Just a Cowboy (edition 2011)

Just a Cowboy is the latest installment in Rachel Lee's Conard County series. We meet Kelly, a soon-to-be divorced woman on the run from her abusive husband. Convinced that Dean tried to have her killed, she's been moving from town to town, living "off the grid" to avoid being found. She ends up in Conard County, Wyoming, renting a house owned by Hank Jackson. Hank is a former firefighter severly injured in the line of duty. Now he works as a cowboy, when he can find the work.

It doesn't take Hank long to realize that his new tenant is hiding from someone. Beautiful single women don't just move to Conard County for no reason. Because he is so different from her malicious husband, Kelly feels like she can trust Hank with her secrets. Despite all of Kelly's efforts to be anonymous, Dean is able to find her. However, Hank is determined to protect her, no matter what the cost.

I love books about everyday heroes. I love cowboys and romantic suspense. So, when I read the blurb for Just a Cowboy, I couldn't pass it up. Hank certainly lived up to everything I expected. He's a good guy, always does the right thing. He was critically injured a couple of years ago trying to save someone's life, and his body is still paying the price.

While Hank was a gem, I had a hard time liking Kelly at first. She was the trophy wife of a plastic surgeon. As a 21-year old bride, it didn't occur to her that a rich man 30 years her senior might just want her as a pretty possession. Then it took almost 8 years of being in Dean's gilded cage for her to realize that. Eventually, I did warm up to Kelly's character. It did show great strength for her to leave the cushy life behind and be on her own.

Overall, Just a Cowboy was a satisfying read - a good story with plenty of suspenseful moments, especially at the end. Hank and Kelly made a great couple, both damaged in some way yet able to find love at long last. This is the first book I've read of Rachel Lee's, and it piqued my interest enough to want to read some of the earlier books in the series. ( )

Great read and a strong female lead. As the female lead took a stance against domestic violence and self preservative I truly admired her compassion and strength.