Customer Reviews

Jenna's Cowboy: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Jenna's Cowboy" by Sharon Gillenwater is one of the sweetest romances I've read in a long time. And if you are familiar with my reviews, you know that I read quite a few wonderful books! I love the Texas landscape that the author has painted in this novel that showcases ranching and cotton farming with equal story time and meticulous description to educate the reader and put her in the position that the main character, Nate Langley, occupies. Nate returns home from serving in the military to help his ailing father on the family cotton farm, taking on a part-time job with a neighboring rancher for some extra income. Nate is reunited with Jenna Callahan, the rancher's daughter and an old friend from high school. Happy to learn that Jenna is divorced and hoping to pursue a relationship with her as he should have back in school, Nate tries to balance a growing love with his own denial about sleepless nights and post traumatic stress disorder.

This book tenderly honors servicemen. I was touched by Gillenwater's handling of the issues associated with PTSD. And, even though the story wrapped up a little too neatly to be confused with a possible reality (though I will admit that God can do anything), I loved that the characters in this book displayed characteristics of true friendship and Christianity. Their reactions to the situations in this incredibly romantic novel put on display what a church family should look like. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, Nate received grace as he struggled with various issues that would make weaker men and women walk away. I am inspired that there are human beings on this planet like the characters in this novel who were willing to stand up for the one they loved and see him through the most difficult of times. I want to be that kind of person.

I am glad that this book promises to be the first in a series called "The Callahans of Texas". I look forward to reading more exciting and romantic fiction about these characters that emulate such admirable Christian behavior. I am also a sucker for patriotism, so this novel (and future books in this series) will find themselves on my keeper shelf.

JENNA'S COWBOY was a tender romance. Jenna Callahan Colby is back at Callahan Crossing after the breakup of her loveless marriage. Feeling a bit like damaged goods, she hides out on the family ranch trying to make a new life for her and her young son, Zach.

Nate Langley has also come back to Callahan Crossing after his stint in the war. Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he struggles to get a grip on life. Working as a hand on the Callahan ranch is just like old times, and the feelings he had for Jenna then are even stronger now.

Both Jenna and Nate struggle with their attraction to each other. Both wounded, they are afraid to let someone in. Jenna has Zach to consider, and Nate is afraid he can't give Jenna what she deserves.
I enjoyed JENNA'S COWBOY though I did find it overly predictable. The depth of the Callahan family rounded out the novel, allowing you a comfortable sigh as you reached the end. Predictable as it may be, I most likely will pick up the next installment of The Callahans of Texas Series.

It is plain to see in reading this story that Sharon Gillenwater is good at her research and explains things very well. I know nothing about ranching or farming, but I felt from the explanations and pictures drawn by her imagery were great. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance of the story and the cover is perfect for the character of Nate. While reading this book I was thinking about the different things that I was going to say in the review about how much I enjoyed the characters and the visualizations as well as their witty banter. Easily I could say that I enjoy this author and look forward to reading her books in the future. However, I felt that the last three chapters were such a lurch from the rest of the story. Perhaps I am on my own in that opinion, but I felt that it went in rather abruptly and then the story just ended. I know why "it" happened and understand that, but I feel that the "big event" could have had more closure. It felt to me that the story was going along great, and then just amidst the action it ended and did not wrap down. It leaves me feeling like I missed something and I think could have ended better. Overall great writing though and enjoyable.

Sweet storyline, but completely unbelievable. I like a story that keeps God in mind, but the characters were just too one-dimensional, and "perfect". Even the depiction of a 2 year old lost credibility. The story became progressively redundant and, consequently, boring. I don't give many one stars, but I don't feel it is fair to do otherwise....

For the most part, I really enjoyed this story. It was well-written, a very pleasant change for a Kindle edition, with great characterization and colorfully scenic backdrops. Laughably accurate as to high school football in Texas, particularly in small towns. It was a sweet love story, with a sweet ending. Nonspoilery comments: there is no cursing and no sex, only some very tame kisses, and a scene or two with fairly frank descriptions of a man struggling with battle fatigue. That's as untame as it gets.

Ms. Gillenwater set this book (and future books, I presume) in West Texas (not to be confused with West, TX, lol) on a working ranch outside of a small town. The small town is named after the heroine's family.

Descriptions of work done on the ranch, and on the neighboring cotton farm, were accurate, to the best of my knowledge, but glossed over a few things, maybe because such descriptions of spring roundup activities, for example, would have been inappropriate for the christian audience.

PTSD is a serious issue, not just for many of today's returning Armed Services veterans, but for those who have been back for years, or even decades. Good work on that front, too, Ms. G. Great foundation for further information in the upcoming books, since PTSD is not a "curable" thing, but an ongoing struggle.

A minor quibble is that the two-year-old in the story, the heroine's son, was asking questions of his uncle at the wedding. They were cute questions, but I found it difficult to believe that two such conscientious parents (and yes, I'm including the hero) would have gotten to the wedding stage of the game without having a talk with the toddler about the changes they were making to his life. Talk about just asking for a temper tantrum!

What strained my credulity, almost to the breaking point, is the idea of a town where every character described is a devout christian, even random people just visiting the town. Seriously? Not real, not even in a small Texas town. Then, to be even more unbelievable, the hero of the story was a grown man, nearing thirty, as far as I could gather from the descriptions of his life both before and after his military service. I have never met a grown man, however plain, however devoutly christian, nearing thirty, who had not only never kissed a girl/woman (at all), but had never even dated. Not once. Uh-huh. Sorry, Ms. G. Ya totally lost me there.

I finished the book, and if christian fiction were my bag (how I wish I had known what this was before I "bought" it!), I probably would have loved this story. I did recommend it to several christian friends of mine, who I imagine will think it eminently readable. For me, though, the praying and talking to the Lord and God will provides and all that was overkill and, along with the above issues, took two stars away from an otherwise wonderful story.

Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater is Book #1 in the Callahans of Texas series, and is a love story set in beautiful west Texas.

Jenna Callahan was just getting back on her feet after her husband left her and her new born son. She went back home to join her father on his successful ranch, and to be surrounded by family and friends. What she did not expect to see is her childhood friend Nate Langley back in town.

Nate just got back from serving two tours of duty in the armed forces. He was welcomed home with a hero's welcome, but soon found out he had some healing of his own to do. Nate took a job at Jenna father's ranch, but it was soon discovered Nate was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder left over from the war. During this time Jenna and Nate rekindled their childhood feelings for each other, but first with the help of family, friends and a strong faith Nate slowly learns to put the terrifying images of the past behind him.

Jenna's Cowboy is a sweet romance with a slice of reality. This love story reminds readers what many of our servicemen go through when they return home. If you are looking for an easy to read romantic story I would recommend this book, some of the romance is cliche but the story of post-traumatic stress disorder makes this a great read.

Jenna's Cowboy is a hero. Having just returned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Nate is dealing with the effects of war and post traumatic stress disorder. Jenna has some healing of her own to do after her husband abandoned her and her young son. This scenario has all the makings of a good love story. Throw in a beautiful Texas ranch and a strong sense of faith and family and you have a wonderful book filled with the patriotic spirit that makes this country great.
I really enjoyed this story. I especially liked the acceptance, forgiveness and love shown by Jenna's family toward Nate when he would have a bad day. Only the love of God could allow that kind of love and forgiveness and it is all over the pages of this book. The sense of community was so strong.

One thing readers may have a little problem with is the fact that the book feels a bit uneven. Most of the book is slow. And by slow, I do not mean boring. This story is anything but boring. By slow, I simply mean that the author took her time developing the characters and the story, but the last few chapters felt somewhat rushed. That really didn't affect my enjoyment of the story because I figured the author spent extra time on the things that were important to her and she did a very good job.

Another thing I really liked about this book is the detail given about life and work on a ranch and on a cotton farm. I am always interested in how things work and really enjoyed feeling like I was a part of the action in this story.

Jenna's Cowboy is the first book in the Callahans of Texas series and this series is off to a great start. I look forward to the next one.

Reading this book really made me ponder what "Christian Romance" means. One of the types of fiction my daughter's first grade reading book talks about is "realistic fiction". What makes a romance different than realistic fiction? I think a romance centers around the story of a romantic love between two or more characters. It seems as if romance--and attaining the love of the character's life will fulfill the lives of the main characters. That love is greater than anything else.

Books that are romance novels are often not realistic fiction, but I think a lot of authors attempt for them to be realistic.

I read Jenna's Cowboy hoping for more of a realistic fiction book that happens to be a romance--rather than the other way around. Jenna's Cowboy is more of a romance. I'll be honest. When I first read it, I didn't think it was a book that I'd really recommend. But, then last week I read a book that I'd really not recommend and it put some things in perspective.

So here are my thoughts...

The Story: Very predictable, but isn't that we all want in a romance? It is a bit slow progessing at times, though.

The plot centers around Jenna and a ranch hand that used to work for her dad that returns to town and comes back to work for her dad. What does the future hold for them?

The Writing: Competent. Not bad, not great. I don't mean that badly. It just wasn't one of those books that I couldn't put down.
Strengths: Honest discussion of PTSD, Compassion of family and friends amidst struggle. My husband is a veteran and I appreciated the author's portrayal of PTSD and the example that Jenna's family members were as mentors of a sort in the process of coping with it rather than denying it.

The Romance: Believable, but when someone who they've barely started dating calls his girlfriend "Honey" --the believability suffers. They were too familiar too fast for never having dated.

In Conclusion: Good TV movie like reading.

Please note that I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Revell Books.

Jenna has returned home, broken hearted with her son to heal. Her marriage has ended and she no longer feels like the homecoming queen who left town.

Nate has returned home too. The former football store is now a war hero plagued with post traumatic distress. Nate has always been in love with Jenna, but her father warned him away from her years earlier because he wanted something more for his only daughter.

Jenna and Nate reconnect as friends wanting more, but first Nate must overcome the demons from the war that causes him to act unknowingly in a manner that is dangerous to Jenna and her son.

I was hooked on this book from the beginning. It isn't your normal romance. Gillenwater is able to portray each main character with major strength throughout the story.

For me I could have used less setting details about the ranching and cotton farming. But that is just me! I'm sure if you are interested at all in those occupations you would love the detail. I found them distracting because I wanted to get on with the story.

I'd recommend this besides being a good read it helps with the understanding of what our vets might be experiencing when they return home.

Nate Langley is back in his small Texas hometown of Callahan Crossing, after serving in the army and doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also back in town is Jenna, the girl he fell in love with at 15 but who married the football star who ended up with the Dallas Cowboys. Jeena is now divorced with a toddler, Zach, after her husband had a string of affairs and left her for the pro-football highlife. Nate gets a job on the Callahan ranch which puts him in close contact with Jenna, but their budding friendship is affected by his post-traumatic stress disorder which has him not sleeping, jumping at any unexpected noises, attacking perceived threats and chronically afraid of fire. Jeena's father, a Viet Nam vet himself, recognises Nate's unusual behaviour for what it is and encourages him to seek help.

This is a sweet romance that also examines the long-reaching after-affects of military service and combat. The back cover says "highly recommended, especially for returning vets and their ladies". That sums it up - it gives an insight that you might not otherwise get, because vets don't talk about this stuff. One of the best aspects (for me) was they way the characters' Christian faith was discussed throughout the book - it was a solid background without an overly preachy tone or unrealistic dialogue.