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Samantha and the Cowboy
When she manages to get herself hired for the cattle drive, all of Samantha's prayers seem to be answered. The hundred dollars she'll earn will pull her family's Texas farm out of ruin and pay off their debts. But keeping the cowhands fooled that she's a boy becomes harder than she'd expected where one cowboy in particular is concerned. Matthew Hart wants two to forget the tragedies he witnessed on the front lines of the War Between the States, and to reclaim his cowboy life. The last thing he wants is the responsibility of a tagalong youngster on the cattle drive. His closed mind and hardened heart are territory best left unexplored, until a fateful moment turns his world upside down. Matt discovers what and who "Sam" really is, and he is furious. But soon a stronger emotion takes hold, and bound by Samantha's secret, Matt is torn between revealing her identity and his own sudden and frightening love for her.
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2002
About the author
Lorraine Heath
92 books4,416 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 1, 2021
Samantha Jane Reynolds sees a notice calling for hands to help herd cattle from Texas to Missouri. When she shows up as "Sam", cowboy Matthew Hart is told to stay close and teach the new kid everything needed to be a useful asset on the trip. EXCEPT THEN MATT REALIZES SAM'S GOT BOOBS AND IT'S SCANDALOUS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, I GUESS.
1. NOT THE CURVES OMG.
2. Rereading this series is like excavating the formation of kris: they're a "lite" version of adult romances (written by some decently known authors: Heath, Jenkins, Cabot, Hawkins, and Smith among others) where the only things that get touched...is hearts. One good kiss and there's tingles in the thingles but MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE IS LOVE. Or something.
Shocking, I know, that one of my first exposures to romance novels DID NOT include boners. It is terrible.
3. ANYWAYS. This is the first in the series—it has a 1 on the spine and everything—and HOO DOG it has NOT HELD UP WELL. This is for a few reasons, the first of which is: Matt (and Benjamin, Sam's older brother) are confederate veterans. Matt's horse is named Robert E Lee. Heath absolutely does not touch on the slave issue, but definitely paints their nationalistic pride as being unproblematic and worth empathy. OK EXCEPT IT'S NOT THOUGH? (Note: I am OF COURSE not disparaging VETERANS. I am disparaging the Confederacy and the handling of a post-Civil War America where Confederate troops were "defeated" but allowed to return home and propagate the ideals of a Southern Union where Robert E Lee is a hero and the North a bunch of bullies.)
4. Also the handling of Sam's hidden identity as a woman is very gross in a misogynistic, all-women-except-THIS-woman way. Very early 2000's.
5. ALSO, a thing I had not thought about since I haven't read these in YEARS AND YEARS, but they're just CHILDREN. Sam is 16; Matt is 18! They're like making out on the prairie and while Heath does a decent job of having it close with a "And maybe they'll be together forever?" type of ending, it also just felt so...YOU'RE BABIES!! CHILL OUT!!
(Which, I KNOW, makes me sound like the worst sort of croon because I vaguely remember being 16 and reading these was like—Ah, yes, TRUE LOVE HERE I COME and looking back is so, so embarrassing.)
6. Man, formative literature is WILD. I'm giving this 1.5 stars mostly for the nostalgia, I GUESS.
1. NOT THE CURVES OMG.
2. Rereading this series is like excavating the formation of kris: they're a "lite" version of adult romances (written by some decently known authors: Heath, Jenkins, Cabot, Hawkins, and Smith among others) where the only things that get touched...is hearts. One good kiss and there's tingles in the thingles but MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE IS LOVE. Or something.
Shocking, I know, that one of my first exposures to romance novels DID NOT include boners. It is terrible.
3. ANYWAYS. This is the first in the series—it has a 1 on the spine and everything—and HOO DOG it has NOT HELD UP WELL. This is for a few reasons, the first of which is: Matt (and Benjamin, Sam's older brother) are confederate veterans. Matt's horse is named Robert E Lee. Heath absolutely does not touch on the slave issue, but definitely paints their nationalistic pride as being unproblematic and worth empathy. OK EXCEPT IT'S NOT THOUGH? (Note: I am OF COURSE not disparaging VETERANS. I am disparaging the Confederacy and the handling of a post-Civil War America where Confederate troops were "defeated" but allowed to return home and propagate the ideals of a Southern Union where Robert E Lee is a hero and the North a bunch of bullies.)
4. Also the handling of Sam's hidden identity as a woman is very gross in a misogynistic, all-women-except-THIS-woman way. Very early 2000's.
5. ALSO, a thing I had not thought about since I haven't read these in YEARS AND YEARS, but they're just CHILDREN. Sam is 16; Matt is 18! They're like making out on the prairie and while Heath does a decent job of having it close with a "And maybe they'll be together forever?" type of ending, it also just felt so...YOU'RE BABIES!! CHILL OUT!!
(Which, I KNOW, makes me sound like the worst sort of croon because I vaguely remember being 16 and reading these was like—Ah, yes, TRUE LOVE HERE I COME and looking back is so, so embarrassing.)
6. Man, formative literature is WILD. I'm giving this 1.5 stars mostly for the nostalgia, I GUESS.
April 17, 2017
This book is part of the Avon teen historical romance series. I picked it up because I enjoyed a couple of other books in the series (by a different author, though), and hoped for the same quality from another author. No such luck. I guess the cheesy cover should have been my first clue.
This was a great idea, poorly executed. There was so much potential - a girl poses as a boy to get a job driving cattle, suffers hardships and danger, and falls in love with a cowboy along the way. This should have been so much more fun!
Instead, the action is sparse, and most of the time all we get is what the characters think about the action or about each other. At least half the book focuses on Samantha's inner dialogue. This isn't word-for-word, but here's the gist of it: "What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it? Why do his hands fascinate me? I've never paid attention to boys before and now I am. What does it mean? What could it possibly be?"
On top of that, we don't even get to see the last part of the cattle drive! All of a sudden it just skips to Sam's homecoming at the end. The author focuses so much on the feelings of attraction between the characters that she neglects the rest of the story, and in my opinion, the romance also suffers as a result.
This was a great idea, poorly executed. There was so much potential - a girl poses as a boy to get a job driving cattle, suffers hardships and danger, and falls in love with a cowboy along the way. This should have been so much more fun!
