"someone has put a kabosh on the season of joy"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted November 21, 2014
Romance Contemporary | Holiday
CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY COUNTRY is a story about pride.
Ranchers have it in spades -- how else could they survive
the many challenges they regularly face. It is about
working hard to keep what's yours. There is definitely an
element of stubbornness that is necessary and seems to
prevail among all the ranchers and cowboys that Janet
Dailey was written about. Dailey has been a prolific
author and anyone who has read her books certainly has a
favorite or two.
CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY COUNTRY is a rather short story or
novella but it manages to capture your interest from the
very onset.
Annie Bennett and her dad Tyrell are a good team. Annie's
actually home to recover from a skiing accident. Skiing
is her first love but Annie was looking forward to
helping out her parents at least for a while.
The area around their ranch was being developed right
under their noses -- you can't stop progress. Progress is
good but along with it comes an element not exactly
welcome to an area populated with generations of
ranchers. Land that gets passed down from parents to
children.
But small towns have their share of problems. Many older
ranchers fall into hard times as they age with less
resources and help. Annie understands that ultimately the
Bennett ranch would be handed down to her. Perhaps it was
this knowledge that made her pay attention to some things
that seemed out of place.
At first glance Annie was suspicious of Marshall Stone
supposedly in town to survey properties to assure
accurate boundary lines. The big question in her mind was
at whose request was he performing the survey. Who did he
work for and what did he hope to uncover.
The more time with Marshall the better Annie felt about
his presence in town. She was attracted to this rugged
man who was so very real. But he also seemed cautiously
observant regarding newcomers who perhaps had a very
secret agenda. In short Annie and Marshall were of the
same mind about whether or not these people were to be
trusted.
Problem was stopping any damage in time to save folks
from losing the thing they prized for many generations --
their land.
Janet Dailey starts out so innocently introducing a small
town that could be any town. Then in CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY
COUNTRY Dailey goes from blissful and serene to the
biting reality of greed. You can always trust Janet
Dailey to test your awareness and tell a well-conceived
tale that touches on current issues.
CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY COUNTRY is not as deep or rich as
previous works by Janet Dailey but fans will enjoy
probably the last book written before her passing in
2013. She will be missed by her loyal following of
western romances.
SUMMARY
The greatest gift is love. . . Ski instructor Annie Bennett doesn't have time to miss the
twinkling lights and holiday parties in Aspen and Vail.
With
her older brothers gone and winter just around the corner,
her parents need help with their sprawling Colorado ranch.
The most wonderful time of the year isn't always easy for
a
lot of the folks in their town, but Annie does her
best--until the tall, dark, and rugged surveyor on their
neighbor's land becomes a potent distraction. . . Wyoming born and bred, Marshall Stone is a practical man.
But there's something about Annie that's as wild and sweet
as the mountain wind. He doesn't want to tame her. Just
love
her. Annie Bennett is all he wants for Christmas. And for
always. But she's too wary to believe he means it. Until
he
takes her in his arms and explains without saying a single
word. . .
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