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One Step Over the Border

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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.

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2007

6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read

About the author

Stephen Bly

126 books70 followers
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.

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5 stars
22 (34%)
4 stars
17 (26%)
3 stars
19 (29%)
2 stars
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Bethany.
256 reviews
June 13, 2024
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.
290 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2022
When I am in between books I will read one B has on Kindle, in this case an enjoyable contemporary cowboy story,
Profile Image for Terri.
431 reviews
May 30, 2011
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!
Profile Image for Erin.
1,023 reviews34 followers
March 1, 2009
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.
Profile Image for Jessica.
6 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2012
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.
Profile Image for Theresa.
6 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2007
This was an ok book. It tended to jump around too much. But, I had to finish it.
3 reviews
January 7, 2010
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.
Profile Image for Sue.
6 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2011
This book was slow to start but I loved it!
Profile Image for Pat.
471 reviews52 followers
December 11, 2015
This was an interesting story of two modern-day cowboys, how they get through life, and the women they encounter along the way.
593 reviews16 followers
May 10, 2016
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the other books I have read by Stephen Bly. Still, it was an enjoyable ride throughout the west.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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