GRR Reviews Rebel Cowboy (Big Sky Cowboys) by Nicole Helm

Rebel Cowboy is about conflicting obligations keeping two people from realizing their passion for each other. The intro was a bit long and the premise a bit hard to believe, but once it got going, the book worked a lot better.

Dan gave his life to hockey. But at 35, his contract was not renewed, and there were rumors that he was throwing games. His father, a famous coach, and his agent are trying to get him back on the ice. Dan just wants to get away, so he decided to run off to Montana and get his grandpa's abandoned farm/ranch working again... But he needed help. He got Mel. // Mel family is falling apart for years. Her mother ran off a long time ago, her father was crippled in an accident, and her brother Caleb was a total f***-up in life, leaving Mel to run the ranch by herself. Mel needed $$$ to keep the family ranch going, and when some city slicker wants to drop 20 grand for a "consultant" to get a neighboring abandoned ranch back running again, she can't refuse. // Dan and Mel are total opposites. Both have maintained a facade for so long, they don't know how to let themselves be real. Does Dan really want to get back on the ice... or enjoy the majestic Montana mountains (maybe with Mel?) Does Mel want Dan as a lover, when there are so many others things she needed to do, like keep tabs on her brother? Is she being selfish? Can she enjoy it?

Once the somewhat convoluted setup was finally explained, the story took off slowly. Both characters are showing facade toward the outside world. Dan's default facade is charming alpha male, and Mel's default facade is the "head of household / professional". When they let their guard down and show their true selves, is when the story really starts to shine.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Can the city slicker really get an old ranch going with help of the neighbor "consultant" woman with way too many obligations?

Overall Rating: 4/5

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