Western mountains, wide-open skies, rugged individualists, and leather clad cowpokes. All these bring the strong image of manliness and macho-ism that pervades the idea of the Wild West. But among all those images, are stories. The tale of No Bull brings a very honest modern day version of this west, one that a person who lives that life, can authenticate.

Being stubborn as a bull is "no bull" but the norm for characters Diana and Jake, who run bullrings around each other, all the while the rustling of cattle, murder, mayhem, distrust of one another because of family names, and all the other good trappings of a mystery are taking place in a western setting. No Bull comes across with real science in veterinarian medicine: from the birthing of a calf, to the care given to various larger animals a veterinarian has to contend with. Not only does Diana have to earn the trust of the large and small ranchers from the old vet who is retiring, she has to get them to see her for herself, and not her much older sister who betrayed a large ranch owner almost two decades before. But memories run long in the mountains.

Kelsy George is rapidly becoming a favorite author of mine for her authentic handling of characterization and locale. Being a woman of the west myself I smile at the various phrases she uses. Many look at ranch hands as dumb human jerky, without a wit about them. But here they come across as men and women with their fierce independence. Under all that independence is a firm understanding that you must also depend on your neighbors for help in the bad times and in the good. The story also sets the stage for why betrayal by one person can taint the family name in the whole area. But the western landscape for all its harshness can also show that not all folks are what their name might say they are.

No Bull goes about taking a tiny woman with big ambitions to be the best she can be in spite of her dead sister's reputation. She found a life, a place she loves, and dares to say she belongs there, too. Even when it seems she's going to lose it all, she still hangs on. You will find yourself rooting for Diana from the first page to the last. Plus there is an ending ripe for a sequel that I sure hope will be coming soon.

Reviewed By Nancy Louise
© February 2007