Once a Champion

The Montana Way #1

by Jeannie Watt

It starts with the horse…

Liv Bailey never forgot her high school crush. Champion roper Matt Montoya always did have that irresistible daredevil swagger. But Liv isn't Matt's shy tutor anymore. She's a grown woman and a physiotherapist with a painful past. Matt isn't the only tough one now, and when their tempers clash over a horse they both claim ownership of, sparks fly in more ways than one.

Liv's willing to let Matt bring some passion into her life, but when he opens his heart to her, she's scared of being hurt again. Liv knows there's more there than just desire—if she can only trust the cowboy who loves her.

Genres: Romance

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Jeannie Watt lives on a small cattle ranch and hay farm in southwest Montana. When she's not writing, she enjoys making mosaic mirrors, sewing, and pretending that the house is neat and tidy.

Jeannie loves to hear from readers. Please contact her via her website www.jeanniewatt.com.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I liked both Matt and Liv though both had their moments of frustrating me. I did enjoy their sparring. Liv had come back to Dillon after breaking things off with her fiance. She realized that she had become someone she didn't like by not standing up for her wishes against giving in to his. When it came down to buying a horse she wanted she put her foot down and realized that she had to get out. She moved back home and started her life over. When Matt showed up trying to track down his horse, she gave him a cold shoulder. She was still angry over what she perceived as his treatment of her in high school, plus she was certain that he had been the one who had abused the horse she had now. But there was still something about him that drew her and she was determined to fight it. As she gets to know him again the sparks between them only get stronger. She knows that she's falling for him, but she is terrified of losing herself again. I thought it was very interesting the way that she went so far in the other direction from being submissive to being too independent and inflexible. She got really frustrated with her father and his attitude but couldn't see that she had become just like him. She also had been unhappy with the way her ex tried to tell her what to do with her life, but then turned around and tried to tell Matt that what he was doing was wrong. It was almost too late when she realized what she had been doing and that she needed to find a middle ground and let go of the past.

I liked Matt a lot. Though he had been a pretty typical teenager, not thinking about anything other than his own needs and wants, he's done some growing up since then. I liked the way that he steps up to look after his cousin's son Craig while she is away and how well he deals with the boy. I loved seeing the two of them become friends and how Craig went from something of a geeky loner to one who got involved with what Matt was doing. However he is still pretty blind when it comes to his career as a roper. He has had a bad knee injury and all the doctors are telling him that he cannot go back to roping or he risks permanent injury. He refuses to accept it and is continuing with his plans for a comeback, including doing some things that are questionable medically. He is also looking for the horse that disappeared while it had been left with his ex-wife and is stunned to find out that Liv has it - and believes that he had abused it. He is attracted to the grown up Liv and wants to get closer to her. He doesn't understand why she keeps pushing him away. I liked his determination to win Liv over. He does a lot of giving in to her in order to do it, until he finally has enough. I loved seeing the way it was Craig who ended up helping Matt and Liv get together.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, well-written story about the shy bookworm who had a major crush on the jock who pretty much didn't know she existed except as his tutor... the bookworm's grown up and grown a spine, and the jock realizes that he was perhaps a little oblivious to things all those years back.

Ms. Watt does a lovely job creating realistic characters and a warm sense of family.

Can't wait to read more!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liv has been in relationships where she is expected to give into the other person. She is determined not to ever enter such a relationship again. Liv bought a horse a year ago who had been badly mistreated. She nursed him back to health. It used to be Matt’s horse. She thought he had mistreated it. He thought she had mistreated it. So they are at odds from day one. It is a complicated situation. However does it end up with them in bed together?

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia had a high school crush on Matt a world champion calf rooper. Now he's divorced and Liv had ownership of his best horse. Matt hadn't sold Beckett. the horse, his ex wife sold him. Matt wanted him back but liv thought Matt was the one who abused the horse. As the story unfolds lots of things become obvious

[Barbara Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Story

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, a rodeo champion--both man and horse--are part of the dreams of a no-longer-shy, earful of losing control physical therapist. Liv Bailey almost waits too long to accept that her fear of commitment is less about what men have done to her in the past and more about what she needs to let go of. Seeing herself through her father's experiences--finally admitted thirty years later--helps her to see that she can still have it all.

Matt's 14-yr-old nephew has enough wisdom to help set them all straight.

[Harlequin Books]

"Watt brings her complex, wonderful characters to life. Both Matt and Liv are likable and warm, in spite of Liv's insecurities and Matt's reluctance to realize he can no longer compete in rodeos." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars

Miniseries: The Montana Way
Category: Romance with More

[Brenda Margriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed Liv and Matt. My biggest beef with this book is that more than half of it is spent with them separate - not even on the page together. I would have preferred to have them interact more right from the start, because once they did get together it was great!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I was a little disappointed that the author seemed to leave some things unanswered, such as who was responsible for abusing the horse. However, I really liked the characters and thought that overall it was a really good story!

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The Montana Way
Category: Romance with More

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 stars

Pushed all the right buttons for me. Horse custody battle, cowboy in denial, heroine with serious self image problems. Loved Craig and the ending was PERFECT.