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The Truth About Cowboys
Home on the Ranch
The Kay Ranch near Alta, Colorado
Erin Mackenzie considers herself a candidate for the Dumped by Cowboys Hall of Fame. Especially since she was stood up by rodeo cowboy Abe Cockburn, the father of her baby daughter, Maeve.
And then there's another cowboy - Erin's own father, rancher Kid Kay, whom she's never even met. Who's never acknowledged her.
Erin makes a risky choice: she goes to Colorado to tell Abe about his daughter. And to tell Kip about his.
She goes to Colorado to find the truth about cowboys - and about fathers.
298 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
About the author
Margot Early
61 books18 followersMaster storyteller Margot Early has known from a very young age that she was born into her vocation. Storytelling has been part of her life since she was a child—whether plotting Nancy Drew cases in the basement of Palo Alto, California’s historic Squire House, pretending to live in trees (while climbing them) or tapping the keys of an ancient manual typewriter, writing stories to share with friends.
One of her most vivid and joyful childhood memories is when she realized she could read and interrupted a bridge party to display her knowledge. A writer from the age of nine or ten, she has always had an audience—her friends, sisters and parents listening to what she wrote.
A friend and fellow journalist once told her that she was a circle—perfect. The very full circle of Margot Early’s life has included some tough times, which she knows have made her a better and more insightful writer.
Early, who owns neither a car nor a television, believes her greatest wealth is her friends—and she’s glad to count many relatives among them. Living in a town of four hundred, high in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, she enjoys the outdoors, dancing, spinning dog hair and spending time with her pets, which include German shepherds, snakes and tarantulas.
One of her most vivid and joyful childhood memories is when she realized she could read and interrupted a bridge party to display her knowledge. A writer from the age of nine or ten, she has always had an audience—her friends, sisters and parents listening to what she wrote.
A friend and fellow journalist once told her that she was a circle—perfect. The very full circle of Margot Early’s life has included some tough times, which she knows have made her a better and more insightful writer.
Early, who owns neither a car nor a television, believes her greatest wealth is her friends—and she’s glad to count many relatives among them. Living in a town of four hundred, high in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, she enjoys the outdoors, dancing, spinning dog hair and spending time with her pets, which include German shepherds, snakes and tarantulas.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 25, 2013
I’m still reeling a little bit by this emotional roller coaster of a book. Right off the bat, Erin is not your typical chaste, inexperienced heroine, and Abe is not your typical rich, arrogant hero, especially for a book written over ten years ago. Abe spots Erin in the stands at a rodeo and flirts with her. Their paths cross again at a dance later that night, where she learns he’s from Alta, Colorado – the same town her father is from. By the end of the night she’s ready to take him home with her. Something she’s apparently done before, to her mother’s disapproval.
Abe is a bullfighter, a rodeo clown. And I’m gonna make a confession here. Until I read this book, I’d never realized the bull rider and the bullfighter are two different things. Or people, rather. I thought those words were interchangeable. Also, my parents took me to a rodeo when I was very young, and a rodeo clown like Abe came up into the stands and scared the bejeezus out of me. I’ve had a strong disliking for clowns of any kind ever since.
Erin’s weakness is cowboys, who always dump her, and when Abe asks her to meet him at another rodeo a couple of months later, she hesitantly agrees. And when she goes to that rodeo and finds out he cancelled his appearance, she accepts that she’s been dumped once again. Except this time, the dumper has left her pregnant with his child.
Months later, Erin decides to go to Alta, Colorado, on a mission. Her father runs a working ranch that also takes vacationers, and she’s booked a week at the ranch, using a false last name. She wants to meet her father, and she wants to find Abe and tell him he has a daughter.
A couple of times while reading this book, I’d see the Harlequin logo on the cover and be momentarily surprised. This book is definitely not a standard category romance. In fact, one of the characters at the ranch has named two dogs Gus and Call, and a horse Mouse, which though that book is never mentioned are obviously a nod to LONESOME DOVE. And the further I got into this book, the more Larry McMurtry’s book was brought to mind.
And you know how despite all the problems, obstacles, etc., the hero and heroine eventually make their declarations of mutual love and have their HEA, and that’s the end? Well not in this case. The book continued on for quite some time after that point, and I even wondered to myself unbelievingly if their relationship was going to fall apart after all. At times, it was downright depressing, with tragedy after tragedy, until you feel like you can’t stand it if one more thing goes wrong.
I think this book is going to be one of my favorite reads for this year. No, scratch that, one of my favorite reads, period.
Abe is a bullfighter, a rodeo clown. And I’m gonna make a confession here. Until I read this book, I’d never realized the bull rider and the bullfighter are two different things. Or people, rather. I thought those words were interchangeable. Also, my parents took me to a rodeo when I was very young, and a rodeo clown like Abe came up into the stands and scared the bejeezus out of me. I’ve had a strong disliking for clowns of any kind ever since.
