1043 ratings | 21 reviews | avg rating:3.32

CK’s Year In Books

CK’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at CK’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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CK Van Dam’s Followers (17)

CK’s Bookshelves

to-read (55)
currently-reading (1)
read (1087)
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Nathan

3,373 books | 144 friends

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56 books | 35 friends

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50 books | 168 friends

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Liz Moss

80 books | 171 friends

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297 books | 8 friends

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2025 Reading Challenge

2025

READING

CHALLENGE

CK Van Dam has read 82 of 100 books.

82%

CK Van Dam

Goodreads Author

Born

in Sioux Falls, The United States

Website

https://www.ckvandam.com/

Genre

Historical Fiction, Romance

Member Since

May 2013

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Amazon best-selling author CK Van Dam is a daughter of the Dakota prairies who creates stories about the strong women who have built our nation and our world.

Van Dam’s first novel, Proving Her Claim, received two Spur Awards from Western Writers of America. Lone Tree Claim, the second in the On the Dakota Frontier series, was named a Distinguished Favorite in Western Fiction by Independent Press Awards. Medicine Creek Claim received First Place in Women’s Historical Fiction by Best Book Awards. Iron Horse Claim is the fourth in her series of historical novels.

When the Chokecherries Bloom, written for Middle Grade readers, is the story of Shining Water who first appears in Proving Her Claim.

Visit her website at www.ckvandam.com
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Combine Editions
CK Van Dam’s books

Average rating: 4.36 · 2,271 ratings · 108 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Proving Her Claim (On the Dakota Frontier, #1) 4.35 avg rating — 992 ratings — published 2022 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lone Tree Claim (On the Dakota Frontier, #2) 4.33 avg rating — 642 ratings — published 2023 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Medicine Creek Claim (On the Dakota Frontier, #3) 4.38 avg rating — 432 ratings — published 2024 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Iron Horse Claim: On the Dakota Frontier 4.58 avg rating — 154 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When the Chokecherries Bloom 4.20 avg rating — 51 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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CK Van Dam's Blog

In praise of mentors

At the recent SD Festival of Books event, I had an interesting conversation with fellow author and presenter Lawrence Diggs. Of course, all conversations with Diggs are interesting. We spoke about the importance of mentoring the next wave of professionals.

“Mentors provide encouragement and courage,” Diggs said.

It started me thinking about the mentors in my life. I’ve written about my roots in bro

Series by CK Van Dam

On the Dakota Frontier (3 books)
by

CK Van Dam (Goodreads Author)

4.35 avg rating — 2,066 ratings

CK is Currently Reading

CK Van Dam is currently reading

Alexander's Treasure (Sam Reilly #22)

by Christopher Cartwright (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: didn-t-finish-it, currently-reading

read in June 2022

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Jun 07, 2022 08:26AM

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CK Van Dam started reading Alexander's Treasure (Sam Reilly #22) by Christopher Cartwright (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 14, 2025 05:17AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Alexander's Treasure by Christopher Cartwright. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Alexander's Treasure by Christopher Cartwright <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam finished reading The Witching Hour: A stunning brand-new time travel historical fantasy, perfect for fans of forbidden romance full of suspense in 2025! by Deborah Carr	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 13, 2025 11:50AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Witching Hour by Deborah Carr. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Witching Hour by Deborah Carr <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam rated a book liked it After the West Was Won: Homesteaders and Town-Builders in Western South Dakota, 1900-1917 by Paula M. Nelson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 13, 2025 10:34AM · like
CK Van Dam is currently reading The Witching Hour: A stunning brand-new time travel historical fantasy, perfect for fans of forbidden romance full of suspense in 2025! by Deborah Carr	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 08, 2025 03:50PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Witching Hour by Deborah Carr. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Witching Hour by Deborah Carr <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam rated a book liked it Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 08, 2025 04:44AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Circle of Days by Ken Follett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Circle of Days by Ken Follett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam rated a book liked it Carrie Ingalls: A Pioneer’s Journey (Prairie Kin Series Book 2) by Dianna Aubin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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CK Van Dam started reading Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2025 05:50AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Circle of Days by Ken Follett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Circle of Days by Ken Follett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam entered a giveaway Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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CK Van Dam has read Isola by Allegra Goodman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2025 05:48AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Isola by Allegra Goodman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Isola by Allegra Goodman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
CK Van Dam rated a book it was ok Throwing Shade (Magic After Midlife #1) by Deborah Wilde (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2025 01:37PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">