Beauty and the Bull Rider

Hotel Rodeo #3

by Victoria Vane

When Beauty Wants A Baby

Championship bull breeder and former Texas beauty queen Delaney McCall was having a heck of a time finding a daddy for the baby she craved. A failed marriage left her with no desire for another husband, but finding the right stud to satisfy her needs presents a bigger problem that she could have imagined.

And The Bullrider Wants Beauty

After hanging up his spurs, bull rider Zac McDaniel wants nothing more than to fulfill Delaney's dream of having a family. After all, his best friend's ex has been his fantasy for years. Zac, however, has no desire to be seen as just a means to an end. And when Zac insists on doing things the "old fashioned" way, their passion explodes like a bull out of the chute…

Some Bucking Is Bound To Happen

While insisting it's all just a passing fancy, the more Delaney sees the softer side of the rough and tumble cowboy, the harder it is to keep her emotions corraled. Zac, meanwhile, is more determined than ever to prove he's what she really needs, and will do whatever it takes to tear down the mile high fence around her heart…

Praise for Victoria Vane

"Erotic and sexy." --Library Journal on the Devil DeVere series

 "For erotic passion and one-liners, the first book in Vane's new series will satisfy...Vane's latest gets a big yee-haw."  --RT Book Reviews on Slow Hand

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Ebooks, Westerns, Contemporary

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

ABOUT VICTORIA VANE

Victoria Vane is a bestselling award-winning author of smart and sexy romance. Her books have received many accolades to include the 2016 Red Carpet Award for Jewel of the East, 2014 RONE Award for Treacherous Temptations as well as Library Journal Best E-Book romance of 2012 for The Devil DeVere series. Victoria also writes romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee. Look for her new Highland saga coming summer of 2017.


Contact info:
Email: victoria.vane@hotmail.com Website: www.victoriavane.com
Blog: www.embracingromance.com
Blog:https://wildandwickedcowboys.wordpres...
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/YVeXrf
Twitter: @authorvictoriav Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1vONQZh
Amazon: http://amzn.to/10QMKT5 Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1sccsM4
YOU TUBE : http://bit.ly/1yNtEMP

AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2016 Red Carpet Finalist for ROUGH RIDER
2016 Red Carpet Finalist for JEWEL OF THE EAST
2015 Red Carpet Finals for SLOW HAND
2014 RONE Award for Treacherous Tempatations
2014 Rone Nomination for The Sheik Retold also LASR Best Book 2013 Nominee
THE DEVIL DEVERE SERIES
Library Journal Best E-Book Romance 2012, LR Cafe Best Series Nominee 2012
A Wild Night's Bride
• Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
•IRC Reader's Choice historical romance nominee
Ind'Tale Magazine Rone nominee
The Virgin Huntress
• Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
Ind'Tale Magazine Rone nominee
The Devil You Know
• Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
• The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance Nominee
• LR Café Best Historical Romance nominee 2012
Ind'Tale Magazine Rone nominee
The Devil's Match
• Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
• The Romance Reviews Top Pick
• LASR Reviews Book of the Month December 2012
• Swept Away by Romance Best Historical Romance of 2012
• LR Café Best Author Nominee 2012
• Swept Away by Romance Favorite Author 2012
Ind'Tale Magazine Rone nominee
A Devil's Touch
Swept Away by Romance Best Novella 2013 nominee
A Breach of Promise , December 2011 Ellora's Cave
• Night Owl Reviews “Top Pick”
• Reading Romances 5 flames and “Pen Award”
• TBR Pile 5stars/Book of the month winner September 2012
• LASR Erotic Reviews 5 STAR/Book of the Month Nominee
• The Romance Studio 5 Sweetheart Nominee
• TRS CAPA Nominee 2012

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Date: March 15th
Story Rating ~ 4 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 4 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Ending ~ 4 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 4.5 Stars

Beauty and the Bull Rider is book 3 in Victoria Vanes Hotel Rodeo series.
This time we get Zac and Delanie story and what a delicious story it was!



Zac has had a thing for Delanie for 8 years. Time was never on his side to have a girlfriend much less a wife. He’s been a Bull Rider for a long time but that has all came to an end. Zac runs into Ty, a longtime friend who was once married to Delanie and in jesting Ty let it out of the bag that Delaney had asked him to father a child with her and that he said no. Now Zac decides it’s finally time to make a move on Delaney, so he takes a chance and tells her that HE is ready willing and able to be the father of her child.



Delanie was hurt badly when things took a bad turn with her and Ty. She wants no man and trusts them even less. She can take care of herself she wants help from no one much less than a man like Zac who never had a single relationship and jumped from woman to woman.
Zac sure had a hard time with getting Delaney to trust him. He knew taking it slow was the only way to go.



My favorite character was Zac. OH MY, he was one SEXY cowboy. I loved that he ALWAYS kept his word. I loved that he was there when Delanie finally admitted she needed help but most of all, I LOVED how patient he was. He took his time to show her that he really cared, that he was just not out to have a tumble in the hay.



Delanie, at first I did not like her much but as the story moved along, she really grew on me.

One of the things that stood out for me was the knowledge that Victoria Vane used while writing this book. You could really tell she knew her stuff, it was quite fascinating.

So why not 5 stars? Because I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted a look into Zac and Delaney’s future. With that being said, I LOVED this book anyways. Now I find myself wishing maybe there will be one more book, one with Ty, Monica, Zac and Delanie in the future, finding out how the Hotel Rodeo comes out and maybe a child or two. PLEASE VICTORIA, make it true!!

UPDATE: I'm SO HAPPY to say that Victoria Vane just informed me that there will be at least 3-4 more hotel rodeo books that will feature some of the same characters as well as new ones next year.

*I received an arc from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*.

[Beebs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Hotel Rodeo series, Zac and Delaney's story.

I had real problems with Delaney in the first two books because she came across as a real bitch and her interactions with, and attitude towards Ty were quite nasty. We get to see things from her POV this time around and while her attitude towards Ty is not necessarily forgivable, it is a little more understandable.

Zac though, he is just yummy. He knows what he wants and he wants Delaney, has wanted her in fact, for eight years but had to sit back and watch her elope with his best friend and then have her hold him partly responsible for the break up.

Zac goes all out in his plans to get Delaney, she wants a baby daddy and he offers his services but when she says she wants it through artificial insemination, he convinces her to do it the fun way instead. The scenes with them in the clinic are very funny and watching Zac slowly winning Delaney around was lovely. Hope there's some more soon.

*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Victoria Vane]

HERE'S A SNIPPET FROM MY WIP, BEAUTY & THE BULL RIDER (HOTEL RODEO#3)
Delaney gave a snort of disbelief. “Does that one really work for you, Zac?”
He met her gaze unsmilingly. “I’ve never had to resort to pick up lines, Delaney. If I want a woman, I just say so.”
“Really? It’s that easy for you.”
“Yup. Pretty much.” He looked away as if embarrassed and drained his glass.
Delaney took the opportunity to study Zac’s profile. His eyes were deep set and his nose was slightly crooked with a small hump just below the bridge. His jaw was square and strong and his mouth firm and uncompromising. She’d always thought Ty was the better looking of the two cowboys, but maybe a good part of that was Ty’s warm and flirtatious nature. Zac, by contrast was as hard and cool as a Remington bronze.

Coming march 15, 2016

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Beauty and the Bull Rider was a quick, fun and entertaining read.

It had the perfect amount of romance and drama for a short story.
Loved how passionate Zac was, he knew Delaney was the one for him, I enjoyed watching them get together.

The Hotel Rodeo has been a fun and entertaining read, highly recommend it.

Thank you Kensington Books ~ Lyrical Shine for the advance copy.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Beauty and The Bull Rider" is book three in the Hotel Rodeo series and the author wraps up the story of Ty's ex wife Delaney and just what she is looking for from him. In the last bookmTy vented to his best friend Zac about what Delaney was looking for from him and that he was not going to capitulate , which was fine with Zac since the first time the two of them met Delaney he wanted her but Ty happened to beat him to it. Zac has wanted Delaney for years and know that he has retired form Bull Riding and taken over as ranch Forman for Ty at Tom's of ranch he has his opportunity and he is not about to waste it. The problem, Delaney is steadfastly committed and just thick headed enough to insist that she can do everything by herself, run a ranch, have a successful business and yes have a baby with no husband. Zac is determined to break down her walks and prove to her that she may be able to do all that but doing it with him by her side would be better.

Zac's efforts lead to some intresting reading, tense times, sweet moments and sexy times, plus a few laugh out loud moments which keep the overall mood of the book a light and fun read! Don't miss out on this fun series.
Arc graciously provided by Lyrical Shine publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third installment of the Hotel Rodeo series of novellas was one I anticipated after the way things were set up in the last book. The spotlight has shifted from Ty and Monica to Zac and Delaney who were minor characters in the other books. The humor and heat competed in this fun, heartwarming story.

As noted, this is the third book. It really needs to be read in order even if the main characters are different because the story line began in the other books as did the intro to the characters.

This story opens with older bull rider, Zac McDaniel, making the decision that it is time he retired from the rodeo circuit and concentrate on ranching. His ranch needs work and money to get it going after the neglect, but his old friend, Ty, presents him with another couple options. Unknown to Ty, it is the second and more outlandish one that motivates Zac more than the first one which is to sellout and become a partner with Ty at Ty's Oklahoma ranch breeding rodeo bulls.

Ty's flippant offer that Zac should put himself forward to Ty's ex Delaney as a human stud because she wants a baby disturbs Zac and settles deep in him. And this is because, unknown to Ty or Delaney, Zac has carried a torch for her since the night he met her and she chose Ty so he had to step aside and then knowing that for years, for whatever reason, she held him responsible for breaking up her marriage when it was simply a matter of two people making a mistake and not being right for each other. Zac let things lie for years since he believed that trying to be in a committed relationship and raising a family wasn't a good idea when he was gone nine months of the year. But now? Zac has waited long enough for his dream of settling down and having a family- and having Delaney.

Delaney McCall has her life planned out to the last dot of the 'i' and cross of the 't' whether its her plans to breed rodeo bulls or breed herself so she can have a baby since she definitely doesn't want the problems of having a man around- not after what happened with Ty anyway. But from the moment, tall, quiet, and determined Zac enters her life offering to be her baby daddy along with the temptation of getting off the fence and back into the game of life with another man, her plans start falling by the wayside. Delaney knows the reason she is holding Zac at arm's length and putting forward her rules and plans for a clinical artificial approach to making a baby is out of fear just like she has the daily, mounting evidence before her that Zac means what he says and says what he means. If she can get over her fears, she might have the chance for something real.

This one started off a little rocky for me, but I feel that is more on me than the story itself. I had to get in the right frame of mind to appreciate what I was getting. A romantic comedy where a woman is determined to have a baby while equally determined to keep a man out of the picture and a man even more determined that she has things all wrong and he's up to the challenge of proving it to her. Also, a small niggle was the early attitude of the heroine toward the hero. She was harsh and judgmental toward Zac. I was pleased when he called her on her attitude and she owned to her mistake.

Once I settled in and got the feel for this new pair of lovers and their unique story, I found it engaging. Zac has to work so hard to convince a once bitten twice shy woman that he is not her ex and she can trust him. And Delaney needs to work through her fears and coping mechanisms to truly see Zac and appreciate that he respects her and wants her.

When Zac stood in a fertility center waiting room and had a nurse announce in a carrying voice in front of other people the instructions for him to give both his urine and semen samples, I laughed, but I also wanted to drag Delaney there by her hair and point 'see what this wonderful man is willing to do for you?' Fortunately, Delaney isn't dense and she does see and it is her epiphany moment.

The author impressed me with the way she doesn't write formulaic romance. Here is a pair who have to overcome the damage done by a messy previous relationship that is ticklish because the woman was the one in the relationship and the guy is best buds with her ex. Not that a best friend falling for the ex is unique, but how this played out on top of Delaney's strong need to prove herself because she came from wealth and was self-taught when it came to ranching work. This is a quick and shorter story, but I felt the author touched on several issues that would arise from that and how they would affect anything coming after.

It's the little things that can give a story more flavor and depth. I also enjoyed and appreciated the author addressing what a woman would face as a rancher and bull breeder along with the work put into such tasks. It was obvious that this was researched.

And as to my reservations from the last story because there were things needing to be addressed, I felt this story followed up on the last book well reinforcing where things were left with Ty and Monica even as it turned to finishing up Ty's past with Delaney and Zac. This one tied things off neatly.

The blending of addressing the past, the sparks between the lovers, and the humor made this a real treat to read. I feel the series gets better with each new installment. Again, I would recommend these to those who enjoy modern cowboy romances on the spicy side.

I picked up this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a copy from the author/publisher, in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my review in any shape or form.

I will admit that I absolutely loved the title of this book and immediately wanted to be apart of the tour. I’ve always liked bull riding and was excited to read about a bull rider. I haven’t read many stories about them so I was really excited to dive in.

Beauty and the Bull Rider are told in third person. What I didn’t realize was that this was the third book in the Hotel Vegas series, which I haven’t read the previous two books so I didn’t know much of the backstory. It seemed like the author wanted you to have read the other two stories because there wasn’t a whole lot of backstory to the characters just mentions. I think if you’ve read two of the other books than you’ll probably understand this a lot better.

It was definitely fast paced and a lot of things happened in a short amount of time. I enjoyed the writing and felt like the story was developing really well. We had a slow building relationship and then all of a sudden it just felt rushed.

One of my favorite things about the story was the mention of my city. I live in El Paso and I travel a lot to Juarez so it was nice to see them mentioned into the story. However, I still don’t know how one story in particular was connected or necessary in the story.

As far as characters go I didn’t care for Delaney she was just too technical for me. I did really enjoy Zac and loved his character.

I did enjoy the story but I think if I had read the previous two books in the series this book would’ve made a whole lot more sense.

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Beauty and the Bull Rider
Author: Victoria Vane
Publisher: Kensington Books
Series: Hotel Rodeo #3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"Beauty and the Bull Rider" by Victoria Vane

My Thoughts...

Delaney and Zac are really made for each other. If you have read this author's first two series you can see that Delaney was some piece of work for all those that were around her especially her ex husband Ty. In this read we find that Delaney wants something from Ty and I still can't believe she would even ask him for this...but after he tells her NO...then this story opens up with Ty talking to Zac[his friend] and then this story get even more interesting. What will Ty tell Zac about wht Delaney had wanted from him and how with this will be put into play for Zac? What will happen when Zac shows up and guess what he buys for Delaney? I don't want to tell too much of the story but it will be one that the reader will want to pick up 'Beauty and the Bull Rider' to see how this author will bring it all out in one intriguing read. Be ready for some humorous moments especially from that clinic scene. In the end will Zac be able to win Delaney totally? If you are looking for a good quick read then I would definitely recommend this third series but I would also say to get the whole story read the first two series of the Hotel Rodeo first. You will not be disappointed.

I received this read from author through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

While insisting it’s all just a passing fancy, the more Delaney sees the softer side of the rough and tumble cowboy, the harder it is to keep her emotions corraled. Zac, meanwhile, is more determined than ever to prove he’s what she really needs, and will do whatever it takes to tear down the mile high fence around her heart…

It was a good read about the one that got away and a marriage of convenience. Zach and Delany have a past relationship. Zach and his friend Ty, met the beauty queen at a fundraiser. Unfortunately, for Zach , Ty won her hand and their friendship faded. After they got married, Ty and Delaney realized that they weren't going to work and went their separate was.

Eight years later Zach reconnects with Delany. They both have ideas on what life holds beyond beauty pageants and Bull riding. The couple realizes that that they want the same thing; stability, companionship and a family. They also have the similar but different ideas for their new career paths.

While I thought it was a good read, there wasn't much beyond this couple trying to built a business together. Their relationship seemed more transactional and business orientated than hot and steamy then lovers.

Overall, it wasn't bad just needed a bit more.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the third book in the series - and the first few pages are from the second book. Because whilst the first two are about Ty and Monica, this deals with the issue that Delaney raises with Ty in Two to Wrangle, and he tells his best friend Zac. And what fun comes from that conversation!

I really enjoyed this book - you could read it as a standalone, although there are many references that come from the first two stories. The building relationship between Zac and Delaney is very sweet and romantic, for two people who have been alone emotionally for a very long time. It gives us some good insights into ranching life, and bull breeding in particular. There are some lovely humorous scenes, which give the reader even more investment in these two sorting out their differences.

Thank you Ms Vane for another really enjoyable read.