Erin’s weakness is cowboys, who always dump her, and when Abe asks her to meet him at another rodeo a couple of months later, she hesitantly agrees. And when she goes to that rodeo and finds out he cancelled his appearance, she accepts that she’s been dumped once again. Except this time, the dumper has left her pregnant with his child.
Months later, Erin decides to go to Alta, Colorado, on a mission. Her father runs a working ranch that also takes vacationers, and she’s booked a week at the ranch, using a false last name. She wants to meet her father, and she wants to find Abe and tell him he has a daughter.
A couple of times while reading this book, I’d see the Harlequin logo on the cover and be momentarily surprised. This book is definitely not a standard category romance. In fact, one of the characters at the ranch has named two dogs Gus and Call, and a horse Mouse, which though that book is never mentioned are obviously a nod to LONESOME DOVE. And the further I got into this book, the more Larry McMurtry’s book was brought to mind.
And you know how despite all the problems, obstacles, etc., the hero and heroine eventually make their declarations of mutual love and have their HEA, and that’s the end? Well not in this case. The book continued on for quite some time after that point, and I even wondered to myself unbelievingly if their relationship was going to fall apart after all. At times, it was downright depressing, with tragedy after tragedy, until you feel like you can’t stand it if one more thing goes wrong.
I think this book is going to be one of my favorite reads for this year. No, scratch that, one of my favorite reads, period.
September 27, 2013
In Early’s romantic novel, Erin MacKenzie has had her fill of cowboys that bail on responsibility—first her father who she doesn’t know and then Abe Cockburn—the father of her little girl. Determined to inform both men of their obligations, she packs up and heads to Colorado only to stumble across the heart of both a cowboy and a father.
A solid addition to the Cowboy at Heart series.
A solid addition to the Cowboy at Heart series.
November 19, 2023
The Truth About Cowboys is a story about fatherhood and what it means to be a father even if at first you weren't granted the chance. Margot Early writes a in-depth saga about what it takes to be a true cowboy on the ranch, love, care, honesty, showing up for your people and giving life all you have. Life isn't always easy and can be taken for granted if you let it, this story is emotional and shows death, romance, unrequited lo tragedy, pregnancy, and strained relationships. It's a sad story but it is also very beautiful and I highly recommended finding a copy.
May 3, 2023
.....at 4% I was already done with this book
I pushed through to see if perhaps there was some poper development but alas...
there are some stories that will make you sympathize with the heroine
this is not one of those stories
she consistently makes idiotic choices and acts like a deluded teenager
I pushed through to see if perhaps there was some poper development but alas...
there are some stories that will make you sympathize with the heroine
this is not one of those stories
she consistently makes idiotic choices and acts like a deluded teenager
July 7, 2020
I badly wanted to read this when I first read the summary of this book and for years I looked for a copy. But when I finally had the chance to read it...
hmm Idk, to be honest I found it a depressing read. It was a sad read really, or am I just personally sad when I read the book?
hmm Idk, to be honest I found it a depressing read. It was a sad read really, or am I just personally sad when I read the book?
November 19, 2023
História sobre um casal tentando formar uma família após a heroína, Erin, ficar grávida.
A autora conseguiu ter muita sensibilidade ao descrever os problemas emocionais de Erin que foi abandonada pelo pai quando ainda bebê.
Recomendo.
A autora conseguiu ter muita sensibilidade ao descrever os problemas emocionais de Erin que foi abandonada pelo pai quando ainda bebê.
Recomendo.
June 25, 2018
What a great book it touched at my heart strings can't wait to read more books by this author
July 5, 2024
Read, repeat
I have read this book over and over for more than twenty years , it is one of my favorites.
I have read this book over and over for more than twenty years , it is one of my favorites.
May 14, 2012
I first read this book years ago and ever since I've been a fan of Margot Early. Her romances are anything but stereotypical, her settings are fabulous, and her stories satisfying. Head and shoulders above many other romance writers and just as enjoyable the second time around.
Read
January 18, 2008Margot Early writes books for a romance publisher, but they aren't romance books. She is very edgy, very contemporary. Everything she writes is gold.
December 18, 2011
Love it.
November 30, 2015
Good but confusing at times.
June 29, 2012
i loved it which i usually do ^-^
Read
May 14, 2019I love this book
I have read this book at least 6 times and still cry! My all time favorite! Wish there would've been a sequel for update on Lane and Beulah though!
I have read this book at least 6 times and still cry! My all time favorite! Wish there would've been a sequel for update on Lane and Beulah though!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews