Memorial Day Reading List: Western Romances With Military Heroes

 

Memorial Day makes me pause and think about the men and women who wore a uniform, loved home and family, and sometimes never made it back to them. When I write Western romances with military heroes—whether they’re Civil War veterans in the 19th century or modern servicemen who’ve traded camo for boots and a Stetson—I’m always mindful that their courage came at a cost. 

In that spirit, I’ve put together a gentle Memorial Day reading list of Western romances with military heroes, along with a few thoughts about the kinds of stories I love in this niche. These aren’t grim war tales; they’re love stories that honor service, healing, and the people waiting on the other side of hardship. 

Why Military Heroes Belong in Western Romance 

Western romance and military heroes have more in common than you might think. Both center on bravery, loyalty, duty, and that stubborn willingness to stand between danger and the people you love. Readers often say they’re drawn to military romance because of the hero’s sense of honor and the emotional depth that comes from what he’s survived. 

In Westerns, that might look like: 

• A cavalry veteran who’s seen too much and just wants a quiet ranch life. 
• A former soldier turned lawman who can’t stop protecting others. 
• A wounded hero who wonders whether he’s still worthy of love. 

On Memorial Day, I especially like stories where the hero carries his service respectfully—he remembers his fallen comrades, struggles honestly with scars seen and unseen, and slowly finds peace as he builds a future with the heroine. 

Types of Western Military Heroes You Might Enjoy 

As you look over your own shelves or e‑reader today, here are some types of heroes you might reach for: 

The scarred veteran coming home 

He’s survived the battlefield but isn’t sure he knows how to live an ordinary life anymore. Sometimes he flinches at loud noises, avoids crowds, or feels guilty for surviving when friends did not. A strong, patient heroine—and a close-knit Western community—help him rediscover joy. 

The honorable lawman with a soldier’s past 

Maybe he rode with the cavalry or served in another branch before settling in a frontier town. His training and sense of duty carry over into his work as sheriff, marshal, or Texas Ranger, and the heroine falls in love with both his steadiness and his fierce protectiveness. 

The reluctant hero 

This man doesn’t see himself as heroic at all. He did his duty, made mistakes, and now he just wants to be left alone to ranch, farm, or run a business. Watching a heroine coax him out of his shell, remind him of his worth, and help him forgive himself can make for a beautiful Memorial Day read. 

The modern soldier‑turned‑cowboy 

In contemporary Western romance, many series feature military men who come home and run ranches, training facilities, or retreats for other veterans. These books often blend horse sense with healing from deployment, and readers appreciate their hopeful tone. 

Memorial Day Reading: A Gentle Approach 

Memorial Day is meant to honor those who died in service, which is a solemn purpose. At the same time, many readers mark the day by choosing books that acknowledge sacrifice while still offering comfort and hope. Library and book lists often suggest stories that explore military life and its aftermath in thoughtful, respectful ways. 

When I pick Western romances with military heroes for this weekend, I look for a few qualities: 

• The hero’s service is treated with respect, not used as a shallow “tough guy” label. 
• The story acknowledges loss and trauma without dwelling on graphic detail. 
• The relationship gives both characters a place to heal—emotionally and spiritually. 
• The ending affirms life, love, and the idea that those who made it home can honor the fallen by living well. 

If a book also touches on community rituals—like small-town parades, moments of silence, flag ceremonies, or visits to graveyards—so much the better. Those touches echo the way many towns still observe Memorial Day today. 

A Few Ideas for Your Own List 

Because authors’ catalogs and availability change and I don’t want to misrepresent specific titles, I’ll keep this part general. As you build your own Memorial Day reading list, you might look for: 

• Western historical romances where the hero is a Civil War or Indian Wars veteran trying to rebuild his life on the frontier.  My romances Gentry and Quinn fit in here. 
• Contemporary Western romances where former soldiers run ranches, equine therapy programs, or retreats for veterans and their families. 
• Series that follow a group of brothers‑in‑arms (or cousins and friends) as they return home to the same Western town and find love one by one. 

Reader discussions and recommendation threads often highlight how powerful it can be to follow a group of veterans through several books, watching each one find healing in his own way. If you already have a favorite Western military hero, this might be the perfect time to revisit his story. 

Ways to Honor the Day While You Read 

If you’re spending part of Memorial Day with a good book, you might also like to weave in a few simple acts of remembrance. Memorial Day observances often include moments of silence, visits to cemeteries, and small, personal gestures of thanks. 

You might choose to: 

• Pause at 3:00 p.m. for a quiet moment of reflection, a practice many organizations encourage on Memorial Day. 
• Read the author’s note, dedication, or acknowledgments; some writers share personal connections to the military there. 
• Say a simple “thank you” prayer or thought for those who never got their own homecoming romance. 

However you observe the day, I hope your reading reminds you that behind every uniform was a human heart—someone’s son or daughter, spouse, parent, or sweetheart. Western romance, with its emphasis on loyalty, courage, and home, is a natural place to honor that truth. 

Patches of Red by Liz Flaherty

 

Patches of Red

by Liz Flaherty

Buy Link

When I wrote Pieces of Blue, Maggie’s story, it was with no intention of returning to Harper Loch, Michigan for another book. I mean, really, how much is there to say about a 40-acre lake in the middle of farm country with a full-time population of 80-something? 

What was I thinking? That’s 80-some stories, right?  

Well, no, not really.  

But Maggie’s best friend Ellie, with her long red hair and a liberal dose of OCD—not to mention her years spent as a nurse practitioner and a bartender-bouncer combination—invited herself in. So I said, Okay, fine, a sequel, and then I’m done.  

Or maybe not. 

Book Blurb: 

He’s handsome but couldn’t even remember her name. She’s pretty, but her finickiness drives him crazy. And yet …  

After twenty years as a nurse practitioner in the same practice, Ellie Wentz gives notice. When office politics interferes with her job, it’s time to get a new one. When her son and daughter-in-law buy her house and she has sold and given away everything else that’s not attached to her heartstrings, she packs up what remains and goes to Harper Loch to spend time with her best friend. She’ll decide what to do and where to go from there. No matter how much the handsome friend of her friends annoys her. 

Jesse Grant comes to Harper Loch to help out his niece for a few weeks. He’s retired from the navy, his boys are grown, and he’s at loose ends. But he really likes the little lake community in Michigan—he thinks he might stay. Long widowed, he has no interest in getting married again, and neither does the redhead he can’t seem to avoid. And yet … again.  

Excerpt: 

“You have all new days in front of you,” he said now. “If a chance doesn’t work out, take another one the next day until something sticks.” 

“I theory, I agree,” she said after a moment. “In reality, I think I have some missing pieces. I need to find out what they are.” 

He nodded. “Understood.” He’d never found his, just stitched up all the torn places and gone on. But he remembered feeling just like she did now. The memory made a painful ache.  

They stood in her doorway, leaning against opposite sides of the frame. Her arms were crossed and she’d put on some kind of sweater thing over the long dress she wore. The sweater was a creamy color…not quite white…and it looked soft. How could a woman who was completely covered up and had her hair in a braid look so sexy? 

He realized he didn’t know how to leave any more than he and the boys knew how to say goodbye on the phone. He and Ellie weren’t dating, although they were spending time together. They weren’t “hooking up,” because it didn’t feel right. At least, not yet.  

But he still wanted to stroke the sleeve of her sweater to know if it was as soft as it looked, to feel the texture of her skin through the thin fabric. He wanted to touch the long braid to see if it still held the warmth of the day’s sunshine in it. He thought it probably did.  

He wanted to make her feel better.  

He was out of practice, he guessed. There weren’t a lot of single women in his age group in the area, and none that had captured his imagination beyond being friends. There were several he enjoyed talking to, a few he’d shared casual meals or trips to movies in Willoughby with, but somehow things hadn’t clicked. 

He hadn’t wanted to touch the sleeves of their sweaters. The thought made him chuckle, and then he shrugged, because he didn’t know how to explain it to Ellie’s questioning gaze. 

She smiled at him. “Thanks for the tour. I really did enjoy it.” 

“Me, too.” 

When her arms came around his neck, her sleeves touched his skin. They really were soft. So were the hands that linked at his nape and tunneled into his hair. When she raised her face to his, he met her halfway, meeting her soft lips in a long and sweet greeting and farewell-for-now.  

Things definitely clicked.  

He didn’t try to stop her when she drew away, but he didn’t take his hands from where he’d set them on her hips as they kissed. “Well,” he said.  

“Indeed,” she said.  

“Thank you.” 

“You, too.” She smiled at him, although uncertainty flickered in the expression. 

He bent his head, kissing her again. Gently. More quickly. Just as a promise. Sort of. Because it was too soon for promises, and he thought maybe neither of them was the promising type. 

Had this been the reason for his anxiety earlier? It didn’t make sense. Or did it? He didn’t do relationships. He wasn’t good at them. And yet whatever was growing between him and the woman with the soft sweater was … something. It lent an air of … well, something … to his days and sometimes his nights. Unease, like he’d thought?  

Or anticipation. Maybe. 

Author Bio: 

Retired from the post office, Liz Flaherty spends non-writing time sewing, quilting, and doing whatever else she wants to. She and Duane live in the old farmhouse in North Central Indiana they moved to in 1977. They’ve talked about moving, but really…40-some years’ worth of stuff? It’s not happening!  

She’d love to hear from you at lizkflaherty@gmail.com or please come and see her at: 

Website: http://lizflaherty.net 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lizkflaherty  

Redford Falls by Darlene Fredett

Redford Falls

By Darlene Fredett

Buy Link

Redford Falls is more than a place to visit…it’s where stories begin.

A Redford Falls Story

Nestled in the heart of Redford Falls is a charming small town that captures the warmth of close-knit community life, where friendly faces greet you on Main Street and every shop holds a story. Redford Falls offers the perfect setting for heartwarming moments against a bustling ski resort, quaint local businesses, and the town’s picturesque park, complete with winding trails and cascading waterfalls. Whether it’s family bonds that grow stronger, friendships that withstand the test of time, twists that intrigue, or love that blooms in the most unexpected ways, this series celebrates the beauty of connection in a place where everyone feels at home.

One Sweet Christmas

More than a few pieces of chocolate are essential to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer.

Jackson Frost wanted to spend Christmas on a beach, instead, he’s home in snowy Redford Falls dressed in a Santa suit. Will the temptation of delectable chocolate and Candice Cane lure him to stay?

Winter’s Kiss

Her high heels flattened the snow, and his defences didn’t stand a chance.

As chilly glares between Danielle Lerato and Andrew Bailey thaw into cozy glances, Danielle suspects the town’s snowy landscape is warming more than her toes. Maybe this snowy wonderland isn’t a detour. Maybe it’s destiny.

Broken Branches

Some branches break, but where hearts once shattered, love dares to bloom again.

Years ago, a devastating family tragedy forced Maripier Nadeau to leave Redford Falls, leaving Tyler Kringle to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship. Now she’s returned, reigniting memories and emotions Tyler thought he had buried.

Secret Recipe

In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.

Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. As drama simmers, Jess and Travis Cooper are caught in a game where Jess must execute the perfect con.

Legacy Lies Loyalty

When loyalty is tested, and lies run deep, the legacy they inherit could cost them everything.

A string of mysterious accidents pulls Jordan McKenzie into a web of danger. When long-buried secrets emerge, and danger looms, Jordan and Logan Crane must decide what—and who—is worth fighting for.

Derailed Hearts

With a matchmaking grandmother and a mythical rabbit at work, two hearts on a cross-country train are destined to collide.

A cross-Canada train trip for Ethan Marley and his young daughter seems like the perfect fresh start—until Jenn Martini, a captivating woman on board, steals his breath. But Ethan and Jenn must decide whether the truth will shatter their fragile new beginning…or save their future.

Trickster

Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?

Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, Eric Martini masks his heart. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade Parsons, will Eric and Jade find the courage to trust the mythical and smoky signs before their paths are severed forever?

Author Bio:

Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two large dogs.

Social Media 

Website: http://www.darlenefredette.com/ 

Blog: https://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenefredette1/ 

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/darlenefredette.bsky.social

 

What Makes a Great Western Romance Villain?

A great Western romance villain doesn’t just stomp around being mean; they threaten the love story you’re rooting for—the future of the couple, the safety of the town, and the justice you want to see win in the end. When I write my books, I want the villain to feel real enough that you understand why they’re dangerous and why it’s so satisfying when the hero and heroine finally overcome them together. 

More Than “Just Evil”: What They Want 

As a reader, you’ve probably met villains who feel flat—they do bad things “just because.” In my stories, I want more than that. A strong Western romance villain is after something clear: land, power, revenge, money, or control of the town, and they’re willing to hurt others to get it. In a Western setting, that might look like a ruthless cattle baron, a crooked banker, or an outlaw who treats people as obstacles instead of neighbors. 

When I start a new book, I ask myself, “What does this person want so badly they’ll cross every line?” Maybe he wants every water source in the valley, or she wants to hang on to a secret that would destroy her status. Whatever the goal, it must collide head‑on with what my hero and heroine are fighting for. 

Why It Hurts the Hero and Heroine 

For my readers, the villain’s actions can’t stay vague. You care about how the trouble lands on the characters you love. So I make sure the villain’s schemes hit close to home by: 

• Threatening the heroine’s ranch, business, or family legacy 
• Trying to ruin her good name in the community 
• Endangering someone the hero or heroine loves 

Writing experts point out that the best antagonists force the main characters to grow, adapt, and make hard choices. I keep that in mind as I write. A good villain presses on my characters’ tender spots—fear of failure, guilt, shame, or feeling unworthy of love—so when the couple stands up to them, you feel the emotional victory as well as the outward one. 

Western-Style Power You Can Feel 

Because I write Western romance, my villains use the kinds of power that fit the Old West. They might: 

• Own most of the land, cattle, or water rights 
• Control the bank, the deed records, or the town’s lawmen 
• Lead a gang that “owns” the saloon or bullies the streets 

Observers of Western stories note that classic bad guys are often big ranchers, corrupt businessmen, or outlaws who bend the town to their will. In my books, I give villains a grip on the community you can see and feel—hired guns, bought sheriffs, or debts everyone owes—so you understand why ordinary folks are afraid to speak up. 

I also pay attention to presence. Craft articles say a memorable villain needs “weight” on the page: a way of speaking, moving, or smiling that makes you uneasy even before they show their worst side. Sometimes that means a polite, soft‑spoken person in public who turns icy behind closed doors. 

Twisted Logic: Why They Think They’re Right 

One thing I’ve learned from writing and reading about villains is that very few of them think they’re wicked. They almost always have a reason that feels right to them. 

In a Western town, a villain might tell themselves things like: 

• “This valley needs a strong hand. I’m the only one tough enough.” 
• “The law is too weak. Fear is the only language people understand.” 
• “I was cheated once. I’ll never be powerless again.” 

Writing teachers encourage us to understand a villain’s motives well enough that readers can see how they got twisted—without ever excusing what they do. When I write, I often let you glimpse that crooked logic for a moment, so the villain feels human and believable, then I show clearly how cruel their choices are. 

Keeping Your Attention on the Love Story 

As much as I enjoy crafting a good villain, the heart of my books is always the romance. In our genre, the villain’s main job is to make the love story stronger, not to steal the show. 

A good Western romance villain, in my mind: 

• Forces the hero and heroine to join forces, even if they clash at first 
• Tests their courage, loyalty, and trust 
• Pushes them to choose each other, even when it’s risky 

Romance craft articles often talk about external villains (like an outlaw or land baron) and internal ones (like fear, pride, or old wounds). I like to use both. The flesh‑and‑blood villain puts pressure on from the outside, while the characters’ inner struggles make the emotional stakes just as high as the physical ones. 

Justice That Feels Right at the End 

As a reader, you probably enjoy seeing villains get what’s coming to them—and so do I. That doesn’t always mean a gunfight in the street, but it does mean consequences that fit the story and the setting. 

Story experts say a villain’s downfall feels most satisfying when: 

• It grows out of their own choices 
• The hero and heroine help bring it about 
• The punishment matches what they’ve done 

In my books, I like to tie the villain’s ending to what they cared about most: losing the land they tried to steal, being exposed in front of the town they controlled, or winding up utterly alone after years of using people. My hope is that when you turn that final page, you feel that justice—and the happy ending—have both truly been earned. 

If you enjoy Western romances where the bad folks are worth defeating, and the good folks stand tall, then every time I create a new villain, I’m thinking of you. 

 

How to Love a Lord by Tina Holland

 

 

He thought he loved her sister—until one night changed everything.

How to Love a Lord

A B.A.D. Guide Book 2

by Tina Holland

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Book Two in A Bold & Adventurous Debutante's Guide. New Reader? Book 1, "How to Marry a Major," is on Sale! Start there.

After a night of mistaken identity and unexpected passion, Arabella Kendall vows to keep her secret, especially from Viscount Pierce Ellis, the man who unknowingly claimed her heart. With her twin sister, Amelia, eager for a London Season, Arabella escapes to the Scottish countryside, determined to avoid scandal and matrimony.

Pierce, Viscount Kernwith, has always believed he loved the poised and perfect Amelia Fitzwilliam. But when he learns it was Arabella he spent that fateful night with, everything changes. Realizing the truth, he's determined to make Arabella his bride.

But Kernwith is on the brink of ruin, and as they work together to save the estate, buried secrets emerge. As the past is revealed, Arabella must decide: can she trust the man who mistook her for someone else, or will pride keep them apart forever?

 

Amazon * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

Arabella in another man’s arms unsettled him more than Amelia’s wedding. How could that be? He’d once believed his heart belonged to Amelia. But she'd married Devonhold, and instead of breaking him, it had brought anger and now… relief. That was the truth, wasn’t it? A quiet, undeniable sense of rightness had settled over him then, but now a storm raged at the idea of losing Arabella. It wasn’t just an obligation that pulled him toward her. It was the realization that he may have loved her all along.

A flash of light blue caught his eye when she sailed through the doorway, mercifully alone. She looked thin. Perhaps she wasn’t well.

As he traversed the room toward her, she lifted her gaze and met his. Her stare reminded

 him of a doe ready to flee. “Would you care for the next dance?” he asked once he reached her

 side.

Arabella crossed her arms. “I heard you abused Charlotte’s feet last night, so I think not.”

“A turn in the garden, then.”

“That wouldn’t be proper.”

Was she truly going to pretend nothing had passed between them? Damn it, he wouldn’t be dismissed like some unwanted suitor. “We must speak to one another,” he fairly shouted over

 the music, drawing eyes to them.

Her cheeks flushed, and her mouth formed an ‘O’, before she turned on her heel and left,

 her bottom a dancing curve of pale blue silk as she fled. Once she reached the edge of the

 ballroom, he discreetly followed her.

Arabella darted down the hall, opened a door at the end, and entered a room.

Pierce glanced over his shoulder to ensure no one followed them. Once at the door, he

 stopped with his hand on the handle.

Get book 1 on sale for a limited time!

Find it on Amazon here!

Tina Holland was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and now calls the Red River Valley of North Dakota home. Living on a hobby farm, she draws inspiration from wide prairie skies, quiet country roads, and the rich history that often finds its way into her stories.

Published since 2005, Tina writes character-driven fiction filled with heart, tension, and emotional depth. Her Regency romances, including How to Marry a Major and her newest release, How to Love a Lord, blend wit, longing, and resilience in tales of bold heroines and honorable heroes. She also writes paranormal and cozy mysteries under the pen name Kaye Maxx.

