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When a Cowboy Tempts Fate: Second Chance Contemporary Western Romance
A second chance for a hot mess?
After a lusty fling, wrangler Luis Bridger parts ways with horse trainer Jordan Sterling. He's dedicated to his close-knit family and their wild horse sanctuary. She cherishes her independence and is always on the move giving clinics. So why is she showing up for a sanctuary tour and acting like she misses him? Sparks still fly, but this time he won't settle for a few stolen nights.
Jordan came to check out the horse sanctuary. Mostly. But she's never been able to forget Luis. Surely after all this time he's found someone special. Seeing him with someone else will allow her to get on with her life. Turns out that sexy cowboy is still single, damn it. They're so wrong for each other, but his kisses feel so right!
Their heads say no. Can their hearts show them the way to yes?
Looking for sexy cowboys, fun family dynamics, and a charming small town? Then mosey on over and meet the Bridger Bunch! Steamy western romances from the NYT bestselling author who brought you the McLintocks of Rowdy Ranch, Montana.
THE BRIDGER BUNCH
The books in this series are standalone romances and can be read in any order.
When a Cowboy Takes Charge
When a Cowboy Tempts Fate
After a lusty fling, wrangler Luis Bridger parts ways with horse trainer Jordan Sterling. He's dedicated to his close-knit family and their wild horse sanctuary. She cherishes her independence and is always on the move giving clinics. So why is she showing up for a sanctuary tour and acting like she misses him? Sparks still fly, but this time he won't settle for a few stolen nights.
Jordan came to check out the horse sanctuary. Mostly. But she's never been able to forget Luis. Surely after all this time he's found someone special. Seeing him with someone else will allow her to get on with her life. Turns out that sexy cowboy is still single, damn it. They're so wrong for each other, but his kisses feel so right!
Their heads say no. Can their hearts show them the way to yes?
Looking for sexy cowboys, fun family dynamics, and a charming small town? Then mosey on over and meet the Bridger Bunch! Steamy western romances from the NYT bestselling author who brought you the McLintocks of Rowdy Ranch, Montana.
THE BRIDGER BUNCH
The books in this series are standalone romances and can be read in any order.
When a Cowboy Takes Charge
When a Cowboy Tempts Fate
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2025
51 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Lewis Thompson
498 books1,535 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. The recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series featuring a matchmaking witch and wizard, an ADD dragon named George, and a black cat inspired by her own precocious feline, Eve.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 5, 2025
Five years ago, Luis Bridger and Jordan Sterling, the stars of Vicki Lewis Thompson’s newest book When a Cowboy Tempts Fate, had a torrid affair at a horse training clinic they both attended. They agreed (Luis fairly reluctantly) to not see each other again. They didn’t even exchange phone numbers. But Luis never forgot about Jordan. When he gets an email from her saying that she will be in Mustang Valley for the Fourth of July, he’s surprised and excited. Most of all, he’s curious about what it means that Jordan has contacted him after so long. For Jordan’s part, she can’t get Luis out of her mind, but she fully expects to find him happily married with a couple of kids. She’s hopeful that seeing Luis happy with someone else will help her heart forget about him. But when she gets to town, she quickly finds out that, not only is Luis still single, the attraction that burned between them five years ago hasn’t lessened in the least. After an emergency with her horse forces Jordan to move out to the Bridger’s ranch, there is no chance that they won’t rekindle their affair. Jordan can’t believe that they can have a future together, but Luis already let her walk away once. He isn’t about to repeat that mistake without fighting for the woman he loves.
Ms. Thompson is very skilled at creating complex characters, and Jordan is another excellent example of that skill. At first glance, Jordan seems like any other confident, talented, and successful career woman. And, while she is definitely all of those things, her ambition and independence hide scars from a childhood filled with emotional neglect. Jordan’s parents convinced her that relationships are transactional and criticized her so much that she believes that she is too demanding and difficult for other people to love and respect. As a result, she has trouble accepting help and can’t trust that Luis won’t interfere with her career goals. Ms. Thompson depicts Jordan’s childhood in a way that makes her emotional struggles seem realistic. Her hesitancy to trust and rely on Luis (and the Bridger family as a whole) feels genuine, but also heartbreaking. While Luis (and the readers) see Jordan for the amazing woman she really is, Jordan can only see herself through her parents’ critical eyes. I’m impressed by how Ms. Thompson creates characters like Jordan’s parents. They never appear in the book, yet they play such a huge role in how the story develops.
I appreciate how Ms. Thompson uses Luis’s work with wild horses to draw parallels in how he needs to approach Jordan. Much like the horses, Jordan is easily spooked and requires a gentle approach. But, while both characters acknowledge Jordan’s similarities with a wild horse, overall Ms. Thompson uses the analogy subtlety. She doesn’t constantly remind readers about those similarities. I think this plot device is more effective because she doesn’t overuse it. I think overuse would diminish Jordan’s character. If Luis continually thought of her in relation to the wild horses, it would feel a little misogynistic…like he didn’t respect her as a person.
When a Cowboy Tempts Fate is another excellent cowboy romance by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this novel from the author, but that didn’t influence my review.
Ms. Thompson is very skilled at creating complex characters, and Jordan is another excellent example of that skill. At first glance, Jordan seems like any other confident, talented, and successful career woman. And, while she is definitely all of those things, her ambition and independence hide scars from a childhood filled with emotional neglect. Jordan’s parents convinced her that relationships are transactional and criticized her so much that she believes that she is too demanding and difficult for other people to love and respect. As a result, she has trouble accepting help and can’t trust that Luis won’t interfere with her career goals. Ms. Thompson depicts Jordan’s childhood in a way that makes her emotional struggles seem realistic. Her hesitancy to trust and rely on Luis (and the Bridger family as a whole) feels genuine, but also heartbreaking. While Luis (and the readers) see Jordan for the amazing woman she really is, Jordan can only see herself through her parents’ critical eyes. I’m impressed by how Ms. Thompson creates characters like Jordan’s parents. They never appear in the book, yet they play such a huge role in how the story develops.