Instead, the action is sparse, and most of the time all we get is what the characters think about the action or about each other. At least half the book focuses on Samantha's inner dialogue. This isn't word-for-word, but here's the gist of it: "What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it? Why do his hands fascinate me? I've never paid attention to boys before and now I am. What does it mean? What could it possibly be?"
On top of that, we don't even get to see the last part of the cattle drive! All of a sudden it just skips to Sam's homecoming at the end. The author focuses so much on the feelings of attraction between the characters that she neglects the rest of the story, and in my opinion, the romance also suffers as a result.
August 4, 2015
Though I read this several years ago, I still remember every second of reading this highly addictive book.
Samantha and the Cowboy is a book featured in the now out of print series Avon True Romance for Teens, all of which are historical fiction, each talking place in a different location and time.
Samantha and the Cowboy takes place in the days of the Wild West. Her father has died, leaving them unable to even pay for the burial, let alone proper shelter, clothing, or food. Samantha, the oldest, finds she can make $100 if she stays as a ranch hand for the season. Fearing for her mother and siblings' safety, she decides to apply. Not accepted as a woman, Samantha disguises herself as a man and is hired as a ranch hand and the cook for all the other men. She worries someone will see through her disguise and expose her, but as the season drags on, she wishes one man could see right through her.
I read this in one sitting and I loved it.
Samantha and the Cowboy is a book featured in the now out of print series Avon True Romance for Teens, all of which are historical fiction, each talking place in a different location and time.
Samantha and the Cowboy takes place in the days of the Wild West. Her father has died, leaving them unable to even pay for the burial, let alone proper shelter, clothing, or food. Samantha, the oldest, finds she can make $100 if she stays as a ranch hand for the season. Fearing for her mother and siblings' safety, she decides to apply. Not accepted as a woman, Samantha disguises herself as a man and is hired as a ranch hand and the cook for all the other men. She worries someone will see through her disguise and expose her, but as the season drags on, she wishes one man could see right through her.
I read this in one sitting and I loved it.
April 2, 2017
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When I moved recently, I took a lot of the books that I had in my storage unit out and moved them into my new town home. I bought one of those huge Container Store shelves so I was able to fit a lot more of my stash on there then I had been previously. And I discovered a whole bunch of books I had in the past from a few years ago. And I was like..hmm, might be fun to revisit them in a nostalgia sort of way.
So once a month or so-depending on how annoyed I get with some of these oldies-I’m going to start reviewing them. All of these books have to be pre-2006 and I haven’t picked them up in the last five years. Which brings us to Samantha and the Cowboy (that title is just cringe worthy enough).
Samantha and the Cowboy is the first out of twelve or so books produced in the Avon True Romance series. The series is supposed to be a gateway series into historical romance. At least I think that’s what it is supposed to be. However, after reading this book for the second time I think it would turn me off of romance. And maybe that’s why I haven’t picked up a lot of western centric historicals because this one is cornball bad.
Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in Texas for most of my life (save for a horrible year and a half in Louisiana) but I really get annoyed with so called western slang. It’s awful and I just want to say that nobody talks like that.
But the reckons and pardon me ma’ams were ridiculous beyond belief here. I get that Heath was trying to make the book atmospheric but it added to the cornball-ness that was this book.
Oh yes, this book was corny beyond belief on so many levels. Obviously, it is trying to be a rated “G” YA book but it’s so squeaky clean it’s ridiculous. And no, that doesn’t mean I miss the seventy or so pages that are frequented in so many romance books describing someone’s quivering member, BUT the fact that we spend a lot of the book focused on what color Matthew Heart (yes, that’s the hero’s freaking name) eyes are I just wanted a little more development.
I mean, the plot is pretty much non-existent. The characters pretty much are making googly eyes at each other the entire time-well, Matt didn’t until he found out that Samantha Jane was a girl and then he goes on and on about how he didn’t realize she was a girl before because her curves are that obvious.
During all of this, I was thinking what would actually be cool would’ve been if Matt would’ve been bi and would’ve had feelings for Sam when she pretended to be a guy. Is it so wrong that I want a gender bend story where the romance is two sided before the reveal? And it would be interesting watching the characters interact with each other.
I want that book.
I didn’t get it here.
The reveal was probably the best part of the book and to be honest, it really wasn’t that great. Sam almost drowns and Matt notices that gosh golly she has breasts and must be a girl.
I guess he never heard of man boobs.
Of course, after this Matt turns into an utter tool of a misogynist which I think the reader is supposed to find sexy because he’s supposedly so protective of Sam.
He’s not.
He’s a tool.
He threatens Sam throughout half of this that he’s going to turn her into the foreman, despite the fact that he knows her family is on the verge on poverty…but that doesn’t matter ’cause she’s a girl. And has evil breasts.
Okay, he doesn’t outright say evil breasts, but he does talk about the problems a woman can cause on the cattle drive. So, I’m just paraphrasing it with the evil breasts talk. But I guarantee you, if this book implies just as much.
And I just want to say goodbye to Matt at this point.
But because he’s the cowboy in Samantha and the Cowboy I don’t get that pleasure. Instead, I get to read about Sam being treated like dirt and how when Matt finally turns her into Jake it’s to protect her. Because screw her family…
Oh, and side note, Sam’s brother was a real dick for sitting on his ass and eating bonbons all day and not even at least trying to do something to help his family. I get he lost an arm in the war and all, but dude totally does nothing during the entire book. You’d think at the very least he’d try to help his sister when he found out what she was trying to do rather than…um, yeah, that’s nice go cut off your hair and risk your life to go on a trail ride.
Ugh.
So as you can see, it hasn’t exactly been a pleasant revisit of a book for me. But at the same time, I don’t think re-reading Samantha and the Cowboy has been a total waste of time. If anything looking at it gave me an insight of how the genre has developed since the fifteen years that this book was published.
When I moved recently, I took a lot of the books that I had in my storage unit out and moved them into my new town home. I bought one of those huge Container Store shelves so I was able to fit a lot more of my stash on there then I had been previously. And I discovered a whole bunch of books I had in the past from a few years ago. And I was like..hmm, might be fun to revisit them in a nostalgia sort of way.
So once a month or so-depending on how annoyed I get with some of these oldies-I’m going to start reviewing them. All of these books have to be pre-2006 and I haven’t picked them up in the last five years. Which brings us to Samantha and the Cowboy (that title is just cringe worthy enough).
