Carol Finch, Cupid and the Cowboy

Cupid and the Cowboy

Carol Finch

Harlequin American, Feb 2005

ISBN: 0373750595

Former Special Ops officer Judd Foster returns to his ranch in Moon Valley, Texas to hide from the world after a failed mission several months ago devastated his psyche. However, in spite of his abrupt nasty behavior, restaurant owner Erika Dunn keeps visiting him with delicious meals and makes an offer to buy his unused barn that she would like to convert into a caf . He refuses insisting she not come back, but she says she will as he remains her hero for an incident in which he rescued her from taunting classmates when she was twelve and he was the high school sports star.

Erika remains "Ms. Cheerful and Determined" when it comes to her hero who she realizes that her puppy love adulation has turned into an adult love for Judd. He continues to be nasty, but she begins to break through his armor with her do-gooder matchmaking personality. Still he remains gruff towards her until Erika, realizing her heart is breaking, decides enough is enough and is ready to give up the fight.

Though not used frequently in the fine plot the matchmaking is overkill for this superb angst-laden character driven contemporary romance. Erika is like the energizer bunny as she keeps on ticking regardless of what emotional grenades Judd tosses at her. Judd is the key to what makes the CUPID AND THE COWBOY (inane title aside) a terrific novel as he struggles with a scenario that went wrong that makes him feel unworthy of worship until Erika begins to shower him with healing love.

Harriet Klausner