Nobody's Cowboy

Nobody's Cowboy by Debra Salonen

Austen Zabrinski's might own a ranch, wear a cowboy hat, and ride a horse, but he is miles away from being a cowboy.  Having bought the ranch as a tax-incentive and political show-piece, the place has turned into his safe haven as his world came crashing down.  Trying to pull himself up and decide what to do next, Austen's life takes an unexpected turn when he meets his hot, new, alpaca-breeding neighbor, Serena James.  Inexplicably drawn to the strong and fiery beauty, Austen can't help but wonder what spell she has weaved around him that has him helping tend sick alpacas and thinking about the f-word...Forever.

Serena James had a very unconventional upbringing.  Adopted and raised by hippie, alpaca breeders who lived mostly off the grid in Northern California, Serena decided to move her herd to Montana not just for financial reasons, but some definite personal ones as well.  Trying to move on from a scary stalker incident, Serena has changed her e-mail address, cell-phone number, business name, and has shut down her blog.  She also vehemently avoids anything to do with publicity or her picture being taken.  So maybe getting involved with a high-powered attorney and former politician isn't the best idea in the world.  Can she handle it when his old life collides with her new reality?

This is the second book by Debra Salonen to feature Austen Zabrinski, and I have to say, because EVERYONE is thinking it...in the first book Austen Zabrinski was an asshole!  Oddly enough, when I heard that Austen was going to be the hero of this book I knew that if anyone could pull off a believable redemption of character for him, it was Debra Salonen.  She did it in Cowgirl, Come Home with OC Jenkins, and she succeeded beautifully in this book.  Not once did she sacrifice his true character in redeeming him, she simply managed to open his eyes in some very emotional ways.

The character of Serena was beautifully written as both a counter to Austen's static point-of-view and an anchor to his careening lifestyle.  I found it very ironic that the stereotypes here are very mishmashed.  Serena's hippie upbringing has given her an open mind, yet she is very grounded with a lifestyle that requires her to remain in one location.  Austen, on the other hand seems to have adopted a very narrow mindset that is highly contrary to his fast-paced, ever changing career path.  A true example of where opposites really do attract.

Overall, this story gave me something to cheer about on many levels.  Debra Salonen knows how to write a story to captivate and hold a readers attention the whole way through, and then leave them begging for the next book.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5