What is it about cowboys? by Joanne Kennedy, author of Cowboy Trouble

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What is it about cowboys? by Joanne Kennedy, author of Cowboy Trouble

It’s surprising how many romances feature our hard-working Western heroes, because you’d think a woman would want a wealthy, successful hero who can offer her a life of ease. Doctors, tycoons, millionaires – that’s what we need, right? A guy with a big house and a high credit limit.

But a cowboy doesn’t do credit. He pays cash. He’s a blue-collar man who works for a living, and he’s probably not rich. He’s definitely not a snappy dresser—unless you happen to be partial to chaps—or a smooth talker.

But what’s your life going to be like with Mr. Moneybags?

Let’s say it’s date night. Your tycoon is going to take you to a cocktail party and a charity ball. You’ve charged a sensational designer gown to his account, and spent the day at the salon getting a new manicure and having every inch of yourself plucked, tweezed and waxed. You’re going to wear fabulous shoes that make you teeter a good four inches beyond the level where you’re accustomed to walking, so you’d better be careful not to tip over or twist an ankle. You’ll meet all the movers and the shakers, but you’d better not move or shake too much yourself, or you’ll ruin your reputation, and maybe scuttle a deal-in-the-making by making the wrong move at the wrong time.

Meanwhile, your cowboy wants to take you to a small-town rodeo, where you’ll spend the evening trash-talking with your friends and neighbors behind the chutes or sitting in the bleachers cheering them on while the sun sets behind the mountains. You’ll eat some barbecue in the parking lot, then end the night at a honky-tonk, drinking beer with friends and maybe hitting the floor for a two-step or three.

Mr. Moneybags is wearing an Armani suit and Bruno Maglis, and he looks fabulous. The suit drapes just right, the shoes are polished, and he’s clean-shaven and handsome. First impressions are important, so Mr. M. is always well-groomed, and he smells good, too—he wears just a touch of manly designer cologne that smells civilized, yet masculine, like cinnamon and musk.

(What is “musk,” anyway?)

Your cowboy, on the other hand, is wearing Wranglers that frame his saddle-toned butt and boots that turn his casual walk into a manly swagger. Chances are he didn’t have time to shave this morning before he saddled up and rode out, so his square jaw is shadowed with stubble. He doesn’t really care what anybody thinks of him, so he’s wearing whatever feels comfortable and he smells like saddle leather, sage, and sunshine.

Okay, now comes the important part. Date night’s over, and it’s time to shed that fancy gown and strip off that expensive suit. Mr. Moneybags bought a gym membership, so he has workout-honed biceps and a Gold’s Gym six-pack. He’s smooth and well-educated, so he knows just what to say to get you where he wants you: out of that gown and into his carved mahogany four-poster.

The cowboy, on the other hand, spends half his time in the saddle, working those all-important thigh and glute muscles, and the rest of his time on the ground throwing calves and doing various blue-collar tasks that make his shoulders broad and his arm muscles long and lean. He might not be a smooth talker, but you always know he means what he says, because he takes the direct route to what he wants and speaks from the heart.

Matter of fact, he does everything from the heart, and most of his eloquence is of the non-verbal variety. He’s a lot better at showing how he feels than at talking about it.

No mahogany four-poster required.

Meanwhile, Mr. Moneybags has a tenth-century illuminated copy of the Kama Sutra in his glass-fronted oak bookcase, and he wants to try the Congress of the Crow. Unless you’re double-jointed, this could be a deal-breaker.

Seriously, they’re both great guys. They both live in interesting worlds, and they’re both successful. It’s kind of fun to take one from Column Tycoon and one from Column Cowboy—but when it comes to everyday life, I want a man I can relax with. A man who makes me laugh. One I can trust and depend on.
And those boots, that swagger, that Wrangler butt—well, it works for me.

COWBOY TROUBLE by JOANNE KENNEDY—IN STORES MARCH 2010

Fleeing her latest love life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown's transition to rural living isn't going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a chicken farm—but without the constant help of her charming, sexy, cowboy neighbor; she'd never have made it through her first Wyoming season.

Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl. But he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch…he's ready for love, and he wants to go the distance. When the two get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story, Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanne Kennedy has worked in bookstores all her life in positions ranging from bookseller to buyer. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and won first place in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest and second place in the Heart of the Rockies contest in 2007. Joanne lives and writes in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more information please visithttp://joannekennedybooks.com/.