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Rodeo Rebels #6
No Ordinary Cowboy
"Looking For Redemption..."Lucy Durango can't ever bring back her brother, killed in a drunk driving accident. But she's doing her best to honor his memory and to atone for her part in his death. She also can't seem to stop her feelings for Tony Bravo, the cowboy who broke her heart the same night her brother died. But if she gets close to Tony again, she risks losing her whole family this time--because they blame Tony for their tragic loss.
As a U.S. border agent, Tony sees his fair share of danger. But nothing stops his heart like seeing Lucy once more. Her family's anger toward Tony meant he and Lucy lost any future together. But Lucy has a hold on his heart again...and he's not at all sure he wants to let go of her this time.
As a U.S. border agent, Tony sees his fair share of danger. But nothing stops his heart like seeing Lucy once more. Her family's anger toward Tony meant he and Lucy lost any future together. But Lucy has a hold on his heart again...and he's not at all sure he wants to let go of her this time.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Marin Thomas
108 books671 followersWelcome 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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Keep up to date on all my writing news, travels and my obsession with Route 66 sign up for my Newsletter at https://www.marinthomas.com/sign-up-f...
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."
Come hang out with me...
FB https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marin-...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marinthomas...
Keep up to date on all my writing news, travels and my obsession with Route 66 sign up for my Newsletter at https://www.marinthomas.com/sign-up-f...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 19, 2018
Nothing made sense. There was no rhyme or reason to the universe. People just existed - targets with bull's-eyes on their backs, waiting for the next hit life hurled at them. Was it only yesterday that he and Michael had danced with pretty girls and wrestled bulls? Now his focus was on survival - physical and mental. 143
Okay, I don't really know where to begin on this book.
As usual, Thomas brings the drama. I think this is a strength of hers. She doesn't pull any punches, her romance novels are not cutesy and she doesn't shy away from difficult issues.
Lucinda grew up in the shadow of her brother, Michael. He was a bull-rider. Their dad is rich.
Michael died at age 25 because he drove drunk. Lucy blames herself. Michael had called her for a ride from the bar, and she refused to go down and pick him up. She holds herself responsible for Michael's death. But she doesn't tell anyone about this secret.
In Michael's memory, Lucy has created The Pony Express, a free taxi service that provides transportation to drunken cowboys (or anyone?) in her town. She hopes to prevent drunk driving and therefore prevent deaths. It's a good idea, a good charity, and she worked hard to create and maintain it.
When her federal grant is slashed in half, her father decides to bar her access to her trust fund. This leaves Lucy unable to fund The Pony Express. So she decides to ride bulls in the rodeo to raise money for her charity.
Our hero is a man with the unlikely name of "Tony Bravo." He is a Mexican-American and he is a Border Patrol Agent. I know what you're thinking, and yeah, it's complicated, but Thomas never addresses it. And she also refers to people as "illegals." I'd prefer even "illegal immigrants" over a simple "illegals," but I'm sure Thomas isn't concerned with this shit. His mother is María Bravo, and his father was Antonio Bravo. His mother is from Nogales.
Tony and Lucy were seeing each other on the DL two years ago for five months. They never told anyone because a.) Tony's mother wouldn't approve - she wants Tony to marry a Latina, and b.) Lucy's father wouldn't approve, he hates Tony and has the power and money to ruin Tony's life.
Then Michael was killed.
Since both Lucy and Tony blame themselves for Michael's death, they both think they are terrible people. They both think they are undeserving of love. They both think the other would hate them if they knew "the truth" about how each was "responsible" for Tony's death.
Lucy asks Tony for help learning how to ride bulls (since Tony is a bull rider). He disapproves of her being in rodeo, but grudgingly agrees in exchange for her letting him on her father's ranch to search for evidence of human trafficking.
ANALYSIS
THE HERO: TONY BRAVO
I wasn't really a fan of this man. For a lot of reasons.
REASON 1: Macho crap.
"Hey, I'm all for women's rights. I work with female border patrol agents and they handle the job as well as if not better than the male agents. But bull riding is best left to men."
...
"Don't you want to do something worthwhile with your business degree?"
Don't you want to go fuck yourself?
...
"Most cowboys are decent, God-fearing men who treat women with respect, whether they're drunk or not."
"That may be true, but a girl like you - " Tony leaned closer and his masculine scent went straight to Lucy's head " - would test any cowboy's morals and values."
So... what are you saying? She's prime rape material? I wish men would stop saying shit like this, it's SUPER CREEPY. Just don't.
...
Tony's take-charge attitude didn't offend Lucy. He wouldn't be a good border patrol agent if he wasn't self-assured and confident.
...
