Sunday, October 10, 2010

Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon by Stephen Bly-a review



In its prime, the Matador Hotel in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted railroad barons ,governors, foreign dignitaries, famous outlaws, and even a U.S. president. But by 1954, the Matador was a residence for those with nowhere else to go. Six men, who spent their young lives as cowboys in the Southwest, now gather at the Matador for weekly games of cribbage.

One rainy afternoon, one of the men brings his ten-year-old grandson with him to the cribbage game. The boy has on his red straw cowboy hat, his cap gun, and wears his leather bullet belt with the silver-painted wooden bullets. They play cribbage and tell stories - and the boy listens while they pass down a way of life and western tradition that is quickly becoming extinct.

Many years later, the boy looks back and remembers the stories he heard and the lessons he learned on that day when he became a Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon. He finds out he just might not have been born 100 years too late. He discovers good guys and outlaws . . . gentle women and bucking broncs . . . shoot-outs and stampedes . . . tragedies and comedies. And in the midst of it all . . . he gets to live out a genuine cowboy adventure of his own.



Hardcover: 253 pages
Publisher: Center Point Large Print; 1 Lrg edition (June 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602856737
ISBN-13: 978-1602856738
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces



Stephen Bly resides in Winchester, Idaho at 4,000 ft. elev., on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. He's been married 47 years to fellow writer, Janet Chester Bly, and they've co-authored 18 books.
Stephen is father of 3 sons: Russell, Michael, & Aaron. The family includes daughters-in-law, Lois, Michelle & Rina Joye, plus grandkids: Zachary, Miranda (& husband Chris), and Keaton.
As a third-generation westerner, Steve spent 30 years working family ranches and farms in central California.
When he's not writing Steve collects and restores antique Winchesters; studies histories of the Old West; and does construction on Broken Arrow Crossing (a false front western village next to his home). He also plays a par game of golf.
http://www.blybooks.com/


My Review
Six older cowboys and one 10 year old grandson spend the day telling stories and asking questions. Each story they tell would make a great book in itself. How does Stephen Bly come up with so many stories and ideas.
Another excellent book by Stephen Bly. “Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon” is such a fun, exciting book. You will simply love reading and you will feel you are just one of the older cowboys, living out the days of your past.
Even though they are telling stories about their past they still manage to get invouled in a present day adventure, with robbers, women, jewels etc… It seems like trouble just follows these guys around.
This book teaches me several things, one, the older generation has a lot to teach us. Next, life is full of adventure all around us. We all have a story inside of us.
I highly recommend “Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon.” It is a book that you will treasure forever.

You can order this book direct from Bly Books by emailing Jan Grueter at grueter (at) q.com. Just send your name, mailing address and how many autographed copies you want.

Order from Amazon

I received this book from the author for a honest review. Thanks Bly’s!


4 comments:

csthankful said...

I absolutely recommend this book too. Will take you back to a time in your memory that brings wonderful recollections that you hold dear. Thanks,

Unknown said...

Wanda: Thanks so very much for the feature and review of Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon. Greatly appreciated!

Janet and Maya said...

Thanks for a good review - this sounds like a book I would enjoy. It's true, the older folks have alot to teach and say.

Anonymous said...

I love to hear stories from people who are older than me (harder to find nowadays!). Great review.


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