Hey! I'm not sure if you got a response to your post or if you've already made a purchasing decision, but here's my 2 cents.
I had the Veronica slouch style in the tall style, not the shortie, and they weren't my favorite. I just didn't like the fit or the look of them on me. As far as shorter styles go, I have the Engineer 8R, and used to have the Engineer 12R, both of which I loved. But, that being said, they're a bulkier, heavier boot without a zipper.
I do, however, own the Philip Harness in the short style. I took them in my true size, an 8, and they fit well. Other Frye styles I size a half size up or down, depending on the style. These ones fit well in my true size. However, I purchased them used (eBay) and the zipper was broken on one of them. Given that this style isn't that old, the boots couldn't have been that old, and to already have a broken zipper was a bit of a disappointment. Now, if you buy them brand new and keep your receipt, Frye will do the repairs free of charge as long as its within warranty (I forget the timing on their warranty). All you do is pay to ship your boots to their restoration center. I didn't have that option, so I ended up shelling out $50 for a new zipper out of my own pocket. So I have one zipper that is original Frye, and another that was a replacement zipper (thought the cobbler did his best to match the zippers). The new zipper is much easier to pull up and down than the original Frye zipper. Despite the hassle, I love these boots very much and would definitely recommend them, as long as you know what you're in for with the zipper.
Lastly, if you buy through Zappos there's free shipping and returns, so there's an option.
Hope that helps!
