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Calder Brand #1
Calder Brand
Fans of the hit TV show Yellowstone and it’s two prequel series, 1888 and 1923, will fall in love with the first book in this Western ranching saga filled with romance, adventure, and the epic mystique of the Old West.
252 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2021
About the author
Janet Dailey
629 books1,678 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
February 20, 2021
Calder Brand is a spin-off of the Calder Saga, a wonderful historical romance series! The plot is well-paced and engaging, and the characters are dynamically developed. The story follows Joe Dollarhide from age sixteen to twenty-eight, so you really get to understand him and his motivations. Believing that he was left for dead during a cattle drive, Joe’s need for revenge consumes him. However, he also wants to own his own farm and have a family. He has to reconcile his need for revenge with his goals for a steady future.
Sarah is intelligent and resilient, and she is as determined as Joe. I love that both Joe and Sarah are strong in their desire to achieve their goals, even though so many obstacles stand in their way. Sarah’s life is not easy, and it’s interesting to see how she handles prejudice and the social stigma that comes with being an unwed mother during this time period.
Themes of resilience, revenge, love, and hope are woven throughout the novel, as are messages about courage and fighting for what you love. This is a strong start to what promises to be a wonderful new series, and, though Calder Brand is a spin-off of the Calder Saga, it can totally be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Sarah is intelligent and resilient, and she is as determined as Joe. I love that both Joe and Sarah are strong in their desire to achieve their goals, even though so many obstacles stand in their way. Sarah’s life is not easy, and it’s interesting to see how she handles prejudice and the social stigma that comes with being an unwed mother during this time period.
Themes of resilience, revenge, love, and hope are woven throughout the novel, as are messages about courage and fighting for what you love. This is a strong start to what promises to be a wonderful new series, and, though Calder Brand is a spin-off of the Calder Saga, it can totally be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
February 21, 2021
Joe Dollarride a young man hired to herd cattle from Fort Sam Houston to Dodge City.
A stampede separates joe from the other drivers. His horse broke a leg and fell on him. No one saw him under the horse and left him. He suffered broken ribs and managed to hobble to the next town.
The doctor had died and the doctor's niece( Sarah ), who had wanted to become a doctor helped Joe recover. Joe and Sarah fell for each other. After a few weeks she finds our that she is pregnant.
She and her son Blake move to Blue Moon to be a teacher for the new school. Sarah is glad to start anew.
She and Joe see one another and his is smitten again. Joe has a wife and a young son. What are their chances now of getting together.
All the events just fall into place. Joe's father -in law has a stroke. Joe's wife now wants a divorce
so she can run the ranch by herself.
Joe takes Sarah as his wife. Life is good as Joe has lots of land for breaking wild horses. Plus he has his sons and a new daughter.
A stampede separates joe from the other drivers. His horse broke a leg and fell on him. No one saw him under the horse and left him. He suffered broken ribs and managed to hobble to the next town.
The doctor had died and the doctor's niece( Sarah ), who had wanted to become a doctor helped Joe recover. Joe and Sarah fell for each other. After a few weeks she finds our that she is pregnant.
She and her son Blake move to Blue Moon to be a teacher for the new school. Sarah is glad to start anew.
She and Joe see one another and his is smitten again. Joe has a wife and a young son. What are their chances now of getting together.
All the events just fall into place. Joe's father -in law has a stroke. Joe's wife now wants a divorce
so she can run the ranch by herself.
Joe takes Sarah as his wife. Life is good as Joe has lots of land for breaking wild horses. Plus he has his sons and a new daughter.
July 24, 2021
This was a sweeping story of romance, loss, survival, greed and finally happiness. It spanned many, many years but I was glad that there was a happy ending.
Joe is a young man who just wanted to be a cowboy and during his first cattle drive from Texas to Montana, he was caught in a bad situation and left for dead. When he finally escaped his circumstances, his savior's weren't necessarily good for him. Through his experiences, he gained wisdom and knowledge.
He met Sarah early on in the cattle drive and made plans to meet up with her at her final destination when he was coming through on the cattle drive. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond either of their control, that didn't happen. Their lives continued to intersect with many years in between each meeting but their feelings for one another never really faded.
It was a bit of a long read which matched the saga of the story. It was a good story, although, I didn't really feel as connected to the characters as I really wanted to be, for some reason. There was a bit of foul language and some coarse talk and one descriptive, while not too graphic, sexual encounter, and an attempted rape scene.
While I liked the story, I didn't love the story. I was given an arc copy of this book through netgalley and I willingly offer my honest review.
Joe is a young man who just wanted to be a cowboy and during his first cattle drive from Texas to Montana, he was caught in a bad situation and left for dead. When he finally escaped his circumstances, his savior's weren't necessarily good for him. Through his experiences, he gained wisdom and knowledge.
He met Sarah early on in the cattle drive and made plans to meet up with her at her final destination when he was coming through on the cattle drive. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond either of their control, that didn't happen. Their lives continued to intersect with many years in between each meeting but their feelings for one another never really faded.
It was a bit of a long read which matched the saga of the story. It was a good story, although, I didn't really feel as connected to the characters as I really wanted to be, for some reason. There was a bit of foul language and some coarse talk and one descriptive, while not too graphic, sexual encounter, and an attempted rape scene.
While I liked the story, I didn't love the story. I was given an arc copy of this book through netgalley and I willingly offer my honest review.
