Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming

Harts of the Rodeo #6

by Linda Warren

Marine Staff Sergeant Tomas "Tuf" Hart is beginning to understand why they say "you can never go home again." Still grappling with the mental scars of battle, Tuf's just learned that Thunder Ranch is in trouble. Now, the Harts are banking everything on their stallion, Midnight, winning the National Finals Rodeo. The only easy part of Tuf's homecoming was falling for his high school crush all over again.Cheyenne Sundell has always been drawn to Tuf. But as a single mom of twin daughters, she's wary of getting involved, especially with another military man. Cheyenne's disastrous marriage taught her that war changed men, and not always for the better.

Tuf and Cheyenne have been through hell and back. But with a little hope and a lot of holiday spirit, they just might find a way to heal themselves…and each other.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Westerns

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Linda Warren loves happy endings. The Rita® nominated and award-winning author has written 26 books for Harlequin, including SuperRomance, American, and Everlasting Love. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a farm/ranch in Texas, she writes about sexy heroes, feisty heroines, and broken families with an emotional punch all set against the backdrop of Texas. She lives in College Station with her husband and spends her days doing what she loves—creating unforgettable love stories—with happy endings.

Linda Warren was born Linda Siegert in Brazos County, TX, on July 2, 1945. She passed away on November 8, 2023, in Bryant, TX. Warren is survived by her husband, several children, and grandchildren.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking across the booth at Cheyenne, he saw his future. And it was normal and real. Something he thought he'd never have, but she was willing to take a chance on him. He was willing to meet her halfway and more.

This book was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. Tuf got out of the marines two years ago, but he never came back to his family. Where was he? What was he doing? Luckily, Warren tells us within the first 50 pages, she doesn't dick around. I like that. I hate when authors keep huge secrets because they feel like it adds to the suspense.

Cheyenne was married to a marine, a marine who had PTSD but also smacked her around. She was afraid he'd start smacking their twin girls around, too. He ends up committing suicide after a bad fight with her.

So, she's survived one marine husband with PTSD. Does she really want to get involved with another marine with PTSD?

She and Tuf have known each other since they were kids. He asked her out numerous times in high school, but she always said 'no.' There's a bit of bad blood between their families.

She's now raising her twin four-year-old daughters, Samantha "Sammie" and Cassandra "Sadie," alone.


THINGS I LIKED

a.) When Tuf takes charge of things, Cheyenne just flat-out tells him he needs to discuss things with her first and not just make decisions that involve her and the twins by himself.

I like when women know what they want or don't want in a relationship and just flat-out tell the hero, "Look. I need x, y and z. If you do p, q, or r, I'm going to kick you to the curb." I like this because 1.) men aren't psychic. Just tell men what you want straight out. It's for the best. 2.) I like women who are experienced enough to know what works for them and what doesn't. 3.) I like women who have the ovaries to tell the hero this. It shows some backbone, and I like it.

b.) I liked Tuf's history as a marine, and his PTSD was handled well, I think. He was fucked up in the head. I think Warren portrayed it in a good way, not in a maudlin way or in an insensitive way.

c.) The kids were cute. One funny scene involved them getting a present of some rescue horses who were calm, old, and possibly comatose.

"This is your horse. Do you want to pet her?"

Sammie's eyes opened wide and Tuf glanced at Cheyenne. She nodded.

"Does she bite?" Sammie asked, shocking both adults.

"Um... no," he said with certainty. He wasn't sure the horse was even breathing much less less have the energy to injure someone.

The descriptions of these sedate horses were making me laugh, not gonna lie.


THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

The book was a bit contrived at times, and the conflict wasn't really worrying me any.


HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?

No on-page sex. So I have no idea what they are doing in bed.


TL;DR Moderately entertaining book about a marine with PTSD getting together with the woman he had a crush on in high school. There's nothing really bad about it, but neither is anything really shining here.


ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Holiday/Christmas Romance
Military Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Widow Heroine
Rape/Abuse Survivor
He's a Rodeo Cowboy and Former Marine, She's Sells Cowgirl Jewelry on the Internet

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book in the Harts of the Rodeo series, this was an excellent story. Tuf has finally come home, two years after returning from Afghanistan and not seeing or talking with his family that whole time. The family has worried about him, but tries to give him the space he needs. I really like both Tuf and Cheyenne. Through the previous books Tuf has been mentioned, missed and worried about. When he makes it home he is surprised by all the changes. I liked the way that he sat the family down and explained where he had been and why he hadn't been in touch. The only thing he didn't tell them about was his nightmares, because he didn't want to worry them more. I really liked the way he was honest about seeing the counselors and that he was working through his problems. I also really liked the way that he helped Cheyenne's little girls with their own issues and the way that he fell so hard for her. It was nice seeing the romance develop over time. Tuf was worried about his nightmares and how they would affect his relationship with Cheyenne, and they did end up causing him to pull away from her. It took finding the source of his nightmares for him to realize that what he really needed was Cheyenne. Meanwhile Cheyenne was having to deal with her own issues regarding her relationship with Tuf. Her late husband had returned from war also suffering. He did not deal with it well and ended up being abusive before finally killing himself. She was reluctant to get involved with Tuf for fear of having the same problems. His patience soon showed her that he was totally different and she soon hoped for a happy future. She was devastated when he pulled away after one of his nightmare episodes, and only wanted him to trust her enough to let her help. I loved the way they finally worked everything out, and the conclusion of the rodeo was fantastic. The little girls were wonderful and I really enjoyed seeing the way they had Tuf wrapped around their little fingers. The other great part about this book was seeing how the rodeo work went and seeing Midnight reach his potential.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Harts of the Rodeo

[Aisha Oaktree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed on The Bewitching Bibliophile

This is a solid strong story about second chance romance and I'm totally here for it. Tomas is a Marine heading for home for the first time in over 6 years, he's avoided home due to the way the war has changed him and he's not sure how everyone back home is going to treat him. On his way home he runs into a little girl walking all by herself and when he stops to help discovers her mama is none other than his high school crush Cheyenne and she's also home for the first time in a long time.

The characters were well written even though at times the story was dominated by Tomas's side it was still told by both of them. Tomas's story was a stronger tale and he was way more detailed than Cheyenne was so I liked him more because I felt we got more from him than from her. Cheyenne is home for the first time in years and is trying to rebuild because her life didn't quite go the way she expected. Home with a set of twins who are determined to establish themselves and are putting her at her wits end, she doesn't have time for a marine cowboy even if being with him has always been her wish.

When they were young their parents feud kept them from establishing a good relationship no matter how much they both wanted it, and so they moved on a little bit dented but not broken . Pride and family drama kept them apart then, but they do a terrible job of maintaining their friendship later and once again let pride and an inflated sense of protectiveness drive them apart.

I really loved the strong familial bonds they both had, & that their families were willing to help them anyway they could. Tomas was doing everything to make himself whole again after what happened during his last mission, hes dealing with PTSD and I loved the way the author handled the discussion of therapy and medication without over dramatizing it but neither making it some dirty secret. It takes Tomas a while to come to terms with being the cowboy and the marine and how those would make him the man for Cheyenne.

I loved that Cheyenne knew right off the bat that they needed to work on themselves before they threw in together but was willing to do the work anyway. Scared an Scarred by her past, she has her own level of PTSD to work trough and she's managed not to confront it because she has her daughters to worry about, but as the story progresses she starts to work on her own things as well.

The girls were a sweet and cute addition to the story and I loved how distinct they were. I love how their casual acceptance of Tomas helped to make him closer to being whole and they didn't realize how much that meant.

I really loved the description of the Rodeo season and how that played an important part in the story. It wasn't overly glamorized the Rodeo was just another part of the story and it helped to move them further along, and that final scene is definitely one of my favorites. Even though it's a small book Linda packed a lot in a really gave them the time needed to make this story really work. I love it.


★★★1/2
If you love cowboys, Marines, and second chances, then you're going to love this.
Happy Reading my loves,

[Sarah - Exploring All Genres · Rating 4 out of 5]

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review via NetGalley.

Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming is the sixth and final book in the Harts of the Rodeo series, however it can be read as a standalone novel.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. At long last we get introduced to Tomas who has been mentioned in all the previous books in this series but had not yet made his appearance. All the other characters that have been in the previous novels were also there to help complement Tomas' return home and made it really feel like the family oriented book/series that it is.

