The announcement has just been made that Sydney Thomas is the new rodeo queen of the Fifty-first Annual West Hills Roundup Rodeo. Excited at this opening up prospects of employment with a rodeo company, her only hesitation is at the treatment dished out by Scott Chandler, part owner of The Findley Brothers Rodeo Company who orchestrated this event. Sydney is unaware that his rudeness is brought about from a past rodeo queen, once his fiancée, whom he found in bed with his friend Kurt Willits a few years before. Now Scott believes all rodeo queens alike and are shallow liars and unfaithful teases.

Mike Findley is also part owner of the rodeo company which offers Sydney a job traveling with the rodeo as trainer. The dream of a lifetime for her is shadowed only by having to work alongside the arrogant Scott. Impressed with her training abilities with her stallion, Valentino, and other horses on her father's ranch, Sydney will be a valued asset. The strain between Sydney and Scott doesn't hamper the physical draw each feels for the other. Scott's downfall is never being able to trust again for fear of being duped again. Working the ranch and rodeos together only puts them closer and Sydney finally finds out what real emotions are and is taught in the art of sex. Falling in love with Scott doesn't help when he refuses to reciprocate her feelings in words. When an old fiancé and Kurt show up, things go south and Sydney is afraid for her life and concerned for Valentino. Secrets escalate and Sydney finds herself unable to continue working with Scott. Is it even possible now for Scott to make her understand his real feelings and to win her back?

Sit yourself down for a story full of excitement and multiple faceted characters. My heart went out to the young girl doing everything right and hitting a block wall at every step. This is a beautiful romantic tale full of emotion for two separate people, learning to overcome their past fates. Misunderstandings and unspoken words are taken the wrong way and not easily overcome. I have not read any works by the author before but am very impressed with the writing and the weave of a most interesting plot. I would feel privileged to read and review another from T.J. Kline.

Book Summary

Sydney Thomas may be the newest Rodeo Queen on the circuit, but she's more than just a pretty face and fabulous horseback rider. If only her new boss could see it! But the frustrating, bossy, drop-dead gorgeous man seems bent on pushing her away every chance he gets.

Scott Chandler learned at an early age that he needed to "cowboy up" and take care of his family. The one time he let his guard down, his heart got trampled, and he's not about to let that happen again. He knows Sydney's type: rodeo queens who hide their manipulative ways behind good looks, tight jeans, and glittery tiaras.

But just as Scott and Sydney are finally realizing there might be more to their fiery relationship than scorching kisses and passionate nights, secrets from their pasts come back to haunt them. Will the cowboy and the Rodeo Queen ever be able to ride off into the sunset together?