Cover Image: Calder Grit

Calder Grit

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Member Reviews

I love the Calder series and this is no exception. This second book of s new series focuses on Blake Dollarhide. Although this is written by a ghost writer this is still enjoyable.

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This is an author that I have loved to read from the first book I picked up. I find her books to be well written and creative. Her writing style is such that it makes her books realistic and make her characters pop. This book is no different. I loved being pulled into the story by the characters. They are connectable and kept me coming back for more. This is an engaging story that is fast paced and hard to put down. This is a story about over coming differences and starting some new roots. A great story that took me on an emotional roller coaster ride in parts. The chemistry between the characters was great as well as their growth throughout the story. I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it. A must read and worth the pick up.

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Inner cover explains that this has been written by an approved ghost writer - they did a decent job. But, it's not a Calder tale, so that's a bit naughty.

I read one JD book after she died, but I think it was an unedited, unmodernised one and it made me wonder why her estate had let it be published - it wasnt up to her standards. This is better but that's because it has been ghost written a la JD by someone familiar with her work, working from her ideas and characters and it was an OK but not exciting family saga.

It had pretty much decent characters, though with some bad guys, but ugh, it made me want to shake some of the women in here for being ninnies, but then I had to remember the time in which the tale took place. It's not a romance and there is a noncon sex scene that needs a mention, but sadly, entitled men exist in every era.

ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

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I love reading about cowboys!!! Janet Dailey does an awesome job of writing about families, getting the reader totally involved with that family and then weaving other families into the stories and then giving them their own storyline. The early 1900’s are so exciting to read about and Janet tells the best stories! I throughly enjoyed reading about the Dollarhides!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was my first Janet Dailey book and the first of this genre that I’ve ever read. It was just OK for me. A little slow and too light for my liking.

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Calder Grit book 2 was received from NetGalley. This is book 2 in the new Calder series. This book centered on Blake Dollarhide, and Hanna. Hanna is a homesteader’s daughter. Blake’s brother Mason takes advantage of Hannah, Blake steps up and married Hannah. The book parallels the second book of the original Calder series centering on Webb Calder. I found myself wishing I would have re read the book to remember what was happening at the same time. Overall it’s a good book to read.

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Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of Calder Grit. This is my personal review.
Calder Grit is the second book in the Calder Brand series.
This is the story about Blake Dollarhide and Hanna Anderson. This is a book filled with family, dealing with hard times as the west was being settled. As I was reading, I was able to feel the hardships some families had to make to survive.
Hanna and Blake were two people who had to make decisions that they never imagined they would make to overcome things that they had never planned.
The book is a historical romance filled with so much more.

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The original Calder Series by Janet Dailey was one of my favorite series to read. The revival of the series is even better than the original. This is book #2 in the series. The new series is written around The Dollarhides, rivals to the Calders. They believe the only way to settle a score is through legal means. They do not back down from a fight, but they would rather find a way that all parties can agree with. Mason Dollarhide is a spoiled brat raised by his extremely rich and cut-throat mother that Joe divorced years ago. He has had everything handed to him by Amelia. Blake Dollarhide lives with his father Joe and seems to always be cleaning up the mess of his spoiled half-brother. Trying not to take sides between new homesteaders and the ranchers Blake must finally make a stand or risk losing everything important to him and his family. There is plenty of suspense, drama and romance. I am thrilled that Janet Dailey's stories will continue on with the help of her family.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. I have been reading the Calder series for years and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole series and this book was no exception. I love the way the author is now diving into the "early" Calder days and history. I loved the main characters in this book and enjoyed reading about the feuding/wars between the wheat farmers and the cattle farmers. The book had a great main plot and had equally enjoyable sub plots to it. At times it made me laugh and at times it made me cry, but overall it was a great story.

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I'd drifted from the modern Calder's, as my heart was with the historic novels, and what a comeback! How nice to see another family!

The synopsis here is quite misleading, as the Calder's really aren't involved in this story, except extremely tangentially. This story follows the Dollarhides, the next rung on the ladder "down" (money wise) and their family in the world OF the Calder's.

Its a shame, this story stands AMAZINGLY on its own. In fact, I preferred it if I'm being honest. Huzzah, and I hope to see more of THIS family in the future!

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The centers around Hanna Anderson and Blake Dollarhide. This is a Historical Romantic Suspense, and Janet Dailey brings us back to Blue Moon, Montana and the second book in her new Calder Brand series, set in 1900s when people where just starting to settle in the west, life was hard and not fun showing the difficulty of a young ladies life and choices she has before her. The focus of this book is all about cattlemen vs. farmers where each wants to leave a legacy for their children. Hanna and her family newly arrive as farmers struggling to make ends meet. Blake Dollarhide runs the Blue Moon sawmill; his half-brother supposedly is a rancher, but Mason is a spoiled rotten brat who does what he wants. Handsome and smooth-talking, Hanna, the oldest Anderson daughter, is enamored by his sweet talk and sadly finds out too late the kind of man Mason really is. There was very little about the Calder family in the book so unsure why it was named Calder Grit it focuses on the Dollarhides so the name does not really fit. Romance, suspense and relatable characters made this book an enjoyable read. Well written with a good plot line.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.

#CalderGrit #NetGalley #JanetDailey

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Title: Calder Grit.
Series: The Calder Brand #2.
Author: Janet Dailey*
Genre: Western Romance.
Publisher: Kensington.
Release Date: February 22, 2022.
Format :Kindle (read) & Hardcover.
Pages:297.
Source: NetGalley.
Cover: Not a fan. A thumbs down. Bland. The cover does not convey whether the book is contemporary or historical. Believe that the author’s well-known name will catch a reader’s eye.

The year is 1909; the location is Montana (which has been a state for 20 years). Janet Dailey’s readers are familiar with the surname Calder. The setting is two Dollarhide brothers, same father, different mothers. Cattle are the main “crop” in fictious Blue Moon, Montana. Until emigrant farmers began homesteading. The ranchers are unhappy. One family, in particular the Anderson’s, are poor but determined to create a farm that will one day be run by their son.

Blake Dollarhide runs the Blue Moon sawmill; his half-brother supposedly is a rancher, but Mason is a spoiled rotten brat who does what he wants. Handsome and smooth-talking, Hanna, the oldest Anderson daughter, is enamored by his sweet talk and sadly finds out too late the kind of man Mason really is.

There are two plots that run through Calder Grit: 1) the pitting of rancher vs. homesteader (called "honyockers") and 2) Blake Dollarhide who marries Hanna to give the child a name as well as protection. Add in an oily banker, Mason’s vicious mother, and a gang of troublemakers. Take note that the Calders are not mentioned.
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Calder Grit should be called “Dollarhide Grit“. The Calders play a low role in this book; the Dollarhide family shines. Without them, there would be no book. The romance between Blake and Hanna is sweet and nicely done. The actions of the side characters are important to the story. The two plots are balanced and interwoven; the pacing is good. It’s a nice read.

Having read several of Janet Dailey’s “Calder” books some years ago including those with Chase Benteen Calder, the patriarch, I found the actions of these same Calders to not fit the tough Calder family. However, if you enjoy “chick-lit” stories, you will like Calder Grit.

HOWEVER, I can only give the book three stars due to the above statement and the book isn’t about the Calders but the Dollarhides.

#CalderGrit #NetGalley #JanetDailey

* Janet Dailey was a prolific author who died in 2013 at age 69. Authors make comprehensive notes about plots and characters, especially on “families” like the Calders. The Dailey family, working with an associate of Janet Dailey, has completed novels such as this one based on her notes

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Hanna is trying to make some tough decisions as she is becoming an adult. She is a very poor girl who doesn’t have many choices of people she can marry and make her family happy in the process. She ends up with Mason, the wrong guy for her, and she ends up pregnant from that one mistake. Once her parents find out she is forced to ride with her dad in a wagon to Mason’s home. Once the guys mom is told she could care less about her grandchild and Hanna is left with no choice but to raise the baby on her own. On the way back to her home she ends up caught in a snow storm and takes refuge in Mason’s half brothers home. Blake has been nothing but kind to her but he doesn’t love her. He knows what he must do but he has his eyes set on another girl, Ruth. He ends up making the right choice and marries Hanna so that the baby will have a name, a home, and a father. Along the way they end up caring for each other. Once the baby is born they start to build a relationship.

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Another great historical book in the series.
Hannah and her family are one of many who have moved to Montana in the early 1900's with the promise of their own land to farm. Hard work seems like a small price to pay for the future. But some of the local ranchers are resentful of the new comers, and will go to any means to get them to leave.
In the middle of the growing tension, Hannah finds herself pregnant by one of the Dollarhide brothers, who wants nothing to do with her. To save her from dishonor, and give his nephew his name, Mason;s brother, Blake, marries Hannah.
Things between the ranchers and the farmers will get much worse, and the fighting will lead to much heartache.
Great story with lots of love, family, some tears, and happy endings. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Engrossing historical novel about family, love, and the trials of living in 1909 Montana. Feuds, vigilantes, and simmering to explosive revenge cross the land as one man pushes to end the range war and capture his wife’s heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Blake marries Hannah after a family member gets her pregnant. The more time Blake spends with Hannah the more his feelings for her grow. I have read many of Janet Dailey's book and I enjoyed this one too.

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I didn't care for this story. I skimmed a lot of it. I get that times were hard back when this story took place but that's about all that this story focused on.

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Janet Dailey brings us back to Blue Moon, Montana and the second book in her new Calder Brand series. This is a time when there is friction between those who arrived first and became cattlemen and the new homesteaders looking for a new life and new opportunities using the land for wheat. One of those newly arrived families is Hanna, her parents, and her siblings. When Blake's half brother takes advantage of Hanna and her innocence, Blake steps up to save her honor and give her unborn child a name. But as tensions rise, will Blake stand by the community he serves with his lumber mill, or will he stand with his wife? Will Blake and Hanna ever get close enough to allow love to pass through them, or will they stand back and let love pass?

Janet Dailey has brought us back to the Calders. We get to visit with those we met in the first book of this series. It is always nice to visit with past characters and catch up with them. I do look forward to meeting new people and visiting with old friends in the next book in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this privilege.

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I first read about the Calder family years ago and was excited to get back to these characters. However, although Calder is in the title, this book focused more on the Dollarhide family.

This story tells the story of Blake Dollarhide and his family. This is a cattlemen vs. farmers story that takes place around 1900 in Montana.

Janet Dailey has passed away, so this book was written by others and it did well in following her writing style, but I still missed her grit.

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The Calders are well known to Janet Dailey fans and so I'm sure that's why they dominate the title. However, in this story they are minor characters. Blake Dollarhide,and his family are the focus of this book. When, Blake's half brother gets a local girl pregnant and leaves town, Blake steps in at his father's behest to marry Hanna Anderson’and secure the fate of his grandchild. This is a cattlemen vs. farmers story that takes place around 1900 in Montana. Even though this book was actually written by others since Janet Dailey is now deceased, it had all the great story telling of Janet's novels and I am anxious to follow this series.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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