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Ladies and Legends #3
The Cowboy
book
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1990
253 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
398 books7,178 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 30, 2018
This is third in a series, but they're only related as a frame story and the characters from previous books don't play any role in this one. So you can read this one and not the others if you like, though I have no idea why you'd want to.
This was much more problematic than the other two. Rafe is arrogant and manipulative and more than a little mean. He isn't kind to anyone, ever, and that includes Margaret. And while we're assured that Margaret is a strong and modern woman we mostly see her backing down, making excuses, and ignoring bad behavior (and not just Rafe's). Worse than that, though, is that Rafe's behavior is explicitly labeled "masculine" and Margaret's weaknesses are implicitly labeled "feminine" and that just pissed me off.
There's a decent storyline with Rafe's mother and another with his sister that I liked a bit. And Krentz is a good enough writer that I wanted to see what came next, even though I didn't like either lead very much. So I'm going to go with two stars, even though it probably doesn't deserve them.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, so this would probably be nearing the middle of my steam tolerance if I had bothered to read them both. The sex is at the juncture where his arrogance and her weakness are at their worst so I didn't find them interesting or compelling. I skimmed the second ruthlessly and the first had me so disgusted I did my best to ignore that it happened.
This was much more problematic than the other two. Rafe is arrogant and manipulative and more than a little mean. He isn't kind to anyone, ever, and that includes Margaret. And while we're assured that Margaret is a strong and modern woman we mostly see her backing down, making excuses, and ignoring bad behavior (and not just Rafe's). Worse than that, though, is that Rafe's behavior is explicitly labeled "masculine" and Margaret's weaknesses are implicitly labeled "feminine" and that just pissed me off.
There's a decent storyline with Rafe's mother and another with his sister that I liked a bit. And Krentz is a good enough writer that I wanted to see what came next, even though I didn't like either lead very much. So I'm going to go with two stars, even though it probably doesn't deserve them.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, so this would probably be nearing the middle of my steam tolerance if I had bothered to read them both. The sex is at the juncture where his arrogance and her weakness are at their worst so I didn't find them interesting or compelling. I skimmed the second ruthlessly and the first had me so disgusted I did my best to ignore that it happened.
February 29, 2016
The Cowboy is the story of Margaret aka Maggie, who had her heart broken a year ago when she fell in love with a suit wearing, smooth talking cowboy who "used" her for inside knowledge against her than boss.
I didn't really enjoy this one, although I read to the very end, there just was nothing memorable about it. For our h to be a career romance writer I was expecting JAK's usual heroine who is a bit naive but charming in her romantic views of life. Sadly Maggie was too cold and plain old distrustful of the H to ever be considered romantic, and she writes romance for pete's sake!
Rafe was the typical broody H with one goal in mind, and that was getting his woman. Although he isn't much better than Maggie I did end of liking him just a tad bit more. He at least isn't wishy washy with his feelings and he explained Maggie's misconceptions about what really happened in their past that led to their explosive break up.
Overall for a romance this one was luke warm at best.
I didn't really enjoy this one, although I read to the very end, there just was nothing memorable about it. For our h to be a career romance writer I was expecting JAK's usual heroine who is a bit naive but charming in her romantic views of life. Sadly Maggie was too cold and plain old distrustful of the H to ever be considered romantic, and she writes romance for pete's sake!
Rafe was the typical broody H with one goal in mind, and that was getting his woman. Although he isn't much better than Maggie I did end of liking him just a tad bit more. He at least isn't wishy washy with his feelings and he explained Maggie's misconceptions about what really happened in their past that led to their explosive break up.
Overall for a romance this one was luke warm at best.
March 19, 2014
Her two best friends are both married now and Margaret is left alone in Seattle. Like them, she is a very successful author, and she enjoys her life and career. What she does not expect is to find Rafe Cassidy waiting for her in her own apartment when she gets back from Sarah and Gideon’s wedding. She really does not want to see him again after the way he broke her heart last year and used her in a business deal against her boss. But Rafe refuses to leave until she hears him out and gives them both a second chance. He wants her back in his life and he will do whatever it takes. Like setting her father up with his mother, and making a deal with her father to buy his company. If Maggie wants to talk to her father about this all, she will have to come to his ranch in Tucson, Arizona for a few weeks.
Maggie feels blackmailed, but she is concerned about her father and wants to know what is going on. At least Rafe’s mother dislikes her so she won’t be happy to see her again. That Rafe assures her his mother has changed her opinion does not make her believe it.
