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Calder Saga #2
Stands a Calder Man
Webb Calder fought the newcomers who rushed to claim grasslands where Calder cattle grazed. But he could not resist Lilli -- a proud and lovely young immigrant, loyal to the homesteader's cause, and to her husband. Still, a Calder kept what he had and got what he wanted. Where a man stands for what he believes, there "Stands a Calder Man."
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
257 people are currently reading
816 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
396 books1,851 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 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 24, 2019
Hopes die and man moves on, but the land stays.
"Stands A Calder Man" tells the stories of the Calder family.
We meet Lorna and Benteen, now aged but still working hard to maintain the land they claimed. Their only son Webb has grown old now, and Benteen struggles to make him take the ranch's reins. Webb, on the other hand, wants to earn his due instead of taking over his heritage. Lorna has also taken in Mary's daughter Ruth as her own she she passed away, and now hopes for her marriage with Webb.
However, as immigrants move into their land to claim and make their living, Webb starts getting fascinated and soon falls in love with a young woman Lilli. Much to his heartbreak, he soon realizes that Lilli is married to an older man, and vows to stay loyal to him. However, true love cannot be denied, so our couples go through much heartbreak in the course of the story.
We see the death of two beloved character (I totally had a breakdown), the grief of forbidden love vs the suffering of the non reciprocated feelings, the machiavellianism of land politics, the metamorphoses bought on by jealousy and the ultimate decision of fate/
Honestly, I would love to recommend this book to everyone, but its definitely for those who can take in high doses of angst. The aging and deaths of cherished characters are hard to take, but the book is SO WELL DONE, it will be worth it in the end. But keep your tissues in handy, as they do not end in traditional HEA.
LOVED IT.
SWE
4.5/5
"Stands A Calder Man" tells the stories of the Calder family.
We meet Lorna and Benteen, now aged but still working hard to maintain the land they claimed. Their only son Webb has grown old now, and Benteen struggles to make him take the ranch's reins. Webb, on the other hand, wants to earn his due instead of taking over his heritage. Lorna has also taken in Mary's daughter Ruth as her own she she passed away, and now hopes for her marriage with Webb.
However, as immigrants move into their land to claim and make their living, Webb starts getting fascinated and soon falls in love with a young woman Lilli. Much to his heartbreak, he soon realizes that Lilli is married to an older man, and vows to stay loyal to him. However, true love cannot be denied, so our couples go through much heartbreak in the course of the story.
We see the death of two beloved character (I totally had a breakdown), the grief of forbidden love vs the suffering of the non reciprocated feelings, the machiavellianism of land politics, the metamorphoses bought on by jealousy and the ultimate decision of fate/
Honestly, I would love to recommend this book to everyone, but its definitely for those who can take in high doses of angst. The aging and deaths of cherished characters are hard to take, but the book is SO WELL DONE, it will be worth it in the end. But keep your tissues in handy, as they do not end in traditional HEA.
LOVED IT.
SWE
4.5/5
July 11, 2022
*3.5 stars. I liked the historical element of this book, it felt like a novelization of the song from Oklahoma- “The Farmer and the Cowman” (any Rodgers and Hammerstein fans out there?). But I had major problems with the ending and the trope involved here. I’m eager to continue in the series but this definitely felt more like a filler book for the next one.
Read
March 31, 2024Not quite sure how to feel about this book! I devoured it. I knew from Chels and Beth some context about the books on either side of the series.
Between Benteen, Webb and Chase, Webb Calder seems to be the sweetest of the Calder men in his relationship, but that is relative, of course. And he is punished for it, so that by the end of the book we see him prepared to inherit the Calder legacy in truth, with all the violence and power that comes with it.
Ranching and farming make for a great historical romance setting! It was very easy to project Regency England structure that I am familiar with onto these characters.
Anyway, I will be thinking about this book forever!
Between Benteen, Webb and Chase, Webb Calder seems to be the sweetest of the Calder men in his relationship, but that is relative, of course. And he is punished for it, so that by the end of the book we see him prepared to inherit the Calder legacy in truth, with all the violence and power that comes with it.
Ranching and farming make for a great historical romance setting! It was very easy to project Regency England structure that I am familiar with onto these characters.
Anyway, I will be thinking about this book forever!
February 25, 2014
Janet Dailey is an excellent writter. She adds depth to the characters and build complex stories that actually hold a persons interest. This isn't your easy boy meets girl romance. She's married and not about to cheat. The emotions just simmer for a very long time. You feel for the characters. You want them to have a happy ending, but know it's going to be Hell to get them there. Kept me interested and turning pages. I always enjoy Daileys books..and would recommend them to anyone who doesn't want a run of the mill, romance.
June 18, 2025
Love this series. First read it in the 80’s and am reading it for at least the 5th time.
December 17, 2017
4,5*****
October 14, 2013
Chase Benteen Calder(Benteen) with his wife Lorna are partners in running The Triple C ranch also know as The Calder Cattle Company. Their son Webb silently fights with his father about being his heir who is straddling the fence rather than facing his responsibility. Webb doesn't want to be like his fater yet understands some of his points of view. Lorna hopes that Webb will settle down soon and choose Ruth Stanton. Webb thinks of Ruth as a sister nothing more. Webb meets Lillian Reisner(Lilli) not knowning she's married and a farmer's wife. Webb can't get Lilli out of is mind no matter how much his mother pushes Ruth at him. Will the farmers succeed? Will Webb accept his feelings for Lilli? What will Lilli do? How much life with change for Lilli and Webb? Your answers await you in Stands A Calder Man.
I don't know what it is about this series and author but I can't seem to put down these books. I love reading about generations of the same family. The characters are well written and rich in history. The setting in Montans is perfect. I'll continue to read this series because it's simply so much more than just a book.
I don't know what it is about this series and author but I can't seem to put down these books. I love reading about generations of the same family. The characters are well written and rich in history. The setting in Montans is perfect. I'll continue to read this series because it's simply so much more than just a book.
February 23, 2023
Oof.. I reviewed the book previous to this one, and said that it doesn’t hold back. This one goes even further with the no-holds punching that it brings. It is such a GOOD book, but watch out, it comes with heartbreak. This story picks up where the last left off, with Benteen Calder and his family and their ranch hands working their ranch during the late to early 18-1900s. It follows Webb Calder as he grows and goes through some pretty rough growing pains as an adult, having to make some pretty tough decisions about his life and the life of the ranch. It also tells about the small town of Blue Moon, the boom that it sees and the people that raced to the territory to try and make their fortune all while Webb learns how to live his life in the shoes of his father. This is a heartbreaker, so be prepared, but it’s absolutely worth it.
“When the land is abused, nature has a way of striking back. Land will eventually go back to what nature intended, but the cost is high. The land is what it is, no matter what man does or thinks he can do. Benteen Calder knew it, and Webb learned it.
“Hopes die and man moves on, but the land stays.” Kindle page 428 (last page, last paragraph)
“When the land is abused, nature has a way of striking back. Land will eventually go back to what nature intended, but the cost is high. The land is what it is, no matter what man does or thinks he can do. Benteen Calder knew it, and Webb learned it.
“Hopes die and man moves on, but the land stays.” Kindle page 428 (last page, last paragraph)
March 9, 2019
Webb Calder was a Man's Man. He was the struggling son of Chase Benteen Calder, trying to come into his own, but learning the ropes was difficult at first due to his father always there. With the passing of time, and the loss of his father he knew he had to step up his game.
Learning the ranch, struggling with his parents wanting him to marry within the ranch family, Ruth Stanton to be specific.
Immigrants arrive and Lilli a young married woman catches his eye. He can't get her off his mind.
Troubles develop between the ranchers and Immigrants. The ranchers practice conservation and try to keep the land from becoming decimated due to their lifestyle. The Immigrants clear the soil of it's natural grassland and errosion begins.
Tempers fly, people fight, death, destruction and Love! This book has a little of everything.
It is an eye opening tale of the old west awakening and moving forward into a new land. I loved this book. What a great addition to the first in the series!
Learning the ranch, struggling with his parents wanting him to marry within the ranch family, Ruth Stanton to be specific.
Immigrants arrive and Lilli a young married woman catches his eye. He can't get her off his mind.
Troubles develop between the ranchers and Immigrants. The ranchers practice conservation and try to keep the land from becoming decimated due to their lifestyle. The Immigrants clear the soil of it's natural grassland and errosion begins.
Tempers fly, people fight, death, destruction and Love! This book has a little of everything.
It is an eye opening tale of the old west awakening and moving forward into a new land. I loved this book. What a great addition to the first in the series!
February 19, 2024
There's no happy ending in this depressing story of violence and greed. Set in Montana in the early nineteen hundreds, this is a grim tale of bitter conflict between a cattle ranching dynasty (the Calders) and immigrant wheat farmers, whose plows are destroying the virgin grassland and exposing the soil to severe drought and erosion. The conflict eventually erupts into violence, but it takes a long time to reach that point, and it doesn't end well. Neither does the romance between Webb Calder and a farmer's young wife, which ends in senseless tragedy.
The dreary plot is bad enough, but it's also littered with dozens of spelling and punctuation errors, which I've never encountered in other books by Janet Dailey. Then there's the frequent head hopping between one character's point of view and another's, often in the very next paragraph (and even within the same paragraph). Confusing? You betcha. The book needs help from a professional proofreader to clean up the errors, but I don't see any hope for the depressing plot. This one earns two disappointed stars from me.
The dreary plot is bad enough, but it's also littered with dozens of spelling and punctuation errors, which I've never encountered in other books by Janet Dailey. Then there's the frequent head hopping between one character's point of view and another's, often in the very next paragraph (and even within the same paragraph). Confusing? You betcha. The book needs help from a professional proofreader to clean up the errors, but I don't see any hope for the depressing plot. This one earns two disappointed stars from me.
June 2, 2019
Stands A Calder Man was just as epic as the 1st time I read it. Benteen Calder is Monopolizing the Eastern side of Montana. The Triple C is growing and it’s being recognized as the Ranch Benteen always dreamed.
