Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Tina Radcliffe, author of Claiming Her Cowboy

Please note: There are affiliate links in this post.

I’m delighted to be visiting here with Annie and her friends today. And even more thrilled to introduce the first book in the Big Heart Ranch series, Claiming Her Cowboy here on the Just Commonly Blog.

Cowboys!
I grew up a-dreamin' of bein' a cowboy
And lovin' the cowboy ways
Pursuin' the life of my high ridin' heroes
-Willie Nelson

Why do we love cowboys?
They represent the American dream, and the American work ethic with a side order of happily ever after. The cowboy passion and integrity to complete the job, be it on the range or while holding the heroine in his arms, is equaled by few other hero types. 

Cowboys are bigger than life. They’re three-dimensional heroes who we can envision as the hero in our books. They love God and country. They save the day and work side-by-side with a heroine just as tough as they are.

The romantic mystique of the west is captured in the cowboy essence. He represents two extremes, a rugged and unyielding Alpha hero and a warm-hearted giant. The cowboy hero is rough around the edges, yet tender enough to win the heroine’s heart and gentle enough to cradle babies in their big muscled arms.

Think John Wayne, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Gary Cooper and you rustle up images of men who are tall in the saddle, and yes, handsome. Men who speak few words because they’re all about action. These same heroes are today’s film cowboys too. Examples are Tom Selleck in Quigley Down Under, Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves and Scott Eastwood in The Longest Ride.

The cowboys of film and television are just like the cowboy heroes portrayed in inspirational romance novels. This hero is rugged, vulnerable and honest. He is always a wounded hero who carries a backstory (internal conflict) that he must deal with before he and his heroine can earn their happily ever after. The most memorable tales provide the reader with a wonderful, yet slightly flawed hero who battles his demons and overcomes them with the help of his faith.

Words that describe our cowboy hero? Rugged, rough, tough, honorable, stoic, loyal, passionate, determined, stubborn, brave, lean, patriotic, formidable, genuine and silent.


The heroes of my Big Heart Ranch series are no different. Book one, Claiming Her Cowboy features Jackson Harris, an attorney who returns to his cowboy roots and goes toe-to-toe with the book’s heroine, Lucy Maxwell. I like to think of Lucy as a Maureen O’Hara type. Remember John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in all those westerns they were paired in such as Rio Grande, McLintock! and Big Jake? When we put a hero alongside a heroine who is just as tough as he is, it makes the happily ever after that much more satisfying. 

What are your favorite cowboy heroes in books, television or movies? What do you think the cowboy allure is?

Leave a comment and share. I’ve brought a giveaway package to celebrate the release of Claiming Her Cowboy!

Tina Radcliffe is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty-five short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Find her at http://www.tinaradcliffe.com where you can sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss her fun giveaways and bad jokes.

CONNECT WITH TINA:  website,  facebook (Seekerville),  twitter

Title:  Claiming Her Cowboy
Series: Big Heart Ranch, Book 1
Author: Tina Radcliffe

Publisher: Love Inspired

Release Date:  January 1, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction 

Her Temporary Cowboy

Attorney Jackson Harris regularly goes toe-to-toe with the world’s toughest lawyers — but none of them compare to Lucy Maxwell. The feisty director of Oklahoma’s Big Heart Ranch for orphans is as stubborn as she is pretty. But Jack must stay focused; he’s only there to evaluate the ranch’s funding. Falling for Lucy and the sweet children she protects is out of the question.

Though Lucy is determined to keep the ranch, she’s not about to give control to a city slicker — even a devastatingly good-looking one. But as they bump heads, Jack and Lucy gradually nudge open their hearts. Could a temporary cowboy become a permanent part of Lucy’s life? 

"If I was looking for a man in my life, it certainly would not be another temporary cowboy." (20)

So I'm kind of in love with Tina Radcliffe's books. Her latest, Claiming Her Cowboy, the first of the Big Heart Ranch series is funny and downright adorable. Not only, there's substance. Know what I mean? A story is as good as it can be when it give us a plot that works, characters that makes an impact, along with touching our hearts, and teaches us something along the way.

"Cowboys wear hats. It keeps your head cool, keeps the sun off your face and keeps the dirt out of your eyes. A cowboy without a hat just ain't right." (185) 

Claiming Her Cowboy promises on delivering an adorable 5-year old that will just melt your heart, and a message that goes in line with the mission statement of the Big Heart Ranch. 

"First Corinthians thirteen. Faith, hope and love. Faith in God, hope for tomorrow, and unconditional love." (22) 

Tina Radcliffe fit a story that seems to want to jump off the pages and spread the faith, hope and love it radiates for our characters. A place like Big Heart Ranch (the idea from the Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home located in Alabama for children needing a chance, as noted in the author's dedication) is so beautiful and humbling. To read about such love and devotion, it just touches those heartstrings like it's a musical instrument, itching to share the music within. In all, Claiming Her Cowboy isn't just romance as the title suggest, but a story that holds more than the mere 221 pages can keep up with.  I look forward to the next books in this series for sure!

"Falling in love with a child has nothing to do with biology. It's a choice." (166)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.

TO PURCHASE A COPY

  

  

A Cowboy Giveaway Package that includes a pound of fresh-roasted Arbuckle’s Ariosa Coffee, “The Coffee That Won the West,” includes a fun, handcrafted Arbuckle Ariosa Texas style mug and a print copy of Claiming Her Cowboy!

US./Canada Mailing addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

                                                                                                                                 

Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.