An American Cowboy in Scotland by Em Taylor

"I have to first comment on the characters, I found them to be very realistic and humorous and the dialogue was out of this world. I started reading this book and did not put it down until I read the last page. Rhona had me laughing through the whole book, she was a very amazing character. It was fast paced, easy read and I loved every line." - Goodreads, J. Kahele

As Rhona Lorimer waits for her new boss to arrive, she reckons things can’t get much worse. The manager of the Scottish estate has to explain to her new American boss that the estate is in ruins and there’s no money left. When the drop dead gorgeous cowboy turns up in full Highland regalia, looking like he fell off a shortbread tin, Rhona knows she has her work cut out. 

The locals don’t take to Lord Cole Macallan, so Rhona feels obliged to show him hospitality. But the guy is hot. Can Rhona fight her feelings for her new boss as their worlds collide and they discover just how much Scotland and America are two countries divided by a common language… but brought together by mutual passions? 

1. Easier access to a guy in a kilt. Jeans are a pain to get off if they’re too snug. 

2. A cowboy can rope a calf, but then a Scot can toss a caber – I’m calling that one a draw. 

3. Accents: Drawl versus Brogue. I grew up in Scotland so I’ll take the drawl because I’m afraid a Scottish brogue does nothing for me, but I guess for the non-Scots among you, you have to make up your own minds. 

4. Weapons: A cowboy may carry a gun in his truck but a Scotsman will club you to death with his sharp wit and sarcasm. We don’t do firearms in Scotland—we just bare our butts and wave pointy sticks at the English. It doesn’t work but it makes for a good movie.

5. Music: I’m a fan of both country and western and Scottish folk music. In my early 20s I was madly in love with Donnie Munro from the Scottish folk rock band Runrig. Now, I do love a bit of Brad Paisley. Both can have equally bad lyrics and both can be a bit depressing. So I’m calling a draw on that one. 

6. Cars: We don’t do big flashy cars in Scotland. Most of us drive what you would call a compact family car. Thus the cowboy’s pick truck wins this round for so many reasons. 

7. Scenery: A Scotsman can take you for a drive to see 14th century castles, mountains, lochs and beautiful glens all in one day trip. Then he can take you back to a snug little cottage with a roaring fire, with a bottle of wine. A cowboy can show you his ranch and lots of cows and maybe the town with one street. I calling this one for the Scot. 

8. I suspect neither cowboys not Scottish men eat particularly healthily. I can’t see either of them ordering a nice tofu salad in a diner. A steak dinner versus haggis, turnips and potatoes. In deference to your delicate sensibilities, I won’t tell you what’s in haggis and I’ll declare the cowboy the winner of number 8. 

9. Sport: Scottish men play rugby which is like American football without all the stopping and starting and without all the protective gear. They just pile in on top of each other. And kick the living daylights out of one another. Apparently there are rules but I can’t seem to figure them out. Scottish men also play shinty, the forerunner to ice hockey. Basically 22 men are given wooden hockey sticks, a ball is thrown between them and they batter lumps out of each other until someone scores a goal. Again, apparently there are rules. Sometimes there is ice but they’ve started playing it in the summer so there is less ice. Cowboys play the American versions of these sports with all the padding. Guess who won that round.

10. But not all men play sport. Actually more Scottish men watch what Americans call soccer. And I know a lot of Americans prefer baseball and basketball to football. When it comes to both cowboys and Scotsmen we can guarantee that whether kilted or cowboy booted, when they come home to us, they’re more likely to sit around in their underpants, drinking beer and watching the aforementioned sport on TV. And we wouldn’t have them any other way… well it would be nice if they’d put out the garbage without being nagged to do it fifty times. 

Em lives in the small village of Dundonald (which features in An American Cowboy in Scotland) in Ayrshire, Scotland. She regularly visits Dundonald Castle for coffee, cakes, inspiration and chat. When she’s not writing historical, contemporary and vampire romances, she’s trotting around the country to film and TV conventions, hob-nobbing with celebrities and avoiding housework. 

Em is still waiting for her own Colonel Brandon to come along but since she’s sick of kissing frogs, she’s quite content to hog the TV remote and have the whole sofa to herself.