Archive for the ‘Western’ Category

WAITING FOR YES
Claire Ashgrove
ISBN: 9781601549105
March 2011
Wild Rose Press
Contemporary Romance/Western
Mass Market Paperback

Gabrielle Warrenton has finally escaped her father’s control and is banking everything on her dream of raising world class Egyptian Arabians.  She is depending on Bahadur Mamoon, a breathtaking stallion with great credentials.  Once he wins the nation’s biggest horse show, her success as a breeding farm will skyrocket.  She soon realizes, as she transports the horse home during a snowstorm, that he has some severe behavioral issues that were not disclosed to her. She and the driver of the big rig that has been following her horse trailer through the snow storm end up stranded at her farm. The good news is that same driver is none other than Jake Lindsey-Sullivan, once a famous Arabian trainer. The bad news, Jake doesn’t work horses any more, and he is determined to keep his identity a secret.

I grew up loving horse stories, and I guess not much has changed during the intervening years. I loved the setting of Waiting for Yes, and the romance between Gabrielle and Jack is both sexy and heart wrenching.  Gabrielle and Jack both struggle with realistic baggage that they must face and move beyond in order to work together for the good of Bahadur Mamoon.  The characters created by Ashgrove have depth and watching them both grow as a result of their expanding love for one another is satisfying.  There are a few too many forced plot coincidences, including the history of Jack and Mamoon, but, once accepted, the resulting story is entertaining and heartwarming.  Even Mamoon has a personality with depth as the reader learns about his past and how his behavior has been effected by it.  If you enjoy contemporary based western romances, you will enjoy Waiting for Yes.

BRIDLED HEART
Paty Jager
December, 2010
ISBN: 9781601548740
Wild Rose Press
Trade Paperback
Contemporary Western Romance

Gina Montgomery past abusive experiences have caused her to keep herself emotionally separate from much of the world, even as she served in it as an ER nurse. She uses music to escape and soothe herself. Gina and rodeo bareback rider, Holt Reynolds meet at a benefit event.  Holt is drawn to Gina and patiently works to convince her to take a chance on him.

Paty Jager has written a number of successful historical romances set in the Old West.  Her “Petticoats” series (Outlaw in Petticoats, Marshall in Petticoats, Miner in Petticoats, Doctor in Petticoats) was popular for their depiction of the Halsey brothers and strong independent women who capture their hearts.  She departs from her historical roots with the delightful contemporary cowboy romance, Bridled Heart.  Holt Reynolds is an appealing character; grieved and guilty by his failure to give his own sister the support she needed, Holt is determined to coax Gina back into the world, convincing her that he can be depended upon for emotional as well as physical support. His tenderness and caring will touch even the casual reader, and we all thrill to Gina’s blossoming confidence under his attention. This book will appeal to readers who prefer contemporary romances but still like a western cowboy flavor.