Can I Have A Cowboy, Please?
I just read Janette Kenny's One Real Cowboy. Janette being Jan of Writeminded, of course. She's the one in the foxy brown shoes with delicate, feminine ankles. I hate her.
Anyway, this is a Western, and you all know I am a history ho, a westward ho in particular. There's also a mystery, which I am all about, AND a marriage of convention, my favorite Romance Plot Device. You'll want to grab a snack and a cup of coffee and disappear for a few hours with this one.
Basically, a titled Englishman is sent to America as a semi-punishment for his drunken, wastrel ways, and he winds up running a ranch/farm that also breeds thoroughbreds. His daughter has poured her heart and soul into keeping the place, but the father's death has Grandpapa back in England ready to sell it and order her back to the old country, because she has not married.
She, of course, responds by hiring a cowboy to sign a contract that states he will be her husband for a month, long enough to convince her grandfather to sign over the title to her.
Oh, come on. You've read enough of these to know that's not how it works out.
The heroine, Beatrix (the hero calls her Trixie) is a mix- she's realistic about her situation, even distilling bootleg spirits from her apple orchard to make ends meet. But she's also a bit wide-eyed and turns over control to Cord a little too easily. She does get irritated, but I wanted to see her fight a little more. I liked her but I also wanted to slap her a few times.
The hero is Cord Tanner, a down-on-his-luck cowpoke who grew up hard as the son of a prostitute. He's everything you want in a cowboy in these books- he has that Code of the West running all the way through, and I adored him. He's very swoonworthy. He wants to handle all these problems for Trixie and then fade out of her life, even though he's falling for her and dreaming of more. Le Sigh.
Warning- there are several remarks made about Cord's "little rustler." Prepare your family to hear you groaning.
The only problem I had is one I've had with several stories- Beatrix is told that she can't convince her grandfather that the marriage is real unless she sleeps with Cord, because everyone will be able to see that she's innocent just by looking at her.
Is that really true? I've read so many stories where the unsexed women apparently have I AM A VIRGIN tattooed on their foreheads. After the first experience, especially since the first time is also a honking huge One With The Cosmos moment, everyone sees it immediately and smiles at them, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more!
I've never seen anything that blatantly noticeable, but maybe I'm not very observant. Anyway- great book, Jan. Look forward to more!
Anyway, this is a Western, and you all know I am a history ho, a westward ho in particular. There's also a mystery, which I am all about, AND a marriage of convention, my favorite Romance Plot Device. You'll want to grab a snack and a cup of coffee and disappear for a few hours with this one.
Basically, a titled Englishman is sent to America as a semi-punishment for his drunken, wastrel ways, and he winds up running a ranch/farm that also breeds thoroughbreds. His daughter has poured her heart and soul into keeping the place, but the father's death has Grandpapa back in England ready to sell it and order her back to the old country, because she has not married.
She, of course, responds by hiring a cowboy to sign a contract that states he will be her husband for a month, long enough to convince her grandfather to sign over the title to her.
Oh, come on. You've read enough of these to know that's not how it works out.
The heroine, Beatrix (the hero calls her Trixie) is a mix- she's realistic about her situation, even distilling bootleg spirits from her apple orchard to make ends meet. But she's also a bit wide-eyed and turns over control to Cord a little too easily. She does get irritated, but I wanted to see her fight a little more. I liked her but I also wanted to slap her a few times.
The hero is Cord Tanner, a down-on-his-luck cowpoke who grew up hard as the son of a prostitute. He's everything you want in a cowboy in these books- he has that Code of the West running all the way through, and I adored him. He's very swoonworthy. He wants to handle all these problems for Trixie and then fade out of her life, even though he's falling for her and dreaming of more. Le Sigh.
Warning- there are several remarks made about Cord's "little rustler." Prepare your family to hear you groaning.
The only problem I had is one I've had with several stories- Beatrix is told that she can't convince her grandfather that the marriage is real unless she sleeps with Cord, because everyone will be able to see that she's innocent just by looking at her.
Is that really true? I've read so many stories where the unsexed women apparently have I AM A VIRGIN tattooed on their foreheads. After the first experience, especially since the first time is also a honking huge One With The Cosmos moment, everyone sees it immediately and smiles at them, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more!
I've never seen anything that blatantly noticeable, but maybe I'm not very observant. Anyway- great book, Jan. Look forward to more!
posted by Robyn | 5:52 AM
3 Comments:
Way back in the day they used to do that old sheet inspection to prove that consummation occurred. But if Gramps isn't standing right outside the door, who would know? That's definitely a groan for me. I think it would be better if they have to be married but NOT consummate it--more angst that way.
Found a nice cover flub for you--Laura Lee Guhrke's "And Then He Kissed Her." Takes place in 1893. Unfortunately the cover girl is dressed in a lovely, empire waisted regency gown. Oops.
Maybe she's into vintage clothing? Or she got caught in a rainstorm and had to wear his grandmother's clothes from the trunk in the attic?
I've heard people swear it's mostly true - something about the eyes.
Post a Comment
<< Home