Sandy M’s review of Red’s Hot Cowboy (Spikes & Spurs, Book 2 ) by Carolyn Brown
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Aug 11
Carolyn Brown and I have done a back-and-forth dance through her books that can rival the Cotton-Eyed Joe. I usually enjoy her characters. Her humor is down-home. The storyline concepts she envisions are fun. But after reading five or six of Ms. Brown’s books, they’re starting to sound the same. Red’s Hot Cowboy hits each of these points straight on, no deviation at all.
While Pearl, aka Red, a name she despises, is feisty and pretty much knows her own mind and does what she wants, she’s also a little too pushy, too brash-y when it comes right down to it. This is all conveyed through dialogue versus actions, especially when these characters carry on conversations. I just can’t get past the fact that folks just don’t speak to each other the way these characters do a good portion of the time. There’s always a tone of antagonism, irritation, anger much more than there is of teasing or laughter. Which is sad, because Ms. Brown has a great sense of humor. I do find myself chuckling here and there at something her characters say or do. But all of that is negated when you have a heroine you don’t like very much.
Pearl has left her banking job when she inherits the motel her beloved aunt owned for years, a place at which Pearl visited during her younger years and still holds special memories of it in her heart. She’s been wanting to do something different with her life, so she jumps at this opportunity. And she flourishes from the moment the first customer walks through her doors. It’s now Christmas Eve and she’s not expecting much business, but when the electricity goes out all over Henrietta, Texas, her rooms on the outskirts of town fill up fast, lights and heat still working. One of those seeking comfort is Wil Marshall, a sexy cowboy who is going to be nothing but trouble.
The man and his dog are minding their own business, after a delightful repartee with the red-headed motel owner, when the police arrest Wil for murder. Thank goodness Red is willing to be his alibi, even despite threatening him within an inch of his life if he ever calls her that silly nickname again. She’s not willing, however, to be anything more than that, and he thinks she really wouldn’t want to be saddled to just one man. But that doesn’t deter this cowboy. And I’m not sure why. From moment one Pearl is rather mean when dealing with Wil. She’s mouthy and rude, so for the life of me I can’t understand why he comes back for more. I enjoyed Wil a lot, so much more than Pearl. He’s lately been thinking about the future, a family, things a man knows he’ll eventually need and want in his life. He’s a gentleman. He’s fun. Ripped and sexy too. What’s not to like? Pearl does acknowledge these things here and there, in between erroneously believing he’s a bad boy. I never could figure out why she thought that. Wil goes out of his way to get close to Pearl, and I have to say I like his romanticism. He had my heart from the beginning.
And that’s usually how it goes with me when reading Ms. Brown’s stories. I always like the hero, but the heroine very rarely works for me. I know the author is trying to make her spunky and independent, but she never reads that way most of the time. That’s part of my assertion that her books are starting to sound the same. The same mold is used for heroine after heroine. I know Ms. Brown can write women outside of this mold, I’ve read two of her books that feature women so very different from the Brown heroine norm. Those types of heroines need to happen more often. And the dialogue needs to change. A beginning point would be to use contractions. Characters are too stiff and awkward without this little bit of punctuation, and it’s also difficult to read, pulling you out of the story way to often. But all characters sound the same, have the same voice. There’s nothing distinct about them when they speak. I have a feeling they all sound like Ms. Brown herself or perhaps someone very close to her. Head-hopping is also a big problem, which I’ve mentioned in reviews before, so I won’t say any more than that on this particular subject.
Another nitpick I have is the heavy-handedness in the use of description. Where it should take only a paragraph for non-essential things to be described, Ms. Brown uses two or more to get her point across. Ninety-nine percent of the time, readers don’t care about whatever is being described, so it needs to be toned down. A lot. Here’s an example from Chapter 17 when Wil takes Pearl to meet his family and they’re at the dinner table:
There’s the dinner bell,” Jessie said. He took his place at the head of the table. Martha Jane sat on his right with Amelia and then her husband next. Carleen’s husband took the other end of the table with Carleen to his right. Wil pulled out a chair beside his sister and seated Pearl before taking his customary place to his father’s left.
After Martha Jane delivered a very brief grace, Jessie picked up the platter of chicken and passed it to Wil. He took a leg and passed it on to Pearl who forked a leg and sent it on to Carleen who took a piece of white meat and handed it over her shoulder to one of the grandchildren. That kid took a piece and sent it on to the next kid who did the same and gave it back to Carleen’s husband.
I. Don’t. Care. I can’t imagine any reader caring who sits where and who takes what piece of chicken at the table. All of that could have been said in a line or two. Without nameless kids. Or it could have been left out entirely, because the very next paragraph after this is all that’s needed. And this book is full of examples such as this about a multitude of pointless things. That’s when a reader starts skimming a book, and no author wants that. I know Ms. Brown is quite capable of getting to her point very succinctly.
There are a few nice moments in this book. The first is the introduction of Lucy Fontaine. She’s just escaped from her abusive husband, and a friend of Pearl’s recommends she hire Lucy to help out at the motel. Lucy is so appreciative of the offer of help and she’s not afraid of hard work. This is where Pearl becomes the type of heroine who a reader can like and enjoy. She feels for Lucy, as any woman would. They come up with the idea of making the motel an underground sanctuary for abused women who have finally had enough, taking their children and running. Pearl gives those helping these women discounts on the rooms, fills the refrigerators with food, the rooms stocked with clothes and other amenities the rest of us not in such dire circumstances take for granted. There’s even a point in the story where the bus driver for these escapees tells them about his sister, and that actually brought tears to my eyes.
I also like that Wil and Pearl get to the point where they talk on the phone at night before going to bed, waiting to consummate their relationship until they know one another better, even though lust courses through them when they’re together. Wil sends Pearl a text, “I miss you.” How sweet is that? He romances Pearl just as sweetly, my favorite scene is in the hayloft with a tray of food and other romantic thoughts from this man.
So I know Ms. Brown can put together a story that does and will hold a reader’s interest more than a few chapters at a time. Tightening the writing, not writing dialogue the way you personally speak, and toning down your heroines (and even secondary characters) in deed but most especially in speech would be a terrific beginning. Keep the humor and change your heroes only very slightly.
Otherwise, skimming can very easily become a way of life for any reader of these light-hearted westerns.
Grade: C-
Summary:
He wasn’t looking for trouble…
But when the cops are knocking on your door, trouble’s definitely found you. And this is where Wil Marshall finds himself after checking in to the Longhorn Inn. It could all be a big mistake, but Wil’s not getting much sleep. Then the motel owner—who is drop dead gorgeous and feisty to boot—saves him from an even worse night behind bars. Now he owes her one, big time…
But Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes…
Pearl never wanted that run-down motel, but her aunt didn’t leave her much choice. And then this steaming hot cowboy shows up looking for a place to rest. Next thing she knows, she wants to offer him more than just room service.
But if he calls her Red one more time, he won’t be the only one accused of murder…
Sparks are definitely flying and before long, the Do Not Disturb sign might be swinging from the door…
Read an excerpt. (click excerpt tab)
Other books in this series:
One Hot Cowboy Wedding – April 2012
