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Calder Strong: The Calder Brand, Book 5
1929, Blue Moon, Montana. A rugged new generation is taking the helm of the cattle town’s most infamous and powerful families. But even as the future burns bright, old rivalries, heartbreaks, buried secrets, and ranching feuds still loom as large as the western sky in a tale perfect for fans of Yellowstone craving western familial sagas.
At 25, Joseph Dollarhide is struggling to find his place as the future head of his ranching family. His father, Blake, may have been disabled in an accident but he’s as domineering as ever. Joseph’s childhood friend, Chase Calder, has inherited the rival Calder operation, and for both young men, longstanding battles over water and grass continue. But there’s yet another weight on Joseph’s shoulders.
Years ago, Joseph abandoned his teenage love, Annabeth, to court glamorous Lucy Merriweather, a seductive trickster. The affair of course imploded, and Annabeth went on to marry a farmer, Silas Mosby, and have two children. But now Joseph has spotted Annabeth and her family in town . . . and he has no doubt that her oldest, a boy, is his.
Joseph’s love for Annabeth never died—and Annabeth, too, still has feelings for him, though they’re tainted by anger. Learning that Silas is involved in a bootlegging ring leaves Joseph troubled. Seeking advice, he turns to his natural father, Mason Dollarhide, a reformed bootlegger. They’ve long been estranged, but perhaps that can change.
Meanwhile, Joseph feels pressed to start his own family. The town’s sweet new schoolteacher seems a perfect match. But as the strain of longstanding feuds persist, and Lucy reappears, flush with stolen money and armed with blackmail, Joseph and some others in Blue Moon will find out just how strong they really are.
The epic tale of the settling of the American West comes to vivid life in this inspiring saga of love, hope, and endurance.
At 25, Joseph Dollarhide is struggling to find his place as the future head of his ranching family. His father, Blake, may have been disabled in an accident but he’s as domineering as ever. Joseph’s childhood friend, Chase Calder, has inherited the rival Calder operation, and for both young men, longstanding battles over water and grass continue. But there’s yet another weight on Joseph’s shoulders.
Years ago, Joseph abandoned his teenage love, Annabeth, to court glamorous Lucy Merriweather, a seductive trickster. The affair of course imploded, and Annabeth went on to marry a farmer, Silas Mosby, and have two children. But now Joseph has spotted Annabeth and her family in town . . . and he has no doubt that her oldest, a boy, is his.
Joseph’s love for Annabeth never died—and Annabeth, too, still has feelings for him, though they’re tainted by anger. Learning that Silas is involved in a bootlegging ring leaves Joseph troubled. Seeking advice, he turns to his natural father, Mason Dollarhide, a reformed bootlegger. They’ve long been estranged, but perhaps that can change.
Meanwhile, Joseph feels pressed to start his own family. The town’s sweet new schoolteacher seems a perfect match. But as the strain of longstanding feuds persist, and Lucy reappears, flush with stolen money and armed with blackmail, Joseph and some others in Blue Moon will find out just how strong they really are.
The epic tale of the settling of the American West comes to vivid life in this inspiring saga of love, hope, and endurance.
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Published September 30, 2025
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About the author
Janet Dailey
390 books1,839 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 15, 2025
I enjoyed this family oriented,small town novel. I guess there are other titles in this series. The story takes place in the late 1920’s in Montana during Prohibition. Cowboys, moonshine, big ranches, gangsters - all are a part of the drama. Fun read with adventure and romance thrown in.
November 23, 2025
In 1929 Blue Moon, Montana, the two families who rule the rugged landscape are the Calders and the Dollarhides. As boys, Chase Calder and Joseph Dollarhide were the best of friends. But now in adulthood, the two find themselves inexorable rivals.
“Like his father and grandfather before him, Chase was Calder strong and Calder rich. He wore his power like a crown.” Joseph doesn’t take to the yolk of power as easily as Chase: “Unless another war called him away, he would live out his life here, in this remote corner of Montana, bound by family duty to his father, the ranch, and that accursed saw mill.” He also still has to finesse the reins from his overbearing father, Blake.