Though many of the characters have been seen previously they were all very well developed. Tomas is a really solid male lead character, he has his issues, most of which are related to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from having served in the military and it added a extra layer to him that made him more appealing to like. He has flaws but they don't bog down the story like some flawed characters do. If anything it was those flaws that really kept things moving as he tried to find a way to free himself from the nightmares and protect those he loves. Cheyenne was a perfect match for Tomas as well. They were both broken in different ways but it was this that made them a good match. They each wanted to protect the other from themselves while trying to help the other.

The flow of this story was also really good. Though the book spanned a year timeline wise it didn't feel rushed at all. Some books that try to push that much time into a single story lose the focus on the actual storyline and instead focus on moving time forward, but that was not the case with this book. The flow of time flet real, as things progressed int he rodeo, at the ranch and with the relationship. And it was this flow that allowed such an ease of reading that I was able to read this book in very little time.

The progression of Tomas and Cheyenne's relationship and their struggles with their own issues and that of each other added an extra feel to the book. You could see how one affected by PTSD would be guarded and not want to get close to someone for fear of hurting them and yet at the same time so desperately need others in their lives who could not only understand but help them as well.

Though I have read most of the Harts of the Rodeo series I have to say that this book was definitely one of my favorites. While others were slow or didn't have as appealing writing, Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming was everything I could have asked for a more. I would highly recommend this book, and the series as well, to anyone who enjoys romances, especially those with that western feel to them.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

Love wages a brave war against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This struggle is a strong thread throughout Tomas:Cowboy Homecoming.

Tuf Hart, a ‘born to ride’ cowboy and decorated marine, returns home to find he is sorely needed. The Hart family ranch is desperate for an infusion of money. He also finds Cheyenne, his high school dream girl, a widow and living with her father. His feelings for her have not changed, but he is in no condition to think about a relationship. His nightmares of war haunt him even after two years of counseling.

Cheyenne and her adorable but troubled four-year-old twin girls are trying to put their lives to right. Ryan, Cheyenne’s husband and the girls’ father, not able to deal with his PTSD, committed suicide but not before traumatizing his little family.

This is indeed a true love story but the most heart-warming and heart-breaking part involves Sadie and Sammie, the twins, trying to make sense out of events that destroyed their sense of security. They steal a reader's heart and before long give one a sense of hope for a ‘happy-ever-after’ even though the conflicts pile up.

The unshakeable family love is an ongoing thread in the story that holds strong and weaves a rich, meaningful design as every member of the family works toward a common cause. If you have enjoyed previous stories about “Harts of the Rodeo” you will see old acquaintances in Tomas:Cowboy Homecoming and get to see how their lives are moving along.

Linda Warren takes the reader behind the glitz and excitement of rodeo for a vicarious experience with the grinding hard work involved in being successful in the rodeo business. Some of the arena scenes are true attention-getters. But she is never far from love’s struggle to work its miracle for Tuf and Cheyenne—so-in-love for so long. The enormous load of emotional baggage they both have creates overwhelming obstacles.

While some of the story is predictable, there are some twists and turns, such as why Tuf Hart did not come home for two years after his discharge—a poignant story within a story. Also, four-year-old Sadie’s reason for running away repeatedly astounds. The story is written in such an entertaining way that the reader feels compelled to keep reading to be sure Sadie and Sammie are not disappointed and that they do get their “happy-ever-after—which, of course, means the adults have to get their act together. They do and in grand style!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