Samantha and the Cowboy is the first out of twelve or so books produced in the Avon True Romance series. The series is supposed to be a gateway series into historical romance. At least I think that’s what it is supposed to be. However, after reading this book for the second time I think it would turn me off of romance. And maybe that’s why I haven’t picked up a lot of western centric historicals because this one is cornball bad.
Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in Texas for most of my life (save for a horrible year and a half in Louisiana) but I really get annoyed with so called western slang. It’s awful and I just want to say that nobody talks like that.
But the reckons and pardon me ma’ams were ridiculous beyond belief here. I get that Heath was trying to make the book atmospheric but it added to the cornball-ness that was this book.
Oh yes, this book was corny beyond belief on so many levels. Obviously, it is trying to be a rated “G” YA book but it’s so squeaky clean it’s ridiculous. And no, that doesn’t mean I miss the seventy or so pages that are frequented in so many romance books describing someone’s quivering member, BUT the fact that we spend a lot of the book focused on what color Matthew Heart (yes, that’s the hero’s freaking name) eyes are I just wanted a little more development.
I mean, the plot is pretty much non-existent. The characters pretty much are making googly eyes at each other the entire time-well, Matt didn’t until he found out that Samantha Jane was a girl and then he goes on and on about how he didn’t realize she was a girl before because her curves are that obvious.
During all of this, I was thinking what would actually be cool would’ve been if Matt would’ve been bi and would’ve had feelings for Sam when she pretended to be a guy. Is it so wrong that I want a gender bend story where the romance is two sided before the reveal? And it would be interesting watching the characters interact with each other.
I want that book.
I didn’t get it here.
The reveal was probably the best part of the book and to be honest, it really wasn’t that great. Sam almost drowns and Matt notices that gosh golly she has breasts and must be a girl.
I guess he never heard of man boobs.
Of course, after this Matt turns into an utter tool of a misogynist which I think the reader is supposed to find sexy because he’s supposedly so protective of Sam.
He’s not.
He’s a tool.
He threatens Sam throughout half of this that he’s going to turn her into the foreman, despite the fact that he knows her family is on the verge on poverty…but that doesn’t matter ’cause she’s a girl. And has evil breasts.
Okay, he doesn’t outright say evil breasts, but he does talk about the problems a woman can cause on the cattle drive. So, I’m just paraphrasing it with the evil breasts talk. But I guarantee you, if this book implies just as much.
And I just want to say goodbye to Matt at this point.
But because he’s the cowboy in Samantha and the Cowboy I don’t get that pleasure. Instead, I get to read about Sam being treated like dirt and how when Matt finally turns her into Jake it’s to protect her. Because screw her family…
Oh, and side note, Sam’s brother was a real dick for sitting on his ass and eating bonbons all day and not even at least trying to do something to help his family. I get he lost an arm in the war and all, but dude totally does nothing during the entire book. You’d think at the very least he’d try to help his sister when he found out what she was trying to do rather than…um, yeah, that’s nice go cut off your hair and risk your life to go on a trail ride.
Ugh.
So as you can see, it hasn’t exactly been a pleasant revisit of a book for me. But at the same time, I don’t think re-reading Samantha and the Cowboy has been a total waste of time. If anything looking at it gave me an insight of how the genre has developed since the fifteen years that this book was published.
June 3, 2023
2.25
Just ok. My first Avon teen romance so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Very clean. The romance was a little boring, but I did enjoy the cattle drive and the adventure portions.
Just ok. My first Avon teen romance so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Very clean. The romance was a little boring, but I did enjoy the cattle drive and the adventure portions.
April 9, 2011
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be; and it took me a lot less time to finish than I thought it would as well. It not only taught me about the cattle drives in the 1860s, but I also learned that you can do anything you want to do if you just put your mind to it and work hard.
The thing I liked about this book was that even though Matt didn't know Sam, he still cared. I also like how it's so much like Mulan the Disney Movie. In some ways it's different; like how this is western, and this takes place in a different time, and this is a different concept. My favorite thing in this story was how jealous Samantha got when Matt danced with all those girls at the dance, and how Matthew was confused about Sam's behavior towards him. I love how throughout most of the book, Matthew thinks Samantha is a guy as well.
The thing I didn't like about this book is that the first few pages were about Sam going on about how she wished she were a boy. It bugged me because she kept going on and on about for the first whole chapter.
In conclusion, I think this book deserves a four, because it was a good read and was very enjoyable and funny.
The thing I liked about this book was that even though Matt didn't know Sam, he still cared. I also like how it's so much like Mulan the Disney Movie. In some ways it's different; like how this is western, and this takes place in a different time, and this is a different concept. My favorite thing in this story was how jealous Samantha got when Matt danced with all those girls at the dance, and how Matthew was confused about Sam's behavior towards him. I love how throughout most of the book, Matthew thinks Samantha is a guy as well.
The thing I didn't like about this book is that the first few pages were about Sam going on about how she wished she were a boy. It bugged me because she kept going on and on about for the first whole chapter.
In conclusion, I think this book deserves a four, because it was a good read and was very enjoyable and funny.
March 21, 2021
I’d like to preface by saying the 12 Avon True Teen Romance books were the first books I ever collected. And I’ve held on to them these last 12 years. Even though I had only read 5 of the 12. So I figured it was time I read them all to decide if they were worth the bookshelf space.
This book has not aged well. I constantly had to remind myself that it was written in a different time. Matt fought with the confederacy in the civil war, and it just brings in so many problematic tidbits.
If you look at the story simply, and ignore all the red flags, it’s another cute clean romance. I grew weary of the many sexist ideas, that yes did fit the time and the plot, but still. I’m getting tired of reading over and over that even though she is doing the same job as a man, and doing it well. She just can’t, why? Because women are bad luck and to risky to have around. Yup.
So book 1 out of 12 has me hesitant on if I will keep these books. We shall see, I will say I won’t be reading this one again. And I have put a sticky note warning about it’s topics and issues in the cover of my book.
This book has not aged well. I constantly had to remind myself that it was written in a different time. Matt fought with the confederacy in the civil war, and it just brings in so many problematic tidbits.
If you look at the story simply, and ignore all the red flags, it’s another cute clean romance. I grew weary of the many sexist ideas, that yes did fit the time and the plot, but still. I’m getting tired of reading over and over that even though she is doing the same job as a man, and doing it well. She just can’t, why? Because women are bad luck and to risky to have around. Yup.
So book 1 out of 12 has me hesitant on if I will keep these books. We shall see, I will say I won’t be reading this one again. And I have put a sticky note warning about it’s topics and issues in the cover of my book.
November 10, 2021
I read this book and the other Lorraine Heath cowboy book in this series as a teenager and really enjoyed them. Now as an adult I was for some reason possessed to buy all of the books in the Avon True Romance series for a dollar or two each and now I have to read them. The series appears to have a completely arbitrary order and according to that order this book is first.
This book is set in Texas in 1866, where our female protagonist Samantha and her family are struggling to make ends meet post-Civil War. After seeing an ad looking for cow hand to work on a cattle drive, Samantha decides to sign up as she is the only able bodied person in her family and they are desperate for the money. She disguises herself as a young man named "Sam", and is hired on to the drive at the insistence of our male protagonist Matt, who believes Sam is an enthusiastic adolescent boy. Since Matt hired Sam on, he is put in charge of nannying Sam for the entire trip. Personally I really enjoyed the plot, but then again I have always enjoyed the "Sweet Polly Oliver" trope - where a woman disguises herself as a man to join some exclusively male occupation.
I thought Sam was a great character and an easy protagonist to root for. Her determination, bravery, and work ethic were all very admirable. She was a bad ass. I liked Matt as well but not as much as Sam. I appreciated the depth and vulnerability the author gave his character by having him suffer from PTSD from serving in the war. However, I had to roll my eyes at the fact that mature, somber, battle-hardened, worldly Matt is all of 18 years old. I get that they did this to make him age appropriate for 16 year old Sam, but still.
Since this series is Avon True Romance ~for teens~ these books are supposed to be very tame and focus on the "romance", however I felt like the sexual tension in this book was much higher than the series intended - probably because Matt and Sam basically live together for the duration of the cattle drive. There are a few spicy situations that arise in the first half of the book from Matt thinking Sam is just another one of the guys. Once Matt learns Sam's true identity, they consummate their feelings with a passionate makeout session. This scene was unintentionally hilarious to me because it 110% reads like it was originally written as a normal romance novel sex scene and then some poor editor had to go in and change all of the mentions of genitals to extremely detailed descriptions of each character's mouth.
However, this story dropped in quality for me once Matt learns of Sam's secret because he suddenly does a 180 and becomes a bag of trash. Despite the fact that he has spent the entire story thus far marveling at Sam's natural capability as a cow hand, once he learns she is Samantha (a pitiful girl) and not Sam (an adolescent boy) he suddenly doesn't consider her capable of doing anything. In one scene in particular, he literally mentally compares her to a kitten and wonders if it is possible for her tiny kitten hands to even saddle up her horse. Never mind the fact that she has been working side by side with him and keeping up with all of the other cow hands all this time. Anyway, Matt starts an annoying crusade of trying to be a white knight and "protecting" Sam, which the reader is clearly supposed to find romantic.
The last few chapters of this book are extremely rushed and include kind of a disjointed time jump. It is a bit disappointing that the reader doesn't get to be there for the conclusion of the cattle drive. However, the wrap up for the story is nice. Overall this was a fun, quick read. It mostly held up to what I remember liking about it as a teen, except adult me didn't find Matt nearly as dreamy as teen me did. I'm really looking forward to diving into the cheesy teen romance of the rest of this series.
This book is set in Texas in 1866, where our female protagonist Samantha and her family are struggling to make ends meet post-Civil War. After seeing an ad looking for cow hand to work on a cattle drive, Samantha decides to sign up as she is the only able bodied person in her family and they are desperate for the money. She disguises herself as a young man named "Sam", and is hired on to the drive at the insistence of our male protagonist Matt, who believes Sam is an enthusiastic adolescent boy. Since Matt hired Sam on, he is put in charge of nannying Sam for the entire trip. Personally I really enjoyed the plot, but then again I have always enjoyed the "Sweet Polly Oliver" trope - where a woman disguises herself as a man to join some exclusively male occupation.
I thought Sam was a great character and an easy protagonist to root for. Her determination, bravery, and work ethic were all very admirable. She was a bad ass. I liked Matt as well but not as much as Sam. I appreciated the depth and vulnerability the author gave his character by having him suffer from PTSD from serving in the war. However, I had to roll my eyes at the fact that mature, somber, battle-hardened, worldly Matt is all of 18 years old. I get that they did this to make him age appropriate for 16 year old Sam, but still.
Since this series is Avon True Romance ~for teens~ these books are supposed to be very tame and focus on the "romance", however I felt like the sexual tension in this book was much higher than the series intended - probably because Matt and Sam basically live together for the duration of the cattle drive. There are a few spicy situations that arise in the first half of the book from Matt thinking Sam is just another one of the guys. Once Matt learns Sam's true identity, they consummate their feelings with a passionate makeout session. This scene was unintentionally hilarious to me because it 110% reads like it was originally written as a normal romance novel sex scene and then some poor editor had to go in and change all of the mentions of genitals to extremely detailed descriptions of each character's mouth.
However, this story dropped in quality for me once Matt learns of Sam's secret because he suddenly does a 180 and becomes a bag of trash. Despite the fact that he has spent the entire story thus far marveling at Sam's natural capability as a cow hand, once he learns she is Samantha (a pitiful girl) and not Sam (an adolescent boy) he suddenly doesn't consider her capable of doing anything. In one scene in particular, he literally mentally compares her to a kitten and wonders if it is possible for her tiny kitten hands to even saddle up her horse. Never mind the fact that she has been working side by side with him and keeping up with all of the other cow hands all this time. Anyway, Matt starts an annoying crusade of trying to be a white knight and "protecting" Sam, which the reader is clearly supposed to find romantic.
The last few chapters of this book are extremely rushed and include kind of a disjointed time jump. It is a bit disappointing that the reader doesn't get to be there for the conclusion of the cattle drive. However, the wrap up for the story is nice. Overall this was a fun, quick read. It mostly held up to what I remember liking about it as a teen, except adult me didn't find Matt nearly as dreamy as teen me did. I'm really looking forward to diving into the cheesy teen romance of the rest of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2026
She went from not even noticing boys that way—only mentally figuring how many acres of land they could plow in a day!—to instantly noticing Matt’s eyes and hair and hands and shoulders and everything else. You don’t go from being completely not attracted to anyone in your town to thinking what a boy’s hands feel like and thinking of him holding your hand and going to a dance with you.
Matt went swimming naked and Samantha had never seen a boy in his birthday suit besides her little brother, and he asked if she’d ever been skinny sipping. Very modern terms.
Jake, the trail boss, made Matt take Sam under his wing and ride
All this was happening on the very first day! I was like what is the rush?
The snipe hunting was funny. It was apparently a rite of passage to go snipe hunting by yourself, a prank that the cowboys play on newbies. The cook said Sam would know it when she dadgum saw it.
I really didn’t appreciate the jealousy aspect. I didn’t think this book would go there and really didn’t appreciate it when it did. There was a dance and Matt was dancing with one girl after another, then took a girl outside and came back with his hair tousled like she’d run her fingers through it. He told her that there are a couple who are real free with their kisses. He even talked to her about it after, saying it isn’t hard to go from talking to dancing and kissing. She asked later if someone at the dance caught his fancy and he said there were a couple of girls who sure were skilled at kissing. He went around kissing multiple girls in one night. I was so mad.
Then she fell in love way too soon. I really didn’t appreciate love being rushed in so soon. She didn’t need to love him; it was enough to like him. They’d barely spent time together.
I did like when she showed some strength in sticking up for herself. He saddled her horse and she said she could saddle her own horse. She told him he couldn’t treat her differently just because he knew she was a girl. He said he didn’t intend to but wasn’t going to treat her like a boy either. She said he was making her mad. She told him she could watch the back end of cattle without his help.
I really respected Sam the way she said whatever affection she might have had for Matthew would die when he destroyed all she’d worked for, and that she’d despise him for as long as she drew breath. Now that’s more like it.
She didn’t let him ruin her mood but confronted him about why she did this—again. She did it for her family, wouldn’t have gotten this if she was a girl. She asked him to please not do this to her family and let his hatred of her be taken out on her family. He leaned over in the saddle and kissed her and that’s the reason she can’t stay, he can’t stop thinking about her and wanting to hold her and kiss her.
And then it was ruined as he said he’d thought about her every moment today and not the cattle and that’s too dangerous, if the other men start doing the same thing, someone’s going to get hurt or killed. Like it would be her fault that the men are thinking of her! That’s not her fault he’s feeling this way. Blaming the woman for the man’s reaction is so unfair and sexist.
Jake asked Matt to go ahead to the next river and camp overnight and come back the next day, to see the water level. Matt didn’t want to leave Sam so of course I already knew where this was going. It was such an eye roll worthy moment when Jake next said to take Sam with him. Of. Course.
At least Sam stuck up for herself. When they went off alone on the task, she asked if he was tired about harping over her lie and he said he can’t forgive her because it puts them in danger. She said no one is hurting or dying and she’s doing her job. Matt said the problem is that he isn’t doing his. She said it was his problem.
Sam went for a swim naked and I was shocked that Matt joined her. She stupidly asked if he’d ever gone swimming with a girl, and of course he had a time or two.
He said he wasn’t going to tell Jake, that she was a good worker and nothing bad had happened. He ruined it by saying they’ll hope her luck continues. Really?
She had laid out their pallets by the fire on opposite sides and he moved around beside her and she rolled her eyes when he said he wanted to be between her and animals attacking, and he told her not to argue with him or he’d tell Jake the truth. I was sick of him threatening her with that.
It was nice that he said he liked the way she said his name.
He took the first watch and she told him to wake her for her watch but he let her sleep all night.
He also told himself he’d make sure she stayed by his side the next time they crossed the river, after she’d almost drowned the last time.
He asked if she wanted to ride with him over the river and she didn’t, wanted to do her job. He told her he wouldn’t let her down. She said one of these days she’d save him, and then she yelled and headed into the river.
There was a storm and the cattle finally stampeded. Sam wanted to go but Matt snitched that Sam was a girl in front of everyone so she’d have to stay. He betrayed her to save her life but still ruined her work and dreams.
Matt didn’t show so Sam went after her and found him injured. His horse had died from the fall and I hated that. Jake ordered Matt to take her to the next town, that she couldn’t be with them when they risked the farmers blocking their cattle drive.
Matt did what he’d never done in the war: he went against Jake’s order. He brought up all the good points about Sam and said he’d be leaving if she did and one by one all the men said the same. It was so sweet and heart warming. So Jake relented. Sam didn’t let herself cry because it wouldn’t do for a trail hand to cry. That was cute.
It wasn’t interesting once they got on the drive. And I don’t know how a cattle drive wouldn’t be interesting. It was trapped in a never-ending cycle of I’m stuck riding drag cuz I got the new guy hired. It’s a real drag. I feel bad I got you stuck riding drag cuz I’m the new fella. I have to learn so he wont be stuck riding drag. Still stuck riding drag. He’s learned so much. He works hard. Still riding drag. I have to convince him not to say I’m a girl.
Matt went swimming naked and Samantha had never seen a boy in his birthday suit besides her little brother, and he asked if she’d ever been skinny sipping. Very modern terms.
Jake, the trail boss, made Matt take Sam under his wing and ride
All this was happening on the very first day! I was like what is the rush?
The snipe hunting was funny. It was apparently a rite of passage to go snipe hunting by yourself, a prank that the cowboys play on newbies. The cook said Sam would know it when she dadgum saw it.
I really didn’t appreciate the jealousy aspect. I didn’t think this book would go there and really didn’t appreciate it when it did. There was a dance and Matt was dancing with one girl after another, then took a girl outside and came back with his hair tousled like she’d run her fingers through it. He told her that there are a couple who are real free with their kisses. He even talked to her about it after, saying it isn’t hard to go from talking to dancing and kissing. She asked later if someone at the dance caught his fancy and he said there were a couple of girls who sure were skilled at kissing. He went around kissing multiple girls in one night. I was so mad.
Then she fell in love way too soon. I really didn’t appreciate love being rushed in so soon. She didn’t need to love him; it was enough to like him. They’d barely spent time together.
