designed with Homestead
Heidi M. Thomas
Synopsis & Reviews
PRINT BOOK
$12.95 Tradesize Paperback
ELECTRONIC BOOKS
ISBN: 978-1-932695-83-0
Rated PG
Defying family and social pressure, Nettie Brady bucks 1920s convention with her dream of becoming a rodeo star. That means competing with men, and cowgirls who ride the rodeo circuit are considered “loose women.” Addicted to the thrill of pitting her strength and wits against a half-ton steer in a rodeo, Nettie exchanges skirts for pants, rides with her brothers on their Montana ranch, and competes in neighborhood rodeos.

    Broken bones, killer influenza, flash floods, and family hardship team up to keep Nettie from her dreams. Then she meets a young neighbor cowboy who rides broncs and raises rodeo stock. Will this be Nettie’s ticket to freedom and happiness? Will her rodeo dreams come true?

    Based on the life of the author’s grandmother, a real Montana cowgirl.
Cowgirl Dreams
by
Heidi M. Thomas
REVIEWS
“Some girls claim they were born as horses and only later
grew up to be western women. Heidi Thomas gives us one
of those passionate, persistent young women in Nettie Brady,
and she’s based this sparkling and enduring character on her
own grandmother’s story. Cowgirl Dreams is a heart-warming
read for all ages and lets us all know why Ms. Thomas is not
only a fine editor of other author’s books but shines as a skilled
and compassionate writer herself.”

--Jane Kirkpatrick, author of
A Sweetness to the Soul (Wrangler Award, 1995) and A
Tendering in the Storm, winner of a WILLA Literary Award, 2008.
“Nettie Brady defies anyone who challenges her right to
become a rodeo rider. She’ll gladly take the bone-jarring, guttwisting
ride of a wild steer than endure the stark boredom of
women’s work in the 1920s. Needlepoint isn’t her thing–
horseback riding, working cattle, and, yes, rodeo riding are
what her life is all about. But family is important, too, and
their disapproval makes for heart-wrenching decisions. Heidi
Thomas does a magnificent job of pulling readers into another
time, another place. Cowgirl Dreams is an exciting read, full
of heart and yearnings.”
--Mary E. Trimble, author of
Rosemount and McClellan’s Bluff
"Heidi Thomas brings heart, verve and knowledge to her depiction of the intrepid Nettie. A lively look at the ranch women of an almost forgotten West."
----Deirdre McNamer, MFA English Professor, University of Montana and author of Red Rover, My Russian, and One Sweet Quarrel.
Rodeo is not a place for young ladies—at least that’s what Mama believed. Young Nettie would just have to find a way to show her otherwise. Steer riding wasn’t just a dream for this fourteen-year-old, it was in her blood. Wearing her brother’s denims, Nettie Brady rides her first steer. From this moment on, she fights to keep her dream alive as the Brady family live their lives in 1920s Montana. The future brings hardships and disappointments for the Bradys but in the end, love prevails.
Heidi Thomas writes a novel based on her own grandmother’s life. Depicting the hardships both inside the arena and out, Ms. Thomas tells a tale about a part of rodeo history not many know about, bringing to light some of rodeo history’s most famous women. This heartwarming story follows the strong, independent Nettie as she finds her place in a world that is dominated by men and tries to balance it with her family life
Cowgirl Dreams was a quick and enjoyable read. The story line had some unexpected twists and turns that made the Brady family very endearing. While this is a great read for all ages, I would strongly recommend it for young teens.

Reviewer

-- Holly Cronk
Historical Novels Society