Calder Storm

Calder Storm by Janet Dailey
Romance

This is Trey Calder's story. Trey falls heavily for Sloan, a photographer. They marry quickly and Sloan is introduced to Calder ranch and the multitude of Calders living there. However, there is a problem when Trey discovers Sloan is Max Rutledge's ward. The Rutledges and Calders have been enemies forever. Rutledge would like nothing better than to destroy the Calders and if he can use Sloan he will. All this comes to light as Sloan discovers she is pregnant.

Sloan and Trey must battle through distrust, innuendos and spite. Neither seems to be able to directly confront the other.

Dailey has again killed off a major character, albeit not one as well liked this time. I just do not see the purpose of this death unless it is a way of dealing with too many characters. The romance in these books is getting a little formulaic.

First Line: "The headquarters for the Fort Worth-based conglomerate known as Maresco, sleekly modern in its glass and granite architecture, stood a modest four stories tall"

Rating:
(3.0/5)

Lone Calder Star

Lone Calder Star by Janet Dailey
Romance

The Cee Bar ranch in Texas has been run by the Calders for over 100 years. So when the Calders are having difficulty keeping foremen to run the ranch, Quint is sent to investigate. Quint pretends to be a simple cowboy and as soon as he hits town everyone is warning him off the Cee Bar.

Max Rutledge and his grandson, Boone are wanting to buy the ranch at any cost. Quint be-friends "Empty" Garner and his granddaughter Dallas. Things turn very ugly and there is a suspicious fire and anthrax.

The very best thing about this book is that no one dies. YIPPEE!! Dallas seemed to me to be not as headstrong as any of the other Calder women as evidenced by the fact of her relationship with Rutledge. An okay romance.

First Line: "Clouds blanketed the Texas landscape southwest of Fort Worth as a stiff wind broomed the countryside, sweeping up anything that wasn't firmly attached."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Calder Promise

Calder Promise by Janet Dailey
Romance

This is Laura's story. Laura is the daughter of Jessie and not a thing like her mother. She is touring Europe with her spoiled 'Aunt' Tara when she encounters two men: Boone Rutledge, son of a wealthy Texas cattle baron and Sebastian Dunshill, Earl of Crawford. Laura flits around Europe and eventually home with these two men dangling after her like puppies in need of a drink. There is even a scene where Laura dives naked into the Trevi fountain in Rome. Improbable!!

This is not a bad series but not great either. The stories are starting to seem the same each time. Romantic love triangle, a tad of mystery followed by the death of a character the reader loves. Enough already with the deaths

First Line: "The flattering glow of candlelight welcomed the arriving guests to the home of Count and Countess Valerie, a sixteenth-century palazzo on Rome's Capitoline Hill."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Shifting Calder Wind

Shifting Calder Wind by Janet Dailey
Romance

Chase Calder is shot in Texas and his kinfolk at the Calder ranch in Montana are mourning his death. Laredo Smith saved Chase but Chase is suffering from amnesia. Laredo has taken Chase to be taken care of by his mother Hattie, a registered nurse. Laredo learns who Chase is and packs up Chase and Hattie and takes them to Montana in time for Chase's 'funeral'.

Chase still doesn't remember who shot him but feels he can only trust Jessy, his daughter-in-law. Laredo and Chase decide to 'keep' Chase dead while they investigate who wants him gone. By keeping Jessy in the loop but not his daughter Cat, there are a number of arguments and fights between the two with Tara, Jessy's dead husband's first wife always getting a few licks in.

There are some definite sparks between Jessy and Laredo which I hope are developed in latter books and of course another major character is killed off. This was a good book but there is certainly a lot of murder around Calder ranch and I would hope to see more than one reach old age.

First Line: "A blackness roared around him."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Green Calder Grass

Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey
Romance

Jessy waited forever for Ty Calder as she knew what she wanted. Ty finally divorced Tara and now Jessy and Ty are expecting twins. Happily ever after, right. Not quite as Tara's beloved father dies suddenly and Tara doesn't know what to do but to turn to Ty. Well she does know and knows exactly what she is doing as she is very manipulative and she wants Ty back.

