Cover Image: Where Coyotes Howl

Where Coyotes Howl

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Choosing “Where Coyotes Howl” by Sandra Dallas was a decision I made based on multiple factors, ultimately leading me to rate it four stars. One significant influence was my mother’s deep appreciation for the author’s work. Moreover, knowing that Ms. Dallas resides in my home state of Colorado added a personal connection to the reading experience. Despite the story primarily unfolding in Wyoming, the rich and vivid descriptions of the landscape vividly brought to mind the familiar scenery of Colorado, making the setting feel intimately close to home.

Delving into the narrative, I found myself immersed in a tale that skillfully balanced sweetness and tragedy. The emotional depth and complexity of the story were particularly captivating, holding my attention throughout. What truly elevated the experience for me was the authenticity of the characters. Despite inhabiting a different era, they felt remarkably relatable, their struggles and triumphs resonating with universal themes of humanity.

Overall, “Where Coyotes Howl” proved to be a compelling read, earning its four-star rating through its masterful storytelling, vivid imagery, and deeply relatable characters, making it a book I would highly recommend to others.

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This was an amazing real life tribute to pioneer life. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed how she portrayed a realistic depiction of life for women in early settlement years. Quite heart wrenching

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4.5/5 -- Great story. I love reading anything by Sandra Dallas because she features strong women who have to go thru hard times, usually out on the Western prairie. I loved the characters in this story but I will tell you this: it is sad, sad, sad. So many hardships, so many struggles, difficulty around every corner. But, I suppose, such was often the way lives were out there during this time. The story felt realistic and I was emotionally attached to it.

Interestingly, the 1916 Wyoming prairie in this story read a lot like the 1800’s prairie stories always do, which was a surprise to me. I suppose most modern conveniences hadn’t made their way out there yet. I don’t often read historical fiction set in the early 1900’s, so I guess I thought modernities moved out to the West quicker than they actually did.

Loved it. I’m such a big fan of Sandra Dallas’ work.


I received a digital copy of this book from St Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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This story was a heartbreaker but such a great love story. Set in Wyoming during the early 1900's it is a vivid description of the hardships faced on the prairie. Beautifully written.

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A couple of years ago, I read Dallas's Little Souls which is set during the Progressive era of the early 1900s. I loved the novel.

Where Coyotes Howl is set just a couple of years before Little Souls. The story takes place on the prairies of Wyoming. In many ways it could have been set in the 1800s for how wild west the small town was.

It was more of a love story than I was expecting, but I don't think I would call it a romance novel. It was more of a slice of life type of novel as we follow Ellen and Charlie through the ups and downs of life in a pretty unforgiving place.

Though set a good 20 years before Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, Where Coyotes Howl gave me many of the same vibes.

I loved the characters and learning about 1916 Wyoming. It is a sweet story and oh the ending. This was not an easy place to live - think about the early settlers of the West and life hasn't changed too much by this point. And women had it hard. It was a lonely life. The nearest neighbor would be miles away and the husbands could be way for days on end tending to the cattle on the ranch.

I know this book came out last year, but if you missed you or like me have had it buried in your to read pile, you need to pick up this book now. It is so compelling. You want the characters to succeed.

My review will be published on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/02/reading-second-book-by-favorite-authors.html

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This is one of my all time favorites.
A woman that applied for a teaching pstory about a young osition in Wyoming in the 1800's.
Almost right away,she met Charlie Bacon & fell in love instantly & he with her. They lived a hard, but love filled life on the wild frontier.
They had three children,but none lived & she lost her life during the birth of her 3rd.child.
It was a lonesome life,but before her death,she & Charlie had each other.
This amazing story is wonderfully alive with rich characters & a great storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for making this copy available.

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This was a beautifully heartbreaking story about what it takes to survive in Wyoming. It’s about the strength of women and the importance of community. I absolutely loved it.

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If you like stories about female friendship set in the west, pick up Sandra Dallas. Where Coyotes Howl was not the best Sandra Dallas book, but it was still a good book.

Set in Wyoming right before World War I, this book explores life in the prairie, it’s hardships, it’s trials and how the community had to come together to get by.

Ellen Webster is a new teacher when she meets handsome cowboy, Charlie Bacon. They fall in love and marry, but life is hard and it takes a strong will, and stronger commitment to overcome what they will face.

This is Ellen and Charlie’s story, but it’s also the story of life on the prairie, family and friendship.

I enjoyed Where Coyotes Howl. It was fast paced with characters I loved. While the tone isn’t overly hopeful, the love story presented was beautiful.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-copy of #wherecoyoteshowl . This book published on April 18, 2023 and is available where you buy books.

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Liked this book very much. Fair warning, it is not a happy story. It is a story that is probably truer to the life of the women who lived and settled early 20th century Wyoming. I read it in two days. It has subject matter that may be hard for some, I wondered about finishing at all. The love story is one we all wish for ourselves. However, the harshness and things that the characters went through... I am sure it is true of a lot of families back then; I can't even imagine. I guess that is why they say the settlers were tough people. I don't want to give anything away; this story did not end the way I thought it would. I was shocked and disappointed. I guess I just wanted it to work out the way I thought it would. But any book that makes me gasp and say noooooo at the end is well done. The only thing I didn't care for was the ending, it seemed a little rushed. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

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Well written, historical fiction of a time and place that many don’t write about anymore. This was truly a love story, not only to the time, but regarding the people in it. very enjoyable, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

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WTAF was the author thinking with that ending?? I like a depressing tale, it's one of my favorite "genres" give me some tough times, domestic abuse, deaths and heartache sure but don't just do me dirty with an ending like this one. I was perfectly content reading about this miserable ranch life and all of the neighbors- but then the last chapter happened. It didn't make me cry, just pissed me off and it is because of that I can't recommend.

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Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sandra Dallas for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

"Where Coyotes Howl" takes readers on a heartfelt journey through the harsh realities of life in a remote corner of the state. Set against the backdrop of an unforgiving landscape, the story follows Ellen and Charlie as they navigate the challenges of their surroundings, finding strength and solace in their unwavering love for one another.

The author paints a vivid picture of the flat, brown corner of the state, where winter blizzards and scorching summer heat test the resilience of its inhabitants. Through Ellen's perspective, we witness the hardships faced by those living in this rugged environment. Yet, despite the adversities, Ellen and Charlie's relationship grows stronger with each shared success and tragedy they endure together.

Ellen's role as a rancher's wife becomes her source of purpose and fulfillment. The bonds she forms with other women settled on the prairie provide a sense of community and support. The author skillfully portrays the complexities of these relationships, highlighting the strength and resilience of these women as they face the challenges of their lives. Not all of them have loving husbands, and not all of them came to Wallace willingly, but they find solace in their shared experiences and the mutual aid they provide one another.

The setting of rural Wallace, with its vast distances and limited access to amenities, creates a sense of isolation akin to the Wild West. The author effectively captures the spirit of this remote community, where survival depends on the strength of the human spirit and the bonds forged between neighbors.

What sets "Where Coyotes Howl" apart is the emphasis on the enduring love between Ellen and Charlie. Their unwavering commitment to one another is the driving force that sustains them through the trials they face. The author beautifully portrays their love as a beacon of hope and resilience, reminding readers of the power of love to overcome even the harshest of circumstances.

In conclusion, the novel is a poignant and captivating tale of resilience, community, and the unbreakable bonds of love. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the unforgiving landscape of rural Wallace, where the characters face constant challenges. Through Ellen and Charlie's journey, we are reminded of the strength that can be found in love and the power of human connection. This novel is a testament to the enduring spirit of the human heart.

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First sentence: A ragged curtain snapped against the broken glass of the window in the old shack, which had begun to list. Its boards, the paint scraped off by the wind and sand, were a splintery gray. The door sagged open, its white china knob cracked and yellowed.

Premise/plot: Are you looking for a book completely devoid of hope and joy? Are you looking for a book where women [and children] are oppressed on every single page? Did you find Romeo and Juliet too cheerful? If you want the 'one ring to rule them all' of bleakness, then Where Coyotes Howl might be a good fit for you.

The premise is simple enough, Ellen Webster, goes to Wyoming as a school teacher in 1916. She meets and falls head over heels in love with a cowboy, Charlie Bacon. They marry. Life goes downhill after the 'I do's.' Not because they stop loving each other madly. No, because of situations and circumstances. Ellen experiences many tough situations, no doubt, but she witnesses a thousand times worse in the community.

My thoughts: Is this one realistic? Perhaps. Surely you can find difficult, hard, tragic [how in the world do you experience all that and still keep on breathing] rough stories when doing genealogy. Pioneer stories can be ROUGH. It isn't that I went into this one expecting it to be cheery-happy-lovely-cozy-warm-fuzzy. But personally, I think a chain of hope OR a strong resilience [or both] could make a difference in perspective.

The overwhelming message seems to be that without agency, a woman cannot hope to have even a 1% chance at happiness. Men will abuse, misuse, manipulate. Even if you find the one in a million husband that will be tender and loving and supportive, you still can't be happy because you inevitably will suffer. Without birth control, you are doomed to SUFFER. This one seems very, very, very heavy-handedly pro-choice. The message seems to be that women need full and total control over their own bodies and their lives. A secondary message seems to be that it would be better to be a prostitute than a wife. [Some characters, though not Ellen, have been both. Husbands make life HELL on earth 99.2% of the time.]

Mental health. Every single character needs help or intervention. Of course, there's no help to be had. Again, embracing the abandon all hope philosophy.

This one needs LOTS of trigger warnings.

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A study of early 1900s life on the plains with the closest town miles away. I could see both the similarities and the marked differences between then and now, including no proper health care often leading to death, and how people went crazy from things like the incessant sound of the wind and having too many babies too closely together. I did not see the end coming and was totally shocked. I highly recommend this to all fans of historical fiction of the plains, like fans of Willa Cather or Stephanie Grace Whitson.
#WhereCoyotesHowl

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Another great book by Miss Dallas portraying the reality of the strong men and women who came West and pioneered and ranched as a way to make a living. There are very hard subject matters discussed, however, and I feel like readers should be aware of these trigger warnings: Child death and Domestic violence, just to name a few.

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced copy so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 💛

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This book is truly heart-wrenching, and its beautiful prose kept me engrossed from start to finish.

Set in the early 1900s, Ellen makes a life-altering decision to leave her city life in Iowa and apply for a teaching position in Wallace, Wyoming. Life in the plains is unforgiving, marked by poverty and harsh winters. Despite the challenges, Ellen takes up her teaching role in Wallace. It’s there that she encounters Charlie Bacon, a cowboy, and their love for each other blossoms instantly. They marry, and Ellen leaves her teaching career to join Charlie in ranching. Their journey is filled with love, but also marred by numerous tragedies that left me heartbroken.
The story also delves into the hardships faced by other residents of Wallace, painting a raw and heartfelt portrait of their lives.

The writing is both eloquent and vivid, painting a rich tapestry of emotions. The characters are portrayed as resilient, devoted, and remarkably strong. The plot is a poignant exploration of life’s trials and tribulations, touching on themes such as loss, hope, family, friendship, grief, culture, community, hardship and love.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This book is an enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. It is set in Wyoming and I felt like I was transported back in time!
Many thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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This story is told in third person and follows a young woman in 1916 as she takes a teaching position in the American West. Ellen is surprised by the conditions that she finds when she arrives in Wallace, Wyoming, but determined to last longer than the previous women who have tried to fulfill the position of teacher in their school.

This reminded me of a grittier Little House on the Prairie during Laura’s teaching years. Ellen is courted by a smitten cowboy from one of the nearby ranch spreads and theirs is a love story that all in the region hold up to be the dream. But life in Wyoming during this time period is difficult and the winters are harsh. Everyone must depend on each other to keep the loneliness at bay and to survive the severe conditions. Tragedy always seems just around the corner.

The characters, especially the women, really make this story. They were expected to shoulder a lot of the hard work and some of the men were atrocious at the best of times and downright abusive at the worst. Some of the harsh realities were hard to read although I did feel like there were places when more modern issues and phrases did not seem time appropriate. Still, I fell in love with Ellen and Charlie and enjoyed all the relationships that they made with the other strong women and some men in the American West and cried when it was over.

Recommended to readers that enjoy stories about the American Frontier and West.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy provided for an honest review.

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I was in the mood for a decent western and this book delivered. The characters were all so lovable. Well, maybe not quite all of them. The writing and plot kept me interested but could have been a little better. I love how Sandra gives us the good and the bad in all of her stories.

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I apologize, I wanted to red this book, but was unable to read this book in the permitted timeframe. Life got in the way, but now I am back, so if this is released to me again, I will download, read and review it.

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