Customer Reviews

Never Love a Cowboy

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered Lorraine Heath about a month ago, and since then I've read 5 of her books, Never Love a Cowboy being the 5th. She has a way of creating heroes to fall in love with, heroines that you like and identify with, and she writes storylines that have me crying usually more than once.

Never Love A Cowboy epitomizes Heath's writing. Harrison is a tortured hero - he had a very troubled childhood. But he doesn't wallow in it, and in general this just adds to his scoundrel-ness, without making him a jerk. Jessye is a spitfire if there ever was one, but she's also generous, friendly, and very compassionate. She too has a pretty troubled past. When they get together, sparks fly and the dialog is fun to read.

But the book is really about the journey these two characters take together. It's not just about falling in love, but about really being in love. Something pretty traumatic happens about halfway through, and it's when the two characters try to overcome this event that you begin hoping the book will never end (and wishing you had more Kleenex handy!). Talk about a couple that breaks your heart.

So if you're in for a great love story, some wonderful characters, and a storyline that never lags, this is it. Enjoy!

(and then check out Heath's other books... none of them disappoints)

Harrison (Harry) Bainbridge, the 2nd son of an English Earl, and Jessye Kane, a salon keepers daughter are two wounded souls who belong together. Harry is exiled to Texas, by his father, after amassing huge gambling debts. Once in Texas, Harry and his friend, Christopher (Kit), decide to make their fortune by rounding up cattle and driving them to market in Missouri. They have no money to invest in this venture but Jessye agrees to back them by using her life savings. She becomes their partner and insists on going along with them to protect her investment. As Harry and Jessye roam the Texas plains to gather the cattle, they gradually get to know one another, and realize they have misjudged one another badly. As they talk, we learn secrets about both of their lives and find out what has lead both of them to stake their future on this cattle drive. There are delightful secondary characters in this book, Kit and Grayson (the 2 friends Harry came with to Texas), Abby (Grayson's wife), Jessye's father and a whole caste of new characacters that are hired to help with the cattle drive. I was delighted that Grayson and Abby showed up in this book because, after reading their story in the 1st book, I wanted to see what happened to them later. The characters are so richly drawn that I felt many of the emotions that they felt as I was reading about their lives. To me, that is the hallmark of a great story, that as I read the book I feel what the people in the book must be feeling and that I can see myself in them. I cried throughout this book as I read about the pain that Harry and Jessye have endured in their lives. I cheered when they overcame every obstacle and got together in the end. I did not want this book to end! I look forward to Kit's story, the final book in the Englishmen in Texas trilogy.

Jessye works in her father's saloon serving drinks. When she was sixteen she fell in love with a handsome, smooth-talking dude who promised her the world and instead left her heart and reputation in tatters. Jessye believes that she is unworthy of a husband and a family of her own because of her past. She dreams of becoming independent from men and making her way on her own. This is why she agrees to finance a half-cocked idea thought up by two Englishmen to round up cattle and deliver them eastward. They guarantee she'll make a fortune and since she knows more about cattle rustling than the Englishmen she goes along with them on the cattle drive.

Harrison (Harry) is the second son of an earl sent by his father to Texas to clean up his act. Because of his past Harry believes he is incapable of love and spent his youth drinking, gambling, and driving up huge debts. Harry believes he is indeed the scoundrel he presents to the world but deep down lurks a kind, generous and even insecure man. Because Harry doesn't enjoy working any harder than he has to he intends to make this cattle venture a success.

Harry is strongly attracted to the outspoken Jessye and turns on the charm full-blast in order to get her into his bed. Although Harry tempts Jessye (he is gorgeous after all) she turns him down and tells him flat out that he will never get her in his bed until he can offer her his heart - the one thing that Harry knows he can never do.

The two spend most of the book doing all they can to avoid falling in love. Harry because he believes he simply can't love and Jessye because she refuses to give her love again. These two characters are very wounded souls and have multiple layers to their character which is exactly what I've come to expect from a Lorraine Heath novel. But because Harry's reasons for holding out were not explained fully or early enough his refusal to admit that he was falling in love exhausted and frustrated me. I guess I've just burned out on the stubborn "I don't have a heart" hero. A terrible accident occurs about half way through which adds more fuel to Harry's refusal to love Jessye but it also makes him a much stronger man. This section was written believably and with much compassion.

Jessye is an admirable heroine who has had to make a heartbreaking choice and her reasons to avoid love were much more understandable than Harry's. There is a subplot involving a little girl that was just way too coincidental for me to believe but I was able to over look it because it did create some painfully emotional scenes and added much to Jessye's characterization.

