Urban Cowboys (3 novels in 1)

Rating:
Summary: Good read but a little generic
Review: "Urban Cowboys" is a compilation of three short novels written by Thompson back in 1995. The three heroes are linked by an elevator accident and the subsequent purchase of a ranch. The three stories plot the development of romantic relationships for these three men, as well as the eventual solution of a mystery that runs throughout all three.

Thompson's most recent work is distinguished by humor, clear writing, and imaginative erotic scenes (especially in her Temptation/Blaze stuff). Since the stories in "Urban Cowboys" date back a few years, they don't have the same zing that I've enjoyed in her recent books.

All of the characters are engaging, and the stories are obviously heavily linked and work well in an anthology such as this. I can see the roots of Thompson's later work in some of the more imaginative scenes.

But for the most part, these stories read like hundreds of other romances. Fans of Thompson looking for the complete collection will probably grab it and enjoy it. And there's nothing here -not- to like. I simply didn't enjoy this particular collection as much as Thompson's newer stuff.

Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Good read but a little generic
Review: "Urban Cowboys" is a compilation of three short novels written by Thompson back in 1995. The three heroes are linked by an elevator accident and the subsequent purchase of a ranch. The three stories plot the development of romantic relationships for these three men, as well as the eventual solution of a mystery that runs throughout all three.

Thompson's most recent work is distinguished by humor, clear writing, and imaginative erotic scenes (especially in her Temptation/Blaze stuff). Since the stories in "Urban Cowboys" date back a few years, they don't have the same zing that I've enjoyed in her recent books.

All of the characters are engaging, and the stories are obviously heavily linked and work well in an anthology such as this. I can see the roots of Thompson's later work in some of the more imaginative scenes.

But for the most part, these stories read like hundreds of other romances. Fans of Thompson looking for the complete collection will probably grab it and enjoy it. And there's nothing here -not- to like. I simply didn't enjoy this particular collection as much as Thompson's newer stuff.

Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Nice Story Arc
Review: The basis for all three stories is an elevator accident in which a Wall Street commodities trader, an NYC cop, and an East Coast trucker meet and decide to change their lives by buying a guest ranch in Arizona. The men initially have nothing in common except for a basic dissatisfaction/disillusionment about the course of their lives. The trader is a widower who has never really gotten over his wife's senseless death; the trucker is trying to get in touch with an unforgettable woman with whom he had a one-night stand; the cop is trying to fight to prevent his son's stepfather from adopting him. Each one eventually travels out to the ranch for his own reasons - the trader to check out the investment and his plans to subdivide the property, the trucker to heal after his injuries, and the divorced cop to rebuild his relationship with his son.

Needless to say, each man finds more than he bargained for, both in personal growth and in love. All learn that the true value of the ranch is not necessarily counted in monetary terms. Running through all three stories is a mystery about sabotage that is occuring on the ranch, which is ultimately solved in the final story.

The stories were interesting because a good portion of them were told from the male viewpoint, which was a nice change of pace. All of the characters appear in each other's stories to one degree or another. Ms. Thompson's stories are always tightly written with good dialogue, scenes and characters, and this one was no exception. The romances were all different, and while the sexual encounters were not as explicit as in some of her other books, the sexual tension was nicely done. The location descriptions made the ranch seem real. At 664 pages, this was a great book to spend a day with.