I appreciate how Ms. Thompson uses Luis’s work with wild horses to draw parallels in how he needs to approach Jordan. Much like the horses, Jordan is easily spooked and requires a gentle approach. But, while both characters acknowledge Jordan’s similarities with a wild horse, overall Ms. Thompson uses the analogy subtlety. She doesn’t constantly remind readers about those similarities. I think this plot device is more effective because she doesn’t overuse it. I think overuse would diminish Jordan’s character. If Luis continually thought of her in relation to the wild horses, it would feel a little misogynistic…like he didn’t respect her as a person.
When a Cowboy Tempts Fate is another excellent cowboy romance by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this novel from the author, but that didn’t influence my review.
July 4, 2025
Once again, Vicki provides a story that throws an arm around you and says “Come on in. Let me introduce you to some wondeful people. You’re gonna love them.”
If all families could be like the Bridgers, and the McClintocks, the world would be a much nicer place to be.
Louis Bridger has the blessing of a large, loving family. Jordan Sterling does not. She believes she isn’t good enough for him. Fortunately for her, Louis is in love with her, and determined to show her she is wrong about that. And fortunately for us, Vicki is a genius at providing an HEA, no matter how stubborn her characters are being.
If you liked the Rowdy Ranch series, and the Buckskin Brotherhood series, you will not be disappointed with the Bridger Bunch. If you are unfamiliar with those series, I highly recommend that you become familiar with them
Hot cowboys. Smart women. Big loving families. What’s not to like?
If all families could be like the Bridgers, and the McClintocks, the world would be a much nicer place to be.
Louis Bridger has the blessing of a large, loving family. Jordan Sterling does not. She believes she isn’t good enough for him. Fortunately for her, Louis is in love with her, and determined to show her she is wrong about that. And fortunately for us, Vicki is a genius at providing an HEA, no matter how stubborn her characters are being.
If you liked the Rowdy Ranch series, and the Buckskin Brotherhood series, you will not be disappointed with the Bridger Bunch. If you are unfamiliar with those series, I highly recommend that you become familiar with them
Hot cowboys. Smart women. Big loving families. What’s not to like?
July 4, 2025
This book revolved around Luis catching up with Jordan whom he had not seen in five years, not that he wasn't interested but Jordan didn't want anything interrupting her work. Looked like fate had other plans when she arrived and her horse needed a veterinarian. Jordan also had commitment and trust issues from her childhood. I liked that the Laughing Creek Ranch and the Hearts and Hooves Wild Horse Sanctuary and its residents changed that. I also liked the interesting book signing at the new book store. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
June 26, 2025
In true Thompson fashion, this book didn’t disappoint. The only thing I saw wrong with it was I didn’t want it to end. Jordan and Luis stole my heart and I was rooting for them the whole time. It was so much fun not only reading about the rest of the Bridgers again but also the McClintock’s, as they each made a quick appearance. The love, the laughter and the trials are such an integral part of this author’s writing, that it comes as no surprise that it has a certain realism in each book. If you love romance, this is a must have.
June 28, 2025
Luis isn’t sure how he feels when Jordan contacts him after five years apart to say she is coming to town for the weekend. He’s never forgotten her but the reasons they didn’t work before still stand. Can they have another fling without his heart being broken?
Another family oriented cowboy romance by the talented pen of Vicki Lewis Thompson, also featuring the McLintocks of Rowdy Ranch.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another family oriented cowboy romance by the talented pen of Vicki Lewis Thompson, also featuring the McLintocks of Rowdy Ranch.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 3, 2025
Jordan is in town for July 4th, and there are some definite fireworks. She assumes that Luis has married in the five years since they had their weekend together and is surprised that he is still single. Luis is hoping that she is single, too, so that they can try a relationship this time around. But as much as she likes Luis, childhood scars have made her as skittish as the wild horses he works with. There is family meddling not only by the Bridger Bunch but also by the McLintocks and Granny. The new bookstore is a hoot.
August 18, 2025
Sweet attraction
Vicki brings the most interesting characters together and Jordan and Luis belong together. Having met 5 years ago, they are meeting again and Luis jokes the attraction is still strong. Jordan is hoping for it too. Good to see the opening of the new bookstore in town and the whole gang there for the signing. Good little story.
Vicki brings the most interesting characters together and Jordan and Luis belong together. Having met 5 years ago, they are meeting again and Luis jokes the attraction is still strong. Jordan is hoping for it too. Good to see the opening of the new bookstore in town and the whole gang there for the signing. Good little story.
Want to read
June 7, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
July 5, 2025
A second chance romance with fireworks – literal and figurative – yes, please! Thompson packs 4th of July fun in this engaging romance that I couldn’t put down.
July 9, 2025
Jordan and Luis have a sizzling past. Can they handle a casual reunion? Luis can't. His large Bridger family and their friends, the larger McKlintock family offer support.
July 27, 2025
***1/2
July 5, 2025
Arc review for a honest review in my own words on a book I read. Luis and Jordan are like those wild horses they both love the wild, but when Fate steps in sometimes being tamed can bring new opportunities. Beautiful.
July 7, 2025
Luis and Jordan finally finish what they started 5 years ago. Luis has the benefit of a large loving family; Jordan only relies on herself and occasionally her brother. I love hanging with this family and Jordan falls for them too. Another great story with a wonderful HEA.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews