Stranded in a small western town, city girl Josephine Whittaker doesn't have a cent to her name. Desperate to make some money, she applies for a job as a cook on a cattle drive. J.D. McCall knows a female cook on a cattle drive is asking for trouble, but he doesn't have a choice. His latest cook has just been carted off to jail and they are moving out in two days. When Josephine tells him that fried steak is her specialty, he doesn't know that he has no experience cooking over a camp fire...well, no experience at cooking anything. Josephine knows how to plan a menu, but not how to actually prepare the food.
This is a well written historical romance. Josephine's former husband married her for her money, then divorced her. She is determined to strike out on her own and not depend on a man. J.D. doesn't believe a woman from the city will be able to handle the hard work on the Wyoming territory. His mother abandoned him and his father to return to the city where she grew up. There are many unique characters in his book, especially J.D.'s father, Boots, and some of the cowboys who work at the ranch. Even though the book is slow in places, working through the strained relationships in this book kept me interested. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is a well written historical romance. Josephine's former husband married her for her money, then divorced her. She is determined to strike out on her own and not depend on a man. J.D. doesn't believe a woman from the city will be able to handle the hard work on the Wyoming territory. His mother abandoned him and his father to return to the city where she grew up. There are many unique characters in his book, especially J.D.'s father, Boots, and some of the cowboys who work at the ranch. Even though the book is slow in places, working through the strained relationships in this book kept me interested. My rating: 4 Stars.
Imagine yourself as a well-bred city girl, leaving the security of the city after six years of marriage to an abusive husband, and ending up in a crude cow town. Imagine having all your money and worldly possession mistakenly taken. Imagine applying for the job of ranch cook in order to survive and you have never cooked a meal. Imagine falling in love with a man whose own mother abandoned him as a child and who has no time for a fragile city girl. If you can imagine yourself in this situation, you're, Josephine Wittaker, the heroine of "Forget Me Not". On the surface, the book is filled with humor. Some scenes are absolutely hilarious, but under the humor is much much more. The book is about relationships, about people who've been hurt and who're learning to trust and love again. One of the novel's forte is the brilliance of the author's characterization. Each of the major characters is unique in his/her own way. Even the minor characters are not stereotypes, but individuals with their own personality and voice. Boot, the hero's father is a vivid and unique personality and so are the cowboys who work on ranch. Josephine is a fiesty heroine, a woman who has suffered and is brave enough to go after a new life. J.D is strong and silent, afraid to love but when he does he loves fiercely. The story is fast-paced and readers will be sure to applaud when Josephine eventually proves to J.D that she has the grit and gumption to be a rancher's wife.
A wealthy city girl that has never cooked anything goes west,loses her money and ends up as a cook on a cattle drive.I enjoyed this book a lot.
A CATTLE DRIVE IS NO PLACE FOR A LADY IN BOWS AND BUTTONS...
Newly independent city girl Josephine Whittaker succeeded in heading West, all on her own. But once she set foot in the crude cow town of Sienna, Wyoming, her first inclination was to board the next train back out -- and she would have, if she hadn't lost everything she owned. Suddenly, a job as a ranch cook seemed a good idea -- at least it was better than making money as a dance-hall girl. It didn't seem that important if she neglected to tell her new boss that she'd never so much as boiled an egg....
UNLESS SHE'S IN LOVE WITH A RANCHER IN DENIM AND RAWHIDE.
J.D. McCall knew from the get-go that a pretty lady in the chuck wagon with a bunch of cowboys meant trouble. But he faced mutiny among his ranch hands if he didn't bring home a cook -- and she said fried beef was her specialty. How could he know he'd never want to let her go? J.D.'s own mother had abandoned his father and the harsh frontier life to go back East. Loving Josephine was sure to break his heart...unless this lady proved she had grit, gumption, and what it took to be a cattle rancher's wife -- his wife.
Newly independent city girl Josephine Whittaker succeeded in heading West, all on her own. But once she set foot in the crude cow town of Sienna, Wyoming, her first inclination was to board the next train back out -- and she would have, if she hadn't lost everything she owned. Suddenly, a job as a ranch cook seemed a good idea -- at least it was better than making money as a dance-hall girl. It didn't seem that important if she neglected to tell her new boss that she'd never so much as boiled an egg....
UNLESS SHE'S IN LOVE WITH A RANCHER IN DENIM AND RAWHIDE.
J.D. McCall knew from the get-go that a pretty lady in the chuck wagon with a bunch of cowboys meant trouble. But he faced mutiny among his ranch hands if he didn't bring home a cook -- and she said fried beef was her specialty. How could he know he'd never want to let her go? J.D.'s own mother had abandoned his father and the harsh frontier life to go back East. Loving Josephine was sure to break his heart...unless this lady proved she had grit, gumption, and what it took to be a cattle rancher's wife -- his wife.
An Eastern woman, coming out West and getting a job working as a cook on a ranch, is an oft-repeated storyline in western fiction. Josephine Whittaker, after a divorce, is looking for a new start. Unfortunately, she can't boil water, much less cook a meal. But that is the only job she can find. Once she convinces J D McCall to hire her, Josephine's problems have just begun.
This is a pleasant way to while away some hours reading. I didn't think Ms. Holm added much to create uniqueness to the story but the dialogue was good between the main characters. 3.5 stars
This is a pleasant way to while away some hours reading. I didn't think Ms. Holm added much to create uniqueness to the story but the dialogue was good between the main characters. 3.5 stars