Rafe also swears that he has changed, that he does not spend all his time working anymore, but Maggie finds that hard to believe as well. The man she dated for two months barely had any time for her, and most of that time he wanted to spend in bed. And only at his convenience. Like his mother said, she was more suited to be his mistress than his wife. And Margaret refuses to be the kind of wife that Rafe will need or want. A woman who makes her husband and his career the single important thing in her life, to be his hostess and arm candy when he needs her. Margaret is proud of her own career, and she likes writing. She will not give that up.
But Rafe keeps pressuring her, and kissing her, and it is so hard to keep him at a distance. Especially as her father seems to be genuinely happy with Bev, and they want to get married. He also wants Rafe as her husband, as he thinks they belong together.
Still, Margaret does not give in easily to Rafe’s demands to get engaged; she never accepted his proposals last year either. She just knows she will be miserable with him. But a short affair might be doable.
Then there is Rafe’s younger sister who is in love with an artist, something Rafe is dead set against. Of course Margaret reams him out for that, no career is ever safe so he should not look down at an artist. After all, she is an artist as well, and her former career as a businesswoman went down the drain because of Rafe last year as well. So there is no job security anywhere. I enjoyed how she made him go to the gallery with her, and how she persuaded him to see things differently. She is not a pushover, Margaret. But she is a woman in love, and she will not have her heart broken by Rafe again.
So when he distrusts her loyalty again, she won’t stand for it!
I know this is a ‘90’s book, but I really dislike Rafe’s heavy handedness. He never takes no for an answer, he keeps pushing and demanding, and he keeps calling her Maggie instead of Margaret even though she despises it truly. He just never listens to her. So in my opinion, he has not really changed his ways, especially as he is plotting a deadly revenge against her former employer.
I liked Maggie, but I would not have stayed at the ranch when I had found out my father was fine and not being coerced or anything. Let Rafe work a bit harder for it, and do things on her turf and prove that he is changed. When his assistant shows up with work, he just goes at it and sends Maggie away to take a swim or something like that.
I liked Maggie, but I liked the previous two heroes more than Rafe. Rafe is a cowboy and multi million dollar businessman. He is just too dictatorial for my tastes. Too much used to giving orders and being obeyed immediately. Still Margaret did not give in too easily, but she did give in eventually and they got married very hastily.
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favourite authors. I discovered her books over 25 years ago and still can’t get enough of them. And lucky for me, I have not read all of them yet.
7 stars.
Maggie feels blackmailed, but she is concerned about her father and wants to know what is going on. At least Rafe’s mother dislikes her so she won’t be happy to see her again. That Rafe assures her his mother has changed her opinion does not make her believe it.
Rafe also swears that he has changed, that he does not spend all his time working anymore, but Maggie finds that hard to believe as well. The man she dated for two months barely had any time for her, and most of that time he wanted to spend in bed. And only at his convenience. Like his mother said, she was more suited to be his mistress than his wife. And Margaret refuses to be the kind of wife that Rafe will need or want. A woman who makes her husband and his career the single important thing in her life, to be his hostess and arm candy when he needs her. Margaret is proud of her own career, and she likes writing. She will not give that up.
But Rafe keeps pressuring her, and kissing her, and it is so hard to keep him at a distance. Especially as her father seems to be genuinely happy with Bev, and they want to get married. He also wants Rafe as her husband, as he thinks they belong together.
Still, Margaret does not give in easily to Rafe’s demands to get engaged; she never accepted his proposals last year either. She just knows she will be miserable with him. But a short affair might be doable.
Then there is Rafe’s younger sister who is in love with an artist, something Rafe is dead set against. Of course Margaret reams him out for that, no career is ever safe so he should not look down at an artist. After all, she is an artist as well, and her former career as a businesswoman went down the drain because of Rafe last year as well. So there is no job security anywhere. I enjoyed how she made him go to the gallery with her, and how she persuaded him to see things differently. She is not a pushover, Margaret. But she is a woman in love, and she will not have her heart broken by Rafe again.
So when he distrusts her loyalty again, she won’t stand for it!
I know this is a ‘90’s book, but I really dislike Rafe’s heavy handedness. He never takes no for an answer, he keeps pushing and demanding, and he keeps calling her Maggie instead of Margaret even though she despises it truly. He just never listens to her. So in my opinion, he has not really changed his ways, especially as he is plotting a deadly revenge against her former employer.
I liked Maggie, but I would not have stayed at the ranch when I had found out my father was fine and not being coerced or anything. Let Rafe work a bit harder for it, and do things on her turf and prove that he is changed. When his assistant shows up with work, he just goes at it and sends Maggie away to take a swim or something like that.
