Beauty and the Cowboy

Beauty  and the Cowboy by Nancy Robards Thompson

After ring shopping with her long-term boyfriend, Charlotte Morgan knew that a proposal was just around the corner.  Unfortunately, so did everyone else in Marietta, Montana.  Uncomfortable with the gossip, and unsure about the distance she has been feeling from Tom, she calls him up to get some reassurance.  Instead she gets some news she didn't see coming by a long shot.

Jesse Guthrie has always hated Tom Tucker.  Everything always came easy to Tom.  The career Jesse wanted, the notoriety, and the girl.  Neighbor and playmate Charlie Morgan was the one thing from his childhood that he cherished more than anything, but the timing was never right, so Tom was able to swoop in and take her away.  Now Charlie is showing signs of a possible opening, and Jesse knows that he would be a fool to ignore those signs.

This was a super sweet story.  Humorous and poignant at the same time, it gives a slight peek into the world of beauty pageants, and proves that not all pageants are Toddlers in Tiaras and Stage Mom fodder.  There is also the aspect of "always a bridesmaid" that appeals on many levels in this story.

I think my favorite thing about this story was that Charlie was actually learning her lessons from herself as she helped Maddie through the motions of pageant life.  It's one thing to hear advise from other people, but when you realize that you are spouting off wisdom that applies to you as well, the moment is literary gold.

Overall, this is a feel good story that leaves you realizing that there is no shame in finishing second in a contest, but settling for second best in life should never be an option.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4