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Old West Collection
Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance
A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY: OLD WEST COLLECTION: Readers will love this collection of six historical western novellas, all with one thing in common: Romance.
In BREAK A LEG, a charming story by two-time Rita Award winner Carla Kelly, hospital steward Colm Callahan is ready to move away from army life at Fort Laramie. His only regret is leaving behind exotic Ozzie Washington, easily the prettiest woman on the post. As a maid to the lieutenant colonel's wife, Ozzie is no wilting flower when it comes to hard work. When the post surgeon leaves for an extended week, Colm must handle several medical emergencies on his own. He pleads for Ozzie's help at the hospital. While they spend long days and nights working together, Colm, a shy man, realizes he can't hide the truth of his feelings for Ozzie. He needs a little help, though. Enter from stage left, Lysander Locke, Shakespeare tragedian on his way to Deadwood.
THE SOLDIER'S HEART, an enchanting novella by Sarah M. Eden, follows Gregory Reeves has fallen in love with a woman he's never met. Her brother's dying wish is that Gregory checks on his family, and after the war, Gregory is only too happy to meet the woman he's been dreaming about. Helene mistakes him for a hired hand and sets him to work immediately. As time passes, Gregory finds it more and more difficult to reveal his true connection to her family, fearing that a woman who loathes liars will turn her disapproval on him.
HIDDEN SPRING is an enthralling novella by Liz Adair, in which Susannah Brown is just getting her life back together after becoming a widow. She still misses Wesley with a fierce longing, but when she meets his half-brother, Douglas, she learns her heart is not completely dormant. Over the next several weeks, Douglas helps Susannah with repairs on her small ranch in exchange for supper. The exchange becomes more and more meaningful as Susannah realizes that Douglas might be the one to finally heal her heart.
THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR, by Heather B. Moore, is a sweet romance between an unlikely pair. Lydia Stone has a checklist for men who qualify as the eligible bachelors in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado. Her new boss, Mr. Erik Dawson, is about to be struck off the list when she sees him coming out of the town brothel. Lydia doesn't know that Erik Dawson's sister has been living the brothel lifestyle for years, and he's set on redeeming her soul. When Lydia discovers Erik's secrets, she learns that life is not as black and white as she thinks.
In Annette Lyon's delightful story, THE SWEETEST TASTE, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in the tiny town of Shelley, Idaho. She'll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that she'd have to leave Joseph behind, the young man who makes her heart flutter. But she's convinced that moving away is for the best; her dreams and Joseph's dreams are too dissimilar. Then Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles and must face the truth that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.
In the captivating novella, FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward, Faith Bannister is forced to travel west to earn a living as a school mistress in Arizona Territory. Faith soon learns that living the frontier lifestyle of a single woman has many harsh challenges. But when she meets Slim McHenry, she discovers that life doesn't have to be so lonely. Unfortunately the dangerous Rance Hunter stands between her and Slim, and she must act with courage before everything is lost.
A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY: OLD WEST COLLECTION: Readers will love this collection of six historical western novellas, all with one thing in common: Romance.
In BREAK A LEG, a charming story by two-time Rita Award winner Carla Kelly, hospital steward Colm Callahan is ready to move away from army life at Fort Laramie. His only regret is leaving behind exotic Ozzie Washington, easily the prettiest woman on the post. As a maid to the lieutenant colonel's wife, Ozzie is no wilting flower when it comes to hard work. When the post surgeon leaves for an extended week, Colm must handle several medical emergencies on his own. He pleads for Ozzie's help at the hospital. While they spend long days and nights working together, Colm, a shy man, realizes he can't hide the truth of his feelings for Ozzie. He needs a little help, though. Enter from stage left, Lysander Locke, Shakespeare tragedian on his way to Deadwood.
THE SOLDIER'S HEART, an enchanting novella by Sarah M. Eden, follows Gregory Reeves has fallen in love with a woman he's never met. Her brother's dying wish is that Gregory checks on his family, and after the war, Gregory is only too happy to meet the woman he's been dreaming about. Helene mistakes him for a hired hand and sets him to work immediately. As time passes, Gregory finds it more and more difficult to reveal his true connection to her family, fearing that a woman who loathes liars will turn her disapproval on him.
HIDDEN SPRING is an enthralling novella by Liz Adair, in which Susannah Brown is just getting her life back together after becoming a widow. She still misses Wesley with a fierce longing, but when she meets his half-brother, Douglas, she learns her heart is not completely dormant. Over the next several weeks, Douglas helps Susannah with repairs on her small ranch in exchange for supper. The exchange becomes more and more meaningful as Susannah realizes that Douglas might be the one to finally heal her heart.
THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR, by Heather B. Moore, is a sweet romance between an unlikely pair. Lydia Stone has a checklist for men who qualify as the eligible bachelors in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado. Her new boss, Mr. Erik Dawson, is about to be struck off the list when she sees him coming out of the town brothel. Lydia doesn't know that Erik Dawson's sister has been living the brothel lifestyle for years, and he's set on redeeming her soul. When Lydia discovers Erik's secrets, she learns that life is not as black and white as she thinks.
In Annette Lyon's delightful story, THE SWEETEST TASTE, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in the tiny town of Shelley, Idaho. She'll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that she'd have to leave Joseph behind, the young man who makes her heart flutter. But she's convinced that moving away is for the best; her dreams and Joseph's dreams are too dissimilar. Then Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles and must face the truth that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.
In the captivating novella, FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward, Faith Bannister is forced to travel west to earn a living as a school mistress in Arizona Territory. Faith soon learns that living the frontier lifestyle of a single woman has many harsh challenges. But when she meets Slim McHenry, she discovers that life doesn't have to be so lonely. Unfortunately the dangerous Rance Hunter stands between her and Slim, and she must act with courage before everything is lost.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
About the author
Carla Kelly
141 books812 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 19, 2013
For those who know me you know how much I love these collections. I buy them the second they are released and usually read them that same day (if I can). I hate to say it, but I was disappointed in this one. There were a couple stories that I liked, but the others just didn't click with me. I don't really want to break down each story, I'm sure this is just a case of "it's not you, it's me."
Content
Romance: Pretty clean
Language: Mild, if any
Violence: Mild, if any
Content
Romance: Pretty clean
Language: Mild, if any
Violence: Mild, if any
May 3, 2014
LOVED all of these novellas. Each one was different yet charming in their own way. I read a lot of westerns as a teen, and now this makes me want to go back to reading them again.
Read
April 5, 2022(4/5/22) Currently FREE, and the audiobook can be added on for $1.99
December 19, 2013
I enjoyed these six stories, although I felt a little cheated on a couple of them. I wanted more! I'm still amazed at the way a theme can take different authors in such different directions. I loved the stories about Fort Laramie and war--a soldier being mistaken for hired help. So romantic! Then there's the story of a woman so in love with her dead husband, she doesn't think she'll ever love again, yet she may be in for a surprise. The story that struck me the most and stayed with me was The Silver Mine Bachelor--the story of a woman in a mining town with a list of men who could possibly be her new love. I loved it! I used to have a list of qualities, but I can see how a list of men with those qualities might come in handy in a town full of wild miners. It had me smiling. Of course, I loved the story about the girl who couldn't wait to leave the small town she grew up in to experience the real world in a big city. Sometimes what you really want is right under your nose. The last story was full of adventure and danger...as well as romance. All of these are cute Western romances!
Content: mild swearing in the 4th and 6th stories. Clean!
Content: mild swearing in the 4th and 6th stories. Clean!
Want to Read
February 11, 2014So happy the incomparable Carla Kelly will be contributing a story! A stellar historical romance novelist an a personal favorite of mine.
Now, if we could only get Carla Kelly AND Donna Hatch in the same anthology, I'd be in literary heaven!
Now, if we could only get Carla Kelly AND Donna Hatch in the same anthology, I'd be in literary heaven!
January 25, 2018
I enjoyed the Regency Collection so when the Old West Collection became available in audio, I had to listen to those novellas. Like many anthologies can be, this was something of a mixed bag. I tried to say a little something of my impressions about each story.
Break A Leg by Carla Kelly
4 stars
I can always count on this author for writing a non-typical historical whether its Regency England, the high seas, or the Old West. In this case, her Irish hero is a non-commissioned medical officer and he's in love with a competent, calm bi-racial family maid for a heroine on a frontier outpost in the waning days of the Wild West. I thought this was a sweet story though a little slower in the beginning while building the back story (which was a necessary tough) since this pair have sad pasts and it has a baring on the present which is more the culmination of their story rather than a beginning. Loved it!
The Soldier's Heart by Sarah M. Eden
4 stars
Gregory has a crush on his deceased best friend's sister based entirely on the woman he meets and learns to love through her letters to her brother. He is all fumbling around her when he meets her, but she is rather taken with him as is the rest of the family on the farm. He leads with a lie of omission that he is fearful of resolving because he's afraid of how she'll react to the truth.
It was sweet with the orphan kids and the slow building romance. it was somewhat rushed at the end.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair
3 stars
The heroine, Susanna, is a spitfire with a haughty attitude trying to get past losing her husband and learning to live independently. I never quite warmed up to her rudeness in the beginning that seemed to just come out of left field. Douglas is a little rough, but he's kind and didn't deserve her attitude which is reserved solely for him. I did like seeing their hesitant courtship and the work around the ranch.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore
2 stars
Prim and Proper Lydia has moved to Leadville on a husband hunt and has taken up the job of mine owner's secretary. Her boss intrigues her, but his connection to a brothel has her hesitating. The idea of a husband hunt is cute, but I just couldn't get into Lydia and her stuck up attitude toward other people from the first moment she sits in her church pew and scratches guys off her list for things like dirt under his finger nails or a bad suit coat. Hello, these are miners and this isn't NYC. I would have been fine if she was nervous or unsure being near prostitutes since she's sheltered, but she comes across as sanctimonious and that I couldn't like. The parson's attitudes in this one didn't set well with me, either, refusing to go at the request of a man to try to speak to a sickly woman because she's a prostitute. Loved the hero, Eric Dawson, and his tender care for his sick sister. The mining world of Leadville was well drawn. But overall, it was not for me.
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon
4 Stars
A farm girl dreaming of big city lights gets her opportunity even if it means leaving the young man behind who loves, but learns quickly that the city isn't all she imagined. Suddenly the comparisons are going the other way and she has to rethink her choice. I thought this was sweet and heartwarming best friends to lovers with lovely nods to the time period for the country and the city.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha A. Ward
4 stars
Oh how nice, Faith and Slim's romance comes with a mystery for them to figure out- why is Slim's boss getting sick and who's stealing the man's cattle. Faith is a sweet gentle soul and Slim gets through one dance at the social before realizing she's one special lady and he wants to get to know her better. Cute characters and a bit of humor to this heartwarming tale.
I experienced the Old West Collection on audio. Siiri Scott was a first time narrator for me. I was very distracted by her narrative style. She heavily enunciates each syllable and her voicings of men or children and some women sounded a little off. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the haughty, snippiness I sensed in some of the stories would not have come through as such if I had read these. She did have solid female voices like for Ozzy in the first story or Faith in the last. I thought she had a good sense of timing.
All in all, this was another engaging collection of sweet historical romance stories with a good variety of western settings and characters.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to these in exchange for an honest review.
Break A Leg by Carla Kelly
4 stars
I can always count on this author for writing a non-typical historical whether its Regency England, the high seas, or the Old West. In this case, her Irish hero is a non-commissioned medical officer and he's in love with a competent, calm bi-racial family maid for a heroine on a frontier outpost in the waning days of the Wild West. I thought this was a sweet story though a little slower in the beginning while building the back story (which was a necessary tough) since this pair have sad pasts and it has a baring on the present which is more the culmination of their story rather than a beginning. Loved it!
The Soldier's Heart by Sarah M. Eden
4 stars
Gregory has a crush on his deceased best friend's sister based entirely on the woman he meets and learns to love through her letters to her brother. He is all fumbling around her when he meets her, but she is rather taken with him as is the rest of the family on the farm. He leads with a lie of omission that he is fearful of resolving because he's afraid of how she'll react to the truth.
It was sweet with the orphan kids and the slow building romance. it was somewhat rushed at the end.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair
3 stars
The heroine, Susanna, is a spitfire with a haughty attitude trying to get past losing her husband and learning to live independently. I never quite warmed up to her rudeness in the beginning that seemed to just come out of left field. Douglas is a little rough, but he's kind and didn't deserve her attitude which is reserved solely for him. I did like seeing their hesitant courtship and the work around the ranch.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore
2 stars
Prim and Proper Lydia has moved to Leadville on a husband hunt and has taken up the job of mine owner's secretary. Her boss intrigues her, but his connection to a brothel has her hesitating. The idea of a husband hunt is cute, but I just couldn't get into Lydia and her stuck up attitude toward other people from the first moment she sits in her church pew and scratches guys off her list for things like dirt under his finger nails or a bad suit coat. Hello, these are miners and this isn't NYC. I would have been fine if she was nervous or unsure being near prostitutes since she's sheltered, but she comes across as sanctimonious and that I couldn't like. The parson's attitudes in this one didn't set well with me, either, refusing to go at the request of a man to try to speak to a sickly woman because she's a prostitute. Loved the hero, Eric Dawson, and his tender care for his sick sister. The mining world of Leadville was well drawn. But overall, it was not for me.
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon
4 Stars
A farm girl dreaming of big city lights gets her opportunity even if it means leaving the young man behind who loves, but learns quickly that the city isn't all she imagined. Suddenly the comparisons are going the other way and she has to rethink her choice. I thought this was sweet and heartwarming best friends to lovers with lovely nods to the time period for the country and the city.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha A. Ward
4 stars
Oh how nice, Faith and Slim's romance comes with a mystery for them to figure out- why is Slim's boss getting sick and who's stealing the man's cattle. Faith is a sweet gentle soul and Slim gets through one dance at the social before realizing she's one special lady and he wants to get to know her better. Cute characters and a bit of humor to this heartwarming tale.
I experienced the Old West Collection on audio. Siiri Scott was a first time narrator for me. I was very distracted by her narrative style. She heavily enunciates each syllable and her voicings of men or children and some women sounded a little off. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the haughty, snippiness I sensed in some of the stories would not have come through as such if I had read these. She did have solid female voices like for Ozzy in the first story or Faith in the last. I thought she had a good sense of timing.
All in all, this was another engaging collection of sweet historical romance stories with a good variety of western settings and characters.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to these in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2014
How lucky can I get? Six of my favorite authors have written romances set in the Old West, all bound together in one book. If I have to choose which author is my favorite—I can’t! Each short storyteller has her own wonderfully unique voice, making the stories all the more enjoyable. But I can tell you that Carla Kelly, Sarah M. Eden, Liz Adair, Heather B. Moore, Annette Lyon, and Marsha Ward have mad story-crafting skills. Each novella captured my attention from the very first page and didn’t release it before the end. I highly recommend this book for those with a few minutes to read a single novella, or who can read the whole book in one sitting. You won’t be disappointed. I wasn't.
June 3, 2014
I was a little disappointed in this anthology. The stories were pretty cute.... I definitely enjoyed some more than others. A few were a bit choppy and rushed...but I enjoyed them all for the most part.
Not stories I would read over and over.
Super Clean Romance except one random mention of a woman's breast which was so weird and surprising because these book are usually squeaky clean. It was so odd. A few swear words in the last story.
Not stories I would read over and over.
Super Clean Romance except one random mention of a woman's breast which was so weird and surprising because these book are usually squeaky clean. It was so odd. A few swear words in the last story.
July 24, 2017
I should read more westerns when I get tired of HR. They're not as good but it's refreshing for a change ;)
May 9, 2014
This is a charming collection of romantic stories set in the Old West. I am a big fan of several of these authors' other works and they did not disappoint. I think the thing I liked the most was how different each story was---the style of each author came through, and even with the similar themes, they were all very individual.
