Her passion for her job… …could cost him everything Former rodeo champion Jace Hendricks has six weeks to turn his run-down ranch around or he could lose custody of his nieces and nephew. But biologist Vivian Reed has to survey his land first–and she won’t be rushed. Vivian’s optimism and wonder start to win over the kids…and even Jace. But with all that’s at stake, can he risk getting … can he risk getting any more involved with Vivian?
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AFTER THE RODEO is book two of Claire McEwen’s Heroes Of Shelter Creek series and it is about an ex-rodeo champion Jace Hendricks who is pressured to turn his rundown ranch into a home for his niece and nephew or he’ll lose custody of them, but the Tule elks make themselves at home on his land. Their presence brings wildlife biologist Vivian Reed to the scene. Her optimism and wonder start to win over the kids, including Jace. But with all that’s at stake, can he risk getting any more involved with Vivian? AFTER THE RODEO is a delightful story involving kids, a ranch, elks, and a frustrated but desperate cowboy. Claire McEwen writes the importance of coexisting with the wildlife through the eyes of Vivian as she teaches the kids, and yes, even Jace. I received this complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This is Book 2 of Claire McEwen’s Heroes of Shelter Creek series. Jace Hendricks had to quit the rodeo circuit because he has to take care of his sister Brenda’s kids who was sent to jail for commiting a felony. After Jace buys a ranch inhabited by elk to raise cattle to support himself and his nieces and nephew. He meets Vivian Reed who was sent to survey his property to assess the wildlife on his ranch. Jace and Vivian find love and romance but will their love last. I really enjoyed reading this contemporary Western romance novel. I received this free book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I won a copy of this book from the author, I was not required to give a favorable review. This was the second book in the series and it was wonderful how characters from the first story show up in this story. But what I loved about this book was a uncle who had been single for so long, being a rodeo star give it all up when he found out his 2 nieces and his nephew needed him. He bought a ranch that he could afford in his home town and is trying to make a go of it. Between dealing with fixing up the house, the barns and fencing, he is having to work with a social worker, and to through a wrench in the works a community group is now giving him grief about where is wants to keep his cattle cutting off access to Elk. Jace helped his friend Caleb in the last book, now it’s going to being help from the community and a beautiful biologist named Vivian who will help him this time. She will help him to understand the kids more and Caleb and Maya will help get the ranch in order with help from the community. I can’t wait to read the next one. I bet it will tell what happens with Trisha.
I originally saw the promo video for this story and was so intrigued I bought the book. I am so glad I did! Now I am hooked and must read the rest of the titles in this series. This is a heartwarming love story that brings to light the seriousness of Lupus and the struggles families face when drugs and crime take over. Jace steps up to foster his sister’s children after she is incarcerated. He must give up the rodeo and make a home out of a dilapidated ranch. Vivian, a biologist, struggles to face the reality of her illness. Jace is sure Vivian is the woman for him. He just has to convince her. The two work together to become a family and help 3 adorable children overcome abandonment issues of their own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful story. I was thoroughly enchanted with Jace Hendricks and Vivian Reed. Jace is a former bull rider. He is forced to leave the rodeo circuit when his sister is convicted and sentenced to prison. He now has custody of his two nieces and a nephew. Jace is struggling to make the career switch to rancher on a beautiful piece of land. Unfortunately tule elk are thwarting his plans. A wildlife biologist is called in to do a study on this piece of land in relation to the elk. Vivian is the biologist that conducts the study as Maya is called away for another emergency. Vivian has come to California after her fiance dumps her on their wedding day as she has a chronic autoimmune disease and he can’t cope with her condition.
Seeing Jace overcome many obstacles and grow into a loving, caring man is a joy. Vivian on the other hand struggles with her condition. She wants to be independent and not get into the same type of situation with Jace as she had with her former fiance. She took care of him and took on his struggles to the detriment of her health. As these two come together, the journey is a one that charm you.
This story is written in a dual POV format. It is my favorite. Getting that glimpse into the characters’ thoughts really helps me to connect with them so much better. It really bring the story to life. It is almost like being right there in the scenes with them like a movie.
