Matt

Very good book as all of Greenwoods books are.I have the cowboy series, and Matt is one of my favorite books in the series. A very well written book about sexual child abuse and the effects it has on childern, even in the eighteen hundrens. I was heartbroken to learn the Lee Grteenwoods publishers have made him start on a new series before finishing the Cowboy series.

Leigh Greenwood is an exceptional author. Matt lived up to my expectations and then some. The story was handled with compassion,understanding, and trust. Matt quickly turned into a full fledged 3D character who reached out from the pages to become real. Awesome book!

I loved this book! It is the best one written of all the orphans that Jake and Isabelle adopted. It is sad how Matt could not stand to be touched or feel close to any of his brothers because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his uncle. But, I admired the way Matt was able to help other boys when he got older because of what happened when he was a boy. I think Ellen was the right woman to help Matt see the kind of man that he was in taking care of his own family. The kids were also great in breaking through Matt's feeling of not being worthy and letting people get close to him. I also loved seeing how the other orphans who had gotten married and started families of their own and adopted also (Drew) were doing. I like how close all of Jake and Isabelle's kids remain close giving the rocky start that had when they first came together as a family. Isabelle is totally awesome! When someone does any injustice to one of her kids she is one mother who will not sit by and not say anything, even though that are all grown. I can't wait to read the next 'Cowboys' book! Will it be about Will, the fun loving, drop dead gorgeous one or about Bret, the one who never really fit it with the others. I hope Mr. Greenwood does not keep us waitng too long!

I have read all of the Cowboys books and Matt is the best one that has been done of the orphans. I think it was sad how Matt could not stand to be touched or feel close to his adopted family because if what his uncle did to him when was a boy. As a result, I also admired the way protected other boys no matter what the circumstance. I think Ellen was the right woman to help him see that he was a worthy of love and that he should not be afraid of letting others get close to him. The children fit right in helping Matt overcome his fears of letting people in and getting close to his family.I also loved seeing how the other orphans were doing who had gotten married and started families of their own and some who also adopted children as well. I especially like seeing Isabelle fight any injustice that is done to any of her boys, even though they are all grown. No wonder they all love her so much! I can't wait for the next 'Cowboys' book to come out. I can't decide whose story I want to read about next: Will, who is the best looking and fun loving of the boys, or Bret who never fit in and is most estranged from the others. Another good one soon Mr. Greenwood!

In 1883 in the Texas Hill Country, Matt Haskins worries that he will lose the two boys he brought into his home as a form of repayment from his own adoption. However, because one of them suddenly inherited a fortune, "loving" relatives now want the child. He could have ridden out the storm since no one previously wanted the lads, except that Reverend Sears insists that bachelor Matt is unsuited to raise two youngsters even if one is already sixteen. He needs a wife. The townsfolk treat Ellen Donovan like a pariah for taking in the two children of a deceased bar maid and for working at a saloon. Since Reverend Sears came to town, Ellen's continual raising of the two kids has become questionable. She needs a husband. Matt and Ellen talk about a business agreement in which they will marry and raise four children, but no permanent relationship will form. Once the children are safe and secure, Ellen plans to leave, but neither she nor Matt counted on love entering their marriage of convenience. Award winning Leigh Greenwood takes an overused device to forge his western relationship drama, yet manages to keep the tale fresh due to his strong characters. The lead couple is a delightful duo who share a similar history while the support cast (the four children, his adopted family, and much of the townsfolk) provide profundity not often seen in the sub-genre. THE COWBOYS: MATT will send new readers looking for the previous seven "Cowboy" tales as well as the author's quite pleasing "Seven Brides" series.Harriet Klausner