"I took a self-defense class in college." She left out that she'd dated her instructor, Keith, for nine months.
"I'm glad you know how to defend yourself, but you should have a partner if you're going to drive the van."
"Quit harassing me. You're worse than my parents."
Two things bother me about this one. One, she's leery of telling Tony about another man she dated. Why? He can't handle that shit? Bad sign. Two, his for-your-own-good bossy shit.
...
"You have no business on the back of a bull."
...
He's on board with her dad cutting her off from her trust fund.
Tony thought he might have done the same thing if it had been his daughter.
Wow, you are fucking disgusting. One, she's 24. A grown woman. Two, she started that charity to honor her dead brother and she's saving lives. It's a good thing. Three, even if you are like, "Women can't drive drunk men around, they will be raped," she is not the driver. She has a driver, Hector. She only does it on the rare times Hector can't go. Four, what kind of controlling for-her-own-good shit is this? Her dad is an asshole, and you want to be like him?!?!!? GTFO.
...
"Okay, then you must know someone on the circuit who'd be willing to show me the ropes."
Was she kidding? Once the guy got a good look at Lucy's pretty face and sexy body he'd try to do a lot more than just how her the ropes.
She's pretty, all men will want to fuck her. None will be interested in actually helping her. She should know this. He has to protect her. *vomiting*
...
"I call the shots." He leaned over the table and lowered his voice. "You'll practice until your sweet little fanny is too sore to sit on."
...
He'd give her a few days to search for a new bull-riding mentor, but he was confident she'd crawl back to him.
I just don't find the prospect of her having to deal with this, "Okay, little lady, I'm going to make the decisions around here, but it's for your own good!" shit for the rest of her life appealing. She doesn't need two fathers.
There's also stuff like:
Tony had been an amazing lover, and he'd taught her things about her body that she hadn't known she could do.
I just find this kind of phrasing gross. I'm turned-off by most insinuations authors make about sex being about teaching, learning, tutoring, etc. etc. and not about love, closeness, caring, etc. which is what I view sex as and what turns me on about sex. Whenever authors refer to sex between people as "lessons, teaching, learning," etc. etc. or make it sound like sex is some kind of skill that you will have an exam on later, I am blanching. It's not appealing to me at all. I like sex to be about stuff like people caring for each other, or loving each other, or giving each other happiness etc. etc.
It may be true - perhaps Tony did show her things about her body she didn't know before - but I find it a gross way to describe sex.
Then, we have Tony's continued, to-her-face insistence that Lucy is a "spoiled rich girl." Let's take a look.
"I underestimated you."
"How so?"
"You're a rich, spoiled girl." 47
Every time he's like this, I'm miffed. For one thing, fucking rude. Secondly, untrue. The heroine may be stupid at times, but she doesn't strike me as spoiled. Thirdly, - and I always think this - you are insulting YOURSELF, hombre. YOU are the one who is in love with her. YOU are the one who was sleeping with her for five months. YOU are the one who is gaga over her. So... what the fuck does this say about you?!!??!
Lucy had matured into a self-confident young woman capable of holding her own with him, and Tony found that sexy as all get-out. 65
Sigh. What did you think of her two years ago when you were fucking her on the regular, hmmmm? Doesn't speak well of you.
"If Shannon can do it, so can I."
"Shannon's experienced and she'd not a spoiled little rich girl." 129
Is this REALLY what you think about the woman you love? Sad. Not only sad for her, but sad for you if you REALLY believe you are going to spend the rest of your life with a woman you see as spoiled and immature. If you DON'T really believe this, then you are simply an asshole who enjoys hurting his woman with words, which is also disgusting. So cut it out.
THE HEROINE: LUCINDA DURANGO
Blonde haired and blue eyed, of course, since they are pairing her with a Latino man. I see this very often in romances. Gotta play up the contrasts.
I liked Lucy better than Tony. She didn't seem spoiled to me. I liked that she set up a free taxi service for drunks in honor of her dead brother and to prevent deaths. I liked how she really cared about this and worked hard to keep it going. It really mattered to her and she fought hard for it.
She's adequate in self-defense, she's determined, and she's hard-working. And look how she responds to Tony dissing people who use her service.
"I never imagined you caring about what happens to lowlifes."
"Just because a cowboy drinks a little too much doesn't mean he's scum. Most of the guys who catch a lift home from the Pony Express are hardworking ranch hands or down-on-their-luck rodeo cowboys." 47
My biggest problem with Lucy is that sometimes she is unimaginably stupid. Once, Tony catches her lying on the ground with binoculars, spying on the mine, trying to watch for the human traffickers. I don't know what the fuck she's thinking.
