What are the connections between cattle branding and Christian salvation, between livestock castration and square dancing, between rustling and the making of spurs and horsehair bridles in prison, between children's coloring books and cowboy poetry as it is practiced today? The Cowboy usesliterary, historical, folkloric, and pop cultural sources to document ways in which cowboys address religion, gender, economics, and literature. Arguing that cowboys are defined by the work they do, Allmendinger sets out in each chapter to investigate one form of labor (such as branding, castration,or rustling) that cowboys perform in their "work culture." He then looks at early oral poems that cowboys recited around campfires, on trail drives, at roundups, and at home in their bunkhouses, and at later poems, histories and autobiographies written by cowboys--most of which have never beforebeen studied by scholars. He discovers that these texts not only deal with work but with larger concerns, including art, morality, spirituality, and male sexuality. In addition to spotlighting little-known texts, art, and archival sources, The Cowboy examines the works of Twain, Steinbeck, Cather,Norris, Dana, McMurtry, and others, and features more than 60 historic photographs, many of which have not been published until now.

They were married for a few months. She lost their baby...or so he thought.Rex Johnson knows he's the loudest brother. He doesn't even try to hide it, because he has plenty of other secrets he's never told anyone. Not his parents. Not his brothers. No one.Iwas only married for four months.No one needs to know. Especially because it was five years ago, and Rex hasn't heard from Holly Roberts since she left for work one day and never came back to their apartment. She filed for divorce the next day, and Rex's whole world fell apart.One day at a time...He's done a decent job of putting himself back together after he returned to Chestnut Springs and the family ranch. But when he has a chance encounter with a little girl after his brother's wedding, he comes face-to-face with Holly again.Oh no. And who is that girl?Holly's terrified to tell Rex that the little girl is their daughter, but she does. In and out of treatment facilities, Holly's been suffering from depression and doing the best she can as a mom. She's been slowly putting her life back together one piece at a time, and when Rex tells her if she leaves Chestnut Springs, he'll call the cops, she decides to stay.It's time to stop running anyway.Can Holly and Rex reconcile their differences and build a family with their daughter?

This little girl needs a holiday to remember… To give her a real Christmas, they’ll risk a surprising second chance. Single mom Eve Fallon hopes a real country Christmas will help her young daughter, Alice, to overcome trauma. Widowed rancher Tanner Cole doesn’t believe in much of anything since his own tragic loss. But as his steady patience coaxes Alice out of her shell, Eve works to rekindle his holiday happiness. Together they might be able to heal…and make a family for a lifetime. From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. Triple Creek Cowboys Book 1: The Cowboy’s Twin Surprise Book 2: The Cowboy’s Unexpected Baby Book 3: A Daughter for Christmas

This book is about Han Chinese who dared to cross over the Great Wall of China, to make a life for themselves on the northern frontier. It compares family lives, the economy, and gender relations among Chinese herders and farmers of Inner Mongolia.

She’s left her old life behind …only to find a new love waiting After a broken engagement, Callie Morgan decides to move to Aspen Ridge, Colorado, to fix up her late grandmother’s gift shop. But the shop is in bad shape and Callie runs out of money faster than expected. Old childhood friend and single dad Wyatt Stone comes to the rescue, offering her a job at his family’s ranch, Stone River Ranch. While their friendship is rekindled, will Callie ever risk loving again…even as Wyatt’s little girl is already stealing her heart? From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. Stone River Ranch Book 1: Rescuing Her Ranch Book 2: Redeeming the Cowboy Book 3: Bonding with the Cowboy's Daughter

A Daddy on a Mission In this new installment of American Heroes When ex-SEAL Ethan Renault settles in Sugar Falls, Idaho, the last thing he expects to find on his doorstep…is his daughter. The soldier turned insta-dad is desperate for help—and librarian Monica Alvarez is just the woman to help him connect with his little girl. But when sparks fly between them, the soldier realizes his next mission might just be to turn their no-strings romance into a forever family!

Book 3 of the Lucky trilogy From New York Times and USA Today-bestselling author Carolyn Brown comes a contemporary Western romance filled to the brim with sexy cowboys, gutsy heroines, and genuine down-home Texas twang. After being the center of nasty gossip in her last hometown, all Julie Donovan wants in Saint Jo, Texas, is a quiet, uneventful life for her and her daughter, Annie. But when a sexy cowboy walks into her classroom with a daughter who looks like Annie's twin, suddenly the whole town is looking for explanations... Devoted single dad Griffin Luckadeau will do anything to protect his own, and no sassy redhead is going to get in his way. When he thinks Julie is scheming to steal his ranch out from under him to benefit her own daughter, sparks really begin to fly... Julie and Griffin can't seem to cross paths without a scuffle. But when the dust settles, these two Texas hotheads may realize they've actually found something worth fighting for... Lucky Series: Lucky in Love (Book 1) One Lucky Cowboy (Book 2) Getting Lucky (Book 3) Praise for Bestselling Contemporary Western Romances by Carolyn Brown: "I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Lucky Trilogy. One Lucky Cowboy is a great read, and I look forward to more from Ms. Brown!" -Romance Reader at Heart "Sassy dialog and colorful characters." -Booklist "Carolyn Brown's rollicking sense of humor asserts itself on every page." -Scribes World "Carolyn Brown will keep you reading until the very last page." -Romantic Times "This is not your mother's Western romance!" -4 Stars, The Romantic Times Book Review