I loved the romance and how each hero had issues to work out. For example, in Carla Kelly's story, the hospital steward, Colm Callahan, can't seem to admit he's in love with Ozzie Washington, the lieutenant colonel's maid. The inner dialogue for these two, as well as the colorful character of Lysander Locke made me laugh. Really well done. And then there are the romantic heroes like Douglas Cooper. So swoon-worthy. I could go on and on. Sarah Eden's hero, Gregory Reeves, has come to help the sister of his best friend killed in action, but finds himself caught in a lie that he can't seem to fix and you can't help but feel for the guy! Heather Moore's story and Annette Lyon's story were life lesson stories that really struck a chord with how well they were told and how realistic the characters seemed. Marsha Ward's story was particularly well done and made me want to go out and make sure I own and have read all the books she's written.
Each story had great heroes and extraordinary heroines. I love that time period and read a lot of historical fiction, so this was a sweet treat for me. Of course, I always wish they were longer, especially with my favorites, but I really enjoyed the stories in this collection.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
I loved the romance and how each hero had issues to work out. For example, in Carla Kelly's story, the hospital steward, Colm Callahan, can't seem to admit he's in love with Ozzie Washington, the lieutenant colonel's maid. The inner dialogue for these two, as well as the colorful character of Lysander Locke made me laugh. Really well done. And then there are the romantic heroes like Douglas Cooper. So swoon-worthy. I could go on and on. Sarah Eden's hero, Gregory Reeves, has come to help the sister of his best friend killed in action, but finds himself caught in a lie that he can't seem to fix and you can't help but feel for the guy! Heather Moore's story and Annette Lyon's story were life lesson stories that really struck a chord with how well they were told and how realistic the characters seemed. Marsha Ward's story was particularly well done and made me want to go out and make sure I own and have read all the books she's written.
Each story had great heroes and extraordinary heroines. I love that time period and read a lot of historical fiction, so this was a sweet treat for me. Of course, I always wish they were longer, especially with my favorites, but I really enjoyed the stories in this collection.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
July 22, 2017
Overall I enjoyed the novella's there were some that I liked more than others, but that's not unexpected...
BREAK A LEG by Carla Kelly: I know this is a novella, but I could not get into this book. I tried twice and not sure why but didn't want to finish...sorry.
THE SOLDIER'S HEART by Sarah M. Eden - 5 stars - Sarah Eden is just talented. All I gotta say.
HIDDEN SPRING by Liz Adair - 3 stars - was surprised by a couple of parts in this one, usually they are all pretty squeaky clean. One where it says a married couple makes love, which isn't a biggie, but then another part has an intimate scene recalled in it where he "cups her breast" etc. again, it's a married couple but didn't need to be in there at all.
THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR by Heather B. Moore - 3 stars - just ok for me. The whole novella is centered around a man and his sister works at a brothel, so you get a lot of that kind of talk with prostitutes and "nude" pictures inside and what men do on their time off, women wearing scantily clad clothing, etc.
THE SWEETEST TASTE by Annette Lyon - 5 stars - short but very sweet, tied for best in the series with THE SOLDIER'S HEART by Sarah M. Eden
FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward- 3 stars - This one didn't develop enough for me, I felt like it was a little too rushed and I didn't connect with the characters. What I enjoyed most is that the setting was in my state of Arizona! Moral Note: Some drinking, and innuendos, mild violence.
BREAK A LEG by Carla Kelly: I know this is a novella, but I could not get into this book. I tried twice and not sure why but didn't want to finish...sorry.
THE SOLDIER'S HEART by Sarah M. Eden - 5 stars - Sarah Eden is just talented. All I gotta say.
HIDDEN SPRING by Liz Adair - 3 stars - was surprised by a couple of parts in this one, usually they are all pretty squeaky clean. One where it says a married couple makes love, which isn't a biggie, but then another part has an intimate scene recalled in it where he "cups her breast" etc. again, it's a married couple but didn't need to be in there at all.
THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR by Heather B. Moore - 3 stars - just ok for me. The whole novella is centered around a man and his sister works at a brothel, so you get a lot of that kind of talk with prostitutes and "nude" pictures inside and what men do on their time off, women wearing scantily clad clothing, etc.
THE SWEETEST TASTE by Annette Lyon - 5 stars - short but very sweet, tied for best in the series with THE SOLDIER'S HEART by Sarah M. Eden
FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward- 3 stars - This one didn't develop enough for me, I felt like it was a little too rushed and I didn't connect with the characters. What I enjoyed most is that the setting was in my state of Arizona! Moral Note: Some drinking, and innuendos, mild violence.
December 8, 2013
4.5 Stars
It is no secret that I love these collections of stories. I have read every one that has been put out and plan on reading any that the publishers put together. One of the things I really like is that I am introduced to new authors through these anthologies.
I love historical romance. It really doesn't matter what time period or location. I like being carried away to another place. The Old West is no exception.
This collection starts out with a story that takes on a controversial subject matter for the time period, inter racial relationships. As much as I love the happy and romantic stories that have come out of the anthologies, I really like that some of the stories have some edge. I like getting caught up in the fun and sweet, I admit it. But I am glad that some of the stories make me think as well.
Warnings: None
I would let my 16 year old read this collection of stories.
http://brooke-brookesbooks.blogspot.c...
It is no secret that I love these collections of stories. I have read every one that has been put out and plan on reading any that the publishers put together. One of the things I really like is that I am introduced to new authors through these anthologies.
I love historical romance. It really doesn't matter what time period or location. I like being carried away to another place. The Old West is no exception.
This collection starts out with a story that takes on a controversial subject matter for the time period, inter racial relationships. As much as I love the happy and romantic stories that have come out of the anthologies, I really like that some of the stories have some edge. I like getting caught up in the fun and sweet, I admit it. But I am glad that some of the stories make me think as well.
Warnings: None
I would let my 16 year old read this collection of stories.
http://brooke-brookesbooks.blogspot.c...
May 1, 2014
Yes, it's true. I literally went begging for a review copy of this book. I'm not ashamed to say it. I love these ongoing Timeless Romance Anthology books. They provide the perfect romantic getaway for me. I can read them one at a time for a quick inbetween snack or go all out and read them all in one sitting. Either way it is good for me.
This collection revolves around the Old West. A little bit western is awesome. I enjoyed reading all these books. They are quick, easy reads. Nothing serious. Some I liked better than others- The Soldier's Heart, Hidden Spring and The Silver Mine Bachelor top the list for me.
I feel like I just can't go wrong when I pick up these anthology collections. Different authors and different writing styles make it so each story feels fresh and new. They are clean romances so I know I won't get anything that will make me feel uncomfortable. There were a few instances of mild swearing found scattered throughout which I could have done without. I didn't think they were necessary, but that is my own personal preference.
This collection revolves around the Old West. A little bit western is awesome. I enjoyed reading all these books. They are quick, easy reads. Nothing serious. Some I liked better than others- The Soldier's Heart, Hidden Spring and The Silver Mine Bachelor top the list for me.
I feel like I just can't go wrong when I pick up these anthology collections. Different authors and different writing styles make it so each story feels fresh and new. They are clean romances so I know I won't get anything that will make me feel uncomfortable. There were a few instances of mild swearing found scattered throughout which I could have done without. I didn't think they were necessary, but that is my own personal preference.
December 21, 2013
Not my favorite of the Timeless Romance Anthologies. I had high hopes because I've been loving western romances lately, but this set didn't excite me. My favorite story was Sarah Eden's, but even then, it felt like the story ended too fast. If you haven't read any of the Timeless Romance Anthologies, I recommend A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection and A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection.
I love how all of the collections focus on one theme that links the different authors and novellas together. And I love that the stories are clean and sweet,
I love how all of the collections focus on one theme that links the different authors and novellas together. And I love that the stories are clean and sweet,
December 21, 2013
This was a great set of fun to read stories set in the west. I loved all of them but the last one which was sad cause it left a bad taste in my mouth. It was choppy and hard to read. But all the others were great!! I love these Anthologies and will keep buying them up as they are made. I love a quick read, each book takes about an hour to read. Very fun and clean.
May 3, 2014
I don't usually read western themed stories, but this set of novellas was fun to read and very likeable.
The stories are short but developed, and the characters are fresh and enticing.
Highly recommend, especially to those who like novellas, western settings, and love stories with great beginnings.
The stories are short but developed, and the characters are fresh and enticing.
Highly recommend, especially to those who like novellas, western settings, and love stories with great beginnings.
June 12, 2021
I honestly enjoyed this collection a lot more than I thought I would 😌
Break a Leg by Carla Kelly - 4.5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....*Sigh* I have always loved interracial relationships and I absolutely adored this novella. Colm and Ozzie were beautiful characters and although this was a short story I was so attached that I didn’t want their story to end.
Favorite Quotes:
“I will have you know that I once served in the Swiss Guard and saved Pope Pius from assassination by cutting a man’s throat with my teeth.” 🤣🤣
Maybe it was worth a lifetime’s famine to read “beloved,” and know he was the one beloved. 😍
The Soldier’s Heart by Sarah M. Eden - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....This was an incredibly sweet story. I loved the plot and all the characters. The ending was so cute.
Favorite Quotes:
He’d taken to talking with himself during the arduous journey to Nebraska. There’d been no one else to keep company with. He’d actually found himself to be decent company, which made him suspect he’d spent too much time alone.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair - 3 stars....Quick and fluffy.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore - 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....My favorite of the collection. This was so emotionally stirring and heartwarming. I loved Erik and Lydia’s chemistry. Although Lydia misunderstood Erik initially, I enjoyed her journey in understanding that people aren’t always what they seem. Super sweet novella 😊☺️
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....Sometimes we tend to appreciate/value things when we no longer have them. Thankfully, Della was able to figure that out before it was too late. I really liked her and Joseph’s story and thought they were both sweet characters.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha Ward - 2.5 stars...This one had a slow start, then suddenly, things were happening too quickly. It was an okay story.
Content: Squeaky Clean
Break a Leg by Carla Kelly - 4.5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....*Sigh* I have always loved interracial relationships and I absolutely adored this novella. Colm and Ozzie were beautiful characters and although this was a short story I was so attached that I didn’t want their story to end.
Favorite Quotes:
“I will have you know that I once served in the Swiss Guard and saved Pope Pius from assassination by cutting a man’s throat with my teeth.” 🤣🤣
Maybe it was worth a lifetime’s famine to read “beloved,” and know he was the one beloved. 😍
The Soldier’s Heart by Sarah M. Eden - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....This was an incredibly sweet story. I loved the plot and all the characters. The ending was so cute.
Favorite Quotes:
He’d taken to talking with himself during the arduous journey to Nebraska. There’d been no one else to keep company with. He’d actually found himself to be decent company, which made him suspect he’d spent too much time alone.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair - 3 stars....Quick and fluffy.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore - 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....My favorite of the collection. This was so emotionally stirring and heartwarming. I loved Erik and Lydia’s chemistry. Although Lydia misunderstood Erik initially, I enjoyed her journey in understanding that people aren’t always what they seem. Super sweet novella 😊☺️
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️....Sometimes we tend to appreciate/value things when we no longer have them. Thankfully, Della was able to figure that out before it was too late. I really liked her and Joseph’s story and thought they were both sweet characters.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha Ward - 2.5 stars...This one had a slow start, then suddenly, things were happening too quickly. It was an okay story.
Content: Squeaky Clean
November 24, 2020
To Break a Leg 3.5 stars (would have liked a little more), The Soldier's Heart 3 stars (ending too quick and no epilogue), Hidden Spring 3 .5 stars, The Silver Mine 3 stars, The Sweetest Taste 3 stars, Faith and the Foreman 3 stars.
November 1, 2017
I enjoyed this anthology, though some stories more than others. But all of them were worth reading.
February 26, 2018
3 1/2 stars. One excellent story, two very good ones, a good one, and one that was disappointing. All in all, an enjoyable read.
September 8, 2026
Break a Leg, Carla Kelly 2.5/5
It was not great. At times the writing felt like stream of thought. I had to re-read sentences just to realize that I did read it correctly; it was a just confusing. There was a lot of going nowhere and then abruptly the ending. I have read others by this author that are much better, maybe this was an earlier writing?
Audra Washington was separated from her mother when her mother was sold at auction when Audra was 5. She believes herself to be the daughter of the plantation master where her mother worked. She mails letters to herself every so often writing as if she is her mother. She ran away from the plantation and found work as a housemaid with a wife of a military man. Colm Callahan, is an orphan, Irish man. His mother died, and father left him to be raised at an orphanage. He eventually ran away from the orphanage and joined the army first as a drummer boy. However, during a battle, his commander called retreat and he dropped his drum and never picked it back up again. Instead, he began assisting in the medical tent with Burns, wounds and limbs. He is now a hospital steward in an army barracks who takes over when the main doctor leaves town. The war is over, and it is that period of time where there is still enough people behind in the fort for him to stay busy, but the work is clearly dwindling. Colm is very shy, and has admired Audra from afar. He believes her name is Ozzy, but by the end learns that name came from the daughter at the plantation who could not pronounce her name. Ozzie was beaten for correcting her, and just accepted the nickname. The doctor left town for a vacation, and the hospital matron had her back give out, so Colm sends for Audra. Audra immediately cooks breakfast and brings peace to the medical unit. There is a soldier with a sprained ankle, a soldier with a bad burn on his forearm, and an actor whose leg was broken and a carriage crash that killed the other occupant. The actor is a character and eventually begins to insert himself into the life of Colm and Audra. He plants the seeds in both to do something about their affection for the other. Eventually, he tells Colm what he learned about Audra’s past, and convinces him to write her a letter with what he feels. After the actor leaves, and the doctor returns to town Colm learns that the actor, Lysander Locke, is a rich man that owns the theater in San Francisco. He also owns a gold mine and the town. He told Audra and Colm he was going to act in his next play. The man is quirky. Colm makes the decision that he is going to leave the military and take the medical boards to become a small town doctor. He goes to the post office to post his letter and there is Audra. She has a letter too, which she hands to him. This gives him the courage to talk to her directly and explain what his plan is to become a medical doctor. They both read each other’s letters, and Audra says yes to his written proposal.
The Soldier’s Heart, Sarah M. Eden 4/5
It’s hard because it’s a short story, but the ending was a bit unresolved for my tastes. I did like this story better than the first one given all of the sentences made sense. It did seem weird that the thing he was hiding was he knew her brother really really well and was there when he died. It’s not something to be ashamed of. The story covers for that weird detail by attributing social awkwardness to Gregory, but why not just say “there’s been a misunderstanding I know your brother”? It’s the contrived drama that is an inferior way to handle a plot.
Gregory Reeves is headed to his best friend’s family. Josiah Bowen was killed toward the end of the Civil War, and before the end he made Gregory promise that he would find his mother and sister and check on them making sure that they were OK. Gregory did not have anyone, so Josiah would read his letters from home to Gregory. Overtime, Gregory began to fall in love with the idea of his sister Helena. He did get easily tongue tied, though, so upon seeing her for the first time he couldn’t find the words to tell her who he was. She assumed that he was the hired hand they had contracted with through a neighbors Aunt’s neighbor. She immediately put him to work. Since he was planning on helping them anyway, he just complied. Helena had also taken in to orphan children, whose parents had died the previous months. Gregory was very considerate of the children. Once Gregory washed up fully, Helena was able to see how handsome he was, and very quickly was attracted to him, although she kept him at arms length a bit. He was pretty bold and started putting his arm around her at night in the parlor. After three weeks, he resolved, he would finally tell her who he was, but he walked in on them with a visitor. The neighbor who had arranged for the hired hand. Helena quickly revealed that that man had fallen off his horse and had not been able to come, so she was furious and asking him who he was. He confessed, and apologized. She sent him to the barn that night. Her mother and her discussed it and she decided to give him another chance. She went to the barn to tell him, and the book ended with them, kissing in the barn.
