Genre: Western, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
The right man for a longtime cowboy might be a city slicker.
Joe
I’ve been going into Max’s Place for twenty years, but tonight’s different. There’s a stranger at the bar with city-fancy clothes, wide shoulders, and the face of a fallen angel. I’m just an ordinary cowhand. Being gay’s the most noteworthy thing about me, so I don’t expect much. But when his eyes light on mine and he invites me to ride in his classic ’67 Mustang, I figure what the hell. If he’s a serial killer, what a way to go. And if he’s not, then a couple of my cowboy dreams might finally come true.
Sylvester
I grew up here in these Colorado foothills, but I haven’t been back since I was ten. Now I’ve inherited my grandfather’s neglected ranch, and I can’t decide whether to sell it or stay. I stop in at the only gay bar in fifty miles, wondering if I can have a decent life as an out gay man in this county. And there coming in the door is the kind of tall, lean, working cowboy who pushes all my buttons. I don’t know if Joe will be a reason to stay or a one night stand, but I’m going to have fun tonight.
Cowboy Dreams is a 36,000 word novella about two solitary men in their 40s figuring out how unexpectedly well they fit together, in bed and out of it.
**All royalties from this book through December 2025 will be donated bi-monthly to Nova Ukraine – a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine**
The Review
Joe McNeil, now in his forties, has been working on ranches most of his life. He’s single, somewhat of a loner, and just a regular cowboy. He knows people, but none are true friends. Some folks have good things to say about him, and some don’t.
After a hard day’s work, he can be found at the usual stop, Max’s. If you go to Max’s, it’s risky, as some are quick to place you as gay. After all, it’s the only gay bar for miles around. But the locals who go there don’t seem to judge. On occasion, Joe does hook-up with someone, and that seems to work for him. It’s a choice – head for the bar’s back room, or make other plans.
One evening, he spies a stranger at Max’s. He uses a corny pick-up line on the “city boy,” Sylvester Georgiadis. Sylvester isn’t sure he fits into the small town world. He had a good and prosperous life owning and managing a hotel. His friend Cassie took over her father’s hotel when he retired, and when Cassie and Sylvester’s mom decided to travel, he took over the place. Then he sold the hotel to a high-end chain that gave him time for planning.
The Circle K Ranch was owned by his now-deceased grandfather Pascal. Sylvester inherited it, but it sat empty for two to three years because he was hard to locate. He had good and bad memories of the ranch. He and his mother stayed there until he was ten, and his grandfather kicked them out. He hadn’t seen his grandfather for thirty year, and it was a shock to him that the man left him the Circle K.
When Sylvester and Joe become friends, Sylvester sees something in Joe. Joe has lots of ranch experience, and gives Sylvester some much-needed advice. Still, Joe feels unsure about what’s happening between him and Sylvester. Could a one-night-stand turn into something more for these two delightful souls?
Harper has crafted a wonderful, heartwarming story with Cowboy Dreams. I really like these characters. Joe and Sylvester are both in their early forties, and are pretty much settled in their lives. They are total opposites but it doesn’t effect the friendship that starts to grow between them. Not everything is easy, especially when they have to deal with those who are homophobic.
I highly recommend Cowboy Dreams. It’s a quick read, filled with emotions – love, humor, a touch of trouble – and some very steamy moments. Harper has been writing for a while, and has written a unique line-up of stories. It’s been a while since I read a cowboy romance, and this one was entertaining and pulled at my heart strings. I hope Harper will do another one soon.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