Later, she actually tries to insist Tony let her come along on the stakeout. I was like, "What?!" He's a Border Patrol Agent, you can't just be like "I'm coming along on your cartel bust." It was really baffling to me how dumb Lucy could be at times. Only when it came to Tony's job did this really crop up.
She also just obeys Tony's mother when Tony's mother tells her to stay the hell away from her son.
"You're right, Last night was a mistake. It won't happen again."... She loved Tony enough to respect Maria's wishes and not become involved with him. 158
Like, no. For one thing, María doesn't even know their history. She doesn't even know they were secretly dating for five months two years ago. Two, her son is a grown-ass man. 27. He can fuck whomever he wants. He's an adult. Three, and perhaps most importantly, it's none of María's business whom Tony decides to fuck.
On Lucy's part, her decision is very immature and wrong. She a.) doesn't tell Tony about his mother interfering in their relationship, which in my opinion is a big no-no between lovers. Talk about that shit. And b.) she decides to 'honor María's request' by simply ghosting Tony. Doesn't return his calls, stops talking to him... It's horrible, jerk, immature behavior not fitting of a 24-year-old.
THE PARENTS
Pretty much all the parents in here were getting on my nerves. But by the end, the mothers have good conversations with their offspring.
Lucy's mom isn't evil, but she is very concerned about appearances. She hovers over Lucy and tries to control her - not to the extent of Lucy's father, but still.
A twenty-four-year-old shouldn't have to report in to her mother, but Michael's death had changed the family dynamic in more ways than size. Sonja Durango wanted to know every move her daughter made. Full of guilt, Lucy had been happy to keep her mother informed of her whereabouts, believing it would only be a matter of time before she got over her fear of something happening to Lucy. But months turned into a year , and now two, and still her mother hadn't eased up on monitoring Lucy's activities. 31
But at 77%, Lucy and Sonja have a good, honest talk. They talk about spreading Michael's ashes. They talk about Lucy's future. They talk about how hard it is to move on from Michael's death.
Thomas gives Tony a touching scene with his mother, as well. They finally sit down and talk things out at 91%. He tells her about dating Lucy on the DL for five months. He calls her on her insistence that he marry a Latina. He challenges her to face her views on interracial marriages. They discuss why she's been against him being with a white woman. I like how Thomas just tackles this. They talk about his friendship with Michael and how he blames himself for Michael's death. She confesses about warning Lucy away from him.
I don't know what Thomas is saying about fathers, here. You can't reason with them? They can't change or grow? Seems like only the mothers in this story offer their children catharsis and forgiveness. Well, Lucy's dad is really who I'm talking about, Tony's father is dead.
EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
As per usual, Thomas tackles interracial dating. She also talks about emotions, she's always been one to paint life as difficult and flawed, and shows her MCs struggling with problems. She often sets up her MCs with sad backstories. However, her great strength is that she isn't maudlin or tear-jerking. Instead, she tries to deal with realistic problems in realistic ways. Life isn't perfect, and she tries to populate her books with flawed MCs who have to live in a flawed world.
In the end, Lucy accepted that no matter how awful she felt, how much she regretted her actions, how hard she worked to make amends for her past, there was no way to fix this. Nothing would bring Michael back. 189
Both the hero and the heroine are suffering in this book. It's valid suffering. They both did wrong and they know it. They have to live with it. They blame themselves for Michael's death, and the blame isn't even misplaced, it's valid. That's very tough, it's crippling. Nice choice on Thomas. And she doesn't absolve anyone, either.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
It's completely off-page. There are some described kisses which aren't technically bad, although I'm not interested in kissing this guy so my interest is minimal.
But the sex is off-page, I have no idea how these two are in bed with each other.
Was she sure she wanted to make love to Tony when he'd already told her there was no second chance for them?
Was she sure she wanted to lie in the arms of a man who believed he'd been the cause of her brother's death?
Was she sure she wanted to be with the man she'd fallen in love with two years ago and had never stopped loving? 153
At least they use a condom.
Oh, there IS a disgusting, disgusting scene where she falls into manure, and gets her hands all full of manure, and then makes out with Tony. It was sick. Thomas is playing this as 'cute' and 'romantic' and 'funny,' but honestly it's sickening. Don't know how she can expect me to react to that with anything other than disgust.
Oh, and Tony's ex is in here. Evita. She and Tony dated for seven months (after he left Lucy) and I guess we are supposed to believe that he proposed to her. Evita and Lucy meet, it's awkward, but neither hates the other and neither is an asshole. I'm not sure if you like that or not. For me, it's a plus. On the other hand, we have to remember that Lucy won't even tell Tony that she dated Keith for nine months. So we have a little bit of an equity problem IMO.
