By hiring handsome Jim Raleigh on her ranch, Beth hoped to make Carter Ganes jealous enough to propose to her. But in carefully stacking Cupid's deck - Beth forgot one two-faced queen!. One of the most popular settings for romance stories 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 during the early and mid-twentieth century. By today's standards, these stories may be considered sweet and wholesome, but there's still a thrill to them. Stories of untamed country and love make western romances extremely popular.