[Note from Frolic: We are so excited to have author Victoria James guest post on the site today. Take it away Victoria!]
…Well, at least as a book boyfriend. So why do you need a cowboy in your life, you might be asking? What is it about the cowboy archetype that is still so appealing? Many of us have never even been to a ranch or a farm. Many of us live in cities without even a desire to go to a ranch…so why the allure? What is it about the cowboy that still pulls us in? Here are my top five theories (none of which are actually backed by research and just based on my own personal biases and reviews I’ve read).
#1: He’s unlike anyone you’ve met.
I bet a lot of us haven’t ever met a cowboy. Growing up, I remember cowboys on TV. My father was a huge John Wayne fan and of course, Clint Eastwood. I remember all the Clint Eastwood movies. I think so many of us can even picture “the man with no name’s” hard stare, his stoic posture, and that unforgettable squint.
Your cowboy hero isn’t going to be like the guy beside you on the commuter train into the city, or standing next to you on the subway, or riding the elevator with you in your condo building.
He’s the guy who’s up before sunrise, rain or shine, winter and summer. He’ll work harder than most in an industry that’s difficult and without guarantees-but he’ll keep working, he’ll stay loyal to the family business, to the land, because it’s in his blood, it’s who he is. In a world where so many jump to the next big thing, your cowboy will be right where you left him…on his ranch.
#2: He’s a man you can count on.
He’s dependable and trustworthy. He won’t change his core self, even when the world is changing around him. He has a certain code of rules he lives by. He probably won’t be buying skinny jeans and following the KETO diet (unless there are no biscuits around he’s doubling up on the morning’s serving of bacon and eggs). There’s comfort in that-in knowing that some things and some people really don’t change. Sometimes when it feels like the world is a scary place with awful things happening, you want to be able to find a soft place to fall, a safe haven. Try a cowboy…book!
#3: He’s noble.
He might even hold a door open for you—not because he doesn’t think you can’t open that door for yourself, but because he’s well-mannered and courteous and he’d hold open a door for anyone about to enter. He might tip his hat and give you a slight nod (yes, please!). He’ll be there for his friends, for his family, and most importantly, for the heroine. He will stand up for what’s right, no matter the cost. He’ll do what it takes to make the heroine happy and to give her what she wants. Who doesn’t want a hero like that in their life?
#4: He’s courageous.
“Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” –John Wayne.
That about sums it up. It’s not that the cowboy hero is just reckless and not aware of danger-he’s aware and he does it anyway. He’s got grit. He’s the guy who pushes forward even when it’s dangerous. Stranded out in Montana with a blizzard rolling in? You’ll want to make sure you have a cowboy around! Or…maybe it’s just the dead of winter and you’ve curled up by the fire with a nice glass of Pinot-you’ll still want that cowboy around, because he’ll light the fire for you.
#5: He’s timeless.
He’s timeless and he’s authentic. He will always appeal to those who are looking for a hero with a certain set of core values and beliefs. He’ll always have the hat, the boots, the strength, the authenticity. You know that if you pick up a cowboy book from ten years ago or today, there will a certain set of character traits that will still exist, even though the world has changed, your life has changed, the cowboy hero’s core remains the same. He’s a man whose character appealed one hundred years ago and still does today. He’s a hero who’s endured the test of time.
So, the next time you’ve had a hard day or you’ve lingered too long on social media, and need a bit of a reality detox, try a cowboy…book.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to curl up by the fire and read through the edits on my current Cowboy book.
About the Author:
Victoria James has always known she wanted to be a writer. In grade five, she penned her first story, bound it (with staples), added a cardboard cover, and did all the illustrations herself. Luckily, this book will never again see the light of day. After graduating University with an English Literature degree, she married her own hero, pursued a degree in Interior Design, and opened her own business. After the birth of her first child, she knew it was time to fulfill her dream of writing romantic fiction. She’s a hopeless romantic and New York Times bestseller who is living her dream, penning happily-ever-afters in between managing kids and the family business. Writing on a laptop in the middle of the country in a rambling old Victorian house would be ideal, but she’s quite content living in suburbia with her husband, two young children, and a very bad cat. Sign up for Victoria’s newsletter to get Sweet Surrender for free: http://forms.aweber.com/form/53/897084453.htm
The Trouble with Cowboys by Victoria James, out now!
Eight years ago, Tyler Donnelly left Wishing River, Montana, after a terrible fight with his father and swore he’d never return. But when his father has a stroke, guilt and duty drive him home, and nothing is as he remembers––from the run-down ranch to Lainey Sullivan, who is all grown up now. And darn if he can’t seem to stay away.
Lainey’s late grandma left her two things: the family diner and a deep-seated mistrust of cowboys. So when Tyler quietly rides back into town looking better than hot apple pie, she knows she’s in trouble. But she owes his dad everything, and she’s determined to show Ty what it means to be part of a small town…and part of a family.
Lainey’s courage pushes Ty to want to make Wishing River into a home again―together. But one of them is harboring a secret that could change everything.
