Award-winning author Stephen Bly weaves the tale of a pair of contemporary cowboys on a quest across the West. As a boy in Wyoming, Hap Bowman fell in love with a girl named Juanita. Ever since, he's experienced nothing but failure and misfortune. Laramie Majors -- quiet, reserved, and patient to a fault -- hasn't left Hap's side since they became rodeo partners right out of college. Now, after spending most of his adult life looking for Juanita, Hap wants to do one last big search that will take them all over the Southwest before he admits defeat. Together these two cowpokes find themselves reluctant heroes in a series of misadventures as they travel the West, all the while thinking that Hap's -- or Laramie's -- true love may be in the next town.
Stephen Bly (August 17, 1944 - June 9, 2011) authored 100 books and hundreds of articles. His book, THE LONG TRAIL HOME, (Broadman & Holman), won the prestigious 2002 CHRISTY AWARD for excellence in Christian fiction in the category western novel. Three other books, PICTURE ROCK (Crossway Books), THE OUTLAW'S TWIN SISTER (Crossway Books), and LAST OF THE TEXAS CAMP (Broadman & Holman), were Christy Award finalists. He spoke at colleges, churches, camps and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He was the pastor of Winchester Community Church, and served as mayor of Winchester, Idaho (2000-2007). He spoke on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family. He was an Active Member of the Western Writers of America. Steve graduated summa cum laude in Philosophy from Fresno State University and received a M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. The Blys have three sons: Russell (married to Lois) and father of Zachary and Miranda (married to Chris Ross) and mother of Alayah, Michael (married to Michelle), and Aaron (married to Rina Joye) and father of Keaton and Deckard. A third generation westerner, Steve spent his early years working on ranches and farms.
This one was silly but fun. Not a lot to it plotwise, just a series of adventures between the two friends as they search for Juanita (who, I don't care what he says, I am a bit bothered that they never find) but they were good guys and it was an entertaining read even if I'm not that much of a western person. A little long but it was fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a fun book to read if you like modern day cowboys and have some knowledge of horses and rodeos. The author uses terms that might not make a lot of sense to an “unhorsed” person. For example when one of the horses ends up with a sore frog……well, that may make ya wonder if there is a typo of some kind. I had no trouble, but it made me chuckle as I thought of others who might not be so familiar that jargon. I like the way the cowboys meet and they have a great relationship. My only complaint was the ten year span between their meeting and the rest of the story. I suppose it let’s the reader see why they are so compatible and know each other so well, after 10 years of rodeoing and working together they know each other very well, which comes in handy on their many adventures. It’s an easy, fun read…..if ya like cowboys!
Stephen Bly was the favorite author of my childhood and his books continue to tickle my funny bone as an adult. This book, however, was lacking for me in the area of personal faith for his characters. I realized that along with outrageous adventures, I enjoy seeing classic Bly heroes and heroines growing closer to the Lord, and as people, through each turn in the story. That was not an aspect of this story and I honestly missed it. It was still laugh-out-loud funny, but when recommending Stephen Bly I'll mention other titles before this one. Such as the Stuart Brannon books, "It's Your Misfortune and None of My Own," the "Horse Dreams Trilogy" and his fabulous young adult fiction.
My sister recommended this book to me, and we read several parts out loud together laughing. It was so unique--a modern day western romance inspirational comedy! I haven't laughed that much reading a book in a long time. I was a little surprised that we found it in the Inspirational section, because the faith aspects were there but very understated. We took a road trip out west a few years ago, stopping in Cody, Wyoming, and some of the other remote places mentioned in the book, and it felt like we were revisiting.
Not my usual type of book at all, which is why I picked it up from the bargain table. Light, enjoyable guy/buddy book; the main character is sensitive without being a whiny baby.