[Mave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story entertaining, sexy and romantic between a cowboy and a beautiful woman.
The only woman Zac had ever wanted is Delaney. She preferred to marry his best friend and he has suffered in silence. The marriage ended badly. Delaney now feels the strong urge to motherhood but doesn't want a husband nor a boyfriend, just want a sperm donor. Zac has spent all his life doing rodeos. Now no longer has the physique to do it, he must withdraw. It 's the perfect time to start a family. He is therefore proposed to help Delaney but must convince her to spend the rest of her life with him. Finally he has his chance to be happy and can't fail.
Zac is a really sexy and charming cowboy, very kind and sweet. He's very good to go beyond appearance with Delaney. He knows that she is not so arrogant, vindictive, cold as she wants to appear. With his love will bring out her sweet and tender side.
It was a pleasant read, funny, fast and flowing, the perfect book for a relaxing afternoon.
Must-read for anyone who loves Western romances.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Janna ♥ I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com

*ARC*

Beauty And The Bull Rider is the third book in the Hotel Rodeo series and while it was another okay read for this series, I wish there it would have been even better than the previous two books but sadly it stayed on the same level. Now don’t get me wrong it is a good way to pass an afternoon, but I just didn’t connect with Zach and Delany. Maybe it is because of the previous marriage between Delany and Ty (from the previous books) or if it is the author’s writing style that as much as I may trying to connect with but am unable too I just wasn’t blown away when I hoped I would be. It, for this book whore just lacked that edge or that one thing that would really make me want to take that 8 second ride on the bull over and over again (okay yeah that’s a bad pun, sorry not sorry). I think it is time for this book whore to admit defeat with this series and author. Like I have always said what doesn’t work for me, may work for you so please go form your own opinion, give this author a chance, maybe she will work for you when she didn’t work for me.

[Romance Readers Retreat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Hotel Rodeo series and if you haven't already read the first two books, give them a try. They're quick, easy and enjoyable reads.

In book three, we reacquaint ourselves with Zac and Delaney, who we've briefly encountered in the first two books.

Delaney has blamed Zac for everything that's gone wrong for her and she's developed a stubborn streak. Determined to do everything herself, she surprised to run into the rodeo stud, who she is still very wary of.

Zac has had it with life on the road and is ready to claim the missed opportunity that's haunted him for 8 years but it's not going to be as easy as he wants it to be.

Although I really did enjoy this book, and Zac is a great character, it felt a little rushed to me. Despite this, it's still a great read, that'll occupy you for a relaxing afternoon.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zac knows how to get to the point, “you want it straight? I heard you were looking for a stud of your own, and I’d like to offer my services.” Zac and Delaney are perfect for each other she's just as blunt as him, "he took a bite and almost choked. He swallowed it down with a healthy swig of wine. “You want to know the last time I jacked off? Why do you need to know that?” I really enjoyed this book I loved Zac.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Delaney McCall has been an important secondary character in the first two Hotel Rodeo books, because she’s an important person in Ty Morgan’s life. But her introduction in Hell on Heels may not dispose readers any too kindly towards Ty’s ex-wife.

It’s pretty obvious in Hell on Heels that Delaney is the source of all too many of Ty’s trust issues when it comes to women, and the breakup of their marriage has definitely made him gun shy of commitments, an issue that Monica spends most of both Hell on Heels and Two to Wrangle dealing with. Or that Ty spends most of those two books working through.

It’s not that Ty ever held a torch. It’s that they never should have gotten married in the first place. It’s much more that Ty was so glad to be out of the marriage that he let Delaney get half his family’s ranch in the divorce – and that she decided to keep it.

It’s a big surprise to Ty when Delaney offers Ty all sorts of inducements, mostly monetary, to give her a baby. He never does let her get into the details, because he is so uninterested as to be pretty close to revolted. He’s certainly doesn’t trust Delaney enough to give her another hold on him, and he would never abandon his own child. And then there’s his relationship with Monica.

But his own reaction doesn’t stop him from telling his best friend Zac McDaniel about Delaney’s offer. Zac is retiring from the bull riding circuit and takes a job managing the ranch that Ty just inherited. Ty thinks that he’s making a joke, but Zac’s been interested in Delaney from the minute that she, Ty and Zac met, seven years ago.

He’s willing to give Delaney the baby she wants, but what he wants is Delaney, any way that he can have her. It’s up to Delaney to figure out whether what she wants is a baby…or a life.

Escape Rating B: I liked this one a whole lot more than I expected. Plots that revolve around babies are just not my cup of tea.

But in spite of the way that Zac gets back into Delaney’s life, this isn’t his story, and it isn’t really a story about the baby. This is Delaney’s story, and that’s what made it work for me.

From Ty’s perspective, Delaney seemed originally immature, and later just plain vindictive. Of course that’s not the whole story. (And not that Ty wasn’t just as immature at the time, only in a different way.)

When we get to know Delaney from her own point of view, we see something completely different. Her marriage to Ty was a mistake from day one. They were both too immature, and Ty wasn’t ready to settle down. But Beauty Queen Delaney wasn’t so much looking for a man as for a way out of the scripted and controlled life her rich parents shoehorned her into. Marrying Ty got her out from under their overbearing thumbs, so when the marriage inevitably failed she took and kept half his family ranch. While there was some desire for payback, it was mostly out of a need to have her own space and her own life, one where Delaney and only Delaney made the decisions and had the control.

Running the ranch and starting a bucking bull breeding program keeps Delaney intellectually and physically challenged in a way that her old life as a debutante did not and could not. She is fulfilled on those fronts, but she’s lonely. She’s a woman in what is still a man’s world, and she has no friends and no one she can rely on.

It seems like she decides to have a baby not because her biological clock is ticking all that loud, but because she wants someone to love. And from the way she approaches the process of getting that baby, it seems as if she is also a bit interested in someone she can control. Not in any terrible sense, just that the baby will be dependent on her, where the man she makes it with will certainly have a mind of his own.

There’s almost a feeling that she is approaching the creation of her own baby with all the same scientific know-how, and using much of the same process, that she is using in the breeding program for her stock. She has a plan, and she intends to stick to it. And it originally involves turkey-basters all the way around.

Zac throws all of her plans out the window. He’s willing to help her with her baby-making project, but he wants to do it the old-fashioned way. Delaney has learned not to rely on anyone, but Zac is being helpful when needed without impinging too much on Delaney’s independence. He respects her, and he also cares for her. He’s all in, but she’s reluctant every step of the way.

This is Delaney’s story because she’s the one who changes. She doesn’t give up her independence, but she does let Zac in to share the load…and to bring a much needed dose of spontaneity and fun into her life.

It makes for a fun story. And what looks like a fitting conclusion to this fun and sexy contemporary western romance series.

[Lynn Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author’s writing: Great: No Violence: Sexual Content: Alternating Persons: 5 Stars

Beauty and the Bull Rider written by: Victoria Vane

“Some of the best things in Life are without Explanation” “Life is too short to waste it”

“ The worst kind of Love is the one that is not returned” “ We never know what Life has in store for us, who will come and who will go, but we should treasure second we have.” Delaney McCall had it all going on, or that’s what she thought. She comes from a wealthy family in Texas who spoiled her as long as she toed the line. Her family controlled whatever she did, thought, spoke, and she was tired of it. Delaney decides to get back at her parents by marring a cowboy. Ty Morgan and Zac McDaniel took notice of her but it was Ty who won the honor of marrying her. She had this fantasy of living on the farm and raising a family with the white picket fence. After a year she decides she has had enough of Ty not coming home so they divorce. So Delaney went back to school learning all about bulls and how to make bucking bulls scientifically. She has worked hard in a man’s world to be respected. Delaney soon finds herself lonely and wants a baby but not the old fashioned way. She wants her baby to have all the good parts so she decides to as Ty to provide her with sperm. He balks at the idea since he is in a relationship. Ty has a talk with Zac wanting him to become his partner with the ranch Tom left him. Zac say’s yes he was ready to hang up h is bull riding days and settle down. Ty tells him of Delaney’s plan wanting his sperm for a baby. This gives Zac the in he needs, he just has to get Delaney to trust him and he knows that will take time. He wants to be the one for her stud service. After waiting 8 years standing by the side waiting on Delaney he finally is making his move. Zac has always loved Delaney and wished she picked him all those years ago. Zac wants the wife, the family and to make a home with her. The only problem Delaney has no desire to make a baby the old fashioned way. But the more she is around Zac, she sees a softer more romantic side to him. Zac is determined to make Delaney see how good they are together and will do whatever it takes to make her see his way of thinking. Will Delaney learn to trust Zac, or is there too many bad feelings for her to let go. This story has it all, drama, romance, comedy, and just plain sexy. A must read! Reviewed by: Itsy Bitsy Book Bits

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: Beauty and the Bull Rider
The third installment in the Hotel Rodeo Series left me wanting more. This book was full of wonder from start to finish. While I absolutely loved Ty and Monica from the first two with their explosive chemistry, Delaney and Zac are so sweet they made me ache! Zac, whom we know as Ty’s oldest friend (despite a fallout, until recently in the previous book), is at the end of his Bull Riding days. He is back in Oklahoma as the head of the Circle B Ranch, and he is ready to fight for Delaney.
She is stubborn, beautiful, and innocent with an independence that I found truly loveable. She is also obsessed with having a baby, but what she doesn’t realize is that she is also in need of the right man to help her achieve it. Prior to this, Zac became aware of Delaney’s dilemma, and her attempt at gaining Ty as a sperm donor. Fear of losing her heart to another man, and being left by one, caused her to close herself off from romance. Ty broke her, and Zac wants to fix her.
Victoria did an amazing job as painting Delaney as a troublemaker in the previous books, but it was obvious that there was more to her story. Due to the way she so wonderfully weaves her tales, it was easy to be intrigued with the Delaney we thought we knew, and the Delaney that could be known to us. I enjoyed her so very much! This is just one more reason I love reading Victoria’s books: Her female leads are always kick-ass, and her heroes always take my heart with them on the journey from start to finish.
Like the all or nothing man Zac is, he’s betting on making a baby with Delaney. What he doesn’t count on, however, is that Delaney only wants his little swimmers. He may have been warned, but he is bound and determined to convince her they’d be better together than she would be alone. She wants artificial insemination, he wants old fashioned. They collide, but Zac goes all the way, showing Delaney that he is in for the long haul, and that she needs more than just a baby to fill the hole in her heart.
Zac fulfills every promise to her. Though he has been waiting for a chance at her for eight years, he has no idea just how much he’ll risk. This book was funny, sweet, romantic, and beautiful. There were scenes that made me laugh, and I learned interesting facts about bulls, breeding, and the like between what happens in a fertility clinic. I love the passion with which Victoria writes. She researches quite a bit, and I’m always learning neat facts while also enjoying the chemistry between her characters as the plotline unfolds.
When these two get together, they become partners in everything. They learn how to cooperate and how to take a chance on one another. Delaney learns that leaning on someone for support doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. Zac realizes that love encompasses everything and that one has to believe in the possibility of dreams. From beginning to end, Zac and Delaney brought me a smile. They are going to help ensure that the Hotel Rodeo is brought back to life with a vengeance, and that they have their prime stock in Delaney’s own venture. Furthermore, I bet they’ll have adorable little babies in the future.
**ARC provided by Netgalley**

