New to Caroline’s Westerns? Start Here
New readers can start with several different Western series depending on whether they want a sweeping family saga, a classic Texas town setting, or a shorter taste-test of Caroline’s voice. This guide walks through a few ideal “on-ramps” and how to choose the right...Pioneer Winter Survival: What Families Packed
Pioneer families heading into or through a frontier winter had to pack for one reality: if they misjudged, someone might not live until spring. Food, fuel, clothing, and basic tools had to fit into a wagon or small cabin and still see them through months of cold,...The Role of Recipes in Romance & Frontier Life in 1880s Texas
Readers of Western and historical romance often fall in love with more than just the couple—they fall in love with the world around them, and in 1880s Texas, that world smelled of coffee, cornbread, and something good baking in the Dutch oven. Recipes and everyday...Christmas Superstitions of the Old West
Christmas in the Old West came wrapped in hardship, homespun joy, and a deep belief that unseen forces shaped everyday life. Many families on the frontier carried Old World Christmas superstitions with them, then adapted those beliefs to the realities of cattle towns,...How Traveling Shows Entertained the Frontier
Life before the show came On the nineteenth-century American frontier, entertainment options were scarce, especially in small, isolated settlements far from cities and rail hubs. Most leisure centered on church gatherings, dances, and home music, which meant any new...Healing on the Frontier: Medicine in 1880s Texas
Life on the Texas frontier was marked by endless hardships, daring promise, and a constant battle with illness and injury. In the 1880s, medicine in Texas was as rugged and resourceful as the people who called the state home; far removed from the sanitized, modern...Historical Texas Towns That Inspire Romance
Romantic Texas Towns That Set the Stage for Love Every romance needs the perfect setting—a backdrop rich with history, mystery, and a sprinkle of frontier grit. While I usually fictionalize the town names so I can take liberties with the layout, see if you can tell...Prairie Schoolhouses and My Father’s Adventure as a Frontier Teacher
Frontier life was shaped by resilience, community, and the pursuit of a better future—and nowhere was that truer than in the humble schoolhouses scattered across the prairie. School wasn’t just about textbooks and sums; it was about bringing hopeful hearts together,...Harvest Time in 1880s Texas: Traditions, Toil, and Frontier Celebrations
When the fiery Texas sun gave way to cooler, golden afternoons, families across the Lone Star State turned their attention to the fall harvest. For pioneers and settlers, harvest time in the 1880s marked the culmination of months of hard work and hopes—corn, cotton,...
