5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful, character driven romance, February 6, 2002
This review is from: Cowboy's Promise (Man Of The Month/Code Of The West) (Silhouette Desire) (Paperback)
In a war torn, obscure part of the world, two people found life affirming love in the midst of death and devastation. Charlie Seeks Elk photographs the tragedies of the world, capturing disillusionment and pain on film. Fearing love and a promise of permanence, he leaves Cait Blasingame behind. Two years later three bullets take his life, and as he's poised between this life and the next, standing in the light of eternity, he turns back to life because Cait wasn't there. It takes three months to recover well enough to leave the hospital. Another month proves Cait has left that shredded country to rebuild without her. Finally a friend traces Cait to Elmer, Montana.
But Charlie doesn't receive the reception he'd hoped for. Cait has rebuilt her life without him, moving in with her father as he recovers from a heart attack. Cait wants marriage and a family, and she is engaged to a cardiologist. Working as a nurse-midwife gives her a first hand connection to her heart's desires, and she thinks she's left Charlie behind. One kiss later, her heart tells her otherwise. She thinks it doesn't matter, though. She knows Charlie could never find joy and satisfaction without the crisis of war torn country and the subsequent devastation to photograph. Sure, he thinks he wants marriage now, but what's a cowboy's promise worth when he's already walked away before?
A COWBOY'S PROMISE is a joyful romance filled with the promise of healing and of possibilities. Author Anne McAllister captures the transformation of Charlie Seeks Elk with grace as he learns to listen to the wind. His life after death experience and the renewal of purpose gives his character an appealing motivation. As he lives quietly in the wilds of Montana, the reader can't help envying the beauty of his newly discovered world. Further, Charlie's patient determination to win Cait's love is likewise a pleasure, balanced perfectly by Cait's stubborn strength and determination. A marvelous romance for an evening's read, A COWBOY'S PROMISE comes very highly recommended.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An eternity without her, December 8, 2001
This review is from: Cowboy's Promise (Man Of The Month/Code Of The West) (Silhouette Desire) (Paperback)
Urban Native American photographer Charlie Seeks Elk turned his back on the woman who loved him and the hopes she had for marriage and a family. Two years later, what does he have to show for it? Caught in the crossfire in the Middle East, he finds himself hovering near death, comforted by the sight of those he loves, and ready to cross over. Though eternity seems ready for him, Charlie is not ready for it. Encountering death opens up regrets and makes him realize that he can no longer close himself off from his fear of loss. With that in mind, he heads off on a search for the love of his life. His search for her takes him to Montana and it is there that he finds, not only her, but himself as well.
Cait Blasingame switched jobs to be with and help out her father on their ranch. In addition to running a ranch, she also works as a nurse and a midwife as well. Among her professional and personal occupations, she is also trying to find the time to settle down and have that family she wanted with her fiancé who is a cardiologist. Between the two of them, they are helping everyone but themselves. And just when it seems as though Cait will never find the time to make her dream come true, Charlie Seeks Elk comes back into her life making it even more problematic by rekindling their mutual attraction and belatedly professing his love for her. Once she had loved him and was ready to make a future with him. Now their roles are reversed and Charlie is doing all he can to convince her that he's here to stay.
Anne McAllister will move readers deeply with her latest installment of this series. Charlie's story is one that will touch hearts as his near fatality compels him to reaffirm life in general. Whereas before he focused on the devastation of life and its tragedy, in Montana he uses his camera to capture life and the fundamental relationships of both animals and humans. His greatest struggle is not to win Cait's heart but to learn to be at peace with himself. Cait is a big part of this but she is primarily a challenge to overcome in a larger scheme. A lot of Charlie's discontent stems from his childhood and the author draws on characters from other stories without overwhelming Charlie and Cait's. Cait is a little harder to relate to at the start but as her past with Charlie unfolds and he reveals more of her to the reader, it becomes easier to understand her anger, her sadness, and her frustration. I really enjoyed learning about Charlie and Cait and was glad they managed to find each other in the end. I felt that what motivated Charlie to seek out Cait and how he discovers himself in Montana was starkly drawn and made the story even more powerful.
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