TL;DR Even though I don't always like Thomas's books, I have to give her credit. One, she's not boring. She holds my interest. Two, she often tackles interracial dating. This can be difficult. I like how she approaches it head-on. She has varying degrees of success, but she's doing it. Three, unlike a lot of romance authors, Thomas tries to paint a realistic world. Brain damage, trailer-park living, divorce, being a single parent, living in poverty, being an alcoholic... Thomas tackles numerous tough-but-real issues in her books. Even though I don't always like them, I do admire and respect her bravery and frankness.
I didn't like Tony. I could forgive Lucy her stupidity, even though that didn't fit in with her character - but his machismo and snide remarks about the heroine disgusted me. I couldn't understand why he kept telling her she was spoiled. She clearly wasn't, and he didn't actually believe this IMO, so why was he hurting her over and over again?
He was my biggest problem with the book.
Interesting, held my attention for the entire book, but Thomas didn't give me a hero I respected or wanted to end up with the heroine.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Multicultural/Interracial Romance - He's Latino and she's white
Second Chance Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Police Romance - He's a Border Patrol Agent
He's a Border Patrol Agent and Bullrider, She has a business degree, but Runs a Charity
Okay, I don't really know where to begin on this book.
As usual, Thomas brings the drama. I think this is a strength of hers. She doesn't pull any punches, her romance novels are not cutesy and she doesn't shy away from difficult issues.
Lucinda grew up in the shadow of her brother, Michael. He was a bull-rider. Their dad is rich.
Michael died at age 25 because he drove drunk. Lucy blames herself. Michael had called her for a ride from the bar, and she refused to go down and pick him up. She holds herself responsible for Michael's death. But she doesn't tell anyone about this secret.
In Michael's memory, Lucy has created The Pony Express, a free taxi service that provides transportation to drunken cowboys (or anyone?) in her town. She hopes to prevent drunk driving and therefore prevent deaths. It's a good idea, a good charity, and she worked hard to create and maintain it.
When her federal grant is slashed in half, her father decides to bar her access to her trust fund. This leaves Lucy unable to fund The Pony Express. So she decides to ride bulls in the rodeo to raise money for her charity.
Our hero is a man with the unlikely name of "Tony Bravo." He is a Mexican-American and he is a Border Patrol Agent. I know what you're thinking, and yeah, it's complicated, but Thomas never addresses it. And she also refers to people as "illegals." I'd prefer even "illegal immigrants" over a simple "illegals," but I'm sure Thomas isn't concerned with this shit. His mother is María Bravo, and his father was Antonio Bravo. His mother is from Nogales.
Tony and Lucy were seeing each other on the DL two years ago for five months. They never told anyone because a.) Tony's mother wouldn't approve - she wants Tony to marry a Latina, and b.) Lucy's father wouldn't approve, he hates Tony and has the power and money to ruin Tony's life.
Then Michael was killed.
Since both Lucy and Tony blame themselves for Michael's death, they both think they are terrible people. They both think they are undeserving of love. They both think the other would hate them if they knew "the truth" about how each was "responsible" for Tony's death.
Lucy asks Tony for help learning how to ride bulls (since Tony is a bull rider). He disapproves of her being in rodeo, but grudgingly agrees in exchange for her letting him on her father's ranch to search for evidence of human trafficking.
ANALYSIS
THE HERO: TONY BRAVO
I wasn't really a fan of this man. For a lot of reasons.
REASON 1: Macho crap.
"Hey, I'm all for women's rights. I work with female border patrol agents and they handle the job as well as if not better than the male agents. But bull riding is best left to men."
...
"Don't you want to do something worthwhile with your business degree?"
Don't you want to go fuck yourself?
...
"Most cowboys are decent, God-fearing men who treat women with respect, whether they're drunk or not."
"That may be true, but a girl like you - " Tony leaned closer and his masculine scent went straight to Lucy's head " - would test any cowboy's morals and values."
So... what are you saying? She's prime rape material? I wish men would stop saying shit like this, it's SUPER CREEPY. Just don't.
...
Tony's take-charge attitude didn't offend Lucy. He wouldn't be a good border patrol agent if he wasn't self-assured and confident.
...
"I took a self-defense class in college." She left out that she'd dated her instructor, Keith, for nine months.
"I'm glad you know how to defend yourself, but you should have a partner if you're going to drive the van."
"Quit harassing me. You're worse than my parents."
Two things bother me about this one. One, she's leery of telling Tony about another man she dated. Why? He can't handle that shit? Bad sign. Two, his for-your-own-good bossy shit.
...
"You have no business on the back of a bull."
...
He's on board with her dad cutting her off from her trust fund.
Tony thought he might have done the same thing if it had been his daughter.