I liked Maggie, but I liked the previous two heroes more than Rafe. Rafe is a cowboy and multi million dollar businessman. He is just too dictatorial for my tastes. Too much used to giving orders and being obeyed immediately. Still Margaret did not give in too easily, but she did give in eventually and they got married very hastily.
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favourite authors. I discovered her books over 25 years ago and still can’t get enough of them. And lucky for me, I have not read all of them yet.
7 stars.
© 2014 Reviews by Aurian
August 8, 2020
Anything by JAK is an automatic read for me, but I really had a hard time with this one. It's early JAK and the hero is a product of his time--or rather a product of the Old West imposed on the corporate raider world of the '90's. The gunslinger and code of the West references were a bit heavy-handed throughout, but failed to excuse truly bad behavior by an autocratic hero. Rafe does mellow some, but he reminds me of Richard Gere's character in Pretty Woman without the endearing weakness of a fear of heights. Overall, a meh.
November 16, 2019
Short and expensive. A novellette about a doormat and the jerk that supposedly loves her. Sexism galore and I would say that it's against men too given the roles they are forced into. But women still get the brunt of it.
Ms Krentz always starts with really good stories that often go down the drain. Pity.
Not unbearable but I would not recommend it.
Ms Krentz always starts with really good stories that often go down the drain. Pity.
Not unbearable but I would not recommend it.
February 2, 2020
I love groveling and this book was one big grovel from start to finish.
Rafe meets Margaret and knows that she works for a business rival he's currently engaged in a bidding war against. While that's not what draws him to her, he doesn't tell her about this conflict of interest. And, naturally, when Margaret finds out, she feels betrayed and tells her boss everything. She quits her job, Rafe feels betrayed by her and tells her to get out of his life in a furious rage. A year later, he's back in her life determined to win her back and he will do everything to make sure she marries him.
I'm not really keen about second chance novels, but the separation between the two MCs wasn't long and it's confirmed for both of them that they were celibate during the separation.
Rafe meets Margaret and knows that she works for a business rival he's currently engaged in a bidding war against. While that's not what draws him to her, he doesn't tell her about this conflict of interest. And, naturally, when Margaret finds out, she feels betrayed and tells her boss everything. She quits her job, Rafe feels betrayed by her and tells her to get out of his life in a furious rage. A year later, he's back in her life determined to win her back and he will do everything to make sure she marries him.
I'm not really keen about second chance novels, but the separation between the two MCs wasn't long and it's confirmed for both of them that they were celibate during the separation.
April 24, 2012
Good book. Rafe was definitely an alpha male. When he and Margaret split the year before, he spent the first six months being angry, then the next setting up a way to get her back. Margaret had been angered and hurt by what she saw as Rafe's using her as a pawn in a business deal. She did her best to forget about him. When he showed up at her apartment to lure her back, she had no intention of agreeing. Then he told her what was waiting at his ranch and she had to agree. She realized on her first day there that she still loved him, and he swore that he loved her and had changed from the business first jerk he had been. She wasn't sure she believed him but decided to give him a chance to prove it. I enjoyed watching Margaret and Rafe as they actually got to know each other. There was another great scene with Margaret and Rafe and his sister and her fiance that had me laughing at Rafe's reactions. I also really liked the final showdown with the original opponent from the beginning of the book.
April 5, 2013
Well, yuck.
Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Ann Krentz. I can't stop reading your books because they're like M&Ms and you just can't stop till the packet's done, but this was a DNF for me.
I'm always prepared for alpha-asshole syndrome when I dive into one of your books, but this was really a bit too much for me. I hate Rafe (well, as much of him that I did manage to read, anyway) and I hate...oh, what's her name? Margaret.
Yep. Loathe and despise, the whole enchilada. This was bad, bad, bad. That's really saying something, because I've managed to finish lots of books that are bad, but this was so bad that I couldn't stomach another page and I rage!quit the darn thing.
I haven't even read the other books in the series, and now I don't want to.
Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Ann Krentz. I can't stop reading your books because they're like M&Ms and you just can't stop till the packet's done, but this was a DNF for me.
I'm always prepared for alpha-asshole syndrome when I dive into one of your books, but this was really a bit too much for me. I hate Rafe (well, as much of him that I did manage to read, anyway) and I hate...oh, what's her name? Margaret.
Yep. Loathe and despise, the whole enchilada. This was bad, bad, bad. That's really saying something, because I've managed to finish lots of books that are bad, but this was so bad that I couldn't stomach another page and I rage!quit the darn thing.
I haven't even read the other books in the series, and now I don't want to.
July 24, 2016
It was horse manure.
The guy is arrogant, overbearing, and dismissive. The woman is indecisive and ineffective. The characters made me nuts, so I did not finish this reread.
I had bought the audio on sale hoping that it was the one where the hero kept quoting passages from an alleged western author named Twitchell.
Besides, the narrator had a basically annoying voice quality, and when portraying the guy, sounded like a drag queen.
The guy is arrogant, overbearing, and dismissive. The woman is indecisive and ineffective. The characters made me nuts, so I did not finish this reread.
I had bought the audio on sale hoping that it was the one where the hero kept quoting passages from an alleged western author named Twitchell.
Besides, the narrator had a basically annoying voice quality, and when portraying the guy, sounded like a drag queen.
July 25, 2013
I have got to stop reading late 80s/early 90s romance novels. I can't stand the macho men that treat women like children. I love Jayne Ann Krentz and wanted to read her earlier books, but I just can't get into them. I have the same problem with Iris Johansen's early romance novels. The genre has changed over the years, thank goodness!!!
January 24, 2021
I get it that it was written in the past. But still. So many red flags.
- When he doesn't honor your wishes and preferences
- When he bullies you until you say yes
- When he is clearly manipulative
And the heroine is kinda a pushover.
I love JAK's works, but to me, this is not one of her best books.
- When he doesn't honor your wishes and preferences
- When he bullies you until you say yes
- When he is clearly manipulative
And the heroine is kinda a pushover.
I love JAK's works, but to me, this is not one of her best books.
January 3, 2015
3.5 stars fot margaret and rafe
March 23, 2016
I only got to page 14 or so in this book and had to stop. Being a writer, this book was hard to read, not easy flowing as it should be. The author seems to be telling, rather then showing.
December 28, 2017
Sorry but I really, really disliked Rafe. Every name that Maggie called him, I called him worse. Of course it is an older book so it probably reflected the social norms of the time.
July 8, 2019
Terrible. Couldn't stand how the love interest treated the main character.
July 15, 2019
Disappointing. I didn't like any of the characters.
June 3, 2020
Once I got past Rafe's attitude...
OMG, I struggled a little with the personalities and attitude in this one. I like a strong female character and men to match, but Rafe was seriously a little much for me. I would have walked out or never have gone to Arizona in the first place.
After seeing her friends and their spouses off to their respective homes and honeymoon, Margaret arrives home to find her ex in her living room. Rafe has comes asking Margaret to come to Arizona for several reasons. First, he wants her back and second, to see her father, who is marrying his mother. On top of that, he is buying her father's company. Margaret and Rafe had a huge falling out over a business deal the prior year...misunderstandings and secrets will do that. She never expected to see him again, although she has never gotten over him, but the bad blood and distrust is not something she can get past. Or can she? Turns out there are two sides to every story and if people don't communicate when needed and keep business from pleasure when you're on opposites sides of the deal, then fallout is inevitable.
Margaret and Rafe definitely have some things to work out and they do, but not before another potential disaster befall them.
OMG, I struggled a little with the personalities and attitude in this one. I like a strong female character and men to match, but Rafe was seriously a little much for me. I would have walked out or never have gone to Arizona in the first place.
After seeing her friends and their spouses off to their respective homes and honeymoon, Margaret arrives home to find her ex in her living room. Rafe has comes asking Margaret to come to Arizona for several reasons. First, he wants her back and second, to see her father, who is marrying his mother. On top of that, he is buying her father's company. Margaret and Rafe had a huge falling out over a business deal the prior year...misunderstandings and secrets will do that. She never expected to see him again, although she has never gotten over him, but the bad blood and distrust is not something she can get past. Or can she? Turns out there are two sides to every story and if people don't communicate when needed and keep business from pleasure when you're on opposites sides of the deal, then fallout is inevitable.
Margaret and Rafe definitely have some things to work out and they do, but not before another potential disaster befall them.
March 15, 2018
This is the sort of theme I have a hard time getting behind.
The H - corporate shark - spotted, pursued and appeared to snag the attentions of the h - employee of another corporate shark and competition. Besides marginalizing the h, he didn't tell her he was the competition until after she'd talked about work, etc...for 2 months. She did what any person with integrity would do - went to her employer and told him everything. Cost the H the deal. He went off on her and left.
Apparently he expected her to come crawling to him on hands and knees.
So now, he and her father have manipulated her into coming to his ranch where he intends to win her back, although he gives the impression that it's less a winning her over than a railroading.
In the meantime, his PA, unhappy that he's seemingly lost his edge over the h, is selling him out..and trying to frame the h.
Yeah I don't know. The feeling of being used would be a hard one to ever get past, no matter how much he assured me otherwise. Perhaps if there wasn't the lie by omission (failure to disclose that he's in competition with her boss), or his blowing up on her for her doing the right thing...
The H - corporate shark - spotted, pursued and appeared to snag the attentions of the h - employee of another corporate shark and competition. Besides marginalizing the h, he didn't tell her he was the competition until after she'd talked about work, etc...for 2 months. She did what any person with integrity would do - went to her employer and told him everything. Cost the H the deal. He went off on her and left.
Apparently he expected her to come crawling to him on hands and knees.
So now, he and her father have manipulated her into coming to his ranch where he intends to win her back, although he gives the impression that it's less a winning her over than a railroading.
In the meantime, his PA, unhappy that he's seemingly lost his edge over the h, is selling him out..and trying to frame the h.
Yeah I don't know. The feeling of being used would be a hard one to ever get past, no matter how much he assured me otherwise. Perhaps if there wasn't the lie by omission (failure to disclose that he's in competition with her boss), or his blowing up on her for her doing the right thing...
September 18, 2020
This was as bad as the previous one was good.
For starters, stories where the hero had broken up with the heroine always start with a huge disadvantage, especially if the hero was at fault.
Then unlike the other two books in this series, there was no “Save the Cat” moment for the hero. Nothing he did drew sympathy from the reader. No cats or dogs or children to show there was a soft side to him. No humour.
He was a hundred percent jerk. He insisted in calling her Maggie despite the fact she asked him on multiple occasions not to. This also happened in Silver Linings, another of JAK’s early books, in fact there were a number of plot similarities between the two, however Silver Linings had more humour and the guy wasn’t a total prick.
So give this one a miss, but the other two books in the series were much better.
For starters, stories where the hero had broken up with the heroine always start with a huge disadvantage, especially if the hero was at fault.
Then unlike the other two books in this series, there was no “Save the Cat” moment for the hero. Nothing he did drew sympathy from the reader. No cats or dogs or children to show there was a soft side to him. No humour.
He was a hundred percent jerk. He insisted in calling her Maggie despite the fact she asked him on multiple occasions not to. This also happened in Silver Linings, another of JAK’s early books, in fact there were a number of plot similarities between the two, however Silver Linings had more humour and the guy wasn’t a total prick.
So give this one a miss, but the other two books in the series were much better.
May 17, 2020
Jayne Ann Krentz..the early years.
One of my favorite romance authors honing her writing skills early in her career. This was a great story enjoyed that the era made it's impression on the story. Reading her more up to date stories makes you appreciate and author taking the time to hone her skills for her writing audience!
One of my favorite romance authors honing her writing skills early in her career. This was a great story enjoyed that the era made it's impression on the story. Reading her more up to date stories makes you appreciate and author taking the time to hone her skills for her writing audience!
April 22, 2024
Maggie and Rafe make up their differences a year after their first meeting. They are both strong willed individuals. Maggie has been a full time romance author for the past year, but even her books before meeting Rafe have a hero very much like him.
It was an engrossing story. I stayed up late reading.
It was an engrossing story. I stayed up late reading.
March 26, 2025
I really didn't expect to like this series. I prefer historical romance, but thought I'd give this series a try, & I truly ended up enjoying these stories. In this book I liked Margaret's - aka - Maggie's inner strength, & Rafe's determination. I liked the way it story moved along & didn't constantly repeat itself like SO many authors seem to do. I would recommend this book & this series
May 19, 2020
Hard to stop readjng. From the first until the last page kept you really into story. Only f
Thing I hate is that I read this before reading the first two. But still might get books one and two.
Thing I hate is that I read this before reading the first two. But still might get books one and two.
August 28, 2017
От трите книги тази единствено ми хареса и изчетох с удоволствие.
September 3, 2017
Neuronul meu s-a cam 'inervat'... :(
September 16, 2018
Old skool.
April 11, 2019
Audible
July 29, 2019
I have read this book several times and always enjoy it! Part of a trilogy I enjoyed, this is my favorite of the three.
August 11, 2019
cute storyline
September 24, 2019
All the h did the whole book was bitch and complain. I understand her being upset about the break up but she still bitched and moaned even when they made up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews