Cover Image: Crinoline Cowboys

Crinoline Cowboys

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This is a great sampling of stories. The novellas were nice and introduced me to three new authors. I liked them all for different reasons. Novella collections are great for when you want to read a short complete story. I would recommend this to any western historical romance fiction fans. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words.

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A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall
This was such a cute story. Maddie had all kinds of spunk but was still such a lady. Carter was a cowboy and a gentleman all rolled into one.
I seriously loved this story and didn't want it to end so soon!

Josephine's Dream by Cynthia Hickey
Why did this story have to end so soon? I loved it! I could have read a full size novel about these characters. I loved Parker and Josephine's story. Plenty of humor and spunk!

Love's Cookin' at the Cowboy Cafe by Marilyn Turk
Oh what a cute story! I really loved Sarah Beth! She was so much fun! Emery was so great as well. What a great little novella.

Bea Mine by Kathleen Y'Barbo
This story just made my heart sigh. It was so wonderful. I loved Bea and Gil. Their story needed to go on much longer. It was just wonderful. Full of action, love and adventure.

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I have loved every book that I have read from these four authors. It is a wonderful collection of stories of the early western days. The book is totally Christian and I love that. Nice, clean and very enjoyable. A book not to miss! And I love Texas stories!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

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I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley, this review is my personal opinion.

Wonderful collection, I truly enjoy it each one of this story. Not only the descriptions, characters but also the type of writing that makes you want to know how it will end.
So, if you are looking for a great book, not only for just having a great time but also laugh and be edified. This collection is a great choice.

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This was a collection of 4 stories that took place in Texas after the Civil War. There were funny moments, and I did shed a couple of tears over some. These were strong men and women and they all faced obstacles.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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My Review of Crinoline Cowboys:
The Barbour collections that have come out in the past year have each been wonderful but this one? It is my favorite yet!
A Cowboy of Her Own; the character growth is spectacular.
Josephine’s Dream; my favorite of the collection with the childrens’ antics.
Love’s Cookin’ at the Cowboy Café; hilarious, and sweet.
Bea Mine; the first of the stories I read and the last in the collection, tied for favorite with Josephine's Dream.
Each of these are unique, interesting, and hilarious. With kidnappings, burnt meals, southern belles, and cowboy gentlemen you'll fall in love with the Crinoline Cowboys.
Rating: 4 stars.
Recommendation: 16 up for romance.
Verse: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (King James Version.)

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A great collection. I loved the combination of strong women and strong men in this collection of stories. I also have a soft spot for old western stories of ranching, farming, etc.

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This was a fun read! I enjoyed the Texas thread throughout all the stories, and the strong and well-portrayed Southern women the stories were about. The book felt authentic and well researched, with the characters being entertaining and likeable. The Civil War love story of Bea Mine brought tears to my eyes, while A Cowboy of Her Own was full of spunk and adventure. I enjoyed this compilation and this group of authors.

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This is a collection of four historical novellas tied together by the theme of starting over. Each novella is set in the town of Crinoline Creek, Texas in the year 1868 and is the story of a strong woman leaving the war torn South and making a new life in Texas. Although each novella is a stand alone story, they all contain the theme of starting over and letting go of the past.
I have always enjoyed books of novellas, because you are given a chance to try new authors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for providing a copy of the book for review.

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Crinoline Cowboys is a delightful group of stories featuring southern belles who have left their pasts for new beginning in post-Civil War Texas. Each young woman lacks knowledge of the west and their role in Crinoline Creek but is determined to make things work in a new situation. Can a belle with a family of orphans and a few books become a rancher and teach a rough cowboy and his sister a few things? Can a pampered miss become a rancher's nanny when she has no experience with children? Can a pampered young woman convert an inherited saloon into a cafe when she's never cooked before or will she take the banker's advice and sell? Will a runaway bride find refuge with Crinoline Creek's temporary sheriff as she hides from the man who has painted her as a criminal? If you are looking for a historically accurate story, don't look here. If you are looking for a fun book to escape into, this book is a winner. This group of strong willed gals will confound their would be rescuers and win their hearts.

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Crinoline Cowboys is a collection of four short stories of romance as the old west is being settled. All of the stories are set in Crinoline Creek Texas in the mid 1860’s.
A Cowboy of her Own BY Patty Smith Hall Carter Wilbanks is raising his younger sister since his parents have passed away. He is struggles with how to raise a young lady. The new owner of the adjacent farm is a single woman with no clue how to raise the cows she intends for income. Can the two of them reach an agreement to help each other?
Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey- Josephine Montgomery has answered an ad for a nanny/housekeeper in Crinoline. The only problem is that she has no idea how to do either since she grew with servants before the war. She is willing to work hard and learns quickly how to care for the children. Parker Owens has four children and his housekeeper is retiring. Desperate for help he takes Josie to the homestead so that Mrs. Davis can train her before she leaves. Will Josie be able to adapt to farm life and the responsibility of four young children?
Love’s Cookin’ at the Cowboy Café by Marilyn Turk- Sarah Beth Taylor arrives in town to open a café in the building her uncle left to her. She quickly learns his business was the local saloon but is determined to make it into a respectable café. Banker Emery Wright has corresponded with her in preparation for her arrival and the two become friends. Will more than friendship blossom in the opening of the café?
Bea Mine by Kathleen Y’Barbo- Bea comes to town to claim her family’s land but is quickly arrested by the acting sheriff, Gill Hollis. Gill just wants to be working on the ranch after his time in the war but is filling in for his brother Ed who is out of town investigating fraudulent land deeds. This story is a bit humorous as Bea is Gil’s prisoner and he is not quite equipped to deal with her. Is she truly a criminal or will he help her clear her name?
I enjoyed this book very much and give it 5 of 5 stars. It will appeal to all enjoy a bit of history along with Christian romance stories.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Once again, another collection of novellas written by four talented authors, but these all take place in Crinoline Creek, Texas. Four ranchers need a woman about the place. In very different circumstances, each of the young ladies is in a predicament of her own making and the men who rescue them somehow end up falling in love with the very girls they think they don't need.