Wow, you are fucking disgusting. One, she's 24. A grown woman. Two, she started that charity to honor her dead brother and she's saving lives. It's a good thing. Three, even if you are like, "Women can't drive drunk men around, they will be raped," she is not the driver. She has a driver, Hector. She only does it on the rare times Hector can't go. Four, what kind of controlling for-her-own-good shit is this? Her dad is an asshole, and you want to be like him?!?!!? GTFO.
...
"Okay, then you must know someone on the circuit who'd be willing to show me the ropes."
Was she kidding? Once the guy got a good look at Lucy's pretty face and sexy body he'd try to do a lot more than just how her the ropes.
She's pretty, all men will want to fuck her. None will be interested in actually helping her. She should know this. He has to protect her. *vomiting*
...
"I call the shots." He leaned over the table and lowered his voice. "You'll practice until your sweet little fanny is too sore to sit on."
...
He'd give her a few days to search for a new bull-riding mentor, but he was confident she'd crawl back to him.
I just don't find the prospect of her having to deal with this, "Okay, little lady, I'm going to make the decisions around here, but it's for your own good!" shit for the rest of her life appealing. She doesn't need two fathers.
There's also stuff like:
Tony had been an amazing lover, and he'd taught her things about her body that she hadn't known she could do.
I just find this kind of phrasing gross. I'm turned-off by most insinuations authors make about sex being about teaching, learning, tutoring, etc. etc. and not about love, closeness, caring, etc. which is what I view sex as and what turns me on about sex. Whenever authors refer to sex between people as "lessons, teaching, learning," etc. etc. or make it sound like sex is some kind of skill that you will have an exam on later, I am blanching. It's not appealing to me at all. I like sex to be about stuff like people caring for each other, or loving each other, or giving each other happiness etc. etc.
It may be true - perhaps Tony did show her things about her body she didn't know before - but I find it a gross way to describe sex.
Then, we have Tony's continued, to-her-face insistence that Lucy is a "spoiled rich girl." Let's take a look.
"I underestimated you."
"How so?"
"You're a rich, spoiled girl." 47
Every time he's like this, I'm miffed. For one thing, fucking rude. Secondly, untrue. The heroine may be stupid at times, but she doesn't strike me as spoiled. Thirdly, - and I always think this - you are insulting YOURSELF, hombre. YOU are the one who is in love with her. YOU are the one who was sleeping with her for five months. YOU are the one who is gaga over her. So... what the fuck does this say about you?!!??!
Lucy had matured into a self-confident young woman capable of holding her own with him, and Tony found that sexy as all get-out. 65
Sigh. What did you think of her two years ago when you were fucking her on the regular, hmmmm? Doesn't speak well of you.
"If Shannon can do it, so can I."
"Shannon's experienced and she'd not a spoiled little rich girl." 129
Is this REALLY what you think about the woman you love? Sad. Not only sad for her, but sad for you if you REALLY believe you are going to spend the rest of your life with a woman you see as spoiled and immature. If you DON'T really believe this, then you are simply an asshole who enjoys hurting his woman with words, which is also disgusting. So cut it out.
THE HEROINE: LUCINDA DURANGO
Blonde haired and blue eyed, of course, since they are pairing her with a Latino man. I see this very often in romances. Gotta play up the contrasts.
I liked Lucy better than Tony. She didn't seem spoiled to me. I liked that she set up a free taxi service for drunks in honor of her dead brother and to prevent deaths. I liked how she really cared about this and worked hard to keep it going. It really mattered to her and she fought hard for it.
She's adequate in self-defense, she's determined, and she's hard-working. And look how she responds to Tony dissing people who use her service.
"I never imagined you caring about what happens to lowlifes."
"Just because a cowboy drinks a little too much doesn't mean he's scum. Most of the guys who catch a lift home from the Pony Express are hardworking ranch hands or down-on-their-luck rodeo cowboys." 47
My biggest problem with Lucy is that sometimes she is unimaginably stupid. Once, Tony catches her lying on the ground with binoculars, spying on the mine, trying to watch for the human traffickers. I don't know what the fuck she's thinking.
Later, she actually tries to insist Tony let her come along on the stakeout. I was like, "What?!" He's a Border Patrol Agent, you can't just be like "I'm coming along on your cartel bust." It was really baffling to me how dumb Lucy could be at times. Only when it came to Tony's job did this really crop up.
She also just obeys Tony's mother when Tony's mother tells her to stay the hell away from her son.
"You're right, Last night was a mistake. It won't happen again."... She loved Tony enough to respect Maria's wishes and not become involved with him. 158
Like, no. For one thing, María doesn't even know their history. She doesn't even know they were secretly dating for five months two years ago. Two, her son is a grown-ass man. 27. He can fuck whomever he wants. He's an adult. Three, and perhaps most importantly, it's none of María's business whom Tony decides to fuck.
