Review: The Trouble With Tomboys

Reviewed by Shelly
 

You know when you find an author whose stories just click with you? That’s the way I feel about Linda Kage’s work. After reading her other story about this family, I literally couldn’t wait to find out more. Finding The Trouble with Tomboys was much more than what I thought it would be. The dialogue and character development are strong and move the story along very well.

Considering that I read the follow up (A Fallow Heart) to this story first, I was very, very curious how Kage made it work. I'll tell ya how - she's a good storyteller. Before I go on, this is not a series – not that I could find evidence of anyway – and can be read independently of each other. Now back to the good stuff.

Raised in a house full of men, pilot B.J. Gilmore is the tomboy of Tommy Creek, but that’s all good because she knows it and she’s fine with it. Grady Rawlings is the oldest son of the richest man in town and still work for the family business.  He’s a good son and he’s a good worker. On one of his overnight business trips to Houston, Grady hires B.J.’s company to fly him there.

While in Houston, B.J. and Grady both drink a little too much at dinner. Oh geez, this doesn’t bode well for B.J. because she’s already spent too much time in the presence of her childhood and adulthood crush and she just can’t stand that he’s so unhappy. So what can a girl who’s always been crazy for the boy do? Help get him out of his funk, of course. She’s already fed him, so that leaves just one more thing to do. I felt bad - for like a nano-second - for the brooding Grady because he couldn’t see B.J. as anything other than the tomboy that the town had relegated her to be.

I can’t say enough how much I liked this story, not as much as A Fallow Heart, but it was close. B.J. was a great character. She’s got spunk, heart, intelligence, humor, and self-confidence which made for a delightful read. Although she’s clearly been around way too many men, she’s still got some feminine traits about her.  There’s a scene when she’s trying to ‘girl up her wardrobe’ with some sexy lingerie for her man... the ensuing chase was awesome.

A good portrayal of being manly without sacrificing your caring side, Grady's got a gentle soul and a forgiving heart and is absolutely perfect for B.J. After losing his wife a few years back, he’s been in a deep depression and folks are still walking around on eggshells because he carries his grief like a cloak. But as fate would have it, B.J. is perfect for him because she would not let him feel sorry for himself and served as a healing balm.  B.J. was so seemingly self assured, Grady could speak of his dead wife without repercussions. Of all, that was probably my favorite thing about their story. B.J. never denied Grady his right to have memories of this first wife nor dissuade him from speaking of her. This story reminds us that when given a second chance, grab it, hold on and don't let go because it might the best thing you never thought could happen to you.

I highly recommend this if you like your heroine funny yet strong and your hero strong with a heart full of gold. Last but not least - the sexy times with these two was hmmm hmmm good. I’m officially on the hunt for more of Kage’s work.

Happy Reading folks!

Rating: A-

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Trouble With Tomboys

by Linda Kage

Release Date: July 8, 2010

Publisher: Wild Rose Press