Celest McCurdy is returning to Colorado and the town she remembers after five years of finishing school on the East Coast. She is also wanting to get away from her Aunt and uncle who want to marry her off to a business associate who is much older than her. She does want to marry and have children just with the right man. Logan Jones has always liked Celest but he was afraid to speak to her before she left even though they knew each other. They do have a good time when they meet up and when he comes over for dinner but her family does not want her to be with him. He is doing everything to make himself worthy in his eyes for her. When his circumstances change he thinks he has a chance but his easygoing and the nice man he once was is gone, to a mean person. He realizes his mistake and changes once again but is it too late to seek out the woman he loves? A really good book with a lot of emotion and with good characters.

Celeste returns home after years of finishing school and being spurned by a suitor. Back in Colorado she get's reacquainted with an old friend, and the man who broke her heart in New York follows her to Colorado. Who will prove himself worthy of her heart?

A sweet western romance, I felt my heart go out to Logan for all the things that he had and was still going through, and I could see with how he was just scrapping by that he didn't feel comfortable pursuing a wife. He is hardworking and kindhearted. He didn't ever ask for anything from anyone, and was always putting others first. Celeste on the other hand was more divided in her thinking and unsure in some ways.

An enjoyable read with likable characters, and a beautiful setting. I liked the character interaction and growing relationship between the characters. A sweet romance, though sometimes I was frustrated with the characters.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a book about being true to who you really are verses becoming the person those around expect so you can fit in. The book takes the reader on a great journey with Logan and Celeste. I will admit I was a bit frustrated with both characters at points in the story but it did not over ride my enjoyment of the story.

Sweet historical romance that features a disabled main character. The plot is fairly strightforward, and a sweet relationship developing. I recommend it for readers wanting a sweet and gentle escape.

I enjoyed this thought provoking and interesting book. The characters were well written and had depth and chemistry. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. I liked this book. I have enjoyed the other books in her Craig Colorado series. I liked that we finally get Logan’s story since he has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning.

Excellent read. I'm a new fan, even though this isn't the first in the series. Celeste has been sent East to finishing school but returns home to Colorado and her parents after 5 years, because she was asked to leave. The finishing didn't stick. But she liked most of the things in her life from before, including Logan. He is a few years older, and hardly recognizes now her since she's not a little kid anymore. They had been the best of friends before. He's been trying to prove himself and live on his own for many years. He doesn't feel he's good enough for her, so even when they get close, he retreats. Another of her friends come to town from back east, looking to court her. Eventually this wakes Logan up, and the two take turns courting her. This path for them is quite entertaining as they evolve and realize what is really important. Logan has opportunities that open up for him, then messes it all up. Keeps you interested to the very end. Pulls at your heart strings all through the story. Endearing characters, even Logan's horse! Isn't that the most gorgeous cover too?
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#WhereHerHeartLies #NetGalley

After 5 years back east at a finishing school, Celeste is back home where she'd rather be, as she didn't quite fit in with the snobbish girls in New York. She prefers life in her small Colorado town and has her eyes set on her childhood crush--Logan Jones. Logan works several part-time jobs and yet barely makes enough money to get by, so it's no surprise to find he feels Celeste deserves a man better than himself.

Logan is a wonderful character. He's kind to everyone, even those that have treated him badly and don't deserve his kindness. He feels he doesn't deserve Celeste because of his physical abnormality and lack of money. I was so happy when he decided to accept his inheritance, but was shocked by the changes that came over him when Celeste's former beau from back east came to town. I wanted to shake some sense into Logan and was super happy when he realized he was becoming like his older brother, who was a fairly despicable human being.

Celeste also has to decide who she wants to be. Does she want to be who others think she should be, or is she going to be herself. I thought Celeste and Logan were great for each other, as she accepted Logan for who he was and appreciated his thoughtfulness and quiet nature. This is a wonderful friends to more story. It's part of a series that goes together, but each one can be read as a standalone.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve never read a romance that starts moments before the hanging of a man, but it pulled me right in. Logan Jones has had a difficult life. He has one leg shorter than the other and a foot that turns inward. His mom died at his birth, so his dad has always disliked him. When he died, he left everything he had to his son Stanley who was manipulative, egotistical, and cruel. Logan’s older sister Susannah pretty much raised him and later found coal on the land she and her husband bought after their marriage. Logan works at the livery stable part time and as a postal carrier. He loves horses and enjoys greeting the townspeople. When his wealthy brother Stanley is hung for shooting a man, everything he had passed to Susannah. Logan cares more about not receiving love from his dad and brother than not receiving their money.

Logan met Celeste McCurdy 14 years earlier when she was 5 and he was 13. She asked what was wrong with his leg and he liked her honest curiosity. She has been at boarding school since she was 13 and is uncomfortable talking to people. Her stepmom is a doctor and wanted her daughter to be educated in the East like she was and where her parents still live. Celeste has a history of sadness or depression but isn’t sad with him. Celeste thinks Logan is kind, accepting, a good listener, and more of a gentleman than those back East; but he doesn’t think he has a chance with Celeste and is determined to just stay friends.

Charles Weathersby was Celeste’s friend and more in New York but disappeared for six months. He suddenly shows up in Logan and Celeste’s town trying to convince people to invest with him in the original Ponzi scheme. He is successful because he is very friendly. He ends up competing with Logan to convince Celeste to marry him. She devises a plan to spend two weeks with Charles then two weeks with Logan and continue that way until she decides who she likes best. I thought it was kind of selfish the way she strings them both along.

The author did a great job catching and keeping my attention. Some of the conversations felt awkward and didn’t flow, but maybe that was intentional and the author was trying to show that Logan is unrefined. The romance didn’t work for me because I didn’t sense any chemistry at all between the main characters, but I appreciate the ending and that it was clean. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for a temporary digital copy to use for my review.

I wanted to love this book but unfortunately I found it boring. The characters were not well developed enough to be interesting. It could have been amazing though. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. I have enjoyed the other books in her Craig Colorado series. I liked that we finally get Logan’s story since he has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning. I like how Celeste loves Logan no matter what and when he loses his way she helps him to come back to the man she fell in love with. I like how Logan has to decide what is really important. I think this is a nice conclusion to the series and it will be fun for me to read them again in order.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Celeste has just moved home from school back East. She knows where she wants to be and she has a good idea who she wants to be with. Logan is content with his lot in Craig, Colorado, until Celeste comes back. He is afraid that she won't want him.

This is a story of friends that have potential to become so much more. It is a story with a little intrigue and mystery. It is a story about figuring out who you are and not letting yourself change with a change of circumstances.

Celeste and Logan are naturally good together. I found myself cheering for them early on. I knew Logan from previous books, but it was nice to see things from his point of view.

When a stranger comes from backeast, it definitely stirs things up and brings with it an unexpected outcome. I love this town of Craig, Colorado and the collection of characters I have met in this series. I have watched these characters grow and grow together.

This story flows well and the characters are compelling. There is a time or two when I want to shake each of the main characters to help them see their folly, but isn't that what makes a good story?

I received an eARC through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

What an absolutely fantastic book. I loved every page and couldn’t put it down!! Carolyn Tweede Frank never disappoints!!!

I first met Logan in Accidental Bride. I liked his character, but felt bad for how his family treated him. I'm glad he got his own story and HEA. I love that Logan is such a positive person and content with his simple life and helping others. That is until Celeste returns and gets him thinking of the future. I enjoyed the easiness of their relationship, even when it got sticky. Celeste is a great character even if a bit confused. I liked how they helped make each other better in the end.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

A fun western with some intrigue and sweet romance. There were a few times when their relationship felt forced but overall it was sweet. Logan was (mostly) the best!

I'm not generally a big fan of love triangles and this book is definitely a triangle story. One redeeming thing about it though is that not everything is exactly like I thought. Can't go into it though because I don't want to do spoilers. The story has some interesting elements in it, but again, spoilers. I'll just say that the historical event in this book was not something I knew about before, specifically, where the name came from.
I found myself a little irritated with Celeste. Who she should marry was so obvious to me, and to her really, but she didn't listen to her heart. Her parents had some good wisdom to share with her and I liked them.
I got riled up enough reading that I found myself yelling at my Kindle, "Don't do it!" multiple times. I suppose that means I was well pulled into the story. I really liked how everything was resolved.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: a hanging
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review this book.

This novel was really enjoyable, and I loved the use of childhood friends to lovers within the story. Celeste is through with finishing school, and is ready to leave the big city life in New York behind. She's grateful to be free of the thoughts of Charles who had been a charming suitor who left her without a word. When she returns to her small town in Colorado she still finds herself yearning and wanting to be married. There is only one man she knows will handle her already wounded heart with care and that's her childhood love, Logan.

Logan is the exact opposite of the men in New York, and has always struggled through life in a desperate act to avoid the wealth that has poisoned his family for a long time. He never wanted his inheritance, but he's tempted to accept it to be able to care for Celeste without struggle. They grow closer, but when Celeste's former suitor shows up to get the girl he let go of she is torn between them both. She has to decide who she truly wants, and a love that's true is on the line.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this novel.

If you are interested in the small frontier town romance, this book is for you. The Author did a good job setting up the scenery. The first chapter was interesting. However, it fell short after. Also, I don't like “love triangles” in any Romance books. The conversations were also a bit lacking. Both main characters were a bit frustrating. I find myself wanting to skip most of the chapters, so I give this book a 1.5 star.

Thank you to Covenant Communications for allowing me to give an honest review of this book.

This book jumps forward about 14 years from the previous one. Logan has appeared in each of the previous books, and his family life (or lack thereof) has been an ongoing thread. Now he gets his own story, and I’m glad. Celeste returns as a finishing school dropout from the east. Naturally, this wild west girl couldn’t be sufficiently tamed, although she will admit that she has learned some useful things. She remembers Logan’s kindness from her growing-up years, but this time, she sees more—enough that she decides he’s the one for her. He is so self-effacing and humble—and poor—that he doesn’t consider himself to be in her league, though he’d really like to be.

Just as things are progressing, Celeste’s former beau from New York appears in town, promising to make people rich, just as he became rich through a financial scheme by his boss, Mr. Ponzi. (You see where this is going.) Logan finally has the chance to obtain the family ranch, and, against his better wishes, does so, thinking he can buy things for Celeste to prove that he can provide for her. His sudden wealth goes to his head, and turns Celeste right off. Lessons are learned, and we do get our happy ending. Probably my favorite part is the huge act of service Logan does for his former rival for Celeste’s hand.

Carolyn Twede Frank writes turn-of-the-20th-Century western romances. I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite genre. But when you’re looking among your ARCs for something light and quick to read, they fit the bill.

Frank’s books are published by Covenant Communications, who also publish Traci Hunter Abramson. To be honest, I found Abramson’s writing to be superior. The editing on her books was far superior as well. I know that this could be a function of the fact that I am reading uncorrected galleys, but some errors in Franks work were so fundamental—misused words, confusing “lie” and “lay”, and a mess with homophones—I really hope these were cleaned up on final.

Characters have a fairly clear line between “good” people and “bad” people. The good ones tend to be very empathetic and helpful, always wanting the best for everyone. The bad ones are low-down sneaky varmints. Side characters are engaging, which is good, because we meet them over and over through the series.

As with anything published by Covenant, these books are squeaky clean, not going past kissing with unmarried people, and some super mild innuendo between the married ones. Cursing is limited to such words as “heck” and “dagnabit.” There are hardships, and people do die, sometimes at the wrong end of a gun, but violence also is mild.

Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2021/12/sweethearts-of-wild-west.html

I wanted so badly to love this story, because the setting is amazing. A small frontier town, full of interesting characters. I love a good Western story. I loved any descriptions of the town, the ranches, the land, and the people.

But the whole book just fell flat. The lack of communication between all the characters was so frustrating. The changes in the characters was likewise a big frustration. I wanted to like the characters, but it didn't seem that any of them had their heads on straight. It seemed that many of the society rules of the time were ignored during the whole courting process. The dialogue was just cringy.