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Colorado Dream

(The Front Range Series #5)

Charlene Whitman (Goodreads Author)

4.10 · Rating details · 210 ratings · 24 reviews

A new sweet Historical Western Romance by best-selling author Charlene Whitman-Book 4 in The Front Range Series

Yearning to become a concert musician, a young woman from New York travels to Colorado to purchase a violin, but when she meets a wild, untamable cowboy, her dream is threatened and her heart torn ...

In New York in 1877, Angela Bellini longs to become a concert vi ...more

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Paperback, 450 pages

Published December 1st 2016 by Ubiquitous Press

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Jan 06, 2017 Anonymous rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Before I dive too deeply into this review, let me say that I generally do not pick up romance novels in any form, unless they just so happen to apart of some larger plot. So, if you’re into the Hallmark style of romantic stories, with all the classic various clichés, PG-13 graphic content and everything turns out happily ever after at the end, this story will probably be one you will enjoy. It is also one of those books in a series that stand nicely on their own. I have not read any of the previ Before I dive too deeply into this review, let me say that I generally do not pick up romance novels in any form, unless they just so happen to apart of some larger plot. So, if you’re into the Hallmark style of romantic stories, with all the classic various clichés, PG-13 graphic content and everything turns out happily ever after at the end, this story will probably be one you will enjoy. It is also one of those books in a series that stand nicely on their own. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, and it didn’t reference to anything outside of the book. So if you like this style of story, don’t fret about it being in a series. That doesn't hold much weight here.
I gave this book a chance because I enjoy historical fiction- especially the time period this story takes place in. The beginning continued that by being fairly interesting- still pretty cliché but interesting- enough to where I wanted to keep reading. I couldn’t tell you now where that exactly took a dive. The author has a way of describing things, music especially, that is really well written. You can see the effort in the way the characters and world is built that some research went into learning about the time period and place.
Unfortunately that is overshadowed by the author’s other decisions. One of the oddest ones, was the decision to write in a “cowboy twang” when describing thoughts, places or events from the perspective of any of the cowboys. If it had been curbed down to just the dialogue and thoughts of the character, that might have made the regional dialect easier to deal with. Since it wasn’t, all the “cowboy” character types became cookie cutter and obnoxious to read through. If it wasn’t for their names, you wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other.
The author also chose to repeat various plot points and character fears every time a chapter was written in their perspective. I lost count of how many chapters ended with the main male trying to “run from his life” or the main female still lost in the aftermath of her decisions. She was constantly afraid of the man she was falling for was like her father- mean, controlling and abusive. She lamented on the outcome of getting a violin when she apparently didn’t have the ability to think through the probabilities beforehand. Simple things, like how angry that controlling, abusive man would be. Where she would stay. How she would support herself. Which made her come off to me, as the reader, as a whiny, selfish child that wasn’t in any way self-sufficient. That might have been just how her character was, but since she didn’t grow from it and everything just so happened to work out wonderfully for her right in the nick of time, it turned into something that wasn’t easy to put aside. I grew to be annoyed at her very quickly.
He, likewise, was constantly afraid of not being good enough for her, and also of having an uncontrollable aggressive side that we are reminded of literally from the first page starting his perspective. Like her, his intro into the story was actually nice. I enjoyed it, he hadn’t become annoying just yet. It wears off rather quickly once he met Angela- the main girl. Aside from nearly every chapter where he’s trying to run from his feelings, he’s also completely entranced in the idea of her. The reader gets to live this circle for nearly every page of the story, if not every chapter, except for the reprieve where some new minor character perspectives, who do not really add much to the story, are randomly tossed in. As well in the end, where everything is a happily ever after situation. Granted, that was the whole real point of the story, not the girl getting her violin and making a life for herself, so that much I forgive. However, the constant reminder of their feelings, the way the author expressed the “cowboy twang” and the constant very cliché metaphors and similes, dulled down the writer’s style into one that felt like a newer writer’s attempt, not someone who is five books into a series.
The plot is fast paced and has a lot of action that just so conveniently plays out. Unfortunately all the previous mentioned problems make it boring and difficult to connect to the characters; it doesn’t help that most of those situations are clichés in themselves as well (though some of it’s forgiven because it is a historical romantic western) like one instance where rattlesnakes apparently roam in massive groups, just waiting to attack you. That at least lightened the annoyance by making me laugh through the entire scene.
All in all, if you’re into this type of book, you’ll probably love it. It has everything going for it to be one of those afternoon or evening pick-me-up on a whim little romance stories. I just am not the target audience.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
...more

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Dec 08, 2016 Gayle Pace rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, westerns

MY THOUGHTS
This is the fourth installment of this series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest starting with book one.
This is a story that fills your heart with love and a touch of warmth. The setting starts in New York in 1877. A young woman has a longing desire to be a violinist, a concert musician. She also wants desperately to live her own life instead of that of her father, who is far from kind.
She finally decides to go to Greeley, Colorado to buy a violin, not jus MY THOUGHTS
This is the fourth installment of this series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest starting with book one.
This is a story that fills your heart with love and a touch of warmth. The setting starts in New York in 1877. A young woman has a longing desire to be a violinist, a concert musician. She also wants desperately to live her own life instead of that of her father, who is far from kind.
She finally decides to go to Greeley, Colorado to buy a violin, not just any violin, but one made from a master. Unfortunately she has to wait three weeks for the violin to be finished. But Angela is bound and determined to have her dream come true. No one will get in her way....that is.. until she meets a cowboy and her thoughts go from the violin to her heart. Brett Hendricks and her connect although Angela hasn't really took to it yet. Brett Hendricks isn't at all like her but she can't help herself. She can't stop thinking about him. Angela has a lot of mistrust for men due to her abusive father and it's extremely hard for her to trust. Brett has a lot on his plate, he is on the run from shooting a man and his past is haunting him. He is in turmoil. The only thing that brings him peace is breaking horses. He has a loving way of doing this. But the world... that's a different story. It's constant upset. But one night, something hits him and brings peace to him...violin music. That did it. He falls for Angela and wants desperately for her. Things just seem to go from bad to worse for Brett. He has to win over Angela. But, how? But it's not just Brett, it's Angela. She has to let go of the mistrust and let herself into the open loving arms of Brett.
The author gave the readers a sweet, romantic story of the old West. It appears that the author definitely did her research and that gave the story a believable sense to it. The author also gives the reader supporting characters in a town that has what Angela is afraid of. Trust! There are loving couples where men are good and kind. Can Angela see beyond her mistrust?
Will Angela give up her lifelong dream of being a violinist? Will Brett convince her to trust again? What will happen to these two characters in the old West in Greeley, Colorado?
So if you love westerns, sweet romance, a little history and characters you can relate to, then pick up a copy of this book and travel to Greeley, Colorado with Angela and meet Brett.

I received a complimentary PDF copy of this book from the author and PUYB and voluntarily decided to review it.

...more

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Feb 15, 2017 Zoe rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I had trouble with the heroine's character. I love music and I am always very excited when I see that a writer tries to incorporate some element of arts, be it painting or music, into a romance story. But honestly most of the time it is a failed attempt. And this book in my opinion, did not succeed in that either. The heroine wanted to become a musician, but the way she was portrayed.....with her second-hand violin in the first few chapters.....it just turned me off completely. I did not care ab ...more

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Jan 07, 2017 Allynn Riggs rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

I have enjoyed the adventures along the Colorado Front Range that Whitman has taken the reader on. Having lived in the Fort Collins-Loveland-Greeley area for most of my life I appreciate her attention to the historic details. In Colorado Dream I was especially intrigued by the violin maker in Greeley. I grew up surrounded by classical music (one of my grandmothers played cello in the Denver Symphony for a number of years) and I remember hearing about him when I was little so it was a nice surpri ...more

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Mar 01, 2017 Dionne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Awesome!

Great story and the author has a wonderful imagination. I could not put it down until I finished reading it.

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Nov 21, 2016 Jo-Anne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, arc

Angela Bellini left her parents' home in New York to travel to Colorado so she could buy a violin from a master instrument maker. Her dream was to play with the New York Philharmonic but she felt she needed the best hand-crafted violin she could buy from the famous violin maker before she would be accepted. Taking a trip so far away was unheard of for a woman alone to do in 1877 but it was important to Angela to get the violin so she risked the trip.

Angela thought she could pick up the violin an ...more

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May 26, 2020 minnemoo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: annoying-heroine, christian-fiction, dark-past, historical-romance, historical-fiction, inspirational, romance, small-town-vibes, sweet-and-clean, western

The h was so judgmental and uppity about everyone and everything, especially the H, that it was difficult to sympathize with her, regardless of her terrible home life and her abusive father. Which was brought up so many times I could just turn the page and Oh look, here we go again. Same deal with the H's sob story.

Both the H and the h's repetitive internal monologuing really grated on my nerves, but I did like reading about their solo activities (the violin performances and the herding/ranchin ...more

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Oct 06, 2020 Kathy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Angela runs from a abusive father to Colorado to buy a violin. Her dream it to play in an orchestra. While at the Violin makers house she meets a cowboy named Brett. He loves her music. Two people could not be more different. But they are drawn to each other. But Angela can see violence in his eyes sometimes and it scares her. Each has a dream. While she is running towards hers, he is running away from his. This is a story that draws you in. It is hard to see how these two could possibly have a ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Kathy Brickert rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Another winner!

What a wonderful series! I loved each and every one! This one was so good, I kept wondering what direction it would turn on! You can't say this series is predictable! Such a great story! Great read! ...more

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Mar 21, 2018 Pia Vidal rated it liked it · review of another edition

My first cowboy book. I enjoyed it, specially because I am from Colorado.
The romance was a little tedious for my taste....I love him...but I don't want him, bla, bla, bla.
But I would like to read another book on the series. Maybe not all romances are the same. ...more

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Jul 19, 2017 Rebecca rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4 star. Great characters and development. Plenty of plot. Would love to read more of this series

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Dec 26, 2016 Vickie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great western story

The author made you feel like you were in the wild west reading this book. The descriptions she used were so vivid. It was a story of dreams, hopes, and love.

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May 17, 2019 Casey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Intriguing

Even the smartest and most wise can fool themselves into bad judgement. I love how this author shows that and lets them redeam their mistakes.

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Dec 21, 2016 Tt rated it liked it · review of another edition

Free tcvg

F, c.f. ugly or intro Ghh on on it ugly on j oh ugly in n in u ugly on

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Jan 06, 2017 Kelly Tyree rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Colorado Dream was a wonderful historical romance with a nice western spin. It catches your attention from page one and keeps you engaged until the very end.

Angela lives in New York with her family. Her father is physically abusive to her mama and to her. Angela is Italian and is expected to marry an Italian man and live like her mama, but Angela is not content with that. She plays the violin and has dreams to become a concert violinist. She decides to travel to Greeley, Colorado to buy a violi Colorado Dream was a wonderful historical romance with a nice western spin. It catches your attention from page one and keeps you engaged until the very end.

Angela lives in New York with her family. Her father is physically abusive to her mama and to her. Angela is Italian and is expected to marry an Italian man and live like her mama, but Angela is not content with that. She plays the violin and has dreams to become a concert violinist. She decides to travel to Greeley, Colorado to buy a violin that is made by the famous George Fisk. When she is leaving, she is stopped by her mama who encourages her to follow her dreams. As Angela is boarding the train, she sees her father grab her mama. That is her last image that she carries to Greeley. When she arrives in Greeley, she meets George and realizes the process of making a violin takes time and she can expect to be in Greeley for three weeks.

Brett Hendricks is an honest cowboy that is on the run after he witnesses the son of his employer raping a woman. Brett hit him and allowed the woman to escape. The rapist and two other cowboys take off pursuing Brett. They pursue him into the prairie and shoot him in the leg. Brett fires a shot in the air and the shot spooks the horse the rapist is riding. He falls off of the horse, causing him to be paralyzed from the waist down. Brett knows they stopped pursuing him but he does not realize his shot caused the injury to the rapist. Brett is rescued by a doctor who takes him to Greeley until he is fully recovered. While Brett is staying with the doctor he hears Angela playing the violin. He is drawn to the music and sees her. Brett is haunted by his abusive father but when he hears the music Angela plays, he feels peace.

Angela and Brett meet but and they are drawn to each other but they are complete opposites. As the book progresses they fight the attraction they feel for one another but are powerless to stop themselves from falling in love with each other. They are many incidents in the book that cause Angela to get the wrong impression of Brett, but his persistence keeps him at the forefront of her mind. When a fire occurs, Brett shows amazing courage. He keeps showing Angela his true character. She has to decide whether her dream of being a concert violinist is worth losing out on love.

The book contains romance, suspense and adventure. He is well written and keeps you engaged. ...more

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Jan 18, 2017 Julie Morales rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

HEALING MUSIC

Brett and Angela are an unlikely pair in many ways, and unlikely to meet, too, but meet they do.
Angela grows up in New York City in an Italian community with an abusive father and submissive mother. The only attention she knows from men is pain and control. She has dreams, though. She plays the violin and dreams of playing n a large orchestra in front of huge audiences. She has her sights set on the New York Philharmonic, but they reject her, telling her to get a better instrument, HEALING MUSIC

Brett and Angela are an unlikely pair in many ways, and unlikely to meet, too, but meet they do.
Angela grows up in New York City in an Italian community with an abusive father and submissive mother. The only attention she knows from men is pain and control. She has dreams, though. She plays the violin and dreams of playing n a large orchestra in front of huge audiences. She has her sights set on the New York Philharmonic, but they reject her, telling her to get a better instrument, and then maybe they'd consider her. Her father has the ways and means to purchase a better instrument, but there's no way he's going to, so when Angela sees an ad for a violin maker out West, she hatches the plan to head to Colorado, buy her quality violin with her meager savings and come home to prove her worth.
Brett is constantly on the run. He's a cowboy who started out in Texas but found his way elsewhere, as cowboys often do. He had an abusive father, too, and he was constantly running from trouble whenever he found it. When his father beat his mother, he didn't stand up for her and eventually left her to her fate, which was eventually that his father killed his mother and now sits in a Texas jail. Brett is convinced he's destined to lead a lonely life because he carries the curse of his father's violent temper.
But music is a healer. Brett never heard that before, but Angela had, and as she comes to Colorado, she finds that its power is much greater than even she expected, even though she'd always loved it and believed it was her escape from reality, even if only temporary.
But how can music speak to a hardened cowboy? And what happens when everything you've been running from for years finally catches up with you? What happens when you fall in love with someone you believe is exactly like your father and exactly the type of man you don't need, but you love him anyway?
This author is a master of Western romance, and I hate to see this series end. The end of the book tells about a continuation of the Front Range series but moving to Wyoming. I'm sure that'll be just as good, but I'd love to see the development in the relationship between Tate and Violet, and just the idea of leaving behind a group of people you only know through books but feel like you've become a part of their community as well is always sad. It takes a master writer to leave you feeling that way though, and I thoroughly enjoyed every one of these books. ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Deanna Wiseburn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In recent years I had moved away from reading romances. I didn’t want to read the sex scenes because this is not pleasing to God. So when I heard about Colorado Dream knowing that it didn’t have them I knew I had to check it out.

Colorado Dream is the fourth book in a series. It is the only book I have read in the series and it works well as a stand alone read. It is the story of Angela a young woman who has dreams of a music career. She hears of a man who can make her a violin but this requires In recent years I had moved away from reading romances. I didn’t want to read the sex scenes because this is not pleasing to God. So when I heard about Colorado Dream knowing that it didn’t have them I knew I had to check it out.