I did like when she showed some strength in sticking up for herself. He saddled her horse and she said she could saddle her own horse. She told him he couldn’t treat her differently just because he knew she was a girl. He said he didn’t intend to but wasn’t going to treat her like a boy either. She said he was making her mad. She told him she could watch the back end of cattle without his help.
I really respected Sam the way she said whatever affection she might have had for Matthew would die when he destroyed all she’d worked for, and that she’d despise him for as long as she drew breath. Now that’s more like it.
She didn’t let him ruin her mood but confronted him about why she did this—again. She did it for her family, wouldn’t have gotten this if she was a girl. She asked him to please not do this to her family and let his hatred of her be taken out on her family. He leaned over in the saddle and kissed her and that’s the reason she can’t stay, he can’t stop thinking about her and wanting to hold her and kiss her.
And then it was ruined as he said he’d thought about her every moment today and not the cattle and that’s too dangerous, if the other men start doing the same thing, someone’s going to get hurt or killed. Like it would be her fault that the men are thinking of her! That’s not her fault he’s feeling this way. Blaming the woman for the man’s reaction is so unfair and sexist.
Jake asked Matt to go ahead to the next river and camp overnight and come back the next day, to see the water level. Matt didn’t want to leave Sam so of course I already knew where this was going. It was such an eye roll worthy moment when Jake next said to take Sam with him. Of. Course.
At least Sam stuck up for herself. When they went off alone on the task, she asked if he was tired about harping over her lie and he said he can’t forgive her because it puts them in danger. She said no one is hurting or dying and she’s doing her job. Matt said the problem is that he isn’t doing his. She said it was his problem.
Sam went for a swim naked and I was shocked that Matt joined her. She stupidly asked if he’d ever gone swimming with a girl, and of course he had a time or two.
He said he wasn’t going to tell Jake, that she was a good worker and nothing bad had happened. He ruined it by saying they’ll hope her luck continues. Really?
She had laid out their pallets by the fire on opposite sides and he moved around beside her and she rolled her eyes when he said he wanted to be between her and animals attacking, and he told her not to argue with him or he’d tell Jake the truth. I was sick of him threatening her with that.
It was nice that he said he liked the way she said his name.
He took the first watch and she told him to wake her for her watch but he let her sleep all night.
He also told himself he’d make sure she stayed by his side the next time they crossed the river, after she’d almost drowned the last time.
He asked if she wanted to ride with him over the river and she didn’t, wanted to do her job. He told her he wouldn’t let her down. She said one of these days she’d save him, and then she yelled and headed into the river.
There was a storm and the cattle finally stampeded. Sam wanted to go but Matt snitched that Sam was a girl in front of everyone so she’d have to stay. He betrayed her to save her life but still ruined her work and dreams.
Matt didn’t show so Sam went after her and found him injured. His horse had died from the fall and I hated that. Jake ordered Matt to take her to the next town, that she couldn’t be with them when they risked the farmers blocking their cattle drive.
Matt did what he’d never done in the war: he went against Jake’s order. He brought up all the good points about Sam and said he’d be leaving if she did and one by one all the men said the same. It was so sweet and heart warming. So Jake relented. Sam didn’t let herself cry because it wouldn’t do for a trail hand to cry. That was cute.
It wasn’t interesting once they got on the drive. And I don’t know how a cattle drive wouldn’t be interesting. It was trapped in a never-ending cycle of I’m stuck riding drag cuz I got the new guy hired. It’s a real drag. I feel bad I got you stuck riding drag cuz I’m the new fella. I have to learn so he wont be stuck riding drag. Still stuck riding drag. He’s learned so much. He works hard. Still riding drag. I have to convince him not to say I’m a girl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2019
Desse jeito vou ficar presa nos cowboys
Terceiro livro western que leio seguido e acabei com gosto de quero mais.
Lorraine, para variar, é sensacional. Esse romance é YA e se passa no sul depois da guerra da secessão, onde famílias passaram a ter muitas dificuldades financeiras e chegavam a passar fome.
A heroína Samantha, resolve se transformar em Sam para conseguir um emprego em uma comitiva tocando gado até o norte para ser vendido, e com isso ganhar 100 dólares para salvar sua família.
Lorraine narra de maneira exemplar, como sempre, as dificuldades em uma comitiva, a força de uma jovem determinada, o degelo de um coração marcado pela guerra e o despertar do amor.
Não esperem cenas de sexo pois, é florzinha mesmo... só beijos apaixonados e desejos ocultos.
Só não levou 5 estrelas porque eu queria que tivesse tido mais... terminou no melhor da festa...
Recomendo com certeza e vamos para outro cowboy da Lorraine...
Terceiro livro western que leio seguido e acabei com gosto de quero mais.
Lorraine, para variar, é sensacional. Esse romance é YA e se passa no sul depois da guerra da secessão, onde famílias passaram a ter muitas dificuldades financeiras e chegavam a passar fome.
A heroína Samantha, resolve se transformar em Sam para conseguir um emprego em uma comitiva tocando gado até o norte para ser vendido, e com isso ganhar 100 dólares para salvar sua família.
Lorraine narra de maneira exemplar, como sempre, as dificuldades em uma comitiva, a força de uma jovem determinada, o degelo de um coração marcado pela guerra e o despertar do amor.
Não esperem cenas de sexo pois, é florzinha mesmo... só beijos apaixonados e desejos ocultos.
Só não levou 5 estrelas porque eu queria que tivesse tido mais... terminou no melhor da festa...
Recomendo com certeza e vamos para outro cowboy da Lorraine...
May 19, 2017
I JUST finished Samantha and the Cowboy which is apart of the Avon True Romance collection. I enjoyed this book even thought I am giving it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I loved the well developed characters, the great history references, and the overall plot line! But of course there are some things I did not enjoy about the book. Read below to further understand my opinions!
Read the rest of my book review at https://caylasbooktopia.wordpress.com...
Read the rest of my book review at https://caylasbooktopia.wordpress.com...
June 3, 2025
My youngest daughter is moving out of the house and as she was going through all her stuff she unearthed these teen romances from Avon which were her treasured books. She loves them so much and is so passionate when talking about the stories she said I just had to read them. I was instructed to read Samantha and the Cowboy first and as soon as I read the synopsis I was sold. This is a heartwarming story that takes place just after the civil war about a girl pretending to be a boy to get a job so she can earn $100 for her struggling family. While I love reading adult romances it's nice to read a book like this every once in a while that has light conflict and is shorter but has likable characters that feel fully fleshed out. We are definitely keeping these books forever and will recommend them to my granddaughters when they get a little older.
April 7, 2018
The heroine annoyed me; she kept thinking she wanted to be seen as a boy but never actually did ANYTHING to actually come across as a boy. It was blatantly obvious and it made the hero a complete nitwit for seeing her as anything other than a girl. SO BORING! I finally decided I just couldn't take anymore around the 80% mark.
June 8, 2018
4.5 stars.
October 22, 2018
Good story between Samantha Jane and Mathew hart would highly recommend 👍
June 16, 2022
Cute, quick read. Props to the author for putting characters on the front covers that actually look similar to how they are described.
January 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this cute romance novel. It's like Mulan, but with cowherds. There's nothing too deep about this romance, but it was good escapism.
May 13, 2023
Leave it to Lorraine Heath to do a YA that's angsty and dare I say a bit sexy?
May 4, 2024
Classic Lorraine Heath western historical romance. I've truly missed these books.
June 10, 2024
A cute wholesome read! Really enjoyed this one.
September 14, 2024
Never judge a book by its cover.
March 8, 2026
4.4 • This book had such a hold on me when I first read it (multiple times) in junior high, so glad I found it again at last! Such a fun re-read twenty years later.
September 18, 2022
cw: sweet polly oliver trope, violence, unchallenged confederacy pride, ptsd, sexism
I adored how this one went! The very problematic “sweet polly oliver” trope is my favorite (though a guilty and ironic one given that I am trans) so it was no surprise when I ended up enjoying this one! The female main character disguises herself as a cowboy to support her impoverished family but quickly becomes attracted to a fellow cowboy. They become fast friends and she makes the best to hide her gender. I thought the love interest was great and I loved the interactions that he had with her. They always had such great chemistry, even when he believed her to be a boy. I will mention that I disliked how the civil war mentions were handled here. This takes place in Texas so you obviously know what side they fought on, but I would’ve appreciated some acknowledgement that the confederacy was not good. They mention how the union soldiers attacked but why not mention the beliefs of the confederacy? LH has written a book in which the hero refused to fight for the confederacy because he hated war and he also mentioned that slavery was evil. That’s the very bare minimum so I don’t understand why it wasn’t brought up in this book as well. Is it because it’s young adult? Either way, I liked the book but those pro-confederacy moments were not necessary.
I adored how this one went! The very problematic “sweet polly oliver” trope is my favorite (though a guilty and ironic one given that I am trans) so it was no surprise when I ended up enjoying this one! The female main character disguises herself as a cowboy to support her impoverished family but quickly becomes attracted to a fellow cowboy. They become fast friends and she makes the best to hide her gender. I thought the love interest was great and I loved the interactions that he had with her. They always had such great chemistry, even when he believed her to be a boy. I will mention that I disliked how the civil war mentions were handled here. This takes place in Texas so you obviously know what side they fought on, but I would’ve appreciated some acknowledgement that the confederacy was not good. They mention how the union soldiers attacked but why not mention the beliefs of the confederacy? LH has written a book in which the hero refused to fight for the confederacy because he hated war and he also mentioned that slavery was evil. That’s the very bare minimum so I don’t understand why it wasn’t brought up in this book as well. Is it because it’s young adult? Either way, I liked the book but those pro-confederacy moments were not necessary.
March 29, 2016
For all the fact it was meant as a teenage romance novel, the book very easily could have been a regular historical romance (if you changed the ages of the hero and heroine that is). Its not racy, but in almost every other respect the romance was handled in a decidedly mature way, as was the plot.
Samantha, or Sam as she's known for the better part of the book, is just like any other teen girl. True her formative years were spent taking care of her family during the Civil War, with her father dead and older brother off to war, she was the eldest and shouldered that responsibility without complaining. However once free of that burden she realizes quickly that she has no practical knowledge about how to attract a man. Or what her feelings mean. Her attraction to Matt started almost immediately, but she was slow to love him. Admired him certainly, but she wasn't a fool.
Matt of course had the burden of not even knowing his love interest was his love interest! The poor guy spends half the book worried out of his mind because his new guy pal 'Sam' is so delicate and puny he couldn't possibly be sixteen! It was nice though to see him treat her as a genuine person without worrying over male/female dynamic. That changes when he learns the truth, but until then equal footing was had.
Most of the secondary characters are pretty broadly written. The weary mother trying her best to feed her kids and keep it together, the older brother who loses a limb in the war and comes back changed, two younger siblings who are really only mentioned, best gal pal who is dewey-eyed over the boys and the cowhands who had hearts of gold. That part I thought was a little bit too sweet, with only cursory mentions of 'dark troubled pasts', but no indication of such.
Definitely an enjoyable book that certainly stirs interest in my book-loving heart to seek out some of Heath's regular romance titles.
Samantha, or Sam as she's known for the better part of the book, is just like any other teen girl. True her formative years were spent taking care of her family during the Civil War, with her father dead and older brother off to war, she was the eldest and shouldered that responsibility without complaining. However once free of that burden she realizes quickly that she has no practical knowledge about how to attract a man. Or what her feelings mean. Her attraction to Matt started almost immediately, but she was slow to love him. Admired him certainly, but she wasn't a fool.
Matt of course had the burden of not even knowing his love interest was his love interest! The poor guy spends half the book worried out of his mind because his new guy pal 'Sam' is so delicate and puny he couldn't possibly be sixteen! It was nice though to see him treat her as a genuine person without worrying over male/female dynamic. That changes when he learns the truth, but until then equal footing was had.
Most of the secondary characters are pretty broadly written. The weary mother trying her best to feed her kids and keep it together, the older brother who loses a limb in the war and comes back changed, two younger siblings who are really only mentioned, best gal pal who is dewey-eyed over the boys and the cowhands who had hearts of gold. That part I thought was a little bit too sweet, with only cursory mentions of 'dark troubled pasts', but no indication of such.
Definitely an enjoyable book that certainly stirs interest in my book-loving heart to seek out some of Heath's regular romance titles.