[Itsy Bitsy Book Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Some of the best things in Life are without Explanation” “Life is too short to waste it”
“ The worst kind of Love is the one that is not returned” “ We never know what Life has in store for us, who will come and who will go, but we should treasure second we have.” Delaney McCall had it all going on, or that’s what she thought. She comes from a wealthy family in Texas who spoiled her as long as she toed the line. Her family controlled whatever she did, thought, spoke, and she was tired of it. Delaney decides to get back at her parents by marring a cowboy. Ty Morgan and Zac McDaniel took notice of her but it was Ty who won the honor of marrying her. She had this fantasy of living on the farm and raising a family with the white picket fence. After a year she decides she has had enough of Ty not coming home so they divorce. So Delaney went back to school learning all about bulls and how to make bucking bulls scientifically. She has worked hard in a man’s world to be respected. Delaney soon finds herself lonely and wants a baby but not the old fashioned way. She wants her baby to have all the good parts so she decides to as Ty to provide her with sperm. He balks at the idea since he is in a relationship. Ty has a talk with Zac wanting him to become his partner with the ranch Tom left him. Zac say’s yes he was ready to hang up h is bull riding days and settle down. Ty tells him of Delaney’s plan wanting his sperm for a baby. This gives Zac the in he needs, he just has to get Delaney to trust him and he knows that will take time. He wants to be the one for her stud service. After waiting 8 years standing by the side waiting on Delaney he finally is making his move. Zac has always loved Delaney and wished she picked him all those years ago. Zac wants the wife, the family and to make a home with her. The only problem Delaney has no desire to make a baby the old fashioned way. But the more she is around Zac, she sees a softer more romantic side to him. Zac is determined to make Delaney see how good they are together and will do whatever it takes to make her see his way of thinking. Will Delaney learn to trust Zac, or is there too many bad feelings for her to let go. This story has it all, drama, romance, comedy, and just plain sexy. A must read!

[Kate Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com

I have been dying for a really good cowboy book, I think it's because it's been cold and I've been missing Texas and my husband and I can't stop talking about buying horses. Whatever the reason, I was pretty excited about this book, because not only is it cowboys but it is rodeo cowboys, and I adore the rodeo, some of my best memories growing up. I thought this was an interesting concept though, the heroine used to be married to the hero's best friend, so if that doesn't spell out a complicated situation I don't know what does, and I love a little drama.

So the book starts out and we meet Zac, who has apparently had a thing for Delaney since the day he met her, only she went out with his friend and married him instead. Now it's years later and she's divorced, doesn't seem to even want to be around Zac, and now he finds out she is looking to have a baby solo. Zac does not like the sound of that, he does not want his dream girl having a baby by herself, he wants to be the guy by her side. I liked Zac, he tries really hard to get Delaney to take him seriously, and he is constantly trying to be nice to her or do nice things for her. I'm glad he wasn't overly pushy, but I'm glad that he also made sure that she understood where he was coming from.

Delaney is a woman jaded. She did not have the best marriage, and now that its over she is trying to make it in a mans world, breeding bulls. I liked how Delaney has kind of radically changed her life from what everyone thought she was going to be, I mean she went to school to learn how to do this for her life. I liked how she uses scientific methods to excel in her business. I do have to say that Delaney did bug me at times, she always seems to think that other people (specifically Zac) are doing things because they don't believe that she can handle it on her own. She questions everything too much. I mean I get that she's guarded but sometimes I really just want to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. That being said I am a huge animal lover, and I liked how much she really carried about her animals, they were more than just income to her.

While these two people did have some kind of long standing history with each other, it doesn't change that I thought the feelings developed a little bit more quickly then I thought reasonable, it was just too fast for me. I did like the setting and the writing style, and the author was good at writing the more lusty scenes. All in all it was a quick fun read for me.

[Lynn Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Vane is a new author to me and Beauty and the Bull Rider is the third book in the Hotel Rodeo series. 

Zachary McDaniel a Bull rider and he's injured again. Despite the setback, he needs to win one more time. Any prize money is needed to fix up his long neglected ranch. He's too old for this life and wants to settle down and have a family. The problem? His eight-year fantasy is called Delaney McCall. She's the only woman he's ever wanted and is his best friends ex-wife. 

After her divorce from Ty Morgan, Delaney embraced her new life on the ranch she part owns with him. After completing a four-year degree in Animal Husbandry, she's slowly building up her business. Yet, she wants more. A baby. An offer to assist so she can achieve her goal comes from an unexpected person. Will she accept his offer? 

Delaney vastly underestimates Zac's intentions when discussing the baby proposal. He's all for doing what comes naturally, whilst her approach is similar to the breeding program she has for her heifers! The author writes some fun but toe-curling scenes about that-ha! 

Expect the unexpected because the plot didn't move in the way I thought it would. They're some romantic moments and sexy interaction between the protagonists, but the overall feel of Beauty and the Bull Rider is more business arrangement than a personal relationship. The timeline is short and whilst Zac had been pining for Delaney for many years, a couple of weeks just seemed too short a timeframe for Delaney to overcome her personal hang-ups. 

The writing is style is fun and the novella was quick to read. I read this as a standalone and expected a more conclusive ending to what we got, with the plot lines more securely tied. There's nothing wrong with that as I suspect and hope there may be more of Zac and Delaney's relationship in future books in the series. For now, I'll catch up with Ty and Monica.

3.5 stars 

***arc generously received courtesy of Lyrical Shine (Kensington Books) via NetGalley***

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite of the series!

Zac McDaniel is a cowboy through and through. As his bull riding career ends, he is looking forward to settling down and enjoying the ranch life he loves. Little did he know that Delaney McCall was going to move from his dreams and become his reality in a future he never dreamed he could have.
Delaney, on the other hand, didn’t dream about true love but did yearn for a family of her own. She approaches it clinically, just like she does the cows she is breeding, but Zac has her thinking of sheet action now more than a test tube….

If you’ve read the first books in the series than these characters are not new to you. I admit, though, Delaney was a real surprise as her and Zac’s romance plays out. With her history, many had preconceived ideas about her and her place in the livestock business and I admit I was one of them. While she was never made out to be a horrible person, from the outside looking in she did appear to be horribly selfish, at the very least. I should know better than to take things at face value. Delaney quickly showed her true colors as her need for family, love and acceptance in her chosen field show her to be capable but likable as well. Zac, on the other hand, was exactly who I hoped he would be. A stand-up guy, a feminist in his own way and a man who supports the woman he loves. Oh, and did I mention seriously sexy as well? In other words, the complete cowboy package!

