Customer Reviews

Rodeo Riders: Cowboy Up!

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

 

 

I am a big fan of the rodeo (every Sunday night is spent with Donny Gay on TNN), so this book's setting intrigued me. To be honest, most contemporary westerns bore me and I was afraid that this book would be horrible, but how wrong I was. I am a sucker for relationships and the growning affection and respect between Jake and Clay was perfect. I am eagerly looking forward to RIGGED TO RIDE, the second in this series. If you like rodeo, good characterizations, or pure adventure, buy this book! You won't be disappointed. In addition, I learned more about the details of various rodeo events without slowing the story down.

As a participant in various rodeo events and activities, as well as a avid reader of Western contemporary novels, I am use to plain, dull novels in which the author rambles about a topic he or she has no knowledge about. However, this novel captures the reality in every detail no matter how stark it may be to create a remarkable series of events producing the images in one's mind with every fluid word. The author's use of desciptive adjectives provides fuel for a reader aware of the rodeo atmosphere, while also providing ample definative sentences, hindering a unknowledgable reader from making conjectures as to the meaning of various Western and rodeo lingo. The novel accounts the struggles between a lonesome rancher carrying a heavy burden, and a troubled teenager who is a up and coming rodeo legend. They need each other in their own ways, and throughout the novel their triumphs and pitfalls are emphasized in glorious detail, absolving the rancher's heavy burden in the conclusion. Anyone who enjoys the Western contemporary novels would benefit themselves by reading this novel. All to often the author of such novels have no bearing on the subject, and hence loses the reader in the muddle. This novel is crystal clear to all providing knowledge,and compelling the reader to continue on in the exquisative adventure that evolves throughout. It causes the reader to cheer in the triumphs, and fall in silence with the pitfalls. The author always keeps the reader's interest and attention, and causes wonderment as to what will evolve next. The novel engrosses everything that makes up the West and rodeo capturing the tradition that rodeo emphasizes. Warning, this book may entrall the reader preventing the reader from laying in down.

Bravo to Mike Flanagan. I bought Cowboy Up! and Rigged To Ride back in mid-1999. I didn't like to read much because it seemed that every book I read was "boring". Then again I was in High School and they never chose good/interesting books. I read Cowboy Up! after I first read it, then I hit this phase of not wanted to read, it wasn't because the book was bad, it was more or less not wanted to finish the series because I never wanted it to end. So, by the summer of 2002 I read Mike's second book Rigged to Ride, boy did he do a great job of continuing the swell adventure. I bought his final book "Final Ride" right after it was released and again after I finished the second book I didn't want this awesome adventure to end, so I let it sit on the shelf and collect dust. So now it comes to the present time, July 2006 and I travel by bus a lot to and from work so I need to kill some time so I looked at the book and decided to finish up this series. Spectacular ending, I wish there was more but from the ending I can dream what may have happened. Mike has enlightned to keep on reading and never fear for an ending. Yes, I will miss reading about Clay, Jack, Billy, Tamara, Julie, Terry, etc..., but I will never forget the enjoyable time I had reading these books. This book made me feel like I was a part of it, and I mean that like "The Neverending Story" type of way. I would promote this book anyway that I could. It's great for all ages and an easy read. If you have not read this book yet, do yourself a favor and buy them.

I really liked this book. The story was so great that I couldn't put the book down. This is a book that mom's can recommend to their children. The language was not offensive and their was no sex in the book. This fact along makes it a great book for teens.

It's a graet book for all ages. Cowboy Up is a story of one man's struggle to come to terms with his past and a young boy's struggle to build a future. Together they form a bond, through the sport of rodeo that will be tested to the limits. I can't wait until the second book, Rigged To Ride comes out. If you get a chance then you should read it.

I purchased this book at my husbands request. He is deployed to Afghanistan and wanted to read it as he liked it from his earlier years. I received the book quickly and it was in great condition just as described. Thank you so much!

This was an excellent book! If your interested in something light and easy to read this is the book for you. It was very entertaining and enjoyable, especially since I know a little about rodeoing.

My dad is the author of Cowboy Up. I didn't think that it would be as good as it turned out to be. Cowboy Up is a story of one man's struggle to come to terms with his past and a young boy's struggle to build a future. Together they form a bond, through rodeo that will be teated to the limits. This is a really great book. If you get the chance to read it then you should try it.