AN ENGLISHWOMAN'S GUIDE TO THE COWBOY

BY JUNE KEARNS 

 

When naive Annie Haddon, a young single "Buttoned-up" Victorian Englishwoman, ends up in Texas in 1867 with her domineering Aunt Beatrice and her spiteful cousin Charlotte, she embarks on an adventure that will change her staid spinster life forever.  Aunt Bea  has plans for Annie to marry an old widower, but lame Annie just wants to escape her stiffled life as her aunt's companion. When their stage coach is attacked by Indians, Annie is rescued by down-to-earth Colt McCall - a ruggedly handsome cowboy who also has Native American Indian heritage. Colt does not have much regard for English convention and polite small talk. Annie, who relishes the social freedom that being stranded in America finally brings her, gradually falls in love with the charasmatic Colt - but both of them have hidden family secrets which threaten their blossoming romance.

 

This is June Kearns' first novel and I absolutley adored it from begining to end. It's impossible not to get drawn into the story, which is full of humour, intrique, romance and adventure. Kearn's writes in a way which makes you instantly fall in love with both her main characters, and the arid, exciting American frontier landscape. The historical background is very well researched and the story is evenly paced,  and told with wit and charm. As you read each chapeter you can almost visualize the story as a colourful 1950's John Ford western.  As it says on the cover, this thoroughly entertaining novel is very much the lovechild of  "Jane Austen & Zane Grey" - so saddle up, and enjoy the ride partner - this is one hell of a  book and you will not want to put down until you reach the end of the trail.