Lily Reardon promised herself she would visit her father's
ranch someday. Thirteen years later, between teaching jobs,
she's headed there along with her wisemouth daughter. Just
south of nowhere, they meet the Rocking R, Montana. All
that young Iris from Minneapolis wants to know is, does the
place have wi-fi?
In ONE LESS LONELY COWBOY the aging rancher Mike Reardon
hires a cowboy for necessary help at times, and Jack
McKenzie, training a paint filly, is welcoming but properly
not over-friendly. Lily rediscovers her old photos and
trophies, for everything from pleasure riding to raising
rabbits. Can her daughter settle down to a similar life?
Jack meanwhile is trying to find a tactful way of repairing
a barn roof without telling the rancher that he's old and
infirm. Mike, unsure how to treat a teenager and his
independent daughter, is running a co-op and raising grass-
fed beef without drugs.
I enjoyed reading about the realities of ranching life and
a natural approach to rearing beef cattle. Now that Lily is
a mother herself she is concerned about growth hormones,
antibiotics and corn feedlots. Modern realism is present
with the expectations of a young teen and the wandering
life of the day-worker. Small ranches cannot afford to
hire a man full-time but at certain times of year such as
calving the skilled worker is invaluable.
"You bring your own horse, your own gear, your own tools,
and you do what you're hired to do the way the boss wants
it done." All very well for the man.
"But a girl has a baby, she has to become a woman very
quickly." So life discriminates.
Kathleen Eagle recreates ordinary conversation skilfully,
in ONE LESS LONELY COWBOY. Like real life, not every minute
is packed with drama, but major changes occur gradually and
big decisions have to be made. I really got to know her
characters and enjoyed the developing romance, as well as
the backdrop of the debate on grass-fed cattle. I
recommend this book to lovers of western romances and
anyone who wants a good, absorbing read.
Jack McKenzie is an old-school cowboy. A loner making a good living at a Missouri ranch, he just wants to collect his pay, keep to himself and-most important-forget the past. But the return of his boss's daughter changes everything...and makes him long for more than his solitary life....
BUT IS SHE WILLING?
The last place Lily Reardon had ever imagined going was home, but there she is-the prodigal daughter with a child of her own. Estranged from her father, she struggles to reconnect. Slowly, with the help of strong, silent ranch hand Jack McKenzie, she begins to see her past-and even her future-in a new light. But can Jack trust in love enough to take his place in Lily's renewed family?
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