Cowboys, Cowboys and More Cowboys!

I enjoy books from many different genres and eras, but must admit, cowboy heroes are my favorite. It might be because I grew up watching westerns on TV (with a house full of brothers, I didn’t get control of the TV very often—not that I would have changed the channel). Just like many other girls my first boyfriend was Little Joe Cartwright—he just never knew it.

To me, a cowboy isn’t just a man wearing boots and a Stetson. It’s his way of life, and he’s a breed all his own.

Here’s a list of a few traits cowboys are portray:

They respect women. Throwing their coats over mud puddles and opening doors for a lady is embedded in them. Cursing in front of women is a no-no, too.

Faith, in God, the land, animals, and other people runs deep. They expect other to respect that, too.

Humility runs strong in cowboys. The limelight isn’t for them.

They are spendthrifts, until it comes to their horse and gear. Conservative, too, and not just with money. This includes words, deeds, beliefs, and politics,

Protectiveness runs strong in them—over their loved ones, animals, and the land. Don’t mess with a cowboy because he will fight to the death.

Music. Aw, yes, a cowboy loves his music. To play it, to dance to it, to sing. There’s always a song in a cowboy’s heart.

Speaking of his heart—he wears it on his sleeves, although he’d never admit it. His heart is often as well used as his hands, full of scars and covered with calluses, but when he gives it away, it’s for a lifetime.

The strong silent type. Yep, that’s a cowboy. John Wayne meant it when he said, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say much.” Prying words out of them can be impossible. They’d rather communicate through actions. A cowboy doesn’t throw words around, especially ones he doesn’t mean.

Critters—they have to have more than one. Horses are a must, but so are dogs. They like other animals, too, but expect each one to have a purpose.

Cowboys are simple men, down to earth, and utterly loveable—when they want to be. A heroine, lucky enough to have a cowboy fall in love with her, needs to understand these things. If she tries to change him, she’s changing who he is, and they’ll both be miserable.

If you love cowboys as much as I do, you are in luck because Harlequin is having a great sale on books with cowboy heroes! For the month of July the following titles are on sale for just 99¢!

• The Rustler by Linda Lael Miller
• Mercy by B.J. Daniels
• Riding High by Vicki Lewis Thompson
• The Wrong Cowboy by Lauri Robinson
• The Rebel Cowboy’s Quadruplets by Tina Leonard
• Runaway Lone Star Bride by Cathy Gillen Thacker
• No Accounting for Cowboys by Leah Braemel
• Consent to the Cowboy by Abby Wood
• Stranded with the Rancher by Janice Maynard
• A Royal Fortune by Judy Duarte

ENJOY!