“How could she ever have thought of him as rough and insensitive? Zac had been there for her from day one, just as he’d said he would be.”

At times light-hearted then serious, I laughed and loved the way Delaney and Zac honestly and earnestly found their way, together.

Made me laugh out loud:
“Let’s just say he didn’t overlook any who were willing. I’m very disappointed with the low moral caliber of my cows.”

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in the Hotel Rodeo series focuses only tangentially on our earlier couple Ty and Monica. Ty’s ex-wife Delaney, former beauty queen with all of the baggage that comes with someone who is used to not having to compromise for what she wants is the focus, and her now rampant baby fever. When her request to Ty to father a child for her fails, she’s upset but wondering on her next move.

Zac is Ty’s best friend, absent for a few years, who always had a thing for Delaney. As a bull rider, he’s never quite in one place for long, so relationships weren’t in his future, but now, perhaps Delaney may be worth the effort.

Zac and Delaney are well matched: he doesn’t play into her manipulations as much as she believes he has, and along the way, feelings develop. An interesting premise for the story, bringing some amusement and heat with the story – these two are cute. And, now that Zac has decided that he is ready for something more, Delaney is flabbergasted.

These two also have some huge trust issues to overcome and in fact, many of them felt very similar to the issues between Monica and Ty. But, to be honest, trust issues are all reasonably similar, and that isn’t to count against the more direct path that Delaney and Zac take to their ending.

While read in series order, readers will find a nice sense of conclusion and completion for the two couples and their stories, but reading just this story alone will leave far too many questions. As with Two to Wrangle, the ending to this story was also abrupt in feel and too neatly wrapped up, I’m not familiar enough with this author to know if this is her style or just part of this series.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zac has the chance - finally! - to get the girl of his dreams. He's waited eight long years, watched her marry his best friend, and now... Well, now it's his turn to show her he's the perfect man for her and has been all along. With nothing more than a playboy attitude and a past riddled with multiple women, Zac had his work cut out if he was going to convince Delaney he wanted to be more to her than just a sperm donor.

Been there, done that, wasn't going to ride that roller coaster again. With bitterness on her tongue and emotional scars still healing after her divorce, Delaney wasn't about to fall again, especially for a man like Zac. His reputation and prowess weren't new to her. His "sudden" interest was. She wanted one thing from him but he wasn't playing by her rules: in, out, deed done, goodbye. Instead, he was playing for keeps, luring and seducing her with gentleness, sweet kisses, hot caresses, and intense loving.

It was a whirlwind ride as these two battled. Zac was relentless in his pursuit of Delaney though he did go slow given what she'd just been through. Delaney was determined not to give in but the wall she erected around her heart crumbled under Zac's sincerity and promises.

This isn't a long story and was great for a quick read. Ms. Vane knows her stuff. Not just the romance or the relationship but in all things Western. Her knowledge comes across as first hand, either by research or experience. Whichever it is, it definitely shows in her writing. It doesn't detract from the heart of this story though. The second chance at love Zac and Delaney are given shines bright. I wanted that happy ending for them because what they could have was so much better than what they did have - a life filled with happiness, laughter, joy, and love.

Received from NetGalley via Tasty Book Tours for an honest review

[E Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The night Zac first saw Delaney he was with his best friend, Ty. They both thought she was beautiful, but Zac thought she would never take up with a lowly cowboy. Ty figured he would give it a chance and the dance turned into a marriage, but Ty wasn't ready to be tied down and Delaney and Ty divorced, this left Delaney with half Ty's ranch and a guarded heart.
Now years later, Zac has decided to act on his attraction to Delaney. She wants a baby, he can help with that, but not just a baby though, he wants more. Now he just needs to convince Delaney.
Delaney wants a baby and doesn't need a man to do it. She has learned how to artificially inseminate a cow; she can do the same thing, if she finds the right "breeding stock." Asking her ex-husband was her first choice, since he didn't want to commit to anything. However, he has said no, what does she do? Suddenly Zac arrives and offers to be her "baby partner", but suddenly he has conditions. Can she open her heart again? Or did Ty fracture her heart beyond repair?
This was a really enjoyable read. This is a truly enjoyable read, the characters are enjoyable. It is a really sweet love story, let me tell you though when they get steamy, wowzers, it is hot! Delaney fights their chemistry so hard, she really does not want to give to it; she has a plan and doesn't want to deviate from it. Zac doesn't want to give up on her either and he works on wearing her down. I read it in an afternoon, with the other two books in the series, you could have a great few days of reading.
The Hotel Rodeo series is a fun and entertaining read. They are great to read together.
I have received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this third installment in the Hotel Rodeo series in exchange for an honest review, and here it is: 4.5 stars.

As usual, Victoria Vane always grabs me from the get-go, and she did it again with this one, which features Ty's old, but somewhat estranged friend, Zac McDaniel, and Delaney, Ty's ex-wife. As this story opens, Zac is nursing a broken wrist, and has yet to ride his rank bull in the PBA finals. He attempts to use his other hand and makes the 8-second ride, but gets hung up in the rope, and Ty, without protective gear, jumps into the ring to help free him, and gets butted hard by the bull for his trouble, although he's not seriously injured.

Zac takes him out for a drink and in talking and attempting to mend their strained friendship, Ty tells Zac about Delaney asking him to sire a baby for her, which she did in the last book. For years, Delaney has long blamed Zac for the breakup of her marriage, and what Ty doesn't know is that Zac has wanted Delaney from the moment they met. Since Ty certainly doesn't want to have anything more to do with her, Zac sees this as the perfect opportunity to get close to her, especially since he's decided that he's retiring from the rodeo circuit and is finally ready to settle down.

Delaney is one tough cookie, though, and Zac certainly has his work cut out for him as he tries to be much more than just a sperm donor--he wants the whole package, marriage and a family, but he's playing his cards very close to his vest, and their "courtship" is one of the most entertaining ones that I've read in some time. The only downside for me, as it always is with one of Ms. Vane's books, is that I wish it had been longer--but for such a short novel, it was an excellent read.

[Karen Roma · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it’s finally time to hang up your spurs as a competing Bull Rider, and you don’t have enough money to fund your dream, what’s your next course of action?

1) You agree to go into business with your estranged friend;
2) You sell your ailing ranch to fund said partnership;
3) You pursue said friend’s ex-wife and offer to be her baby daddy.

This is Zac McDaniel’s big plan when he moves back to Oklahoma and takes control of the ranch Ty Morgan inherited from Tom Brandt. Zac is nothing if not patient, and he’s determined to have the woman he has coveted for 8 long years. But convincing Delaney McCall to let down her guard and trust in Zac and the future he hopes they can share, becomes harder than riding a bucking bull.

Of all the stories to date in this series, Zac and Delaney’s story has captivated me the most. While Zac knows exactly what he wants and who he wants, Delaney has deep-seated insecurities after her failed marriage to Ty, and doubts her ability to hold a man for life.

It was heart-warming to watch their fragile bond blossom and grow, even as Delaney tried to protect her heart and reject the undeniable magnetism that was so more than just physical desire. I was utterly charmed by both characters, and you could totally envision their story emerging in real life.

While this story will be hard to top, I can’t wait to see where Ms Vane takes us in future books.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney is a former beauty queen that's starting a breeding ranch too bad no one will take her seriously but she will show that she can do it. On the side shes working on getting some breeding done on her own, shes wants a baby and after her last failed marriage she wants to do so on her own terms without a man. Zac is a retired bull rider who has had his eyes on Delany for years, but due to pretty much bro code he wouldn't get near hear. Now ready to settle and knowing her little problem of wanting a baby he's ready for a chance in solving her problems and maybe finally getting her this time.

I really liked this story. It was a novella so its was a pretty short story. Now even if it was a short story it did come up with plenty to keep the readers interested.Oh and If you didn't know (Like I did) apparently there are previous books to this, not sure if it would've helped me liked the characters more of what but I thought that it did well without it. In fact how this book turned out I'll be sure to keep my eye out for the previous books. If anything this book does well as a stand alone and I found myself enjoying this book anyways. I enjoyed seeing the banter between the two main characters, I loved getting to know each of the characters through their own point of view. Even the steamy scenes were entertaining. Overall this book was well written and I really enjoyed it.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hee Haw! The first two books in the Hotel Rodeo series weren’t exactly what I expected, but BEAUTY AND THE BULL RIDER is precisely what makes me a huge fan of Victoria Vane’s. Delaney McCall was by far my favourite character in the previous instalments, even though she might have appeared as a bit of a witch, but I love that woman’s gumption! And she lived up to my expectations, and then some! Delaney is Ty Morgan’s ex-wife, and there’s no love lost between those two, however when Ty lets slip to former friend on his way back to friend again Zac McDaniel that Delaney is on the market for a man with baby-making skills, Zac cannot resist. He used to secretly fancy Delaney and now is his chance at last.

BEAUTY AND THE BULL RIDER is such fun: it’s sexy, the romance is exactly what I was hoping for, the characters are superb, and they’re a great match. I love all the details about rodeo life, and the growth both Zac and Delaney show. BEAUTY AND THE BULL RIDER is beautifully written, everything flows seamlessly, and before you know it, you’re done, and that’s very good. I had no problems with this book: a great cowboy romance!


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Bull Rider is the third in a series of Contemporary Western Romance stories in the ‘Hotel Rodeo’ series. Victoria Vane has outdone herself with these deliciously wicked and romantic novellas.

Here we have bull breeder Delaney, who is looking to do some breeding of her own. She only wants a baby daddy, however, with no lasting commitments. Retired bull rider Zac, who has long held strong feelings for Delaney, is only too willing to help her out…but under his own terms. He doesn't want to be just her baby daddy; he wants it all, and a full relationship commitment from Delaney. He just has to bring her around to his way of thinking.

Although we met Zac and Delaney earlier in the ‘Hotel Rodeo’ series, it is not necessary to read the other novellas to pick up on their story. It's a lot more fun to read them first, however. It was also nice to touch base with Ty and Monica. As always, Vane has given readers not only a well researched story on modern bull breeding practices; but a humorous and sexy love story. And, of course, Vane’s trademark and delightfully wicked banter between her leads. This is a good series from one of my fav authors.

[Kristen Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 of the series gives us the story of Delany, Ty's ex wife, and Zac, one of his best friends.

Delany wants two things in life currently, One, to be taken seriously as a bull breeder, and Two, a baby. The first is important to her, because she wants to prove to others she can do it, that she wants to do it and she's good at it. And she wants a baby, she doesn't want to try a marriage again, having no illusions it could work out.

Zac has loved Delany for years, but he always thought he lost his shot at her. Now he's in Oklahoma, working for Ty, and determined to win Delany over. Not only is he willing to give her the baby she wants, and so much more. But getting her to take a chance on him isn't easy.

The banter between these two was hilarious, you can see how hard Delany is fighting wanting anything more from Zac or any man. I enjoyed watching Zac soften her a bit, and get to the heart of her, proving himself over and over that he believed in her career and truly cared about her.


I enjoyed the Hotel Rodeo series a lot. The characters were fun and the stories different. Victoria Vane has done a great job giving us the intertwined story of these characters.