Lady X's Cowboy (Leisure Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Zoe Archer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Archer delightfully twists historical romance convention in her winning debut. Lady Olivia Xavier, an inveterate reader of American dime-novel westerns, abruptly finds herself living one when Will Coffin, a Colorado cowboy who's come to England in 1883 to seek relatives, saves her from hired thugs sent by a nefarious business rival, George Pryce, who's after her late husband's brewery. In short order, Olivia hires Will as her personal bodyguard, inviting him to live in her sprawling London home. Olivia's beauty and "gumption" impress the reluctant cowboy, who's shocked and stymied by the strictures of Victorian England. Olivia, in turn, thrills at Will's lust, good humor and steely resolve, honed over years of life on the range. As George's attacks on the brewery escalate, Will and Olivia wind up camping out cowboy-style in the countryside and orchestrating a final showdown between heroes and villains. Archer deftly balances diverse cultures in this fast-paced, lighthearted romp that, like a Wild West shoot-out in a staid English drawing room, both tickles and thrills. (Feb.)
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Review

Four Stars!

A fast-paced read filled with great characters. A promising debut. Archer has a bright career ahead of her. -- Romantic Times

I love it! Zoe Archer’s LADY X’S COWBOY is both humorous and exciting. Definitely a book I’d recommend. -- Romance Junkies

LADY X'S COWBOY is a wonderful romance that's just a bit different and refreshingly original. I highly recommend it. -- Romance Reader At Heart

LADY X’s COWBOY is delightful debut novel for Zoe Archer. A heart warming and unforgettable story. -- Fresh Fiction

This is an impressive debut, telling a story of love that reaches across all lines and barriers. -- Huntress Reviews

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (February 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843956666
• ISBN-13: 978-0843956665
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series. December will mark the beginning of her new paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. Zoë and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Los Angeles. Please visit her on the Web at http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT VICTORIAN STORY!!!, February 15, 2006

By 

M. Hebdige "Nanette Hebdige" (California - Las Vegas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady X's Cowboy (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

An unbelievable debut from Archer that grabs you from the very beginning. Olivia is a heroine out of her time struggling to battle the inevitable censure brought on by the fact that she is managing one of the most successful breweries in London which her late husband has left her. In her two years of full mourning she has decided to read every scrap of literature relating the management and the making of beer. She tackles the task head on, becoming so successful at it that spoiled and unscrupulous, peer of the realm Lord Pryce decides that he wants her brewery and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Hence a lovely villain.

When Lady Olivia is attacked by thugs hired by Pryce, Will Coffin strides in out of the fog to save the day. Full with a bushy mustache, six shooter, as long duster and more Western expressions that will put a grin on your face (such as "Fog's so thick that not even a mule in a mineshaft could see!"). The typical Western Cowboy who Lady Olivia hires to help manage her brewery. There are enough hot electrical sparks between them to light a fire - they are very sexually attracted to each other - as he is constantly saying whatever is on his mind - mostly to do with Lady Olivia's appearance, her beauty or her lips. She is taken aback by his candor and easy going, honest manner. All hell brakes loose when she brings him to her house and they encounter the tremendous censure from society when a high class lady is fraternizing with the lower classes.

This book is marvelous. An amazing story of how Olivia's love for Will transforms her and how they will stop at nothing to be together and love each other - no matter the dictates of society. An amazing debut from Zoë Archer - the book was exquisite, well written observing the Victorian elements of the era and fun and sexy to boot. The character development is wonderful and you will delight in reading Olivia's and Will's story. I can't wait for Zoë's next book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy & Fun!, January 21, 2006

By 

Beverly "Beverly" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady X's Cowboy (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Zoe Archer's debut novel is a refreshing and delightful read. Lady Olivia Xavier, the beautiful heroine, will not disappoint romance readers. She is a strong, independent businesswoman who frowns and struggles with the dictates of Victorian society and forms her own path. Underneath, she longs for romance and adventure, reading dime store cowboy novels in her spare time. Will Coffin, a "real" American cowboy, arrives in England to try and locate his lost family. He is a strong, sexy male who is attracted to and admires Olivia. He comes to her rescue to save her brewery, but also gives her the romance she has longed for. The romance is fun and sexy; definitely an 8 to 10 on the sensual scale. Zoe Archer really pulls off the blend of the Wild West American & the Society English Lady. There is suspense and many fun scenes. Unlike some romances, you do not walk away thinking any of these characters are flighty. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to future books by Zoe Archer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific Victorian romance, January 28, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady X's Cowboy (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1883 London, Colorado cowboy Will Coffin intercedes and rescues Lady Olivia Xavier from assault of three punks. She thinks the hunk who saved her from Lord Pryce's hired thugs could have been the front cover model of the western dime novels she loves to read.

Lady Olivia hires Will to help her save the brewery that she inherited from her late husband her unscrupulous rival Lord Pryce will do anything to either destroy or preferably steal her firm. Meanwhile Will has come to England to find his family here. He has no plans to socialize with people he does not understand nor is able to communicate with yet somehow he and Lady X who speaks a foreign language that sort of sounds like English, communicate through their hearts. Though the lady and the cowboy are in love, their respective social classes are more than just oceans apart.

This is a terrific Victorian romance that focuses on cultural differences between a tea toting English aristocrat and a cow poking American cowboy. The story line emphasizes the Grand Canyonesque gaps that the loving pair must surmount if they want a permanent relationship a concept both desire and fear. Humor via stereotyping presumptions add to the fun as Olivia cannot understand how he can be gentle instead of a rough hooligan like in the dime novels while Will struggles with how his English rose can be understanding and kind instead of haughty as he assumed all aristocratic ladies pretend a loftiness that make dudes like him feel like sewage. Fans will enjoy Zoe Archer's superb historical driven by two obviously in love characters that live light years apart in lifestyles.

Harriet Klausner