them to rob the train. No one much believes the under-tempered iron story any longer. They are often able to keep starvation at bay by purchasing from their neighborhood outlaws at doubled prices, the same things they had ordered delivered by train.

With the winter of 1883 comes cholera. Many in the town are lost, Marie's father-in-law Walter and her youngest child, daughter Urszula are among the first to die, followed by many of the town's citizens, most of them elderly or children. It is of course too cold to bury the dead. The bodies will be stored in the old livery until spring. At the rate the cholera is spreading, that wouldn't be enough room for all the little coffins until the spring thaw.
Jane too is a woman in a man's job and a slave to the train schedule. She inherited the general store from her father several years ago. Daughter of a native woman and considered a half-breed, Jane is single, though hard-working and able-bodied, and a good store manager most of the year. Any profits she makes in the summer, however, seem to evaporate come fall. She is often forced to buy essentials - flour, sugar, molasses, tobacco, and beans - from the Local Posse, most likely also known locally as the crooks who robbed the trains.

And then we have Kate. At one time Jane and Kate were good friends. Then Kate fell for Doc Kinney, the only man in Flats Junction brave enough to court a half-breed, which destroyed any friendship the ladies had. There is still a touch of respect, however. Married to the only doctor in the area, Kate has taken on the job of the nurse in her husband's practice, and it's a move that might make him more popular. He is held responsible for the many cholera deaths in the winter, with no one taking responsibility for the fact that they put off calling for the doc until it was obviously too late to save them. Hopefully, he will be called in sooner when the Black Measles hit town.

Without these three strong, independent ladies, Flats Junction would have never made it into the 1880s. Everyone sees that, except for the men of the town.

This is the third book on the Flats Junction series. I've read Widow 1881 but hadn't read the first, Tinsmith 1865. I could easily follow along with Kate's story after reading Widow but think it would be more difficult to understand and follow if you haven't read anything prior.

Kate is half Lakota, distanced from her full blood mother and runs the local general store. She's trying to grow the town and is being intimidated by a local posse and a string of broken rails that stop the trains with her supplies.

Marie is the tinsmith, who's children are sick and she's pregnant again. Lots of family dynamics.

Jane is the widow from the previous story that has married Kate's one-time suitor, Dr. Kinney. She also cares for Kate's Lakota mother. She's interested in learning ways to help her new husband in his doctoring and in healing skills she's learning from the locals.

There are strong female characters in this story and lots of small town politics and ideals in a harsh, western setting. I enjoyed Widow 1881 more than I did this book - Kate's hard to like and relate with and makes some questionable decisions to further her agenda.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I think this is a good series and I enjoyed this story, the vivid historical background and the clever and strong characters.
I think it's better read the series in order as I'm sure I would love it more.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. My comments are given freely. I almost did not read this because it is third in a series, but I am glad that I did. I didn't feel like I was missing too much to enjoy it thoroughly, even though I didn't like the main character. Toward the end, Kate made some choices that I just couldn't get behind. Maybe I would have liked her more if I'd read the other books first?

All of the characters, especially the leading ladies, were developed well, and I am anxious to read the rest of the series. The writing is clear and detailed, making it easy for me to visualize the story. It was like I had a movie of the Old West in my head. All of the information seems accurate; the author did her research, for sure!

I would have liked to have known there was a glossary before I finished reading it, though.

I didn't realize this was a series of books, I found myself lost and somewhat unconnected to things that were mentioned or alluded. I found it hard to connect to some of the characters as a result of my coming in late to the game but really enjoyed the setting, the story line and was rooting for more of the characters than I would have expected to, considering I was a little lost. The pace and prose were well suited to the story line, it's a page turner because you want to know what's happening next and the relationships were really well crafted and propelled the story. I would read the previous books and future books in this series. Definitely enjoyed. Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

This novel was a DNF for me. I wanted to really enjoy this read however the character development fell flat for me. I did not connect with the characters and it was not the most enjoyable for me. I will try more of her works though!

Despite being the wife of Dr. Kennedy Jane is still finding it hard to make friends and feel comfortabel inFlatiron. She alienated her only friend by marrying the man she loved and then taking in her only Kin. Marie’s daughter Ursula is very sick with diphtheria and intern gets her brothers sick as well as it Marie doesn’t have enough to worry about at the same moment she goes to fix Kate‘s beloved kettle, that was brought all the way from England she finds out her father-in-law is dying. Kate also hasn’t been getting her shipments in on time and not have the supplies for People who still think of her as a half breed isn’t going to sit well in town… Even if it’s not her fault. Before it’s over there will be a day of reckoning where secrets will be divulged and Jane will have to rethink her life or the way she saw her life. I love these books and have read all three of them and hope there’s a fourth. I wouldn’t read this one without the others because I don’t think you will know what’s going on but it is so worth reading all three of them. I highly recommend these books. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This book was a miss for me. I was lost in regards to the characters and wouldn’t advise reading as a stand alone. I Have not read the other books in the series so I believe they provide necessary background and context.
I chose the book because I liked the synopsis and the time period. However, jumping into a series left me completely clueless and my reading suffered.