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When I was approached to read Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller, I jumped at the chance. I had previously read Once a Rancher by Linda Lael Miller and I had liked it. I didn’t necessarily love it but there is something to Miller’s books that are easy and feel a little good to the soul. I had been in a particularly bad reading slump thanks to a shiny new hobby so this one took me a little longer to read than normal. It was totally worth the effort.

Drake Carson is the man you are looking for if you are in to the brooding silent type. That doesn’t make him bad, but definitely a little rough around the edges. He’s called the master of three word sentences and that was so spot on it made me chuckle. Drake is really almost perfect. He is the right balance of the Western gentleman of yesteryear and modern rancher with an eye towards the environment. He thinks before he speaks but what he says is how he feels. Therein lies my problem. In fiction I LOVE this quality but I know for a fact that in real life this would be a deal breaker. Unfortunately I don’t have the patience for that mentality. What does that say about me? Nothing good I’m sure.

Luce Hale definitely pushed a few of my buttons when she first arrived on the scene and I was all ready to not enjoy her character and for that to drag me down in this book. I was proven wrong in the best way possible. Luce ended up coming down from her lofty opinions and becoming a realistic and enjoyable woman. I actually wish that I could be half as kind as she is in Always a Cowboy.

The plot moved rather quickly in this one. I was able to enjoy the pacing of the romance. I have real life friends who knew each for a month or two, flew with some friends out to Vegas for their wedding and decided to get hitched themselves. That was 17 years ago. I totally believe that what Drake and Luce have is realistic and attainable. I loved watching them try to avoid what they were heading for. The only issue that I really had with the plot is that I felt like the ending was a bit rushed to tie up a few story lines.

If you’re looking for a quick and fun Western romance to put a smile on your face, I can’t recommend Always a Cowboy enough. It was the perfect blend of fast paced, interesting, and heartwarming!