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The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet #1
A Cheyenne Christmas
They need each other to survive... but their families need a reason to celebrate.
Ash Barker and his brother had just about built their ranch into a success when he busted his arm trying to tame a particularly nasty mustang. Now they’re headed into Cheyenne’s harsh winter with fewer hands and a very real danger of failure. They need someone else—anyone else—out there with them, to make it through this season.
Molly Murray’s dream of owning her own bakery went up in flames with the Great Chicago Fire. She’s been supporting her younger sisters for the last four years, and it seems like the Cheyenne wilderness might be her last chance to give them all a real home. But no one will hire her... until she meets the intimidatingly masculine, incredibly handsome, and very desperate Ash Barker.
Can their unique families blend in time to celebrate their first real Cheyenne Christmas?
***************************
Fall in love with the series that reviewers are calling "heartwarming", "realistically sweet" and full of "lovable characters"... fall in love with The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet
Heat Level: 1 out of 5 (very sweet)
Suitable for all audiences
Ash Barker and his brother had just about built their ranch into a success when he busted his arm trying to tame a particularly nasty mustang. Now they’re headed into Cheyenne’s harsh winter with fewer hands and a very real danger of failure. They need someone else—anyone else—out there with them, to make it through this season.
Molly Murray’s dream of owning her own bakery went up in flames with the Great Chicago Fire. She’s been supporting her younger sisters for the last four years, and it seems like the Cheyenne wilderness might be her last chance to give them all a real home. But no one will hire her... until she meets the intimidatingly masculine, incredibly handsome, and very desperate Ash Barker.
Can their unique families blend in time to celebrate their first real Cheyenne Christmas?
***************************
Fall in love with the series that reviewers are calling "heartwarming", "realistically sweet" and full of "lovable characters"... fall in love with The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet
Heat Level: 1 out of 5 (very sweet)
Suitable for all audiences
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2013
898 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 3, 2020
A Cheyenne Christmas is my 22nd Christmas book of the season.
I wrote a scathing review, but felt bad about it, so I decided to rewrite it and not be so mean.
There are errors in this book that need addressing, and the author needs to be careful with simple things that were glaring to me. Like someone who spent any time on a farm would know you can't leave a ranch for a day or two without having someone to milk their cows or feed their chickens.
At one point Molly was eyeing a beautiful doll and said, "I wonder if Annie ever had anything that beautiful." She was talking about her little sister....someone she lived with every day since Annie was born. It was a time filler or something that needs rewording and should have been caught by an editor.
The writing style was lacking, simple, but some of the subject content would not have been appropriate for a young age level...like explanation of love making. 🤨
Well now, that sounds much less critical, but I get my point across..sort of.
.
I wrote a scathing review, but felt bad about it, so I decided to rewrite it and not be so mean.
There are errors in this book that need addressing, and the author needs to be careful with simple things that were glaring to me. Like someone who spent any time on a farm would know you can't leave a ranch for a day or two without having someone to milk their cows or feed their chickens.
At one point Molly was eyeing a beautiful doll and said, "I wonder if Annie ever had anything that beautiful." She was talking about her little sister....someone she lived with every day since Annie was born. It was a time filler or something that needs rewording and should have been caught by an editor.
The writing style was lacking, simple, but some of the subject content would not have been appropriate for a young age level...like explanation of love making. 🤨
Well now, that sounds much less critical, but I get my point across..sort of.
.
July 12, 2021
Sweet, undemanding historical escapism but lacking in tension or drama. And when I say it’s lacking I mean totally lacking, there was none. Kind of sweet but meh. Complete story, part of a series of recurring characters.
December 8, 2013
Molly is desperate to find a respectable job so that she can support her younger sisters and heads out to the unfamiliar west to seek that fortune. When she first sees Nate, she is taken aback as he clearly has Indian heritage and she has only read penny dreadful depictions. He stops her falling and she recognises that he is no threat. When she then sees a large man with a thunderous expression heading for Nate, she decides that she can’t just stand by and rushes to intervene – meeting Ash, Nate’s brother.