"Never Love A Cowboy" has a good mix of action and emotion and is definitely worth a read. It managed to move me to tears and made me smile in quite a few places but it is not my favorite Lorraine Heath novel. I reserve that spot for TEXAS DESTINY.

As a second son of an English aristocrat, Harrison Bainbridge knows he inherits almost nothing. He and two friends travel to Texas to make their fortune. However, instead of easily making a bundle of money, Harrison ends up working in the field under the supervision of women whose men are either dead or struggling to come home following the end of the Civil War.

After one friend, Gray Rhodes, married (see A ROGUE IN TEXAS), Harrison and his fellow expatriate Kit Montgomery agree that cattle is the way to become wealthy. Since they lack capital, the duo turns to Jessye Kane, daughter of a saloonkeeper, who is their last hope for an investor. Jessye agrees to fund them on two conditions. She and Kit are full partners, leaving Harrison as a common worker and she goes with them on the cattle drive. Harrison pushes Kit into signing the contract. As Harrison and Jessye become truly acquainted during the dangerous cattle drive they fall in love. However, he is the son of an aristocratic icon and she is a saloonkeeper's daughter with a past.

The second tale in Lorraine Heath's western romance trilogy is an endearing story that lives up to its passionate predecessor. The story line is filled with an insightful look at the Southwest just after the end of the Civil War. The lead couple is a humorous, warm, and realistic pair whose squabbles will entertain the audience. The support cast augments the tale by providing a deeper understanding of the inner motives of Harrison and Jessye. After reading back to back winners, fans will anxiously wait for Kit's tale to be told by the wonderfully gifted Ms. Heath.

Harriet Klausner

Ok. I think I love all of Lorraine Heaths books but this is one of my favorites. Harry, an Englishman, came to America with two of his friends (Kit and Gray) to make something of himself. Having been mistreated as a young child by his mother, Harry doesn't believe in love. During the first book in the trilogy (A Rogue in Texas), where his friend Gray finds the woman of his dreams and gets married, he meets Jessye. She's a no nonsense woman who says it like it is, even if it's not the nicest or most appropriate. They clash but ultimately become friends. In "Never Love a Cowboy" the story continues and they become closer. However, tragedy strikes, and what the characters go through is heartbreaking (I won't tell you, you'll just have to read the book). I love Harry who is the perfect gentleman (I'd love to know where they got the model for the inside book cover). All I can say is that Lorraine Heath is an outstanding author who really knows how to bring feelings into a book. I can't wait for the final book (Kits story). It won't be released until January of next year. :-(

This is the second novel in the author's Englishman in Texas trilogy. The second novel is not as good as the first, and, in no way, compares to the author's Texas series. This is the story of Harry, sent to Texas from England to learn about life by his father. Harry pursues Jessye, but only for sex. Due to his upbringing he has no heart left to give. One of my problems with this book is Harry's whining over his upbringing. I never heard a man whine about the lack of love in his childhood, and I hope I never do - it is a real turn-off!
There are plot twists and a lot of unbelievable coincidences throughout this book. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't describe them. My general complaint is that things became very unbelievable and really hurt the plot of the book.
In summary, this is an enjoyable book, but it is not a keeper.

Never Love a Cowboy was a good, pleasant book. I had only read one of Heath's books, A Rogue in Texas, prior to this. A Rogue in Texas was the first in a series of three. Never Love a Cowboy is the second in the series with Never Marry a Cowboy as the third and final book. The series features three English rogues, all good friends, who are shipped to America by their fathers to teach them responsibility and supposedly provide moneymaking opportunities. When the three first arrive in Texas, they find themselves picking cotton to earn a living. I was totally charmed with Gray, the first of the English rogues' story, in A Rogue in Texas. Gray and Abbie's romance was such a gentle love story. Now that Gray is settled on a cotton farm, Harrison and Kit, the two remaining rogues, are looking for moneymaking opportunities other than picking cotton. They decide herding cattle to Missouri for further transport to the northern states is their best bet for some significant and quick income.

This is the story of Harrison Bainbridge - the one known for his gambling of the three English rogues. He has shown interest in the local saloon owner's daughter, Jessye Kane, but true to those English rogues' reputation, his interest in her is only physical. Jessye informs Harrison early on that he cannot afford the price she would exact for a physical relationship - that price being love. However, physical relationship aside, Harrison knows Jessye has the funds he and Kit need for their cattle drive. Jessye agrees to provide the investment as long as she goes on the cattle drive as well. And so begins the first half of the book - the cattle drive.

