What do you think?
Rate this book
Try
A love story with an alternative-country twang, Try is a fresh, sexy novel about holding on to what you love despite all the bumps and bruises.
In Denver, Colorado, Daryl Heatherly is a promising young artist trying to find her place. When she returns to the country just outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, Daryl is forced to confront her true feelings about saying goodbye to the last home her family all lived in together. And it's there that she meets J.W. Jarrett, a World Champion rodeo cowboy and true Southern gentleman. Against her better judgment, Daryl forges ahead despite a recent heartbreak, not only dating him but joining him on the circuit to watch him ride. Though the chemistry between them is undeniable, Daryl is determined not to fall for a cowboy, with all the dust and drama that implies--especially when she finds out that J.W has secrets. But Daryl hasn't counted on the grit of a man who has outlasted every other rider in the arena--her cowboy isn't going to give up that easily…
"[Burana] earns her spurs by capturing the roar of the crowd, the smell of the horses and, most important, the heartbreak of the rodeo circuit for both cowboys and cowgirls."
-- Washington Post
"Hard-not-to-like debut amid the dusty, manly rodeo circuit…a touching winter-spring romance amid full Western regalia."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Powerful and passionate…a wonderfully insightful tour of the world of rodeo cowboys and the women who care for them."--Madison Smartt Bell, author of WAITING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD
In Denver, Colorado, Daryl Heatherly is a promising young artist trying to find her place. When she returns to the country just outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, Daryl is forced to confront her true feelings about saying goodbye to the last home her family all lived in together. And it's there that she meets J.W. Jarrett, a World Champion rodeo cowboy and true Southern gentleman. Against her better judgment, Daryl forges ahead despite a recent heartbreak, not only dating him but joining him on the circuit to watch him ride. Though the chemistry between them is undeniable, Daryl is determined not to fall for a cowboy, with all the dust and drama that implies--especially when she finds out that J.W has secrets. But Daryl hasn't counted on the grit of a man who has outlasted every other rider in the arena--her cowboy isn't going to give up that easily…
"[Burana] earns her spurs by capturing the roar of the crowd, the smell of the horses and, most important, the heartbreak of the rodeo circuit for both cowboys and cowgirls."
-- Washington Post
"Hard-not-to-like debut amid the dusty, manly rodeo circuit…a touching winter-spring romance amid full Western regalia."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Powerful and passionate…a wonderfully insightful tour of the world of rodeo cowboys and the women who care for them."--Madison Smartt Bell, author of WAITING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD
383 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2006
4 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Lily Burana
13 books49 followersLily Burana is the author of three books, including Strip City: A Stripper's Farewell Journey Across America, Try, and a memoir entitled I Love a Man in Uniform. Strip City was named Best Memoir in 2008 and Best Book of the Year in 2001 by Entertainment Weekly.
Burana also works as a journalist and has freelanced for The Washington Post, GQ, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Self, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Details, The Village Voice, and The New York Observer. She serves as a contributing editor for New York Magazine and Spin.
Burana married a Lieutenant Colonel in 2002. In 2008, she founded Operation Bombshell, a burlesque school for military wives. She currently lives with her husband in New York.
Burana also works as a journalist and has freelanced for The Washington Post, GQ, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Self, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Details, The Village Voice, and The New York Observer. She serves as a contributing editor for New York Magazine and Spin.
Burana married a Lieutenant Colonel in 2002. In 2008, she founded Operation Bombshell, a burlesque school for military wives. She currently lives with her husband in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 9, 2010
The first couple of pages were decent but I lost interest once the relationship between Daryl and J.W. started developing. The whole 'daddy' thing during sex kinda made me went "what the effing??" a few times. After a few chapter, the story just went downhill. There was too much jerking around (not that jerking) and the narration got boring.
The love between Daryl and J.W. felt more like a father-daughter type and not a boyfriend-girlfriend one. I felt that Daryl just wanted someone to love her since she thinks no man wants to be with her and J.W. fitted that position since he wanted to take care of her. Overall, not really a romance novel but more of a...um, yeah, I'll get back to that once I find the answer. Maybe.
The love between Daryl and J.W. felt more like a father-daughter type and not a boyfriend-girlfriend one. I felt that Daryl just wanted someone to love her since she thinks no man wants to be with her and J.W. fitted that position since he wanted to take care of her. Overall, not really a romance novel but more of a...um, yeah, I'll get back to that once I find the answer. Maybe.
February 15, 2010
The simplest review I can give it is this book made me want to vomit.
It's a harlequin romance novel meets western novel meets a perfectly decent woman decides she's broken without a cowboy and all the comprising she does within to reach this decision. Oh. And, did you know having your partner give you a clit ring is the deepest act of intimacy? Yes, apparently, it is.