On Lucy's part, her decision is very immature and wrong. She a.) doesn't tell Tony about his mother interfering in their relationship, which in my opinion is a big no-no between lovers. Talk about that shit. And b.) she decides to 'honor María's request' by simply ghosting Tony. Doesn't return his calls, stops talking to him... It's horrible, jerk, immature behavior not fitting of a 24-year-old.
THE PARENTS
Pretty much all the parents in here were getting on my nerves. But by the end, the mothers have good conversations with their offspring.
Lucy's mom isn't evil, but she is very concerned about appearances. She hovers over Lucy and tries to control her - not to the extent of Lucy's father, but still.
A twenty-four-year-old shouldn't have to report in to her mother, but Michael's death had changed the family dynamic in more ways than size. Sonja Durango wanted to know every move her daughter made. Full of guilt, Lucy had been happy to keep her mother informed of her whereabouts, believing it would only be a matter of time before she got over her fear of something happening to Lucy. But months turned into a year , and now two, and still her mother hadn't eased up on monitoring Lucy's activities. 31
But at 77%, Lucy and Sonja have a good, honest talk. They talk about spreading Michael's ashes. They talk about Lucy's future. They talk about how hard it is to move on from Michael's death.
Thomas gives Tony a touching scene with his mother, as well. They finally sit down and talk things out at 91%. He tells her about dating Lucy on the DL for five months. He calls her on her insistence that he marry a Latina. He challenges her to face her views on interracial marriages. They discuss why she's been against him being with a white woman. I like how Thomas just tackles this. They talk about his friendship with Michael and how he blames himself for Michael's death. She confesses about warning Lucy away from him.
I don't know what Thomas is saying about fathers, here. You can't reason with them? They can't change or grow? Seems like only the mothers in this story offer their children catharsis and forgiveness. Well, Lucy's dad is really who I'm talking about, Tony's father is dead.
EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
As per usual, Thomas tackles interracial dating. She also talks about emotions, she's always been one to paint life as difficult and flawed, and shows her MCs struggling with problems. She often sets up her MCs with sad backstories. However, her great strength is that she isn't maudlin or tear-jerking. Instead, she tries to deal with realistic problems in realistic ways. Life isn't perfect, and she tries to populate her books with flawed MCs who have to live in a flawed world.
In the end, Lucy accepted that no matter how awful she felt, how much she regretted her actions, how hard she worked to make amends for her past, there was no way to fix this. Nothing would bring Michael back. 189
Both the hero and the heroine are suffering in this book. It's valid suffering. They both did wrong and they know it. They have to live with it. They blame themselves for Michael's death, and the blame isn't even misplaced, it's valid. That's very tough, it's crippling. Nice choice on Thomas. And she doesn't absolve anyone, either.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
It's completely off-page. There are some described kisses which aren't technically bad, although I'm not interested in kissing this guy so my interest is minimal.
But the sex is off-page, I have no idea how these two are in bed with each other.
Was she sure she wanted to make love to Tony when he'd already told her there was no second chance for them?
Was she sure she wanted to lie in the arms of a man who believed he'd been the cause of her brother's death?
Was she sure she wanted to be with the man she'd fallen in love with two years ago and had never stopped loving? 153
At least they use a condom.
Oh, there IS a disgusting, disgusting scene where she falls into manure, and gets her hands all full of manure, and then makes out with Tony. It was sick. Thomas is playing this as 'cute' and 'romantic' and 'funny,' but honestly it's sickening. Don't know how she can expect me to react to that with anything other than disgust.
Oh, and Tony's ex is in here. Evita. She and Tony dated for seven months (after he left Lucy) and I guess we are supposed to believe that he proposed to her. Evita and Lucy meet, it's awkward, but neither hates the other and neither is an asshole. I'm not sure if you like that or not. For me, it's a plus. On the other hand, we have to remember that Lucy won't even tell Tony that she dated Keith for nine months. So we have a little bit of an equity problem IMO.
TL;DR Even though I don't always like Thomas's books, I have to give her credit. One, she's not boring. She holds my interest. Two, she often tackles interracial dating. This can be difficult. I like how she approaches it head-on. She has varying degrees of success, but she's doing it. Three, unlike a lot of romance authors, Thomas tries to paint a realistic world. Brain damage, trailer-park living, divorce, being a single parent, living in poverty, being an alcoholic... Thomas tackles numerous tough-but-real issues in her books. Even though I don't always like them, I do admire and respect her bravery and frankness.
