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On Friday, some of my writer friends and I went to see The Longest Ride. A sneak-away-while-the-kids-are-at-school kind of thing. We did not forget the popcorn (extra butter, please) or drinks (Sprite & popcorn are BFFs, you know). We even had chocolate covered cinnamon bears to make it all complete. We'd watched the movie trailer a good dozen times or so. I had already downloaded albums from the artists featured in the main trailer. (Hozier and Banks - both are wonderful by the way, though some songs in Banks' album contain strong language.)
I really enjoyed The Longest Ride. It was especially fun for me to watch since I write novels featuring cowboys! I don't normally blog about movies, but I decided to share some of my thoughts since I've had a few fans contact me about the then-upcoming show, saying they developed their original love for cowboys by reading my very own Sweet Montana Bride Series. (Woot, woot!)
This movie had my interest from the get-go. The actors were convincing, brilliant, and a true joy to watch. Luke, played by Scott Eastwood, is a seriously handsome cowboy who rides bulls, lives on a ranch, and helps provide for his widowed mother. Sophia, played by Britt Robertson, is an ambitious art student who left home to pursue her goal involving a big time job in New York City. I loved how this girl wasn't typically into cowboys, but she could not help but fall in love with Luke; we don't blame her a bit.
In true Nicholas Sparks style, there was another tale weaved into this love story, and a beautiful one at that. When the couple comes upon Ira, an elderly man who's been in an accident, they become part of his life. Through frequent visits, Sophia hears the development of Ira and Ruth's romance, told through the reading of old letters. The unfolding of this tale was well-paced and very touching. In fact, there were many moments that had me wiping at silent tears. Of course, there were plenty of smiles, and a few good laughs as well.
One of my favorite moments was *(do not read if you don't want a tiny spoiler)* when Luke - this gorgeous cowboy - walks onto a college campus with his cowboy boots, snap-up shirt, and a bouquet of flowers in hand to pick up his date. He looked adorably out of place and it totally cracked me up.
*Content: This movie is rated PG-13 and showed a bit more than I anticipated during one of the love scenes.
For those craving more cowboy romance, check out the Sweet Montana Bride Series on Amazon now, 3.99 ea. Each stand alone novel features a contemporary cowboy offering witness protection - rancher style - to a woman in need. (See blurb on book one below.) Also available on audio.
Texan pageant winner, Reese Taylor, has a former classmate who wants her dead. Now she must leave her friends and family to enter a protection program on Emerson Ranch. A group of good-looking cowboys awaits her, but Reese has her eye on Blake Emerson, the one man too busy with the ranch to give her a chance.
Blake Emerson has no time to go lookin’ for love. He’s got a ranch to run, positions to fill, and an ache in his heart from love gone wrong. So when he agrees to harbor a witness to help on the ranch, Blake assumes his first two problems are solved. But he never dreamed his new guest would be a woman. One he was destined to lose his heart to.
With sparks burning hot and danger around the bend, one question lingers in his mind: Has he only added to his list of troubles, or has Blake just found the woman of his dreams?
* Though this novel is considered clean romance, it does contain passionate kissing and a few minor curse words. *
So have you seen The Longest Ride? Read the book? Plan to do either or both? And just how did you develop your first love for cowboys?
So another female protagonist that does nothing besides being a girlfriend (wife?). For a moment I thought she was going to learn how to ride a bull, and, you know, do something besides being in love and worrying about her man. Well, no such luck.
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