Webb is now grown and as Benteen trys to groom him to running the ranch, Webb wants nothing of it. To Webb just being a cowboy and riding the range with the hired hands is his dream and the young woman who had claimed his heart.
Killing his dreams, the young woman he truly loves marries an older man, Webb faces the possibility that his life will be the Ranch and another, as his bride.
When Lilli’s husband dies of Typhoid fever, Webb wastes no time in coming to Lilli’s side.
Then the unthinkable happens and Webb is put into the role he tried so hard to ignore.
This series truly is the real deal, a must read!
Webb is now grown and as Benteen trys to groom him to running the ranch, Webb wants nothing of it. To Webb just being a cowboy and riding the range with the hired hands is his dream and the young woman who had claimed his heart.
Killing his dreams, the young woman he truly loves marries an older man, Webb faces the possibility that his life will be the Ranch and another, as his bride.
When Lilli’s husband dies of Typhoid fever, Webb wastes no time in coming to Lilli’s side.
Then the unthinkable happens and Webb is put into the role he tried so hard to ignore.
This series truly is the real deal, a must read!
October 17, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, "This Calder Range". It clipped along at a steady pace and held my attention. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the second book, "Stands a Calder Man". The majority of the novel moved along at a snail's pace. Benteen's son, Webb, is in love with Lilli, a young immigrant married to a much older man. They love each other; however, years are spent apart. It's towards the end of the novel, that the pace finally picks up speed. I did like the ending and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I just hope it move along at a faster pace.
October 22, 2020
Again, as I mentioned on the initial book of this series I did read this book many years ago. I believe I have read the entire series but it has been a long time ago. I will continue on the next one I’ll see how it goes. I do and did enjoy this Book and characters. I could not remember exactly what the ending was until it got closer. A lot of land with not much family. The only thing is when I read this book many years ago I was thinking it was all in the 1800s, at the end of this book in the epilogue I think it was the late 1920s or possibly mid 1930s.
August 10, 2022
I loved this book but thought the ending was a bit much plus too depressing. I normally hate this trope but I was really rooting for Lilli and Webb. The characters had a lot of depth like I hated Stefan for being a groomer/being weak but he was kind and characters like Franz Kreuger were crazy realistic. Webb was over-dramatic, harsh and silly but still attractive enough and Lilli was all round pretty ok. I liked their relationship as it was the most interesting part of the story. Overall I liked it.
December 26, 2023
I have read the later series in which the relationship between Webb and Lilli was mentioned so I had wondered how it started. This is basically the story Webb and Lilly. Many notable people died in this episode- four of my favorites. Webb became a favorite as did my respect for Ruth. I especially liked the way the author portrays the land of Montana and the joys and hardships in living on it.
March 16, 2024
I love this Calder Series. Wonderful story.
All the Calder books are wonderful. This touching love story was so full of emotion and love. It is fascinating to learn about the historical fact of this era in time. Wonderful book.
All the Calder books are wonderful. This touching love story was so full of emotion and love. It is fascinating to learn about the historical fact of this era in time. Wonderful book.
July 1, 2024
3.5 stars I just finished it and I am truly not sure what to think. It must be good because of the emotion it leaves behind, but I really dislike the ending.
This book contained a lot of hardships and was lacking romance.
This book contained a lot of hardships and was lacking romance.
July 28, 2017
A good western with a romance as a second generation Calder tries to hold own to his father's large cattle ranch.
August 1, 2019
good book
June 16, 2020
I was super mad when chase wouldn't listen to
Lillie after the trial
Lillie after the trial
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2021
I started reading all the Calder series but I was not very impressed so I discontinued.
March 24, 2021
Great Series
This is the second book in the series and it was just as good as the first one. The second book deals with the son Webb. Great read.
This is the second book in the series and it was just as good as the first one. The second book deals with the son Webb. Great read.
Read
May 31, 2021Great book
So well written and realistic, I really like the Calder story and want to read the complete set,it s
great
So well written and realistic, I really like the Calder story and want to read the complete set,it s
great
June 17, 2021
I usually enjoy historical fiction and was anxious to continue to learn more about the Calder saga but I guess I will give it up. I was interested and even enjoyed this BUT the end ruined it for me.
January 13, 2022
The was an Good Book. The ending was an Cliffhangers. Can't wait to read the next book.
February 27, 2022
The author writes making the reader feel like they are actually living the story. Lots of events I wasn't expecting which kept it a page turner
May 4, 2022
Great book! Looking forward to the next one.
September 29, 2023
Great read!
Just wish my local library carried this series of books. Thank-goodness I have my Kindle. Looking forward to the book in the series.
Just wish my local library carried this series of books. Thank-goodness I have my Kindle. Looking forward to the book in the series.
July 24, 2024
book 2
An emotional read with Webb having 3 deaths to deal with. The most grieving one was of his wife Lilli.
An emotional read with Webb having 3 deaths to deal with. The most grieving one was of his wife Lilli.
October 19, 2025
D. Fiction, Western, Series. froms stash, discard
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews