Aloha Cowboy

The triumphant true story of the native Hawaiian cowboys who crossed the Pacific to shock America at the 1908 world rodeo championships Oregon Book Award winner * An NPR Best Book of the Year * Pacific Northwest Book Award finalist * A Reading the West Book Awards finalist "Groundbreaking. … A must-read. ... An essential addition." —True West In August 1908, three unknown riders arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, their hats adorned with wildflowers, to compete in the world’s greatest rodeo. Steer-roping virtuoso Ikua Purdy and his cousins Jack Low and Archie Ka’au’a had travelled 4,200 miles from Hawaii, of all places, to test themselves against the toughest riders in the West. Dismissed by whites, who considered themselves the only true cowboys, the native Hawaiians would astonish the country, returning home champions—and American legends. An unforgettable human drama set against the rough-knuckled frontier, David Wolman and Julian Smith’s Aloha Rodeo unspools the fascinating and little-known true story of the Hawaiian cowboys, or paniolo, whose 1908 adventure upended the conventional history of the American West. What few understood when the three paniolo rode into Cheyenne is that the Hawaiians were no underdogs. They were the product of a deeply engrained cattle culture that was twice as old as that of the Great Plains, for Hawaiians had been chasing cattle over the islands’ rugged volcanic slopes and through thick tropical forests since the late 1700s. Tracing the life story of Purdy and his cousins, Wolman and Smith delve into the dual histories of ranching and cowboys in the islands, and the meteoric rise and sudden fall of Cheyenne, “Holy City of the Cow.” At the turn of the twentieth century, larger-than-life personalities like “Buffalo Bill” Cody and Theodore Roosevelt capitalized on a national obsession with the Wild West and helped transform Cheyenne’s annual Frontier Days celebration into an unparalleled rodeo spectacle, the “Daddy of ‘em All.” The hopes of all Hawaii rode on the three riders’ shoulders during those dusty days in August 1908. The U.S. had forcibly annexed the islands just a decade earlier. The young Hawaiians brought the pride of a people struggling to preserve their cultural identity and anxious about their future under the rule of overlords an ocean away. In Cheyenne, they didn’t just astound the locals; they also overturned simplistic thinking about cattle country, the binary narrative of “cowboys versus Indians,” and the very concept of the Wild West. Blending sport and history, while exploring questions of identity, imperialism, and race, Aloha Rodeo spotlights an overlooked and riveting chapter in the saga of the American West.

On a search for cows, Hawaiian realtor Jazz Little finds herself a cowboy instead. Rancher Kimo McGinnis is astounded when the petite, copper-haired beauty insists that his steers belong on her company's newly acquired property. Kimo is tall, handsome, and the kind of charmer most women dream of, and Jazz is not immune to his appeal. But he's also a rodeo cowboy. To Jazz, whose brother was hurt in a rodeo event years ago, Kimo spells Danger with a capital D. Kimo is equally smitten with the independent, strong-minded Jazz, but he needs a woman who can accept his rough-and-tumble life on the ranch and rodeo circuit. Will city girl Jazz learn to conquer her fears to find the love she's always wanted? Will stubborn cowboy Kimo accept compromise in his life in the rodeo?

Sometimes being a Pennington can be a disadvantage. Cordell Pennington considers himself a simple cowboy and he doesn't want to be in Hawaii. He doesn't even want to be on vacation, until he meets Leah Pennington, the manager of The Puanani Resort. What intrigues him is not that they have the same last name or that they both hail from Arizona. It's her habit of vacillating between a professional façade and her personal self that has him taking notice. Leah's breathless moment at seeing a cowboy at the reception desk is as much caused by concern as excitement. Upon meeting Cord, she's happy to help him enjoy his stay, as long as it stays professional. But their constant proximity, thanks to her job, and Cord's kindness, is taking a toll on her willpower, until she not only finds herself falling for him, but even reveals her reason for never returning to Arizona. As Cord's vacation draws to a close, he's determined to convince Leah they could have a future together despite the miles that separate them. But when his own secret is revealed, the ocean between them is the least of his troubles.

Over 450 entries provide information on cowboy history, culture, and myth of both North and South America.

“Thompson-Hernández's portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book.”—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures “Walter Thompson-Hernández has written a book for the ages: a profound and moving account of what it means to be black in America that is awe inspiring in its truth-telling and limitless in its empathy. Here is an American epic of black survival and creativity, of terrible misfortune and everyday resilience, of grace, redemption and, yes, cowboys.”— Junot Díaz, Pulitzer prize-winning author of This is How You Lose Her A rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of The Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America’s most notorious cities. In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades. To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence. But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture. From Mayisha’s youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration. The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha’s nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings--Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre--for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton. The Compton Cowboys is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hernández paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph. The Compton Cowboys is illustrated with 10-15 photographs.

Book 2 in the Spikes & Spurs Series He wasn't looking for trouble... But when the cops are knocking on your door, trouble's definitely found you. And this is where Wil Marshall finds himself after checking in to the Longhorn Inn. It could all be a big mistake, but Wil's not getting much sleep. Then the motel owner—who is drop dead gorgeous and feisty to boot—saves him from an even worse night behind bars. Now he owes her one, big time. ...But Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes Pearl never wanted that run-down motel, but her aunt didn't leave her much choice. And then this steaming hot cowboy shows up looking for a place to rest. Next thing she knows, she wants to offer him more than just room service. But if he calls her Red one more time, he won't be the only one accused of murder. Sparks are definitely flying and before long, the Do Not Disturb sign might be swinging from the door. Spikes & Spurs Series Love Drunk Cowboy (Book 1) Red's Hot Cowboy (Book 2) Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (Book 3) One Hot Cowboy Wedding (Book 4) Mistletoe Cowboy (Book 5) Just a Cowboy and His Baby (Book 6) Cowboy Seeks Bride (Book 7) Praise for Love Drunk Cowboy: "Brown revitalizes the Western romance with this fresh, funny, and sexy tale filled with likable, down-to-earth characters." —Booklist "Tender and passionate love scenes... endearing and quirky characters...What an absolutely adorable story." —The Romance Studio "Charming...full of sassy fun." —BookPage

Published for devotees of the cowboy and the West, American Cowboy covers all aspects of the Western lifestyle, delivering the best in entertainment, personalities, travel, rodeo action, human interest, art, poetry, fashion, food, horsemanship, history, and every other facet of Western culture. With stunning photography and you-are-there reportage, American Cowboy immerses readers in the cowboy life and the magic that is the great American West.

Published for devotees of the cowboy and the West, American Cowboy covers all aspects of the Western lifestyle, delivering the best in entertainment, personalities, travel, rodeo action, human interest, art, poetry, fashion, food, horsemanship, history, and every other facet of Western culture. With stunning photography and you-are-there reportage, American Cowboy immerses readers in the cowboy life and the magic that is the great American West.