Review: ~ Review by Christine
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2014
4 of 5 starsFor original review see The Prism Book Alliance Blog onlineSymphony conductor Marshall Harrington has come to the Circle R dude ranch in Texas for some much-needed rest after a string of unsuccessful auditions and finds a bonus in an immediate attraction to the Circle R’s owner, Indigo Santana.  In one week, their lives change as they meet and then grow to care for one another.  At the end of Marshall’s stay, they are faced with the dilemma of distance and the reality of having to say goodbye in order to remain true to each of their life’s passions.I enjoyed the time I spent with the men at the Circle R.  A sweet story filled with romance and tenderness, A Courageous Ride is a gentle journey that mainly takes place over the course of one week in the lives of two very different men.  Both characters are likable and strong, and I was particularly drawn to Marshall’s background as a classical musician.  Life on a ranch is portrayed in wonderful detail with a delightful family of secondary characters who are engaging and play significant roles in the lives of the main characters and their budding romance.If I could ask for something more from this story, it would be for just a bit more emotional connection to the characters and less side story.  I felt that outside issues brought into the plot by an ex-boyfriend were a distraction from getting to know the characters in more depth.  I would have loved to see more anger and frustration from Indigo’s past and further description about his injury and recovery.  I was also hoping that Marshall would display a more external passion for his music.  Although he composes, we don’t discover until rather late in the book that he plays the violin.  We never get to witness him play nor see the effect that might have on his soul and those of the other characters in the story.  As a lover of music of all kinds, I was excited to see a main character with this kind of background and would have liked to see him perform on a personal level and bring that passion to the pages.Overall, A Courageous Ride is a charming, low-angst love story that brings a cowboy and a classical musician together in a touching, quick-moving romance.  It blends the two different worlds of the main characters together well yet brings into focus how distance and differences can impact a blossoming relationship.  I recommend it for a tender read and an enjoyable escape to the land of cowboys, campfires, and nights under the Texas stars.