Tina Leonard

Good book, though a little confusing at times. Mayor Judy of Hell, Texas, has big plans for her little town. It is heavy on the male side of the equation and hide-bound in its traditions. So, she hires three young women to be her "team" - train to be bullfighters and be the stars of the rodeo she wants the town to host. She plans to get the men of the Outlaw Training Center to train the women, but Trace, Saint, and Declan prove to be more resistant to the idea than she planned.

Ava has dreams of becoming a bullfighter. The only girl with five brothers, she was devastated when her brother Liam was injured because a bullfighter didn't do his job. She intends to do her best so that no other sister would suffer the same pain. She arrives in Hell with her teammates Harper and Cameron, only to discover that Judy has somewhat misled them.

Trace and his former SEAL brothers came home after their time in the military, looking forward to the peace of doing the work they love. They enjoy their free, bachelor ways and do their best to stay clear of Mayor Judy's hair-brained ideas. The arrival of the Hell Belles blindsides all three. Trace is the leader who considers all the risks before making a decision and refuses to consider training the team. There is a lot of push and pull between Trace, the mayor, and the team, as each tries to get their way.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Trace and Ava develop. The sparks between them are out of control from the very beginning. Trace is old-fashioned and believes there is an uncrossable line between men and women regarding rodeo. He is also very protective, which comes out when he thinks about Ava in the ring with bulls. Neither Trace nor Ava is looking for a relationship. Trace keeps his interactions superficial, while Ava is too focused on her goals to want the distraction. But keeping their hands off each other is nearly impossible and reconciling their attraction with their goals is an ongoing battle. Both Trace and Ava are stubborn to a fault, and admitting their feelings is something neither is willing to do.

When push comes to shove, Trace can't give in to Ava's desire for training or admit that he needs her. Ava gives up on getting through to him and goes elsewhere for her training, believing there is no future for them. Trace earned every bit of the misery he felt after she left town. It took drastic action by Saint and Declan to finally get through his thick head. I liked the ending and seeing them finally get what they both wanted.

There is lots of other stuff going on in Hell also. Judy has an ongoing feud with another woman, and Judy's man Steele, the sheriff, often gets caught in the middle. It also becomes evident that Judy has more than rodeo on her mind as she sets her matchmaking plans in motion. The other two Belles are intended for Saint and Declan, and it is interesting to see the beginnings of their relationships. The Outlaws' rivals, the Horsemen, also play a significant role in the book, most notably as the ones who should not be training anyone. In one scene, the Horsemen pull a dangerous trick that could have gone horribly wrong and feel no remorse over it. I cheered at Trace's reaction and what he did. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the following books.… (mehr)

Last of the Red-Hot Riders was fun, sexy, entertaining escapism. Cameron was a woman after my own heart. She knew what she wanted, knew what she had to do to get it and gave her all in whatever she did. Saint came across as a sexist jerk but I feel that he did respect the fact that Cameron was rough and tough, she could handle whatever he threw her way. That's probably what ultimately attracted him to her. In order to fulfill her dreams and secure her future Cameron would give her all and if she managed to fall for a reforming jerk- So be it. Enjoyable story, with a cute twist of anything you can do I can do to. Loved it. I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.… (mehr)

Family of a Bull Rider is an emotional story. Jack has been estranged from his jerk of a father for years when he is summoned home. His father's health is failing. Jack now has to figure out if he should help his father or leave the stress behind. Helping him along the way is Cricket, a local deacon who has always had feelings for Jack. But when an unexpected pregnancy happens will Jack be able to leave behind the rodeo life and be a better father than his own ever was? A heartbreaking story to read at times and a frustrating one because of the stubborn personalities of the main characters. Still I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading Tina Leonard. Received this book for an honest review.… (mehr)

Heart of a Bull Rider is about so much more than the standard love story. Tina Leonard allows us into the world of not only the citizens of fictional No Chance. She allows us to experience first hand the reunion of brothers John and Jake. Neither has known the other ever existed. Opposites John is a wealthy billionaire intent on making changes to the hometown and rodeo of Jake who is a bull rider. These two now not only have to build a relationship with each other but they also each have their hearts set on local hometown girls. They also have to find answers to why they were separated in the first place. A unique story about coming home to a place that you never knew you left and finding out who you really are. Great book with a beautiful message. Received this book for an honest review.… (mehr)