Praise for Cowgirl Up!

 

"... women Who Broke the Glass Ceiling in the early 1900s. Heidi Thomas’s story struck a resounding chord with me as I began chapter twelve. I loved the book up to that point, but on page 111 the stories of rodeo women intersected the story I tell, about the forgotten women pilots of World War II, the WASP. The seat hit the saddle and the rubber met the runway. From early in the twentieth century, women began ‘making it’ in the rodeo, in aviation — in life — but the Depression followed by the War changed everything. The years since are witness to a world where women have had to re-earn what they were on the verge of having in the early 1940s. Here, a descendant of a rodeo cowgirl spins a fascinating tale of hard-won accomplishment, and she tells it artfully, with love, honesty, and respect.” ~ Sarah Byrn Rickman, author of five fiction and nonfiction books about the WASP of World War II

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4 Stars from male reader

 

"... the best kind of history lesson; Informative and entertaining. Thomas does a great job of showing the lifestyles of these women in a very male dominated world, and how through hard work and determination they gained the respect of many people not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. You can't help but be impressed with the toughness of these women, who competed even with broken bones and other injuries. An eye-opening look at the world of rodeo, and the accomplishments of these women." ~ John J. Rust, author of Sea Raptor and Arizona's All Time Baseball Team

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"A riveting account of Montana women who followed their dreams. Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women by Heidi M. Thomas provides an exciting insight into women’s role in one of America’s greatest passions, rodeo. American rodeo started at small ranch gatherings when cowboys showed off their roping, bulldogging (steer wrestling), and riding prowess. In those days, it was pretty much a male sport.

Many ranch girls learned to rope and ride as they helped their fathers, brothers and later their husbands with ranch work. These girls learned to “cowgirl up,” which means to rise to the occasion without whining or complaining. As local competition became popular events, girls got into the spirit and began competing with the men. Girls’ involvement raised some eyebrows, but they persisted, often wearing cumbersome skirts to be less offensive and more ladylike. Even so, many people thought of rodeo cowgirls as “loose women.”

Cowgirl Up! is about these women of rodeo, many of whom started their careers as young as fourteen, competing against and often earning higher points than seasoned cowboys. The 1920s were rodeo heydays for cowgirls, producing more champion female riders than any time since. These girls knew hardships, but persisted in their rodeo dreams.

Soon organized circuits formed and performers traveled from rodeo to rodeo, paying their own travel expenses and fees, often sleeping in tents. Many women brought their babies with them. It was a tough life for both men and women, but in addition to roping, riding bucking broncs, staying atop a writhing, twisting bull, these women made it their business to still appear feminine when not in the arena." ~ Mary E. Trimble, author of several novels and two memoirs, including Sailing With Impunity

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Praise for Seeking the American Dream

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By far one of the best books I've read in a LONG TIME!! Great writing, exciting story, from the first page to the last. Amazing that the story is based on true life. The hardships they went through to be together and faced after reuniting is incredible! I didn't stop reading until I was finished with the book. I've read all Heidi Thomas's books and this one, by far, was the very best one. I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Fantastic, Heidi!!!

 

Anna Moser anticipates a romantic, satisfying new life in America. Having survived Allied bombings, starvation, and the attention of a former Nazi, she longs for escape to the US and her true love, Neil. Anna soon realizes how harsh and demanding a Montana ranch environment can be. Being terribly homesick for her family and all the things she took for granted in Germany, she faces many challenges: feeling she doesn’t fit in with her in-laws, her neighbors, and the odd ways of this new country. Learning to speak English is her first challenge but certainly not the last. This is a surprising book, well-researched, and thrilling to the last chapter. I recommend it.

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"With beautifully researched detail, haunting descriptions, and the authentic language of the heart, Heidi Thomas's Seeking the American Dream is a classic immigrant's tale, a domestic drama that shows the rebuilding of the world as planned at the kitchen table, enacted in the fields, and put into action in the financial, emotional, and psychological details of daily life. A story of longing--and finally of belonging--we see one woman's dream become the fulfillment of the American dream one step at a time." - Mara Purl, best-selling author of the Milford-Haven Novels

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Praise for Finding True Home

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This sequel to Seeking the American Dream continues Heidi Thomas’ heart-tugging saga of the life of a World War II war bride as she struggles to adjust to life on a Montana ranch, where family is everything and neighbor helps neighbor through the toughest situations. Struggling through isolation, prejudice, and self-doubt, Anna Moser finally finds peace, acceptance, and her true home through a lifetime of love and sacrifice.” – Donis Casey, author of the Alafair Tucker series

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Finding True Home by Heidi Thomas is a heart-touching, heart-breaking novel full of love, hope, and emotional honesty. Anna, the main character, emigrates from Germany to Montana just after WWII to marry Neil. It was a time when, in her experience, others still held the Germans, all Germans, responsible for the war. Anna is self-conscious and wanting to be liked, but fearing that others look down on her. She misses her parents terribly and wonders if she should have stayed in Germany. In spite of the harsh weather, hard work, and feeling lonely, she stays in the US. Together, Anna and Neil build a ranch in Eastern Montana, have three children, and raise their family. So much of this story rang so true for me. I cried several times while reading Finding True Home because I was touched to the core by the strength and courage of Anna’s love, every day love that parents experience while raising children. Finding True Home was easy and enjoyable to read, and I finished it within a couple of days. I highly recommend this novel. It is full of genuine grace, courage, and the determined perseverance that comes from loving a family.

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Once again, Heidi Thomas mines her family’s history to fictionalize life in rural 20th century Montana. This particular story documents the tribulations of a German immigrant woman to fit in to a culture where she can’t seem to find her footing among her neighbors’ post-war prejudice, a husband unable to verbalize his feelings, and eventually three children very different in personality from her and from each other. Anna Moser and her American husband, Neil, are willing to face all the arduous work involved and any hardship nature or ranch life can throw at them, in order to hang onto the land. A child of undemonstrative parents, Anna tries to be the best parent she can with her own children, but as they grow up and away from her, over and over again Anna’s response is to clutch much too hard in an effort to keep them near.

This was an interesting book, a realistic picture of the isolation of ranch life, the difficulty of fitting in with others, especially town folks, and the ways rural people learn to cope on their own without benefit of social services or mental health counseling. It functions satisfactorily as a standalone even though it’s the second volume of Anna’s story. As well as a general audience of Western American history, and people who appreciate stories of Western family life, anyone with immigrant relatives a generation or two back will enjoy this illuminating novel.