Review: Cowboy romance + ghost story = fun summer reading
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 13, 2014
Dead Man's Rules is a complicated ghost story, a cowboy romance, and an intriguing mystery, rolled into one complex package.Cere Medina is an L.A.-based broadcast journalist for "Scope,"  a locally syndicated tabloid television news program. (Think Access Hollywood, or something akin to that.) When she gets a little too close to a story, the powers that rule send her on a forced "vacation" from her job. She decides to take the unwanted time off to visit her mom, who recently retired to the small New Mexico town where she grew up.The local sheriff is a man Cere met once, years ago when she was in town visiting her cousins. Cere had a crush on him then, and the sparks fly when they meet in the present day. All Cere wants out of this vacation is a solid story and a shot at getting her old job back - or an even better job with the network.Sheriff Rafe Tofoya is a single dad with  big chip on his shoulder. Even though he's attracted to the fiery reporter, the secrets he holds aren't his to divulge. Especially to a woman who just wants to use them to get ahead, not caring about any consequences.The romance works well and the small town intrigue rings true, but some of the plot twists felt too convenient and the mother's character felt hollow. Despite a few minor flaws, I enjoyed the story and it kept me reading through to the satisfying conclusion. If you like gruff cowboys with some murder and intrigue thrown into the mix, you'll enjoy this easy summer read.