March 3, 2021
Thank you good reads for my copy of Calder Brand in exchange for an honest review I just want to say it wasn't my type of book however it came in excellent condition I was very Impressed and we have a little library by a church in our neighborhood so I donated it I hope someone enjoys it I always want to keep people reading thank you!
May 20, 2021
Loved the story. The whole Calder series is great. The first book by Janet I’d ever read was Touch the Wind. I couldn’t find my copy, and hit the jackpot on Amazon, finding an autographed copy. I admit being surprised at this new book as Janet had passed away several years ago. Luckily the estate found someone who can write in the same style.
June 23, 2021
A book that gives meaning to life. Lots to thinks about in this very well written story. Loved by several friends as well as myself.
September 24, 2021
A lovely historical fiction saga.
March 31, 2023
This was fast and satisfied my itch left by the Yellowstone franchise not being on currently. Will defiantly be continuing on with the series.
March 12, 2021
Montana 1891, then backwards 12 years. The first
half had mostly Western, the 2nd had some romance.
I would've appreciated more romance, with a better
hero.
Joe and Sarah spent much of this story apart. Joe was
abandoned for dead after a cattle stampede & sought
revenge against wealthy cattle owner, Bentean Calder,
for this. Joe was a cowboy, a cattle rustler (not by choice
the first time) & later a rancher. His mentor taught him
to 'break' wild horses by gentling rather than punishing
them. Sarah learned doctoring from her uncle the MD.
She doctored Joe (who she'd met 2 yrs prior when they
shared lunch) & removed a bullet from him. She restored
his heath. They got sexy. Months later she learned he wed
another.
IMO, Joe was just OK. Sarah now had a son. The MCs
with an atypical romance, eventually got their HEA.
My fav was Rusty the older cattle drive cook, who had
a good heart. The revenge aspect: tiresome at times.
half had mostly Western, the 2nd had some romance.
I would've appreciated more romance, with a better
hero.
Joe and Sarah spent much of this story apart. Joe was
abandoned for dead after a cattle stampede & sought
revenge against wealthy cattle owner, Bentean Calder,
for this. Joe was a cowboy, a cattle rustler (not by choice
the first time) & later a rancher. His mentor taught him
to 'break' wild horses by gentling rather than punishing
them. Sarah learned doctoring from her uncle the MD.
She doctored Joe (who she'd met 2 yrs prior when they
shared lunch) & removed a bullet from him. She restored
his heath. They got sexy. Months later she learned he wed
another.
IMO, Joe was just OK. Sarah now had a son. The MCs
with an atypical romance, eventually got their HEA.
My fav was Rusty the older cattle drive cook, who had
a good heart. The revenge aspect: tiresome at times.
July 29, 2021
When I stumbled on Janet Dailey’s Calder Series many moons ago, I never dreamed I could fall in love with a family, but I did and as they say, the rest is history.
The Calder’s still are one of my most favorite families of all time to read.
Janet Dailey’s newest book Calder’s Brand tells a backstory of Joe Dollarhide as he leaves Texas on Benteen Calder’s quest to take his herd to Montana and lay claim to Big Sky country.
Joe, young, naive, and hoping to one day have a spread of his own, finds that life isn’t fair, people are greedy, ruthless, and evil, but Joe refuses to give up, refuses to die, and promises to get even with those who have done him wrong.
This was an amazing book and a great trip down memory lane.
Joe will grab your heart and make you proud, you read his story.
The Calder’s still are one of my most favorite families of all time to read.
Janet Dailey’s newest book Calder’s Brand tells a backstory of Joe Dollarhide as he leaves Texas on Benteen Calder’s quest to take his herd to Montana and lay claim to Big Sky country.
Joe, young, naive, and hoping to one day have a spread of his own, finds that life isn’t fair, people are greedy, ruthless, and evil, but Joe refuses to give up, refuses to die, and promises to get even with those who have done him wrong.
This was an amazing book and a great trip down memory lane.
Joe will grab your heart and make you proud, you read his story.
February 26, 2024
i wrote like 1500 words about this but in trying to arrange them coherently, i realized it wasn't worth the effort.
the prose is readable but stale, uninspired, and shallow. most everything reads like a summary of events rather than active scenes. meetcute sucks. the romance is weak. the revenge plot is weaker.
women can be strong-willed and independent and have ambitions they work their whole life towards but never forget that their reward at the end of the day is Marriage and Motherhood only.
while i recognize this as an overarching genre pitfall, i don't understand how anyone can read something like this and not feel AT THE VERY LEAST put off at the notion of one person owning over 300 acres of land (and gee, where did that land come from?). and then making that his entire life goal that you, the reader, are supposed to root for....
the "Wise Indigenous Mentor Spiritually Connected to the Natural World" character is actually a white guy who was abducted by a tribe as a kid which, in its own way, feels even more racist in a book whose cast is basically all white. like it's downright bizarre.
dawg im never buying a blind book again. $5 i'll never get back
the prose is readable but stale, uninspired, and shallow. most everything reads like a summary of events rather than active scenes. meetcute sucks. the romance is weak. the revenge plot is weaker.
women can be strong-willed and independent and have ambitions they work their whole life towards but never forget that their reward at the end of the day is Marriage and Motherhood only.
while i recognize this as an overarching genre pitfall, i don't understand how anyone can read something like this and not feel AT THE VERY LEAST put off at the notion of one person owning over 300 acres of land (and gee, where did that land come from?). and then making that his entire life goal that you, the reader, are supposed to root for....
the "Wise Indigenous Mentor Spiritually Connected to the Natural World" character is actually a white guy who was abducted by a tribe as a kid which, in its own way, feels even more racist in a book whose cast is basically all white. like it's downright bizarre.
dawg im never buying a blind book again. $5 i'll never get back
November 17, 2020
Wow its a little freaky I was thinking to myself last week that it has been a while since I read one of Ms. Dailey's book so needless to say when this showed up in my quier I was ecstatic and requested it and am happy that I did.
Joe had gotten hurt on the job and that is where Sarah comes in since she is at her uncle because she wants to follow his footstep and become a doctor. While taking care of him, she falls in love but Joe doesn't feel that he is good enough and leaves. Years later he had what he always wanted a wife and child, way different than all those years ago.
Joe had gotten hurt on the job and that is where Sarah comes in since she is at her uncle because she wants to follow his footstep and become a doctor. While taking care of him, she falls in love but Joe doesn't feel that he is good enough and leaves. Years later he had what he always wanted a wife and child, way different than all those years ago.
February 21, 2021
***SPOILERS***
I spent a good portion of this book trying to figure out the name. Admittedly, it threw me off and wasn’t pleasant. Once I figured out that Benteen Calder was more of a minor character and the true story was between Joe and Sarah, I got into the book.
We follow a young 16 yr old Joe as he heads out to Montana as part of a cattle drive. During a big storm Joe is left for dead by none other than his employer, Benteen Calder. Joe vows to get even with him for leaving him.
Before the storm, Joe travels to town and saves Sarah from attack, while on her journey to her uncles. They fall for each other quickly and agree to meet when Joe travels through Sarah town.
Joe, after pulling himself from the brink of death, is saved by a pair of cattle thieves. Joe is forced to stay with them. Joe escapes narrowly to be found by a nice older gentleman who breaks horses in a more horse friendly way. A couple years later, Joe learns the thieves are not dead and they want to take from Calder. Joe is on board as he still wants revenge.
The heist goes down and the thieves are killed by some of Calders men. Joe is shot as well. The men recognize him and rush him to the Dr in town o love you to learn the Dr is out and Sarah is the local nurse. Sarah nurses Joe back to life and they have a brief moment of pleasure before Joe heads off to Montana.
Joe builds a life in Montana, marrying and having a child. Meanwhile, Sarah had gotten pregnant and is forced out of town. Calders wife remembers Sarah and asks her to come to Montana as the new towns teacher.
Joe and his wife divorce and Joe and Sarah reunite. They raise their son, and Joes other son visits. Joe eventually comes to terms with Calder, though never does get revenge.
Overall, I found the book utterly predictable in a bad way. You keep Joe and Sarah would end up together and they did. Nothing special. I will not be reading more in this series.
I want to thank NetGallery and Kensington Books for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I spent a good portion of this book trying to figure out the name. Admittedly, it threw me off and wasn’t pleasant. Once I figured out that Benteen Calder was more of a minor character and the true story was between Joe and Sarah, I got into the book.
We follow a young 16 yr old Joe as he heads out to Montana as part of a cattle drive. During a big storm Joe is left for dead by none other than his employer, Benteen Calder. Joe vows to get even with him for leaving him.
Before the storm, Joe travels to town and saves Sarah from attack, while on her journey to her uncles. They fall for each other quickly and agree to meet when Joe travels through Sarah town.
Joe, after pulling himself from the brink of death, is saved by a pair of cattle thieves. Joe is forced to stay with them. Joe escapes narrowly to be found by a nice older gentleman who breaks horses in a more horse friendly way. A couple years later, Joe learns the thieves are not dead and they want to take from Calder. Joe is on board as he still wants revenge.
The heist goes down and the thieves are killed by some of Calders men. Joe is shot as well. The men recognize him and rush him to the Dr in town o love you to learn the Dr is out and Sarah is the local nurse. Sarah nurses Joe back to life and they have a brief moment of pleasure before Joe heads off to Montana.
Joe builds a life in Montana, marrying and having a child. Meanwhile, Sarah had gotten pregnant and is forced out of town. Calders wife remembers Sarah and asks her to come to Montana as the new towns teacher.
Joe and his wife divorce and Joe and Sarah reunite. They raise their son, and Joes other son visits. Joe eventually comes to terms with Calder, though never does get revenge.
Overall, I found the book utterly predictable in a bad way. You keep Joe and Sarah would end up together and they did. Nothing special. I will not be reading more in this series.
I want to thank NetGallery and Kensington Books for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2021
I loved the Calder series. I liked this book in general but the main characters had enough bad luck for six novels.
April 2, 2021
A good fast paced western romance. Loved the historical time period and the Ogallala part of the setting.
June 21, 2021
It was a very nice light read that will put anyone in a good mood. I really enjoyed it. I'd love for this to be a movie, by the way 😁
January 15, 2023
I read a few of Janet Dailey's Christmas stories so decided to try some of her other works. Graham Winton is the narrator and for the most part he does a really fine job. Once in awhile, though, he can make a guy sound like an old geezer even though he's not that old!
The story centers on Joe Dollarhide (what a name huh?) and his quest for revenge against Benteen Calder. Fortunately that theme doesn't take up the majority of the narrative. Where does a quest for revenge get you anyway? Just a whole lot of angst, unhappiness and general misery. His quest led him to make some pretty stupid decisions, but it all ends well.
The story clips along at a good pace, and I was in the mood for talk about cattle, the range and a guy getting a piece of land!
The story centers on Joe Dollarhide (what a name huh?) and his quest for revenge against Benteen Calder. Fortunately that theme doesn't take up the majority of the narrative. Where does a quest for revenge get you anyway? Just a whole lot of angst, unhappiness and general misery. His quest led him to make some pretty stupid decisions, but it all ends well.
The story clips along at a good pace, and I was in the mood for talk about cattle, the range and a guy getting a piece of land!
April 11, 2023
Young Joe joins a cow drive from m Texas to Montana. During a storm causing a stampede, he is left to die. Jo’s a fighter and does what he has to do to stay alive. The story chronicles his life and learns he is rich not because of money but the life he built with his family.
February 21, 2021
I thank Good Reads Giveaway for sending me this adventurous story filled with memorable characters, from Kensington Publishing Corp. Calder Brand is one of six in a New Americana Series. I expect several of them will become future reads. The cattle drive and ranch settings took me back to childhood memories of beloved calves, cows, and horses.
Joe Dollarhide, male protagonist, dreamed of owning a prosperous ranch. He endured the work required to rise in the ranks of cowboys on his first cattle drive from Texas aimed for Montana. In Dodge City, Joe rescued Sarah Foxworth from a violent attack by three drunken cowboys, earning her trust and gratitude. Dreaming of becoming a doctor, Sarah was traveling to her Uncle’s medical practice in Ogallala, to learn all she could before applying to medical schools. In-practice-experience might improve the chances of a woman’s application being accepted. Much impressed with one another, Joe and Sarah planned to meet up again when the cattle drive traveled through Ogallala.
A stampede left Joe trapped under his dead horse, unseen by those searching for him, so the herd moved on without him. Joe’s grit, wits and refusal to quit empowered him to dig himself from under the horse, and stagger north across the prairie on foot. It powered him toward his dream and his desire to seek revenge on Benteen Calder, the trail boss who left him behind.
Rescued from death on the prairie by a family of three cattle rustlers, Joe had to join the McCrackins’ scheming and thieving or be killed. That ended when vigilantes shot the father and trailed the brothers on horseback. Having been away from the house at the time of the attack, Joe escaped on foot, to not leave a trail of hoof prints. Having fled without water, hat, or supplies, walking across the prairie meant almost certain death.
Rescued by Elijah Hawkins, a sixty-year-old, Kiowa hermit and wild horse trainer, Joe lived with Elijah, learned the gentle Kiowa way to break horses, and earned a fair wage. However, the desire to meet up with Sarah in Ogallala, pulled Joe away eventually. However, the McCracken brothers reappeared, pressured Joe to rustle from the Calder herd, ending with them all getting shot. When Rusty, the cook, and Jesse Calder, the boss, found Joe was not yet dead, they hauled him to the nearest town with a doctor, Ogallala.
Sarah, the only doctor of sorts available, took Joe in and over many weeks, brought him back to full health. Rusty became a friend to both as he visited to check in on Joe. In those weeks, Joe and Sarah admitted their love for one another, and consummated it. Sarah had received a letter of acceptance to a medical school in Chicago and Joe still wanted that Montana cattle ranch, so, Joe headed out to Montana. Sarah never got to Chicago as the pregnancy that followed kept her in Ogallala. Raising her son in an unforgiving town was difficult. She doctored the poor folk in town, tutored students, and took in washing. Rusty offered to tell Joe, now a married man, so he could at least help support his son, but Sarah made Rusty promise never to tell.
Joe made it to Montana, hired on to break wild mustangs for Blaise Ransom, saved up and bought his own land. Joe’s father-in-law’s plans for Joe’s life conflicted with Joe’s plans cutting a divide in his marriage. Ransom’s ranch neighbored the ranch of Joe’s old trail boss, Calder, providing Joe proximity for revenge.
Rusty retired from cattle drives to live on Calder’s ranch, and when Calder’s wife sought a teacher for the local school, he suggested Sarah, who had successfully tutored many children by then. Being offered a contract for a salaried teaching job, a small furnished home next to the school, a horse and buggy, and a fresh start, Sarah agreed and moved to Blue Moon.
Now, to learn if Joe and Sarah ever reach happily-ever-after, you will need to read the book. Janet Dailey writes in a manner that makes us care about her characters, clearly inhabit the settings and environments of her story, and respond to the intentions, emotions, and inner voices of her characters. I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone wishing to inhabit the wild west for a few hundred pages of their time.
Joe Dollarhide, male protagonist, dreamed of owning a prosperous ranch. He endured the work required to rise in the ranks of cowboys on his first cattle drive from Texas aimed for Montana. In Dodge City, Joe rescued Sarah Foxworth from a violent attack by three drunken cowboys, earning her trust and gratitude. Dreaming of becoming a doctor, Sarah was traveling to her Uncle’s medical practice in Ogallala, to learn all she could before applying to medical schools. In-practice-experience might improve the chances of a woman’s application being accepted. Much impressed with one another, Joe and Sarah planned to meet up again when the cattle drive traveled through Ogallala.
A stampede left Joe trapped under his dead horse, unseen by those searching for him, so the herd moved on without him. Joe’s grit, wits and refusal to quit empowered him to dig himself from under the horse, and stagger north across the prairie on foot. It powered him toward his dream and his desire to seek revenge on Benteen Calder, the trail boss who left him behind.
Rescued from death on the prairie by a family of three cattle rustlers, Joe had to join the McCrackins’ scheming and thieving or be killed. That ended when vigilantes shot the father and trailed the brothers on horseback. Having been away from the house at the time of the attack, Joe escaped on foot, to not leave a trail of hoof prints. Having fled without water, hat, or supplies, walking across the prairie meant almost certain death.
Rescued by Elijah Hawkins, a sixty-year-old, Kiowa hermit and wild horse trainer, Joe lived with Elijah, learned the gentle Kiowa way to break horses, and earned a fair wage. However, the desire to meet up with Sarah in Ogallala, pulled Joe away eventually. However, the McCracken brothers reappeared, pressured Joe to rustle from the Calder herd, ending with them all getting shot. When Rusty, the cook, and Jesse Calder, the boss, found Joe was not yet dead, they hauled him to the nearest town with a doctor, Ogallala.
Sarah, the only doctor of sorts available, took Joe in and over many weeks, brought him back to full health. Rusty became a friend to both as he visited to check in on Joe. In those weeks, Joe and Sarah admitted their love for one another, and consummated it. Sarah had received a letter of acceptance to a medical school in Chicago and Joe still wanted that Montana cattle ranch, so, Joe headed out to Montana. Sarah never got to Chicago as the pregnancy that followed kept her in Ogallala. Raising her son in an unforgiving town was difficult. She doctored the poor folk in town, tutored students, and took in washing. Rusty offered to tell Joe, now a married man, so he could at least help support his son, but Sarah made Rusty promise never to tell.
Joe made it to Montana, hired on to break wild mustangs for Blaise Ransom, saved up and bought his own land. Joe’s father-in-law’s plans for Joe’s life conflicted with Joe’s plans cutting a divide in his marriage. Ransom’s ranch neighbored the ranch of Joe’s old trail boss, Calder, providing Joe proximity for revenge.
Rusty retired from cattle drives to live on Calder’s ranch, and when Calder’s wife sought a teacher for the local school, he suggested Sarah, who had successfully tutored many children by then. Being offered a contract for a salaried teaching job, a small furnished home next to the school, a horse and buggy, and a fresh start, Sarah agreed and moved to Blue Moon.
Now, to learn if Joe and Sarah ever reach happily-ever-after, you will need to read the book. Janet Dailey writes in a manner that makes us care about her characters, clearly inhabit the settings and environments of her story, and respond to the intentions, emotions, and inner voices of her characters. I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone wishing to inhabit the wild west for a few hundred pages of their time.
July 11, 2024
Easy read about ranching in Montana and learning all the characters — like Yellowstone series
March 1, 2021
A worthy successor to the magnificent Calder Saga! FIVE GLOWING MONTANA STARS!
WHAT A SURPRISE! When I read the blurb for this book, I couldn't believe my eyes. How could Joe Dollarhide possibly be the hero? Didn't he die on Benteen Calder's first cattle drive to Montana, when cattle "trampled him into the ground" during a stampede? That's what we were led to believe in This Calder Range. (A few spoilers ahead, but I won't reveal the ending.)
It turns out that Benteen--more concerned about rounding up his cattle than searching for a 16-year-old wrangler--just assumed he was dead. So Joe was abandoned, lying half-buried under his dead horse and barely alive. But Joe miraculously survived, and the story of his next twelve years is filled with western adventure, danger, romance, and a burning quest for revenge against Benteen Calder--the wealthy Montana rancher who'd left him to die in a muddy wash on the Kansas prairie.
Joe is determined to reach Montana, but his goal is strewn with obstacles. He digs himself out of the wash, only to be captured by three outlaws who force him to learn "the family trade"--stock rustling. Two years later, Joe is badly wounded when the rustlers attempt to raid a cattle drive. Close to death, he's taken to Ogallala, where his life is saved by Sarah Foxworth, a medically skilled young woman who hopes to become a doctor. (I loved Sarah, a strong, resilient woman who never gives up despite the grief, poverty, shame and disappointment in her life.)
Inevitably, Joe and Sarah fall in love, but she's finally accepted by a medical school in Chicago, and he's determined to build a ranch of his own in Montana. After one glorious night of passion, Joe leaves Sarah and rides north in a quest for wealth and long-awaited vengeance against the man who betrayed him. Will Joe achieve his goals? Will he and Sarah ever get back together? I'm not saying.
As a big fan of the old Calder Saga, I enjoyed returning to some of the familiar places and characters in that beloved series. But this new book has a gripping plot and memorable characters of its own, and it's all wrapped up in the descriptive prose, immersive scenery, and realistic dialogue that make Janet Dailey's books so special. I loved Joe Dollarhide's rags-to-riches saga, with its second chance romance, secret baby, and a heartwarming conclusion with an astonishing twist I never saw coming! I can't wait for the next book in this exciting new series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
WHAT A SURPRISE! When I read the blurb for this book, I couldn't believe my eyes. How could Joe Dollarhide possibly be the hero? Didn't he die on Benteen Calder's first cattle drive to Montana, when cattle "trampled him into the ground" during a stampede? That's what we were led to believe in This Calder Range. (A few spoilers ahead, but I won't reveal the ending.)
It turns out that Benteen--more concerned about rounding up his cattle than searching for a 16-year-old wrangler--just assumed he was dead. So Joe was abandoned, lying half-buried under his dead horse and barely alive. But Joe miraculously survived, and the story of his next twelve years is filled with western adventure, danger, romance, and a burning quest for revenge against Benteen Calder--the wealthy Montana rancher who'd left him to die in a muddy wash on the Kansas prairie.
Joe is determined to reach Montana, but his goal is strewn with obstacles. He digs himself out of the wash, only to be captured by three outlaws who force him to learn "the family trade"--stock rustling. Two years later, Joe is badly wounded when the rustlers attempt to raid a cattle drive. Close to death, he's taken to Ogallala, where his life is saved by Sarah Foxworth, a medically skilled young woman who hopes to become a doctor. (I loved Sarah, a strong, resilient woman who never gives up despite the grief, poverty, shame and disappointment in her life.)
Inevitably, Joe and Sarah fall in love, but she's finally accepted by a medical school in Chicago, and he's determined to build a ranch of his own in Montana. After one glorious night of passion, Joe leaves Sarah and rides north in a quest for wealth and long-awaited vengeance against the man who betrayed him. Will Joe achieve his goals? Will he and Sarah ever get back together? I'm not saying.
As a big fan of the old Calder Saga, I enjoyed returning to some of the familiar places and characters in that beloved series. But this new book has a gripping plot and memorable characters of its own, and it's all wrapped up in the descriptive prose, immersive scenery, and realistic dialogue that make Janet Dailey's books so special. I loved Joe Dollarhide's rags-to-riches saga, with its second chance romance, secret baby, and a heartwarming conclusion with an astonishing twist I never saw coming! I can't wait for the next book in this exciting new series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
June 17, 2024
This was such a great book to read!
February 27, 2021
Calder Brand by Janet Dailey is a historic, cowboy love story, but it is so much more. It is about the American dream. And the dream came true. Joe Dollarhide is on a cattle drive. It's his first as he is only 16, but he has big dreams. He has gone into town with another drover to pickup merchandise ordered by their boss. With time to kill, he and his friend head to a whorehouse. To be fair, Joe didn't know where they were going. Before they made it, Joe spied a couple of men attaching a young woman. He ran to her defense and saved her from what would have been an unpleasant situation. She bought him lunch and they made plans to meet up on Oglala, which was her destination, and a stop off for the drive. There was a storm and the cattle got all riled up. Joe got knocked off his horse and landed under him. Joe could not moved at all and reconcile himself to death. Then he heard Jess and Benteen talking. He tried to cry out but they couldn't hear him. Jesse wanted to come down and check out the area, but Benteen made them move along. If he lived, Joe swore, he would make Benteen pay. As it turns out, Joe lived, but never made it to Oglala to see Sarah. He ended up with a band of rustlers for a while and then with an elderly horse breaker, who treated him like a son. Life moved on.
This is a cross between a regular Western and a romance. Joe went through a lot to end up with his dreams. So did Sarah, although her dreams had to change. They both made good friends. Sarah was resilient, stubborn, smart, and beautiful. Joe was a hard worker and a good man who did his best in every situation. He still hated Benteen but was determined to get him legally. The plot was good. It covered a span of years with both good and bad happening to both Sarah and Joe. From a distance, good things just fell into their laps, the author having left out most of the hard work. There was romance and friendship as well as love of the land and of the animals. It was a heady mix of romance and Old West. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Calder Brand by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own and freely given. #netgalley #calderbrand
This is a cross between a regular Western and a romance. Joe went through a lot to end up with his dreams. So did Sarah, although her dreams had to change. They both made good friends. Sarah was resilient, stubborn, smart, and beautiful. Joe was a hard worker and a good man who did his best in every situation. He still hated Benteen but was determined to get him legally. The plot was good. It covered a span of years with both good and bad happening to both Sarah and Joe. From a distance, good things just fell into their laps, the author having left out most of the hard work. There was romance and friendship as well as love of the land and of the animals. It was a heady mix of romance and Old West. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Calder Brand by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own and freely given. #netgalley #calderbrand
March 22, 2021
This historical ‘romance’ follows the Joe Dollarhide in the old American West as a 16 year old teenager to a 28 year old ‘man’. This story read more like a saga with Joe’s petty and immature need for revenge against Benteen Calder, a man who Joe alleges left him for dead, but in actuality did not. Joe falls in ‘love’ with a female named Sarah and leaves her, marrying another woman and fathering a child with his now wife. I am laughing in bafflement by all of these unromantic things happening in this so-called ‘romance’ novel. Joe Dollarhide came off as decidedly un-romantic and seems to forget his so-called ‘love of his life’ as soon as he rides into the sunset away from her. He is driven completely by revenge and the need to be wealthier than Benteen and more well-to-do then him as well, including marrying a well-to-do woman to accomplish this betterment.
I did not like Joe, nor did I like or agree with Joe’s motivation and life’s goal, nor his thought processes and how he decides he likes and wants things. Sarah deserved better, especially since Joe ruined her life by getting her pregnant and leaving her. This causes Sarah to be a shamed woman and forgo her original life’s plans of becoming a medical doctor, while also becoming a social pariah while Joe leads a life free to fall in love elsewhere, gain his immature revenge and increase his wealth while forgetting all about his ‘true love. I disliked that Sarah wasn’t able to move on from Joe’s influence in her life and she seems eager to pick up with him in present day, where they left off.
This book is also from the Calder universe, something I was unfamiliar with before reading this addition to the series. It seems like a spin-off from the original branch of the Calder family, and was only slightly confusing to keep up with names and such.
I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I did not like Joe, nor did I like or agree with Joe’s motivation and life’s goal, nor his thought processes and how he decides he likes and wants things. Sarah deserved better, especially since Joe ruined her life by getting her pregnant and leaving her. This causes Sarah to be a shamed woman and forgo her original life’s plans of becoming a medical doctor, while also becoming a social pariah while Joe leads a life free to fall in love elsewhere, gain his immature revenge and increase his wealth while forgetting all about his ‘true love. I disliked that Sarah wasn’t able to move on from Joe’s influence in her life and she seems eager to pick up with him in present day, where they left off.
This book is also from the Calder universe, something I was unfamiliar with before reading this addition to the series. It seems like a spin-off from the original branch of the Calder family, and was only slightly confusing to keep up with names and such.
I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
I received this book free through the Goodreads giveaway. It was a very good read. Thank you for the opportunity.
January 13, 2021
Calder Brand
Janet Dailey
February 23, 2021
Joe Dollarhide was 16 years old when he left his Texas home to join the Calder Cattle Company to bring a large herd of cattle up to Nebraska. It was a first job for him. He had learned hard work by helping his folks run the farm. Today he will find that being a wrangler’s helper would be beyond difficult. By the end of the day when he ate his beans and biscuits for supper and laid his bedroll out on the hard ground, he realized what a tough road he had chosen. Joe wanted to learn the trade of cowboy. He yearned to save his money, buy land and raise his own cattle or horses there. It wouldn’t be an easy path but this was his way. Herding longhorn cattle was frightening. He didn’t let on to the other men of his fear. When storms threatened or high winds threatened the journey all were forced to continue. It was the job he accepted.
The first section of Dailey’s book was Joe’s history with Benteen Calder, boss. When he asked one of his men to do something, the reply was “yes sir”, no questions. This book is historical fiction, not my favorite type of read, however as I continued to grasp what Joe and the other men faced, it was clear that transporting animals from one place to another was a lengthy, strenuous voyage. In the next part Joe meets Sarah, a tough beautiful woman on her way via train, to work with her uncle, a physician. She had hopes to eventually join medical school to follow his path.
Calder Brand by Janet Dailey will be published by Kensington Books on February 23, 2021. I am grateful for their consideration in allowing me to read and review Dailey’s latest ARC.
I have read other books by Janet Dailey, none of them being historical. This one I became involved in and really enjoyed. It is part 1 of The Calder Brand series. I plan to follow up with part 2. Her writing is interesting and appears accurate. It has romance as well as documentary styles within. I encourage readers to give this one a try. If you have read Daily’s work it will prove to be another great read.
Janet Dailey
February 23, 2021
Joe Dollarhide was 16 years old when he left his Texas home to join the Calder Cattle Company to bring a large herd of cattle up to Nebraska. It was a first job for him. He had learned hard work by helping his folks run the farm. Today he will find that being a wrangler’s helper would be beyond difficult. By the end of the day when he ate his beans and biscuits for supper and laid his bedroll out on the hard ground, he realized what a tough road he had chosen. Joe wanted to learn the trade of cowboy. He yearned to save his money, buy land and raise his own cattle or horses there. It wouldn’t be an easy path but this was his way. Herding longhorn cattle was frightening. He didn’t let on to the other men of his fear. When storms threatened or high winds threatened the journey all were forced to continue. It was the job he accepted.
The first section of Dailey’s book was Joe’s history with Benteen Calder, boss. When he asked one of his men to do something, the reply was “yes sir”, no questions. This book is historical fiction, not my favorite type of read, however as I continued to grasp what Joe and the other men faced, it was clear that transporting animals from one place to another was a lengthy, strenuous voyage. In the next part Joe meets Sarah, a tough beautiful woman on her way via train, to work with her uncle, a physician. She had hopes to eventually join medical school to follow his path.
Calder Brand by Janet Dailey will be published by Kensington Books on February 23, 2021. I am grateful for their consideration in allowing me to read and review Dailey’s latest ARC.
I have read other books by Janet Dailey, none of them being historical. This one I became involved in and really enjoyed. It is part 1 of The Calder Brand series. I plan to follow up with part 2. Her writing is interesting and appears accurate. It has romance as well as documentary styles within. I encourage readers to give this one a try. If you have read Daily’s work it will prove to be another great read.
February 24, 2021
I was a bit confused at first with this book. Using the Calder name in the title of this book made me think this was a book about the Calder family that we know and love. It was a bit about the Calder family, but not very much. Once I read more, I understood this was a book about an employee of the Calder family who had an unfortunate incident happen to him and he felt he was left behind.
Joe Dollarhide is young and ambitious. He wants what the Calder's have, a spread of land and a ranch. When he is injured during a stampede on the first cattle drive he was part of at age 16, he is angry. His survival is dependent on the outlaws that found him, and he has to join them. Things were different back then!
He meets and falls in love with Sarah Foxworth, who is on her way to her Uncle, a doctor, since she wants to follow in his footsteps in the medical profession. She nurses him back to health after another incident and they are together and Joe promises Sarah to meet her when he goes through the town where she will meet her uncle.
Time passes, as time does, and Joe is grown and married with a son. Sarah is not able to be a doctor and becomes an outcast. She is asked to come to Montana to be a school teacher.
Anything more will come in the form of spoilers so I don't want to say more.
The book is very predictable and is a nice way to take an afternoon to yourself if you're a fan of Western romantic fiction or Janet Dailey. Because I've read the first in this series, I'll probably read the next as well, but I don't expect it to be profound...more of a nice afternoon read. I enjoyed this book, but it won't be one I can't wait to read again!
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Publishers and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
Joe Dollarhide is young and ambitious. He wants what the Calder's have, a spread of land and a ranch. When he is injured during a stampede on the first cattle drive he was part of at age 16, he is angry. His survival is dependent on the outlaws that found him, and he has to join them. Things were different back then!
He meets and falls in love with Sarah Foxworth, who is on her way to her Uncle, a doctor, since she wants to follow in his footsteps in the medical profession. She nurses him back to health after another incident and they are together and Joe promises Sarah to meet her when he goes through the town where she will meet her uncle.
Time passes, as time does, and Joe is grown and married with a son. Sarah is not able to be a doctor and becomes an outcast. She is asked to come to Montana to be a school teacher.
Anything more will come in the form of spoilers so I don't want to say more.
The book is very predictable and is a nice way to take an afternoon to yourself if you're a fan of Western romantic fiction or Janet Dailey. Because I've read the first in this series, I'll probably read the next as well, but I don't expect it to be profound...more of a nice afternoon read. I enjoyed this book, but it won't be one I can't wait to read again!
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Publishers and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
November 26, 2020
The book is a western, and from what appears to be a spin off of a larger series. irst book read in this series. I have not previously read about the Calders. I received this from Netgalley - thank you. The book takes off from the beginning and does a good job following Joe and Sarah. The relationship develops and is interesting to see the interactions. Joe Dollarhide is nearly 16 when readers meet him on a cattle drive from Texas headed to Montana. He is left for dead after a freak thunderstorm and vows vengeance against Bentsen Calder, who made the decision not to check more thoroughly for him. He falls into bad company later and is shot. Taken to aspiring doctor Sarah Foxworth in Ogallala, Nebraska, he recovers and falls in love. However, the course of true love never does run smoothly, and Joe and Sarah are separated by circumstances. The plot was well thought out and developed, and kept me engaged the entire time. The timeline was what I enjoyed most. Because this book followed Joe from 16 to 28 years old, nothing about the plot was rushed. Not usually a Western book reader and this was engaging and well laid out. I enjoyed Joe's time learning the training of the stallions and the gentle nature approach versus the breaking. Nice book to read during these troubling times. I did enjoy it and want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this ARC.
December 22, 2020
Janet Dailey brings us the story of Joe Dollarhide and his journey as he looks back remembering all the events that brought him to this moment as he contemplates going out in the snow to exact his revenge. He is reminded of how not only luck and fate had played a role in his life, but also hard work, heartbreak, and perseverance. We are taken back to the beginning of his journey when he left his family's farm in Texas to join the cattle drive with Chase Benteen Calder and the adventures it brought him. When they stop in Dodge City, Joe meets Sarah as he tries to save her from some unwanted attention which ends up bringing him too much attention. When they part, Joe promises to look her up once they arrive in Ogallala.
As the story progresses, we get to see what happens to both of these characters once they leave each other still thinking that one day they will meet again. They each have dreams of success where Joe will have a spread surrounded by family and Sarah will be a doctor. Life, circumstances, misunderstandings, and choices get in the way.
I enjoyed reading about their adventures. Janet Dailey has a way to keep you engaged and wanting to see what happens next. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the next adventure.
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.
As the story progresses, we get to see what happens to both of these characters once they leave each other still thinking that one day they will meet again. They each have dreams of success where Joe will have a spread surrounded by family and Sarah will be a doctor. Life, circumstances, misunderstandings, and choices get in the way.
I enjoyed reading about their adventures. Janet Dailey has a way to keep you engaged and wanting to see what happens next. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the next adventure.
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.
October 27, 2020
Joe Dollarhide has dreams of owning his own ranch someday, but to do that he needs money and experience. He joins a cattle drive for Benteen Calder from Texas to Montana. After a stampede leaves Joe lost and severely injured, Benteen orders his crew to abandon the search leaving Joe for dead.
Sarah has travelled to Montana to live with her uncle, hoping to become a doctor like him. In a chance reunion with the man who once rescued her, she nurses Joe back to health and falls in love with him. But Joe knows as a poor outlaw he'll only hold her back from her dreams, so he leaves to pursue his own fortune. But years later when Joe owns a ranch of his own with his wife and young son, Sarah shows up in his town with a boy that looks suspiciously just like him.
Western romance at its finest. I liked the part where Joe learns to gentle wild horses and turns his dreams into a thriving horse ranch. This is a spinoff of her earlier Calder series, but as I've never read those before I can say it reads as a stand alone. I look forward to the rest of the series, possibly featuring Joe's competitive sons?
Thank you to Janet Dailey and Kensington books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Sarah has travelled to Montana to live with her uncle, hoping to become a doctor like him. In a chance reunion with the man who once rescued her, she nurses Joe back to health and falls in love with him. But Joe knows as a poor outlaw he'll only hold her back from her dreams, so he leaves to pursue his own fortune. But years later when Joe owns a ranch of his own with his wife and young son, Sarah shows up in his town with a boy that looks suspiciously just like him.
Western romance at its finest. I liked the part where Joe learns to gentle wild horses and turns his dreams into a thriving horse ranch. This is a spinoff of her earlier Calder series, but as I've never read those before I can say it reads as a stand alone. I look forward to the rest of the series, possibly featuring Joe's competitive sons?
Thank you to Janet Dailey and Kensington books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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