Following the season one wrap-up of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon and the western aesthetic being more popular than ever, I rounded up eight books that harness the spirit of the cowboys and outlaws to keep your bookshelf buckin’.
Whether you’re partial to reading a classic Louis L’Amour or you’re looking for a cowboy romance to spice up your TBR, I tried my darndest to curate the ultimate western reading list for anyone who’s wild at heart.
So pull on your boots and saddle up. Your next reading adventure awaits!
The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati
It’s 1857, and Carrie Ballentyne tries to outrun her past by accepting a nursing position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. Carrie knows the journey traveling west from the urbanized streets of New York will be challenging, but nothing could have prepared her for the wild ride that’s coming. Relying on fellow travelers to survive, leading to a budding romance with the mysterious Eli Ibarra, the two must tackle challenge after challenge together. The story unravels as Carrie learns to open her heart to the rugged New Mexico landscape — and the man willing to risk so much for her. Sara Donati is a master at creating the perfect historical fiction, making this book a must-read for fans of shows like Deadwood and 1883.
The Country Under Heaven by Frederic S. Durban
Years following the Civil War, former Union soldier Ovid Vesper still suffers from paralyzing visions brought on by memories of the Battle of Antietam. As Ovid travels across the western frontier, he encounters mysterious otherworldly beings, places and unusual circumstances, leading him to find peace with his visions, as well as providing him with a new interpretation of life and the world itself. Reminiscent of Homer’s Odyssey as well as the writings of Louis L’Amour and H.P. Lovecraft, The Country Under Heaven carries with it an unexpected fantastical twist to a classic western storyline.
Crossroads by Devney Perry
The first book of two (so far), Crossroads by Devney Perry is a second-chance romance taking place in a small town in Montana. The story follows the intertwining lives of Indya and West, who met while Indya and her family were vacationing at West’s family’s ranch. Feelings ensue over several years until the two seemingly drift apart. Years later, Indya returns to the ranch, not as a visitor, but as its new owner. West, embittered from losing his family ranch to his first heartbreak, must come to terms with co-existing with Indya, leading to a fiery love-hate relationship that turns both their lives upside down. Brimming with electric chemistry, this modern western romance is sure to steal your heart.
The Boomerang by Robert Bailey
John Grisham meets Yellowstone in this gripping political thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Robert Bailey. The president of the United States is dying of terminal cancer, and his right-hand man, Chief of Staff Eli James, is one of the few who knows. But just as the president’s condition mysteriously improves, Eli’s daughter coincidentally gets diagnosed with cancer too. Eli becomes suspicious after he confronts Big Pharma’s top lobbyist for advice. Armed with a deadly secret, Eli goes rogue, fleeing to the west in an effort to keep his family safe. Eli apprehensively forms an alliance with land baron Nester “the Beast” Sanchez, known for his ruthless power tactics. With an epic showdown looming, The Boomerang is a neo-western thriller that will keep you on your toes.
The Rebel Blue Ranch Series by Lyla Sage
A better book series couldn’t exist for those eager for Ransom Canyon season 2! Lyla Sage’s four-part series, that can be read in any order, is a National Bestseller and for good reason. An easy introduction to the western genre, The Rebel Blue Ranch series is made up of four playful titles with fun pop-art covers. Each book consists of a slow-burn romance between different couples living in the small fictional town of Meadowlark, Wyoming. It would be a darn shame if you didn’t add these books to your summer reading list!
Releasing the Reins by Catherine Matthews
They say it’s a man’s world, but headstrong Bunny O-Kelly disagrees. Set in the rugged landscape of rural Alaska, Bunny is determined to make a name for herself working as a ranch hand on Buck Miller’s horse ranch. Bunny endures the challenges of a woman of her time, all whilst unraveling the secrets surrounding Katie Miller’s mysterious death. As Bunny delves deeper into the dark history of her newfound haven, she finds herself caught in a dangerous game of survival in her quest for justice. Echoing themes from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Catherine Matthews’ heart-wrenching and intricate storytelling with a murderous undertone makes Releasing the Reins a welcome contribution to the gothic western.
The Great State of West Florida by Kent Wascom
Compared to Cormac McCarthy and Joyce Carol Oates by the Washington Post, Kent Westom’s genre-redefining Western is soaked in neon-pink. Filled with vengeance, family and coming-of-age love, this futuristic take on a neo-western story surrounds two warring factions vying for control of a crumbling dystopian Gulf Coast. Both violent and tender at the same time, The Great State of West Florida is a world where robotic warriors, megachurch magnetism and suburban guerrillas roam the sun-baked, bloody streets as one young man is caught in the wheels of something bigger than he knows. Westworld fans rejoice! This is the book for you.
My Calamity Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows
Many YA readers may be familiar with this iconic author trio, responsible for the New York Times bestseller My Plain Jane. The Lady Janies bring you an alternative historical fiction-fantasy revolving around the legendary Calamity Jane. Jane and the rest of Wild Bill’s gang hunt werewolves (referred to as garous). When Jane is bitten after a less-than-successful hunt, they must head for Deadwood, where there are rumors of a garou cure, before it’s too late. If the Shadow Hunters series had you in a chokehold in your teens (like it did for me), this hefty but fast-paced novel combines the mysticism of werewolves with the rootin-tootin wild west. Now THAT is one heck of a combination.