Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!
This is my second time featuring Ms Hatfield during this year’s #blogmas – this time focusing on a different series – the Hardman Holidays, which is set during the Victorian era. I rather fancy finding new Western Romances to read as I don’t oft read them enough compared to how I used to read them. I believe its because of the lovely niches of stories I regularly seek out during the year, Westerns seem to fall by the wayside whenever I am sorting out my #nextreads. Finding a series which has 9 stories inclusive of it is wicked brilliant because you don’t have to wait to read the next installments whilst giving you the hope of feeling anchoured into the series start to finish.
The best part about Westerns to me is how the writers address the century we haven’t experienced in reality but regularly get to visit through their words and the ways in which the paint the West alive for our imagination! It is the same with Western tv series and films – usually it has a gritty side to it, as transportation was limited to horse, stage and buggy – but there are other telling ways to know if your in a Western, too. From the style of dress to the ways in which the communities were a bit standoffish towards outsiders and how communities had to rally together during the more adverse moments in order to survive whatever had gripped the local area.
For me, one of my favourite sequences in all Westerns (Historical or Contemporary) are the horses and the life on the ranches – to tuck close to the cowboys and the ranch hands, to see how a working ranch operates and to be aside the saddle next to everyone out on the range or on a trail. Riding is something which used to be part of my life and I have missed it for a very long time. There is something about being connected to a horse which gives the best soul lift you can feel whilst at the same time, there is something unique about riding and seeing the world from atop a horse as well. I loved the connection you feel to the horse and the companionship and friendship which naturally evolves from your time together.
This is why Westerns are a lot of fun to be reading – plus, of course, every writer has their own entrance into the genre and their own stamp on it as well. Half the fun is discovering which writer is writing the kinds of Westerns you will enjoy reading. Hence why I’m thankful I can spotlight Ms Hatfield twice this #blogmas and focus on two different series of hers to give my readers a chance to see if her stories are a wicked good fit for them as they seem to be for myself.
Curiously – which kinds of Western Romances and/or Holiday Western stories, series or authors do you enjoy reading yourself? Do you prefer Historical or Contemporary Western Romances? If so, which series stand out in your mind as #mustreads you think I might enjoy myself?
A traitor with a deadly plan.
The death of her mother left Philamena Booth grieving and at the mercy of her drunken father. After spending more than a decade held captive on their run-down farm, she’s left speechless and dazed when her father strikes a bargain to settle a long overdue debt. In lieu of payment, a handsome cowboy agrees to take her. Mortified yet relieved to leave the farm, Philamena unexpectedly finds herself married to a charismatic, caring man.
Luke Granger might own Hardman’s bank and the fanciest house in this Eastern Oregon town, but he’d much rather be outside riding his horses or wrangling his herd of cattle than keeping his account books straight. In a strange, unsettling turn of events, he finds himself accepting a farmer’s daughter instead of money to cover a loan. If the man hadn’t threatened to sell her to the saloon owner, Luke might have refused. He has no idea what to do with beautiful Filly or their marriage of convenience, but he’s about to get far more than he bargained for.
Full of Victorian and western charm, The Christmas Bargain is a sweet holiday romance filled with the spirit of the season.
Add to LibraryThing | ISBN: 978-1-4802-5785-6
Hardman Holidays series:
The Christmas Bargain (book one)
The Christmas Token (book two)
The Christmas Calamity (book three)
The Christmas Vow (book four)
The Christmas Quandary (book five)
The Christmas Confection (book six)
The Christmas Melody (book seven)
The Christmas Ring (book eight)
The Christmas Wish (book nine)
Converse via: #CleanRomanceForChristmas and/or #INSPYRomance or #INSPY
as well #ChristianFiction and/or #HistRom or #HistoricalRomance
