Book Review: The Cowboys: Matt

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Cowboys: Matt    
Leigh Greenwood
Class/Genre:   Romance   Historical
Leisure, Jun 2001, $5.99, 394 pp.

In 1883 in the Texas Hill Country, Matt Haskins worries that he will lose the two boys he brought into his home as a form of repayment from his own adoption. However, because one of them suddenly inherited a fortune, "loving" relatives now want the child. He could have ridden out the storm since no one previously wanted the lads, except that Reverend Sears insists that bachelor Matt is unsuited to raise two youngsters even if one is already sixteen. He needs a wife.

The townsfolk treat Ellen Donovan like a pariah for taking in the two children of a deceased bar maid and for working at a saloon. Since Reverend Sears came to town, Ellen’s continual raising of the two kids has become questionable. She needs a husband.

Matt and Ellen talk about a business agreement in which they will marry and raise four children, but no permanent relationship will form. Once the children are safe and secure, Ellen plans to leave, but neither she nor Matt counted on love entering their marriage of convenience.

Award winning Leigh Greenwood takes an overused device to forge his western relationship drama, yet manages to keep the tale fresh due to his strong characters. The lead couple is a delightful duo who share a similar history while the support cast (the four children, his adopted family, and much of the townsfolk) provide profundity not often seen in the sub-genre. THE COWBOYS: MATT will send new readers looking for the previous seven "Cowboy" tales as well as the author’s quite pleasing "Seven Brides" series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner