3 out of 4 stars
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Annie Day is an American literature teacher at Belmont High School. She just thought her world was complicated when her philandering husband left her for one of her ex-friends. Now she is being kissed by a cowboy ghost named George. At night, when she and her son (Oliver) are trying to sleep, she is kept awake by yet another ghost (that frequents her attic).
Annie’s divorce and ghost dramas soon become the least of her worries when the school’s varsity football team discovers a human skull on their practice field. It isn’t long before another human bone (this time a femur) appears on the school campus. Amid the mystery of the bones, Annie receives a series of threatening notes. Who is sending these bones and why? What secret lies behind the bones? And, when Annie tracks down who sent the notes, will she put herself in danger?
Most of Cowboys to Camelot was narrated by our protagonist, Annie. As a single mom, left by her cheating husband, Annie was relatable, honest, and witty. She was portrayed as someone that you will immediately adore and want for a best friend. Her nurturing skills toward her young son, Oliver (Ollie) were endearing. Additionally, some of the chapters were narrated by her father, as a young boy of six or seven. Fortunately, the chapters and changes were delineated by the author, making it easy for the reader to follow along.
I enjoyed the author’s command of the English language and grammar. In reading the description of the book, I learned that the author majored in English and then taught English and creative writing to high school students. So, it is not surprising that the novel was well edited. I loved how she humorously injected her evaluations on someone’s grammar skills (or lack thereof) into her story.
As a reviewer, I also appreciated her classroom discussions of literary devices, including alliteration, similes, and euphemisms. The author presented several examples of these devices during one of her many American Literature classes.
While her American Literature classes were informative, they became a bit too frequent and lengthy for me. Many times these classes seemed to interfere with the plot and slow the pace of the story. Given the reasons listed above, I award Cowboys to Camelot by Mary Kay Leatherman 3 out of 4 stars. If the author would remove some of the classroom detail, so that the story continues to move at its original quick pace, the novel would easily garner all four stars.
This story will appeal to single moms (you will love Annie’s spunk!). Also, teachers (especially those who teach English or American Literature), and readers who enjoy romance and mystery genres will like this book. This read may not appeal to those who are not fans of these particular genres. Since this story does not include gruesome details, coarse language, or graphic scenes, the book will also appeal to some young adults. I am pleased to recommend this novel, as readers will enjoy watching Annie’s story unfold and merge with some of her Dad’s recollections.
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Cowboys to Camelot
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