Jed Petersen is an up-and-coming bull rider from Fort Stockton, Texas. He's courageous, stubborn, and daring. His overbearing father has groomed him all his life to become a national champion on the rodeo circuit, but that is his father's failed dream, not Jed's. Jed's Texas-sized heart holds horses and his best friend, Ron. His father's narrow-mindedness forces Jed to leave home and make his own way in the world. He works hard to find his place in it, with help from friends he meets along the way. "The Reluctant Cowboy" will take you into the excitement and dust of rodeo arenas, into the rugged mountains of West Texas, and into the sensitive heart of an exceptional young man. It's more than a coming-of-age story, more than a love story, more than a compelling adventure. As one reviewer stated, "Just like 'The Beautiful Bones' (also by Elizabeth A. Garcia) I could not put the book down until it was completely read. Love is love no matter who experiences it."