A Cowboy to Remember

Barbara Ankrum

Aug 2014 · The Canadays of Montana Book 1 · Tule Publishing

About this ebook

 Twelve years ago, equestrian Olympic hopeful Olivia Canaday and her best friend, Jake Lassen, made a pinky-swear promise to reunite at the Big Marietta Fair on her thirtieth birthday and marry each other if they were both still single. But that was before they grew up and went their separate ways. 

Now, after a disastrous divorce and a career-changing accident, Olivia limps home, minus her mojo, her courage and her faith in love. She retreats to her parents’ ranch, determined to play it safe, but when ex-Army helicopter pilot Jake Lassen arrives to make good on their promise, he reignites passion and hope, two things Olivia had forgotten existed. 

Olivia resolves to keep Jake at arm’s length, even though the memory of his kisses keeps her up at night. She knows better than to let her heart get involved, but Jake is planning for the future. Their future. Can Jake convince her to risk it all one more time and really make this a fair to remember?

*Previously titled A Fair to Remember

Ratings and reviews

I liked the way this book started with two teens making a pinky-swear promise to meet on the girl's 30th birthday and marry each other if they were both still single. That was so cute. But when Jake goes to the meeting spot and finds out Olivia is there on a date, he takes off. Shocked that Jake actually remembered their promise and showed up, Olivia runs after him and explains that her date was set up by her sisters without her knowledge. With that straightened out, they start spending time together picking up where they left off 12 years earlier as best friends. Both of them have a lot of baggage and changed lots over the years. Olivia was an excellent rider and made the US Olympic Equestrian Team. Life was good until an accident took her confidence making her not want to ride again. She is also emotionally scarred thanks to her abusive ex-husband. Olivia went back home to her parents' ranch to basically hide from life. Jake had been a helicopter pilot in the military but a crash sent him to the hospital then home. He was definitely not the boy Olivia remembered. And he didn't want to be just friends and never had. This is an enjoyable romance between two people who have had some very hard things to deal with in their lives. They help each other see that they are braver and stronger than they thought they were. It was sweet that they both wanted more than friendship but hesitated in letting the other know. I was routing for them to get together. As for the characters I liked all of them in this story. Well except a couple who I really didn't like at all. I recommend A Cowboy to Remember if you enjoy sweet friends-to-lovers stories.

Another hit in the Montana Fair books, a stand alone read. Loved the story of Olivia and Jake. High school best friends, who made a pinky swear that if they were single on Olivia's thirtieth birthday that they would meet back up in Marietta. They both had tragedy in their pasts that need to heal. This book will bring out all of your emotions. I love going back to Marietta to catch up with everyone, a true county fair feeling.

I LOVED it. The characters were grown ups, not immature and self-centered as so often found in today's books. It was heartwarming and enjoyable.

About the author

 Best selling author, Barbara Ankrum was a successful commercial actress in Hollywood, hawking everything from dandruff shampoo to fast food and Michelob beer before her love of romance novels and an obsession with all things Western won out. Okay, and there might have been some slight pressure to finally put her dusty English degree from the University of Tennessee to good use as well. She started writing novels and never looked back.

She started writing in the historical world, writing about the Old West before switching to contemporaries/romantic suspense from Harlequin and now, from Tule Publishing, also set in the west. She is also at work on new historicals for a new series coming in 2015! Barbara has been honored to receive numerous writing awards including being twice nominated for RWA's prestigious RITA award for her historical Western, "Renegade Bride" (book 2 of her Best Selling Wild Western Hearts series) and for her contemporary romantic suspense, "I'll Remember You." She still believes in happily ever after and feels very lucky to be able to do what she loves.