Rangeland Romances

 

Although romance novels can be traced back to the 1700s, there was a groundswell of the material beginning in the 1930s when magazines began to reach a wide audience of women who yearned to escape into a fantasy romantic setting. One of the most popular settings was the old west, where men were men and women were women. As many a swooning damsel could attest, "There's something about a cowboy."

The western romance became one of the most popular types of magazines sold through the following three decades. Newsstands were filled to overflowing with titles like Western Love Romances, Romance Western, Western Romances, Western Romance Stories, Cowboy Romances, Ranch Romances, Far West Romances, Romantic Range, Romantic Western, Romance Round-Up, North West Romances, Rodeo Romances, Golden West Romances, Western Love Romances, Rangeland Love Stories, Real Western Romances, Fifteen Range Romances and yes, Rangeland Romances.

By today's standards, these stories may be considered sweet and wholesome, but there’s still a thrill to them, the excitement of action and love waiting along the next trail. A beautiful woman thrown into the arms of a handsome cowboy. A desert sunset as two lovers' lips meet. The wide-open spaces where two lonely hearts find unexpected romance. Stories of untamed country and love make Western Romances extremely popular.

This new series of Rangeland Romances brings back the best of those western romance stories. A short story — a quick read — and romance blooms among the tumbleweeds yet again.