It’s been several months since the horrible accident that took the lives of Joseph’s mother and younger sister, and left his father permanently disabled and bitter. Since their deaths, everything is different: “The house was silent, as if the accident had sucked the life of what had once been a home. Hannah and Elsa had been the happy members of the family, chatting, laughing, and singing as they went about their day. Now, memories lurked like ghosts in empty rooms and shadowed corners. Even the air felt dead.”
Despite his injuries, proud Blake is still trying to run the ranch with an iron fist. Now is the time for Joseph to step up to his rightful role as boss. But like most things in life, it’s not that easy. Joseph has to reconcile the conflicted feelings over his birthright. Could he make the commitment to the ranch, or should he concentrate on finding love again? In his late teens, he had fallen in love with beautiful Annabeth, a sweet local farm girl. But he had left her to court the glamorous yet crafty Lucy Wainwright, a relationship that burned too bright and imploded almost as fast as it started.
Years later, Joseph spots Annabeth in town. She married Silas Mosby, another local farmer, and has two children named Lucas and Ellie. Joseph can’t be sure, but he becomes convinced that Lucas is his son. He also starts to rediscover his old feelings for Annabeth, but nothing can be done about that. It’s too late.
Joseph has other complicated family relationships to navigate. His father, Blake’s half-brother, Mason, had alienated himself from the rest of the family years ago, when he impregnated an innocent young farm girl and fled town to avoid a shotgun wedding. Well, Blake stepped up and married that girl, Hannah. He raised her son, Joseph, as his own and even had another child with her. The only thing that Joseph had in common with Mason was his piercing green eyes. Town gossip revealed that Mason went to prison for bootlegging, but recently he got out and inherited a nearby farm from his mother. He reportedly was trying to turn his life around. Despite these efforts, Joseph wants nothing to do with him. But now, after seeing Annabeth’s son, could it be possible that history is repeating itself?
In addition to the ranch rivalries, Blue Moon has a couple of new residents. The mysterious Lola is an oddly costumed woman who has taken over the local cafe: “Dressed in a peasant blouse and embroidered skirt, with a lace shawl over her head, she might have been a beauty once. But her face had been cruelly and utterly destroyed. Puckered scars criss-crossed her features, pulling them into a grotesque mask that was framed by waves of coal black hair.”
There is also Francine, the new schoolteacher who is from “back East” and immediately susses out the big catch in town. Despite Joseph showing her the sights, Francine can tell who has more clout: “Chase Calder needed a wife and an heir. She was ready and willing to supply both. And the Calder name would be its own reward.” She tries to keep both men interested and on a short leash. But Joseph can’t stop thinking about Annabeth, especially when he realizes that her husband is abusive. Can he do anything to help his teenage love?
The harsh landscapes of 1920s Montana provide the consummate backdrop for the even harsher events involving the ranchers, bootleggers, farmhands, criminals, the women who love them, and the families who depend on them.
Janet Dailey’s CALDER STRONG is perfect for fans of "Yellowstone," especially the prequel, "1923." It’s an adept blend of historical fiction and romance, with a few twists and turns. Despite the title, the story focuses more on Joseph and the Dollarhide family, with the Calders being more peripheral this time out. For readers who really love a deep dive, there are 15 other Calder novels to feast upon.
Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller
“Like his father and grandfather before him, Chase was Calder strong and Calder rich. He wore his power like a crown.” Joseph doesn’t take to the yolk of power as easily as Chase: “Unless another war called him away, he would live out his life here, in this remote corner of Montana, bound by family duty to his father, the ranch, and that accursed saw mill.” He also still has to finesse the reins from his overbearing father, Blake.