In addition to writing, Tina is an engaging speaker and workshop instructor. She teaches her F.E.A.R.S. workshop (available online or in person) and enjoys connecting with readers through libraries, book clubs, signings, and virtual events. She is a member of Writer Zen Garden, Moorhead Friends Writing Group, and F-M Word Weavers.

Press kits, review copies, and promotional materials are available upon request.

For booking inquiries, interviews, or events, please contact:
krissyg@rrt.net

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the How To Love a Lord Giveaway Here

Rainy Day Rescue by Josie Malone

 

 

Deciding to take a second chance at love is an act of courage! 

Rainy Day Rescue

Seattle Lost Lovers #1

by Josie Malone

Genre: Contemporary Second-Chance, Fake Romance

Real estate broker, Claire Rocklin, buys distressed properties, rehabs, and sells them to support her pet project, ‘Senior Housing Apartments'. She believes nobody has time for the elderly–and no one ever had time for her. After the death of her mother when Claire was a child, her serial-cheater father remarried several times, but those marriages didn't last more than two years each.

Three years ago, Claire’s once-upon-a-time stepbrother, Master Sergeant Tony Baldusi, retired from the Army and became a fulltime business partner in Claire's brokerages. The son of a single mother who divorced Claire’s father, Tony learned how to survive long before he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He's been packing a proverbial torch for Claire, along with a diamond engagement ring for three years.

When Claire’s grandparents invite them home for Thanksgiving, Tony suggests they pretend to be engaged. After all, they’re already business partners, and their families would easily believe the relationship runs deeper. But can he convince commitment-phobic Claire that she deserves real happiness? Will their little deception turn into something real, or will she run from love again, breaking both their hearts in the process?

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

Ghost Writer’s Inn

Baker City: Hearts and Haunts #6

by Josie Malone

Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance

Former Army Ranger, Mac MacGillicudy served his country for almost twenty years, fighting in one hotspot after another. Since he retired from the military, he’s roamed the U.S., unaware he’s accompanied by a woman with a hidden agenda. He enjoys writing action-adventure romances which never turn out the way he plans or expects or designs. Still his agent, publisher, and readers love them. Learning he’s inherited the old family hotel, Mac heads to Baker City, Washington for Christmas. He’ll help restore the hotel, write his next book which will hopefully end the way he wants, and perhaps discover a home.

Registered Nurse, Lillian Bryce didn’t hesitate to answer the call when her country needed her after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She joined the US Army and went off to war but didn’t return home, at least not alive. Since she loved books, she went back to the Seattle Public Library where she’d spent so many happy hours. She was perfectly content studying, researching, observing and enjoying the other patrons—the live ones, until she saw Mac MacGillicudy. She was fascinated, focused on him—well on his writing, on his books, except he had them all wrong! So, she fixed them, not once, but again, and again, and again regardless of how many times he tried to change them while they traveled the country! Now, they’re off to Baker City.

Will the two of them find love in a place where ghosts are real or just continue writing about it?

 

**can be read as a standalone!

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

Josie Malone lives and works at her family business, a riding stable in Washington State. Teaching kids to ride and know about horses, she finds in many cases, she's taught three generations of families. Her life experiences span adventures from dealing cards in a casino, attending graduate school to get her Masters in Teaching degree, being a substitute teacher, and serving in the Army Reserve - all leading to her second career as a published author. Visit her at her website, www.josiemalone.com to learn about her books.

  

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the Rainy Day Rescue Giveaway Here

Why I Love Writing Series (And Why Readers Love Reading Them)

 Series let me stay with characters and towns long enough for them to feel like old friends. That same familiarity is why so many readers love settling into a Western series and not leaving for a while. In this post, I’ll share why I love writing series—and why I think you enjoy reading them just as much. 

Living With Characters Over Time 

When I start a new book, I don’t just meet characters—I move in with them. Over a series, I get to watch them grow through courtships, marriages, children, losses, and second chances, instead of waving goodbye after one story. 

A single novel can only cover so much ground. In a series, I can explore how a couple’s love deepens after the wedding, how a side character quietly steps into the spotlight, or how a town recovers from trouble. That extra space lets me show characters changing over years, not just months. 

For me, closing a standalone sometimes feels like leaving dear friends behind. With a series, I don’t have to say goodbye so quickly—and neither do you. 

Why Readers Love Returning to a Series 

As a lifelong reader, I know the feeling of finishing a book and thinking, “I’m not ready to leave these people.” You want one more visit, one more adventure, one more chance to see your favorite characters happy and safe. 

Research and reader surveys echo that feeling. Many readers love series because they can sink into familiar places and people, and they enjoy “binge reading”—moving from one book to the next without having to start from scratch. Familiar settings, recurring side characters, and similar story structures can make reading feel more relaxing and immersive. 

Emotionally, series help readers form strong attachments to characters. Psychologists note that when we follow the same people over time, we’re not just watching a story—we’re rehearsing emotions like empathy, hope, and courage alongside them. That’s part of why saying goodbye at the end of a long series can feel a bit like losing a friend. 

Building a Town You Can Visit Again and Again 

One of my favorite parts of writing a series is building a town you can revisit anytime you like. Once I’ve created a community—a main street, church, school, saloon, and the surrounding ranches or farms—it becomes a stage where many different stories can unfold. 

Readers tell me they enjoy recognizing places from earlier books: the café where another couple courted, the church where a past wedding took place, or the ranch that once belonged to a side character’s parents. That familiarity makes each new book feel like coming home instead of arriving somewhere new and strange. 

From a writing perspective, once the world is built, I can sink my energy into deepening the people who live there. I already know how the town looks, how the seasons feel, and how the community behaves in a crisis, so I can focus on giving each couple their own unique path to happiness. 

Side Characters Waiting in the Wings 

If you’ve ever finished a book and wished a particular side character would get their own story, you’ll understand one of the big reasons I love series. Some of my favorite heroes and heroines begin as someone in the background—a younger sibling, a best friend, the quiet town doctor, or the widow who seems to have more to her story. 

In a series, I can introduce characters gradually and let you come to care about them before they step into the spotlight. By the time they star in their own book, you already know their quirks, strengths, and hurts, and that makes their happy ending even more satisfying. 

For me as an author, it’s a delight to finally give those “waiting in the wings” characters a chance at love. I enjoy planting small hints about their pasts and futures in earlier books, knowing observant readers will catch them. 

Comfort, Anticipation, and the Joy of “Just One More” 

Series offer a special kind of comfort. When you open a new book in a familiar series, you already have a sense of the town’s rules, the tone, and the type of story you’ll get. That doesn’t mean it’s predictable; it simply means you can relax, confident you’re in trusted hands. 

That familiarity also builds anticipation. Many readers say they enjoy waiting for the next book, imagining which character might fall in love next, or how an ongoing thread will resolve. That sense of “to be continued” keeps the world alive in your mind between releases. 

For me, it’s a privilege to know readers are eager to spend more time in a world I’ve created. It encourages me to plan ahead, layering storylines and character arcs so there’s always a satisfying payoff waiting in a future book. 

Why I Keep Returning to Series 

From a practical standpoint, writing in a series lets me make the most of the work I’ve already done. Once the world, family lines, and town history are established, each new book can dive quickly into fresh emotional territory. 

But the deeper reason is simple: I care about these characters and communities, and I’m not ready to let them go after one book. I love watching a family grow from one couple’s romance into a sprawling tree of siblings, cousins, and lifelong friends, each with their own story to tell. 

My hope is that, when you pick up one of my series, you feel exactly what I feel when I return to a beloved author’s world: that mix of comfort, curiosity, and quiet excitement that comes from knowing you’re about to visit old friends and meet new ones. 

Runaway Artist by Sheila Hansberger

Runaway Artist

by Sheila Hansberger

Buy Link

Book Blurb:

Talented artist Brooke Arnelletta knows she’s going places. She just never dreamed her journey would include running away. 

Behind the upscale gallery where she serves as a summer intern, she’s the lone witness to a stabbing. When police can’t find evidence to support the crime, Brooke begins to wonder if her creative imagination was working overtime. Days later, clues finally emerge, turning the alleged murder into a reality. Brooke must face a decision—risk the killer returning to silence her...or disappear into thin air. Can she remain hidden until an arrest is made? Or will evil find her first? 

Excerpt:

My mind kept replaying the previous night’s happenings on a continuous loop, urging me to re-examine the crime. As soon as I gathered enough courage to go home…a sketch pad would be my therapist, and I’d draw every detail. My sketches might not solve the murder, but they might point the police in the right direction. 

 Author Bio:

Sheila Hansberger, a Signature member of Watercolor West and the National Watercolor Society, is an award-winning artist and author who resides in California. She worked as a graphic designer for a printing firm before beginning her fine art career. For the past 40+ years, Sheila’s watercolors have been in demand with galleries and clients. Her paintings can be found in private homes and public collections within corporations, museums, and various institutions across the USA.  

Other than occasional magazine articles or press releases, Hansberger’s writings took a back seat to her artwork. A five-year stint as Newsletter Editor for the National Watercolor Society reminded her how much she loved the written word. She then joined two national writer’s groups and attended meetings, podcasts, and conferences to hone her skills. A First-Place win in a nationwide contest brought her to the attention of a publisher. In 2024, The Wild Rose Press published her debut suspense, The Gardener’s Secret. Her next novel, Runaway Artist, also a suspense, was released in August, 2025, and is available in digital and paperback formats on Amazon.  

Obituary for Caroline Clemmons (Carolyn Smith)

 

Carolyn DeeAnn Smith was born on September 16, 1940, in Hollis, Oklahoma. She moved to Lubbock, Texas, as a child and grew up there. Her parents were Pearson Madison and Lena Mae Johnson.  Pearson had been widowed and had three grown children and one teenager, who went to live with her sister after the marriage. When Carolyn was 10, her brother Donald was born.  