Tomas is the last of the Harts of the Rodeo continuity series. I know I have missed reading a few of them and hope to read them all. I cried,laughed and smiled throughout the book. Thier were a few love scenes that I skimmed over.
Marine Staff Sergeant Tomas "Tuf" Hart is finally home. He got out of the service two years ago but never came home. He called once and gave his mom his number. Nobody new where or what he was doing. Though a few months ago he was at a rodeo and saw someone from his family but did not stay around to catch up.
On his way home he saw a little girl walking in the road and thier were only a couple of ranches on and he stopped to see where she was going.
Sadie all she said was she was not supposed to talk to strangers. Then her mom was running franticly calling her name. Following her was another little girl her twin. Sadie was running away from home. Sadie is out going twin and Sammie was afraid to be left alone at all, hardly talk to anyone but her family.
Cheyenne Wright the mother he recongized right away. He had a crush on her in high school and asked her out after the third no he stopped asking. Cheyenne and Tuf families did not get along then. She told Tuf that she did not like him but that was a lie. He scared her and excited her at the same time. Her husband was in the war too but could not live with all the anger from it. She moved back in with her father the last year. Thier family now got along in fact her brother is marrying his sister.
The second time he saw Sadie running away he took her back home and told her he had runaway at 6. Sadie then told him why she was always running away to.
After that when he was out running in the morning he would sometimes stop and visit them.
The whole family were working as hard at going to all the rodeos they could to help pay off the ranch balloon payments. They had family meetings and discussed things and how they all could help each other and work together. It was lovely to see them pull together. It was nice to see how all the new couples were doing and changing.
I like Linda story telling. The twins were cute and changed so much. I was really envolved in seeing how Tuf was doing in the rodeo each event.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
11/27/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin American Romance 224pages

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at: HarlequinJunkie.com

This was the last book to the series Harts of Rodeo and in this one we finally learned all about the man we only heard glimpses of right through out the first five books. He has served his time as soldier come hero and now has returned home at last but not without the demons so many men of war bring back with them.

He suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) this illness can lead to blackouts,violent outbursts and forgetfullness to name but a few. Working with suffers of war related PTSD on a daily basis made me feel very connected to Tomas as I could understand exactly how difficult it can be when they return home and need to face people they love and not know what their reactions will be to the slightest of happenings.

Enter Cheyenne Wright mother to two of the most adorable 3 year old twins ever. She has been abused and mistreated by a military man before and in the end it very nearly cost her everything. This is the part I loved the author so gorgeously brought Cheynne's faith in men back and let her find Tomas and visa versa.

These two not only find each other but rescued each other. I was completely in love with the authors writing techniqe and she gave the series that perfect ending it needed.

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last installation of Harts of the Rodeos and tell the story of Tomas, the youngest brother of the Hart whom has appeared after two years of isolation from his family. His return to Thunder Ranch is a surprise to everyone and there are too many questions waiting for his answer. However, despite their curiosity, i like the way the siblings leave him alone until Tuf is able to talk and answered the questions of his whereabout. On his way home, he found a little girl; Sadie wondering along the highway and it turned to be Cheyenne’s twin daughter Cheyenne is Tuf’s first love and from his reactions, the feeling remain unchanged. However, Cheyenne has undergone traumatic experience from being beaten up by her husband who is experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and committed suicide and she is still recovering from it. Attraction between between them sparked but soon, the fact that Tuf is also having the same sickness as Cheyenne’s ex husband become an obstacle to their relationship.
I really like the author’s writing especially the part where Tuf explained the reason for his disappearance two years ago. As a reader, i really feel for him the anguished and the decisions that he has to make then. Overall, i enjoyed reading this book very much.!

[Germaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for cowboys, horses, and rodeos so I was predisposed to like this book. The story was good, and the author does a good job of depicting the world of rodeo cowboys without making it overly glamorous. What killed it for me was the author's writing style -- completely flat -- page after page of simple sentences with no variety in rhythm or tone. This flat tone makes her rather interesting H/h and supporting cast come across as stock characters with no personalities of their own. It's an OK read, but I have no desire to read the rest of the books in the series or anything else by this author.

[Rebecca Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the big reveal of where the hero had been for the last two years was cheesy as anything, I liked this brave attempt to address a pretty alpha guy's struggle with PTSD and reintegration after a military career. I was all set to give this sexy cowboy soldier four stars until the very end, when after a long period of silence and zero discussion of the issues between them he gave the heroine a "if you really love me you'll..." ultimatum. Such a turn-off so late in the game!

Otherwise this was a fun, heartwarming conclusion to the Harts of the Rodeo series and I would definitely pick up something else by Linda Warren.

[Michele Lacroix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I fell in love with Tomas, Tuff as he's called and with Cheyenne and her girl. Tuff suffers from PTSD from serving in the Marines for eight years and having been deployed in
Afghanistan. You can't help falling for him.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author and I will definitely look to check some more out. This is one of the stronger books of the series that I have read.

[Maya Joshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to write this test review

[Donna Alward · Rating 4 out of 5]

great ending to the Harts of the Rodeo series!