There were so many moments in this book that left me feeling squeamish and irritable, not the sexual content, but the choices and rationalizations she has the character make without any form of redemption. Also, the plot is highly predictable and I am unsure how she managed to stretch the story out as long as she did. I kept reading it with the hope that it HAD TO GET BETTER. It did not.
It's a harlequin romance novel meets western novel meets a perfectly decent woman decides she's broken without a cowboy and all the comprising she does within to reach this decision. Oh. And, did you know having your partner give you a clit ring is the deepest act of intimacy? Yes, apparently, it is.
There were so many moments in this book that left me feeling squeamish and irritable, not the sexual content, but the choices and rationalizations she has the character make without any form of redemption. Also, the plot is highly predictable and I am unsure how she managed to stretch the story out as long as she did. I kept reading it with the hope that it HAD TO GET BETTER. It did not.
January 21, 2012
I love this story and I love the hero and heroine, mostly I love them together because they are a perfect fit. This story doesn't focus so much on bringing them together; that happens early in the story. The story is about keeping them together in spite of their own internal forces that try to push them apart. This is a keeper.
Alert: While this is a rodeo romance, it's more realistic than standard romance fare. If you're going to be turned off by a cowboy who chews tobacco, steer clear.
Alert: While this is a rodeo romance, it's more realistic than standard romance fare. If you're going to be turned off by a cowboy who chews tobacco, steer clear.
November 14, 2021
It started out in a promising way - a love story in a different setting - but became increasingly disorganized. I struggled on for quite a while, but couldn't manage to finish it.
June 9, 2007
This is an interesting book that I found to be terrifically readable.
Basically, it's a girl-meets-boy, girl-resists-attraction-to-boy, girl-gives-up-the-fight-and-follows-her-heart book. But in this case, the boy is eighteen years older than the girl and quite definitely a man.
She's an artist who works as a maid at a local motel to support herself who was raised on a ranch. The man she falls in love with is a rodeo champ and despite the fact that she's sworn never to fall in love with a cowboy, she can't resist doing so.
This is a first novel by author Lily Burana, who has written articles for the NYT, GQ, The Washington Post, and so forth. She surely seems to have a lot of knowledge concerning rodeo, although I am hardly the one to judge that, knowing nothing about it myself. She surely does throw the terms around with quite a bit of authority.
TRY is certainly not a one-note book, though. There are many topics explored here, including tattoos, art and it's commercial exploitation, gay cowboys, substance abuse, infidelity, family dysfunction, and the myth of the Old West. Burana covers a lot of ground in 383 pages.
One of the strangest things about this book is that the author will be in the middle of some gorgeous prose (and she is a damn fine writer) about the stars or the mountains or some other lovely thing when all of a sudden, we're into the most graphic literary sex that I've experienced in quite some time. Can I just say that our protagonist's boyfriend doesn't just know his way around a horse? It would seem that during his first marriage, he was injured in such a way as to make regular intercourse impossible and that during the recovery period, he kept his young wife interested and satisfied by exploring and learning many ways of sexual gratification and that he certainly enjoys showing off his prowess.
Well, what 23-year old girl wouldn't become enamored of such a man, especially one who looks so damn fine in his ironed and creased Wranglers?
Uh-huh. Oh yeah. And so forth.
I actually found the graphic sex AND the daddy-little girl relationship between protagonist and rodeo champ to be a little off-putting, but it was entertaining and certainly true to the characters.
Another slight problem I had with the book was the myriad of incidental characters. They were all well-written and fleshed out, but I couldn't keep them straight. Probably more because of my age and memory ability than the author's skill at creating a story, but it was a bit of a problem for me.
I did enjoy reading the book, I'll probably remember it for quite some time and that's saying a lot for me.
Basically, it's a girl-meets-boy, girl-resists-attraction-to-boy, girl-gives-up-the-fight-and-follows-her-heart book. But in this case, the boy is eighteen years older than the girl and quite definitely a man.
She's an artist who works as a maid at a local motel to support herself who was raised on a ranch. The man she falls in love with is a rodeo champ and despite the fact that she's sworn never to fall in love with a cowboy, she can't resist doing so.
This is a first novel by author Lily Burana, who has written articles for the NYT, GQ, The Washington Post, and so forth. She surely seems to have a lot of knowledge concerning rodeo, although I am hardly the one to judge that, knowing nothing about it myself. She surely does throw the terms around with quite a bit of authority.
TRY is certainly not a one-note book, though. There are many topics explored here, including tattoos, art and it's commercial exploitation, gay cowboys, substance abuse, infidelity, family dysfunction, and the myth of the Old West. Burana covers a lot of ground in 383 pages.
One of the strangest things about this book is that the author will be in the middle of some gorgeous prose (and she is a damn fine writer) about the stars or the mountains or some other lovely thing when all of a sudden, we're into the most graphic literary sex that I've experienced in quite some time. Can I just say that our protagonist's boyfriend doesn't just know his way around a horse? It would seem that during his first marriage, he was injured in such a way as to make regular intercourse impossible and that during the recovery period, he kept his young wife interested and satisfied by exploring and learning many ways of sexual gratification and that he certainly enjoys showing off his prowess.
Well, what 23-year old girl wouldn't become enamored of such a man, especially one who looks so damn fine in his ironed and creased Wranglers?
Uh-huh. Oh yeah. And so forth.
I actually found the graphic sex AND the daddy-little girl relationship between protagonist and rodeo champ to be a little off-putting, but it was entertaining and certainly true to the characters.
Another slight problem I had with the book was the myriad of incidental characters. They were all well-written and fleshed out, but I couldn't keep them straight. Probably more because of my age and memory ability than the author's skill at creating a story, but it was a bit of a problem for me.
I did enjoy reading the book, I'll probably remember it for quite some time and that's saying a lot for me.
September 18, 2007
This book was really different. I picked it up because Elizabeth Gilbert was quoted on the cover. It's a love story about an artist and a rodeo cowboy quite a bit older than her. They have a daddy-little girl thing going on sexually which made me go ewwww a couple times, but it was realistic and true, and I liked the book. I'm torn between giving it three or four stars, so let's call it a 3.5 or 3.6. It's quirky. Well written. The author has written a memoir but this was her first novel. I like her voice, so I'm looking forward to more to see where she goes next.
July 12, 2008
Lily Burana used to write a column for MRR, a long time ago. I enjoyed her book Strip City, so I picked up this one as well. It's about rodeo and cowboys -- not something that really interests me. In other words, if this wasn't by an author I was interested in, I never would have read it. It was okay. I got into the story, but while it's mostly a romance, and a very sexy one at that -- it was also plenty frustrating in the relationship dynamics. Interesting and okay, but I didn't love it.
November 17, 2007
I reviewed this book for another project because I thought it sounded like great Chick-Lit. I had a hard time getting into it and didn't like the fact that she tried so hard to be verbose and write a "literary" love story. Needless to say, I donated my free copy to the library rather than keep it in my personal collection.
August 29, 2007
I had a hard time getting into this book, but it was ultimately worth the trip. I learned more about professional rodeo than I ever expected to, I can tell you that. And, jaded though I am, the sex scenes were extremely effective.
October 21, 2007
totally satisfied that part of me that doesn't watch soap opera drama/romance on principle, but still needs some kind guilty pleasure type nurturing. and the girl is pretty tough which i tend to appreciate.
May 8, 2014
Damn Lily Burana! More than a year after leaving Wyoming behind, Lily took me back to a place I love more than I thought. Her eye for detail is amazing and the characters are compelling. And I'm not just saying this because I know her and she's a cool chick.
February 10, 2014
With my love of everything Western, I liked this book. Focuses on rodeo and the way it can take over your life (I think of the Garth Brooks song when I think about this book). More serious read, little darker.
August 24, 2007
Different direction than her last book. I like it in a different way.
October 31, 2007
Yes.
I admit
I Like Cowboys .
Great story, fun.
did learn a lot about the rodeo .
...I'll just leave it at that.
This is one that I would highly recommend.
March 16, 2009
I'm reading it again and I never read books twice. (Now I'm reading it for a THIRD time) That's how good it is.
November 28, 2007
Cowboys and rodeos just aren't my thing, but Lily's prose is still delicious.
November 11, 2008
Eh, mediocre. Also, a bit racy. I felt guilty reading it, like I should be reading all the other amazing books out there.
October 12, 2008
I personally know this author. This book was great she traveled the rodeo circuit to wrote this book. Greg is in it and I am in the thank you of it.
October 29, 2008
i LOVE this book!
July 15, 2009
A little bit more of a romance novel then I expected....but good overall...wyoming here I come!!
February 26, 2010
Raunchy chic lit at its finest.
June 2, 2010
One of my favourites that I can read over and over again and not get tired of.
One of the few books I own in both paperback and hardback.
One of the few books I own in both paperback and hardback.
July 14, 2010
A great summer read. Now I can't wait 'til the Labor Day rodeo!
What can I say? Cowboys are the best.
What can I say? Cowboys are the best.
July 18, 2013
The rodeo/cowboy story was original and engaging, however the whole "daddy" thing was revolting. Just couldn't get past it. Shame, without that, it would have been a really good book.
September 16, 2025
Re-reads:
25 November - 2 December 2018
13 September - 16 September 2025
25 November - 2 December 2018
13 September - 16 September 2025
June 2, 2008
Sometimes you need a little cowboy romance to while away a weekend.
September 11, 2009
I barely got through 1/4 of this one. Bad pacing. It was jerky paced and did not grab me at all.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews