REVIEW: Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves

In Cowboy Take Me Away (Rainbow Valley #1) by Jane Graves, Luke Dawson finds himself back in the last place he ever wanted to see again, his hometown of Rainbow Valley, Texas. He would rather forget the abuse he suffered at the hands of his alcoholic father, as well as the evening he shared with Shannon North eleven years ago that changed his life forever. He’s beenworking his way up through the rodeo circuit as a bull rider for the past decade and Luke knows that this is his year to finally win the world championship. As soon as he gets through his father’s funeral and figures out what to do with the dilapidated property, he’ll be back in the ring.

“In a life that had been filled with nothing but pain and heartache, just being able to sit and talk to Shannon was maybe the best thing that had ever happened to him.”

An unexpected injury sidelines Luke in town and he has to find a place to stay as well as a temporary job while he recuperates. Shannon offers him a caretaker job at the animal shelter she manages but he’s worried it will be too awkward seeing her everyday. Their few brief encounters since he came back have been tense to say the least. After debating, he puts aside his wounded pride and takes her up on her offer. Luke is comfortable taking care of the animals and the property after having worked there while he was in high school…which was exactly where he got to know Shannon. Their attraction certainly hasn’t faded over the years so he pushes her to have a casual fling, but she is uncomfortable with the idea being that she’s his boss. Just when they finally seem to be making way with adoptions for the rescued pets and also reconnecting on a personal level, Luke’s past rears its ugly head and threatens to undo all the changes he’s made in his life.

“He seemed to fill every space he walked into, crowding her mind until she couldn’t think straight.”

Shannon North was lured back to the Rainbow Valley by her friend Rita to take over managing the local animal shelter. She had worked there during high school and is now happy to be back. She has been dating Russell Morgensen, the local dentist, off and on, but nothing serious is on the horizon. Then Luke comes back to town. Old feelings resurface and the more she tries to ignore him, the more they seem to run into each other. Fate hands her an opportunity to offer him a job and a place to stay. She is shocked to find out how accomplished he is in the world of rodeo and is happy he has turned over a new leaf in his troubled life. Old habits die hard and she is drawn to him during her days at the rescue. She’s falling for him all over again before she realizes it and decides to give in to temptation just this once. She knows when he leaves town to go back to competing she’s going to be a wreck, but she wants to live in the moment for a change and not worry about what everyone thinks.

Cowboy Take Me Away is the first book in the Rainbow Valley series. If you have ever read the Rainbow Bridge poem, you will have a good understanding of the legend of the Valley itself, as well as the compassionate, wonderful people Jane Graves has created. As an avid animal lover myself I can’t think of a better story to start off her series. Shannon and Luke both have an appreciation for the animals that find their way to the rescue, and in Luke’s case, he feels a connection with the abused and neglected among them.

This story will have you cheering the couple on, giving a sigh of contentment, will keep you on the edge of your seat and most of all, will melt your heart with the love and emotions they share. Highly recommended!

Book Info

Publisher: Forever (April 30, 2013) Release date: April 30, 2013 | Series: Rainbow Valley