Customer Reviews

This Calder Range

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the first novel I've read by this author. I found them by accident. All four of the five books in this series were there, so I took the chance. I enjoyed this story so much, I read it in one day. I have come to love the stories of the "old west" mixed with romance. First I read all of Johanna Lindsey's "westerns" and then Dorothy Garlock's "westerns" and now I'll be reading this author. I think anyone who enjoys "romance novels" whether they be historical, contemporary, or westerns of any time period, will really like this novel. I'm looking forward to reading the remaining four novels that come after this one, the last one being in our time frame. I do recommend this if you like being entertained.

The land comes to belong to the Calders and this is the beginning of the saga that tells how it all happens, with the first Calder-- Benteen. He claims the Montana lands but has to fight hard to keep it. His trials are many and added to them is the fact he has a son -- Web, who wants nothing to do with ranching. He disappoints his father, and they are not close. Good Book!

I have read this series of books about the Calder family so many times that my books are torn and almost falling apart. Whenever I want a good read, I always pick up the Calder series by Janet Dailey. I have moved almost 10 times in the last 10 years and these books always go with me, no matter what! I hope everyone else enjoys reading about the Calders. I always imagine the series being made into a TV mini-series some day, wouldn't that be nice?

This is the first book of a three book series, The Calder Series. I've read these books over and over. The Calder Range is a great place to spend a few hours. Never a dull moment!

You can't ever say that Janet Dailey's books are not well written but this is one hero of hers I wouldn't bring home. Benteen Calder may be a good representative of a hard, driven, amibitious cattleman but he is not my idea of a romantic lead. Lorna is young, untried and still very attached to her parents when she leaves with him for Montana. Because she cries at the thought of never seeing her parents again he becomes angry at her and really never has a kind word to say to her in the rest of the entire book. She definitely grows up on the long drive north but does Calder give her an ounce of encouragement? No, he does not. She works hard to do her part without ever getting a pat on the back. She even puts on pants and helps with the cattle drive and Calder never even says thank you for her efforts. In a horrid fight where she threatens to leave him he rapes her. She forgives him for it later and even takes part of the blame but he holds her threat against her for the rest of the book by shutting her out and giving her not a thread of input into their lives. He is cold and demanding throughout. He even leaves her to manage alone for a month after the birth of their first child. I admired Lorna greatly for her fortitude as she continues to love and give to this heartless, uncaring, and very selfish man. The book was an interesting take on that time in history but he spoiled the book for me. I kept waiting for him to bend a bit and praise Lorna for her efforts in building their life in Montana but he never does. When he does finally tell her he loves her it is a case of too little, too late.

I PICKED UP 'THE CALDER RANGE' AND 'STANDS A CALDER MAN' TOGETHER
IN ONE VOLUMN. AT THE TIME I WAS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO READ.AS I STARTED IT, I WASN'T REALLY SURE IF I COULD GET THROUGH IT. BUT IT GREW ON ME!! I THOUGHT THE STORYLINE WAS GOOD. VERY REALISTIC. NOT TOO ROMANTIC. JUST ABOUT THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF A MAN TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN WAY IN THE WORLD.HOW HIS IDEAS AND LIFE STYLE EFFECTED MANY PEOPLE!! SINCE I READ THOSE TWO NOVELS, I HAVE CONTINUED ON WITH THE SERIES. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF READING ' GREEN CALDER GRASS'. I HOPE OTHERS WILL TAKE UP THE BOOK 'THE CALDER RANGE', AND JOIN THE CALDERS AS THEIR FAMILY AND HISTORY IS CARRIED INTO THE FUTURE.

I have to say that all of Janet Dailey's books are great and I would recommend all of them. I have read the Calder series twice and will be reading them again. She is truly a wonderful author!

I love the Calder series! I prefer the range old time west to the new. It is interesting to seek a family thru generations! Carol

When I first read This Calder Range I wanted to and did read some of the rest of the series as they became available. Perhaps it is now with a maturity I didn't have 15 years ago but I just can't give a book 5 stars where the author places partial responsibility for [physical abuse] on the victim. This is a poor message to be sending readers. A woman should, especially in the marital relationship where there is a promise of love, be able to argue without fear of physical violence. Ms Dailey mentions more than once about Benteen strong moral code of the West and at the same time more than once mentions the [physical abuse] with Lorna accepting partial responsibility. Apparently Lorna is held to a much higher standard than Benteen, as she is responsible for Benteen's actions. It bothers me that Lorna faults herself for a statement made under extreme duress and I might add after Benteen had callously thrown away something very precious to her. Lorna rather quickly forgives Benteen's behavior but on the other hand she has to continually prove herself to him for something said in anger and during extreme physical hardship. So, I guess I have to ask Ms Dailey is it the woman's responsibility to be constantly on guard as to mood and speech? Not a very satisfying relationship. Give me heroes and heroines that can have verbal conflicts without violence being the end result.
The other problem I have with the series is how they have become so predictable. The reader ultimately knows that one of the Calders is going to meet with an untimely death. It would be nice if one generation since the original Benteen and Lorna would have a happy ending in the tradition of the romance gendre.

It is such a pleasure to see the return of another Calder book. I have treasured the other books in the series over the years and was thrilled to hear about a new one. I hope to see more Calder books in the future.