RISKING HER HEART
Sloane Hartley is deeply rooted to her family's ranch in Blue Falls, Texas. So she isn't about to risk falling for a tempting tumbleweed like Jason Till. To Sloane, Jason is a handsome heartbreak waiting to happen. Like all rodeo cowboys. If she ever let herself love again, she certainly wouldn't pick someone like him!
Jason only has eyes for one prize -- the steer-wrestling championship. And he can't afford any distractions. Certainly not a blonde beauty with trust issues like Sloane. She represents everything a cowboy on the circuit can't have anyway -- home, family, a real relationship. Everything he thought he didn't need. But when he's with Sloane, Jason can't remember why winning at the rodeo seemed so important…
Good book. Jason is a steer-wrestler, determined to make it back to the National Finals. He plans to keep his eye on the prize and not let himself get distracted by a pretty face. But from the moment he saw her at the Blue Falls fairgrounds, Jason couldn't keep Sloane off his mind. Sloane has spent most of her life in Blue Falls and her roots are buried deep. Tempting though he is, Jason isn't the type to stick around.
I loved the development of Jason and Sloane's relationship. From the moment they met, they were drawn to each other. I loved Jason's determination to get to know Sloane better, even though he knows he may be asking for trouble. I liked him from the moment he started interacting with the kids at the rodeo. Maybe it's because he seems to have a little bit of kid still in himself, but he had no trouble talking to them. He further won my heart when he showed up at the ranch the next day to spend more time with them. He also opened up a soft spot in Sloane's heart because of the kindness he showed the kids.
Sloane showed a fair amount of resistance to Jason's overtures. She had been burned a couple of times by men who didn't stick around, so she is determined to protect her heart. She also doesn't want to deal with her mother's blatant matchmaking. Sloane experiences some pretty intense conflicts as her heart wants to say yes to spending time with Jason, but her mind continues to tell her it's a bad idea.
I liked their first "date" as it was a pretty laid back, simple dinner and walk. Jason does push a little when he kisses her but backs off when he realizes that she's about to run. I liked Jason's persistence as he worked to stay in touch with Sloane while he traveled from rodeo to rodeo. I liked the way that he slowly wore her down until he could get back to Texas. Their zoo date was really sweet and romantic. I liked the way that Sloane was comfortable enough with Jason that she told him about her childhood, though it also freaked her out that she did.
I did get a little frustrated with Sloane when she would blow hot and cold with Jason. Things would go along well, then something would scare her and she would pull back. I really wanted to shake her until she would see that he wasn't like the other men she'd been with. I did love Sloane's dedication to her camps for at-risk kids. It's easy to see how deeply she feels about the work she does. When Sloane gets news/a request that turns her life upside down, she doesn't hesitate to dive in. I loved the support that she got from both Jason and her family.
Jason wasn't perfect either. It takes him a while to realize that he has stayed on the rodeo circuit more because of expectations than any real drive. However, he is also not a quitter, and I liked seeing him continue to push himself to meet his goal. He's hurt and upset when Sloane pushes him away the last time, but he doesn't give up on her.
Both Sloane and Jason have to come to terms with their motivations before they can contemplate a life together. I liked the way that Jason's parents and sister helped him see where his heart really was. Sloane was a harder nut to crack, and it took some blunt talk from her sister and her mother for her to see that she was letting her past rule her future. I loved her big moment at the end as she took a chance and put her heart on the line.
I loved the kids that Sloane had at her ranch and the rodeo. Their stories broke my heart, and I loved how determined Sloane and her family were to give them a good time. I loved how each of them tugged at Jason's heart and how he responded to them. I loved the depth of Jason's support of Sloane's dream and the surprise he had for her at the end.
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