This HaBO is from Karin, who is looking for this book:
This was set in the 1800s.
A well-bred young woman is courted by a charismatic guy. She marries him (Alex??) and they go West where he has some kind of land or mining investment. He dies somehow and she finds out that he was married or involved with a woman on the frontier and has a baby. She later falls in love with a much more stoic guy.
I think it was written in the 1980s or earlier. My library copy had a red cloth cover. No picture. Not a steamy romance.
Yikes on bikes.
A lot of this sounds like Gwen Bristow’s Jubilee Trail. The plot summary is actually on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilee_Trail. It was written in 1950 but it has been reissued a number of times over the decades.
I remain amazed at the depth of collective knowledge of the Bitchery.
I second Jubilee Trail—loved that book!
Could also be Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow. That has a similar plot, although it was set against the background of Gold Rush San Francisco.
I am saving “Yikes on bikes” for the next moment I want to stop all conversation. Best….exclamation….EVER!
I’m here for some krazypants old skool romance and most definitely the yikes on bikes!!!
OK just here to acknowledge there is another SB who spells their name like me!
As a point for Calico Palace, it seems to have been published in a red hardback edition, while all the older copies of Jubilee Trail I fund, the boards are blue. Carrie S. reviewed Calico Palace a few years back, if the review triggers anything.
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/calico-palace-gwen-bristow/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195487480218
Wow, Gwen Bristow is a name from way back in my memory! I read Celia Garth when I was in junior high or high school, as I recall. No others by Garth that I can recall, however.
I remember that Gwen Bristow story (title unknown) from a time requiring the ‘Way Back Machine— the man taught her a nifty way to soak raisins before putting them in a pie, and that is his undoing when she meets his previous wife who taught him that—it was gold rush San Francisco— enjoy!
I think it’s Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow too! I have the red cloth hardcover, copyright 1970, from a library sale within reach as I type this!