4.5 stars

A Cowboy's Claim by Marin Thomas is a captivating novel of redemption, forgiveness and letting go of past mistakes. This third installment in the delightful Cowboys of the Rio Grande series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.

A fateful decision years earlier forever changed not only Victor "Vic" Vicario's life, but his best friend Cruz Rivera's as well. Although he never planned on a rodeo career, Vic is convinced he will find forgiveness and redemption once he wins the saddle bronc championship at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. While he has been a contestant at the NFR several times in the past, he has not yet won the gold buckle, but after a strong beginning to the new season, Vic knows he stands a good chance of winning this year. The last thing he needs are complications taking his attention away from his goal but when he learns his four year old nephew Alex needs a temporary guardian, he agrees to care for him until other arrangements can be made. Needing help caring for the young boy, Vic makes barrel racer Tanya McGee an offer she cannot refuse: in exchange for watching Alex during competition, he will pay her expenses so she can remain on the circuit. The mutually beneficial arrangement soon becomes complicated when their simmering attraction becomes impossible to resist and Tanya begins yearning for more than friendship with Vic.

Vic is a loner by choice and while his lack of friendship has never bothered him in the past, once he becomes friendly with Tanya, loneliness begins to creep in. Just before he learns about Alex's predicament, their unexpected friendship leads to a passionate night together. Not wanting her to learn about his sordid past, Vic leaves without explanation and for a short time afterwards, their paths do not cross as they compete at different rodeos. Understandably hurt and angry, Tanya is not exactly welcoming when they meet again, but Vic is quick to apologize for the way he left things and they are soon back on friendly terms. Tanya agrees to help him with Alex in the short term but will she agree to stay with them once her circumstances change?

Following a divorce and a long recovery from a devastating injury, Tanya has returned to the circuit for one final season. Despite her over protective parents' concerns, she is determined to continue competing as long as she can. With a temperamental horse, Tanya has been struggling to win enough events to pay for travel expenses and entry season for the remainder of the season. When her money runs out, she accepts Vic's offer despite her strong reservations about becoming overly involved with him and Alex.

As the months pass, Vic grows increasingly attached to both Alex and Tanya, but he cannot give up his quest for the gold buckle that will provide him the absolution and forgiveness he so desperately needs. Although he has forged a successful career as a saddle bronc rider, no one realizes guilt has been driving him to win. Unwilling (and unable) to reveal his dysfunctional past, Tanya cannot understand why winning is more important to him than giving Alex a stable (and permanent) home. Can he forgive himself for that long ago mistake that altered so many lives? Will Vic make peace with his past in order to find happiness?

A Cowboy's Claim by Marin Thomas is a sweet and endearing romance with an engaging cast of characters and a compelling storyline. Vic has realistic issues to overcome and his healing journey is poignant. Seeing him finally move past the demons that have haunted him for so long is incredibly uplifting and emotionally satisfying. This last installment in the Cowboys of the Rio Grande series is a heartwarming finale that old and new fans are sure to love. ( )

Very good book. I have been waiting for my chance to read Vic's story and it did not disappoint. Vic is one of three friends who grew up in the barios of Albuquerque. All of them had rotten childhoods, but Vic wears the scars of his on the outside. These days he is a rodeo bronc rider, doing his best to make it to the Finals in Vegas. He has a goal to win, and until he does there is no room in his life for anything else. Then he gets a call that his four year old nephew needs him. He's never met the boy, but he can't ignore him. So he takes Alex on the road with him, not realizing the challenges he will face.

Tanya is a barrel racer putting in her last season of competition. Her previous season ended when she was in an accident that took her a year to recover from. She wants to end on a high note, but she is having issues with her horse and is almost out of resources to continue. A chance encounter with Vic has him offering to help her continue competing if she will help him take care of Alex.

There were times in this book, and throughout the series, that I thought Vic was really selfish. It was his actions that got his friend Cruz sent to prison (A Cowboy's Redemption). He also avoided his old friends and ignored their attempts to reconnect with him. In this book, his quest to make the Finals seemed to come before everything else, including proper care of Alex. Instead, he takes the boy on the road with him, spending long hours on the road, staying in different towns and cheap motels every night. But partway through the book, his motivation is finally revealed, and I felt much more sympathetic toward him. I also loved how devoted he was to helping Alex. The boy had had a very traumatic life so far, and Vic is determined to make it better. Because of his own past he has a greater understanding of his nephew and his problems. I loved his patience in helping Alex overcome his fears.

His relationship with Tanya was a complicated one. He doesn't do relationships because of his intense focus. But from the moment he met her, he hasn't been able to get her off his mind. A hookup with her right before he found out about Alex scared him with the way he connected with her. He knows he should avoid her because of the distraction, but she's also the only one he is willing to trust with Alex's welfare. As he offers her a deal, he hopes he can keep his mind on his goal. It doesn't take long before their partnership starts to show results in Alex's behavior. But Vic can't allow himself to think of a future with Tanya and Alex when he doesn't know how or when his quest is going to end.

Tanya finds it very easy to fall for both Alex and Vic. In spite of his fearsome appearance and reputation, she sees the good in Vic. She would like nothing better than a future with both of them, but she's been burned once before. She's not so sure she can trust him with her heart, but she can't stop herself from giving it to him anyway. I loved how she got him to open up to her about his past, his motivations, and his hopes for Alex. Her support of him and his goals was just what he needed.

I loved the ending as everyone came together at the Finals in Vegas. I was just as nervous as Vic and Tanya as I waited to see how the competition would go. The scene under the bleachers between Vic and Cruz was heartfelt and incredibly moving. The emotion was intense, with just the right bit of lightness added to keep it from being too much. The icing on the cake was the follow on scene between Vic and Tanya. I loved her reaction to his question, which just showed that she had no trouble going after what she wanted. I see great things for him now that he has been able to let go of the past. ( )

I am a sucker for a cowboy. Although Victor is charming and great with his nephew, Alex, I was not feeling the spicy chemistry between him and Tanya. For example the first time that they slept together, I had no reacts and just kept reading. Despite me not feeling the sizzle, I did think this was a sweet read. Alex is a cute boy. He warmed my heart and I could not help but fall in love with him. He just goes to show that you can say a lot even without words. The rodeo scenes were good too. For anyone who is not familiar with the rodeo or barrel racing will get a taste of what that experience is like with the scenes from this book. ( )