Ever since reading I Love This Bar I've been hooked on
Carolyn Brown. Brown improves with age like fine wine --
or in her case a great bottle of beer. She somehow
maintains the integrity of her characterizations
throughout the book or story and is current to what is
relevant today.
THE TROUBLE WITH TEXAS COWBOYS is a story about family
feuds but not like anything you could imagine.
At first you are tempted to laugh at the antics of the
adult members of the Brennan and Gallagher families. As
long as these "antics" center on the members of these
families then it is still possible to find some humor.
But this generations old feud is being fueled by
increased animosity, greed and disregard for people that
are not part of either family.
There seems to be no safety zone out of bounds for the
escalating damage done. Modern day cattle rustling and
destruction of personal property and kidnapping -- not is
considered off limits. The warring families have become
out of control.
Scary stuff actually but in Carolyn Brown's usual manner
she zeroes in on a humorous note to lighten it up even
for a while.
Remember George Orwell Animal Farm animals take on the
jobs of the people -- practically bordering on becoming
beasts. Well now these families have become the target of
jokes centering on the ridiculous nature of these acts
which should really be considered illegal. And yet no one
steps up except two newcomers Jill Cleary and Sawyer
O'Donnell who have somehow to their regret found
themselves enmeshed in the crazy feud people.
There is a disconnect between I don't care and this isn't
right. The lack of conscience is inconceivable to Jill
and Sawyer and yet acceptable to all members of the
Brennan's and Gallagher's and to top it off there seems
to be a blind eye from the town at large. Why is the
burning question. Why has this nonsense been tolerated
all these years. And the proof is in the fact that the
town folks have developed a policy to look the other way.
Actually that really isn't the case and as Jill and
Sawyer watch each other's back they come to learn that
the town tries to keep their distance and maintain a
neutral position. Both Jill and Sawyer seem to have
something these families covet. That keeps them in the
spotlight so to speak. As they learn to trust each other
and develop relationships with the non-warring members of
the town something special and totally unexpected
happens. In attempting to insulate their world against
the actions of these people who just can't or won't take
no for an answer Jill and Sawyer start to see the
potential of a relationship between the two of them.
One has money and land and the other doesn't. Their
differences seem larger than their similarities. What
they both have in common is a love of family, respect for
people, intelligence and humor. These are the qualities
that shine through in this story. Sawyer is out to make
sure that Jill knows she is special. I challenge any
reader from not absolutely falling for this cowboy. Just
not possible and this author knows all the tricks to make
that happen for this great couple.
Life doesn't come with an instruction book, so much of
what we do is fly by the seat of our pants. Brown's
characters and situations go through stages and don't
necessarily come to quick conclusions. No easy fix and at
times there are preemptive strikes just to temporarily
clear the way.
THE TROUBLE WITH TEXAS COWBOYS has a lovely ending
without actually solving the ongoing conflict of the
story -- which is just fine. Fans of CAROLYN BROWN should
be already lining up for the next of the Burnt Boot
Texas
series. THE TROUBLE WITH TEXAS COWBOYS is number two in
the series. Long Hot Texas Summer was number one. As with
all Brown books they do not have to be read in order but
why miss out on still another great story. Great laughs
as Carolyn Brown does her signature quotes and shout outs
to singers, song writers, lyrics, occasional faith based
verses and home grown sayings that come from the classic
and classy mind of this wonderful author.
You cannot come out of a Carolyn Brown read without a
smile on your face -- not possible. Chalk THE TROUBLE WITH
TEXAS COWBOYS up to another winner by one of my
favorites.
Can a girl ever have too many cowboys? No sooner does pint-sized spitfire Jill Cleary set foot on Fiddle Creek Ranch than she finds herself in the middle of a hundred-year-old feud. Quaid Brennan and Tyrell Gallagher are both tall, handsome, and rich...and both are courting Jill to within an inch of her life. She's doing her best to give these feuding ranchers equal time-too bad it's dark-eyed Sawyer O'Donnell who makes her blood boil and her hormones hum...