Reviewed by Nancy Crocker
Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves
In Cowboy Take Me Away, Luke Dawson
and Shannon North first met back in high school when they started working at
the local animal shelter, and an unlikely friendship formed. She was raised in
a privileged family that expects the very best from her. Luke came from a house
of horrors, son of the local town drunk. Then one night friendship turns into
passion, and then hurt. Feeling betrayed Luke packs what little he owns and
leaves Rainbow Valley and vows never to look back.
Luke has made a name for himself in
the Rodeo circuit and is poised to win the championship. Behind him is the
troubled life he had, both as a child and young teenager. Eleven years later
Luke has returned to Rainbow Valley to bury his father. He plans to leave as
soon as possible, but an accident soon sidelines him. Needing income to make it
through his recovery he goes to Shannon for a job.
Shannon North has come from a
privileged family but she is as down to earth as they come. She gave up her job
as a CPA in Houston and moved back to Rainbow Valley to become director of the
animal shelter. And she still struggles with letting her mother influence her decisions.
But one thing she has never gotten over is Luke.
I loved this story about second
chances in one’s life and correcting wrongs made. I found a couple of times while
reading this book it just dragged a little, but other times it flowed so well,
I could not turn the pages fast enough. How could you not fall in love with
Luke’s character? Abused, judged, verbally attacked and he still found it in
his heart to be kind and gentle with animals and children. When he finally
tells Shannon the horrors he lived with I could not hold back the tears. I
loved how these two overcame so much and found each other again. The story also
had strong supporting characters.
Being a pet lover how could you not
fall in love with the animals at the shelter. And Luke’s take on how to help
them find homes. This was my first book by Jane Graves and I look forward to
reading more from this author.
I received an ARC "Advanced
Readers Copy” in exchange for an honest review.
5/5
stars
