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Crooked Creek #1
The Women of Crooked Creek
Four courageous women, an untamed land, and the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Crooked Creek, Montana Territory--1865
Emma of Crooked Creek
Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, quite literally falls at Emma's feet, she is duty-bound to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected.
Hattie of Crooked Creek
Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger, she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again?
Briley of Crooked Creek
Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land.
Clara of Crooked Creek
No longer willing to allow society's opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost.
The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy The Women of Crooked Creek. MK McClintock delivers another extraordinary western series with more to come.
Crooked Creek, Montana Territory--1865
Emma of Crooked Creek
Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, quite literally falls at Emma's feet, she is duty-bound to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected.
Hattie of Crooked Creek
Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger, she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again?
Briley of Crooked Creek
Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land.
Clara of Crooked Creek
No longer willing to allow society's opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost.
The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy The Women of Crooked Creek. MK McClintock delivers another extraordinary western series with more to come.
324 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2016
About the author
M.K. McClintock
39 books483 followersAward-winning author MK McClintock writes historical romantic fiction about courageous and honorable men and strong women who appreciate chivalry, like those in her Montana Gallagher, British Agent, and Crooked Creek series. Her stories of adventure, romance, and mystery sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles, with places and times between and beyond. With her heart deeply rooted in the past, she enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Visit www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about MK's books, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog.
BookBub: https://bit.ly/3hbJY1z
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3m5bqBU
Visit www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about MK's books, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog.
BookBub: https://bit.ly/3hbJY1z
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3m5bqBU
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 9, 2026
The first story is of Emma Hawkins, a doctor in the small town of Crooked Creek. She is a widow. The time is not long after the Civil War in which her husband died.. Then, one night wounded soldier Casey Latimer collapses on her doorstep. She gets him inside and attends to his medical needs. But she is unprepared from what happens next. This story is only 43 pages, so not going to say any more. Better to just to read it.
Emma also features in the next story which is about Hattie McBride. Hattie is a widow with a ranch she manages to run with her foreman Glen and his nephew John who are like family to her. When the story starts her life is saved from drowning and other issues by Carson White Eagle. He then calls in Doctor Emma Hawkins who cares for Hattie and her wounds.
The third story is about Briley, originally from Ireland, who arrives in Crooked Creek expecting to find Christopher Smith, her husband to be. Instead she finds his cottage deserted.
The final story is that of Clara who arrives in Crooked Creek with her young daughter Alice after thie
stagecoach they are stravelling in is attacked and robbed. Clara is hurt protecting her daughter. Through this incident meets the sherrif Peyton and then Emma, Hattie, Briley annd others in the community. This story is the longest.
All four stories are of strong, independent women, trying to make their way in a harsh Montana environment but with support from the Crooked Creek community.
I rarely read short stories but at present with a lot going on it seemed a good time to try and settle th brain to read. In the end, although I quite enjoyed these linked stories, I would still prefer to read a novel.
The last two stories appealed to me most and interestingly they are two of the longer ones. It felt like I got to know the characters more in these two. So the stories were engaging, but on the whole I didn’t feel the characters were as fleshed out and developed in depth as I would like, Still. I am sure a lot of people will enjoy this book.
Emma also features in the next story which is about Hattie McBride. Hattie is a widow with a ranch she manages to run with her foreman Glen and his nephew John who are like family to her. When the story starts her life is saved from drowning and other issues by Carson White Eagle. He then calls in Doctor Emma Hawkins who cares for Hattie and her wounds.
The third story is about Briley, originally from Ireland, who arrives in Crooked Creek expecting to find Christopher Smith, her husband to be. Instead she finds his cottage deserted.
The final story is that of Clara who arrives in Crooked Creek with her young daughter Alice after thie
stagecoach they are stravelling in is attacked and robbed. Clara is hurt protecting her daughter. Through this incident meets the sherrif Peyton and then Emma, Hattie, Briley annd others in the community. This story is the longest.
All four stories are of strong, independent women, trying to make their way in a harsh Montana environment but with support from the Crooked Creek community.
I rarely read short stories but at present with a lot going on it seemed a good time to try and settle th brain to read. In the end, although I quite enjoyed these linked stories, I would still prefer to read a novel.
The last two stories appealed to me most and interestingly they are two of the longer ones. It felt like I got to know the characters more in these two. So the stories were engaging, but on the whole I didn’t feel the characters were as fleshed out and developed in depth as I would like, Still. I am sure a lot of people will enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2024
Read this with my book club, and my grandmas neighbor suggested it bc it was available in large print, so my 101 year old grandma can read it. The first warning that this book was going to be bad was the fact that each of the 4 stories has a tabloid-style teaser that summarizes the story the page before you read it. These teasers remind me of 90s rom com teasers (eg. “He wanted love. She wanted to win. Find out what happens in this mist watch athletic comedy.”).
The writing is atrocious (and strangely hard to follow - often a familiar character will be suddenly mid-scene referred to as “the man” and you have no idea who has entered the scene, only to find it’s still just Casey.
The stories are extremely disappointing - for a book that’s ostensibly about hardy women settlers in the Montana territory who can do it all on their own, there’s a awful lot of getting taken care of by a handsome stranger and then falling in love with him. By the final story, I was trying to figure out which random male character would become the love interest (to the author’s credit, the last one didn’t inexplicably fall in love…yet).
However, my grandma liked it, and that’s all that matters!
The writing is atrocious (and strangely hard to follow - often a familiar character will be suddenly mid-scene referred to as “the man” and you have no idea who has entered the scene, only to find it’s still just Casey.
The stories are extremely disappointing - for a book that’s ostensibly about hardy women settlers in the Montana territory who can do it all on their own, there’s a awful lot of getting taken care of by a handsome stranger and then falling in love with him. By the final story, I was trying to figure out which random male character would become the love interest (to the author’s credit, the last one didn’t inexplicably fall in love…yet).
However, my grandma liked it, and that’s all that matters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2021
Four women will win your heart
This book was a surprise for me in that I am not really into romantic novels. This was an enchanting tale, or tales, of brave women out to change their lives in the American frontier after the Civil War. I was very interested in how the four overcame adversity and found their strengths and new beginnings. Interested in future installments of Crooked Creek.
This book was a surprise for me in that I am not really into romantic novels. This was an enchanting tale, or tales, of brave women out to change their lives in the American frontier after the Civil War. I was very interested in how the four overcame adversity and found their strengths and new beginnings. Interested in future installments of Crooked Creek.
October 5, 2024
Read this as a category for my library book challenge (book of short stories). With 4 novellas in one, it marked the spot. Overall I enjoyed the stories and they mostly kept my attention. The last two were my faves with #3, Briley’s story was my top one. I liked the dynamic with her and the sheriff, Peyton. For a bunch of women trying to make it in the Montana frontier, they sure did fall in love quickly (except for the last story who hasn’t fallen in love yet), but her daughter was adorable and she needed to get her business up and running. It wasn’t the best written sets of stories I’ve ever read but they were entertaining and I liked getting a glimpse into the 1860s frontier.
November 1, 2024
We are introduced to four women and their origin stories for the "Crooked Creek" series. Each one has experienced the loss of their man and are working to make it on their own in the Montana wilderness.
They have landed in the town of Crooked Creek, where folks are friendly, non-judgmental, supportive, and look out for each other. The men are caring, helpful, sensitive, brave, true, kind...you get the picture. Anyway, it was a nice diversion for a few hours.
They have landed in the town of Crooked Creek, where folks are friendly, non-judgmental, supportive, and look out for each other. The men are caring, helpful, sensitive, brave, true, kind...you get the picture. Anyway, it was a nice diversion for a few hours.
January 23, 2026
loved it
The Women of Crooked Creek was such a good book. It is short stories about the women that came to Crooked Creek to live. The courage they showed to move to Montana and everything they went through to stay. It was a really wonderful collection of stories all the women became friends even though they came from very different backgrounds. I wanted the stories to be longer so I could find out how their lives turned out. I highly recommend this author and this book.
The Women of Crooked Creek was such a good book. It is short stories about the women that came to Crooked Creek to live. The courage they showed to move to Montana and everything they went through to stay. It was a really wonderful collection of stories all the women became friends even though they came from very different backgrounds. I wanted the stories to be longer so I could find out how their lives turned out. I highly recommend this author and this book.
March 15, 2023
This is a book about four strong women, Emma, Hattie, Briley and Clara. The book is divided into four short stories that give a background on each of them and how they came west to Crooked Creek Montana. They soon become friends and part of a tight knit community through their trials. This was an enjoyable short read.
October 20, 2025
Night Owl Readet
This story brought realism to settling Montana in the1850s by four strong women. The descriptions of the land and the harsh things people faced were realistic. Each of the four women were survivors in different ways and the way their story's intertwined was a great way to explain how important women were to Montana's history.
This story brought realism to settling Montana in the1850s by four strong women. The descriptions of the land and the harsh things people faced were realistic. Each of the four women were survivors in different ways and the way their story's intertwined was a great way to explain how important women were to Montana's history.
September 19, 2020
The Women of Crooked Creek( Emma/Hattie/Briley/Clara): A Western Story Collection
A very good collection of stories about women courageous to live in Montana alone and survive the hardships and cold
A very good collection of stories about women courageous to live in Montana alone and survive the hardships and cold
September 12, 2021
It was a cute book with good short stories but I wasn't in love with it. I liked the aspects of the women and the setting but I'm not sure if westerns are my thing. I did enjoy Clara's story though it was my favorite of the four.
July 6, 2020
This is about 4 women on their own in the west. Is short stories. Was good.
December 10, 2020
Very good stories
January 23, 2021
I liked the idea of these strong women surviving out in Montana, but none of them would have survived without a man coming to their rescue
June 23, 2024
Short stories didn’t realize that. Characters not developed and always a happy ending.
August 4, 2024
Read the first section and started the second but didn't like the book enough to continue. Boring.
June 5, 2025
Very light reading, but enjoyable
February 8, 2026
Lovely simple short stories with happy endings. Interesting how the author connected the women, however the writing had no depth or intrigue.
March 5, 2017
Nice Collection
I generally like longer novels, but this collection of stories flowed together. All set in the same town, characters from earlier stories appeared in later ones. Each story featured a woman who brought her own brand of strength to the wilderness of Montana. Some brought sorrow from past losses due to the Civil War, but found hope and purpose in their future.
I generally like longer novels, but this collection of stories flowed together. All set in the same town, characters from earlier stories appeared in later ones. Each story featured a woman who brought her own brand of strength to the wilderness of Montana. Some brought sorrow from past losses due to the Civil War, but found hope and purpose in their future.
July 30, 2020
A nice little bunch of stories to waste some time during a pandemic. Nothing earth shattering about them and to drool to be interesting. Perfect for the Hallmark crowd to drool over, where all the women are beautiful and all the men are handsome. Que in Dudley Do Right.
January 13, 2017
Historical Western Romance
5 star's for this book!!!!!! The wOmen of Crooked Creek is a delightful series. I enjoyed this book and hope you will too!!!!!
5 star's for this book!!!!!! The wOmen of Crooked Creek is a delightful series. I enjoyed this book and hope you will too!!!!!
January 19, 2017
I enjoyed this book.
December 1, 2023
Interesting short stories, each the tale of a different independent woman on the frontier.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews