Masked Cowboy by Sarah M. Anderson (Men of the White Sandy #2)
August 6, 2013
Contemporary
Samhain

Reviewed by Mandi

I recently read my first Sarah Anderson book (from a different series) and really liked her voice. When I found out this hero was scarred and a bit tortured, I had to try it. I’m happy to say, I enjoyed this one.

Mary Beth has a new job as a large animal vet out west near Lakota Indian territory in South Dakota. She will be seeing cattle and horses mostly on the big ranches. Her main contact is a man named Jacob Plenty Holes, he not only works on the ranch but has a great mind for business. The man who owns the ranch is Buck, who goes straight to sexual harassment with Mary Beth which doesn’t sit well with her and she fights right back (I really liked her). This doesn’t sit well with Buck either, who is not used to anyone saying no to him (he is a real creeper!) But enough with him – let’s get back to Jacob.

Jacob puts up with Buck’s rudeness for his own reasons, which you will discover as you read. Jacob wears a mask that covers half his face due to the fact he was disfigured and grossly scarred after being attacked three years ago. Jacob doesn’t know who his attacker was, but this person or thing killed Jacob’s former lover and her husband, leaving behind a small albino child named Kip, whom Jacob now cares for. Jacob has not come to terms with his disfigurement, not having looked at himself in his reflection since the attack. Oh the torture!

Jacob still fears this mysterious person and will do anything to keep Kip safe. Every warm night, as he rides into town to pick up Kip from school, he puts on a little sexy show for the diner guests. This involves taking off his shirt, pouring water over his head, unbuttoning his jeans as he puts his shirt back on and tucks it in. He does this for several reasons – one because this keeps the diner in business (he is so selfless!) and two because it makes people take focus off of his mask and onto more…appealing areas. When Mary Beth witnesses this, she can’t help but fall into lust with the other ladies.

As Jacob and Mary Beth work closely together with the animals, they form an attraction. But this mysterious danger is not done with Jacob and Kip yet.

I liked this one for several reasons – first of all, Mary Beth is a great heroine. She is tough, doesn’t take anyone’s shit, and just a well rounded female. She works hard, and when she falls for Jacob, his awkwardness and stubbornness plays out well with her. Mary Beth could care less that he is scarred, but she does care that he flip flops back and forth with her. Jacob has so much pressure on him to keep Kip safe that he is afraid to get close to someone else. 

Jacob is super sexy, yet a little shy and awkward. I just loved the combination. He feels shame over his face, but at the same time he can’t help but to fall for Mary Beth, who shares her opinion over his actions quite loudly. He definitely screws up in the romance department, but due to his circumstances, it is understandable. I found it all just very romantic. The action and mystery plays out well too. Predictable end, but the journey to get there is well done and suspenseful.

I want to go back and read book one, whose characters show up briefly in this book. I like this author’s voice.

Rating: B

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