HEART OF A BULL RIDER was first published as THE TEXAS TWINS in 2009, but you may want to add this copy because you'll love the cover, which carries a photo of a genuine professional bull rider as part of a deal with the publisher. If, like me, you hadn't read the earlier edition, you are in for a treat.

John Carruth is a self-made man who knows how to make money, and he works to convince the No Chance town representative Chloe Winters that a name change for the local rodeo is no big deal, as part of his sponsorship. He's got a hidden agenda - he can buy land cheaply here and build a huge hospitality venue. Of course, he'll profit, but he'll also give employment. The neighbouring town of Farmbluff is setting up a competing rodeo and tensions are running high. Chloe works hard to keep a lid on the problems. Some relaxation wouldn't hurt but she's not keen on a date with John. He's too magnetic, and he's an outsider. And like any good barrel-rider, her heart is given to her horse. Then a possible link between John and the townsfolk is revealed.

The second half focuses on Jake Fitzgerald, a determined bull rider, and Erin O'Donovan, the doctor who patches up riders after falls in the ring. Erin has a clinic in town but Jake travels around all the rodeos, sometimes away for a month. There's no point in wishful thinking. The two towns' rivalry is getting out of hand, which could endanger people at the rodeo. When someone tries to kidnap Erin, Jake suddenly feels protective.

I liked aspects of the deftly woven story, but the rivalries get quite complex and there's far more conversation about economics or relationships than time with animals. We don't see a lot of actual rodeo or landscape. We do get a good understanding of the sensitivities of small town Texas and the pride felt by people who don't wish to change. I found the second romance more convincing, with a really genuine hero and a strong heroine. HEART OF A BULL RIDER by Tina Leonard shows various aspects of running and competing in a rodeo which are fun to read.

Book Summary