Fate brings Molly into Ash’s life at the perfect time and he treasures everything about her. Molly is equally drawn and equally reticent to believe that the object of her affections could feel the same way.
A delightful, uncomplicated short read (about 124 pages) – a sweet romance with well-rounded characters. The addition of Molly’s sisters sets the scene for a wonderful feel-good Christmas tale.
Fate brings Molly into Ash’s life at the perfect time and he treasures everything about her. Molly is equally drawn and equally reticent to believe that the object of her affections could feel the same way.
A delightful, uncomplicated short read (about 124 pages) – a sweet romance with well-rounded characters. The addition of Molly’s sisters sets the scene for a wonderful feel-good Christmas tale.
February 23, 2015
A gentle sweet read, with a predictable plot. Not much really happens though. I would have liked some tension, some drama. Instead we had Molly worrying about whether Ash loved her. Ad this was the man she had mad, passionate sex with every night, and she still thinks he doesn't love her?? And then we find out that Ash is also wondering if Molly loves him???
It didn't make much sense to me. It was as if the author suddenly realised that the story needed some drama (which it did)
The writing was okay, but I felt distanced from the characters, although Nathan was wonderful. There were some editing errors - Ash arriving in town with 'one arm tucked tightly against his side' but later we read that he is wearing a sling, and then later on, the arm is in a heavy plaster cast.
It didn't make much sense to me. It was as if the author suddenly realised that the story needed some drama (which it did)
The writing was okay, but I felt distanced from the characters, although Nathan was wonderful. There were some editing errors - Ash arriving in town with 'one arm tucked tightly against his side' but later we read that he is wearing a sling, and then later on, the arm is in a heavy plaster cast.
April 19, 2017
Our heroine Molly lands in Cheyenne, straight from Chicago where the infamous fire has destroyed her dreams of opening a bakery. Desperate to find work so she can support her two younger sisters, who does she meet fresh off the train than Nate Barker, the adopted half-breed indian brother of our hero, Ash Barker. A mountain of a man, Ash appears frightening and intimidating as he comes to town to reign in his rebellious brother. Ash has a long mend from a badly broken arm and needs temporary help on his ranch while Molly desperately needs a place for herself and her sisters. So as to protect Molly's virtue out on the ranch, Ash weds Molly and the relationship begins as a marriage-in-name-only. Will Molly's dream of continuing out west to begin her bakery happen? Will Ash's growing fondness for Molly keep her at his ranch? This is a quiet story full of relational tension between these two. The arrival of Molly's sisters heightens this to another level. There is some love-making involved (well, they ARE married!) but the author spares the reader any graphic details so it remains a sweet, clean romance. Will these two be able to finally express their confused feelings openly? This reviewer enjoyed this story so much that the rest of the "Cheyenne Quartet" is now firmly on his to-read list.
October 15, 2016
A sweet romance set in the old West of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Nothing complicated about this little story but if you like heartwarming reads, this fits the bill nicely.
August 19, 2020
Thoughts: There are some inconsistencies that the editor should have caught, as other reviewers have noted. This is a story without much tension, just sweet and simple. Nice characters.
December 3, 2015
Ash Barker and his adopted brother, Nate, have worked hard and built a successful ranch in Wyoming. Just before winter, Ash broke his arm so he couldn't do all the work needed.
Molly Murray had been looking for a job to support her younger sisters for years when she decided to go to Cheyenne, Wyoming and look for work. She doesn't have any better luck there until she meets Ash who needs any help on his ranch he can get so hires Molly as his housekeeper. Molly was pleasantly surprised when Ash said her sisters could live at the ranch with her.
This is a wonderfully accurate historical romance. It's well written with likable characters. Molly is a strong woman who wants to care for her sisters and will take almost any kind of job to do that. Ash is a big, gruff man who's bark is worse than his bite. He's a hard worker but very kind to his brother, Molly and her sisters. The secondary characters, Wendy, Annie and Nate added to the story, especially with their thoughts of what was proper behavior in those times.
The romance that developed between Molly and Ash was enjoyable to see. Ash was behaving in ways totally foreign to him, which was a bit funny. Molly hid her feelings toward Ash - being the lady she was.
This is a wonderful frontier Christmas romance.
Molly Murray had been looking for a job to support her younger sisters for years when she decided to go to Cheyenne, Wyoming and look for work. She doesn't have any better luck there until she meets Ash who needs any help on his ranch he can get so hires Molly as his housekeeper. Molly was pleasantly surprised when Ash said her sisters could live at the ranch with her.
This is a wonderfully accurate historical romance. It's well written with likable characters. Molly is a strong woman who wants to care for her sisters and will take almost any kind of job to do that. Ash is a big, gruff man who's bark is worse than his bite. He's a hard worker but very kind to his brother, Molly and her sisters. The secondary characters, Wendy, Annie and Nate added to the story, especially with their thoughts of what was proper behavior in those times.
The romance that developed between Molly and Ash was enjoyable to see. Ash was behaving in ways totally foreign to him, which was a bit funny. Molly hid her feelings toward Ash - being the lady she was.
This is a wonderful frontier Christmas romance.
August 30, 2014
I haven't read a lot of short stories where the author is able to write well developed characters, have a decent plot and have it not end abruptly or lose out on a lot of details. This author was able to do all of this and have an entertaining story, as well.
I think the part I liked the best were that the characters were not perfect. There were no silly misunderstandings due to communication problems nor any unbelievable problems. The whole story was very realistic and had good descriptions of the people and where they lived. I really loved how Molly showed Nate the joy of decorating for Christmas. Overall, a warm story of family.
I think the part I liked the best were that the characters were not perfect. There were no silly misunderstandings due to communication problems nor any unbelievable problems. The whole story was very realistic and had good descriptions of the people and where they lived. I really loved how Molly showed Nate the joy of decorating for Christmas. Overall, a warm story of family.
December 28, 2013
This was just a beautiful story, made very special by the characters. Attention to detail, the setting, and character depth are all present. Final result: a very touching, romantic, and family-focused story that kept me engaged throughout. The pace was perfect. This is a story of hardship, struggle, prejudice, respect, overcoming difficulties, loving, and finding out what's most important. A great read for Christmastime or anytime. A stand-alone story, absolutely. But, a sequel to be published before Christmas 2014.
December 29, 2013
It's a sweet Western romance novella. It was a "free" read but it's only .99 cents right now. This is the first book by Caroline Lee I have read and I will be checking out her other books.. I enjoyed reading this story and I'm looking forward to the 2nd book which will be coming out next Christmas.
December 14, 2014
A breath of fresh air!!
I must admit that romance is a genre that I rarely read, but this wonderful novella was much more than that. The story of Ash and Molly had my eyes glued to my kindle. More Ash and Molly pleeeaassssee!! I cannot wait to read more books from Caroline Lee in the future.
If you enjoy feel good, steamy romance then this book is for you.
I must admit that romance is a genre that I rarely read, but this wonderful novella was much more than that. The story of Ash and Molly had my eyes glued to my kindle. More Ash and Molly pleeeaassssee!! I cannot wait to read more books from Caroline Lee in the future.
If you enjoy feel good, steamy romance then this book is for you.
December 8, 2013
A lovely story with a real Christmas miracle in it. I could almost believe I was in there in the cabin, almost smell the delicious cooking and see the lovely Christmas tree. But most of all I felt the growing love between Ash and Molly and the feeling of togetherness and family.
December 17, 2014
A sweet story with great characters
This Christmas story deserves the five stars I gave it. The characters are sweet and believable. Ms. Lee's writing has a wonderful flow to it, which drew me in and kept me turning the pages. Now I need to read the next story in this series!
This Christmas story deserves the five stars I gave it. The characters are sweet and believable. Ms. Lee's writing has a wonderful flow to it, which drew me in and kept me turning the pages. Now I need to read the next story in this series!
February 20, 2014
Feel good book
not long enough! well. written! looking forward to reading more from this author. even though it's short, it does have a plot.
not long enough! well. written! looking forward to reading more from this author. even though it's short, it does have a plot.
April 26, 2014
3.5 stars. cute tale, nothing too complicated, just what you need to read when recovering. genuinely nice story.
June 7, 2014
Ill reread this story. In the days before christmas
this story is about what is right with the world.
love with its many manifestations simply a joy to savor.
this story is about what is right with the world.
love with its many manifestations simply a joy to savor.
August 1, 2014
Free kindle book. Thought it was pretty good actually. Cute story. Moved quickly. Western romance.
December 6, 2022
Stopped at chapter 4, started skimming and then quit
While there are very brief moments of vivid detail and action, 99% of the book (up to the 30% point where I stopped) is telling, summarizing, long info-dumps and backstory. Huge paragraphs ruin the momentum of the plot. Very little of the book happens in “real time.” There is way too much passive voice (was/were), which makes the story boring.
The author clearly does not know how to use commas correctly. There are over 50 comma errors in the first four chapters. The overuse of commas is irritating and further detracts from enjoyment of the story. The author also needs to learn how to sharpen POV and not switch in a chapter. Paragraphing is improperly done during dialog scenes, which are too few between the protagonists. Key scenes with opportunities for flirtatious or contentious dialog are skipped over entirely or summarized after the fact.
At the 30% point, there are no stakes or conflicts for the protagonists to overcome. This is also boring. They clearly have the hots for each other, so the outcome is inevitable. Yawn!
While there may be a cute love story buried inside this mess, I’m not interested in playing editor the entire time I’m reading this book to bother reading past the 30% point. I suggest the author work with a developmental editor and revise this story.
Also, the cover is inaccurate. There are NO snow-capped mountains near Cheyenne.
While there are very brief moments of vivid detail and action, 99% of the book (up to the 30% point where I stopped) is telling, summarizing, long info-dumps and backstory. Huge paragraphs ruin the momentum of the plot. Very little of the book happens in “real time.” There is way too much passive voice (was/were), which makes the story boring.
The author clearly does not know how to use commas correctly. There are over 50 comma errors in the first four chapters. The overuse of commas is irritating and further detracts from enjoyment of the story. The author also needs to learn how to sharpen POV and not switch in a chapter. Paragraphing is improperly done during dialog scenes, which are too few between the protagonists. Key scenes with opportunities for flirtatious or contentious dialog are skipped over entirely or summarized after the fact.
At the 30% point, there are no stakes or conflicts for the protagonists to overcome. This is also boring. They clearly have the hots for each other, so the outcome is inevitable. Yawn!
While there may be a cute love story buried inside this mess, I’m not interested in playing editor the entire time I’m reading this book to bother reading past the 30% point. I suggest the author work with a developmental editor and revise this story.
Also, the cover is inaccurate. There are NO snow-capped mountains near Cheyenne.
December 11, 2019
Ash and his "brother" Nate run a ranch selling mustangs to the army. They work well together just the two of them and can manage just fine, until Ash breaks his arm and the two struggle to handle ranch duty, along with housework and cooking. A misunderstanding with Nate, who had come to Ash as a half-dead orphan eight years earlier, sends him into town to find the only person that he considers family, a runaway Nate. Molly has lost everything in the great Chicago fire. She leaves Chicago behind to find work as a cook or baker so she can send for her two younger sisters who only have 2 weeks left on their Chicago lease. No one will hire a young, unmarried woman. Feeling desperate she risks her reputation to travel to the ranch and live and work with a promise from Ash she can send for her sisters too. I loved this story. The characters felt real and I was rooting from them from early on. The chemistry between Ash and Molly was sweet, but I especially loved the bond between Ash and Nate, their brotherly love was truly heartwarming. A charming Christmas story.
June 8, 2020
A wonderful western frontier love story.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I just don't understand the negative reviews with this book at all. It's a wonderful historical western romance. Strong, sweet, determined, loving, BBW baker, Molly Murray traveled to Cheyenne- and totally out of her comfort zone- searching to find and make a good life and home for her and her two sweet sisters. There, despite facing constant refusals and negative comments, she held her head high, and stumbled forward finding her future with Ash Barker, and his brother-by-another-mother, Nate on their horse ranch. It's a heartwarming story that I'll remember for a good long time. I wish there was an epilogue but I guess we'll get more of these two and their siblings in future books. I can't wait. And yes there is intimacy- not a lot or detailed- and of course love. This is a romance and why we read romances, afterall. I don't remember any profanity, if any. I definitely approve this series.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I just don't understand the negative reviews with this book at all. It's a wonderful historical western romance. Strong, sweet, determined, loving, BBW baker, Molly Murray traveled to Cheyenne- and totally out of her comfort zone- searching to find and make a good life and home for her and her two sweet sisters. There, despite facing constant refusals and negative comments, she held her head high, and stumbled forward finding her future with Ash Barker, and his brother-by-another-mother, Nate on their horse ranch. It's a heartwarming story that I'll remember for a good long time. I wish there was an epilogue but I guess we'll get more of these two and their siblings in future books. I can't wait. And yes there is intimacy- not a lot or detailed- and of course love. This is a romance and why we read romances, afterall. I don't remember any profanity, if any. I definitely approve this series.
December 5, 2017
This is the second book I have read from this series, and the first one of my annual Christmas binge reading. I had gotten it for free a while ago. Like the other one I read, I am not sure whether to give 3 or 4 stars. For enjoyment value, I think I need to give four. Other readers complained that it was slow. But for me, it was not slow because it contained many details of daily life, which I greatly enjoy. I also really liked all the characters and felt that they were well developed, especially considering that the book isn't very long. I did think that there were a few inconsistencies (for example, it mentioned that they brought eggs back from town, but later in the book they have chickens) and anachronistic wordings.
November 30, 2017
WARNING:: The description says suitable for all ages, but I would suggest otherwise. There are a couple moments where the writer more than implies sex, so I wouldn’t say it’s suitable for younger readers. It wasn’t explicit, but I definitely blushed and glossed over the scenes.
Now on to my review:
The book started off sweet, and you can tell it’s a simple, quick read. There’s a lot of descriptive back story. Like, a lot. In fact, there really isn’t much of a plot. You expect it to be an easy read, but you expect something to actually happen. Oh well. At least I got it for free through BookBub.
Now on to my review:
The book started off sweet, and you can tell it’s a simple, quick read. There’s a lot of descriptive back story. Like, a lot. In fact, there really isn’t much of a plot. You expect it to be an easy read, but you expect something to actually happen. Oh well. At least I got it for free through BookBub.
August 26, 2020
I enjoyed the book looking forward to each new chapter. All the main characters were very likable. It was a feel-good type of book. I particularly like when authors let you in on what the characters are thinking. That adds much more to think about rather than just the communication between characters.
The premise was a bit hard to believe. A young lady alone leaving to go to a ranch with 2 men she barely knows is quite a big risk for any woman to take in any era. The plot was a little bit too simple. Cold winter conditions and Christmas were the only deviations from the romance and housekeeping job.
The premise was a bit hard to believe. A young lady alone leaving to go to a ranch with 2 men she barely knows is quite a big risk for any woman to take in any era. The plot was a little bit too simple. Cold winter conditions and Christmas were the only deviations from the romance and housekeeping job.
June 7, 2020
Ash and molly
Wonderful story and well written what a way for ash and Molly to meet ash coming to Cheyenne underfunding his wayward bother who was running away Molly here off the train looking for work so she can bring her two sisters from back east ash and hate need a helping hand at the ranch and Molly needs a job and so the story begins would have luke to seen and epilogue in this book but ash and holly came to love each other and had their HEA with his brother nate and her two sisters Wendy and Annie would highly recommend
Wonderful story and well written what a way for ash and Molly to meet ash coming to Cheyenne underfunding his wayward bother who was running away Molly here off the train looking for work so she can bring her two sisters from back east ash and hate need a helping hand at the ranch and Molly needs a job and so the story begins would have luke to seen and epilogue in this book but ash and holly came to love each other and had their HEA with his brother nate and her two sisters Wendy and Annie would highly recommend
June 26, 2020
This was a unique setting where a young woman moves from Chicago to Cheyenne, leaving her two younger sisters in Chicago in a hotel for two months while she seeks employment and a place to live. Her 7 year old sister is deaf. A man, whom she observed to be large and controlling, agreed to hire her as a housekeeper. Her strong talent was baking, and she won the heart of this man and his 'brother', and they had a real Christmas in this house. Heartwarming--not too much drama, but that's okay once in awhile.
