Nate Grant knows that his eldest brother has the respect, his middle brother has the smarts, and he was left to fight for his own piece of the spotlight. Thus, began his daring, dangerous, and often a little bit crazy foray into the world of rodeo. Now, with his career on the rise, Nate is back in town to do a promotional show at the local Strawberry Festival to land himself a major sponsor. But … But when he arrives expecting to be welcomed as the hometown hero, he instead finds himself challenged by the only person who could ever make him shake in his boots: Athena Moore.
Athena grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Limited money for rodeo lessons or competitions meant that while she could best the boys, she couldn’t follow them to the big leagues. Watching Nate excel really lit a fire in her britches and after school she began training and teaching young girls rodeo skills. Winning against Nate at the upcoming Strawberry Festival will show the girls (and Athena) that they could do anything boys could—and do it better to boot.
But promoting the event means Nate and Athena are forced to spend time together. Too much time to keep their tumultuous feelings under wraps. Now, there’s a grudging respect to their relationship and a heavy dose of passion too. But as Nate and Athena get closer, their competition becomes public via a reality show. When the lines between promotion and passion are crossed, they’ll be forced to ask themselves what it is they’re fighting for…and what they’ll lose if they win.
This novel contains sexual content, profanity and scenes with substance abuse.
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Nate and Athena had known each other as children, but when they reconnect as adults, it becomes interesting. Both are involved in the rodeo and are in a reality TV show. That’s when the problems start. The story is good in that neither have ever had a serious relationship and mistakes from both create problems. Characters are strong, likable, and interesting. Good read!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Final Book in a First-Rate Series
The Cowboy’s Rodeo Rival – Grant Brothers Series, Book 3, By author Leslie North is about Nate, the youngest and last of the Grant Brothers. He’s home for a Rodeo and to smooch around with Athena the woman who is probably his equal but didn’t have the money to make it to the big Rodeo level. Secretly they both crush on each other. That issue makes for a lot of misunderstanding, edgy, tears, frustration, by both of them all the while a camera crew are following them around. The question is: Can they get out of their way to recognize they are in love? Will the PR people, Camera crew leave them alone?
This final story, like the previous two is well-written if a little more complicated in that more people (local and professionals) are involved and with their own agendas. But helping Nate Is his two brothers, Ian and Jonah who make pivotal appearances and try to help him with reality checks. Helping Athena is her best friend and Mother who gives a very wonderful and touching monologue.
Overall this is a sublime series. The author should feel very proud of her creating these brothers and the women who came to know them, love them and entered into a loving relationship without sacrificing their identity.
Definitely recommending this book and series for your reading enjoyment and pleasure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving this review for your consideration. Peace.
I loved Nate and Athena’s story. The final and younger brother gets his life and the three brothers finally have their life settled. The competition between Nate and Athena was great and and also a little suspenseful. I couldn’t put it down trying to finish quickly to find out what would happen. Another great story and series by Leslie North.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nate’s more than a little cocky. He’s earned it. He’s at the top of his game and he’s looking for ways to make sure he stays there. Athena’s been stuck in their hometown, working hard to make ends meet while trying to keep her rodeo dreams alive. When a promotional exhibition brings these two back into one another’s orbits, no one’s quite sure what the final outcome will be, just that it’s probably going to be explosive. Even though Nate carries a lot of the alpha-hole attitude, he’s fully aware of just how fragile his current celebrity status is. Making him vulnerable and oh so lovable because I adore a vulnerable hero. And when you give him a feisty partner who’s more than willing to call him on all his bad behaviour, I’m going to be a fan for life. Athena’s got lots of her own baggage to work through that causes some big misunderstandings between the pair. I really enjoyed watching them banter. They have so much chemistry, which made for some epic showdowns. I find that I’m not ready to let go of the extended Grant family now that it’s over.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
It was good but it lacked connection and passion. Athena and Nate used to be friends when they were kids but no more then that. Years later Nate comes back to his home town to compete again a local competitor that won a secret competition. But it’s mostly for his PR. But like the next day after he shows back up he kisses her and now he’s ‘hooked’. Now with a camera crew following them around for their ‘relationship’ and all but he pulls stunts behind her back and expects her to go along with it…. well!!!
I enjoyed reading this story .
It a well written with great characters .
Athena is the towns hometown rodeo
star . She hasn’t had an easy life . Nate is a Rodeo Star he comes home for a competition little does he know it is against Athena . Sparks fly both competitively and romantically . Which will win . I highly recommend reading this Delightful story .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The third of the Grant brothers is the one whose focus is on in this story and a girl named Athena. It is quite good but somehow not equal to the other previous ones. It feels as if something is amiss in this story. While reading it I felt there was missing some ingredient in the mix to make the story fuller, this was mostly in the second part of the book, even towards the last third that it felt a bit empty. Otherwise the storyline is quite good and the characters are also good, but there as in the story they felt not quite complete somehow. Still I enjoyed reading this story and liked the overall experience of it. But I must be honest about how I feel about what I am reading as I got this story as an Advanced Readers Copy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 stars. Nate is well known in the rodeo community and comes back to his hometown for a head-to-head competition with a local. He is also courting a sponsor. Athena is the hometown competitor who never got a chance to follow her dream of rodeo. Drama that presents more as show business PR more than anything else, he is used to the showmanship where she isn’t. Are they falling for each other? Will they start a feud? Nicely written and entertaining.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
I am voluntarily writing this review for this book I received through Booksprouts arc.
Nate was a rising rodeo star but was going back to his home town to do
a demonstration. He thought he would be the hero but he had been mistaken. They were going to have a mini rodeo and he was challenged by Athena who was a girl from the other side of the tracks which meant she had limited funds. Athena teaches budding rodeo girls and she knew that Nate was coming to ride in the mini rodeo. Athena and Nate will be doing a PR promotion though she wasn’t looking forward it. The were going to have a major rodeo competition next to the strawberry festival. Nate was looking how much Athena had grown and also how she could really be competition. Nate finds out that he will be going up againstthe darling of the town rodeo rider Athena. The press was there so Athena gave them little tidbits when Nate told the reporters that he will not lose the competition. While at the party a reporter showed up and started to question Nate. Athena got rid of the reporter really quickly and he gave them a snide remark. Athena was getting tired with all the camera crew being around all the time. Nate sets Athena with a competitive event but he didn’t tell her. She was so upset that she told him no way that she wanted to do things her own way. He called and had her removed from the competition which somewhat made him look like a flake. Things went from bad to worse things were said that could not be reversed. Twists, turns and competition makes this an exciting read.
Nate and Athena are so sweet! Between the rivalry they have and the chemistry, I couldn’t put it down.This is a great series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.