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Stuck In A Rut
CityScapes: a sweet, passionate and romantic tour across the United States.
Susan Addington is at a crossroads in her life. She loves her job as the premier wedding photographer for NYC's elite, but lately she feels like she’s been spinning her wheels. When her friend suggests a wagon train re-enactment tour in Wyoming, she jumps at the chance to get back to her roots as a nature photographer. She soon discovers that visiting still-visible landmarks along the Oregon Trail is like stepping back in time. And, oddly, coming home.
As her journey progresses from Fort Laramie to South Pass City, sparks flicker with the charming but mysterious Caleb McKnight, one of the tour group’s employees. Through daily interaction, Susan becomes more attracted to Caleb, and she finds that he’s not as immune to the chemistry between them as he appears.
Just as something more than friendship grows between them, they end up caught in the cross-hairs between danger and intrigue. Can Susan forgive Caleb for his role? And can this city girl and country boy find a compromise before they run out of trail? Or will they end up stuck in a rut forever?
Susan Addington is at a crossroads in her life. She loves her job as the premier wedding photographer for NYC's elite, but lately she feels like she’s been spinning her wheels. When her friend suggests a wagon train re-enactment tour in Wyoming, she jumps at the chance to get back to her roots as a nature photographer. She soon discovers that visiting still-visible landmarks along the Oregon Trail is like stepping back in time. And, oddly, coming home.
As her journey progresses from Fort Laramie to South Pass City, sparks flicker with the charming but mysterious Caleb McKnight, one of the tour group’s employees. Through daily interaction, Susan becomes more attracted to Caleb, and she finds that he’s not as immune to the chemistry between them as he appears.
Just as something more than friendship grows between them, they end up caught in the cross-hairs between danger and intrigue. Can Susan forgive Caleb for his role? And can this city girl and country boy find a compromise before they run out of trail? Or will they end up stuck in a rut forever?
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2020
If you liked Little House on the Prairie and City Slickers and dive into contemporary and historical Western romances with happily ever afters and regional flavor every chance you get, Stuck In A Rut by CJ Bower is your new bff. There’s a billionaire and a ghost, too. I devoured it in just about eight hours, life permitting. If books were pies, this would be my country grandmother’s blackberry cobbler – one pan, all mine. Portion control can take a holiday.
City girl Susan and her bff Liz finally take a much-needed vacation – a pioneer pilgrimage on the Oregon Trail, of all things. Dressing, working, walking and riding with a wagon train camping tour, to re-enact and get the full experience, with a few conveniences. Spotty signals and no climate control or hard tack, but plenty of strong coffee and bacon – and a few seriously hot cowboys!
And therein lies the problem. They have to somehow last the whole week without the young single female campers getting kicked off the tour for cat fighting over the hired hands, who are off limits to guests. So, of course…
Poor Caleb is still sore from the last man-eater who took him for a ride, and would very much like to keep his job with his bff’s family business and not be the focal point of all the trouble on this trip. He still rides his first horse, an adorable Appaloosa filly with personality plus, who turns out to be the only person Susan can trust.
But can Susan trust Caleb or her own bff amidst all the conflicting signals and evidence?
CJ Bower is one of my favorite authors because she does her homework, and it shows in the artisanal attention to detail in her storytelling. The landmarks and historical figures, lifestyle and events are factually real. The fictional characters are completely believable and easy to identify with. You will find yourself right there with them on that trail ride: feeling the breeze on your face, seeing the sunrises and sunsets, interacting with the horses and oxen, embracing the adventure. The love scenes are enthralling, too.
City girl Susan and her bff Liz finally take a much-needed vacation – a pioneer pilgrimage on the Oregon Trail, of all things. Dressing, working, walking and riding with a wagon train camping tour, to re-enact and get the full experience, with a few conveniences. Spotty signals and no climate control or hard tack, but plenty of strong coffee and bacon – and a few seriously hot cowboys!
And therein lies the problem. They have to somehow last the whole week without the young single female campers getting kicked off the tour for cat fighting over the hired hands, who are off limits to guests. So, of course…
Poor Caleb is still sore from the last man-eater who took him for a ride, and would very much like to keep his job with his bff’s family business and not be the focal point of all the trouble on this trip. He still rides his first horse, an adorable Appaloosa filly with personality plus, who turns out to be the only person Susan can trust.
But can Susan trust Caleb or her own bff amidst all the conflicting signals and evidence?
CJ Bower is one of my favorite authors because she does her homework, and it shows in the artisanal attention to detail in her storytelling. The landmarks and historical figures, lifestyle and events are factually real. The fictional characters are completely believable and easy to identify with. You will find yourself right there with them on that trail ride: feeling the breeze on your face, seeing the sunrises and sunsets, interacting with the horses and oxen, embracing the adventure. The love scenes are enthralling, too.
June 1, 2022
Fun Romance
I loved this story. It was a fun romance of a city girl and a country boy. I loves the description of the Wyoming setting and all the historical details . Susan and Caleb were great together. I highly recommend this book
I loved this story. It was a fun romance of a city girl and a country boy. I loves the description of the Wyoming setting and all the historical details . Susan and Caleb were great together. I highly recommend this book
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews