"May/December comedic romance that sparks a dude ranch fire"

A story of contrasts...the May/December romance, city vs. country, and suitable vs. unsuitable.

As the story begins, Sean Wallace loses his beloved mother and his fiancee breaks their engagement. Not one of your better days. The man who helped raise Sean, his uncle Jock, gets him to attend an anniversary party in Colorado Springs. He is literally run into by Maggie Garrison, a widow who he mistakes for the sister of the car passenger, Ginny, who is actually Maggie's daughter!!! You feel the excitement of their meeting and the unmistakable attraction that burns between these two supposedly unsuitable lovers.

Sean looks the outlaw, with long black hair, a stud earring, and unshaven face; in contrast to country girl Maggie with her long blonde hair and who is dressed to the nines in a black backless dress. He learns she is older with three children, but that does not stop him from stealing that burning kiss on the patio.

Using the pretense of returning a locket to her, Sean visits Maggie's dude ranch and ends up staying for awhile. He meets her colorful Grandpa; her suspicious children; her cook-girlfriend Tina; Ellen and Luke Spotted Horse, ranch employees; and the dude ranch attendees. This creates an atmosphere where they are thrown into different situations that draw the two fighting into each others arms, but laughing all the way.

Horses are another passion that brings the couple together. She runs a successful dude ranch and he was a show jumper. Both people are used to being in control, so the author works this issue throughout the story to enable the two lovers to butt heads but still come out respecting each other.

There were times reading the story that you thought these two were never going to survive. Judy Mays writes a very funny story of two people who overcome every obstacle to find that where love is concerned...your heart not the calendar should make your decision.

This book is definitely a keeper and I recommend it for a tale of love told in a humorous, touching and enduring style.

Reviewed by Sharon M. Bressen
Posted June 21, 2002

Also available in trade paperback, 307 pages, ISBN 1590889355.