“‘My heart was so very ready to fall in love with him,’ she confessed. ‘Now my head won’t allow it.’
‘Perhaps your love story, should there prove to be one, won’t be an uneventful stroll through a flowery meadow. It doesn’t need to be. And you don’t need to know the ending now. You simply need to go make your beginning’.”p. 102
Hidden Spring, Liz Adair 5/5
Not exactly your typical proper romance. There is a reference to how her first husband described her body. Other than that, it is generally clean. It gives the vibes of how married women would talk to each other. I think this one was better than the first two, but there were some weird parts. It was well written enough to create a little bit of intrigue between the Ivy girl and Susanna. I’ve never been in the situation, but it seems odd to me that Douglas would want to change his name to his stepfather‘s name as an apology for not being a better son growing up. I think that’s weird for the stepfather to even ask. There’s nothing in the story that implies that Douglas’s father was a bad guy. Why wouldn’t he keep his own father‘s name? I also thought it was weird that she rebound with her dead husband’s brother. I know back in the day that was a thing, but it’s a little odd.
The short story begins with Susanna inventing a way for a blanket to hold the gallon milk jugs. She is bringing to her customers. She lives on a rural piece of property near hidden Springs. Her land does not have modern conveniences. You learn later the reason for that is her husband had used his inheritance to invest in publishing a book of his poems. That has been had died six months earlier from some type of blood poisoning. She loved him a lot, and had only recently moved back to their home together after her in-laws had encouraged her to move on and sent her home with a milk cow. As she was walking to town, the milk jug contraption had slipped to the calves flanks, causing it to buck. A man stops to help her who she initially thinks is her dead husband, Wesley. He introduces himself as Douglas and agrees to carry the milk for her since she got kicked in the ribs by the calf. She decides to go to her in-laws for some pain relief tea. Douglas is there speaking with her in-laws. She gets a moment alone with her mother-in-law, who is checking her injuries, and learns that Douglas is her son from her first marriage. Which means Douglas is Wesley’s half brother. She had known the other brother by the name, Sonny, and thought he had left after someone almost died in a bar fight.
Douglas begins coming to her home to help with household chores. It starts with fixing the roof and then moves to building a shed for the cows, and installing pipes to bring the springwater to her home. She pays him with dinner, which causes them to spend time together. She is attracted to him, and the whole brother-in-law thing never really comes up. They start making out one time, but she says Wesley‘s name which really upsets him. He seems flabbergasted that she would struggle to get over someone who left her in such destitution. It finally cements Wesley as the dreamer, and not protector. Instead of using his inheritance to keep his wife in a safe Homestead, he spent his money on books and poems. He ends up dying from something that started as a blister he received after walking home from trying to sell his book and a town that was not interested. She is heartbroken that she lost Douglas. A few nights later, a thunderstorm causes a lightning strike/fire to spread through the ravine near her home. It only stops after consuming her house. Douglas came sprinting out there, knowing that her house may have been in danger. When he sees her, he is so relieved and eventually proposes. She accepts.
The Silver Mine Bachelor, Heather B. Moore 4.5/5
It is sad that so many westerns revolve around whore houses. I didn’t realize how ingrained that was in the culture until recently. It was a descent building story, but the ending was a bit quick. They went from acquaintances to falling in love in a 24 hour period. There was the initial attraction, so that does account for some of the speed. However, it is weird to me that within 24 hours of his sister dying. He is making out with Lydia and all happy. Who am I to judge?
Lydia is a 26 year old on a mission to find a husband before 27. She recently moved to a mining town, and has created a list of eligible bachelors. The list combines all the men who fulfill the three categories. Her mother told her and husband needs. 1. He is a church goer. 2. He works hard. 3. He only has eyes for her. She began working at the Silvermine as a receptionist a few weeks earlier. Her boss, Erik Dawson, is rumored to be spotted near brothels. So when she sees him at church, she is a bit confused. She focuses most of her attention on the other men on the list, putting him in the last spot. That Sunday evening, as she is walking around town with another man, he becomes distracted by a sporting woman, and leaves Lydia to go find out what the woman needed. Lydia is disgusted and walks on and happens to cross paths with Erik as he is leaving a brothel. She notes that he looks sad. The next day, the man that was escorting her that night showed up at her work with flowers to apologize. She asked him to leave so she can get back to work, and eventually tells him she can’t accept the flowers. When the man continues to push, Erik steps in and tells him to leave. He then escorts her home after work. Erik is trying to convince the local preacher to visit his sister at the brothel. She is dying of consumption, and he is trying to put the people in place that will help save her soul. You find out that Eric’s mother abandoned them when he was young, and his father began drinking after that. His father died within two years of his mother leaving. His sister was determined to support him anyway she could, but he only found out out of the way she chose when he was at school. He immediately dropped out as he couldn’t accept how his school was being paid for. He became a manager at a mine, and got lucky when some shares he had turned very profitable when they struck silver. For some reason, he doesn’t force his explanation on Lydia, and when he tries to explain just accepts her saying, it’s none of her business. She happened to drop her list of eligible bachelors at work, and he agrees to introduce her to the two men he thinks has potential. While they are at a church potluck, one of the sporting women comes running for Erik crying. Turns out the doctor bled his sister too much. She likely died before the preacher could give the last rights. Lydia followed him into the brothel. She was uncomfortable there, but was piecing together why Erik had left this brothel the previous week. He was visiting his sister. She didn’t want him to feel alone, she went in and laid her shawl over his sister‘s body, and the next morning woke up early to attend a funeral. She convinced Erik to go home to sleep. She went with him and cut up some bread and apples before encouraging him to rest. It was raining outside, so she intended to leave once the rain stopped, but fell asleep in the meantime. Due to lack of sleep from the night before, they both woke up in the late afternoon, early evening. Lydia apologized for rushing to judgment, and confessed he was the only one she was interested in. He was surprised, but quickly got on board given how she had treated him and his sister. They began their courtship by kissing in his house.
“Hard-working, churchgoing, and having eyes only for you.” p. 188
The Sweetest Taste, Annette Lyon 5/5
Della is a Idaho girl who thinks she is a urban girl. She reads newspapers and magazine and dreams of adventure in the city. She also is best friends with Joseph who just bought his own property. He has bought her a necklace that matches her eyes hoping to begin a courtship with her. She finds out that her friend’s aunt is looking to bring a maid back with her to Los Angeles. She sees it as her ticket out, so when Joseph asks to court her she points out how they are different. He points to things they have in common, but accepts that she wants to live in the city. He asks her to keep the necklace and think of him when she sees it. She is awestruck at first, but being a maid is hard work. She contents herself to adjust to a routine, building to her first day off. She is not impressed with the food and electricity. She begins window shopping on her day off, but is treated poorly by a store clerk for being a county girl. Then she runs into this guy Max and spends the rest of the of the day with him. He buys her lunch, and an orange, and even a Mark Twain book. Then he ends the date with a burlesque show which disgusts her. She flees the show realizing that everything about her sorrow comes back to Joseph and not being with him. She would choose their relationship over all the bad stuff of country living. She rushes home and surprises him on his doorstep. She agrees that he was right and she was wrong. They do have a lot in common. He kisses her, and she knows she is home.
Faith and the Foreman, Marsha Ward 2.5/5
Not very well written. The transitions were so abrupt. The story was told in an incredibly jerky manner. The overall plot would have fine, but the writing distracted from it.