It’s been several months since the horrible accident that took the lives of Joseph’s mother and younger sister, and left his father permanently disabled and bitter. Since their deaths, everything is different: “The house was silent, as if the accident had sucked the life of what had once been a home. Hannah and Elsa had been the happy members of the family, chatting, laughing, and singing as they went about their day. Now, memories lurked like ghosts in empty rooms and shadowed corners. Even the air felt dead.”
Despite his injuries, proud Blake is still trying to run the ranch with an iron fist. Now is the time for Joseph to step up to his rightful role as boss. But like most things in life, it’s not that easy. Joseph has to reconcile the conflicted feelings over his birthright. Could he make the commitment to the ranch, or should he concentrate on finding love again? In his late teens, he had fallen in love with beautiful Annabeth, a sweet local farm girl. But he had left her to court the glamorous yet crafty Lucy Wainwright, a relationship that burned too bright and imploded almost as fast as it started.
Years later, Joseph spots Annabeth in town. She married Silas Mosby, another local farmer, and has two children named Lucas and Ellie. Joseph can’t be sure, but he becomes convinced that Lucas is his son. He also starts to rediscover his old feelings for Annabeth, but nothing can be done about that. It’s too late.
Joseph has other complicated family relationships to navigate. His father, Blake’s half-brother, Mason, had alienated himself from the rest of the family years ago, when he impregnated an innocent young farm girl and fled town to avoid a shotgun wedding. Well, Blake stepped up and married that girl, Hannah. He raised her son, Joseph, as his own and even had another child with her. The only thing that Joseph had in common with Mason was his piercing green eyes. Town gossip revealed that Mason went to prison for bootlegging, but recently he got out and inherited a nearby farm from his mother. He reportedly was trying to turn his life around. Despite these efforts, Joseph wants nothing to do with him. But now, after seeing Annabeth’s son, could it be possible that history is repeating itself?
In addition to the ranch rivalries, Blue Moon has a couple of new residents. The mysterious Lola is an oddly costumed woman who has taken over the local cafe: “Dressed in a peasant blouse and embroidered skirt, with a lace shawl over her head, she might have been a beauty once. But her face had been cruelly and utterly destroyed. Puckered scars criss-crossed her features, pulling them into a grotesque mask that was framed by waves of coal black hair.”
There is also Francine, the new schoolteacher who is from “back East” and immediately susses out the big catch in town. Despite Joseph showing her the sights, Francine can tell who has more clout: “Chase Calder needed a wife and an heir. She was ready and willing to supply both. And the Calder name would be its own reward.” She tries to keep both men interested and on a short leash. But Joseph can’t stop thinking about Annabeth, especially when he realizes that her husband is abusive. Can he do anything to help his teenage love?
The harsh landscapes of 1920s Montana provide the consummate backdrop for the even harsher events involving the ranchers, bootleggers, farmhands, criminals, the women who love them, and the families who depend on them.
Janet Dailey’s CALDER STRONG is perfect for fans of "Yellowstone," especially the prequel, "1923." It’s an adept blend of historical fiction and romance, with a few twists and turns. Despite the title, the story focuses more on Joseph and the Dollarhide family, with the Calders being more peripheral this time out. For readers who really love a deep dive, there are 15 other Calder novels to feast upon.
Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller
October 3, 2025
Good book but chronological errors.
The book is very well written as far as characters and plot. However, there are serious chronological errors. In the original books the O’Rourkes moved to Blue Moon after WWII. Chase Calder is an adult in this book. Chronologically that is impossible as he and Buck both were born in the 1920’s. His and Maggie’s relationship occurred much later. It would have been Webb, Chase’s father, who would have been in his 30’s in the 1920’s. Serious failure that could have been easily fixed with simple research.
The book is very well written as far as characters and plot. However, there are serious chronological errors. In the original books the O’Rourkes moved to Blue Moon after WWII. Chase Calder is an adult in this book. Chronologically that is impossible as he and Buck both were born in the 1920’s. His and Maggie’s relationship occurred much later. It would have been Webb, Chase’s father, who would have been in his 30’s in the 1920’s. Serious failure that could have been easily fixed with simple research.
