Colter Sons Series
Series Overview
Clean Historical Western Romance
Set against the rugged beauty of 1880s and 1890s Arizona Territory, the Colter Sons series follows five brothers as they navigate family secrets, secret identities, and blind ambition that threatens to tear them apart. These wholesome, faith-based romances tackle difficult themes—murder mysteries, forbidden love, redemption—with emotional depth and clean content. Will adversity bring them closer together, or will family dynamics scatter them as these sons move into manhood?
This inspirational series features:
- Clean, closed-door romance with complex characters
- Family saga spanning 20 years of territorial history
- Authentic Arizona Territory settings and historical detail
- Faith-driven stories of redemption and second chances
- Guaranteed happily ever afters
Setting
The Arizona Territory: 1880s-1890s
Experience the dramatic changes sweeping through Prescott, Arizona Territory during this pivotal time in American history. From cattle ranching to railroad expansion, witness how faith and family bonds are tested in an era of unprecedented growth and challenge. These sweet historical romances bring the territorial era to life with authentic detail and emotionally compelling love stories.
What Readers Love About The Colter Sons Series
Complex Characters with Real Struggles
These aren't perfect heroes—they're flawed men wrestling with OCD, drinking, ambition, and family expectations. Each brother's journey toward redemption feels authentic and earned, with faith that emerges from genuine struggle.
Family Saga with Emotional Depth
Follow the Colter family across two decades as secrets unravel and bonds are tested. From reluctant heirs to prodigal sons, each story adds layers to this rich family tapestry while standing alone as a complete romance.
Clean Romance Tackles Tough Topics
Murder mysteries, forbidden love, and character transformation—all delivered with wholesome, closed-door content. These stories prove clean romance can handle weighty themes without sacrificing emotional impact.
Continuation of the Pioneer Legacy
The Colter Sons series picks up where Prescott Pioneers left off, following the next generation as they build on their parents' frontier legacy. See how the families you loved continue to grow and evolve.
Historical Authenticity Meets Romance
From railroad expansion to livestock inspection, these stories weave real territorial history into compelling love stories. Experience 1890s Arizona through characters who feel like they truly lived there.
Books
Book 1: The Reluctant Cattleman
Sam Colter & Ellie Mae Thatcher | 1887
Sam feels like the family misfit as he takes on ranch responsibilities. When a journalist's arrival threatens his sense of security, he blames the woman he's falling for.
Can he embrace his destiny and win the heart of the woman who's changed everything?
Tropes: Reluctant Heir, Secret Identity, Love at First Sight
Book 2: The Roaming Adventurer
Boone Colter & Jaclyn "Jack" Bennett | 1890-1891
When boisterous Boone hires Jack Bennett to survey for a new railroad, he never expects to choose between independence and protecting Jack. But Jack is hiding a dangerous secret that could destroy them both.
Will love conquer his thirst for adventure when her secret changes the stakes?
Tropes: Free Spirit, Shotgun Marriage, Character in Disguise
Book 3: The Railroad Magnate
James Colter & Keri Glassman | 1891-1893
Successful businessman James has everything except the one thing he longs for most: a wife and family. When he dances with his friend's teenage daughter, was it love at first sight, or will ambition win again?
Can he build a railroad empire and still win the woman of his dreams?
Tropes: Wealthy Hero, Age Gap Romance, Love at First Sight
Book 4: The Resourceful Stockman
Deacon Colter & Lilian Harper | 1892-1893
Deacon's obsessive-compulsive nature makes him believe no woman could love him. When his best friend asks him to become a livestock inspector, a murder mystery unfolds that will test both friendship and love.
Will he risk love when he believes no woman could accept his flaws?
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Justice and Revenge, Murder Mystery
Book 5: The Restless Wrangler
Preston Colter & Hetty Clark | 1893-1894
Years of drinking and drifting catch up to Preston until a near-death experience changes everything. When he encounters an old flame with a secret, will he prove he's truly changed, or fall back into destructive ways?
Tropes: Prodigal Son, Single Mother, Surprise Baby
Book 6: The Resilient Bride
Violet Colter & Zayne Harrison | 1906
After three attempts at marriage left her a widow and single mother, Violet has sworn off love. But when the bully from her past returns as a changed man and fellow single parent, will compassion lead her to give love a fourth try?
Tropes: Multiple Widow, Former Enemies
Audiobooks
The Reluctant Cattleman (Audio)
Sam Colter & Ellie Mae Thatcher
Sam feels like the family misfit as he takes on ranch responsibilities. When a journalist's arrival threatens his sense of security, he blames the woman he's falling for.
Can he embrace his destiny and win the heart of the woman who's changed everything?
The Roaming Adventurer (Audio)
Boone Colter & Jaclyn "Jack" Bennett
When boisterous Boone hires Jack Bennett to survey for a new railroad, he never expects to choose between independence and protecting Jack. But Jack is hiding a dangerous secret that could destroy them both.
Will love conquer his thirst for adventure when her secret changes the stakes?
The Railroad Magnate (Audio)
James Colter & Keri Glassman
Successful businessman James has everything except the one thing he longs for most: a wife and family. When he dances with his friend's teenage daughter, was it love at first sight, or will ambition win again?
Can he build a railroad empire and still win the woman of his dreams?
The Resourceful Stockman (Audio)
Deacon Colter & Lilian Harper
Deacon's obsessive-compulsive nature makes him believe no woman could love him. When his best friend asks him to become a livestock inspector, a murder mystery unfolds that will test both friendship and love.
Will he risk love when he believes no woman could accept his flaws?
The Restless Wrangler (Audio)
Preston Colter & Hetty Clark
Years of drinking and drifting catch up to Preston until a near-death experience changes everything. When he encounters an old flame with a secret, will he prove he's truly changed, or fall back into destructive ways?
The Resilient Bride (Audio)
Violet Colter & Zayne Harrison
After three attempts at marriage left her a widow and single mother, Violet has sworn off love. But when the bully from her past returns as a changed man and fellow single parent, will compassion lead her to give love a fourth try?
Box Set & More
Prescott Pioneers Box Set (Books 1-4)
Experience the complete saga of the Anderson, Colter, and Larson families as they build new lives in the Arizona Territory. This collection includes all four full-length novels in the series at a special bundled price.
Reading Order
While each book can be enjoyed as a standalone romance, readers will get the most enjoyment reading the series in order to follow the interconnected characters and their lives in Prescott, Arizona Territory.
- The Reluctant Cattleman
- The Roaming Adventurer
- The Railroad Magnate
- The Resourceful Stockman
- The Restless Wrangler
- The Resilient Bride
Author's Note
A Personal Note from Karen
Writing the Colter Sons series was a deeply personal journey for me. These brothers wrestle with family struggles that test your faith and shape who you become—something I think many of us can relate to. I wrote the first chapters of the first five books in one sitting because their voices came to me so clearly. That moment helped me understand each of them in a way that made their stories feel real and honest. These wholesome romances explore difficult themes with grace, proving that clean fiction can tackle complex family dynamics and character flaws without compromising emotional depth.