Blogger Wife Chat Review: Cowboys Don’t Samba – Tara Lain (@TaraLain @VivianaIzzo)

*I received a free copy of Cowboys Don't Samba from Dreamspinner Press via Author. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *

Cowboys Don’t Samba took a little while to take off for me, wifey, but once it did – it really did! What did you think of the beginning of Maury’s story?

I have to say TLain pulled me in from the start, wifey. Maybe because I just knew where she was going with Maury’s story. Whatever it was, I enjoyed Maury from the get-go!

As always, Lain managed to bring more to the story than romance and bull-riding! I loved how different Tristao and Maury appeared at the beginning of the story, and especially the rivalry between Tristao’s older brother and Maury. Which stemmed from stereo-typing and preconception in my opinion.

Yes! I admired how TLain incorporated the Latino/Mexican culture of machismo as well as la familia. She was able to convey the loyalty these men felt towards their families as well as the fear they felt for being who they were, which led to pretending to be something they weren’t. I had no use for Xesus, Tristao’s older brother. He was a bully and a bigot but those the elements of his personality stemmed from his culture. It just so happens that the culture promotes that stereotyping and one-upping mentality. Yes, Tristao and Maury did seem to have their differences at the start but it turned out they had a lot in common. 😉

What did you think of Maury’s team for the bulls? I loved the secondary characters who were with him when it was important that he stay concentrated and alert. I especially loved Earl 😀 How about you? What did you think of the secondary characters and how they influenced the story?

I really liked Earl and I wondered what his story was. I know Maury was afraid to admit who he really was, not only to himself but to everyone in the PBRA. But I got the feeling that Earl, Dusty, and Hernando would have been more understanding and accepting than Maury gave them credit for. I also really liked Maury’s friends who were formerly involved in the PBRA. Rand and Kai, as well as Danny and Laurie provided Maury (and Tristao) this great foundation and support both before and after Maury came out. These characters were so generous. I loved that Danny and Laurie were there for Maury’s family, too.

Apart from Antonio, I kind of hated Maury’s whole family! Especially his uncle, but also his mom – for never standing up to all the people who ‘depended’ on Maury to live an easy life while he risked his on the bulls! 

I’m with you there, wifey. Antonio was awesome but the rest of them…ugh! Unfortunately, I think it’s rather common in their culture to live like they did. I was particularly taken aback by Maury’s mom but again, I think her staying quiet was more out of fear.

I loved that we saw characters from earlier Cowboys Don’t books in Cowboys Don’t Samba – it was nice to see what was going on with them, and how they were getting on with their lives. Did you enjoy seeing our friends from before?

I really loved seeing them as well, wifey. Not only so that we could see how they were doing but also the ways in which they were there for each other and Maury. I like to think there really are people out there like Danny & Laurie and Rand & Kai…so kind and giving. It restores my faith in humanity to read about them. 🙂

Overall, I thought Cowboys Don’t Samba was a good, solid story, and Lain managed to bring me all the feels. Especially when it came to family relationships. It was hard for both Maury and Tristao to deal with how their families chose to see them – and what they risked by not doing or behaving in a way that was expected.

I agree, wifey. I admired how TLain took on machismo – that culture of how masculinity is defined by Mexican and Latino societies. And she did it with aplomb. I was impressed with how she wove it into the story as well as how she ultimately allowed her characters to live life as determined by them because LOVE IS LOVE.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2019 New Release Challenge

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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