Something More

by Janet Dailey

When he stumbles upon the key to solving a centuries-old mystery involving a stolen fortune in gold, rancher Luke McCallister, haunted by tragedy, decides to help the great-grandaughter of one of the bandits find the treasure, which leads them both on a powerful journey of danger, faith, trust, and love. 125,000 first printing.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Adult Fiction, Mystery

313 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

Janet 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.

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember if I've ever read any of Janet Dailey's books prior to joining Goodreads. I know I haven't read any sense joining, but she was a favorite of my grandmothers. I have a small stack of Janet Dailey's books that use to belong to my grandmother that I will hopefully one day read and will always treasure. They are the Harlequin Romance books, very small and short.

I enjoyed this book. A number of the characters really frustrated me which I take as good writing...lol. I think Luke was my favorite. He kept his cool the whole time and never really got all excited about finding the gold. Maybe it's because...well I don't want to spoil anything.

I didn't catch on who Saddlebags was until well into the second half of the book. It was a nice surprise. A little sad too.

Luke, Angie, Tobe, Dulcie, Fargo, Griff, Ima Jane, Henry

Rating: PG -overall a clean read, some violence and breaking and entering.
Language: no profanity or use of deity that I can remember - there was implied swearing, but words were never actually spoken by the characters
Recommend: yes

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A "formula" book. Predictable plot. The only time I took notice was when the old ranch hand said "whom do you suppose..." I kept thinking that maybe he was really someone in disguise - more likely just an editing error.

[Barbara Brodhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. It would also make a great movie.
Set in the wilds of Wyoming, a small town, an old story, a mystery, a search for gold, and a little romance. What more do you want!😊

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I figured out the big secret about 1/4 the way into the book, and there wasn't even that much romance. I like a lot of romance, so I was disappointed in that.

[Karenzielinski · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mystery, a western, a romance. Meh. Recommended by a friend but not my cup of tea. Cliched ending, don't waste your time.

[Marianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to finish this boring book, and I did not like the ending.
First time with this author, don't think I'll read any more.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. This book could've really used an epilogue. It's classified as a romance but there's really very little of that. It's not a bad story, just not as involved and finished as it could have been.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a reason it took me so long to finish this book - it's awful. Waste of my time.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something More is a great book written by Janet Dailey, a (former) favorite author of mine. It's not one of Janet's typical stories of man & woman meet, have troubles then admit their love in the last several pages. In this regard, it is a breath of fresh air. It also isn't the quality of her best known series, The Calder series, but it is pure Janet Dailey.

Angie Sommers comes to Glory, Wyoming, a town so small the town sign blew down, the town didn't bother replacing it when it blew down. She's in Glory as her grandfather's deceased body was found on the Ten Bar and she's come to claim it. She's also hoping to find the gold her great-grandfather, Ike Wilson stole. Ike had sent his wife a last letter which purportedly provided directions to where the gold was buried. Angie hopes to hire Luke McCallister to help her locate the gold.

Luke McCallister, the owner of the Ten Bar Ranch, is a near constant drunken widower who lost his wife & child in a house fire. Luke holds himself responsible for their deaths as he was in town when the fire ignited, eventually killing Luke's two loves. Luke, however, doesn't want anything to do with the gold search.

There is trouble and greed amongst those who visit the town restaurant/bar (& church on Sundays) after learning why Angie is in town.

In addition to fully developed main characters Angie & Luke, Ms. Dailey wrote nicely developed, if annoying, side characters Fargo, Dulcie, Ima Jane, Tobe, Griff, and Saddlebags.

This book was clearly written by the real Janet Dailey several years before she passed away (in 2013). The writing in this book is clearly Janet Dailey, while "Janet Dailey" books after 2013 are written by a ghostwriter under Janet Dailey's name WITH Janet's full approval. Janet even taught the ghostwriter her style of writing. However, I can tell the difference in the writing, hence my sharing above Janet Dailey is a former favorite author of mine.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in Glory, Wyoming, population fifty-one, isn't exactly exciting. The dusty old town isn't even on the map. And for rancher Luke McCallister, that's just fine. Broken by tragedy, the stoic cowboy spends his time at his Ten Bar Ranch or down at Ima Jane's Rimrock Bar, trying to avoid the gossip being served along with the food and drink. But the everyday quiet of his life is shattered when he finds a human skull--and possibly the key to Glory's oldest mystery.
It was one hundred years ago that a band of outlaws were said to have buried their gold in Glory. The one surviving bandit took the secret of the treasure's hiding place with him to the gallows. Angie Sommers knows the story cold: that man was her great-great-grandfather. She's come to Glory to see if the old legend of the gold is true, and she wants Luke to help her find it. She even has incentive: a possible clue written by the dead man himself.
Luke has no interest in chasing after pipe dreams. He's seen the damage too much hope can bring. Still, he can't deny that Angie makes him feel things he hasn't allowed himself to feel in years. Something about her sweet, trusting nature, her honest eyes, and unshakable belief makes him feel alive again--and that could be dangerous. For someone else is determined to stop Angie, someone who would do anything for the outlaws'gold. Now, bound by the thinnest of ties and shadowed by danger, Luke and Angie set off in search of a mystery as romantic as the west itself on a journey of faith that will take them into Wyoming's rugged, treacherous terrain and even deeper into the heart's tender graces...

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! This is my kind of book. Daily gives you a reason to want to know more from the first few pages on through to the last few pages of the book where there is still yet another twist. This is my first Daily book but now I know to put her on my to read list of authors. I loved the way she painted a picture of Glory and Luke's ranch so well that I had the entire area pictured in my mind. The only complaints I could give on this book would be that I want to know what the future of Luke and Angie is and what they all do after the Legend is found to be true.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ranch and horse descriptions are accurate and really puts the reader right in the scene.
I enjoyed this story. It was easy to follow and the characters were fun. Angie is sweet and I appreciated her affection towards Delsie.
It has a Wizard of Oz theme where in the end everyone discovers they already have what they think they are missing.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit I checked this book out from the library based on its cover. As an artist, it looked like something I would paint myself, and there were horses, so how bad could it be? It wasn't bad at all, I just felt like I was watching an episode of Bonanza in my mind...and I did enjoy watching Bonanza as a child.

[NanceryQueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a Janet Dailey book. They always tend to be the same. It's something to read.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is wonderful mind candy. Full of cowboys, missing gold, intertwined relationships and a happy ending.

[Christy Warlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western, Romance (but not too steamy) and adventure. It's a great combination of traits for an enjoyable read.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Very formulaic and the ending offered no surprises. The characters were cardboard cut outs.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice western book with much history and family background

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good, easy read. Predictable and sentimental.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. What a great story!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

gd read

[Tracy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty fun read!! I was hoping to read more of the Angie & Luke relationship blooming! I did begin to figure out Saddlebags fella and it made me smile when it was solved.

[Mary Stoetzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story reminded me of the old westerns on TV. There's a lot of controversy but love and friendship prevails.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wa a good read.

[Rhoda Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dec 2025

[Terri Keaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprise ending! Good. story

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. I don't really enjoy books where the heroine is so helpless and has to be rescued all the time so that I more my preference. I eventually quit reading it and returned the book to the library.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a sweet read. For a change I read a book that really just focused on the characters and the story. I loved reading how each of the characters showed what their weaknesses were and as the story progressed they started to confront each of their issues and began to realize that all they really wanted was already right there in front of them. It was easy to relate with each of the characters as well and understand why they felt the way they did because I think each of us have been in that point in our lives or will at least face that challenge at some point. It is so easy to relate to Toby and his youth and seeing your whole life ahead of you, all your dreams and passions and at the same time slowly figuring it out that part of what is holding you back is your youth and inexperience. Angie is so fun to relate to with her enthusiasm to finish a dream that her family has held onto for the past couple generations. Maybe we haven't faced the same loss as Luke but at some point in all of our lives we will face loss and need to learn how to work through that loss. It is so easy to understand Griff and his feelings of being stuck in life. It is hard when we his that stage in life and then try to face it. I just wonder how he is able to work things out with his wife when he goes home, the book doesn't get far enough to let you know that part. That is just part of who is in the book and what they are going through in life. There are some things that are left hanging and left for you to finish and for me I always hope for the best and that even though each of these characters will continue to face challenges, they will also take the knowledge and peace with them that the book ends with and take that into their future lives. Just as we can take that same knowledge into our lives and put it towards our dreams and work to make our lives better. Just like in the book, most times in our lives when we feel frustrated or stuck or scared, everything we need to work through those challenges are right there already in our lives.

[KDawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, while the story was cute, I found the writing in this one overly melodramatic. Let's face it, do I need details about 'why' he drank his milk (to flush his half chewed food) or us it enough to just say he sipped his milk? I realized half way through that the author used to write romance novels and that explained a lot. There was just far to much detail in the wrong things. Still, the story was cute and I DID finish it! So, I don't know that I'd pick up another of her books or not. The characters were pretty standard and she continually explains why they say things or how they look at each other, instead of letting the dialogue do that. It was just an ok book in the end.

[Irene M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for an audiobook borrowed through my library’s Overdrive app.
This book is great for when you want light reading that’s well written. You’ll find that with most books from Janet Dailey, though some of my faves are her novel-length books: The Rogue; Touch the Wind; The Pride of Hannah Wade; This Calder Range; Silver Wings,Santiago Blue
Favorite shorts: Leftover Love; Western Man, For the Love of God; all 50 Americana books.

This is a well done older Dailey book (pre-cell phones) that has an interesting blend of mystery-the long missing booty from a robbery- along with life lessons for several characters, and a sweet almost romance.
Rate would rate it at 4.3