Reviewed by stacey_is_sassy on
I have never watched Dallas but this book read like I would imagine an episode of Dallas would be like. Girls with caked on makeup, boys strutting their stuff in tight jeans and cowboy boots and baddies making squinty-eyed threats. I was also picturing a few ‘80’s cop shows too. There were a few scenes where, with a gun in hand, they were ducking around corners, leading with a gun out the doorway and throwing themselves on the ground with the gun pointed at the baddies. I swear I could hear the Dallas and Hill Street Blues theme songs playing in the background.
Thinking of the '80's, and picturing it set in the '80's made the book a wee bit entertaining for me. I will admit, there were no ball gowns worn in Cowboy Cross My Heart. So, if you were heading to Amazon thinking you’ll get descriptions of silk and taffeta, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Mind you, there was a tiara mentioned…so maybe that would satisfy.
It wasn’t just Dallas and cop shows that made me think about the ‘80’s. It all just felt like a step back in time. The young ladies who were entrants in the Rodeo Pageant were expected to be beautifully presented, virtuous, polite and well behaved. Chaperones were appointed so that they could keep their pure image. Considering what these poor ladies went through, I think Security Guards would have been more appropriate. To be honest, I was a little gobsmacked that this could even be happening in this day and age. It just seemed a little outdated and a wee bit sexist.
The humdinger that had me thinking Dallas, Hill Street Blues…or maybe even Murder She Wrote, was the dodgy people in power taking advantage of their positions and influence. The police force, local paper, hospital and mayor’s office, all had a touch of the crooked in them. These men had the power to hide their misdeeds and cover up their indiscretions. It made my skin crawl as to what they got away with. Dirty old buggers.
Is it crazy of me to look to the police force to catch the bad guys? There seems to be an extreme number of ex-military vigilantes in the romance world. I just can’t picture myself relying on a friend who’s ex-military over a friend who’s currently serving in the police force, to save me. Sure, Danny, the sheriff had a role but it was more of the…we’ve caught him, now take him away…kind of thing.
The love story is super sweet and very, very quick pretty much insta love.. I think we reached *I LOVE YOU* in a couple of days. Sure, your heart beats double time when you’re in danger, but I would at least wait a couple of weeks after the danger passes before considering LOVE is here to stay. Oh my lordy the first sexy scene had me busting out laughing as it seemed a little weird and out of place for their first time together.
I actually liked Cowboy Cross My Heart but I didn’t love it. There’s a mystery to be solved, family drama to be worked through, friends to protect and love to be found. All the things to enjoy in a good cowboy romance. I think I should cut my ties with the small town, cowboy romance, it just doesn’t seem realistic to me. Maybe I’ve spent too many years living close to the city? Don’t judge by my review alone, check out some other reviews and you may find that Cowboy Cross My Heart would be perfect for you.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 24 August, 2018: Finished reading
- 24 August, 2018: Reviewed