Under the Stars is a delightful book I absolutely loved the story, characters, and laugh-out loud humor. I highly recommend this fun and quick read!

This was a fun wild west story full or heart. You can't help but love the tough but sensitive Rosie Decker who gives Marshal Hank Walker a run for his money. Not to be outdone by any man when she is refused admittance into the lawman's world she will prove her mettle to bring in the outlaw who murdered her sweetheart. However, will she learn to forgive in time to see the real love she could have. And will the Marshall learn to lay fears aside before he misses out on his perfect match. You will have to read this fun, rollicking tale of love and adventure!

I have to admit, I grabbed this book for the fabulous cover. Besides, I’m often looking for U titles for challenges and I am glad to have read it for that reason.

Otherwise, I am not the audience for this book. I’m not a huge romance reader and that’s the main focus of the book. I get hung up on wanting things to make sense and wanting to feel a true historical flavor when I read historical books. Rosie, to me, felt like an enterprising girl from the 1950s or 1960s who was misplaced into an earlier time frame. Everything is larger than life and there’s not a lot of nuance. Historical conversation seems to “happen” with her getting an intermittent mountain accent with bad grammar; she’s got a slender waist and beautiful features but she brings down hardened outlaws time and again. And then peskier errors like thinking laryngitis isn’t contagious. And calling someone a moron in the 1800s. Oh well. Oh, and lace wasn't scratchy back then because it was all handmade. I didn’t realize her folks were so incredibly wealthy as to provide yards and yards of it for a wedding gown. So...yeah. Just not my sort of book.

Mostly clean. She completely ignores her father’s advice though dependent on him for a home. We are told how she uses the toilet in the open while in disguise on the trail.

I’d recommend this one to readers more interested in romance than in a western or in historical detail.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This is a fun reading western. I enjoyed Rosie particularly. There was one scene that especially made me chuckle and I had to stop and explain what was so funny to my brother in law. He laughed too. But I won't share because I don't want to spoil it. I also liked Hank but he felt more serious to me. I think this book would make a fun movie. I kept envisioning scenes as if they were a motion picture especially while dealing with the bad guys. Kind of had a Support Your Local Sheriff feel to it. I enjoyed the story and its characters.

Sex: some kisses
Language: no
Violence: some but nothing graphic and most of it is just threats and not action.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I don’t generally read a lot of western romances, so this one was a little outside my box. I don’t love cowgirl/boy talk. This one is filled with that. Despite that, I still enjoyed it. The characters took me some time to come around to, but the story line was solid and interesting, so I kept going and by the end I was rooting for Rosie and Hank. All in all, it’s a worthwhile read and if you love westerns... probably even more so. Enjoy!

Under the Stars
by Carolyn Twede Frank
Covenant Communications
Christian , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 01 Jan 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Under the Stars through Covenant Communications and Netgalley:


After the New Marshall in town lets it be known he needs volunteers, one of the first people to sign up is Miss Rosie Decker. This sharpshooting horse taming tomboy is out for revenge. Marshal Hank Walker is forming a posse to find the man who killed her sweetheart, and Rosie is determined to help track him down. When the marshal refuses her service on account of her being a woman, Rosie is undeterred. If it’s a man Marshal Walker wants, it’s a man he’ll get.


Once the Pose is assembled, Hank Walker is confident he will be able to track down the criminal. His confidence grows even more as he recognizes the incomparable skill of one young man in his posse—Ross. That is until the day Ross ‘s mustache falls of revealing “his” true identity. Rosie Decker duped him Banished back to town, it’s time for Rosie to prove her mettle. Though working alongside the unwilling marshal is complicated, it is the unexpected tenderness she feels for him that proves most problematic. How can she demonstrate her skill while also setting out to win the heart of the man who seems bent on keeping her out of his way?


If you are looking for a great work of historical fiction, with a spunky female lead then Under the Stars Is just the ticket.


I give Under the Stars five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed the western themes romance that was clean and engaging. This book reminded me a bit of the Sheriff of Savage Wells series. Main character, Rosie, has all the cowboy skills of a man buying taken seriously by new marshal Walker for a good chunk of the novel. I liked the banter between the two and that Rosie was resourceful once captured using castor oil to afflict her captors. This was a quick and easy read and made me want to read the other books in this series.

Under the Stars
By Carolyn Twede Frank
Tomboy Rosie Decker is a true diamond in the rough. She can’t see her worth however and feels the need to prove herself as good as any man. Working on a ranch as the only female has had its challenges but Rosie has shown the crew, she can pull her weight. When a new marshal lands himself in charge of a posse to find the killer of her murdered sweetheart Rosie knows she has to find a way to join the hunt.
Marshal Hank Walker is faced with puny pickings as he attempts to form a posse to find a killer. While stopping at a local ranch to round up men he finds himself faced with a woman cowboy intent to join his posse. Bewildered, Hank turns her down but can’t keep his thoughts from drifting her way.
Rejected by the sheriff won’t stop Rosie's determination to hunt for the criminal, just as a small posse won’t stop Hank.
I think this was a really cute book. I enjoyed the ups and downs as Rosie and Hank made self-discoveries and found themselves tangled in love along the way. The manhunt was exciting but I can’t imagine what Rosie did to disguise herself as working. I also don't think she would be able to sneak away for such an extended period with no one the wiser. Still, it was fun as I find in most fiction stories there are many unlikely scenarios. Rather I like to use my imagination and try to make it work.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Although this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a standalone. (I haven't read the first two books.) Rosie is a fun character, and she often had me chuckling. I liked seeing how she and Hank learned to work together.

3.5 stars.

I read an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good!! It is well written and holds your attention.The author made the story come to life with her words. I could see the scenery and feel all the emotions. This is a new-to-me author and I look forward to reading more of her books. If you like historical western fiction that is clean and has action, drama and romance, grab this book! Thank you Covenant Communications via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an enjoyable read, although not one of my favorites. In my opinon, the author overused similies to the point of distraction. Some of them were fun and I think it may have been her effort to show the personallity of Rosie.

I rated the book 3 stars because I read the whole thing and I did like the characters. The stated reasoning behind some of Rosie's choices rubbed me wrong, but again, if one is being fair to the time period, her choices shouldn't be a surprise.

This is a book in a series, but it is completely standalone. I have not read the previous books and I followed this story completely fine.