The Bull Rider's Return
The 79th Cooper Mountain Rodeo #2
By Joan Kilby
Tule Publishing
Contemporary Romance
Tule Publishing
Contemporary Romance
Blurb
No good deed goes unpunished…
Rough rider Cody Starr relishes his reputation
as the bad boy on the rodeo circuit. When he impulsively leaves his prize money
as a tip for a struggling waitress so her little boy can get a heart operation,
Cody keeps quiet about it, knowing he’s only atoning for past sins. His good
deed is outed when Kelly Reid drives across three states to thank him in
person. Despite the fact that Kelly forces him to confront his past and
question everything, Cody starts to fall hard for her.
Single mom Kelly Reid thinks Cody is a Hero
with a capital H. She believes in Cody, but she knows that nothing long term
can come of their intense attraction until he believes in himself. Is Cody the
love ‘em and leave ‘em guy he claims to be or could he possibly be the man of
her dreams?
Purchase Links
In The Bull Rider's Return (79th Cooper Mountain Rodeo #2) by Joan Kilby, Kelly Reid is a hard-working mother that has been doing everything she can to save money so her little boy can have a heart operation. However, she never imagined she'd meet someone willing to help her until Cody Starr hands her his prize money in order to help her son. Yet, when Kelly finally gets the chance to thank Cody for his generosity, she discovers there's more to the man than what he shows the world. Will Kelly be able to show Cody that love is a good thing or will she walk away from the man she's fallen in love with?
I've read a few of Ms. Kilby's books and really enjoy her writing and I've got to say that this story was another entertaining and wonderful read due to the fascinating main characters and their back stories. The way this story started had me liking the main characters immediately, as Kelly is a good mom and doesn't deserve what happens to her when it comes to her job. Luckily, she has a knight in shining armor in Cody, even though he's a man that has quite the reputation. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face again after what the hero does where this story really takes off, as Kelly being back in Cody's life makes things interesting for him. Will he be able to handle the attention his selfless act brings him?
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and entertaining due to the growing relationship between this pair and the growing bond between the hero and heroine's son. Then again, for the first time, her son has a future and she owes it all to Cody. Will he accept her thanks? Moreover, both the main characters were relatable, likeable and I couldn't get enough of Cody because there's more to him than his reputation. Will his family see what Kelly sees in him?
With the main characters, the heroine is strong, brave, a good mother and I liked how determined she was to show the hero her gratitude because her son means everything to her. I also liked how she changes the hero's life for the better. While the hero, he's confident; charming; a good guy, even though he doesn't always show that side to everyone; and I liked how he helps the heroine to see that she needs to let her son do everything he can to be a normal boy now that he's healthy.
Overall, Ms. Kilby has delivered a wonderful read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was intense; the secondary characters entertained me just as much as the main ones because they care about Cody and want to see him finally settle down; the romance was nicely-detailed and had me liking that these two took a chance on each other; and the ending left me with a smile because of the decision the hero makes about his future and his determination to win Kelly back. I would recommend The Bull Rider's Return by Joan Kilby, if you enjoy the mysterious strangers trope or books by authors Jeannie Watt, Sarah Mayberry, Sinclair Jayne and Heidi Rice.
Excerpt
Ricky tugged on his mom’s arm. “Give Cody his present.”
“All right.” Kelly wiped her fingers carefully and moved the soiled food containers out of the way. Then she reached into her tote bag and took out a folded article of clothing wrapped in tissue paper. “I hope it fits. I had to guess at your size.”
“It’s a lucky vest for you to wear when you’re bull riding,” Ricky spilled the beans excitedly. “Mom made it to match your chaps, didn’t you, Mom?”
“Yes, but Ricky, you know he has to wear a protective padded vest when he’s riding, right?” She glanced at Cody. “Usually he’s telling me how rodeo works.”
“I forgot.” Ricky’s small shoulders slumped. “If you can’t wear it riding, it won’t bring you luck.”
“Just owning it will do that, little dude,” Cody said. He held up the tailored black leather vest. The western-style yoke was trimmed in black snakeskin and the front closing studded with buffalo and Indian head buttons. All hand stitched from the looks of it. He ran a hand over the soft leather. No one had ever made him anything like this before.
“Thank you,” he said, incredibly touched. “I don’t know what to say. This vest is so special I’ll save it to wear for good.”
“I know it doesn’t begin to repay—” Kelly began.
Finally they were getting to the crux of her visit. Cody was shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “That money I gave you was a gift, no strings, no expectations. Seeing Ricky looking so healthy is payment enough.”
Seeing her looking beautiful and carefree was a bonus.
“Well, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m not sure I said that at the time.” Her cheeks pink, she gestured to the vest. “Try it on.”
He pulled the vest on over his chambray shirt and buttoned it up. “It fits like a glove.”
“Perfect,” Kelly agreed happily. “I’m so glad.”
“Honestly, you didn’t have to,” Cody said.
“Neither did you.” Her smile was so sweet it pierced his heart.
“All right.” Kelly wiped her fingers carefully and moved the soiled food containers out of the way. Then she reached into her tote bag and took out a folded article of clothing wrapped in tissue paper. “I hope it fits. I had to guess at your size.”
“It’s a lucky vest for you to wear when you’re bull riding,” Ricky spilled the beans excitedly. “Mom made it to match your chaps, didn’t you, Mom?”
“Yes, but Ricky, you know he has to wear a protective padded vest when he’s riding, right?” She glanced at Cody. “Usually he’s telling me how rodeo works.”
“I forgot.” Ricky’s small shoulders slumped. “If you can’t wear it riding, it won’t bring you luck.”
“Just owning it will do that, little dude,” Cody said. He held up the tailored black leather vest. The western-style yoke was trimmed in black snakeskin and the front closing studded with buffalo and Indian head buttons. All hand stitched from the looks of it. He ran a hand over the soft leather. No one had ever made him anything like this before.
“Thank you,” he said, incredibly touched. “I don’t know what to say. This vest is so special I’ll save it to wear for good.”
“I know it doesn’t begin to repay—” Kelly began.
Finally they were getting to the crux of her visit. Cody was shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “That money I gave you was a gift, no strings, no expectations. Seeing Ricky looking so healthy is payment enough.”
Seeing her looking beautiful and carefree was a bonus.
“Well, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m not sure I said that at the time.” Her cheeks pink, she gestured to the vest. “Try it on.”
He pulled the vest on over his chambray shirt and buttoned it up. “It fits like a glove.”
“Perfect,” Kelly agreed happily. “I’m so glad.”
“Honestly, you didn’t have to,” Cody said.
“Neither did you.” Her smile was so sweet it pierced his heart.
Author Bio
Award-winning author Joan Kilby writes sweet, sexy
contemporary romance with a touch of humor. When she’s not working on a new
book Joan can often be found at her local gym doing yoga or being dragged
around the neighborhood by her Jack “Rascal” terrier. Her hobbies are growing
vegetables, cooking, traveling and reading--not necessarily in that order.
Happily married with three children, Joan lives in Melbourne, Australia. She
loves to hear from readers so feel free to drop her a line. For contact details
and more info on Joan’s books, go to www.joankilby.com.
Author Links
No comments:
Post a Comment