Moonlight Cowboy by Jennie Atkins is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: “The want ads held no clue as to how Daniel Gallagher could fill the gaping hole in his teaching agenda called summer vacation.”
**Breaking news…Evidently my post didn’t go!! So, I’m sorry it’s late…And I hope it works this time! Now back to our regularly scheduled post!
I loved this book! But first the photo and verse. A friend sent it to me not long ago, and I loved the colors. I once lived on a lake and sometimes snapped photos like this. I may have to dig some of them out and scan them. 🙂
Now for Jennie Atkins’ Moonlight Cowboy, A Sweet Victory Island Romance. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Widower Daniel Gallagher’s life is a façade. Most know him as a high-school art teacher. Very few understand what drove him to moonlight as the world-renowned artist David Benjamin.
When his private investigator friend needs help and asks Daniel to blend into the artsy community on Victory Island, he accepts. His mission is to monitor the spending habits of Emma Wagner, whose mother is accusing her of stealing the family fortune.
Emma, a lifelong island resident, works at her aunt’s art gallery. Having endured the fallout of her father’s poor business sense, she wants a man who is honest to a fault. A new resident on the island, Daniel Gallagher, appears to have all the qualities. However, there is one problem—he thinks she’s nothing more than a petty thief!
So, come on over to Victory Island, kick off your shoes, dig your toes in the sand, and watch the sparks fly. Can Daniel and Emma face the betrayal of their past and find the love and trust they both so eagerly search for?
My take:
Like I said before, I loved Jennie Atkins’ beautifully written debut novel! The characters are so well drawn and intriguing. I felt as though I had grown up on Victory Island and knew the townspeople. I’d love to visit it someday.
The Bronze Cowboy was intriguing–I’d never heard of a living statue before, and it totally fits the character who played the cowboy. I loved watching Emma and Daniel’s story unfold–there was so much to keep them apart, but God kept drawing them back together. As wrote this review, I kept searching for a word for how it made me feel…satisfying. Moonlight Cowboy is everything I like about a book when I read it.
While not the usual romantic suspense I read, I couldn’t put this book down. Atkins wove a beautiful story with threads of romance and mystery, and I cannot wait to read her next book!
You can purchase Moonlight Cowboy at Amazon or read it in Kindle Unlimited.
Okay, Reader Friday followers, what are you reading this week? Leave your first line in the comments or tell me if you’ve ever seen a living statute, and I’ll enter you in an April drawing for a book from my library!
Moonlight Cowboy by Jennie Atkins is this week's Reader Friday. Check out my review of this awesome book! Share on X
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Comments 40
Your photo is beautiful, Pat. The verse you chose reflects the peace I get looking at the photo.
I just started reading Cara Putman’s “The Vanished”. The first line is “What have I done? The thought pounded through Janae Simmons’s mind as the wheels melted beneath her Mazda SUV’s tires.”
By the way, I didn’t get the usual e-mail this morning announcing this blog post.
Love the picture and verse! That looks like a wonderful setting for being still and knowing God. Restful and peaceful.
I have not heard of this author, but the book sounds interesting. I enjoyed your review.
I am currently reading an ARC, so I will share the first line from a book I read a while back: Every Bird That Falls by Sara Davison.
Eight years ago
Every muscle in Jae’s body was coiled so tightly that simply drawing in a breath, even short and gasping, caused pain.
This is the third book in her “two sparrows for a penny” series. I strongly recommend reading the books in order.
I blew it again. I didn’t mean to post this as a reply to you, Tim. At least I know what I did wrong this time. I have no clue what I did last week.
Did Cara Putman actually say that “the wheels melted beneath her Mazda SUVs tires?”
That is what Carla said. A direct quote
Author
Sara Davison is a great writer, Edward. I’ll have to find that one.
Author
Thanks, Tim. I don’t know what happened to the blog post today. I didn’t get it in my email either until a few minutes ago–almost eighteen hours late! Oh, me, I wonder if it was auto correct–wheels for miles?
Pat, I didn’t think about auto-correct, but I did think it should be “miles” rather than “wheels.” I guess that would truly be a “hot mess” if the wheels melted beneath the tires, because if it was hot enough to melt wheels, it would destroy the tires as well.
Author
I agree, Edward.
Great review. Love the witty, somewhat sarcastic first line. Yes, I’ve seen a living statue. I screamed when it moved.
I would scream, too, Priscilla!
Author
I think you’d enjoy this story, Priscilla!
Beautiful photo and verse. It almost looks like an oil painting.
Moonlight Cowboy sounds great. Once again, your reviews make my bookshelves grow. lol
I’m reading Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin. It’s my first time to read him, because I’d heard a lot of people like him. The first line of chapter one is, “Witnesses say the phone call occurred around seven p.m. and the exchange was heated.” I’m starting chapter three and a lot of people have been murdered so far. Gracious!
Author
Be sure to read Wrapped in Rain, Barbara! It’s his first book and I loved it. I love all his books…
That is a beautiful photo. The clouds are so intricate with lovely colors. Love the verse. By the way. For about a week, I have not gotten an option to get check a box for notification of new responses to the post. I just check back. Is that new or a problem on my end?
The weather turned out perfect for Dedication Day–sunny, with bright blue skies and a cool, Oregon breeze.
A Deadly Stitch by Susan Sleeman
Author
I don’t know, Gloria, if I’ve done something that took away that box…I’ll check it out. And I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and verse! I love all of Susan Sleeman’s books!
It may just be on my end if no one else has noticed it, Pat. Thanks.
Author
Glorai, when I look at the comments, there’s a box to check that says to “notify me of new posts by email.” Have you checked that? 🙂
I check that box every time, Pat. I believe there used to be two boxes to check, one for new posts and one for follow up comments by email.
Author
I know, Gloria, and I don’t know what happened to it!!
Pat, I didn’t mean to throw your weekend into a tailspin. Thanks for working on it. I blame Word Press. Sometimes they seem to mess up.
Author
Indeed they doo, Gloria. But I want my readers to be able to subscribe to the comments…I have the correct box clicked, but it still doesn’t show up…
I wasn’t given a chance to put my name in that time, Pat. gdafaith is Gloria A
Author
WordPress is really weird tonight! Although comments are managed by Jetpack.
Beautiful photo. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
It is, Diana!
The book I’m read I g currently is Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon, Good grief. What has Kay got herself into.
No I’ve never seen a living statue, It would freak me out
Author
Me, too, Phyllis! Irene Hannon’s book sounds so good. I seen a lot about it lately. 🙂
Shame shame on me! I just realized I have not gotten an email from you all month! I quickly re subscribed to the blog! What is up with Word Press again! And I get too many emails. I must unsubscribe from the ones I automatically skip. BUT NOT YOURS! I missed you!
Author
Thank you, Paula! I’ve been working all morning on getting the subscribe to comments box back…still haven’t figured it out. If anyone knows how, please leave a comment! 🙂
Gorgeous photo, Pat!
Enjoy your weekend!
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Love this photo – the beauty and stillness would certainly encourage you to think of God.
Interesting review Pat. I think I’ll download Moonlight Cowboy.
Edward, I just read the first book in Sara Davison’s series, Two Sparrows for a Penny and have the second one on my Kindle. I really liked the book but it is such an intense story I needed a lighter read before starting book 2.
I am now reading Shadow Chaser by Christy Barritt – A smoky scent roused Emily Rankin from a deep sleep
Happy weekend everyone!
Author
I think you will enjoy Jennie Atkins’ book, Mary. I’ve read it twice now and I rarely ever read a book more than once!
Thank you, Pat for a wonderful review. Love the picture!
sounds like a great book! I am reading Caryl Moncado’s book Serinity Landing series
Author
Shelia, it is a great book. I checked out the Serenity Series and it looks very interesting!
Patricia, I always think you can’t top your photo and verse, but this one is beautiful and it does look like a painting, it’s so pretty! Psalm 46:10 is one of my very favorites, and reassuring to me in my time of need .
Moonlight Cowboy sounds interesting and another new author for me. I’ve never seen a living statue before, although when I was in high school, there was a dept. store downtown that would let us girls model their clothes, standing in the store window like a mannequin. We had to stand perfectly still for several minutes which was hard to do! It was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon though.
Author
I probably couldn’t stand still for even a few minutes, Dottie. lol I love that photo my friend took from his patio. I miss my view of a lake–there’s just something about sitting by the water that is so calming.
Love the photo and the story review.
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Thanks, Sally Jo!