December 28, 2012
After seeing an advertisement for a cattle drive that will pay 100 bucks upon completion, Samantha thinks its just the opportunity to pay off her family’s debt at the local store, and ease some of her mother’s burdens. But when her brother Ben, who lost an arm in the war, refuses to go, she chops her hair, dons her younger brother’s clothes, and becomes Sam the greenhand, and sets out to help her family. She is paired with Matt, who has been charged with helping her become a productive hand. But the more time she spends with Matt, the more attracted she is to him. However, Samantha must be careful if she doesn’t want anyone to find out that she is really a girl.
This was such a sweet little story, and Samantha is such a great character. She’s very concerned about her family and their finances and resolves to do something about it. She worries so much about her Mother and cares deeply for the wants and needs of her siblings. Her main motivation is just to help her family out the best way she can. Samantha is a quick learner, and not afraid of hard and exhausting work. She is diligent in her duties and has a special way of getting the most hardened person to open up.
I like the relationship she develops with Matt. Even before he discovers her secret, there was something about Sam that compelled Matt to look after her and be protective towards her. His fear of falling for her was endearing because it meant so much more than the usual teenage love story. With walls built up because of his experience in the war, Matt doesn’t want to feel deeply for anyone again lest something happen to them.
Overall this was a lovely little story about family, friendship, and first love. I’d recommend this one especially for young girls looking to read a sweet romance.
This was such a sweet little story, and Samantha is such a great character. She’s very concerned about her family and their finances and resolves to do something about it. She worries so much about her Mother and cares deeply for the wants and needs of her siblings. Her main motivation is just to help her family out the best way she can. Samantha is a quick learner, and not afraid of hard and exhausting work. She is diligent in her duties and has a special way of getting the most hardened person to open up.
I like the relationship she develops with Matt. Even before he discovers her secret, there was something about Sam that compelled Matt to look after her and be protective towards her. His fear of falling for her was endearing because it meant so much more than the usual teenage love story. With walls built up because of his experience in the war, Matt doesn’t want to feel deeply for anyone again lest something happen to them.
Overall this was a lovely little story about family, friendship, and first love. I’d recommend this one especially for young girls looking to read a sweet romance.
December 19, 2024
I read this a couple times as a teenager. I know it wasn’t my favorite, but obviously liked it enough to reach it multiple times. It does have one of my least favorite tropes: the girl pretending to be a boy. There’s always an awkwardness with those stories which I really don’t like in my books. I’m also not a big reader of American Western historical romances.
This is a shorter book. That contributes to a weaker romance. In fact, it feels very forced and rushed. There’s no big declarations of love so maybe the pacing is fine. It depends on what you want. Personally, I don’t feel the chemistry, but I also don’t hate Sam and Matt together.
There is a kind of...odd thing here. Matt was a Confederate soldier. So was Sam’s brother. Ms. Heath makes the choice to not moralize on the Civil War. That’s a choice. You could argue there wasn’t enough time to discuss that. It doesn't really bother me, but could definitely rub some readers the wrong way.
I did appreciate the brief mentions to the reality of war in general. Matt and Sam’s brother, to a lesser extent, go through a lot. War changed them and the horrors they experienced will be with them the rest of their lives.
Lorraine Heath is still one of my favorite historical romance authors. This teen-centered one just didn’t hit for me.
This is a shorter book. That contributes to a weaker romance. In fact, it feels very forced and rushed. There’s no big declarations of love so maybe the pacing is fine. It depends on what you want. Personally, I don’t feel the chemistry, but I also don’t hate Sam and Matt together.
There is a kind of...odd thing here. Matt was a Confederate soldier. So was Sam’s brother. Ms. Heath makes the choice to not moralize on the Civil War. That’s a choice. You could argue there wasn’t enough time to discuss that. It doesn't really bother me, but could definitely rub some readers the wrong way.
I did appreciate the brief mentions to the reality of war in general. Matt and Sam’s brother, to a lesser extent, go through a lot. War changed them and the horrors they experienced will be with them the rest of their lives.
Lorraine Heath is still one of my favorite historical romance authors. This teen-centered one just didn’t hit for me.
March 1, 2010
It's 1866 in the small town of Faithful, Texas, and sixteen-year-old Samantha Reynolds is desperate. Every since her father died, the family has struggled to keep their farm running. They've fallen into debt, and her older brother, still bitter over the loss of an arm in the Civil War, refuses to find a job to help out the family. Samantha is determined to help her overburdened mother, but the scheme she comes up with is risky. She cuts her hair and disguises herself as a young boy, "Sam," and is hired for a cattle drive. She is put under the responsibility of Matthew Hart, who is supposed to show her the ropes. Like Samantha's brother, Matt fought in the war, and is haunted by his experiences. Samantha finds herself falling in love with Matt, but he thinks she's just a scruffy little boy. When Matt discovers the truth about what Samantha really is, he's furious, but he also finds himself falling in love with her. Can Samantha persuade Matt to keep her secret so she can help her family, and can she convince him not to despise her for her deception? I highly recommend this book, and the other Avon True Romances, to teenagers who enjoy historical romances. This book was a really sweet love story that I truly enjoyed.
February 4, 2009
This is an adorably cute book! Samantha Jane wants to help her family earn some much needed money. Her father passed away 3 years earlier and her brother returned from the war (Civil War) missing an arm, so the family is lacking in men. Her brother can do the work, but he is still bitter over the loss of his arm.
Samantha decides to become Sam and claim to be a boy so that she can go on a cattle drive and earn $100 for her family. She makes the crew, but spends her time fearing her secret will be revealed. She also finds herself attracted to Matt, one of the other crew members who fought for her to be hired. She is confused by these new feelings and does her best to hide them.
The trip is an adventure...not only physically, but also emotionally. Samantha learns about growing up.
This book was so cute and very easy to read. I found myself smiling many times through the read. It made me think a bit of Little House on the Prairie--Sam is determined like Laura with lots of spunk!
Samantha decides to become Sam and claim to be a boy so that she can go on a cattle drive and earn $100 for her family. She makes the crew, but spends her time fearing her secret will be revealed. She also finds herself attracted to Matt, one of the other crew members who fought for her to be hired. She is confused by these new feelings and does her best to hide them.
The trip is an adventure...not only physically, but also emotionally. Samantha learns about growing up.
This book was so cute and very easy to read. I found myself smiling many times through the read. It made me think a bit of Little House on the Prairie--Sam is determined like Laura with lots of spunk!
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