I received this from Netgalley.com.

Life was hard and sad in the Old West, this story demonstrates that fact. But these were very much one dimensional characters, the good were very good and the bad were very bad. As much as the MC's endured, I never felt connected to them or their lives.

2.75☆

I have been a long-time fan of Sandra Dallas’ writing. I love her stories of life and struggles in the Old West and this book was no exception. Ellen and Charlie’s story started out with a sweet love that deepened into a great love . The book highlighted the life and struggles of the early settlers in Wyoming. I especially enjoyed all the details of what that life was like. There were also many situations in this book that we still deal with today and I appreciated how they were dealt with in this book. I enjoyed this book as I have all the others that I have read by this author and look forward to reading more.

4.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

The Loneliest Place

This is absolutely one of the best books I have read this year. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. I know for a fact I would not have survived a winter in the wilds of Wyoming in a sod house in the early 1900's. I think those that moved there and worked to tame that land were the bravest people.

The story of Ellen and Charlie's romance and starting a new life in the small Wallace, Wyoming community in the early 1900's is both uplifting and heartbreaking. The love they had for each other was so touching and the understanding and patience with those less fortunate and challenged was inspirational. Their losses and those of their friends and neighbors was heart breaking.

The demands and the hardships suffered by the woman in this early community was astronomical. It was a wonder that any of them survived both mentally and physically. It was truly a hard time and there were many that just didn't make it.

I enjoyed reading about this couple and their challenges as well as those around them. The history and the telling of the conditions and the way they had to live was very interesting. I applaud those brave souls that moved to such an unfriendly and lonely land to start a new life and my hat is off to those that actually made it.

I read both the book and listened to the audio book. It made for a great experience to enjoy both at the same time. The audio book was very good, the narrator did the different voices of the characters in an excellent manner and her voice was pleasant to listen to and easy to understand.
This was a part of history that helped to form our country and it was very interesting to read about it. I enjoyed this book immensely and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Sandra Dallas for writing a great story, to Stephanie Nemeth-Parker for a great narration of the audio book, to St. Martin's Press for publishing the book, to MacMillan Audio for publishing the audio book and to NetGalley for providing me a copy of each to read and review.

Ellen accepts a year-long teaching position in eastern Wyoming, not sure what to expect from the wild countryside. It's a difficult lifestyle, but she ends up falling in love with the town, the people, and one cowboy in particular, named Charlie. They marry and are quickly faced with a series of trials and tribulations, testing their physical as well as emotional fortitude. Life on the plains is not easy, and a veritable parade of tragedies befall the couple and more or less everyone that they care about.

This book was pretty gripping, but also rather distressing. We all know that life was hard in the early 1900s in the west, especially for women, but reading all the details and descriptions of what they endured brings the experience to life. I enjoyed the story, for the most part, and the pace is swift.

I think I would have rated higher if I had been more emotionally connected to the characters, but I felt that I was being told, rather than shown, the relationships and bonds between the characters. Ellen and Charlie's romance was not compelling to me. And at the end, I think it's a shame that one of the female characters chose to pursue romantic love over her own career aspirations. A big miss in my opinion, as that choice doesn't have any impact on the story.

Thank you to Sandra Dallas, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy.

An elegant mural of the difficulties of life in early Twentieth Century Wyoming.

The story in Where Coyotes Howl concerns the happiness and tragedies that befall its two protagonists, Ellen and Charlie, on the High Plains of eastern Wyoming. Living on the High Plains during the time in which the novel takes place was hard. There were blizzards, drought, snakes, sicknesses, and, of course, coyotes. And there were also the human dangers posed by several of the inhabitants of Wallace, Wyoming. The reminders of all these things were the deserted shacks formerly inhabited by people who had failed.

The plot of Where Coyotes Howl moves through a progression of calamities that occur over a period of two years. Calamity is certainly not a stranger to those trying to make a life in the years around 1915 near a small town built on the hardscrabble prairie. There are accidents, diseases, and bad fathers who kill children. Husbands abuse, and try to murder, their wives. And nature brings its own misfortunes, like blizzards and drought, black snakes that devour chicken eggs, and skunks that kill chicks. Ranchers have few resources to ward off calamity. Sometimes all they have is good luck.

Sandra Dallas brilliantly depicts the optimism with which her characters move their lives forward and the despair that comes when their fortunes reverse. Her portrait of the hard life of the times is both realistic and beautiful. She doesn’t hold her punches when tragedy occurs. Nor does she overstate the periods of joy that slide in between.
As with all Sandra Dallas novels, the story is about the characters. The early Twentieth Century prairie life is only a backdrop for a sensitive rendition of the joy and suffering that occurred during the adversities Ellen and Charlie faced. They stand up to metaphorical coyotes in their story with bravery. Time and again they pick themselves up off their knees after horrible events to face new challenges. There are no superhuman feats. What is particularly brilliant about the author’s storytelling is its very human characterization of its character’s lives and feelings. Charlie says early in their relationship, “Don’t you ever serve me vinegar pie. I don’t ever want us to think we’re so broke we have to eat vinegar pie.” Ellen remembers their first summer together “like a talisman, holding on to the memories in hopes those times would come again.”

Ellen clutched her talisman many times during the novel. And she was often philosophical in an understated way about her misfortunes. It was the way of the high plains, a life captured so beautifully in the novel by Sandra Dallas. The sky was in Ellen’s eyes a “bluebird blue,” but sunsets could be “violent,” which she remarked “mirrored her passion for Charlie and his for her.” This novel never lapses into moral commentary. The events are presented in a straightforward fashion, the same as the manner in which the characters approach their lives. The book is an elegant mural of the difficulties of life on the Wyoming high plains. Readers can stand back and draw their own conclusions about the meaning of life, the presence of god, and why coyotes howl.

Mark's Book Reviews at markzvonkovic.com

This book absolutely gutted me. I don’t ever cry over a book, but I was crying so hard I could barely read the final paragraph.
I love Dallas books and this one tore my heart out and stomped it deep into the prairie.
I loved that Charlie staked his claim on Ellen early on and adored her.
I love that the book is about ordinary people who were the salt of,the earth.
Dallas demonstrated how damn hard life was for women in the west.
If I could I would change the ending because it left me shattered.

4 all too realistic stars

I have read several Sandra Dallas books and I love the western settings for her books. This one is set in the harsh world of Wyoming in the early 1900s.

Ellen has headed to Wyoming to teach and find some adventure. She finds teaching challenging but manages to fall in love with a cowboy, Charlie. As he courts her, they explore the rugged beauty and harsh conditions in Wyoming. There are terrible blizzards, the wind blows, insects destroy crops, and ranches and farms fail.

The two truly love each other and vow to make a good life, they marry and start their own ranch and family. As Ellen deepens her friendship with some of the other ranching families, heartbreak and despair are evident in the residents. There is death and sadness in spades in this book.

If you are looking for a Hollywood happy-ever-after tale, this is NOT the book for you. If you are in a good mental space and enjoy realistic historical fiction, this might be up your alley.

Trigger warnings: domestic violence, death of a child, depression

Ugh.

The heartache this book left me with was unreal. I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley, excuse while I go cry myself to sleep now.

I have read most of Sandra Dallas’s books, Tender Mercies and Tall Grass have long been my favorites but Where Coyotes Howl is next in line for favorite. Dallas writes really wonderful historical novels that are, mostly, about women in struggling circumstances. Set in 1916 Wyoming, Ellen is the new school teacher in a small town who falls in love and marries a cowboy. They start their own struggling little ranch. Meaning they live in what is little more than a shack on the prairie with neighbors in sod houses. Ellen and Charlie endure the predictable hardships and deprivations, and Dallas does not sugar coat anything. The characters portray the strength and determination that would be expected. Good read, well written.

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas

This is a novel about people ranching in Wyoming in the horse and buggy days. The life was hard and they had to rely on their neighbors, even neighbors several hours away. Women were expected to keep the house clean, cook, raise children and do some outdoor work.

I cried for the people living this hard life. I felt that there were times when the story could have been less emotional, but that can be what makes a novel great. You are right there living this hard life with the ranchers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC.
#StMartin’sPress, SandraDallas,

Beautifully written, Where Coyotes Howl is the story of early settlers on the American prairies and the hardships they faced as farmers, ranchers and settlers. I really enjoyed this book and was immediately drawn into the well researched story. The protagonist, Ellen is as kind and strong as they get but even she is no match for the prairies and the cards that will be dealt her way. This book will take you through tragedy, resilience and enduring love.

For fans of Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

Where Coyotes Howl releases on April 18th, 2023.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻🥰

#smpinfluencers #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #bookadoration #canadianbookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammers #wherecoyoteshowl #sandradallas #homesteading #homesteadinglife

This book was so terribly sad but I also found some parts very heartwarming. Everyone needs to find someone that loves them the way Charlie loved Ellen and vice versa. This is a very romantic book but in a really unique way. The troubled times and many hardships the characters faced showed just how strong we humans are. The way these folks’ lived was bleak, to say the least, and the emotions I felt for the characters shocked me. The characters really came alive and spoke to me and felt very true to life. Not all of them were likable and even the likeable ones had flaws. This story was very character driven so I liked that there were many different types of people…some I loved, some I loved to hate.

I really appreciated that the book was meticulously researched and the attention to detail was incredible. I also appreciated the way the author but across that women helping women is a great way to get through tough times. What I took away from reading this novel is love trumps all and we should never judge other people as we never know what one has gone through. This is my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last. All. The. Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

😭😪😫😢

If the emojis aren't indication enough here is my disclaimer. If you are going through a difficult time in your life right now and want to escape into the literary world, this historical fiction is raw in its realism. The ending is bittersweet. It is not heartwarming with an ending wrapped up in a pretty bow. Where Coyotes Howl is the story of the women of Wyoming who married their cowboys and dreamers and supported each other through what life dealt them.

TW: Domestic violence, Child Abuse, Prostitution Infant mortality, Mental Illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Addiction, Questioning of Faith

I read a fellow reviewer's insights into this book just before writing my own. They questioned what reading audience would want to read such tales of heartbreaking pain. They decided only the most mentally fit would be able to withstand the tragedies in Sandra Dallas' book.

Quite honestly, I became a weeping willow over this book. I would say some emotions of things in my own life spilled over in the reading of this book. It made me empathize with the characters as they experienced their own traumatic events. I also majored in history at university and I like my books to be realistic. I also love Sandra Dallas's books. In her author's note, Dallas confesses this is her favorite book she has written. Coincidently, it is now my favorite book of hers that I have read. Strong female characters and a richly detailed story kept me turning the pages. Even if there were a lot of heartaches to be found.

A truly stunning read that is sure to get my fellow readers chatting. Quite simply, one of my favorite reads of 2023.

Expected Publication Date 18/04/23
Goodreads review published 24/03/23

Sandra Dallas has just moved up into one of my favorite authors. I have read several of her books, loved everyone of them, but she moved the bar a bit higher with Where Coyotes Howl. Wow, I loved every character in here, I could have spent several more hours with Ellen and Charlie, probably would have spent their middle and old aged years. From the time I started this book I was completely invested from the start, it never lulled, kept up the excitement of the story all the way through.
Ms. Dallas has a way of writing that puts you right next to the characters, you feel what they feel, you see what they see. I could feel the cold thru the walls, see the measles on Ellen’s face, could see her walking out to milk each morning. Then she can also take your emotions along with it, I cried and I laughed. This story has it all, it has family, dignity, hope, loss, sadness, kindness for others and most of all love, so much love.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction. The best book I have read this year. Wonderful!!! High 5 stars.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

This is a book centered around young, Ellen Webster and her life in rural Wyoming during the early 1900s. Not knowing what to expect, Ellen accepts a teaching job in the small town of Wallace where she meets handsome cowboy Charlie. The story follows her life on the ranch and the people she meets along with the struggles that come with living during this time period. I was transported back in time and was left feeling fully immersed in the story. The author's attention to detail was impeccable, capturing the essence of the era and bringing it to life in vivid detail.

The characters in this book were complex and multifaceted, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it seamlessly blended historical accuracy with a compelling narrative surrounding the characters. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. It's a rich and engrossing read that will transport you to another time and place, leaving you with a deeper understanding of the past and a greater appreciation for the power of storytelling. Don't miss out on this one!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book!

Ellen Webster sees an advertisement for a teacher in Wyoming and she sets off headed west. It’s 1916 and she is the talk of the town as she begins her teaching job. One of the town’s residents, Charlie Bacon, is smitten and the two become a couple and eventually marry. He’s a cowboy and life in Wyoming is harsh and often cruel. Ellen watches as friends lose someone they love and then she and husband Charlie suffer their own losses.

Dallas uses the landscape to paint a picture of a gritty, unforgiving land that crushes many. Besides the dirt and dust, there’s the harsh winters and the crop failures. Settlers who came with hopes of building a family and a prosperous ranch or farm, are often disappointed by the realities of life on the prairie. Ellen and Charlie stand out because of the love and devotion they have for each other. But that isn’t all it takes to survive.

The author writes with tenderness of the hardy people who settled the west with grit and determination. Many didn’t succeed but their pioneer spirit is to be admired. The book is very sad and moving, telling of the courageous men and women who struggled, despite multiple hardships. One can’t help but admire the ones who stayed and prospered enough to get by as they watched many who were not so fortunate.

I have read and enjoyed several of Sandra Dallas' backtitles.
However, Where Coyotes Howl came up a bit short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to preview this book.

I loved Where Coyotes Howl! This book caught my attention from the beginning. This is a quick read. Ellen Webster finds herself in Wyoming as a young schoolteacher. Wyoming was not an easy place to live in 1916. There were very few services for the people living in Wallace. People were pretty much on their own and coming together with the "closest" neighbors to survive these harsh conditions. Ellen does meet her future husband in Wallace. Charlie Bacon is a cowboy and a good guy. The story goes on to tell the story of Ellen and Charlie's life on the high plaines.

The book is part love story and part western and they blend together very well to make an interesting story. I connected with the people in this book and was interested in their lives. This book will be released on April 18, 2023. I will be recommending this book to my friends.

I would like to thank NetGalley for a copy of Where Coyotes Howl in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley, #WhereCoyotesHowl, #SandraDallas

Well, I guess after reading this, I’m just gonna start with. I’m thankful that I did not live during this time. The author does an excellent job depicting the very depressing and numerous deaths that happen throughout the story, so much that I felt slightly depressed for my newfound friends when I finished this book. I loved the characters and maybe that was part of the problem. Because I didn’t want all the deaths and yes I know that it’s a part of living life on a ranch during those times but man oh man just when you thought that would be the last one. I really did enjoy the characters and the storyline other than the sad, depressing scenes. I also did not particularly care for several instances where the author goes out of her way to blame God for whatever bad thing is just happened.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, Where Coyotes Howl is a book which should come with some warnings. Why? Because it is so joyless and has so many triggers (a word I do not use often) that it will probably upset many potential readers. I've seen others call it a "love letter to the American plains." I disagree. The plot is more character based than setting based. And these are characters who live in utter misery.

Over the course of the novel there are SEVEN children who die in accidents, during birth, or from illness. There are two wives with evil, abusive husbands. Two mothers who die of suicide and in childbirth, respectively. There is starvation, extreme poverty, harsh weather, prostitution and rape. There is no redemption, no lesson, no reason, no karmic reward for the good and punishment for the bad.

Which leaves me wondering--if the point of publishing books is to market them, who is in the market for a story like this one? Surely it would have to be someone who is extremely mentally fit.

Thank you for the advanced copy, but I cannot recommend this book to others.