Western Blue

As a lover of women and westerns, I loved the immersive settings, tales of friendship, and lesbian love in this book. Clarke knows how to write the special bonds between women, both of friendship and romance, so well. A cozy read, low-stress but with just enough conflict. The characters in the book cover the different kinds of women in the old west, how they navigated the options the patriarchy laid before them and how they challenged those options. I would love a sequel.

Ann Lynd via NetGalley

Western Blue is a sapphic western that I really enjoyed reading. The more awesome female characters and LGBTQ+ characters in westerns the better! I really enjoyed Blue and Isa’s relationships and watching new characters feel like part of their family on the ranch. I honestly wish this was a series because I want more!

Hannah Conrad via NetGalley

...Western Blue, set in late 1800s Nevada, follows Carolina Bluebonnet Hutchings - aka Blue - and Isabel Segura - Isa - and their journey to running a woman only ranch and maybe falling in love in the process...

I loved watching the relationship grow between Blue and Isa and seeing how they both react to this relationship. Isa has experience with women but it came at a cost while Blue has never let herself feel her real feelings in that way. Between the fear of being caught and the fear of being vulnerable, the paid is slow going and cautious. One thing I appreciated...was that Martha and our following ranch hands simply do not care that Blue and Isa are connected in a way that was seen as wrong at the time. They were good people and treated every member of their newfound family with respect, kindness, and genuine care...

Overall, I thought the pacing was fine, the writing was good, and the dialogue felt realistic. I loved all the characters, especially the side characters and really enjoyed the read. It was fast paced and fun. Plus, who doesn't love a queer found-family western?...

Sara Devine via NetGalley

What an interesting and different type of read. Caroline Bluebonnet Hutching (what a name), inherits a ranch in Nevada and moves from Texas with her friend Martha and her stallion and several mares. The journey is long and dangerous. Along the way, Blue meets Isabel Segura who has been ambushed and is injured. Martha nurses her and the women decide to continue the journey to the ranch together. Once there, Blue finds it difficult to hire ranch hires and decides to hire women which is when the read really becomes interesting.

I enjoyed this read with the various characters as they learned the craft and worked together to make the ranch a success. There are bad guys who are real jerks. If you like westerns and horses with women at the center, this is the read for you. I also learned somethings about horses and ranch life which in my opinion is a good thing.

Kennedy O via NetGalley

This is a story about Caroline “Blue” Bluebonnet Hutching who inherits a ranch in Nevada in 1868. She moves there from Texas with her friend Martha and her stallion horse and several mares. Here dream is to establish a horse ranch. She meets Isabel Segura on the trail. Isa has been ambushed and had her horse stolen and is wounded. Martha nurses her back to health and Isa starts out helping her on the ranch. Blue tries and fails to hire men to work the ranch and eventually hires several women to help out.

I enjoyed this western tale and rooted for the women to overcome their inexperience and fight against the local bad guy. It was light in romance and strong on action and plot.

Both MCs were well developed characters and the supporting cast was well developed too.

If you enjoy sapphic historic fiction, then you will enjoy this book.

Cheryl Weber via NetGalley