The stories tend to end before I want them to, but they are good reading to while away a chilly afternoon while snuggled under a blanket. Four strong stars.

I wish to thank Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galleys of these books for me to read.

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Crinoline Cowboys is a collection of 4 novellas about Georgia women who head to Crinoline Creek, Texas. Even though the stories have the same setting, they’re not connected much. A minor character in one story shows up again in another, but besides that, there isn’t any continuity. One story mentions eating at the cafe, and then the next says there is no cafe. It would’ve been nice if the stories were a bit more connected, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the collection.

Other than that, this is a nice collection. My favorite story in the collection was A Cowboy of Her Own, but Bea Mine is a close second. The only story I wasn’t too crazy about was Love’s Cooking at the Cowboy Cafe. But every novella collection has stories I love and stories I don’t, so I suppose it’s to be expected. I’ve shared my thoughts about the individual stories below.

A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall

This story was really good. I was hooked from the beginning. Carter’s relationship with his little sister Cassie is endearing, especially when he decides to ask Madalyn Turner to teach her to be a lady. Madalyn’s group of orphans are precocious youngsters that added some extra humor to the story. I’d love to see more stories about them in the future. Carter’s burgeoning friendship with Madalyn is well developed. There’s an interesting plot twist at the end, and I wish we saw more of the action. But overall, this was a good story.

Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey

This story was okay. Josephine comes to Crinoline Creek in answer to an ad for a nanny/housekeeper, but she’s lied about her qualifications. Patrick, a widower with four children, decides to keep her on anyway and challenges her to learn what she needs to know about cooking and keeping house. Josephine’s character is relatable, especially since she’s hardworking and determined to learn. But this story wasn’t as good as A Cowboy of Her Own.

Love’s Cooking at the Cowboy Cafe by Marilyn Turk

This story was just stale to me. Sarah Beth Taylor comes off as a spoiled brat, and Emery Wright is a lovesick puppy who just follows her around the entire time. The only conflict was whether or not she’d get her cafe up and running, and then there’s a bandit thrown in at the end.

Bea Mine by Kathleen Y’Barbo

This story was funny and entertaining. Gil Hollis is filling in for his sheriff brother, and he’s tasked with arresting Bea Wilson when she comes to town. But she doesn’t make it easy. The misunderstanding between the two of them causes some humorous moments, especially since the reader knows that Gil and Bea have met before, even if they don’t remember it.


(Review will go live on the blog on Oct. 25 at 5:00 PM. Then it will be posted to Goodreads and Bookbub. When the book is released, a review will be added to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com)

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I loved the premise of this collection as I do love collections that focus on one community. In the wake after the civil war, these feisty women take their destinies into their own hands. I loved each story in its own way, especially the final one for its unusual story line. A prisoner and the temporary sheriff falling in love? I'm here for it!

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Crinoline Cowboys is a fun collection of four stories. These stories include:
A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall
Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey
Love’s Cookin’ at the Cowboy Café by Marilyn Turk
Bea Mine by Kathleen Y’Barbo
I loved all of these delightful stories. My favorite of the four has got to be Kathleen Y'Barbo's Bea Mine.
I give this collection five plus stars.

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Crinoline Cowboys
By Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk, Kathleen Y’Barbo
This short collection of novellas follows the path of four men and women who find love in Crinoline Creek. The novellas are stand-alone and I wish that they had interacted with each other more. I thought the stories average and didn’t care for “Love’s Cookin at the Cowboy Café.” These were short and sweet, easy to read novellas but they just didn’t make an impression on me. The collection all read like short stories and lacked depth or had quickening plots to rush the story along.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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An entertaining collection of all new stories set in post-Civil War Texas.
"All she wanted was a place to call home, to belong..."
This group of former Southern belles show a lot of spunk, ingenuity and determination in their new situations of reduced circumstances. A sort of Steel Magnolias crossed with the men of Bonanza. I enjoyed all of the unique tales set in the small town of Crinoline Creek, Texas. They each share nuggets of faith mixed in as the characters work hard to make a new life after the devastation left from the war. Some peril or action livens up each story, and works well with the romance developing rapidly.

Recommend to fans of historical Christian romances, especially western adventures.
4.5 stars

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

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This book is absolutely wonderful! All of the stories are very well written and hold your attention. If you like a good clean Historical Western Romance that has action and adventure, you will love this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing, Inc via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. I highly recommend this book.

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Crinoline Cowboys is a very good collection of historical romance stories. I found each selection to be well written. If you enjoy historical fiction you will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher. This is my unbiased review.

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These four stories were great, I love Westerns anyway and these stories were just great. Each author was able to write in their style while making each story blend in well.

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