Harrison is somewhat of a slacker in Jessye's mind. Yes, she is attracted to him, but will not risk her heart with Harrison Bainbridge. She cannot understand his continued cheating at cards - even when it has caused him serious trouble before. She thinks he is always looking for the easy way out. Once the trail drive has begun, Jessye discovers she is very, very wrong about Harrison. She would prefer to keep her negative opinion of him since it helps her a little with her attraction for him. As Harrison and Jessye spend many days and nights working together on the drive, they form a sort of friendship. But true to roguish ways, Harrison still occasionally seeks a closer physical relationship with her. Their adventures are good-natured and mostly chaste. Then during a heart wrenching attack, Harrison is tortured in front of Jessye in such a manner that it is difficult reading. With Harrison barely alive and surviving the gruesome attack with only very grave injuries, the book literally changes to part two.

What follows in part two is the real life changing issues of the book. Jessye is taking care of Harrison during his hoped-for recovery. It is tough going and their relationship is so strained that it seems non-existence at times. But this is romance writing and we can be assured it somehow works out in the end and I need say no more. There is a lot of emotional action during this portion of the book with no bad guys lurking around the corner. The bad guys here are the emotions and protective behavior of each of the leads. This author does not play the big misunderstanding game and the leads, for the most part, communicate honestly with each other. There are a few sensual scenes and they rate about a 3.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Never Love a Cowboy is an entertaining book although I did not consider it as great as A Rogue in Texas. Often, in a series, you will recognize similar plot lines or writing technique. Lorraine Heath did not write these books in that manner. The first and second books are about as different as night and day. She is a refreshing author. Now - on to read Never Marry a Cowboy - the story of Kit. After getting to know him in the first two books, I am really looking forward to reading his story. Although each book stands alone, I do believe you will enjoy the series more if you read it in order. I have also written a review on A Rogue in Texas.

Lorraine Heath excels at writing three-dimensional characters in settings that are historically accurate within stories in which both large and small moments are exquisitely crafted.

The flow of Never Love a Cowboy is wonderful, with two disparate sections. Both are terrific, and those readers who love a road romance should greatly appreciate the first part, in which the hero and heroine are on a cattle drive. However, it is in the second part, after a horrible incident, where Heath's mastery truly shines. The hero, in particular, must learn to live without the use of some of his greatest gifts, but learns that love can still be his.

This book has it all - action, characterization, sexual tension, tears. . . . Even the somewhat sterotypical sub-plot involving a little girl seems fresh as handled by this author. Not only did Heath manage to create some terrific drama in this instance, but she also managed to turn the tables on which lead character had the "moral high ground" for a while.

I rarely give such a strong recommendation, and don't think I've ever done so with a Western Romance, but this one is truly special.

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

Publisher, All About Romance

"Never love a cowboy" sounds like a fairly standard western so it didn't "grab me". But I have read Heath's other books and she is an excellent author. My attention kept coming back to this one and the idea of the British cowboy sounded cute and different so I did buy it for a "quick, easy read". Wow. The title certainly does not do this book justice. It is so much more than a typical western. The plot is very different but the characters are living, touchable people. You feel their joy and pain. The dialogue is incredible. You laugh and you cry. Jessye is one of the most delightful heroines I've ever read. She is so full of ......and vinegar. She tickles your funny bone or at least mine!
After one of Harry's pouty 3 day silences, he says to Jess.."I've been thinking..." To which she says.."That why you've been so quiet. You can't think and talk at the same time!"
..Harry asks why Jess has been quiet and she says "haven't been in the company of anyone I thought was worth talking to!!". Now anyway who has ever had a relationship wishes she had said those things to her guy!!...The early part of this book is just plain fun. The second part is serious business with emotional angst. It tests the mettle of our characters and forunately they meet the test with flying colors. Just a wonderful book.

The other reviews outline the plot pretty well, so let me just say, this book is awesome. I have pretty high standards and I find myself disappointed more often than not by what other people rate as five star books. This however has the flawed (emotionally and, later, physically) hero, the less-than-perfect heroine, and a good plot. Within a week of buying it, I had read it three times. the only two romance novels I have ever read that were better were Echoes in the Dark, by Gayle Wilson, and The Horseman's Bride, by Marilyn Pappano. And I've read a lot of romance novels.