The vast, sun-drenched plains, the crack of a whip, the glint of a six-shooter – the Wild West, a land of both boundless freedom and brutal hardship, continues to ignite the imagination. My “To Be Read” (TBR) pile has become a veritable frontier, a collection of stories that promise to transport me to a time when the West was wild and the possibilities seemed endless. From tales of rugged cowboys and fearless pioneers to narratives of the Native American experience and the harsh realities of frontier life, I’m eager to saddle up and explore this iconic era. Join me as I embark on a literary journey through the untamed landscapes of the Wild West.
Wild Horses: A country western romance (Bonfire Boys Book 1)
A steamy country boy meets curvy city girl, slow burn, age gap romance!
THERON
Time is running out for my family’s farm. My dad passed, my mom deep in grief, my sister busy chasing her own dreams, I’m left alone to save it before my mom sells it.
I don’t need any distractions. When I meet my best friend’s cousin, shy, curvy, city girl Skye, I look for any excuse I can to see her again.
Until I find out she’s only seventeen.
I have to keep my distance but that’s not easy when she befriends my little sister. It’s even harder when every time I try walking away from Skye, she comes after me.
Her birthday is just over the horizon but so is the sale of the farm I’ve given so much time and money to hold onto.
Now I have to choose…
Do I continue fighting the battle to save my old life? Or risk everything to start a new life with her.
This is a steamy romance with a HEA! This series is a spin-off of the Love on Main series. Theron, Ash, and Boone live in the country outside the small town of Towering Pines.
Valley of Dreams (Wild West Wind Book #1)
Exciting New Series by Beloved Author Lauraine Snelling
Cassie Lockwood’s mother died when she was little, so Cassie traveled with her father’s Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.
Now Cassie has discovered that “Uncle” Jason, the show’s manager, has driven the show into debt, and he’s absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Cassie decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised in a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who’s been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.
Healing Her Aching Heart: A Historical Western Romance Book (Love Forged in the Wild West)
Gertrude Timbleton had the picture-perfect life in a small, booming town out West. She had a rich family, a social lifestyle, and the most handsome fiance she thought she could ever have. Until it was all swept away from beneath her feet in one foul evening. After a devastating fire takes everything she has ever loved, Gertie is left scarred, scared, full of questions and with no idea of who she can trust. All she has left in the world is her childhood friend and his family, but will they be enough to fill her hollow heart?
Hal Williams has always been in love with Gertie. From the time they were children, until well into their adult lives, he always knew she was the one for him. He always put those feelings away as one-sided though, burying and ignoring them as best he could. Now, with fate bringing them together in the most desperate of times and Gertie living in his house, he’s forced to confront those emotions head-on. In the midst of his own turmoil, can he help her heal from the scars encasing her, both her body and her heart?
Even in darkness, hope can rise like a phoenix from the ashes of a shattered life…
Gertie and Hal are left to grapple with more complications than just the intrigue and mystery of the fire though. They will need to face their own hearts, and then one another. Can a delicate love, kindled by the strings of fate, survive the embers of the flames that swallowed Gertie’s past? Or will the ghosts between them keep them apart forever?
“Healing Her Aching Heart” is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
The Bandit’s Redemption (Outlaw Hearts Book 1)
A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard.
Life in the American West hasn’t been easy for French refugee Lorraine Durand. She has precious few connections and longs to return to her native land. So when the man who rescued her from a Parisian uprising following the Franco-Prussian War persuades her to help him with a deadly holdup, she reluctantly agrees. Despite his promises otherwise, the gang kidnaps a man, forcing Lorraine to grapple with the fallout of her choices even as she is drawn to the captive she’s meant to guard.
Jesse Alexander must survive. If not for himself, then for the troubled sister he left behind in Los Angeles. At the mercy of his captors, he carefully works to earn Lorraine’s trust, hoping he can easily subdue her when the time comes. But as they navigate the treacherous wilderness and he searches for his opportunity to escape, he realizes there may be more to her than he first believed.
With danger lurking at every turn, they must decide whether to trust each other enough to plan a combined escape or risk falling prey to the gang’s devious schemes.
A Fearless Bandit to the Rescue: A Historical Western Adventure Book (Heroes of the Wild Frontier)
Hank Devon is a fearless outlaw with nothing but good intentions. When a dreadful tragedy strikes, chasing ruthless criminals will become his only passion. Along with his notorious gang, he is always on the trail of vicious felons, with justice being his ultimate goal. When he finds out that Jack Struthers, his arch enemy, is going after a rich heiress on a train route to Chicago, he is determined to take action; he decides to take on this perilous mission and prevent the secret ambush. Their late arrival, though, will complicate the retaliation…Will he manage to complete the pursuit and rescue the defenceless woman?
When Elise Tulane’s father died, little did she know that his death would be the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. Wishing to fulfill her father’s final wish, Elise and her bodyguard will get on a train to Chicago. However, her journey will not be lighthearted for long… When she least expects it, the train will be hijacked by a merciless gang of bandits. The mysterious appearance of a man that will try to save her life, though, will be a blessing in disguise… Will Elise finally escape from this calamity without putting her life in deadly danger?
While Elise’s fate is in many different hands, shocking betrayals will add fuel to the fire. Will Hank triumph over his old enemy? And will there be a final end to this terrifying kidnapping before it’s too late?
An enthralling, action-packed story, featuring complex characters, drama and suspense, that will leave the reader breathless. A must-read for fans of Western action with a touch of romance.
“A Fearless Bandit to the Rescue” is a historical adventure novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cliffhangers, only pure unadulterated action.
This Wild West TBR is a trail map to adventure, a collection of stories that capture the spirit and complexity of a bygone era. Each book offers a unique perspective, a different glimpse into the lives of those who forged a nation on the frontier. I hope this selection inspires you to dust off your own reading boots and explore the captivating world of the Wild West. With a stack of books calling to me like the lonesome whistle of a train, I’m ready to ride into the sunset of these captivating stories. May your own literary journey through the West be filled with thrilling adventures, compelling characters, and a deeper appreciation for the enduring legacy of this legendary era.