A Cowboy's Duty

Rodeo Rebels #5

by Marin Thomas

Never trust a man!
That's what Dixie Cash learned from her mother. That and fathers don't stick around. She's pretty independent, and doesn't need help from her baby's daddy, sexy rodeo rider and ex-soldier Gavin Tucker. But he seems determined to do right by her. Just as Dixie starts to imagine that together they might be a family, tragedy strikes--and Gavin shows his true colors. She knew he wasn't honorable!
After what Gavin went through in Afghanistan, he was more than happy to lose himself in the rodeo circuit--and in sweet Dixie's arms. But doing the right thing can be hard sometimes, and when Dixie--Gavin's lifeline--doesn't need him anymore, he's at a loss. His heart still longs for her, though he's not sure he deserves a second chance....

Genres: Romance, Westerns

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Welcome to my corner of Goodreads!

I was born in Janesville, Wisconsin. I played D-I Basketball for the University of Arizona in Tucson then married my college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony in Las Vegas. My husband and I are empty nesters living in Phoenix, Arizona.

I've written two women's fiction novels for Berkley Books and contemporary romances for Harlequin Books and Tule Publishing. To date I've published over 40 books. My women's fiction novel, The Promise of Forgiveness, won First Place in the 2017 Book Buyer's Best contest. My second novel, The Future She Left Behind was featured on Southern Living "Books we can't wait to read this fall" list and "was the Award Winner in the "Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit" category of the 2017 Best Book Awards."

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Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book love all of Marin Thomas books can't wait to read more books by her

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read for a rainy day at home. The story line could have been better developed and I really wish there was more spark between the main characters. I could not connect with Dixie. And Gavin was almost bland as the male lead. His personality was lacking.
The overall plot was typical, but this story has several funny one-liners. The random comic conversations add a lot to the book. I will say that the last paragraph was my favorite out of the entire book and that is when I finally felt some connection to the characters.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. When Dixie gets pregnant, at first she and Gavin have no plans to marry. She is very independent and has issues trusting the staying power of a man. Her mother didn't marry any of the fathers of Dixie's brothers. Gavin is still dealing with the effects of his time in Afghanistan and feels he's a bad bet as a husband. They decide to get engaged, bowing to pressure from Dixie's brothers and hoping that will give their child a more stable life. As Gavin spends more time with Dixie while helping her set up her business, he finds that when he is with her he is happy for the first time since his return. When tragedy happens and they end their engagement, Gavin doesn't know what to do. He's finally realized he loves her, but she wants nothing to do with him. I really liked both characters. I loved Dixie's ability to stand up to her brothers in most things. Some of their interactions were pretty funny. She also had her dream of setting up her soap business and I loved that she accepted Gavin's help to get it started. Her habit of expecting the worst from Gavin irritated me a bit, but I could see that she was working on it - until the end when she simply ended the engagement without telling him her feelings. Gavin was great too. I liked the way that he worked to help make Dixie's dream come true. He had been using the rodeos as a way to run from his PTSD, but his time with Dixie showed that he could overcome it. He didn't believe that he would be good for her because of it, though he finally realized that if he got some help maybe they could have a future after all. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Dixie's brothers.

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Dixie and Gavin’s one night of passion results in a pregnancy it sure throws their well ordered life into a tailspin.

Ex-soldier Gavin is dealing with PTSD and is happy to loose himself touring the Rodeo circuit; he is a rolling stone not looking for either a relationship or commitment, a baby on the way sure changes things. Dixie is a little spitfire who is fiercely independent and is not interested in being a responsibility to anyone.

Clearly Dixie and Gavin have a tough road to negotiate to reach their HEA; I really like how this couple works through their issues and put their baby’s wants and need before their own.

Dixie lives on her family Pecan farm with her six older brothers. The Cash family dynamics is very well written, all the teasing, the ribbing between the siblings is fun to read, but their protectiveness and love for Dixie will warm your heart.

A Cowboy’s Duty is a nice easy read, with down to earth characters; a story about family and love and sticking by each other through thick and thin no matter what hand life deals you.

My Blog: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

[Charlie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first by this author that I have read. All of the characters were great. I couldn't put this book down until I had finished it. Dixie is pregnant with Gavin's baby after the one time they spent together. She doesn't plan on asking for his help. She plans to raise the baby on her own but then he brothers find out and they tell her that if she doesn't tell the father than they will because they think that it is important that he take care of her and the baby.
Gavin hadn't had a clue about the baby but the minute he hears about it he feels he must be there but will his riding in the rodeos stand in the way and after he heard about the baby would he continue on with the rodeo I just had to know.
Then I thought everything might work out when another surprise came at the end. Which had me wondering once again. I just had to know what happened next.
I enjoyed reading this book and I hope to read more by this author.

[Gerri Sutter-Lauzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received A Cowboy's Duty as a gift and am in love with cowboy's right now. They sure can be stubborn and set in their ways, can't they? Especially when they've been in the service and in Afghanistan. Great read - one sitting. My biggest problem with the book? Too short. I loved the way they both were involved with rodeo. And her six protective older brothers! Now I need to know what happens with them....Thank you Marin - I will be reading more of your books for sure!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Spoilers***Great indruction in to the world of the Cash family.
While the story is a great book there are some points that deal with very real things such as miscarriage. It is a true love story that I did greatly enjoy and I do hope to read more by Marin Thomas.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Rodeo Rebels
Category: Heart & Home

[Deanna Vrba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin Tucker and Dixie Cash go through triumph and they go through loss... they lose their baby.... and find real love