A Pioneer Woman Down Home Reads with Jodi Thomas Book Club Selection With over 325 million books sold, Janet Dailey is a legend in romance. Now she launches a series for a new generation of empowered women loaded with suspense, action, and desire!“A suspenseful story that keeps you on the edge of your seat…a must-read.”—Fresh Fiction At the Alamo Canyon Ranch in the desert foothills of Southern … Southern Arizona, the Champion women carry on the family legacy of breeding bucking bulls for the rodeo. In a world where bloodline is everything, love is the only risk worth taking . . . Everyone’s talking about Whirlwind at this year’s Professional Bull Riders’ Competition. But the promising young bull is the last thing on Shane Tully’s mind once he lays eyes on the lady responsible for bringing Whirlwind to the arena. Beautiful, smart, and sexy as hell, Lexie Champion has this rodeo man hungry for more than the thrill of his next competition. But the daughter of bull rancher Bert Champion wants nothing to do with a daredevil, despite the powerful attraction between them . . . Lexie is no stranger to the dangers of rodeo life. Resisting Shane’s rugged allure should have been easy, but nothing is simple about her reaction to the handsome cowboy, from their first kiss, to the terrifying moment Lexie watches Shane go down in the ring. Faced with a devastating decision, will Lexie make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of love?
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As always a great book
Interesting book. A little bit of info about bull riding, a tragic accident so there’s some info about recovery from spinal injury. Then there’s a ranch that’s in money trouble and someone close who is determined to hurry its demise, even resorting to out and out murder. I ended up smiling though, and now have to look for the next in the series.
Fans of Janet Dailey’s westerns will love the Champions of Alamo Canyon Ranch! FIVE THRILLING STARS!
This story is a whirlwind of suspense, romance and danger that pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. I learned more than I ever expected to know about rodeos, especially PBR (Professional Bull Riders) competitions, where men risk serious injury and death each time they mount a 2,000 pound bucking bull and try to stay on for eight seconds. I’ll say one thing about the sport and this book: IT’S NEVER BORING!
Here’s a bit of the plot but no big spoilers, because nothing should spoil this exciting tale. After Lexie Champion’s bull-riding brother is stomped to death by a bucking bull, she and her sister (Tess) support their struggling Arizona ranch by supplying bulls for southwestern rodeos and by winning PBR competitions with their best bucking bull, Whirlwind. This clever beast has never been ridden to the eight-second whistle until he’s bested by Shane Tully, a bull rider who’s attracted to Whirlwind’s owner, Lexie.
But Shane works for Brock Tolman, a wealthy rancher and stock contractor who’s determined to acquire Whirlwind–and Lexie’s ranch–by any means necessary. The ranch is suddenly plagued by a series of frightening incidents: a threatening note, two dead bulls, a slashed truck tire that nearly causes a fatal crash, and the mysterious death of Lexie’s loving stepmother, Callie. Is Brock Tolman behind these nefarious deeds, or does someone else bear a murderous grudge against the family?
As Shane’s romantic feelings for Lexie grow deeper, he quits working for Tolman and pursues his goal of becoming a PBR World Champion. But when he chooses to ride Train Wreck–the rank bull that killed Lexie’s brother–he’s forced to question his relationship with the woman he loves. Can she envision a future with a broken man?
Determined to solve the mystery of their stepmother’s death, Lexie and her other sister (Val) search for clues. I identified the perpetrator fairly early on, and some of his actions didn’t make much sense. But it culminates in a tense and thrilling final confrontation, followed by a satisfying HEA. I’m looking forward to the next books in this new series, when Tess and Val Champion will have stories and (hopefully) Happily Ever Afters of their own.
Kudos for professional proofreading, no explicit sex scenes, and limited use of profanity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Janet Dailey DID NOT write this book – someone using her name and reputation. The book is not a happy one, bull riders back their backs, murder, animals are killed and overall just a depressing read. And since there are they’re sisters, the publishers/ghost writers plan two more in this series. I will not be buying them. I love the original Janet Dailey but this does not live up to her reputation. Sorry for the bad but true review. I read for enjoyment and this one did not do it for me.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Goodreads Giveaway, Janet Dailey estate, and Kensington Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I have enjoyed Janet Dailey’s work for many years. I am grateful to her family for keeping us entertained with her work. She is greatly missed.
Janet Dailey writes prose that flows from scene to scene, always moving, always entertaining. Whirlwind is a tale of Arizona bull ranchers, those who provide livestock for rodeos in the southwestern U.S. It is an interesting family story as are they all, one that will keep you entertained from cover to cover. The mystery is perhaps not as hidden as it could be, but the scenic trips through the Sonoran Desert and the jaunts into Tucson are true visits to places that I love. Thanks for the memories.
This is an exciting book that abounds with family, cowboys, bull riders, and rodeos. Throw in love, tragedy and suspense and you have a page turner you cannot put down. I really liked the two main characters of Lexie Champion and Shane Tully. Just when Lexie lets her guard down everything changed. Add in an enemy neighbor who would do anything to buy their family’s prize bull including making it very hard for them to keep their ranch only added more to the suspenseful story. I look forward to the next book in the series. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
First I’ve read by Janet Dailey in a while and it did not disappoint. It definitely wasn’t a lighthearted cowboy read but I read it one sitting from start to finish. From the beginning, you find yourself rooting for the characters and just wanting good things to happen for them. Good start to a new series and I look forward to the next in the series.
3.5/5
Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the eARC.
A really great story. It was well written with plenty of family in’s and outs showing human greed and overcoming hardships. Plenty of action with a strong storyline. It went fast for me as I really enjoyed it. look forward to reading more in this series.
This is book #1 in the Champions Series and I can’t wait to read the rest of the novels in the series. The book is centered around Lexie Champion, her bucking bull Whirlwind, and the handsome professional bull-rider Shane Tully. Lexie needs Whirlwind to do well at the Professional Bull-Riders competition. The prize money will go a long way toward saving the family ranch. Shane just wants to be his own man, score well in competition and make a life with Lexie. But Lexie has only one rule in love-No bull riders. Janet Dailey uses her signature style to create characters that come to life on page one. The plot is emotional, full of mystery and clean romance with just a touch of sizzle.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.