If you enjoy a contemporary romance featuring a feisty banker investment heroine and an alpha cowboy turned Vegas hotel owner, you might want to take Hell on Wheels for a literary spin. Ms. Vane did a good job of keeping this tug of war, work and personal relationship romantic tale focused on the main couple and not with an overly done cowboy theme. Some authors simply try too hard to combine these two elements and the end result often isn’t pretty. Folks, I’m happy to report that was not the case here. There were no “yee-haws” or over the top cowboy banter/characters.
What you will find is Monica, who is looking for love in all the safe places…a committed relationship with someone with similar interests/background. She is not a casual fling kind of girl. She had high hopes Evan, her six month fiance, was just that until a stunt he pulls when she needs to use his jet to fly from NY to Vegas, after being told her dad has suffered a stroke. Well, off goes her 5 caret engagement ring and off she goes to take care of the caring, father she never got to meet until she was 18.
You will also find Ty, the emotionally adopted son and business partner of Monica’s dad. He’s a former briefly married/rancher/bullrider/bullfighter turned part hotel owner. Honestly, I didn’t quite get the difference between Spanish and US bullfighting. Except, of course, in the US version the goal is for man and beast not to be harmed. Granted that’s most likely on me, because I probably skimmed over it, as that aspect doesn’t interest me. Anyway, Ty is definitely not looking for his soul mate. He openly admits to his casual flings he won’t be roped into marriage ever again.
Well, if I wore a cowboy hat, there were a couple of times I think I would have removed it, bowed my head, and placed it over my heart, and shake my head in shame over these two characters. Monica walked away from Ty three times when things got very heated, because she was smart enough to realize he wasn’t a forever kind of guy. I found myself applauding her self-respect. Then she gave in and is crushed when he openly tells her not to read more into what just happened than something casual. Ty, you idiot. You did that, but it wasn’t long afterwards you tried to convince her she should stay with you instead of going back to Evan. Of course, she isn’t going to believe you. After all, you briefly contemplated using Cassie to help get over Monica’s rejection. At least, you didn’t take your ex-wife, Delaney, up on her manipulative, selfish, twisted offer.
Speaking of Delaney, I don’t see how/why she got half of Ty’s grandfather’s ranch when they divorced. They were married briefly, and it was Ty’s before they got hitched. I thought most states only recognized communal property that is acquired after marriage. It really bothered me she held onto her half even though she came from a family as rich as Croesus. Book 3 is going to be based on her and Zac, Ty’s best friend. I’m on the fence as to if I want that cowgirl to ride off into the sunset with anyone.
To wrap this up, this story ends in a cliffhanger, so you will immediately need to read Book 2 to witness this couple’s HEA. I actually read both books back-to-back in one sitting. Personally, I think it should have been published as one book. At least the author did choose a pivot point to end it and an emotional moment to begin the next one.
Title: Hell on Wheels, Series: Hotel Rodeo (Book 1), Author: Victoria Vane, very short read, part of a series, cliffhanger, not a stand-alone, steamy scenes, strong heroine.
Book 1 – Hell on Wheels (Ty and Monica), 1/19/16
Book 2 – Two to Wrangle (Ty and Monica), 2/16/16, Pages: 144
Book 3 - Beauty and The Bullrider (Delaney and Zac)…Delaney is Ty’s ex-wife, Zac is his best friend, 3/15/16
(This review is based on NetGalley ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.)