Customer Reviews

The Love Of A Cowboy

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1997 Texas, Dahlia Montgomery buries her husband who died in a violent car accident. To her embarrassment she learns that a family friend Bonnie Gibson also died in the crash. Both were under the influence and circumstantial evidence including Kenneth's history leads Dahlia to believe he cheated on her one last time.

Twenty eight months later, Dahlia rues the day she agreed to accompany her best friend Piggy Murphy and accept employment as interns in Callister, Idaho. Not only is the place they are staying in freezing, but Piggy's cousin fails to meet them. Worse, angry rancher Luke McRae accidentally knocks her over like a stampeding bull. As Luke and Dahlia become acquainted they begin to fall in love though they stereotype the other. She does not trust men especially cowboys; and he believes outsiders like this Texan belong in the Lone Star State. Then there are his needs to be there for his disable son and two daughters as well as an unstable ex-wife.

THE LOVE OF A COWBOY is an engaging contemporary romance that displays rural Idaho in a strong light. The story line is loaded with action and the cast is a strong ensemble. Though the lead characters lug too much baggage, readers will like both of them and especially her best friend. The audience will want to travel just outside Boise for a warm (except in the temporary lodging of the Texans) romantic tale.

Harriet Klausner

WOW.....what a supurb book for a first time author. I am a fan for life. I am eagerly awaiting her next novel. I read this book in one night (up until 2 am and chugging coffee the entire next day). I couldn't put it down. I thought about the characters the entire next day. I definetly plan to re-read this one. Trust me, buy this book and you won't be sorry.

This book goes on my shelf to be reread a few times a year.
Anna Jeffery has a winner with her debut book, can't wait for her next.

The story is about surviving.... the h/h are both tortured souls, survivors from spousal abuse...not physical but definitely mental and emotional. 

The sexual language was another thing that jumped out at me...it is bold but not crude.

It has its share of secondary characters....a goofy, fun loving, jump in to bed with anything wearing jeans best friend, Piggy....yep, Piggy not Peggy.  A widowed dad that adored his only child for the love of his life, letting her come home to lick her wounds.  A little boy that will struggle for the rest of his life so that his mother could punish his father for not turning all of his money over to her, but Jimmy isn't the main focus on this story...he is only there briefly, the story doesn't revolve around his handicap.  A mother you are happy to hate and I don't mean Jimmy's!  Luke's mother rivals some of the best on our "Mean mother's list."  The picture I carry in my mind of this woman is 6 foot of foul mouth, get her own way, even if it hurts the ones she loves...but wait, she doesn't love anyone but her ranch, her family's reputation and getting her own way

The heroine, Dahlia is half-Filipino, barely survived a cheating husband, who was killed with a good friend when he was suppose to be on a business trip and bankruptcy; her self esteem has been drug through the dirt.  She let Piggy talk her into spending the summer in Idaho working as Forest Service surveyors with Piggy's cousin. Piggy is out for fun, a little hot sex, she plans to drag her best friend back to life if it kills her.....Dahlia not Piggy!! <G>

The hero is a rancher in Idaho....I honestly thought they only grow potatoes there....the authors description of the Idaho had me wanting to visit the mountains.  Luke has barely survived an alcoholic ex-wife, who gave birth to their son, who has fetal alcohol syndrome....Luke is still battling his ex-wife for custody of their 2 teenage daughters after 5 years of being divorced and being the full time parent to them and his son. 

Wow, tons of emotional baggage of both sides. 