Faith loses money on stocks and becomes a schoolteacher in a rural town in Arizona. She travels from NY. Slim gets promoted to foreman on a ranch. They meet at her welcome party and dance. He is a bid fan. The owner of the ranch as a step son that is slowly poisoning him and stealing his cattle. A bunch of random stories about shooting a rattlesnake a d a guy doubting her credentials at the party. Eventually Faith brings her nurse cousin in from NY to tend the owner, and she sees seeds in the whiskey bottles. Quickly they turn around the illness in the owner. The stepson tries to flee with the herd, but gets killed when Slim catches up to him. Slim is shot too, but returns. He asks to court Faith once he is healed. She agrees.
It was not great. At times the writing felt like stream of thought. I had to re-read sentences just to realize that I did read it correctly; it was a just confusing. There was a lot of going nowhere and then abruptly the ending. I have read others by this author that are much better, maybe this was an earlier writing?
Audra Washington was separated from her mother when her mother was sold at auction when Audra was 5. She believes herself to be the daughter of the plantation master where her mother worked. She mails letters to herself every so often writing as if she is her mother. She ran away from the plantation and found work as a housemaid with a wife of a military man. Colm Callahan, is an orphan, Irish man. His mother died, and father left him to be raised at an orphanage. He eventually ran away from the orphanage and joined the army first as a drummer boy. However, during a battle, his commander called retreat and he dropped his drum and never picked it back up again. Instead, he began assisting in the medical tent with Burns, wounds and limbs. He is now a hospital steward in an army barracks who takes over when the main doctor leaves town. The war is over, and it is that period of time where there is still enough people behind in the fort for him to stay busy, but the work is clearly dwindling. Colm is very shy, and has admired Audra from afar. He believes her name is Ozzy, but by the end learns that name came from the daughter at the plantation who could not pronounce her name. Ozzie was beaten for correcting her, and just accepted the nickname. The doctor left town for a vacation, and the hospital matron had her back give out, so Colm sends for Audra. Audra immediately cooks breakfast and brings peace to the medical unit. There is a soldier with a sprained ankle, a soldier with a bad burn on his forearm, and an actor whose leg was broken and a carriage crash that killed the other occupant. The actor is a character and eventually begins to insert himself into the life of Colm and Audra. He plants the seeds in both to do something about their affection for the other. Eventually, he tells Colm what he learned about Audra’s past, and convinces him to write her a letter with what he feels. After the actor leaves, and the doctor returns to town Colm learns that the actor, Lysander Locke, is a rich man that owns the theater in San Francisco. He also owns a gold mine and the town. He told Audra and Colm he was going to act in his next play. The man is quirky. Colm makes the decision that he is going to leave the military and take the medical boards to become a small town doctor. He goes to the post office to post his letter and there is Audra. She has a letter too, which she hands to him. This gives him the courage to talk to her directly and explain what his plan is to become a medical doctor. They both read each other’s letters, and Audra says yes to his written proposal.
The Soldier’s Heart, Sarah M. Eden 4/5
It’s hard because it’s a short story, but the ending was a bit unresolved for my tastes. I did like this story better than the first one given all of the sentences made sense. It did seem weird that the thing he was hiding was he knew her brother really really well and was there when he died. It’s not something to be ashamed of. The story covers for that weird detail by attributing social awkwardness to Gregory, but why not just say “there’s been a misunderstanding I know your brother”? It’s the contrived drama that is an inferior way to handle a plot.
Gregory Reeves is headed to his best friend’s family. Josiah Bowen was killed toward the end of the Civil War, and before the end he made Gregory promise that he would find his mother and sister and check on them making sure that they were OK. Gregory did not have anyone, so Josiah would read his letters from home to Gregory. Overtime, Gregory began to fall in love with the idea of his sister Helena. He did get easily tongue tied, though, so upon seeing her for the first time he couldn’t find the words to tell her who he was. She assumed that he was the hired hand they had contracted with through a neighbors Aunt’s neighbor. She immediately put him to work. Since he was planning on helping them anyway, he just complied. Helena had also taken in to orphan children, whose parents had died the previous months. Gregory was very considerate of the children. Once Gregory washed up fully, Helena was able to see how handsome he was, and very quickly was attracted to him, although she kept him at arms length a bit. He was pretty bold and started putting his arm around her at night in the parlor. After three weeks, he resolved, he would finally tell her who he was, but he walked in on them with a visitor. The neighbor who had arranged for the hired hand. Helena quickly revealed that that man had fallen off his horse and had not been able to come, so she was furious and asking him who he was. He confessed, and apologized. She sent him to the barn that night. Her mother and her discussed it and she decided to give him another chance. She went to the barn to tell him, and the book ended with them, kissing in the barn.
“‘My heart was so very ready to fall in love with him,’ she confessed. ‘Now my head won’t allow it.’
‘Perhaps your love story, should there prove to be one, won’t be an uneventful stroll through a flowery meadow. It doesn’t need to be. And you don’t need to know the ending now. You simply need to go make your beginning’.”p. 102
Hidden Spring, Liz Adair 5/5
Not exactly your typical proper romance. There is a reference to how her first husband described her body. Other than that, it is generally clean. It gives the vibes of how married women would talk to each other. I think this one was better than the first two, but there were some weird parts. It was well written enough to create a little bit of intrigue between the Ivy girl and Susanna. I’ve never been in the situation, but it seems odd to me that Douglas would want to change his name to his stepfather‘s name as an apology for not being a better son growing up. I think that’s weird for the stepfather to even ask. There’s nothing in the story that implies that Douglas’s father was a bad guy. Why wouldn’t he keep his own father‘s name? I also thought it was weird that she rebound with her dead husband’s brother. I know back in the day that was a thing, but it’s a little odd.
The short story begins with Susanna inventing a way for a blanket to hold the gallon milk jugs. She is bringing to her customers. She lives on a rural piece of property near hidden Springs. Her land does not have modern conveniences. You learn later the reason for that is her husband had used his inheritance to invest in publishing a book of his poems. That has been had died six months earlier from some type of blood poisoning. She loved him a lot, and had only recently moved back to their home together after her in-laws had encouraged her to move on and sent her home with a milk cow. As she was walking to town, the milk jug contraption had slipped to the calves flanks, causing it to buck. A man stops to help her who she initially thinks is her dead husband, Wesley. He introduces himself as Douglas and agrees to carry the milk for her since she got kicked in the ribs by the calf. She decides to go to her in-laws for some pain relief tea. Douglas is there speaking with her in-laws. She gets a moment alone with her mother-in-law, who is checking her injuries, and learns that Douglas is her son from her first marriage. Which means Douglas is Wesley’s half brother. She had known the other brother by the name, Sonny, and thought he had left after someone almost died in a bar fight.
Douglas begins coming to her home to help with household chores. It starts with fixing the roof and then moves to building a shed for the cows, and installing pipes to bring the springwater to her home. She pays him with dinner, which causes them to spend time together. She is attracted to him, and the whole brother-in-law thing never really comes up. They start making out one time, but she says Wesley‘s name which really upsets him. He seems flabbergasted that she would struggle to get over someone who left her in such destitution. It finally cements Wesley as the dreamer, and not protector. Instead of using his inheritance to keep his wife in a safe Homestead, he spent his money on books and poems. He ends up dying from something that started as a blister he received after walking home from trying to sell his book and a town that was not interested. She is heartbroken that she lost Douglas. A few nights later, a thunderstorm causes a lightning strike/fire to spread through the ravine near her home. It only stops after consuming her house. Douglas came sprinting out there, knowing that her house may have been in danger. When he sees her, he is so relieved and eventually proposes. She accepts.
The Silver Mine Bachelor, Heather B. Moore 4.5/5
It is sad that so many westerns revolve around whore houses. I didn’t realize how ingrained that was in the culture until recently. It was a descent building story, but the ending was a bit quick. They went from acquaintances to falling in love in a 24 hour period. There was the initial attraction, so that does account for some of the speed. However, it is weird to me that within 24 hours of his sister dying. He is making out with Lydia and all happy. Who am I to judge?
