Review: Beauty and the Cowboy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 13, 2014
In Beauty and The Cowboy by Nancy Robards Thompson, Charlotte's 6 year relationship with professional bull rider and Marietta hero Tom is suddenly over.  Having spent more time apart than together over the years in a relationship that was all about doing what works for Tom, Charlotte is strangely relieved...even if the circumstances still hurt her.Throwing herself into her work organizing the upcoming annual Marietta fair helps.  So does the friendship she has with Jesse, a friendship that started in childhood.  Jesse has seen all sides of Charlotte, and he's always been attracted to her, but a time for them has never worked in his favor.  Until now.  As a former bull rider and currently the manager of the fair grounds in Marietta, Jesse's life is in Marietta.  Raising his sister, he's avoided emotional entanglements and getting involved with anyone - until now.Charlotte first turns to Jesse as a friend, but soon she is noticing him in a whole new way.  She thinks it might be too soon to start a new relationship, but the building chemistry between her and Jesse says otherwise.  "...maybe it was Jesse that she'd been waiting for all her life?"  Will Charlotte take the chance and follow her heart?Beauty and The Cowboy is a great summer read.  The fair, ferris wheel and love just go together, and Nancy wraps it all up so well together.  I really liked the way Nancy develops the relationship between Jesse and Charlotte.  It's fast, but they've been friends forever, which makes it all the more believable.  I loved the maturity of their characters, and the way Nancy drew me in and had me hoping they'd take a chance together.  The interactions between Jesse and Charlotte are fun, realistic, and emotional.I liked how Nancy brings Tom back into the story, and how he actually helps Charlotte see what's right in front of her.  Again the maturity of the characters in Beauty and the Cowboy shine through.I really enjoyed my trip back to Marietta!  It was fun to catch up with Jane, and to meet Jesse's sister Mattie who is a fantastic teenage addition to the story.I'd recommend Beauty and the Cowboy to all romance readers, especially if you like small towns and summer fairs!