REVIEW: Cowgirl Come Home by Debra Salonen

In Cowgirl Come Home (Montana Born Fair #2) by Debra Salonen, Bailey left Marietta, Montana when she was 18. Escaping her father, leaving her mother, and hurting her boyfriend Paul. With heart ache, sorrow and hurt competing with big dreams, Bailey forged on.

Fifteen years later, she’s back, feeling broken, unsure, and like she never really got anywhere. Her mother needs her. Her father might too, although he’d never admit it. And surprisingly enough, the one person she thought she’d left behind might still want her.

As Bailey struggles to pull her life back together and move on after her own tragedies, she is also dealing with complex family relationships and the possibility of a fresh start with Paul. Is that really what she wants though? Has enough time passed that they can forgive each other, and be together as who they are today and not who they were then?

Debra gives us a well written, emotional story that is all about relationships, healing, and moving forward. Debra starts off Cowboy Come Home with a very controversial subject, and she manages to write so well, matter of fact and unbiased, that no matter what your feeling on it I think you’ll be sucked right into Bailey and Paul’s world.

Bailey and Paul’s characters both have a maturity that can only come with life experience and I love these kind of characters. They both could still be bitter and angry, but they are not. Even though hurt lingers after all these years, I love how they interact and how Debra brings them together. Debra manages to make both of these people realistic, with issues that real people have. This relate-ability really drew me into their lives, making me feel a part of it, and making me want things to work for them whether or not they got together.

There are a lot of secondary characters in Cowgirl Come Home, some I recognize and some new. Bailey’s parents are strong secondary characters. They and their relationship as a family is a focal point of Cowgirl Come Home. I really enjoyed the evolution of this family. Paul’s family is dynamic and we see a fair bit of his older brother who I think should have a story all of his own!

Loosely tied to previous Montana Born Books, Cowgirl Come Home stands strong on its own. With complex relationships and multi-layered characters, I’d recommend this well paced book to any romance reader.

Book Info:

Published July 17th 2014 by Tule Press | (Montana Born Fair #2)

Some dreams come with a big price tag.

Bailey Jenkins left her hometown of Marietta, Montana, at eighteen, poised to take college and the rodeo world by storm–despite Paul Zabrinski. On the eve of her great escape, at the top of the Ferris Wheel at the Big Marietta Fair, he invoked his great-grandmother Hilda’s curse. “If you do this, Bailey Jenkins, I will hate you forever. And I’ll call on my great-grandmother to curse you. She was a Gypsy witch, you know.”

Fifteen years later, Bailey’s back–shattered, humbled by fate and bruised at the soul level but determined to rebuild–once she helps her parents get back on their feet. She didn’t expect Paul Zabrinski to meet her plane, but seeing him strong, handsome and successful is somehow fitting. After all, Bailey didn’t need Paul’s gypsy great-grandmother to put a curse on her–-Bailey already had the worst luck on the planet.

Never say never.

One look at Bailey Jenkins–his first love, the woman he adored…and cursed–and every emotion Paul Zabrinski felt fifteen years earlier comes rushing back. The love of his life broke his heart and made him hate her…or so he thought. The line between love and hate is very narrow, with only so much room for forgiveness. But Paul Zabrinski owns Big Z Hardware and Construction. If anyone is capable of building a bridge for them to cross together, it’s him.