Prairies & Painted Skies: Your Guide to North Dakota Love Stories

Devin Joubert
4 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Welcome to North Dakota!

Where endless skies, steadfast hearts, and open prairies hold space for love to bloom.

In the land of rolling fields and quiet rivers, North Dakota is where simple beauty meets lasting devotion.

Whether it’s a small-town fair that sparks new sparks, a lakeside sunset that lingers a little too long, or a chance reunion at a dusty diner, North Dakota romance is as resilient as the prairie grass and as warm as a harvest hearth—steady, surprising, and unforgettable.

P.S. North Dakota is where I live—but it's not just where I live. It's where my roots run deep since my grandma grew up on the prairie during the great depression. The prairies, small towns, and wide-open skies are woven into my stories and my heart.

Where the skies stretch wide, the hearts run deep, and the love stories feel like home.

Out here, time slows down. There’s room to breathe, room to heal, and—most importantly—room for romance to sneak up on you when you least expect it. Maybe it’s on a hay bale under the stars, or during a heated argument over how to drive stick.

In North Dakota, love isn’t flashy—it’s faithful. It’s the quiet kind of love that builds barns, brews coffee at 6 AM, and always comes back.

Tropes:

Stoic cowboy softens trope
Second chance romance
Healing through horses / ranch rehab romance
Forced proximity on the farm
City girl in the country (and she wasn’t ready for the charm)

Let's Meet Our Authors From North Dakota!

This page will be updated with videos when they publish on YouTube.

D.E. Carlson

Lillian Joubert

INTERVIEW COMING SOON!

Shannon McNear

Devin Joubert

INTERVIEW COMING SOON!

The Books

Aren't they pretty?

💕 Fun Things to See in North Dakota

(for lovers of romance, cozy reads, and Peace Garden State charm)

Charming Small Towns

🏘 Medora, ND – Old West charm, nightly musicals, and horseback rides through the Badlands. The perfect “city-girl meets cowboy in a historic frontier town” vibe.

🎭 Fargo, ND – Artsy downtown, the iconic Fargo Theatre sign glowing neon, indie cafés, and bookstore dates. Think “meet-cute over caramel lattes and vinyl records.”

🏞 Valley City, ND – Known as the City of Bridges, with riverwalk trails and old railroad bridges. It’s basically “friends-to-lovers with a kiss on the bridge at sunset.”

🌻 Carrington, ND – Sunflower capital of the world. Endless fields of blooms set the stage for “spin her around in a sea of gold” moments.

🏡 Garrison, ND – Cozy lake town, fishing cabins, and Dickens Village Festival in December. Perfect for “Hallmark-style holiday romance.”

Nature & Scenic Romance

⛰ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Medora) – Painted canyons, wild horses, and stargazing under vast skies. Imagine “two souls finding each other where the wild things roam.”

🌊 Devils Lake – North Dakota’s largest natural lake, dotted with islands. Think “slow dancing on the dock while the sun dips low.”

🌾 Sheyenne National Grassland – Rolling prairies, wildflowers, and quiet trails. Cue “hand-in-hand prairie walks with butterflies rising around you.”

🌌 International Peace Garden (ND/Canada border) – Floral displays, lakes, and a chapel dedicated to peace. A “border-crossing romance where love knows no lines.”

🚴 Maah Daah Hey Trail – Over 140 miles of Badlands beauty, perfect for biking or horseback riding. It’s “adventure romance meets sweeping cinematic views.”

Unique Attractions

🎡 Downtown Bismarck – Murals, rooftop patios, and cozy pubs. Basically a “romcom montage of food, laughter, and hand-holding down Main Street.”

🎶 Fargo Street Fairs & Concerts – Summer festivals with food trucks, live music, and art. The “accidental shoulder bump that turns into something more” setting.

🦖 Dakota Dinosaur Museum (Dickinson) – Quirky, prehistoric fun. Because who doesn’t want a “love you dino-saur much” selfie moment?

🏕 Lake Metigoshe (Turtle Mountains) – Hidden coves, canoe rides, and cabin getaways. Perfect for “slow mornings, coffee on the deck, and kisses by the fire.”

🌻 Sunflower Fields (late summer across ND) – Seas of golden blooms begging for a twirl-her-in-the-flowers scene.

🎠 North Dakota State Fair (Minot) – Ferris wheels, fair food, and fireworks. A perfect “kiss at the top of the ride” romance classic.

💌 Don't Forget Your Romance Reading Passport!

You can get it here for free. Follow along on the journey as we travel through the midwest on the Romance Reading Roadtrip! You'll also find ways to win some pretty flirty and fun books and bookish items in the Passport, so make sure to download it! :)