This is a new feature I want to try to do on a more consistent basis, I have actually received such great feedback for this weekly post, so I will be doing this weekly. I am so excited as I always have such great recommendations as I read all over the genre and my hope is that I can share recs that are for all the sub genres if I can! The “Recommend It” feature, is where I will recommend romances based on a certain theme, trope or character type. If you have a trope or theme or character type you want me to put at the top of my list, I have a form that I have created that will just automatically upload into my spreadsheet and I will put it at the top of my list! I feel like as book bloggers, reviewers, readers, we all have great lists to share and this is what I hope I can do for any that want to expand their horizons in the romance genre.
So today the topic/theme/character type I am focusing on is: Western themed romances. This is to celebrate the independance day week that us American’s and Canadians are celebrating. I absolutely adore western themes, there is something so tangible about reading a cowboy hero or heroine and the rustic settings that just are so simplistic on the surface but resonate deeply to the heart. You can find them in Contemporary, Historicals and even have them in Steampunk too. Now keep in mind that I am not listing EVERY great western, this is a very short list. But I tried to portray some of my favorite authors and all of these authors have a backlist of great westerns to explore.
Top Pick
Many of you who have been around long enough, know exactly why this book is my favorite haha. If I had to choose any couple for you to read for a historical western, this would be the TOP TIER couple. Their relationship is so endearing. And what I love that Rosanne Bittner does, is seeing the growth of the relationship over decades and not just weeks or months. You get to see really relationship building and them working together to overcome life conflicts that relate so well to the human condition and it has so much heart and intimacy from physical to emotional to an almost spiritual bond (don’t worry its not religious or inspirational of a romance) And if you notice on the covers —-you see them age and love that Sourcebooks did that! Man I love that grey on his temples haha
Historical Times
This is a more recent release that Johanna Lindsey did so don’t worry about difficult content it doesn’t have that. And it has a fun family feud and arranged marriage type of set up.
If you are new to westerns or haven’t found one you have enjoyed, READ THIS ONE!!! This year I was able to get a couple of book friends to read this and they fell in love with westerns. This is a really endearing one. Its arranged marriage, a heroine that has been abused by her father and the way the hero uplifts the heroine to show her how to dream and dream big and accomplish her dreams was so precious.
This is also the same book as “Rose” part of the “Seven Brides” these books got recovers and updated titles. I actually love these covers, because they still convey what they are! Basically the hero has a bunch of rowdy brothers and he needs a housekeeper. So think seven brides seven brothers type of set up. She even upends the dinner table because they have bad manners lol Its entertaining and just a fun western and set in the reconstruction era (post civil war time for those non Americans where the country was being rebuilt after the devastation of the country being divided–if you are American, you better know this era haha)
Mail Order Brides
This has such a strong family feel to it. Four abandoned siblings and need to find a home. Each sibling has a book. The oldest agrees to be a mail order bride to provide for her siblings. This author previously had written contemporaries and loved how she wrote these historicals.
You can never go wrong with a Linda Broday especially her earlier books, are just so classically fun to read. And this one is everything you expect to find in a mail order bride romance and MORE!
This book and well the first four books in the series are the BEST! The father of his sons forces them into a competition on whoever can marry, bear a son will inherit everything haha cunning old coot to get his wild boys to settle down but each book is so endearing and all have the same timeline, so you can read them out of order if you like.
This one is fantastic and what Sophie Jordan was able to do with this series is wonderful. Its not historical but a contemporary and has a opposites attract. Basically the hero is a law enforcement officer and the heroine well she is a bit wild and goes a bit on the other side of the law so their interactions are so entertaining and its a true opposites attract.
This is an historical set in Australia features a female jockey (horse racer) and the hero runs a horse racing ranch (what Australian term a “Station”). Its emotional and has a bit of a love triangle in the first half, but its endearing and wonderful. And the companion novel to this one Gables Against the Sky, feature their twins stories. Highly Recommend
There is something different about this author writing westerns, I do think they are her BEST books she has written and unfortunately her less rated or even read books. Its really sad that readers treat westerns so poorly without giving them a good chance.
Contemporary Westerns
Queen of Western Romantic Suspense
There is something so wonderful when you pick up a Jennifer Ryan. I love the small town feels, the PTSD aspects that we see in our characters and the edgy suspense plot deliveries that are so well executed. Each of these books are part of series that are must reads if you love contemporary westerns.
Absolutely loved everything about this one and really the whole series does take place around a ranch with a unique softer style of a MC.
Melissa Foster delivers such a win of a read! This book is magical and really displays such healthy representation of healing from abuse. This has everything you could hope for in a romance, a understanding alpha mellow hero, a strong heroine, fabulous fun family dynamics, a backstory of a MC implemented and one of the best endings I have ever read!
If you are a fan of mafia romance, then this is a must read for you. Absolutely adore everything about this one and if you like BDSM….the hero gets creative with a riding crop in a barn haha
This is truly such a sweet and sexy read! Absolutely adored how this book was written and is a great into into the genre if you don’t know where to start!
Caleb is part of the “Shadow Wranglers” and this series is HOT!!! Just fair warning, its probably borderline erotic romance so keep that in mind. But these are fabulous to read.
Laura Drake is a debut author and absolutely love what she has delivered with this series. Its sexy, heartfelt with fabulous small town Americana vibes within it.
Random Favorites
If you happen to love native american romance, than this author is a must read. Her books are so easy to read and love seeing the cultures she introduces. I know there is some conflict surrounding this author, but honestly there hasn’t been real evidence of it just mostly speculation. But LOVED this book and the audiobook is fantastic! Such a sweet romance.
If you love wagon trains, than you need to read these books! They are fantastic and this one is my favorite of the trilogy! Highly recommend and this author is a male romance author and he writes romance so so good!
Beverly Jenkins really knows how to research and write a wonderful romance and this series is one of the best! Highly recommend it for historical western romance lovers! Plus if you are looking for more diversity in your reading, her historical backlist is a must!
Honorable Mentions
If you would like to give me your requests for what type of recs you would like in a recommend it post, I have a link HERE so that I can put them at the top of the line!
So what do you think of my recommendations for “Western Romances”? What are some of your favorites that I need to add to my TBR? Let me know in the comments below!
I have not read too many cowboy romances, but they tend to be the modern ones. I have read a few from Maisey Yates that were fun
I do love a good western romance. Rosanne Bittner’s series was wonderful. Before I started blogging, I read Linda Lael Miller’s books like they were candy. Thanks for the recs!
I enjoyed Linda Howard’s Mckenzie Mountain. Didn’t continue with the rest of the series. I want to try that Linda Lael Miller series. I loved Jo Goodman’s Western romances. A Touch of Forever and the rest of the Cowboys of Colorado series was wonderful!
Oh yeah, Jake and Randy are my favorite historical western romance couple and I love the western romance genre so I’ve read many of those you picked.
I loved both Reckless books on this list. Jay Crownover has some fun ones, too.