If you like a sweet, clean romance, then this is one for you. I highly recommend it to anyone.
What a beautiful story about love and becoming a true family. Jace Hendricks is a strong, sexy cowboy who used to be on the rodeo circuit but now he is trying to raise his sister’s three children. I enjoyed how Jace grew as a character and in his role as a parent. It was nice seeing him give up his anger and move on to become the man he needed to be for himself and the children.
I also liked Vivian Reed, who left New Hampshire for a new job in Shelter Creek, California. She needed to start over and come to terms with who she is and what she wants. I enjoyed the relationship Jace and Vivian eventually developed and I really enjoyed their banter.
Mrs. Sherman, the social worker, seemed really intimidating and scary too and made me feel so sorry for Jace and the demands she had presented him. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
I absolutely loved returning to the small town of Shelter Creek! Jace and Vivian’s story is a heart warming, romantic, feel good story. I loved these two together and the interaction between them. Jace just makes you fall in love with him more with every page and Vivian’s strength and character makes you root for her the entire story. After The Rodeo is a such a wonderful story and I highly recommend the series. I cannot wait to return to Shelter Creek again!
4 1/2 STARS!
AFTER THE RODEO is book two of Claire McEwen’s Heroes of Shelter Creek series and centers on a former rodeo champ turned rancher and a wildlife biologist in a heartwarming enemies to lovers story.
Jace and his predicament of needing a stable home for his nieces and nephews is quick to catch the readers attention and sympathy. He’s on a deadline to get his new home in order for these kids or he could lose them. Things would be going smoothly if it wasn’t for the wildlife study being demanded by the town.
Vivian isn’t sure why stepping back a minute and reevaluating part of his land is such a big deal to Jace, but she’s got a job to do and she’s going to do it. Falling for Jace and his kids wasn’t part of the plan, but just try telling her heart that.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a sweet romance filled with family drama and adorable cuteness. You can’t go wrong in picking up any book in this series so far, and I’m highly anticipating more to come!
Author Claire McEwen returns readers to beautiful Northern California with “After the Rodeo”, Book 2 in her contemporary western romance series, “Heroes of Shelter Creek”. Jace Hendricks had spent a decade building a career on the rodeo circuit, and a winning streak had raised his hopes for a championship. His dreams were shattered by a phone call from Social Services advising him that his sister Brenda had been convicted of felony charges and was facing twenty years in prison. Jace’s memories of a turbulent childhood and guilt over not staying in touch with his sister spurred him to give up the rodeo in order to take custody of Brenda’s three children. With just enough money to buy a run-down ranch to make a home for himself and the children, he planned to raise cattle as a means of income to keep them all together. As if becoming an instant father–an unsettling occurrence for him and the children–was not enough, he also had to deal with a persistent social worker and a group of citizens devoted to wildlife protection. He had unknowingly bought land that was a prime elk habitat, and the fence he had built to keep cattle in would keep the elk out. Complicating matters even further is the arrival of biologist Vivian Reed, who must survey the property and assess the wildlife situation. Vivian, who is dealing with personal health issues and a heartache of her own, nonetheless has a caring persona which touches the heart of Jace and the children. With only a short time to make all matters right, can Jace and Vivian find a way to keep home and family together and look forward to a bright and happy future filled with love? “After the Rodeo” is a wonderfully-written story for lovers of contemporary western romance.
Book Copy Gratis Author
This is the 2nd book in the new “Heroes of Shelter Creek ” If you read the first one about Maya and Caleb your going to love this one even more. It has the Biddies and Habitat hero’s from the first book
also helping our new H & H –Jace Hendricks, a up and coming rodeo champion, and Vivian Reed
a biologist, from the East Coast looking for a fresh start. She was dumped on her wedding day by
her ex-boyfriend when he found out she has lupus. He tells her he can’t take care of anyone sick as he is too busy with the career she helped build !! Jerk..
Jaces had a fast moving career, always on the move life style which changes with one phone call from Social Services telling him his sister is in prison for drugs. They are calling to let him know her three kids are being put in Foster Care and likely will be adopted out to different families. Jace doesn’t even blink before he tells them he will the kids. Jace has no idea how to parent kids, as his father was the town drunk a mean and nasty person. His mother just tired to not make him mad, and left as soon as he died. Not worrying about either him or his sister. He picks up the kids and heads back to his home town, not knowing where else to go. He uses all of his winning to buy some land and house. He plans on becoming a rancher so he can be close to the kids and still make enough for raise them. Mrs Sherman is the social working who is the deciding factor for him being able to adopt the kids. She doesn’t like the run down ranch, or just about anything he does.
Just when he thinks nothing else can go wrong, protesters show up to save the Tule Elk who where running wild on his best grazing land till he fenced it off.
Vivian Reed has come to town to work with Maya and will be the one to decide if the Tule Elk on Jace’s are endanger and he has to let then use his land. He gives her a hard time when she tries to work with and is
rude to her. While she is watching the elk she also finds a nearly extinct salamander too. Every time they meet he is always yelling at her as if all his problems are her fault till she tells him off. He is taken back till he see she is right and then he is ashamed for taking his bad luck out on her. This is where they really start to see each other different.
Learning how these two work their problems out and what happens to the kids is just great.
There will be tears, sorrow, along with laugh out loud shouts, your going to love it.
I received and ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion. I hope you give this series a try they are
wonderful stories about real people who have problems and found their HEA. These are clean romance
with suspense, and lots of twist and turns. Enjoy I can’t wait for book 3 !!
wow what a heavy burden to bear for such a young man – to inherit your sister’s children and have to find/make a home for them – and then for the community to try and stop your progress – what a road to travel to reach the HEA – loved this story!
Jace and Vivian were perfect for each other. I loved their interactions throughout, especially their first date. I absolutely love this series! The Shelter Creek Wildlife Center’s studies are interesting, and at times lead to some entertaining situations. I look forward to my next visit to Shelter Creek!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.
Get out your hankies for another touching story by this talented author.
Jace Hendricks was an up and coming rodeo champion until the day his sister goes to prison and he becomes the guardian of his nieces and nephew. Children who have had a tough beginning in life and now are living with a man they barely know and one who has no idea how to be a parent.
Vivian Reed is a biologist from the East coast who moved to California for a new beginning after being left at the altar and facing an illness that affects her daily living.
In the middle of all the obstacles Jace encounters with his land, the children , the social worker etc, Jace begins a bumpy friendship with Vivian.
Will they all be able to find their HEA or will fears and the possibility of an uncertain future keep them all apart?
It’s a story about family, hope, commitment, new dreams and finding that special person in your life when you least expected.
It’s also a reminder that a serious illness affects not only the patient and how they see themselves, but also those surrounding them. Sometimes forgetting that the support of those who love them, will make life easier and one filled with hope and a bright future.
Another winner in this series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Jace is a rodeo cowboy who has to leave the rodeo to take care of his sister’s three children while she is serving time in prison. HE is trying to do right by the children and things just seem to get in the way.
He buys a ranch that needs a lot of work. He has Children Services breathing down his neck finding things wrong with the ranch and he has spent most of his money trying to fix what he can. He puts up a really nice fence on a good piece of the ranch to find that it houses Tule Elk and an endangered species of salamander.
Vivian is the biologist that has to give him this bit of news and things don’t seem to be going as planned when she has to take the brunt of his frustrations.
Another awesome book by Claire McEwen that you should read. I can’t wait for her next book.
Jace Hendricks hasn’t always had an easy life. He just begins to start doing well in his Rodeo career when it gets sidelined. Jace gets a call from Social Services to take in his sisters 3 children. He’s not father material and he doesn’t feel ready for kids. He just knows he doesn’t want them going anywhere but with family, with him. Jace scrambles to get a homestead set up to help raise his nieces and nephew. Little does he know the ranch he’s purchased has some surprises. Those surprises bring biologist Vivian Reed into his life. This is a well written, sweet romance and characters you’re sure to love!