Must Read Emotional Historical Western Romance
Must Read Emotional Historical Western Romance
Historical Western Romance is a very popular romance subgenre. Historical Westerns are usually set in the Midwest, aka the Old West frontier from the late 19th century through the start of the 20th century. Historical Western Romance has a wide array of colorful character, as well as the hero and heroine, who have interesting careers in as farmers, law enforcement or as teachers.
Here are 4 recommended Emotional Historical Western Romances with independent minded heroines, and the unflappable, yet kind heroes they fall in love with:
Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi, published by Bantam in 1991. Hattie Colfax is a twenty-nine year old spinster who runs her family farm by herself. She has help from her next door neighbor, Reed Tyler, who is also her good friend. When she hears that widower, Ancil Rayton wants to re-marry, and has his sights on Hattie, she lets him court her. Ancil isn’t attracted to Hattie since he considers her plain like most of those in the community, who also call her horse face behind her back. He needs a mother for his seven children, and Hattie will do fine. Reed thinks Hattie could do much better than Ancil, and starts to see her in a new light, especially when he feels jealous over Ancil’s attention. He even goes as far to give Hattie some courting tips, which leads to more than a few kisses between the two. Now Reed wants to be her husband and he’ll do what he can to win her hand before Ancil.
Courting Miss Hattie is one of Pamela Morsi’s sweetest romances about a plain Jane woman, who is really a swan underneath it all, especially in the eyes of her longtime neighbor and best friend who has fallen helplessly in love with her. The sweetness factor regarding the loves scenes leads to some sensual scenes, especially when Reed teaches Hattie different ways to kiss. Courting Miss Hattie won the Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Single Title Historical in 1992.
The Outlaw and the Lady(Daughters of Fortune #1) by Lorraine Heath, published by Avon in 2001. Angela Bainbridge dreams of falling and love and marrying, but that may never come true because she’s blind. One night, she’s kidnapped by the notorious outlaw, Lee Raven as he’s robbing a bank. Because he doesn’t know she’s blind and thinks she can identify him, he takes her with him. But Lee isn’t the deadly criminal the law and media makes him out to be. Lee is out for revenge against the man who wronged his family. But when he finds out Angela’s handicap, and who her father is, he’s in more trouble than he ever expected. But Angela doesn’t fear him, and as she gets to know him and his family, she becomes sympathetic to his cause, which reveals things from his past that may save him from the lawman's noose.
The Outlaw and the Lady is a thrilling romance set in Texas. There are many twists and turns regarding Lee and his true persona he keeps hidden. Lee puts on a great act that Angela sees through even though she’s blind. She has incredible insight on this man who ends up treating her like gold. Also Lee is innocent when it comes to sharing intimacies with Angela, who is also on the same level as he is with sexual experience. The mystery element with Lee’s past leads to an exciting conclusion in one of Lorraine Heath’s more beloved historical romances.
A Hearing Heart by Bonnie Dee, first published by Liquid Silver Books in 2009, and then self-published in 2012. Catherine Johnson is the new schoolteacher in the small town of Broughton, Nebraska. While walking one Main Street, she catches as a group of drunken men abuse Jimmy Kinney, the deaf-mute who works at the town livery stable. She stops them before they kill Jim, even though he’s badly hurt. When he recovers, Catherine tells him that she wants to teach him to read after he heals, which he accepts. These two may have a student/teacher relationship, but Jim can’t help his desire toward the beautiful schoolteacher.
A Hearing Heart is one historical romance that should not be missed. Reader may shed a tear about Jim a hardworking man, who, because of a disability, is treated as a simpleton. Catherine is a warm and giving woman who sees how bright and special he is. Bonnie Dee shows with Jim that a less than perfect hero can be a very special one. A Hearing Heart sticks with you long after you finish reading.
Pieces of Sky(Blood Rose #1) by Kaki Warner, published by Berkley in 2010. Jessica Thornton has traveled from England to the New Mexico Territory to escape her brother-in-law, who in a fit of anger, raped her and left her pregnant. While she’s on riding on a stagecoach with some annoying passengers, she meets Brady Wilkins at a rest stop. Brady doesn’t make a good impression on her because he comes across as arrogant when he engages her in conversation. When the stagecoach breaks an axle and turns over, Jessica is injured. Brady goes for help and reaches his home, but is also badly hurt. He recovers as fast as he can because Jessica is all alone and suffering. He brings her to RosaRoja to recover. Because Jessica can’t travel due to the trauma she sustained from the stagecoach accident, she must stay with the Brady's family. Brady and Jessica soon come to an agreement of sorts. She comes clean about her past and why she has come to America. These two will lean on each other and learn that even though they have gone through the worst types of horrors imaginable, the love they share can give them a sense of peace.
Pieces of Sky is a sweeping historical romance. Brady and Jessica have internal demons that eat them up inside. But the wonderful thing about Jessica and Brady’s growing love is that they communicate. There are no misunderstandings or keeping of secrets. They are upfront with one another. Pieces of Sky won the Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book in 2011.