I didn't like Tony. I could forgive Lucy her stupidity, even though that didn't fit in with her character - but his machismo and snide remarks about the heroine disgusted me. I couldn't understand why he kept telling her she was spoiled. She clearly wasn't, and he didn't actually believe this IMO, so why was he hurting her over and over again?
He was my biggest problem with the book.
Interesting, held my attention for the entire book, but Thomas didn't give me a hero I respected or wanted to end up with the heroine.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Multicultural/Interracial Romance - He's Latino and she's white
Second Chance Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Police Romance - He's a Border Patrol Agent
He's a Border Patrol Agent and Bullrider, She has a business degree, but Runs a Charity
March 21, 2013
Very good book. Lucy and Tony were secretly dating at the time of her brother's death. Afterward they drifted apart, unable to deal with their grief and guilty feelings. Now Lucy runs a free taxi service for people who have had too much to drink. She needs to raise some money to keep it going and decides to try bull-riding as a fundraiser, and asks Tony for his help.
I really liked both Lucy and Tony. Lucy has loved Tony for years, but was unable to handle the guilty feelings over what she felt was her part in Michael's death. She has poured those feelings into her taxi service. Her parents don't approve of her efforts and give her no support. When she decides on bull-riding she swallows her pride and asks Tony for help in learning how to do it. I really loved her determination to do anything she can to keep her service going. Seeing Tony again made her realize that her feelings for him had never gone away but she tried hard to keep them from affecting her plans. It also became obvious that he still had feelings for her, but she was sure that those feelings would die if he knew about her part in her brother's death. She also had to deal with her parents' feelings toward Tony, and her own feeling that she had never been good enough to receive her father's love. I loved the way that she stood up to both Tony and her father to do what she felt needed to be done. I think she was a lot stronger than either of them gave her credit for.
Tony had been Michael's best friend. They competed together in rodeos and hung out together when they could. Tony felt guilty for not being there for his friend the night he died and as a result ended his relationship with Lucy. He was sure she would hate him for that. When she came to him for help he tried to talk her out of it but gave in when he saw her determination to compete with or without his help. His feelings for her were as strong as ever and he was determined to keep her safe. I loved watching him unsuccessfully fighting those feelings. As a border patrol officer he was also investigating a human trafficking ring. He enlisted Lucy's help to get access to her father's land for that investigation. I also enjoyed seeing how good he was at that job. As part of his guilty feelings he had requested a transfer away from the area in an effort to escape the memories.
There was a lot of pain in this story as both Lucy and Tony had to deal with Michael's death and the hole it created in their lives. They had to learn to accept that nothing could change the events of that night. I liked seeing the way those events impacted more than just Tony and Lucy. I loved the dog Maddie and her part in the story. The epilogue was great - brought things to a very satisfying conclusion.
I really liked both Lucy and Tony. Lucy has loved Tony for years, but was unable to handle the guilty feelings over what she felt was her part in Michael's death. She has poured those feelings into her taxi service. Her parents don't approve of her efforts and give her no support. When she decides on bull-riding she swallows her pride and asks Tony for help in learning how to do it. I really loved her determination to do anything she can to keep her service going. Seeing Tony again made her realize that her feelings for him had never gone away but she tried hard to keep them from affecting her plans. It also became obvious that he still had feelings for her, but she was sure that those feelings would die if he knew about her part in her brother's death. She also had to deal with her parents' feelings toward Tony, and her own feeling that she had never been good enough to receive her father's love. I loved the way that she stood up to both Tony and her father to do what she felt needed to be done. I think she was a lot stronger than either of them gave her credit for.
Tony had been Michael's best friend. They competed together in rodeos and hung out together when they could. Tony felt guilty for not being there for his friend the night he died and as a result ended his relationship with Lucy. He was sure she would hate him for that. When she came to him for help he tried to talk her out of it but gave in when he saw her determination to compete with or without his help. His feelings for her were as strong as ever and he was determined to keep her safe. I loved watching him unsuccessfully fighting those feelings. As a border patrol officer he was also investigating a human trafficking ring. He enlisted Lucy's help to get access to her father's land for that investigation. I also enjoyed seeing how good he was at that job. As part of his guilty feelings he had requested a transfer away from the area in an effort to escape the memories.
There was a lot of pain in this story as both Lucy and Tony had to deal with Michael's death and the hole it created in their lives. They had to learn to accept that nothing could change the events of that night. I liked seeing the way those events impacted more than just Tony and Lucy. I loved the dog Maddie and her part in the story. The epilogue was great - brought things to a very satisfying conclusion.