Colorado Dream is the fourth book in a series. It is the only book I have read in the series and it works well as a stand alone read. It is the story of Angela a young woman who has dreams of a music career. She hears of a man who can make her a violin but this requires that she takes a trip from her home in NYC to Colorado. Taking a leap of faith she plans the trip managing to escape her abusive father to board the train. When she arrives nothing goes according to plan. She is out of her element and for the first time is dealing with life in the West. She meets Brett, a cowboy on the run. He represents for her all the reasons that she has not to trust men. She simply wants to get her violin and return home.

Colorado Dream will not disappoint. The characters are well developed. The tensions that they deal with emotionally and relationally are shown very well without pulling from the story line. There are strong Christian principles sprinkled throughout the book. We see the dangers of judging what we do not know. The fact that nature sings of God’s glory. The importance of choice in your life which presents the ability to change yourself because you can’t change anyone else. Forgiveness is an underlying theme as the characters had to forgive others but also had to forgive themselves. Colorado Dream also shows you that the only way to deal with the storms of life is by going through them. Trust is essential in getting you through, trust in God and in others and on the other side of the storms is victory.

I picked it up for an easy read but I know that the story will remain with me for a long time. The fears and anxieties combined with the excitement of following a dream meets me where I am right now.

I received a copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Nov 16, 2016 Linda Walters rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Well written, with plenty of action and emotional times in it. I really liked it. Both Brett and Angela had come from some tough times. While it happened differently for each, they both did have mean fathers in common. No only mean but violent, dangerous ones. Those men sure caused plenty of damage to their children and wives. There are lingering, harmful effects from it on both the main characters. Something that they will have to fight their way through in the whole book. Angela is running tow ...more

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Nov 14, 2016 John W. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

COLORADO DREAM is a heartwarming western romance set in 1877. Charlene Whitman’s storyline focuses on life in the days just before the territory of Colorado became a state. Whitman introduces her readers to her female protagonist Angela Bellini, a young violinist who travels alone from New York City to Greeley, Colorado to purchase a new violin from a master instrument maker. She shares Angela’s backstory and giving additional updates her story progresses. Angela’s new violin will help her achie ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Beverly rated it liked it · review of another edition

My first book by Charlene Whitman kept me engaged through most of the story to the happy ending. The writing is excellent and the story line is unique, a young Italian girl comes from New York to commission a violin from an exceptional violin maker in Greeley, Colorado in 1877. Of course, Angela meets a handsome cowboy, Brett. Although she is drawn to him she rejects him as uncouth, uncultured and dangerous. Brett falls hard for her but believes she is too sophisticated and cultured to care for ...more

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Nov 14, 2016 Margaret McGovern rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a very good western romance. I enjoy this author's writing. At times I felt the story could have moved along a bit faster but readers get to understand the character's backgrounds. Both of the main characters have had to survive abuse in a time that it was the norm and no assistance. There is drama and suspense that plays out through the story keeping the readers attention. I look forward to books in the future by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to wri ...more

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Jan 07, 2017 Eileen Carter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2017

Captivating story

This book is action packed full of adventure, romance and a heart warming plot.
Angela, a young girl from New York loves to play violin. But her dream can't come true unless she has a better violin. So she is off on an adventure to purchase another violin.
Brett is a cowboy, with a horse whispering ability. There is yet a house he can't calm. But he is running from his past.
Is there any hope for these two? Can they possibly find love?
I really enjoyed this book. I am sure you wil ...more

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Dec 20, 2016 patrick j miller rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved this book

I don't always write reviews, this book is definitely deserving of 4 stars. Great western love story, I read it in one sitting. I can't wait to read the next book in this series ...more

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About Charlene Whitman

Charlene Whitman

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Quotes from Colorado Dream

“Angela was speechless as George continued to explain.” — 1 likes

“New York City, New York The slap on Angela Bellini’s cheek burned, but not as fiercely as the hurt in her heart. The pain and disappointment smoldering there sizzled like hot embers, threatening to reduce her to a pile of ash. She glared at her father’s back as he stomped out of the room. Why couldn’t her papá understand? She would not marry Pietro, no matter how wealthy his family was,” — 1 likes

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