Lydia is a 26 year old on a mission to find a husband before 27. She recently moved to a mining town, and has created a list of eligible bachelors. The list combines all the men who fulfill the three categories. Her mother told her and husband needs. 1. He is a church goer. 2. He works hard. 3. He only has eyes for her. She began working at the Silvermine as a receptionist a few weeks earlier. Her boss, Erik Dawson, is rumored to be spotted near brothels. So when she sees him at church, she is a bit confused. She focuses most of her attention on the other men on the list, putting him in the last spot. That Sunday evening, as she is walking around town with another man, he becomes distracted by a sporting woman, and leaves Lydia to go find out what the woman needed. Lydia is disgusted and walks on and happens to cross paths with Erik as he is leaving a brothel. She notes that he looks sad. The next day, the man that was escorting her that night showed up at her work with flowers to apologize. She asked him to leave so she can get back to work, and eventually tells him she can’t accept the flowers. When the man continues to push, Erik steps in and tells him to leave. He then escorts her home after work. Erik is trying to convince the local preacher to visit his sister at the brothel. She is dying of consumption, and he is trying to put the people in place that will help save her soul. You find out that Eric’s mother abandoned them when he was young, and his father began drinking after that. His father died within two years of his mother leaving. His sister was determined to support him anyway she could, but he only found out out of the way she chose when he was at school. He immediately dropped out as he couldn’t accept how his school was being paid for. He became a manager at a mine, and got lucky when some shares he had turned very profitable when they struck silver. For some reason, he doesn’t force his explanation on Lydia, and when he tries to explain just accepts her saying, it’s none of her business. She happened to drop her list of eligible bachelors at work, and he agrees to introduce her to the two men he thinks has potential. While they are at a church potluck, one of the sporting women comes running for Erik crying. Turns out the doctor bled his sister too much. She likely died before the preacher could give the last rights. Lydia followed him into the brothel. She was uncomfortable there, but was piecing together why Erik had left this brothel the previous week. He was visiting his sister. She didn’t want him to feel alone, she went in and laid her shawl over his sister‘s body, and the next morning woke up early to attend a funeral. She convinced Erik to go home to sleep. She went with him and cut up some bread and apples before encouraging him to rest. It was raining outside, so she intended to leave once the rain stopped, but fell asleep in the meantime. Due to lack of sleep from the night before, they both woke up in the late afternoon, early evening. Lydia apologized for rushing to judgment, and confessed he was the only one she was interested in. He was surprised, but quickly got on board given how she had treated him and his sister. They began their courtship by kissing in his house.
“Hard-working, churchgoing, and having eyes only for you.” p. 188
The Sweetest Taste, Annette Lyon 5/5
Della is a Idaho girl who thinks she is a urban girl. She reads newspapers and magazine and dreams of adventure in the city. She also is best friends with Joseph who just bought his own property. He has bought her a necklace that matches her eyes hoping to begin a courtship with her. She finds out that her friend’s aunt is looking to bring a maid back with her to Los Angeles. She sees it as her ticket out, so when Joseph asks to court her she points out how they are different. He points to things they have in common, but accepts that she wants to live in the city. He asks her to keep the necklace and think of him when she sees it. She is awestruck at first, but being a maid is hard work. She contents herself to adjust to a routine, building to her first day off. She is not impressed with the food and electricity. She begins window shopping on her day off, but is treated poorly by a store clerk for being a county girl. Then she runs into this guy Max and spends the rest of the of the day with him. He buys her lunch, and an orange, and even a Mark Twain book. Then he ends the date with a burlesque show which disgusts her. She flees the show realizing that everything about her sorrow comes back to Joseph and not being with him. She would choose their relationship over all the bad stuff of country living. She rushes home and surprises him on his doorstep. She agrees that he was right and she was wrong. They do have a lot in common. He kisses her, and she knows she is home.
Faith and the Foreman, Marsha Ward 2.5/5
Not very well written. The transitions were so abrupt. The story was told in an incredibly jerky manner. The overall plot would have fine, but the writing distracted from it.
Faith loses money on stocks and becomes a schoolteacher in a rural town in Arizona. She travels from NY. Slim gets promoted to foreman on a ranch. They meet at her welcome party and dance. He is a bid fan. The owner of the ranch as a step son that is slowly poisoning him and stealing his cattle. A bunch of random stories about shooting a rattlesnake a d a guy doubting her credentials at the party. Eventually Faith brings her nurse cousin in from NY to tend the owner, and she sees seeds in the whiskey bottles. Quickly they turn around the illness in the owner. The stepson tries to flee with the herd, but gets killed when Slim catches up to him. Slim is shot too, but returns. He asks to court Faith once he is healed. She agrees.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2013
***I received a copy of this from one of the authors in exchange for my honest review.***
Break a Leg: Cute and a bit sappy love story. Different format with no chapters, just the 3 main parts, 2 of those "before the story began" set-ups. I liked the actor and knew "something" was up with him, just couldn't pinpoint it, so that was a fun twist revealed at the end.
The Soldier's Heart: Another cute story. I liked that it wasn't exactly their love story, but how they came to start their love story, in my opinion. I liked Helene and I liked Geoffrey. I also liked the kids. Helene's mom is usually just referred to, but she does play a role towards the end, where it seems slightly in opposition to how she was referred to through the rest of the book as being fragile and not able to deal with the sight of a man in uniform. But I still enjoyed this fun story.
Hidden Spring: Very cute story. I really enjoyed the characters and how they met and the setting. I definitely would have loved to read this as a longer story to enjoy even more how their relationship developed and came to be. I loved the patchwork quilt and how it led to the name Patchwork Dairy. Very enjoyable!
The Silver Mine Bachelor: This was a thought-provoking short because it deals with the issue of judging people. Very interesting approach to a love story, although the mentality and attitudes were very fitting for an 1800s setting. Cute ending and also a fun courtship between the 2 main characters.
The Sweetest Taste: I liked the female lead in this one for her spunk and kindness and personality, but as she was complaining in the chicken coop about all the things she hated about her life, I was giggling thinking those were the things I wished for, hoping for a simpler time and way of life!! This short story series had a similar story in another edition, but it took Della much shorter to realize the error of her ways in than the girl in the other story. It was sweet how nervous Joseph got trying to approach her with his heart on his sleeve.
Faith and the Foreman: I really liked this story. It felt a lot like a Western movie to me, and a little bit of Little House on the Prairie. Fun characters, fun story line with a bit of a mystery, cute romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Break a Leg: Cute and a bit sappy love story. Different format with no chapters, just the 3 main parts, 2 of those "before the story began" set-ups. I liked the actor and knew "something" was up with him, just couldn't pinpoint it, so that was a fun twist revealed at the end.
The Soldier's Heart: Another cute story. I liked that it wasn't exactly their love story, but how they came to start their love story, in my opinion. I liked Helene and I liked Geoffrey. I also liked the kids. Helene's mom is usually just referred to, but she does play a role towards the end, where it seems slightly in opposition to how she was referred to through the rest of the book as being fragile and not able to deal with the sight of a man in uniform. But I still enjoyed this fun story.
Hidden Spring: Very cute story. I really enjoyed the characters and how they met and the setting. I definitely would have loved to read this as a longer story to enjoy even more how their relationship developed and came to be. I loved the patchwork quilt and how it led to the name Patchwork Dairy. Very enjoyable!
The Silver Mine Bachelor: This was a thought-provoking short because it deals with the issue of judging people. Very interesting approach to a love story, although the mentality and attitudes were very fitting for an 1800s setting. Cute ending and also a fun courtship between the 2 main characters.
The Sweetest Taste: I liked the female lead in this one for her spunk and kindness and personality, but as she was complaining in the chicken coop about all the things she hated about her life, I was giggling thinking those were the things I wished for, hoping for a simpler time and way of life!! This short story series had a similar story in another edition, but it took Della much shorter to realize the error of her ways in than the girl in the other story. It was sweet how nervous Joseph got trying to approach her with his heart on his sleeve.
Faith and the Foreman: I really liked this story. It felt a lot like a Western movie to me, and a little bit of Little House on the Prairie. Fun characters, fun story line with a bit of a mystery, cute romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2014
Final feeling: Disappointing. This collection lacked the heart of the other collections in this series. (The exception is Carla Kelly's story.)
For a similar style collection that's WAY better, read A Match Made in Texas
*******
Break a Leg by Carla Kelly
Touching story of an ex-slave woman and an Irish-American army medical assistant. I really liked the friendship that turned to love, and the way their relationship developed. Very sweet.
The Soldier's Heart by Sarah M. Eden
Not my favorite. The story line is cliche: the H isn't completely honest with the h and just before he's about to tell her the truth she "finds out" and it becomes the main conflict. I get so weary of this kind of plot. I didn't feel it was natural for him to keep his secret, just as I felt she overreacted to his lie of omission.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair
Ok story about a widow and her black-sheep brother in law. Didn't really connect with the characters but it was OK.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore
I liked this one. I got a bit confused on the motivations of the characters at times, but for the most part it was one of the better ones in the anthology.
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon
This story was really rushed. So rushed that it was borderline silly. There seemed to be a philosophy that big city is evil and small town is good. This one really didn't work for me.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha Ward
Another very rushed one with too many subplots for a novella.
For a similar style collection that's WAY better, read A Match Made in Texas
*******
Break a Leg by Carla Kelly
Touching story of an ex-slave woman and an Irish-American army medical assistant. I really liked the friendship that turned to love, and the way their relationship developed. Very sweet.
The Soldier's Heart by Sarah M. Eden
Not my favorite. The story line is cliche: the H isn't completely honest with the h and just before he's about to tell her the truth she "finds out" and it becomes the main conflict. I get so weary of this kind of plot. I didn't feel it was natural for him to keep his secret, just as I felt she overreacted to his lie of omission.
Hidden Spring by Liz Adair
Ok story about a widow and her black-sheep brother in law. Didn't really connect with the characters but it was OK.
The Silver Mine Bachelor by Heather B. Moore
I liked this one. I got a bit confused on the motivations of the characters at times, but for the most part it was one of the better ones in the anthology.
The Sweetest Taste by Annette Lyon
This story was really rushed. So rushed that it was borderline silly. There seemed to be a philosophy that big city is evil and small town is good. This one really didn't work for me.
Faith and the Foreman by Marsha Ward
Another very rushed one with too many subplots for a novella.
October 10, 2014
Clean Read
I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
I loved all the different settings and the sincere and sweet characters. The settings were varied and fun!
I think my overall impression was I loved the genuine, honest, and sincere characters. They all had good hearts. This resonated with me personally. I know that most people aren't 'evil'. It was wonderful to read these protagonists who had character, were hard working, and 'real'. There were some contrasting characters who weren't as 'pure', but the MC goodness was refreshing to read. In the Western setting, and time period of the old west, the frontier or ranch/farm settings off the rail lines made for unique and interesting stories. The every day struggles, the everyday meetings, and everyday routines helped with this period and locale setting of the Old West.
For me, one of the benefits of the anthologies, is that I can put the book down, and get something done in between novellas.
I reserve 5's for classic literature, and 4's for something that I would re-read again. As I say these were more fun than serious, but for their genre, they were well-written. Anyone who is a fan of period Old West setting would enjoy these novellas.
I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
I loved all the different settings and the sincere and sweet characters. The settings were varied and fun!
I think my overall impression was I loved the genuine, honest, and sincere characters. They all had good hearts. This resonated with me personally. I know that most people aren't 'evil'. It was wonderful to read these protagonists who had character, were hard working, and 'real'. There were some contrasting characters who weren't as 'pure', but the MC goodness was refreshing to read. In the Western setting, and time period of the old west, the frontier or ranch/farm settings off the rail lines made for unique and interesting stories. The every day struggles, the everyday meetings, and everyday routines helped with this period and locale setting of the Old West.
For me, one of the benefits of the anthologies, is that I can put the book down, and get something done in between novellas.
I reserve 5's for classic literature, and 4's for something that I would re-read again. As I say these were more fun than serious, but for their genre, they were well-written. Anyone who is a fan of period Old West setting would enjoy these novellas.
May 8, 2014
If you like love stories with real heroes and heroines, you couldn't do much better than this pleasing collection of well-written novellas set in the American West of yesterday. Even if you don't particularly care for romance, these stories will enrich and educate, as well as entertain. Each author succeeded in capturing the flavor of the "Old West," and I was surprised at the variety in their story lines.
Some of the characters were particularly entertaining, including the "bad guys."
Personally, romance isn't usually my cup of tea, but I may change my mind after having read these stories. Marsha Ward has a gift for the Western vernacular, and I knew I'd enjoy Liz Adair's story based on how much I loved her "Counting the Cost." As for Carla Kelly, she's unmatched for wry, tongue in cheek humor set in situations fully fleshed out historically. So I was interested to see what kind of Old West tales the others would come up with. They did not disappoint!
Some of the characters were particularly entertaining, including the "bad guys."
Personally, romance isn't usually my cup of tea, but I may change my mind after having read these stories. Marsha Ward has a gift for the Western vernacular, and I knew I'd enjoy Liz Adair's story based on how much I loved her "Counting the Cost." As for Carla Kelly, she's unmatched for wry, tongue in cheek humor set in situations fully fleshed out historically. So I was interested to see what kind of Old West tales the others would come up with. They did not disappoint!
January 28, 2014
I love this kind of anthology. I like that I can sit down and finish a story without feeling guilty for taking time away from my family! That said, this wasn't my favorite of the anthologies. The stories by Sarah Eden and Heather Moore were my favorites! I can definitely see myself rereading them. Of the six stories in the anthology, 4 of the stories were really good and I would have liked to read more of them.
As for the other tow,this is a case of it's not you, it's me: I love old western stories, but recently found out that I don't like them as well when they are more contemporary. Electricity, cars & indoor plumbing just take away from the "cowboy mystique" that I love about westerns.
language:clean, heat level:mild
As for the other tow,this is a case of it's not you, it's me: I love old western stories, but recently found out that I don't like them as well when they are more contemporary. Electricity, cars & indoor plumbing just take away from the "cowboy mystique" that I love about westerns.
language:clean, heat level:mild
November 15, 2014
I’m not drawn to anthologies but tried this one because three of the authors are favorites of mine. All the stories were fine, nothing exciting.
Anthologies limit stories to short and sweet. That’s just the way it goes. I prefer stories with some meat in the plot so we can get to know the characters better. For that reason alone, specifically my preference, I can’t give the book more than 2 ½ stars. Some who like cowboy stories might really like this collection, but not me. I absolutely love some of these authors, and have several or all of their books, but I won’t keep this one to read again.
Anthologies limit stories to short and sweet. That’s just the way it goes. I prefer stories with some meat in the plot so we can get to know the characters better. For that reason alone, specifically my preference, I can’t give the book more than 2 ½ stars. Some who like cowboy stories might really like this collection, but not me. I absolutely love some of these authors, and have several or all of their books, but I won’t keep this one to read again.
May 3, 2014
I love these romance anthologys. I have read them all and was excited for this last one to come out. I was not disappointed. It was as good as the others before it. Each story was great! I loved the western theme. My favorite part of these books is that I can sit down at night to relax and just read one and not be up all night. While the stories are short, I feel like I have been given enough of the story to be satisfied. I looked forward to the next one Summer in New York.
March 7, 2015
It's great when you find some of your favorite authors with new material. I also enjoyed reading new authors that I will be looking for again. I enjoyed the varied stories and interesting characters. Sometimes it's nice to be able to finish a story in one sitting. Some of these left me with longing for more and the rest of the story. I enjoyed it.
May 23, 2014
I didn't know I was a closet lover of western romance but I am! If a good, sweet, tender romantic cowboy is what you enjoy reading about (and wishing there were more of them in the world), then you will want to buy this collection.
A good, clean read that won't make your grandma blush.
A good, clean read that won't make your grandma blush.
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