Ty seemingly becomes more and more 'pulled' in as Tara helps to plan The Calder's auction barn and then buys the piece of land entirely enclosed by Calder ranch. The Calders have been trying to buy that land for a long time. How did Tara come by it so easily?

This series almost reads like a mystery as someone in every book is either killed or injured severely. Just another love story where the good girl wins in the end HOORAH!

First Line: "The grass ocean rippled gold under a strong summer song."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Calder Pride

Calder Pride by Janet Dailey
Romance

Cat Calder is a Calder though and though, stubborn, proud, intelligent and slightly haughty. When her fiancee is killed in a car accident. Cat spends her last night at school drinking and then in the arms of a stranger. Nine months later she has a baby.

When Logan Echohawk comes to town she is in major trouble. He happens to be the stranger and he has not forgotten that night any more than she has. How does Cat preserve her first love and come to grips with her developing love for Logan?

Calder pride is a love story in the series of love stories about the clan. A nice easy read.

First Line: "A north breeze swept across the private airstrip and rustled through the grass at its edges."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Calder Born, Calder Bred

Calder Born, Calder Bred by Janet Dailey
Romance

Ty Calder was not brought up on Calder land. He has had to learn the ways of ranch life. One of those more than willing to teach him is Jessy. Jessy is a tomboy who has grown up on the land and can and will do anything any man can do.

Ty is determined to go off to university and learn about agriscience and new ways of ranching. There he meets Tara, beautiful and wise in the ways of business and politics.

The ranch needs some influx of capital. Will Ty, lured on by Tara agree to let the coal be mined on his property?

First Line: "The windswept Montana plains rolled with empty monotony beneath a freeze-dried sky."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

This Calder Sky

This Calder Sky by Janet Dailey
Romance

This book is #3 in the Calder series. Chase Calder is the latest in the dynasty of Calders. He has grown up knowing he will inherit the ranch and the acres and acres of land. Maggie O'Rourke is a neighbour. She lives on a small ranch and her father and brother are extremely envious of the Calders. Chase takes Maggie's virginity and innocence. Maggie's father loses it and starts rustling Calder cattle. What results is an action that may never be forgiven. Maggie also doesn't want just the ranch life, she wants to make something of herself.

I found Chase to be extremely arrogant, almost to the point of wishing the bad guys would win out. I was very sympathetic to the criminals which I don't think was the desired result of the book. The romance part of the story was a little slow at times but still kept me interested enough to finish the book

First Line: "Beneath a clear sky, the Montana plains rolled to the far horizon in an undulating sea of grass"

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Stands a Calder Man

Stands a Calder Man by Janet Dailey
Romance

Webb Calder is Benteen Calder's son, the owner of Triple C Ranch in Montana. Webb wants just to be one of the cowboys but his father wants him to step up and take on some responsibility. When will he ever grow up?

The ranch has been in operation for awhile and the railways want to generate more business. The Homesteaders Act is pushed though and now drylanders are flocking to Montana to try their luck. They must cope with drought, cold and very inhospitable conditions to grow a little wheat. Among the first wave of 'nesters' is Lilli and her husband. Webb falls in love at first sight and has trouble keeping his hands off of her.

There is the usual love story but also some insight into the history of Montana around WWI. There is also a bit of intrigue due to the conflict between the cowboys and farmers.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

This Calder Range

This Calder Range by Janet Dailey
Historical Romance

This Calder Range is the start of a series about the Calders. Benteen Calder is a cowboy from Texas in the late 1800s. This story chronicles his decision to settle on free land in Montana. Calder spends a winter collecting cattle in Texas scrubland before marrying Laura and heading back to Montana.

There are the hardships of the trail and the dangers of Indians. Laura must learn to cope with a lot of new ways. Also old grudges follow them north.

The descriptions of life on the trail were fascinating. Laura turned from a beautiful young girl into an ambitious,intuitive strong woman. Calder was made into a better man because of her.

Rating:

(3.5/5)