April 8, 2013
No Ordinary Cowboy" by Marin Thomas is a Harlequin American Romance, Marin Thomas last book in her Rodeo Rebels. "No Ordinary Cowboy" is a great book to curl up on the end of the couch to read. Lucy Durango, went to see her friend Shannon( who rides bulls) at the rodeo to ask her a favor. Lucy want to ride on the bulls for the next three up coming rodeos; so she can raise money for her Pony Express business; in honor of Michael ( Lucy brother) who die while driving drunk. Lucy blames herself for her brother death, he call her and ask her to come get him the night that he died, instead she told him to call their father. Lucy run into her old flame Tony Bravo ( Lucy brother best friend & border patrol agent), she let him know her plans, about riding bulls in the rodeo. He inform her she was crazy and could get herself kill. Tony agree to help her, if she could let him check out the old mine on her family property.He let her know, that the cartel was bringing young women across the border. Lucy ask her father, if Tony could check out the mine.Lucy father, dislike Tony who he blame for Michael death. Tony left Lucy brother at the bar, night he died. Tony start training Lucy on how to ride the bull; but old feelings started to resurface between them. Each other afraid to tell the other that they to blame for Michael's death. Lucy father forbids her to ride on the bulls.You need to read "No Ordinary Cowboy" to find out if Lucy get to ride on the bulls at the rodeo, what happen on the Durango property & to Lucy; and who really to blame for Michael death. I truly enjoy reading & will read "No Ordinary Cowboy" again, give it five stars.Thanks, Marin for another great book.
August 7, 2014
No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas
Lucy Durango can't ever bring back her brother, killed in a drunk driving accident. But she's doing her best to honor his memory and to atone for her part in his death. She also can't seem to stop her feelings for Tony Bravo, the cowboy who broke her heart the same night her brother died. But if she gets close to Tony again, she risks losing her whole family this time—because they blame Tony for their tragic loss.
As a U.S. border agent, Tony sees his fair share of danger. But nothing stops his heart like seeing Lucy once more. Her family's anger toward Tony meant he and Lucy lost any future together. But Lucy has a hold on his heart again…and he's not at all sure he wants to let go of her this time.
What is Lucy's brother name?
Lucy whole family blame ----- for their tragic loss?
will Lucy and Tony be more than friends?
No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas is a 5 stars book.
I highly recommend No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Marin Thomas.
Cash Brothers
1. The Cowboy Next Door
2. Twins Under the Christmas Tree
3. Her Secret Cowboy
4. The Cowboy's Destiny
5. True Blue Cowboy
6. A Cowboy of Her Own
A Mistletoe Christmas
Lucy Durango can't ever bring back her brother, killed in a drunk driving accident. But she's doing her best to honor his memory and to atone for her part in his death. She also can't seem to stop her feelings for Tony Bravo, the cowboy who broke her heart the same night her brother died. But if she gets close to Tony again, she risks losing her whole family this time—because they blame Tony for their tragic loss.
As a U.S. border agent, Tony sees his fair share of danger. But nothing stops his heart like seeing Lucy once more. Her family's anger toward Tony meant he and Lucy lost any future together. But Lucy has a hold on his heart again…and he's not at all sure he wants to let go of her this time.
What is Lucy's brother name?
Lucy whole family blame ----- for their tragic loss?
will Lucy and Tony be more than friends?
No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas is a 5 stars book.
I highly recommend No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Marin Thomas.
Cash Brothers
1. The Cowboy Next Door
2. Twins Under the Christmas Tree
3. Her Secret Cowboy
4. The Cowboy's Destiny
5. True Blue Cowboy
6. A Cowboy of Her Own
A Mistletoe Christmas
April 7, 2013
In No Ordinary Cowboy by Marin Thomas Nothing has been the same since Lucy's brother Michael, a bull rider, died driving home from the bar after too much to drink one night 2 years ago. Lucy, her parents, and Tony, her brother's best friend (and Lucy's secret lover at the time) all harbor intense feelings of guilt over Michael's death, each blaming themselves. No one is happy, they are just going on with their life, trying to ease their guilt. For Lucy, this means running "The Pony Express", a non-profit business she started that gives cowboy's free rides home when they've had too much to drink. It also means getting over the heartbreak of losing Tony, who disappeared from her life the night Michael died. For Tony it means distancing himself, and ending his relationship with Lucy. It also means putting in for a transfer as a border patrol officer to another state, moving away from all the memories and guilt. For Lucy's parent's it means hovering over their remaining child and blaming Tony for Michael's death.Read More
October 27, 2013
Tony Bravo is so cute and he is a character that I like. he blamed himself for her brother accident.... I would recommend this book because I love Marin Thomas books
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June 30, 2016Miniseries: Rodeo Rebels
Category: Home and Family
Category: Home and Family
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