ROZ
DENNY FOX
Synopsis
from Goodreads: Lizbeth
Robbins has been following the rodeo circuit for the past six years,
learning the farrier's trade, dragging her little girl from town to
town. But now her daughter's in school and Lizbeth needs a more
permanent job. She's relieved to find one at the Lone Spur, shoeing
Gil Spencer's quarter horses; even if it was his foreman who hired
her and the man himself doesn't want her anywhere near his ranch! Gil
Spencer hates rodeos mainly because his ex wife loves them. While he
was busy pulling his ranch out of the red, she was busy pursuing a
career as a champion barrel racer. Worse yet the ex Mrs Spencer
abandoned her husband and their twin sons for the dubious charms of
some bronco rider. So the last person Gil wants on the Lone Spur is a
former rodeo employee. Even if Lizbeth Robbins is the most attractive
woman he's met in years. Especially then...
Stats
for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin Books, 1996.
First
line: In the two weeks since Lizbeth Robbins had hired on as
farrier at Gilman Spencer's ranch, she hadn't laid eyes on the man.
My
thoughts: TROUBLE
AT LONE SPUR reminded me of how
much I love Roz Denny Fox. It's been awhile since I devoured a book
in two days, staying up until midnight two nights in a row (and
paying for it with a massive book hangover this morning, not to
mention oversleeping and getting up an hour late).
Liz
is a farrier who recently left the rodeo circuit in hopes of
providing a more permanent, stable home for her six-year-old
daughter, Melody. Getting hired on at the Lone Spur ranch as resident
farrier is a dream come true. She still has nightmares about the bull
who killed her husband before Melody was born, but they live in a
cottage instead of a trailer, Melody has a cat, and she's a happy
little girl.
Gil
is the owner of the ranch, and when he comes back from a trip and
finds out his ranch foreman has a woman shoeing his horses he has a
fit and promptly fires her. He's sure that having a woman around the
hands will distract them from their work, and ever since his wife
left him to pursue her barrel racing career – and a bronc rider -
he hates anything and everything to do with rodeos, so Lizbeth's
background does not impress him.
I
loved Liz. I loved Gil. They were both well rounded characters, each
fighting their own inner demons, and trying to do the best they can
for their kids. Gil has nine-year-old twin boys who run amuck when
he's not around, playing pranks on Liz and creating havoc. Liz and
Gil were constantly at odds with each other, while fighting their
mutual attraction. One of the twins took to Liz, but the other waged
an all out war against her, trying to keep her and his dad away from
each other.
I
learned more about horseshoeing than
I ever thought I'd want to know, and more about the drama and work
that goes into well rescues than I'd ever dreamed of, and I really
appreciate the research Ms. Fox put into both subjects to bring
realism to her story. The kids were also integral, and actual
supporting characters rather than just plot moppets. There were some
scenes that made me laugh, and the last quarter of the book got a bit
tense and made me emotional. Not to mention the cute cover picture!
Romance
done right.
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