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Beauty and the
Bull Rider
Hotel Rodeo #3
Hotel Rodeo #3
By: Victoria Vane
Releasing March
15, 2016
Lyrical Shine
Lyrical Shine
When Beauty Wants
A Baby
Championship bull
breeder and former Texas beauty queen Delaney McCall was having a heck of a
time finding a daddy for the baby she craved. A failed marriage left her with
no desire for another husband, but finding the right stud to satisfy her needs
presents a bigger problem that she could have imagined.
And The Bullrider
Wants Beauty
After hanging up
his spurs, bull rider Zac McDaniel wants nothing more than to fulfill Delaney's
dream of having a family. After all, his best friend's ex has been his fantasy
for years. Zac, however, has no desire to be seen as just a means to an end.
And when Zac insists on doing things the "old fashioned" way, their
passion explodes like a bull out of the chute…
Some Bucking Is
Bound To Happen
While insisting
it's all just a passing fancy, the more Delaney sees the softer side of the
rough and tumble cowboy, the harder it is to keep her emotions corralled. Zac,
meanwhile, is more determined than ever to prove he's what she really needs,
and will do whatever it takes to tear down the mile high fence around her
heart…
Zac choked on his
drink. “What the fuck did you say?”
“You heard me right.”
His chest tightened.
“Are you saying she wants to get back together?”
“Hell no!” Ty laughed.
“She wants a kid but doesn’t want another husband. It’s that whole bio-clock
thing that seems to have pushed her over the edge. She even tried to bribe me
with an interest-free loan in lieu of a stud fee.”
Was she still carrying
a torch for Ty? There was that worm again. Zac’s gut twisted at the thought of
Ty and Delaney together. “Why the hell would she do that?”
“’Cause she’s out of
her ever-lovin’ mind. Gotta be one of those hormonal things.”
“Why you?” Zac asked.
Ty shrugged. “Beats the
hell outta me.”
“You gonna oblige her?”
Zac asked, keeping his voice slow and his gaze on his empty glass.
“Shit no! If I ever
father a kid, I’m gonna be there to raise him up right.”
“There’s gotta be
plenty of other men who’d be happy to help her out. Hell, they’d probably line
up for miles.” And I’d be the first to buy a ticket.
Zac signaled Gabby for
another drink.
Ty gave a dry laugh.
“Delaney might be a lot of things, but easy ain’t one of ’em.’ ” He sat back,
appraising Zac. “You did better than me in school. What’s your IQ?”
“I dunno. Hundred
twenty-eight maybe.”
“Beats mine by at least
five.” He was still regarding Zac as if he were a bull on the auction block.
“What the hell are you
looking at?” Zac snapped.
“You, Zac. Just
wondering what kinda breeder you’d be. She says she wants above-average IQ,
tall, and athletic. Seems to me you got that part in spades. I’m just wondering
if it’ll offset your lack of looks and nonexistent sense of humor.”
“Fuck you, Ty.” Zac
snatched up the glass Gabby slid in front of him.
“I’m serious. You need
money. Maybe you should volunteer?”
Zac met his gaze. “And
what if I decided to do just that?”
“Hell, Zac,” Ty
laughed. “I’d consider it a personal favor. I’d even buy your damned ticket to
Oklahoma. Come to think on it . . . how’s that hand?”
Zac set down his drink
and held it up. His fingers were purple and sausage-like. “Fucked up, but I
don’t think anything’s broken. Why?”
“There’s a good chance
I’m going to need a new ranch foreman.”
“Wait a minute,” Zac
said. “Isn’t that Delaney’s domain now?”
“It’s not Delaney’s
place I’m talking about. It’s Tom’s. Or rather, mine now.”
“Yours? So Tom left you
the Circle B? What are you looking to do with the place?” Zac asked, trying not
to betray his intense interest. Ty had not only offered him a new start doing
what he knew best, he’d also given him a second chance with Delaney.
“I want to expand the
operation and get back to where I started.”
“Contracting, Ty?
Thought you moved out here to get out of it.”
“I did, initially,” Ty
said, “but things have changed. My plans have changed. If things work out for
this hotel as I hope they do, I’m going to need bucking stock. I figure some of
’em might as well be mine.”
“What about ol’ Bart?
Doesn’t he run the place?”
“He’s ’bout ready to
retire. I’d be happy to leave him in charge of the beef operation, but I need
someone who knows how to handle a rank bull. If you’re ready to hang up your
bull spurs, the job’s yours.”
“I’d like more than
just a paycheck, Ty. I’m thinking about my future too, and right now it ain’t
lookin’ so bright. My place needs too much work. It’ll take every cent I just
won just to get it back in operational shape. If you’re looking to contract
again, I’d be willing to sell out and invest as your partner.”
“You would?” Ty asked
with surprise.
“Damn straight. Bulls
are what I love, Ty, but at this stage in the game, I’d be content to flank
instead of ride.”
“Hell, Zac. I don’t
know what to say. I’d be honored to take you on as a partner.”
Zac’s eyes held Ty’s as
he slowly drained his whiskey. Setting the shot glass down, he offered his hand
with a smile. “I think you just made me an offer I can’t refuse.”
I was really looking forward to Zac and Delaney's story after reading the first two books. I was expecting to not like Delaney very much, but I was pleasantly surprised by her. She's never really been taken seriously, but she has worked her ass off to make a success of the ranch and is now starting a breeding program for bucking stock. She seems to have it all, except for the one thing she has always longed for - a family. Zac is the strong and silent type and once he makes up his mind to finally do something about his feelings for Delaney, nothing will get in his way until he gets Delany to commit to forever with him. I enjoyed the way Delaney slowly changed her mind about wanting a strictly business arrangement with Zac to wanting a relationship and all it entails. My only complaint is that it all happened really fast. I would have preferred if there would have been a longer period of time for them to fully develop the relationship.
I received an ARC via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
Victoria Vane is an award winning author of smart and sexy romance.
Her collective works of fiction range from historical to contemporary settings
and include everything from wild comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic
romance. Victoria is the founder of the Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction
Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blogs.
Thank you for hosting and reviewing BEAUTY AND THE BULL RIDER today!
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