Never Love a Cowboy (Rogues in Texas Book 2)

Never Love a Cowboy is the second book in Lorraine Heath’s Rogues in Texas series. I love the premise of this series. Three Englishmen’s fathers paid to have their “wayward sons” sent to Texas to make their own way. In classic LH fashion…we have angst, passion, trauma, and tragic pasts. Being set in Texas, in this book we also have rattlesnakes, a saloon, assisting a childbirth, and a cattle drive!Fortune, Texas 1865. Harrison “Harry” Bainbridge is the second son of the Earl of Lambourne and at 28-years-old he’s ready to start his scandal-free life in Texas. We meet Harry and his friends, Christian “Kit” and Grayson, in the first book in the series along with Jessye Kane, the heroine of this story. Jessye is the local saloon owner’s daughter and while working there she meets Harrison and his friends. Harrison and Jessye have a flirtatious, spirited banter and get into some heated arguments…she’s convinced he cheats at cards, he desperately wants her in his bed. When Harry and Kit decide to start their own cattle venture, they need an investor and reach out to Jessye. She provides the capital for their business venture but also fully intends to become a participating investor and joins them on the long cattle drive north. She has the knowledge and know-how about the state and the cattle and isn’t about to leave these two Englishmen on their own. We get to see their hard, laborious work rounding up cattle and their lengthy adventure of the cattle drive to the north (northern states were desperate for beef denied them during the war and willing to pay high prices). Along the way, Harry ends up getting seriously injured and we get a lot of caretaking scenes (which isn’t always well-received by a very broken Harry).Just like the first book in this series, this has a very slow and quiet start that many western historical romances do. The scenery was sweeping and you got a real sense of their hard work and time spent trying to make their business venture work. Harrison and Jessye both have a lot of tragedy in their pasts and I loved seeing them open up to one another and share their souls. Harrison pushes love away and claims he has no heart to give, while Jessye only wants love and doesn’t want a fleeting passion. Jessye is a great, strong heroine and I loved seeing her find happiness. Other moments I enjoyed: the brand being named Texas Lady, Magpie and the crew they hire along the way, how quietly thoughtful and caring Harry was towards others while not even trying to seek acknowledge or praise for what he’s done, Harry and Jessye’s gambles, their stop in Dallas and her green dress. I loved seeing these two broken souls find one another, both of them had horribly sad events from their pasts and seeing their healing and happiness (which was a struggle to get to) was everything.

After reading some reviews, I almost didn’t purchase this book. So very thankful that I took the chance, because this book will stick with me forever. Especially as a mom, this made such an impact. Definitely recommend!

This book is divided into two parts. During Part One: JOURNEYS INTO HELL I found myself skipping ahead when I either lost interest or the scenes became too intense. Then I'd go back and try to read what I'd skipped. If it wasn't for the Prologue I might have given up on this book but I wanted to learn how things turned out for Harrison (Harry), the hero.But once I got to Part II: THE WALK TO REDEMPTION I couldn't put the book down. Wow, it changed my whole view of this book. It went from an okay story to a very good story. It made me want to read more books by this author. Based on Part One I was debating whether I would give it a 3 or a 3.5 star rating. But Part two is closer to 5 stars, hence the 4 stars.In the beginning I didn’t care for Harrison, but as the book goes on Harrison starts to redeem himself. By the end of Part Two he became one of the better heroes I have read. On the other hand I never really warmed to Jessye, the heroine. She was a brave women but not all that likeable IMOSo the book is pretty intense in parts, there is quite a bit of sadness, and I don’t remember anything particularly humorous in it. I think the attraction between the H & h is very well done and is the main focus of the book. Not counting the kisses there are probably 3 love scenes which seemed the perfect number for the story, not overpowering. It is rather a long book at close to 400 pages.

After a slow start this story drew me in beyond my wildest imagination. Thank goodness for Lorraine Heath's. Nobody writes angst like she does. Better yet, she knows how to build a foundation so that everything comes together in a believable way.Jessye and Harry were soulmates. By the halfway mark, I never wanted their story to end.

I enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. Then the author seemed to forget the essential aspects of her main characters. The development of the central relationship was fantastic, as were their practical struggles on the cattle drive. Then the hero and heroine returned home and became completely different people. It felt like a different author finished the story. I enjoyed the other 2 books in this series and would recommend them. But you can skip this one. You learn what you need to about Harry and Jessye in the 3rd book without hating them.

I have had this book forever and was not very inspired by the title to give it a go. Recently, I've been reading some cowboy books and ended up finally reading this wonderful story. Lesson learned: don't judge a book by its title!This story is very intense and beautiful. Love happens slowly, faces the hard truths, overcomes their cynicism, their broken spirits, and their hard hearts. Nothing is better loved than those things one has to fight hard for. There are some heartbreaking moments, lots of emotion, some adventure and a wonderful HEA. Highly recommended!

I read Outlaw and the Lady before this series which is the story of Harry and Jessye's daughter Angela. Each one is well written and historical without becoming a history lesson. Harry, Kit and Grayson are the "black sheep" of their aristocratic English families sent to Texas to find their fortunes and find themselves. This series is well worth reading. The structure of Victorian England with all the strict society rules is what these three very proper English gentlemen endured so coming to rural Texas in 1865 was truly culture shock. The stories are heartwarming and funny as well as realistic. Diamondgirl

Interesting account of second sons of English nobles sent to America to grow up and make their own way. Most of the money and attention was on the heir and he had to be protected car all cost.

Great book

"I would not make a good husband. I do, however, make an excellent lover"This was a great read that kind of snuck up on me, especially once I started picturing Johnny Depp as our roguish hero. Yes indeed, he would make a fine British cowboy, ala Jack Sparrow on a cattle drive, attempting to woo the heroine into bed with his clever, wicked tongue and laughing eyes. Anyways that's what gets me through the day.Harrison Bainbridge is a scoundrel and I absolutely adored him. The second son of an English earl "Harry" has been banished by his father for his substantial gambling debts and womanizing and sent to the wilds of 1865 Texas to clean up his act. Partnering up in a cattle muster isn't really his idea of a good time, (it is actual work after all) however Harry can't resist the opportunity to spend time with the saloon keepers outspoken daughter. Her daring business venture is a gamble and that is of course what Harry lives for.Jessye Kane has dreams of wealth and independence after having her heart and reputation destroyed by her first love. She doesn't trust men, doesn't want or need a husband and certainly isn't going to fall for the smooth talking Harry. He's just heartache waiting to happen. However during the long months on the dusty trail the two get to know each other and Jessye realizes that there's more to Harry then the devil-may-care attitude he portrays to the world. In fact Harry may just have a conscience and he might also be just as damaged and vulnerable as she is. Isn't that a scary thought, because that's a man she could love...The flirty back and forth banter between our couple here as they try not to fall for each other is really fun; in fact I enjoyed most of the dialogue and definitely chuckled through Harry's one liners. I also loved how we never really knew for sure if he was cheating at cards or not. I swear that man would wager his very soul.It was towards the end of the book though that Lorraine Heath managed to capture my heart with this story too. After Harry is horribly injured, Jessye attempts to nurse the now stubborn, bitter man back to health. He can't stand her pity or the way she looks at him these days and may just break her heart to recapture the outspoken sassy girl he used to know.This is part 2 from the Rogues in Texas trilogy. And while I read this as a stand alone I wouldn't recommend it as there were holes in the story that were never completely filled in and the beginning chapters were a bit confusing. Besides from what I can tell Harry's brother's story (A Rogue in Texas) which continues on here, looks super good.

Anger, bittersweet past, tragedy and love that conquers unimaginable odds. A great story.