Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Her Midnight Cowboy by Lauri Robinson
Historical Western Romance short story ebook published by Harlequin Historical Undone 01 Nov 10
My recent reading has been a bit on the lackluster side, and they all happened to be contemporaries. So I figured, why not read something historical and short? Oooooh, and a western! Surely that will kick-start my flagging mojo! Yeah, not so much. Bugger.
Angel Clayton is a pampered Daddy’s princess that knows what she wants – and what she wants is none other than Rowdy McGuire. The problem is, that no matter what she tries – Rowdy just won’t catch a clue.
Oh, Rowdy has gotten the message. Loud and clear. However, he’s staying as far away as he can because Angel is The Boss’s Daughter. Rowdy is a drifter and ranch hand, which means no matter how you crunch the numbers, it all adds up to Angel being way out of his league.
Part of the problem with this story is largely my fault. Generally speaking, I am not a fan of Heroine In Pursuit themes, because the heroine tends to come off as needy and desperate. Add to the mix that Angel is a Virginal Heroine In Pursuit, and, well, it’s really not my scene.
However, just because something isn’t “my thing,” doesn’t mean it won’t be some other reader’s “thing.” Ultimately though, this is a hard story for me to recommend because of the historical feel, or lack thereof. The problem comes in the form of Angel’s Daddy and stepmother. Self-indulgent parents are a dime a dozen in the genre, but these two take the cake! Yes, the West was different – but not that different. Especially when you factor in that Daddy owns a successful ranch and Angel doesn’t want for anything. Society rules and social mores should have definitely been at play here – and they’re just flat-out ignored. Dude, I can bend for the sake of fiction, but not that much.
I love the Undone line, but I’m still waiting for a western short that really cooks for me. I was hoping this would be the one, but alas the answer is still no.
Grade: D
Summary:
Eastern Wyoming, 1884
In Angel Clayton’s opinion, men don’t get any finer than hired hand Rowdy McGuire. The very thought of him makes her ache with need—and the sight of his golden, glistening skin only makes it worse. She knows he feels their bodies’ magical, intense pull towards one another, even if the honorable cowboy refuses to admit that a drifter and a ranch owner’s daughter could ever be together.
But Angel is determined to get what she wants—and she wants Rowdy!
No Excerpt Found.
