Cowboy for Hire (The Dream Maker Series, Book 1)

In the 1905, the years of silent movies, the action is as exciting off-screen as it was on-screen. Unlike many young women with stars in their eyes, however, Amy Wilkes is more sensible than dreamy. Her goals in life are clear. An orphan, she doesn't dream of a silver screen, but a tidy home and family -- a life of predictability and security. Then an unexpected opportunity turns her world up side down. As Amy toils in an attempt to get the ungrateful to follow the regimen prescribed by her uncle's health spa, she longs for the very things she sees the ungrateful throwing away. Amy unknowingly making quite the impression on screen star Horace Huxtable who is visiting her uncle's spa in an effort to dry out. Huxtable makes the unexpected demand that she be his co-star in Peerless Studio's One and Only. Although Huxtable is more interested in Amy's body than her acting ability, director Martin Tafft agrees, convincing Amy to accept. Huxable immediately begins to plan her seduction. Charlie Fox thinks that all that dramatic foolery for the camera is silly. But the money is good, and would let him buy his own cattle spread. Besides, acting sure beats working an ostrich farm. Charlie hasn't been around very many beautiful women, and finds himself acting a bit out of character, cussing when Amy seems to put on airs. Nevertheless, as Huxtable's drunken behavior brings Amy and Charlie together, she finds herself drawn to his practical and earthy ways. Alice Duncan's knowledge of the era brings a sparkle to COWBOY FOR HIRE. She beautifully captures a time when drinking was frowned upon, women didn't smoke, and cussing was discouraged, capitalizing on its conventions. While some of the conventions of the time make the story a bit heavy handed, the insight balances the novel out nicely. Highly recommended.

In 1905 Pasadena, California, Amy Wilkes believes that actor Horace Huxtable must be the worst patient to stay at her uncle's Orange Rest Health Spa. Sent there by Peerless Studio to dry out, everyone at the spa detests the obnoxious Horace. Director Martin Tafft visits Horace to inform him they found the cowboy Charlie Fox for the upcoming filming of "The One and Only". Horace tells Martin that he demands they hire Amy as his leading lady in the picture. Martin offers Amy a once in a lifetime part especially for someone with no experience opposite one of the movie greats. After consulting with her uncle and aunt, a stunned Amy accepts the offer. During the filming, Horace tries to seduce Amy, but instead she finds herself attracted to Charlie as both struggles to learn their new professions. As Horace realizes his seduction campaign fails, he starts harassing his leading lady and the cowboy, but he cannot stop the love that forms between Amy and Charlie. COWBOY FOR HIRE is at its delightful best when Alice Duncan enthusiastically provides insight to the early silent age of the movie studio. The support characters brings alive that era so that the reader feels as if they are part of the cast. Amy seems more like a weak caricature of Debbie Reynolds ("Singing in the Rain"), but that does not slow down an engaging Americana romance that that is the first of the "Dream Maker" series from an author who obviously adores her project.Harriet Klausner