November 25, 2025
If you've read the series it's a lot like visiting with old friends..so it's an easy and comfortable read.
The book had a major flaw. Blue Moon is a very small town. When Joseph noticed that Annabeth's five-year-old son looked exactly like him, it was a surprise to him. I'm not sure how he hadn't seen the child before he turned five, or didn't know that Annabeth was married to a harsh man. Even if by some chance they'd never seen each other in town, he'd have heard the gossip. Despite this, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one, which I'm hoping features Chase.
The book had a major flaw. Blue Moon is a very small town. When Joseph noticed that Annabeth's five-year-old son looked exactly like him, it was a surprise to him. I'm not sure how he hadn't seen the child before he turned five, or didn't know that Annabeth was married to a harsh man. Even if by some chance they'd never seen each other in town, he'd have heard the gossip. Despite this, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one, which I'm hoping features Chase.
September 21, 2025
Joseph Dollarhide is the main character in Calder Strong. He is a 24 year old cowboy who loves breaking and training young horses and looks forward to doing that for many years before taking over his father's ranch and sawmill. An accident changes everything. His father's injuries forces him to step up immediately. There are so many disparate things happening in his life. Set in 1929 Montana an interesting snapshot of that place and time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
Another installment in Calder saga.
Joseph Dollarhide, Joe Dollarhide’s heir, becomes involved again with his former teenage love, Annabeth. She is now married to an abusive husband, and the mother of Joseph’s son. When she needs him most, Joseph is always there for her. Will their story have a happy ending?
Joseph Dollarhide, Joe Dollarhide’s heir, becomes involved again with his former teenage love, Annabeth. She is now married to an abusive husband, and the mother of Joseph’s son. When she needs him most, Joseph is always there for her. Will their story have a happy ending?
October 12, 2025
This book at just a little bit of the Calder Family in the books. It is more about the Dallaride family. It does mention the Calder's in it and I would have liked to see more of a their presence in the story to go along with the tittle.
I hope the next book will feature Chase Calder story .
I enjoy this series of books.
I hope the next book will feature Chase Calder story .
I enjoy this series of books.
September 27, 2025
I received this book as part of a giveaway and it was entertaining and fun to read. I did have to suspend my belief at times (for example, Miranda rights weren’t a thing until the 1960s and this book is set in the 1920s), but it didn’t really detract from the essence of the book.
October 2, 2025
The Dollarhide Family
The agonizing story of a wrong being made right after murder, abuse and neglect to a beautiful woman and her children. It was riveting story of love and passion with the family finding home and love at last
The agonizing story of a wrong being made right after murder, abuse and neglect to a beautiful woman and her children. It was riveting story of love and passion with the family finding home and love at last
October 10, 2025
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Calder Strong is a western crime drama set during prohibition. Throw in a little romance and you get an enjoyable read. Characters were well developed. Good pacing. 4 Stars…
September 26, 2025
While an entertaining read, this book is more like popcorn than anything with sustenance.
September 29, 2025
Enjoyed the setting and time period of this Janet Dailey western novel! I won this book in a Good Read drawing which was an added bonus.
Want to read
October 29, 2025E
November 6, 2025
I love this series. I highly recommend this series of history of a strong family. I hope there will be more.
November 20, 2025
Calder strong
Good read, lots of twists, with some surprising. It remains true to the Calder story. Looking at to reading the next one
Good read, lots of twists, with some surprising. It remains true to the Calder story. Looking at to reading the next one
December 19, 2025
I liked it! The title was a bit deceiving as the main protagonist was not a Calder. Still an enjoyable fast read.
October 17, 2025
This book carried the rivalry between two ranchers to yet another generation. While at times the tangled web of relationships got a little too much to seem believable (I realized it is fiction), even complicated, it was an excellent story. If it were as movie, the ending would be exciting with a feel good finish. Having read the previous books in this series added to appreciation of the story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews