Book picks similar to
West of Forgotten by Lynda J. Cox


rating-4-5-star
single-mom-never-married
dark
genre-historical

Whispered Love


Kathleen Ball - 2016
    Foreman Samuel Pearse has only one rule; no women allowed. Until he finds one asleep in his bathtub—Pat Clarke, the company cook. With her secret revealed and her virtue at stake, Pat turns to the only man who can help her…the one man who sets fire to her heart.

Terms of Surrender


Lorrie Farrelly - 2010
    Then, one spring day along the Wind River, he finds himself suddenly in the thick of another life-and-death struggle -- Annie Devlin’s war.Desperate to hang on to her ranch and her life, waylaid by gunmen hired by a powerful rancher who covets her land, Annie and her young brother, Robbie, fight a furious, rapidly losing battle for their lives.When all seems lost, into the fray steps a cold-eyed, steel-nerved stranger -- Michael Cantrell -- who saves Annie and Robbie, but is himself grievously wounded.With Annie’s care, Michael recovers not only his strength but a portion of his embittered soul as well. Fighting his powerful feelings for her, convinced he has nothing to give, Michael determines to stay with the Devlins only long enough to ensure their safety against the treachery that would destroy them.Reluctantly, Michael, who for years has known only loss, allies himself with a stubborn, courageous young woman who will take his heart by storm and test the limit of his honor, his mettle -- and his passion.A finalist for the prestigious Orange Rose Award, "Terms of Surrender" takes the reader on a stirring adventure that is also a heartfelt, emotional journey.

One Real Man


Janette Kenny - 2008
    She robbed Gil blind out of sheer desperation, and years later, Josie still has something of his - but that's not her only secret.

The King's Courtesan


Suzan Tisdale - 2015
    Living a quiet life with her children and grandchildren, she believes she has put her past behind her. That is, until one peaceful summer afternoon when a stranger arrives at her door with news of the death of an old friend. The stranger knows her secrets and threatens to turn her world to chaos by revealing them, if she refuses to give him what he wants. It is not money he seeks but something far more valuable: the truth about his own past. Many, many years before, Fate and desperate circumstances lead a young girl into the life of a courtesan and the arms of a man she could never have—or even name. Just as he could never have her. But their love was pure and formidable. Powerful enough to endure all efforts to destroy it? Powerful enough to defeat a queen? It is time for Francesca Ginori to tell her story—her own passionate, enthralling truth.

The Vow


Linda Lael Miller - 1998
    Back to face the husband she left behind ... the son she never saw grow to manhood ... and the home where her heart broke when she lost a beloved daughter. But her intentions regarding their marriage are soon clear --- even if her motives are not.Gabe McKeige loved Annabel too fiercely to let a chance like this slip away. But the iron-willed rancher is also too proud to beg --- he didn't twelve years ago, and he won't now. So, Gabe sets out to woo Annabel the only way he knows ... with passion-filled kisses and sensual touches that conjure the sweet firestorm of their marriage bed. And Annabel is finding that the man she once left is unbearably hard to resist ...

Distant Thunder


Lisa Bingham - 1992
    "DISTANT THUNDER is a story of sensitive, tender emotions and awakening passion—pure joy on every page.”—Affaire de Coeur A haunting truth too terrible to share drives beautiful Susan to live as a nun, hiding the reality of her past even from her lifelong friend, Daniel. Growing up, Daniel was her protector and savior, yet when he returns to town, her orderly life is abruptly thrown into disarray. No longer is he the boy from her childhood, but a striking lawman, both dangerous and desirable. Determined to make Susan his wife, Daniel arouses her deepest passions and unlocks her darkest secrets. But before they can embrace the promise of the future, Susan must confront the past she worked so hard to keep hidden. “Lisa Bingham’s beautiful tale of a childhood love that grows into an adult passion... will appeal to anyone looking for a romance that is not only brimming with delightful characters and sweet love, but also deep with meaning.”—Romantic Times  “Ms. Bingham has written a captivating tale of two people burdened by the past; two people who care deeply for one another but who hesitate to share their deep pain... A truly enjoyable read.”—Inside Romance

Texas Tall


Kaki Warner - 2016
    Now he’s found a woman he could love, but she deserves more than a man who makes a living getting shot at. If Ty were honorable, he’d leave her alone. But he can’t seem to stay away....   Orphaned at fourteen, Charlotte Weyland has used her talent for numbers to build enough of a fortune to fund Ty’s dream of owning a ranch…if he’s not too stubborn to accept her help. But when Charlotte’s past catches up to her, she finds herself on one side of the law with Ty on the other. To keep their dreams alive, they’ll have to make compromises, but doing so might cost them everything they have...

River's Edge


Gem Sivad - 2013
    The unconventional ranch owning artist is very certain she doesn't want a husband. But sometimes she can't help wishing for a lover; especially after her new neighbor trespasses and she gets a full frontal view of his assets.Edge Grayson moves onto the rundown spread he's inherited, expecting to stay aloof from nearby town business. But between local artist, River Prescott's determination to seduce him and protecting her from a killer on the prowl, the ex-gunslinger is finding respectability a lot more dangerous than his former life of sin.

Apache Magic


Janis Reams Hudson - 1991
    To their shaman, the bold white streak in her hair made her special and her visions in the flames make her a woman of magic. Yet no magic could protect Daniella from the passion that sears her senses when she first meets Travis Colton. To Arizona rancher Travis Colton, the mysterious Daniella is his only chance at rescuing his son. Travis and his ten-year-old son were captured by a band of Cochise's warriors. Left for dead, Travis managed to make his way home, determined to do whatever it takes to get his son back. Travis and Daniella's quest together will take more than magic; it will take a passion neither is ready to handle.

Donovan's Bed


Debra Mullins - 2000
    The persistent newspaper editor just won't leave him alone, and the best way he knows to shut her sassy mouth...is with his own. But Donovan makes it perfectly clear that Sarah's far too independent to be included on his list of prospective wives. All he wants from her is a good time--though he promises it will be a "very" good time Sarah is determined to uncover Donovan's secret past, but every time she goes near the man, her ridiculous attraction to him takes over. So after his insulting offer, she retaliates by publicizing his search for a wife--and soon Donovan's flooded with lusty widows, lovestruck teens, and lonely spinsters...he can't turn around without tripping over another would-be bride But when the dust settles, will Sarah have won their battle of the sexes--or lost her only chance at true love.

Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter


Anna Schmidt - 2015
    But why?""You know me, Maria. I'm the guy trouble follows. Best if you keep your distance."She ran the backs of her fingers along the line of his jaw. "And what if I don't want to keep my distance?" Her voice was barely a whisper."Fair warning," he murmured, and pulled her close.Caught between a greedy corporation and a desperate love of the land, Maria Porterfield barely has time to mourn her father's death. If her family is to survive, it'll be up to her to take charge-but she can't do it alone. When a mysterious drifter rides into town, the handsome cowboy seems like an answer to her prayers. But Chet isn't interested in settling down, no matter how tempting the offer...Chet made his way West looking for a fresh start-the last thing he wants is to get involved in someone else's fight. But something about Maria awakens a powerful need to protect the fierce beauty at all costs. He never thought he'd find love, but as danger presses in, he may find there's more beyond the next horizon than just another long and dusty trail.

To Have and to Hold


Leigh Greenwood - 2013
    But after a life of working odd jobs, Colby thinks he might just be ready to settle down. Until his fiancé jilts him for a man with more money. Naomi Kessling is already plagued by nightmares and a violent past when her wagon train is attacked. Colby saves her life, but Naomi is convinced he's been sent by the army to arrest her for a crime she can't remember. Colby will help her face her nightmares, but will her love be enough to break down the wall he's built around his heart?

Full Circle


Rosanne Bittner - 1994
    A young missionary teacher meets a fierce Sioux brave who is everything she desires but cannot have. Fighting society's prejudices and their own doubts, will their stormtide of passion sustain them?

Daniel McClintock (McClintocks Book 4)


Caroline Clemmons - 2018
    Now, at twenty-two, she is one of the best heilgymnast in the new field of mechanotherapy. When her supervisor receives a request for someone to travel to Texas in America and help a patient, Clara is pleased to accept. On her arrival in McClintock Falls, she is surprised that the patient she thought would be a teenage boy is a very handsome man her age. A desperate man… Two years ago Daniel McClintock was paralyzed from the waist down. He is deeply discouraged and wonders if he is bound to live his life an invalid. Each week he becomes more depressed although not idle. He keeps books for the ranch and paints landscapes with sales donated to the church. The local doctor learns of a new type of treatment developed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Daniel can’t go there, so his family writes for a therapist trained in the new treatment to come to them. A surprise arrives… Everyone is expecting a man when Clara Van Hoosan arrives. As she and Daniel work together, they become attracted. She believes his is the normal attachment a patient feels toward a therapist and will fade once he’s healed. She tries to hide her feelings for him. Daniel knows she’s The One if only he can convince her to remain in McClintock Falls.

Frontier Hearts


Lynnette Bonner - 2015
    Each of these stories, whether novella length or full length, will transport you back to a time when outlaws ran free, the land was wild, and guns blazed at the drop of a hat. Rocky Mountain Oasis, by Lynnette Bonner When Sky Jordan hears that his nefarious cousin has sent for a mail-order bride, he knows he has to prevent the marriage. No woman deserves to be left to that fate. Still, he's as surprised as anyone to find himself standing next to her before the minister. Brooke's new husband turns out to be kinder than any man has ever been. But then the unthinkable happens and she holds the key that might save innocent lives but destroy Sky all in one fell swoop. It's a choice too unbearable to contemplate...but a choice that must be made. The Debutante Queen, by Angela Breidenbach 1889 (Helena, MT): Calista Blythe enters the first Miss Snowflake Pageant celebrating Montana statehood to expose the plight of street urchins. But hiding an indentured orphan could unravel Calista’s reputation, and her budding romance with pageant organizer, Albert Shanahan, if her secret is revealed. Will love or law prevail? Almost Home, by Susan Page Davis Patricia Logan leaves her friend’s party in Denver and heads for home at her uncle’s ranch. Her ride is sidelined by the storm. A chance meeting with Jared Booker, an old friend, prompts Patricia to beg for a lift. They set out on horseback and become snowbound for two days in a shack with a crotchety midwife and their past. Can they rekindle their old camaraderie and see it transform into lasting love? A Breed Apart, by Vickie McDonough The only thing Sarah Ames is good at is training horses. Her family wants to see her married. When her pa hires a stranger to take her job at their ranch, Sarah is hurt and angry. She suspects the handsome half-breed is a rustler and keeps her eye on him, but the man seems surprisingly above reproach. When cattle go missing, Sarah no longer wants to believe Carson is the thief. Could Carson have stolen her heart as well as the cattle? When all my Dreams Come True, by Janelle Mowery Bobbie McIntyre dreams of running a ranch of her own. Raised without a mother and having spent most of her time around men, she knows more about wrangling than acting like a lady. Still, the friendship of her new employer awakens a desire to learn more about presenting her feminine side…but ranch life keeps getting in the way. Ranch owner Jace Kincaid figures the Lord is testing his faith when a female wrangler shows up looking for work. Bobbie has an uncanny way of getting under his skin, though, and he’s surprised when she finds a home next to his heart. But when his cattle begin to go missing and his wranglers are in danger from some low-down cattle thief, will Jace trust God, even if it means giving up his dreams? Mismatched in Texas, by Janice Thompson In the quaint community of Poetry, Texas, Belinda Bauer spies an opportunity. The tiny town is filled with loggers and railroad men in need of wives, so she sets herself up as a marriage broker. At her invitation, potential brides begin to arrive in Poetry. There’s only one problem: Belinda doesn’t have a clue what she’s doing and all the brides marry the wrong men! One client is particularly unhappy. George Kaufman, the local barber, has lost more than one prospective wife to Belinda’s fumbled attempts. For some reason, she just can’t seem to find George’s "perfect match," though it’s not for lack of trying. Is there a poetic ending in store for George— and for Belinda, herself?