Carolyn graduated from Lubbock High School. She attended Texas Tech University but did not graduate. She got her associate’s degree in Interior Design after she was married, had children, and was living in Florida. Carolyn had a variety of interesting careers, including having her own newspaper column in Windermere, Florida, working for a psychology professor at Texas Christian University, and being the county bookkeeper in Parker County, Texas.  When she retired, Carolyn set out to realize a lifelong dream, that of being a writer. She wrote some contemporary romances and cozy mysteries, but her first love was writing western historical romantic suspense. Most of her close to 100 novels are set in the 1880s. She won several writing awards during the course of her career.  

Carolyn and Lilburn moved frequently. They were married in Dallas and at one point ended up in Weatherford, Texas, living on a peach orchard called Smithhaven Farms. For the last 4 ½ years, Carolyn lived in Fort Worth with her youngest daughter.  

Carolyn was an avid genealogist. She loved tracing her ancestors and collecting their stories and photographs. Carolyn loved to travel. In addition to many states in the United States, Carolyn had traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, England, and her favorites, Scotland and Ireland. Carolyn also liked to look at antique malls. At one time, she had several antique booths in Weatherford and Granbury. She was also a voracious reader.  

Carolyn belonged to the Disciples of Christ denomination since early childhood. She was active in church committees and Sunday school. She was also interested in volunteering for organizations like Catholic Charities and Meals on Wheels and in civil justice. Carolyn was a stay-at-home mother for both her daughters’ childhoods. She was actively involved as a homeroom mother and in the PTA. As a writer, she was generous with advice to novice writers and participated in several multi-author series.  Carolyn was known for her intelligence, her sense of humor, her kindness, and her sweet nature.  

As a child, Carolyn went to her friend Joyce’s 13th birthday party and met Joyce’s 17-year-old brother, Lilburn.  She thought he was very dashing and sophisticated. When she was in high school, they began dating. They would go on to marry and stay married for almost 62 years. Lilburn died last year on May 29, 2025, and Carolyn struggled to adjust. In the end, she died of a broken heart because she just didn’t want to live without the love of her life. She passed away on May 1, 2026.  Carolyn is survived by her grown daughters Stephanie Suesan Smith and Stacy Barbara “Bea” Smith.  

A Celebration of Life memorial will be held for Carolyn on May 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. The service will be followed by a reception meal in the Fellowship Hall. The ceremony will be held at Ridglea Christian Church, 6720 West Elizabeth, Fort Worth, Texas, 76116. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Ridglea Christian Church.  

Carolyn Smith 1940-2026

Lilburn and Carolyn Smith

On the evening of Wednesday, April 29th, Carolyn Smith, who wrote 92 romances as Caroline Clemmons, went into respiratory failure. She was moved into hospice on Thursday and died at 12:45 Friday, May 1, 2026.  She is survived by her two children, Stephanie Suesan Smith and Stacy Barbara 'Bea' Smith.  We believe that whatever the technical reason mom died, she really died of a broken heart.  She missed her Hero so much that, eleven months after his death, she followed him.  They are together again and dancing through eternity together.

In lieu of flowers, Carolyn has asked that donations be made to Ridglea Christian Church, 6720 West Elizabeth Lane, Ft. Worth, TX 76116.

The Magic of a Well-Placed Thunderstorm in Western Romance by Caroline Clemmons

A thunderstorm builds slowly on the plains. The air turns heavy and still. The sky goes a strange, bruised color. Birds go quiet. And then the first wind hits—hard enough that dust swirls up in sheets and every window and door slams at once. For the people who lived on the frontier, that storm was not scenery. It was a force they had to reckon with, find shelter against, and survive. 

For the writer of Western romance, that same storm can be one of the most useful tools in the entire story. A well-placed thunderstorm does more than soak your characters and ripple the pond water in a tense outdoor scene. It changes the rules. It forces decisions. It creates the kind of situation that moves your love story forward in ways that nothing else quite can. 

I've used storms in my own western romances, and I'm never more conscious of the power of weather than when I'm writing one. Here's why a thunderstorm, dropped into the right moment of your story, can work genuine magic on the page. 

The Great Plains and the Weather That Named It 

Let's start with the history, because the weather of the frontier is part of what makes a storm scene feel authentic rather than convenient. 

The Great Plains earned a reputation for extreme weather that preceded settlement and endured long after. Settlers' diaries from the 1860s and 1870s described storms of remarkable violence: incredible lightning displays, hail the size of eggs, wind strong enough to flatten buildings, and thunder that shook the ground. These were not exaggerations. The Plains were—and still are—a place where the atmosphere can turn lethal with almost no warning. 

The thunderstorm season moved north through spring and summer, starting in Texas in April and progressing to Nebraska and the Dakotas by June. For frontier families, this was a predictable cycle and an unpredictable threat. The weather was talked about constantly. It controlled conversations, decisions, and survival plans. 

That cultural reality gives the writer of Western historical fiction a storm that readers instinctively believe in. When a storm rolls in on your characters, it carries the weight of real history behind it. That authenticity matters—even when the story is doing something entirely romantic. 

The Forced Proximity That Changes Everything 

Of all the things a thunderstorm can do for a Western romance, forced proximity is the most reliable—and the most productive. 

A storm does not care about social conventions. It does not pause because the heroine and hero have been maintaining a careful emotional distance for three chapters. It drives them under the same roof, into the same barn, or behind the same rock, and it does so with enough urgency that neither of them can reasonably refuse. 

They are close. They are wet. The thunder shakes the beams above their heads. The candles gutter. The world outside is loud and dangerous, and the world inside is small and intimate. Every conversation that follows happens in a voice lower than it would have been in daylight. Every touch is more noticeable. Every silence carries weight. 

That is the exact environment in which emotional walls crack. People say things in a storm they would not say on a sunny afternoon. They reveal fears they have kept quiet. They look at each other without the usual distractions. The storm does not manufacture intimacy—it creates the conditions for it to emerge on its own. 

And for the writer, it does all of this without a single expository line about "now we are spending more time together." The weather has done the work. 

The External Conflict That Pushes the Story Forward 

A thunderstorm is more than a mood setter. It is a plot device that creates real problems your characters have to solve. 

Maybe the storm washes out the bridge on the only road back to town, stranding your characters for an extra day and upending their plans. Maybe it drives a calf or a horse loose, forcing the hero and heroine to go look for it together in conditions that are anything but safe. Maybe it damages the roof of the ranch house, and while the men outside fight to get a tarp on, the women inside manage a crisis of their own. 

In Western historical fiction, weather was not an inconvenience. It was a survival challenge. The frontier lacked modern forecasting, reliable shelter, and the infrastructure that could have reduced storm damage. A severe thunderstorm on the plains in the 1870s or 1880s could leave a family isolated for days, destroy crops, injure livestock, or worse. 

When you write a storm scene with that reality in mind, it stops being window dressing and starts being drama. The characters act because they have to act. They make choices under pressure. And the choices they make reveal who they really are—which is always what good fiction is about. 

The Lightning That Marks a Story Moment 

There is a specific kind of thunderstorm scene that lingers in a reader's memory long after the book is closed. 

It happens this way: the rain is already falling. The characters are already inside, already close. They are talking—or arguing—and then lightning strikes close enough to light the room bright white for a heartbeat. The thunder hits almost immediately after, a crack so close it feels personal. In that split second, one of them moves—reaching, pulling, protecting—and the distance that has existed between them for the entire story collapses in an instant. 

This is the moment every Western romance writer loves to set up. The storm does not create the attraction. The attraction has been building for chapters. The storm simply provides the right environmental pressure to make it surface. 

But it deserves to be used carefully. A lightning strike that coincides with every confession of love in a book starts to feel manipulative. Used once, at the right moment, with real buildup behind it—it can be one of the most memorable scenes in the entire story. 

The Storm as Character and Mirror 

Sometimes the weather does more than create a scene. It mirrors what is already happening inside the characters. 

A simmering argument between two people who are not yet honest with each other about what they are feeling? That sets up beautifully against the building air before a storm—the pressure rising, the silence thick, the knowing that something has to break. 

A moment of clarity or emotional release between two people who have finally stopped lying to each other? That feels right coming on the other side of a storm, when the rain has washed the dust from the air and the world has gone quiet in a way it never is while the storm is still raging. 

The best storm scenes don't force emotions onto characters who don't have them. They take the emotions already there and give them a physical language: the crack of thunder for confrontation, the hush after the rain for resolution, the first breaking sunlight for a new beginning. 

Writing Storms That Feel Real 

A few things I keep in mind when I write a storm scene in a western romance: 

Geography matters. A thunderstorm on the flat Kansas prairie looks and behaves differently from one in the hill country of Texas. The sky opens wider on flat ground. There is less shelter. The wind has more room to run. 

The characters respond like people from that time. Frontier families had storm cellars, thick-set buildings, wind-bent fence posts, and a healthy respect for weather. They did not panic, but they acted quickly and practically. 

The aftermath carries weight. Storms left damage in the historical West. Broken fence, scattered livestock, soaked hay, a creek running four feet above where it ran yesterday. Letting your characters deal with that morning-after reality grounds the scene in real consequence. 

The goal is not to write a meteorology report. It is to write a scene that feels earned and true—where the storm is not a cheap trick but a genuine turning point in the story. 

Why Readers Never Get Tired of This Scene 

There is a reason this storm scene appears and reappears across western romance novels generation after generation. Readers don't avoid it. They look for it. They savor it. 

Because beneath the thunder and the rain and the dripping barn doors is something universal and human: the moment two people find themselves in the kind of situation that strips away everything except what is real between them. 

The storm doesn't do the falling in love. It just clears the ground so both characters can finally see it happening.