Crinoline Cowboys: 4 Southern Women Head West to Crinoline Creek, Texas 

Paperback – ebook

November 1, 2019

by Patty Smith Hall (Author), Cynthia Hickey (Author), Marilyn Turk  (Author), Kathleen Y'Barbo (Author)

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books
• ISBN-13: 978-1643522418

4 Women Bring Southern Charm to a Cowboy Town
 Crinoline Creek, Texas, 1868
 
A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall
Bookish southern belle Madalyn Turner knows what she wants—to be a cowboy and own a Texas ranch. But books are far different from real life and soon she realizes she needs help.
 
Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey
An inexperience Southern belle and a ranching widower must overcome their two very different lifestyles and find a way to work together.  Neither of them expected to fall in love. When danger strikes, will they find out that love is worth the price?
 
Love’s Cookin’ at the Cowboy Café by Marilyn Turk

A refined but feisty southern belle inherits a saloon she plans to convert into a genteel café. Even though her lack of cooking skills threatens disaster, she rejects the town banker’s advice. What will happen when the two lock horns and an unlikely romance simmers on the back burner?
 
Bea Mine by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Preferring his horse and hound dog to human company, the sheriff’s soldier brother is not happy when he’s left in charge of the jail and the talkative woman awaiting trial. Has the Lord moved to change his mind about the course of his life, or will the little lady win his heart and her freedom?

My thoughts (Reviewed by Marilyn):   Crinoline Cowboys is a collection that produced laughter and tears. Each novella had a young Southern lady going to Crinoline, Texas following the Civil War for various reasons. Their preparation of going to a western cowboy town was humorous as they were unprepared for the work and danger that faced them. Each tale was filled with action and peril as there were rustlers, kidnappers, and others to bring harm to ranchers. There’s some true history woven into the tales. 

Patty Smith Hall in A Cowboy of Her Own provided a tale of Maddie and Carter. Maddie envisioned herself being a cowboy without understanding the working of a ranch. Carter had struggles with providing proper training for his ten year old sister. Their work agreement brought more than they anticipated. 

Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey brought Josie and Parker Owens together. She was surprised at the work a nanny/housekeeper was required to do in 24 hours while teaching four young children. Little Sadie was a sweetheart but her brothers were mischievous. A threat against their lives brought new awareness. 

Marilyn Turk’s tale of Love’s Cookin’ at the Cowboy Café explored Sarah Beth inaccuracies to turn her inherited saloon into a café. Emery Wright, the banker, was amused by her determination but there was a threat when a bounty hunter appeared in Crinoline. I’m glad Turk had a lighthouse mentioned in her novella, since she’s known for her love of lighthouses in all her books. 

Bea Mine by Kathleen Y’Barbo gave way to young Bea and Gilbert meeting through a march and a couple of words spoken years prior to their reconnection. Bea’s life was not what she anticipated but time and distance might bring peace. Gil faced a lot of turmoil and lacked confidence but discovering Bea gave way to reassurance. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors. I was under no obligation to write a review but have expressed my own thoughts.