I give this book 5 stars because it's fun to read and never boring. It's also not formula. It's definitely not like most romance books. In most books, the male love interest is portrayed as the perfect guy. He's usually a prince charming type. He's usually too good to be true. In this book, Luke McRae is a real guy. He's not perfect and he doesn't make any apologies for who he is. He's rude and vulgar at times, but it's real. Luke and Dahlia's relationship has ups and downs that most people can relate too. Dahlia is a strong woman who will do whatever it takes to take care of her family and friends. She's a likeable character. I didn't care much for Piggy. She's too off the wall and annoying. I wouldn't want a friend like her. But that is why Dahlia is so great. She loves Piggy despite her faults. I don't want to give anything away so I will end this review by saying that I recommend this novel to all women, not just women who are fans of romance novel. I think most women will enjoy this book. However, if you don't like explicit sex scenes, don't read this book. I was shocked(in a good way) by the sex scenes. They're not typical of the romance genre either. They're much more real. I look forward to reading more books written by this author.

This is a book to be read again and again! Luke and Dahlia are not the usual perfect romance couple. Full of setbacks and triumphs it has you on the edge of your seat wondering what the outcome will be. The ending, a delicious teaser that will keep you wondering and imagining making a second read even more fun. The setting was discribed in full color and all of the characters lovable and hateable at the same time. It sends you on the full spectrum of emotions so grab the kleenex and a comfortable reading spot and take a bathroom break because you won't want to put it down once you've started. A great book! I call for a sequil!

Anna Jeffrey not only wrote a modern-day tale of passion but touched on several social and cultural issues. First of all, it featured a half-Filipino from a small town in Texas. Her name is Dahlia, whose husband died in a car accident and whose death not only brought Dahlia grief but shame as well. She found out that her late husband was having an affair with a woman, and that they were together in the car where they both died. It is not common to find a half-Filipino in today's romance fiction and the way Ms. Jeffrey wrote Dahlia's character, it made me curious if she knows an actual person, Dahlia seems so real.

Luke is your quintessential cowboy from Idaho and so much the opposite for Dahlia. But I think this is a true example of opposites attract and ignite at that! Luke's facade is that of a tough, strong and hard edged cowboy but underneath this exterior, he carries with him some really deep seated emotional problems: an alcoholic ex-wife and a mentally disabled son. Meeting Dahlia might not be the answer to his problems but she is definitely what he wants and he did not waste time in letting her know. Dahlia and Luke are totally different in everything, cultural and social background; but Ms. Jeffrey showed clearly that this what made her two characters complete each other.

The story was kept from getting too bogged down with the main characters' problems by Dahlia's best friend, a darling girl with an unforgettably funny name --Piggy! Piggy is what I hope to have for a best friend, if she does truly exist in the real world. She kept Dahlia goingthrough the tough times. And not to forget, Dahlia's dear Dad, whose love and support are the much needed solace for his daughter.

I agree with the other reviews that there should be an Epilogue or a follow through story. Because after reading the end of this book it felt like this: after an appetizing "dinner," one must also have a satisfying "dessert."

It ended too quickly, 2 pages. The last sentence of the book gave me goose bumps though! Wish it would have had an Epilogue or sequel or something more. I don't think they ever did get around to talking much, to get to know each other, like the circumstances of her husbands death. I need to teach my husband that under the table trick he did, sounded heavenly. I look forward to more books from this author, it really was a good book!

It's rare to find a book that grabs you from the first page, but this is definitely one. It is not a book to pick up if you don't have the time to read it from cover to cover without putting it down. Luke and Dahlia come to life immediately and their characters are believable and complex. It would be difficult to read this book and not relate to each character and the variety of baggage that effects day to day life. Anna Jeffrey did an outstanding job of making the reader become not just a reader, but a part of the story. Her descriptions make both Idaho and Texas come alive. The other characters in the book somehow seemed just as real and important as Luke and Dahlia. (I would definitely like to meet Piggy!!) My biggest complaint about this book is that it ended and I want to know more about what happens to these people I have come to know so well. PLEASE write more, Anna Jeffery!! I can't wait to read more by this unique and talented "new" author.

Luke and Dahlia are strong, passionate characters caught up in an unforgettable tale. I was sucked in from the first page. Put this one on your list and plan on an all night read.

I love it when a book can make me laugh and cry and this book can sure do both. What a sweet story! What a great debut book. Anna Jeffrey is on her way!! Can't wait until her next book comes out!