I grew up in a train town. Ergo, I love trains. May your journeys always be safe  Let the lullaby of the tracks rock you into wonderful dreams. 

 

 

Here are some wonderful Historical Romance featuring the Railroad. 

 

1. Train From Marietta  by Dorothy Garlock

 

In a Depression-era romance, rugged westerner Tate Castle meets fragilely beautiful Katherine Tyler, a New Orleans native, in a west Texas romp. Kate, who has earned a nursing degree in New York, is California-bound from the Big Easy, on her way to work for an uncle at a San Francisco hospital. Her father's business partner has other plans for her, in order to shake down her rich father. Kate is kidnapped as she steps off the westbound train in Texas for a breather and is held by two desperate outlaws and the mastermind's nephew. Tate, a horse rancher with a handicapped daughter, is hired by Kate's father to find her; her rescuer arrives at a major captivity crisis point. First believing she's too much of a city girl for him, Tate has to change his tune when Kate proves much tougher than she looks during their escape through the wilderness to the nearest town. Among other complications, his strong-willed daughter, who gets tangled up in their flight, doesn't seem likely to have the same change of heart, but all's well that ends well, even in dustiest Texas.

 

2. Shadow's Stand by Sarah McCarty 

 

hadow Ochoa is lying low in the western Kansas Territory, waiting for his fellow Texas Rangers—the Hell's Eight brotherhood—to clear his name. That is, until he's unjustly strung up for horse thieving…and pretty Fei Yen intervenes. Invoking a seldom-used law, the exotic lady prospector claims Shadow as her husband and rides off with the bridegroom shackled to her buckboard.

Savvy, fearless Fei is single-mindedly devoted to her hidden claim and all it promises: wealth, security and freedom. A husband is just a necessary inconvenience and a name on paper to hold the claim she cannot.

Shadow isn't a man to take orders from anyone, especially from lovely Fei—except that the daily friction between them ignites into nightly blazes of all-consuming passion. Soon Shadow is dreaming a little himself: of the life they could have if only Fei could see past the lure of independence. If only bounty hunters weren't closing in on him. If only he's left standing when the impending showdown has ended….

 

3. The Soft Touch by Betina Krahn

 

She is a softhearted Baltimore heiress...

Lovely but disastrously tenderhearted Diamond Wingate has terrible trouble saying "No": to the poor and unfortunate who beg at her gates; to entrepreneurs with big plans and no money; and worse, to the silver-tongued young men who line up to propose marriage. So far she has managed to keep her three fiancés a secret, insisting she cannot marry until she turns twenty-three. But her birthday--and disaster--are looming....

He is a hardheaded Westerner...

Rugged, independent "Bear" McQuaid has never taken a dime he didn't earn by his own hard work. But now his dream of building a railroad, so close to coming true, is about to collapse from lack of funds. Approaching Baltimore's infamous "soft touch," he learns she has other assets as well: a delicate, strawberry blond beauty and shining intelligence--and a fascination for the romance of the railroad. Then Bear uncovers Diamond's embarrassment of riches in fiancés as well as money and charms. Now he must make a choice: finance his dream through a little genteel blackmail, or do it the hard way...by falling in love.

 

4. Behind His Blue Eyes by Kaki Warner

 

Hoping to escape his past, Ethan Hardesty left a career as an architect and went to work for the railroad. Only two things impede his desire to transform Heartbreak Creek into a thriving town once again—a vandal bent on stopping the railroad, and the beautiful but hardheaded woman who won’t sign over the final right-of-way through the canyon.

Audra Pearsall has good reason for not allowing a train to pass within yards of her home, no matter how persuasive the handsome Mr. Hardesty can be. But when vandalism escalates to murder and fear stalks the canyon, Audra doesn’t know who to turn to—until the man she thought was her friend proves to be an enemy, and the man she wouldn’t allow herself to trust becomes her reluctant hero…

 

5. Coming Home for Christmas by Carla Kelly

 

Three soldiers, three generations, finding love at Christmas

1812: A Christmas in Paradise

To save nurse Laura Ortiz from destitution, British naval surgeon Thomas Wilkie has made her an offer this Christmas—a marriage of convenience….

1855: O Christmas Tree

A generation later, it's Thomas and Laura's daughter, widowed lone mother Lilian, who's working as a nurse in the Crimea. Christmas seems a long way away—until Major Trey Wharton helps her bring back the festive sparkle.

1877: No Crib for a Bed

Lilian's son Captain Wilkie Wharton is finally on his way home from Fort Laramie. It's a long, arduous, life-changing train journey…which sees him discover his soul mate and the true meaning of Christmas!

 

6. Lady Lavender by Lynna Banning

 

Widow Jeanne Nicolet's beautiful lavender fields are threatened by the advancing railroad. With her livelihood in danger, Jeanne will fight to protect her, and her little daughter's, future.

 

Constantly on the move, surveying the land, suits Colonel Washington Halliday just fine. He can escape the haunting memories of war that have left his emotions as damaged as his injured body.

 

Under the sultry heat of the Western sun, the scent of the purple fields is heady, but not as intoxicating as the lavender lady herself….

 

7. Claiming the Heart by Sara Luck

 

As the Texas and Pacific Railroad expands across the wideopen frontier, a spirited young woman finds a triumphant love amidst the tracks and tumult. 

History in the making . . . 

July 1876: Building a railroad that reaches Fort Worth city limits by a midnight deadline is an all-consuming obsession for track supervisor Gabriel Corrigan—while his socialite wife, Marthalee, daughter of a powerful Louisiana politician, heads home to arrange a marriage annulment. But when Gabe crosses paths with Josie Laclede, a vivacious businesswoman from St. Louis, he sees a sassy lady bold enough to stake her claim in the wild Texas plains—yet soft and sweet enough to win his heart. 

Love for the keeping . . . 

Though her past is a mystery—Josie was a foundling, raised by a kind widower who now runs a shop and hotel with her—Gabe dreams of a bright future with Josie by his side. Tantalized by his gentle kisses, and swept up in the thrilling track-laying race that has all of Fort Worth pitching in, Josie is tempted to fall hard for Gabe. But Marthalee returns, vying for the T&P fortune he stands to make. And when her father offers Gabe a senate seat and a chance to get back into his wellconnected family, a heartbroken Josie vanishes with the prairie breeze. Will their dream of a once-in-a-lifetime love go up in smoke?

 

8. Stowaway Bride by Adrianne Wood

 

Emily Highfill Grant is done with the rules of Boston society. She wants adventure—to see things she’s never seen before—and that’s exactly what she gets when she sneaks onto a train bound for San Francisco and finds herself face-to-face with a handsome, bare-chested stranger . . . who is also her wealthy grandfather’s nemesis.

As stowaways go, the breathtaking woman who turns up in Lucien Delatour’s private Pullman Palace car is most intriguing. Though she refuses to reveal more than her first name, Emily creates a lot of scintillating commotion on their cross country journey. But when Lucien discovers her true identity, the real trouble begins, and he faces a choice between the trailblazing railroad he invested everything in, and the feisty lover who captured his heart.

 

9. The Cowboy Who Caught Her Eye by Lauri Robinson

 

The Shopkeeper's Shame

Pregnant and unmarried, Molly Thorson knows her livelihood is under threat. The last thing she needs is a distracting cowboy swaggering into view. Especially one who knows she has a secret and still looks at her with desire in his eyes.

The Cowboy's Secret

Carter Buchanan knows all about secrets. It's his job to know. And Molly sure has something to hide. But the fear in her eyes touches a place he thought long-ago dead—and now this cowboy can't help but consider exchanging his pistol for a band of gold.…

 

10. The Runaway Heiress by Stef Ann Holm

 

Raised in stfling luxury and determined to escape an arranged marriage, Evelyn Thurgood-Baron masquerades as a lady's maid and hops the next train out of Beaumont, Texas. When her employer turns out to be a wanted man in disguise, she wonders whether scandalous behavior will be her undoing. But Evelyn is all too willing to stand by this stranger, who can offer her nothing but adventure...and a broken heart. 

 

Framed and branded a criminal, New Orleans police lieutenant Luke Devereaux will do anything to get to El Paso and clear his name...even sneak aboard a train while wearing women's clothing. He never bargained on having a maid -- particularly not one with such deep blue eyes. As they cross the harsh Texas terrain, renegade lawman and rebellious lady fall in love. But can Luke overcome betrayal and learn to trust in tomorrow?

 

Got any more? Gimme! 

 

Vote on the Goodreads list: Rail: Railroads in Historical Romance 

Stowaway Bride is smart, funny, sweet, and it's a historical romance novel. I didn't think I could find a historical that was true to its period and funny, but this novel is a rare treat that shouldn't be missed.

Annabelle and Emily are sisters that polar opposites. Annabelle is the beauty and Emily is the smart one. Each is comfortable in their established roles. Annabelle is the younger more adventurous one, but Emily surprises her by slipping aboard a train car meant to take her mother west. Never one to miss an adventure Emily also steals aboard the train and both are surprised to learn that the passenger isn't their mother. Lucien Delatour intends to write letters to investors and work out a strategy to make his railroad a success. However, he finds two obviously well-bred young ladies aboard his Pullman car and can't wait to be rid of them. However, a fortuitous injury means they must continue to journey together. Lucien hastily decides to marry Emily, but he still doesn't know that she is the daughter of a man he believes is sabotaging his railroad. They face a load of adventure, a hoard of naysayers, and none of it matters because love triumphs over everything.

This was my favorite historical romance. Emily was a strong, witty, resourceful, and intelligent character. Lucien was smart, sexy, and clumsy...but it all worked out for him. I loved all of the characters and felt they were very well developed. I loved that there wasn't a lot of pretense, and the romance between Emily and Lucien was very straightforward. I was totally vested in their story after the first few pages. I really admired Emily for how she was able to think through situations and turn them in her favor. I liked Lucien, but I think I fell in love with him when he burst in with guns blazing to save the day. The plot was familiar, but it was the depth of the characters that made the storyline take on a life of its own. Don't miss this historical romance treat.

Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books

"Adrianne Wood lays the track for a steamy westward journey when a plucky heiress and a rugged railroad tycoon make sparks fly on the rails. 

Emily Highfill Grant is done with the rules of Boston society. She wants adventure—to see things she’s never seen before—and that’s exactly what she gets when she sneaks onto a train bound for San Francisco and finds herself face-to-face with a handsome, bare-chested stranger . . . who is also her wealthy grandfather’s nemesis.

As stowaways go, the breathtaking woman who turns up in Lucien Delatour’s private Pullman Palace car is most intriguing. Though she refuses to reveal more than her first name, Emily creates a lot of scintillating commotion on their cross country journey. But when Lucien discovers her true identity, the real trouble begins, and he faces a choice between the trailblazing railroad he invested everything in, and the feisty lover who captured his heart."

My Thoughts

Stowaway Bride is a book that has a lot of positive things going for it: a captivating plot, well-crafted characters, a hot romance and most of all a fun story with many funny situations that will make you either laugh or smile.

Emily Highfill Grant wants to surprise her mother who is bound for San Francisco because Emily wants to see more of America, and this is her chance. Her family owns the private Pullman Palace car attached to the train she's travelling in, but when she goes out of her hiding place in the train to surprise her mother, she isn't there. Instead, she discovers that her younger and impulsive sister Annabelle has followed her and she discovers the man who rented the Pullman Palace car in the last minute. The man is the attractive Lucien Delatour. He's a Wyoming rancher and a railway owner trying to save his railroad from saboteurs. He thinks Charles Highfill, Emily's grandfather, is behind it. Emily doesn't know any of this yet. All she knows is that she has to hide their names so that they can travel cross-country without Lucien alerting their parents. Lucien doesn't want the added responsibility of taking care of them. However, as the journey progresses Emily helps Lucien with his work and he eventually changes his mind. They find themselves more and more attracted to each other, too. Challenges are ahead of them, though, and when Emily's real identity is revealed their love is tested...

Throughout the train ride in the early part of the book, the author excelled in writing a wonderfully done falling-in-love dance between the two - when Emily and Lucien kiss for the first time you feel the moment and the emotions these two people are feeling, completely. Emily is a feisty and intelligent heroine, and Lucien is a passionate and risk-taking hero. They are both lovable and funny characters who are part of the reason why this book is such a page-turner. My only critic is that there's a moment in the story during a sexual encounter with Lucien where I felt her knowledge and reaction to it was a bit unrealistic. One could argue that Emily also adapts to things a bit too quickly, sometimes, but beyond that I think the historical accuracy was done well.

One of the things I loved with this book was that there was plenty of interesting plot and suspense to go along with the romance. The pacing, too, was just right. It felt like a quick read because of that. Yet, you go through so much with these characters as the story is filled with surprises and turns. I think most romance readers would enjoy this book - while there's a lovely balance between the romance and the historical elements, I still felt that a none-historical reader would enjoy this rollicking read. Said differently, it's an accessible read. Furthermore, even though this is book two in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

If you want a feel good book with plenty of humor and a captivating and hot romance, you really can't go wrong with this book. To me, this was such a great adventure of a read that I enjoyed fully.

4.5 Stars

Reviewed for Romantic Historical Reviews.

I'm not going to rate this book simply because I couldn't separate personal emotions from the book. While its a decent read I hated the plot.

**3.5**

This was a quick, easy and entertaining read. I really enjoyed it. Need something to while away the hours on a rainy Sunday? This book will do the job.

The only small problem I had was with Clara (And again, this is a small quibble). I think she's supposed to be a good/nice person, but by the end I had realized what a selfish character she was. She basically bribes Annie to take her ranch so she won't get lonely, despite that she knows Annie wants to leave; she dangles two men along, only caring about who is going to take care of her; and then when Annie finally tells her she is love with West herself, Clara's first reaction still, is to wonder who will take care of her now. Given everything Annie has done for her up to this point (including helping to save her and her son from Roy), a good friend would have immediately been apologetic, or happy for her friend, or gracious, or something. Clara is concerned only with herself, which was not how she was portrayed really so, as a character, IMO she felt inconsistent.

All in all this was a fun, engaging read.