December 17, 2020
The young grow up fast
Ash was on his own at 13; Nate was only 7 when Ash rescued him from a beating by a bunch of bullies. Eight years later while in town fate brings Molly into their path. With both parents dead, Molly leaves her young sisters (ages 6 and 12) in Chicago to travel West to find a job so she can provide a new beginning for them. Molly is desperate when no one wants to hire a single young female. You'll enjoy reading how Molly ends up working for Ash and Nate on their remote ranch and ends of sending for her sisters to join her.
Ash was on his own at 13; Nate was only 7 when Ash rescued him from a beating by a bunch of bullies. Eight years later while in town fate brings Molly into their path. With both parents dead, Molly leaves her young sisters (ages 6 and 12) in Chicago to travel West to find a job so she can provide a new beginning for them. Molly is desperate when no one wants to hire a single young female. You'll enjoy reading how Molly ends up working for Ash and Nate on their remote ranch and ends of sending for her sisters to join her.
March 13, 2021
Cheyenne Christmas Gift
There are few books I read repeatedly, and this is one of them. A full-figured Molly Murray finds nuptial fulfillment in marriage to robust rancher Ash Barker, and familial love at home with his adopted brother and Molly's two sisters. Every time I read this story, I picture the taciturn Ash as another gentle giant of Cheyenne, Clint Walker. I applaud Caroline Lee for tempering conjugal passion within the domestic ordinariness of daily life, where the familiar is often found so fulfilling.
There are few books I read repeatedly, and this is one of them. A full-figured Molly Murray finds nuptial fulfillment in marriage to robust rancher Ash Barker, and familial love at home with his adopted brother and Molly's two sisters. Every time I read this story, I picture the taciturn Ash as another gentle giant of Cheyenne, Clint Walker. I applaud Caroline Lee for tempering conjugal passion within the domestic ordinariness of daily life, where the familiar is often found so fulfilling.
March 15, 2021
What a Loving Story
I have read several of your series but none have touched me as much as the first book in this series. Its interesting how the relationship starts out as "Employer and Employee". As Ash, Molly and Nate share the same household, Ash and Molly discover they have feelings for each other and Ash proposes to Molly. Molly has always said she wanted to marry for love not convenience. Fortunately, it all works out and each member of the new family finds their place within the Barker family.
I have read several of your series but none have touched me as much as the first book in this series. Its interesting how the relationship starts out as "Employer and Employee". As Ash, Molly and Nate share the same household, Ash and Molly discover they have feelings for each other and Ash proposes to Molly. Molly has always said she wanted to marry for love not convenience. Fortunately, it all works out and each member of the new family finds their place within the Barker family.
December 4, 2022
Truly a feel good story!
A young woman leaves her two younger sisters in Chicago as she travels west to find them a new home. Finally stopping in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she is finding a familiar reaction to her job search. No-one wants to hire a single young woman, no matter how talented she may be. Heading back to the train station, she is run into by a giant man, who it turns out needs a housekeeper until his broken arm heals.
A perfect book for this holiday season. I'm off to start the next book in the series. Merry Christmas!
A young woman leaves her two younger sisters in Chicago as she travels west to find them a new home. Finally stopping in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she is finding a familiar reaction to her job search. No-one wants to hire a single young woman, no matter how talented she may be. Heading back to the train station, she is run into by a giant man, who it turns out needs a housekeeper until his broken arm heals.
A perfect book for this holiday season. I'm off to start the next book in the series. Merry Christmas!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews