Reckless in Texas

Texas Rodeo #1

by Kari Lynn Dell

Rough and tumble, cocky and charming,
Joe's everything a rodeo superstar should be...
And he's way out of Violet's league.

Violet Jacobs is fearless. At least, that's what the cowboys she snatches from under the hooves of bucking horses think. Outside the ring, she's got plenty of worries rattling her bones: her young son, her mess of a love life, and lately, her family's struggling rodeo. When she takes business into her own hands and hires on a hotshot bullfighter, she expects to start a ruckus.

She never expected Joe Cassidy.

Joe came to Texas to escape a life spiraling out of control. He never planned on sticking around, and he certainly never expected to call this dry and dusty backwater home. But Violet is everything he never knew he was missing, and the deeper he's pulled into her beautiful mess of a family, the more he realizes this fierce rodeo girl may be offering him the one thing he never could find on his own.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Cowboy Romance, Adult, Sports

380 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 2, 2016

About the author

Kari Lynn Dell is a native of north central Montana, a third generation ranch-raised cowgirl, horse trainer and rodeo competitor, most recently the 2017 Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Breakaway Roping season champion. She attended her first rodeo at two weeks old and has existed in a state of horse-induced poverty ever since. She currently resides on the family ranch on the Blackfeet Reservation, loitering in her parents’ bunkhouse along with her husband, son and Max and Spike the Cowdogs, with a tipi on the front step, a view of Glacier National Park from her writing desk and Canada within spitting distance.

Come visit at KariLynnDell.com and sign up for the newsletter to get first shot at early releases, special prizes and bonus content, and keep current on what's next on the publication front

Reviews

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2adzmlp

Fantastic characters with amazing chemistry, a little heat, the excitement of the rodeo. Reckless in Texas hit all my yummy cowboy lovin' spots.

The quick of it is that Violet and her family's rodeo is in need of a new bullfighter after theirs was injured so she hires a man named Shorty to take his place. Instead? Joe shows up to take his place. He's a world renowned bullfighter and way out of her rodeo's league but he's needing a break from the people he usually works for so he's there for a few weeks to lend a hand...and any other body part she might need. Ready for it or not...life's about to change for both of them.

Joe and Violet. Oh these two. They rubbed each other wrong there at the start and it was kinda fun to watch. I know. I'm bad. But I loved the tension between them and watching it turn from irritation to lust and actually liking the other. They're both passionate about the rodeo and both a little damaged when it comes to relationships. Now and again I just wanted to give em both a good shake and a 'use your words!' command but really they were fun. I liked seeing them working together at the rodeo and dealing with each other during down time. She's a single mom so there were bits with her kid as well that could be pretty funny or sweet.

Heat-wise, lordy. Blue balls abound! Heh These two just could not seal the deal. It was terrible! And yes I may have laughed a little at it too. Either interruptions or getting inside their own heads and well it just took them a while...

The rodeo aspect was really fun. He's a bull fighter and she's a pick up man. It was neat seeing the behind the scenes happenings and, whew, Dell really pulled me into the action and emotion of the rodeo. I could feel the excitement when everything was going perfect and things were clicking. And the moments when things were off or when sheer panic hit when things went wrong absolutely gripped me. It's impact on their lives was interesting as well. Dealing with personalities, careers, livelihoods. It was all a great setting to their romance.

All in all, Dell hands down got my attention. Reckless in Texas was, erm, cowboylicious? heh Yes, yes, it was. And I'm ready for more. There were some secondary characters that totally caught my eye. Can't wait!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reckless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell is a 2016 Sourcebooks Casablanca publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reckless in Texas is an incredibly authentic contemporary western romance. The life on the rodeo circuit, the dangerous, but very important job of a pickup man, and the financial uncertainties, all combine to give readers an up close and personal look at this way of life. It’s very hard work, and is only glamourous for an instant. It can mean hard living, and hard loving, and holding relationships together can be a challenge.

The author captures this so well, while still giving us a sweet and sassy romance between Joe and Violet. When Joe rolls into town, he’s got an arrogance about him, thinking he is doing Violet this big favor, and he behaves so badly. But, watching Violet handle herself, seeing how she is with her son, how seriously she takes her job and how much her family cares for her, makes Joe want to be a better man.

Violet has made her share of mistakes, and is now a single mom, so overworked she meets herself coming and going. Joe has given her that feeling again… the one she needs to watch out for, because Violet tends to find herself attracted to trouble. But, Joe feels the need to show Violet how a real man treats a lady. But, will Violet be able to accept his love or will her fear overrule her heart?

I really liked how Violet was a female ‘pickup man’, and her fierce independence. She owns up to her mistakes, can laugh at herself, was pretty funny too. Her problem is learning to take different types of risks, ones involving her work and of course with her heart.

For Joe, he epitomized the cocky, bad boy cowboy at first. Oh, my goodness, have I seen that exact swagger and attitude a thousand times! So, I loved watching Joe fall for Violet and mature as a person even though he had me worried there for a while. Courting Violet was super sweet and funny, but he was actually pretty good at it. Joe helps Violet see things on a bigger and wider scale, opening up a way for her to achieve her goals and make her dreams come true.

Overall, I enjoyed Joe and Violet’s love story and will definitely read more books by this author.

4 stars

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars to Reckless in Texas!

'His eyes were green. The colour of luck, and money, and the other side of the fence.'

"The trouble with you, Voilet, is you've got a head for business and a heart for thrills, and as far as i can tell, the two of them aren't on speaking terms."

An authentic, western contemporary romance that has a real respect and regard for rodeo. With realistic struggles, a special eye for atmospheric detail, a steady build-up and veritable story writing, we're brought two standing protagonists in the form of a bullfighter with a lot of baggage and a headstrong pick-up lady who both aspire for the hard-worked dreams that are slipping them by the wayside.

Time to lasso up and get reckless in Texas!


F A V O U R I T E - Q U O T E S:

"Everybody's got their eye on Joe, and after that mess in Hickory Springs, the last thing i need is to draw more attention to my love life."
Melanie snorted. "Honey, you don't have a love life. You have a series of unfortunate events."

"The problem isn't that you're dating the wrong guys, Violet. It's that you won't accept that you're a sucker for the renegades, and you refuse to meet them on the dark side."

"The point is, some people are good at being bad. If you're gonna dance with the devil, you should let him lead."

'It was impossible to save the day if a woman didn't have the basic damnd decency to show up for her own rescue.'

'Violet got her mulish look. "You have no idea how hard it is to find good bras." Thank God. Joe could see why women were tough to figure out sometimes. It must be hard to be reasonable when you were being tortured by your own underwear.'

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[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reckless in Texas is book one in the Texas Rodeo series by Kari Lynn Dell.

Well this was my first Dell novel and I had a pleasant time. I felt like I was on a working farm as well as a working rodeo. It brought back memories of visiting and watching the local rodeo when it was in town.

Joe and Violet. These two didn’t hit it off and rubbed each other wrong from their first meet. I just loved that first meeting. It was a laughable scene in the novel involving a kid, water, and mud. The tension between them was fun to see it turn from irritation to lust and then to liking each other. Both are passionate about the rodeo and both are a little damaged when it comes to relationships. I liked seeing them work together at the rodeo and on their down time. As for Violet, she is a single-mom, but she has her family to help her and the kids dad is a family friend, so no bad feelings their, so we do get to meet her kid and those moments where sweet and funny. I will say I would have liked more interaction with Violets kid and Joe or with them all three together. We don’t really get that aspect and I wanted to see them come together their.

I loved the rodeo aspect. As I said it brought back memories. It was neat to see behind the rodeo scenes of what happens. I could feel the excitement like I was sitting in the stands or waiting on the side lines. The impact the rodeo has in their lives was well done.

And, last I’ve got to say these two had some really funny moments in the intimate department. Can I just say Blue Balls!!! They just couldn’t seal the deal. They had the worst luck every with interruptions or other things and it just took them a while to get their.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters we meet. They where sweet and help bring the story along. We can’t all go it alone and we need our family and friends to stand by us.

I had a delightful time with Reckless in Texas and I'm looking forward to picking up more books in the Texas Rodeo series.

Rated: 3.5 Stars

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reckless in Texas was such a powerhouse of a read, and this book completely swept me away. I couldn't believe that I had waited so long to read this book. This has been on my TBR since 2016!! And even though I love me some cowboys, I am not sure why it took so long to pick her up, but I saw this one available on my library catalog (and yes I know its in KU) but didn't realize until after I had grabbed it from my local library. From the first moment, I was completely swept away by this story. There was something so balanced in this book and normally most angst romances just aren't like this at all. There was this light balance of humor that was so well done. I was really drawn into the relationship dynamics of this story. We have both characters that are athletes of sorts, and I liked that this one wasn't the typical cowboy romance. We have a hero that basically plays with BULLS haha not a risky sport at all. But I loved his relationship with our lady. They definitely get into it, but I fell like all the way through the story we get to see these hidden depths to the characters that are just hidden so much of the time. We also see them learning to rebuild trust not only in each other but in themselves and their decisions.

I am definitely seeing why so many readers fell in love with these books, and you can bet that I will be reading more of this series.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just LOVED, LOVED this book by Kari Lynn Dell. She knows her rodeo, knows the lingo, and can deliver one tremendous great story. Restless in Texas was everything and so much more, one excellent book. And the humor was priceless.
Her detail in describing scenes was spot on and so graphic, It literally catapulted me into every setting. Whether it was the perfect description of West Texas landscape or the rodeo arena, she transformed me into the world I grew up knowing all my life, rodeo.
Violet a single mom who grew up in a stock contractor world, the only lady pickup man in the PRCA and one tough lady, who doesn't back down from protecting the cowboys in the arena.
Joe a world class bullfighter is dealing with his own demons, trying to figure what future he should embrace as he walks away from the only home he's ever known.
As their worlds collide they each must learn to trust and love what they have tried to resist, finding their life partner and one true love.
This book was just outstanding and I can't wait to read Tangled In Texas. Kari Lynn Dell is phenomenal.

[Kahea · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

It looks like the roulette wheel has been kind to me once again. Reckless in Texas is my first book by Kari Lynn Dell and I absolutely LOVED it! Once I started it I had a difficult time putting it down (I had to because of that work thing, but thank god for phone app’s) and finished it in one day. The story is sweet, funny and sexy with just enough drama to keep things interesting and the further I got into the story, the more I wanted know about all of the characters that I got to meet along the way.

Joe and Violet drove me just a little batshit crazy and yet I ended up loving them both. Joe is all cowboy hotness. He has the sexy swagger, hot as sin looks, cockiness that tests the lines of arrogance and the good ‘ole boy charm that’ll make you swoon. But beneath it all is a man who has a huge phobia of being in a committed relationship, which there is some basis for, and quite honestly relationships in general though the few he does have are due to the people ensuring that he can’t get rid of them. He has one true love and even that love is fraught with issues. And though he tries his damnedest to keep people at arm’s length the good and compassionate heart he tries to hide gets the best of him and he ends up doing little things that prove that he wants to make connections, but just doesn’t want to admit to it.

Violet is what I would envision a true blue Texas cowgirl would be like: Strong, sassy, independent, loves the land she was raised on and loves her family even more. She also loves being apart of the family stock contracting business, though she knows in her heart that with the stock that they have they could do so much more than what they have been doing, and is one hell of a pickup man/lady in the arena. But she has a bit of a long standing internal debate going on. She prides herself on being a responsible woman, especially because of her son Beni, but her heart wants her to run wild and she can’t seem to balance out the two. This has her wanting to take chances and yet control the outcome, which never seems to go well for her and causes her to become more self conscious of what she feels she should do versus what she wants to do.

The best way to explain Joe and Violet’s relationship is as an enemies to lovers style romance. These two got off on the wrong foot and for a time antagonized each other whenever they could, mostly because the strong attraction they felt for each other threw them both for a loop, but soon that changed and they started to get to know one another which turned their mutual antagonism into a grudging respect each other and then more. There was a lot of push/pull, denial, cluelessness and failure to communicate, which did drive me a little batshit, but when they were open and honest with each other they worked so well together I couldn’t help but root for them to get their shit together and accept what was right in front of them. Also, thank God for their friends and family for giving them both the ass kickings they so desperately needed to move things along!

I really enjoyed the author’s voice and writing style and the dual 3rd person POV was very well done. I really enjoyed the attention to detail about the stock and what goes on with getting a rodeo set up and the events that take place because I was able to visualize what was taking place as I was reading. But my favorite aspect was how well written the supporting cast of characters were. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and want more. My hands down favorites were Wyatt and Beni. And though I want Wyatt’s book like yesterday, I’m not upset that Delon is next up in the chute because that definitely means more time with Beni and that Wyatt will hopefully make an appearance or two.

~ ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

[Donna Repsher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review and here it is: 2 stars.

This is the first novel I've read by this author, and I'm a fan of rodeo and cowboy romances, and although this novel features both, and while this author shows promise, I found it very slow going. The novel starts off with more characters than one can easily keep straight, and while I know the difference between bullriders and bullfighters, I don't know that everyone who picks up this novel will, and since there really isn't a great explanation of the difference, there probably should be. Additionally, the relationships between all these characters is unclear, are they related to one another or just friends, employers or employees? Further, I was more than 30% through the ARC before the two main characters, Violet and Joe even agree go on a date, and I felt no connection to either character. Yawn!

While I think many readers of cowboy romance will not be bothered by the aforementioned issues, I found that this story just dragged along and although I managed to finish reading it, I'd have preferred that it not be an ARC, and that I did not feel obligated to finish reading it.

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Kari Lynn Dell
and I just loved it. I'm so excited that I have the next two books lined up to read! She definitely will be a go to author for me. It made my heart happy and was an awesome feel good book to read. I can't wait to read the rest of the series now.

Being from Texas and growing up in places like the Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville, Texas, this book was an awesome rodeo based book to read. The rodeo jargon is spot on and everything is described in such accurate detail that I could visualize everything that was going on, right down to the bull rider wrapping the tail of the rope around his hand and readying himself to ride. Such details make this book awesome. Now I wish I had been a pick-up man or even a female Bullfighter!

Violet Jacobs is the only female pick up man in the Rodeo world and she's great at her job. She a single mom that is the brains of her families rodeo contracting company. Her son, family, proving shes one of the best pickup men in the business and making Jacobs Livestock a World renowned rodeo contractor business is her life. She has no intention of letting a man in her life at this point because it always ends up a disaster and she has no intention of letting a man break her heart. She's happy with her life just the way it is, at least until the Bullfighter she hired sends a replacement to Jacob's Livestock. The replacement is world renowned and her five year old sons favorite Bullfighter. Cassidy is too good to be working for Jacobs in these smaller rodeos so why is he and why does he make Violet feel things she never felt before when he's near her.

Joe Cassidy is a World Class Bullfighter that is well known and loved in the Rodeo world. He's lived and worked at the High Lonesome for 15 years, half of his life. Joe can't picture himself anywhere else, he loves the land and has put so much into his life there. Joe has had a hard life when it comes to personal relationships. An absentee father and a mother that's been married over and over has made Joe a man that doesn't want to be involved in a relationship. He's afraid of being hurt, being left with a broken heart, afraid of rejection. The problem is he's just never came across the right lady until he escapes to Texas to get away from his boss and to clear his head. Little does Joe known his whole world is fixing to change and he's fixing to want things that he thought he'd never want in his life.

You'll fall in love with these characters and if you do not know much about the Rodeo World you will after this book. A must read!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Reckless in Texas didn't initially grab me. I didn't get a romantic connection between Joe and Violet . They had an easy report but I didn't feel their spark.

The spark finally hit me half way throughout the book. The characters connected and I felt their chemistry. The wanting, needing of each other. The pain and sadness when it ended. I was in tears when tragedy occurred and the happiness when they reunited.

The secondary characters were sweet and helped with the storyline and carry the book. I was hoping for a little more development ight some but hopeful that there will be other books for these characters.

In the end I liked the book and found it to be an enjoyable read. It can be read by anyone looking for a little bit of romance.
Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Linda Broday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can't say enough about this contemporary western romance. Kari Lynn Dell, being a rodeo competitor for many years, definitely has the knowledge concerning the rodeo, things the normal attendee would never know. Plus she's a darn skillful writer! I loved Violet and Joe and their slow burn to the big love scene. She had me yearning for it with the turn of every page. I knew it was coming and the wait was sure worth it. When that passion and love exploded, it rocked me back on my feet! Wow! Believe me, this story doesn't drag anywhere. The pacing is excellent, the characters pop from the page, and the plot kept me entertained. This story is funny with some serious moments. Violet has such a snarky humor.

[Hebby Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Rodeo Magic!
Kari Lynn Dell's book will immerse you completely in the behind-the-scenes world of rodeo! She captures the sounds, the smells, even the very "tastes" of rodeo with her awesome scenes and attention to detail. And on top of all that rodeo magic, she delivers characters who are so real-to-life, you could reach out and touch them! I loved her heroine and hero, especially, but the secondary characters, especially a charming 5 year old boy were all were-drawn and easy to get to know. If you like cowboys, rodeoes, and all things western, this is the book for you!

[Ali]

dnf @ 77pages, bored.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet is a young mother with a terrible track record when it comes to relationships. She might not have a perfect personal life, but she's great at her job, she loves working as a pickup man at rodeos. She enjoys sharing responsibilities with her family, but Jacobs Livestock can use some extra funds. Violet is trying to come up with an idea that will make the business a success again. When she needs a bullfighter for a short period of time, Joe Cassidy shows up. Joe isn't the person she intended to hire, but he's good, so she decides to let him stay. Joe is in Texas to get a break from a crazy situation. Will working with Violet and her family be good for him?

Joe doesn't want to stay in Texas, but being alone and independent quickly loses its appeal when he spends time with Violet. Joe finds himself in a difficult position and having some distance will hopefully help him to put things into perspective. He's a great bullfighter, but the rest of his life is a mess. It's time to make plans for the future, but where will Joe go after the rodeos with Violet and her family, will there be a place for him again with the man he used to work for or will his heart push him in a different direction?

Reckless in Texas is a fantastic romantic story. I loved reading about the rodeos, the work that's being done to make them happen and the, thrills, risks and dangers of the profession. Violet is a tough woman with a fiery personality. She hides her vulnerability behind a fierce attitude and I admired her spirit. I loved how she earns respect everywhere she goes. Her love life is complex and so far she hasn't been lucky when it comes to relationships, but she does have a wonderful son. She's a package deal and Joe is a loner. I was curious to see how that would work out and couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to follow the development of their bond. Joe has a kind heart, he's a strong, handsome and sometimes reckless man and he doesn't know much about relationships. I found it incredibly courageous that he's trying something new and makes people love him straight away. There's plenty of chemistry between Joe and Violet, but their circumstances are far from ideal, which turns their love story into a fascinating journey.

Kari Lynn Dell has a fabulous descriptive writing style and it's clear she knows what she's writing about. I could easily picture the rodeos, the business side of Jacobs Livestock and the sacrifices that need to be made to be successful. Kari Lynn Dell combines this with a rural setting in Texas that is absolutely amazing. I was mesmerized by the thrilling aspects of being part of a rodeo. I liked the no nonsense main characters a lot as well, they certainly suit the theme. Reckless in Texas is entertaining and dynamic. It's a terrific story about true love, second chances in life and heartwarming friendship. I highly recommend this gorgeous book.

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (7/6/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Texas Homecoming

Violet Jacobs is fearless. At least, that's what the cowboys she snatches from under the hooves of bucking horses think. Outside the ring, she's got plenty of worries rattling her bones: her young son, her mess of a love life, and lately, her family's struggling rodeo. When she takes business into her own hands and hires on a hotshot bullfighter, she expects to start a ruckus. She never expected Joe Cassidy. Rough and tumble, cocky and charming, Joe's everything a superstar should be-and it doesn't take a genius to figure out he's way out of Violet's league.

Joe came to Texas to escape a life spiraling out of control. He never planned on sticking around, and he certainly never expected to call this dry and dusty backwaterhome. But Violet is everything he never knew he was missing, and the deeper he's pulled into her beautiful mess of a family, the more he realizes this fierce rodeo girl may be offering him the one thing he never could find on his own.

[Shan ~A~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet Jacobs and Joe Cassidy.

So I finished this a few days ago and now trying to write this review is hard because I'm struggling to remember anything that happened.

I liked some things. How strong Violet is as woman, mother, friend, daughter, sister, and doing her kickass job.

I liked the interaction between Joe and Beni. Beni is one of the most precocious kids I've read about in a while. If he could con you to get what he wants, he definitely will.

I didn't like Joes continued loyalty to someone who treated him like crap, and I also thought the transition between Joe and Violet admitting their attraction for one another was rather abrupt.

[Glenda Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now have another favorite author to add to my list and boy howdy is she a great one!!!! Reckless in Texas is one of the best Rodeo Cowboy books I read yet!! Well written and never even once did I become bored with this book. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Joe and Violet had me cheering them on from the start. The humor had me at times literally laughing loudly out loud. This book’s secondary characters are even great!! I could go on and on singing the praises of this book but I got stop for the next book in this series is waiting for me to read. This author and this series is not to be missed!!

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like reading books that mention places I've lived and been to... how many people know where Yakima is! Ellensburg Rodeo is quite the place to be. She did a good job explaining what the bull fighters did. And lil Beni, quite the character for a kid.

[Sarah]

18th June 2019: this is currently free on kindle. No idea how long the deal will last so grab it while you can if you’re interested

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I woke up two mornings ago with a need to revisit the Texas Rodeo series. I will re-listen to the first three books, and am not certain if I‘ll do the rest, too, as I have read those closer to today, and they are ... slightly darker? The Hank storyline especially is a difficult one. But I will revisit it in the future for sure. The series as a whole is a masterpiece, and I will forever be sad about the author dying so young :-(

I really like Violet and her family. They feel very real, with flaws and everything. She is such a strong, competent women, and still struggles - as we all do - with some issues. Joe is very likable, if a bit more messed up, but it feels like he is worth the risk, and also willing to pull his weight in the relationship, when he finally dares to commit to it.

He dresses so badly, though. I‘d never had thought this would bother me in a book. But no worries. Violet still finds him hot, and that is all that counts.

Original review from two years ago:

This was for me. My 1995 trip to the States with my newly wedded husband turned accidentally into a Rodeo tour. The harsh, foreign world of that sport has fascinated me ever since. And this book brings it all back, from a writer who clearly knows what she is talking about. She reminds me of a modern Kathleen Eagle, who until now was my favorite writer on the subject of Rodeo romances.

I enjoyed every aspect of the story, suffered with the main characters and cried over the happy end.

It was kind of strange seeing the insecurity in such a seemingly tough and capable man - but that made it all the more heartbreaking to watch.

The heroine was lovely, too, with her competence, her romcom moments and her not at all tiny body.

She did her own saving, with a little help from her friends.

I also liked how the way women in the Rodeo world are treated was addressed.

I am eager to read about all the other people mentioned. So glad this is a series.

Excellent audio narration.

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

synopsis: Violet and her family are stock contractors for rodeos in Texas. They provide the stock, the rodeo personell (Violet is a pickup rider), the equipment, etc, etc. When one of the bullfighters is injured, Violet takes the opportunity to try and get a younger bullfighter in who will bring in some leadership qualities. She hires one, but the guy who shows up is definitely not who she hired. Joe is a pro bullfighter who works the big rodeos. After he is told off by his boss, his partner convinces Joe to go to Texas in place of the bullfighter who was originally hired. Joe does, and is met with a rodeo that's smaller than he's used to, and to people who actually act like a family, instead of like entitled jerks.
On the off days, Violet and the entire crew travel home to their ranch, and Joe, while missing the ranch that he basically grew up on, does his share of work, and asks Violet out on a date. As Violet and Joe get closer, they have to deal with a semi-jealous one night stand, Violet's young son, and Violet's propensity for getting into messes.

What I liked: that, as far as I could tell, the rodeo behind the scenes was spot on. I liked that the cowboys and ranches felt real, as did the characters. I liked Violet, and how she lived with her choices in a grown up manner. I liked that Joe was true to himself and his character. I liked Joe and Violet together, and I liked that they did communicate, but that the communication was misunderstood because they weren't reading between the lines, not because they were being ridiculous caricatures. The characters all felt as though they could be people that I would meet in real life, without the huge drama and excess that seems to be so prevalent in a lot of romance stories. I liked the subtle humour that was also real life.

What I didn't like: nothing.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

bouncing between 1.5 and 2.

summers are for fluffy contemporary romances and when I had a chance to snag a review copy of this one I didn't hesitate. unfortunately I never found myself emotionally invested in these characters and ultimately skimmed the final few chapters, just so I could finally be done.

For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

[Lorelei Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all three books to this series! I think Book one was the funniest. Book two the serious one and book three the most thought provoking. All the characters come to life in this series and makes me want to go to a rodeo.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, great book. Love the book, the storyline and the people in the book. Was great to see Beni and Joe get along. What about a book on Joe's best friend Wyatt needs a storyline. How about Wyatt and Melanie being put toether.

[Elizabeth H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by Kari Lynn Dell and it totally rocked! It was entertaining, informative, exciting and heartfelt.

First off, I want to congratulate this the author. She is a cancer survivor and continued to write this book all throughout her treatments. I greatly admire your courage and strength and pray you remain cancer-free!

RECKLESS IN TEXAS was not anything like I was expecting. I thought this book would be about another cocky rodeo circuit rider with women in every town and not a care in the world for anyone or anything. And I’m glad I was wrong.

Joe is a bullfighter; he helps distract the bulls when a bull rider gets into trouble. He’s not just some buckle-bunny chasin’ cowboy. He has a strong sense of loyalty and pride in his profession. He has respect for the rodeo sport and for animals. But Joe also has a lot of baggage from growing up in a broken home, which causes his inability to create meaningful relationships, whether it be familial, romantic or even platonic.

Violet is a tough-as-nails pickup man(lady); which is a horseback rider that rides in to help bareback, bronc and bull riders get away from danger faster. She is part owner in her family’s rodeo business and has an adorable son that’s five going on 35.

When one of the bullfighters in her rodeo gets hurt, Violet scrambles to find a replacement to finish out the season’s events. What Violet doesn’t expect is that the guy she just hired has switched places with Joe Cassidy, a well-known and seasoned bullfighter with a smirk on his face and a hop in his step. This man could charm the jewels off a crown…and Violet is finding him very, very hard to resist.

I really enjoyed the story. I loved learning about the behind-the-scenes action of a rodeo and how important the animals are and the importance of bullfighters and pickup men. I felt this aspect gave the story so much more depth. I also loved Violet. She’s strong, self-sufficient, hardworking and I admired her so much. I want to be her. Well, maybe without all her intimacy mishaps! Which ranged from the slightly mild to the MMA cage action style.

I though Joe was a strong character and I did like him, but I found myself drawn to Violet’s quiet cousin, Cole. I hope he gets a book! And if so, *note to the author: Elizabeth would be a great name for his heroine! Just saying :)

The secondary characters were awesome. I love Joe’s best friend Wyatt. He is charismatic, way too smart to be a bullfighter and he seemed to have supernatural powers with all the things he was able to accomplish. I’m definitely curious about the lady that will capture his eye. He surely deserves a happily ever after.

Violet also has a friendly relationship with her son’s father Delon. They parent Beni (their son) well and it was nice to see. Some serious things happened at the end of this book that greatly affect Delon in the next one and I’m very interested to learn more about him, his brother Gil and the rest of the Sanchez family.

Overall, this is a solid story with strong characters, great chemistry and a lot of heart.

***I want to thank the publisher for generously offering me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet Jacobs is a single mom to a four year old, her family breed bulls and she and her cousin Cole are pickup men at local rodeos, she dreams of expanding but her father seems set on doing same-old same old. When their bullfighter is injured for the rest of the season she hires a new one with hopes he might make it permanent.

Joe Cassidy is one of the best bullfighters around but he has a testy relationship with Dick Browning, the owner of Browning Ranch and rodeo, who also happens to be Joe's boss. When Dick fires Joe, JOe's best friend Wyatt decides to get Joe away from Dick by getting him to swap assignments with the bullfighter who was going to work for Jacobs Livestock.

Sparks are flying aplenty between Violet and Joe but she has a history of mistakes with the hot shot bad boys and isn't going to make another.

This book contains more detail about rodeo and bull riding than many other books I have read, I still have to say I didn't understand much of it but that didn't take away my enjoyment - it's on me because I've never seen bull riding, not even on TV, so it's an alien world.

Anyway this is a slow burn kind of romance, more women's fiction, the characters are well drawn and interesting, I will definitely read others in this series.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay for library books and new author discoveries!

This book was cute, frustrating, and had some pretty funny moments! With the rodeo backdrop, I felt like this was in my neck of the woods and could relate to the atmosphere and locale easily.

As a couple, Joe and Violet don’t hit it off at all at the start, but as their lives tangled with their jobs, things progressively started looking up for them. However, romantically speaking, things moved really slow. Joe was stuck with the requisite blue balls. You name it, it happens! I’ve never seen two people with more blocks, lol! From interruptions, Violet’s son, or just Joe’s own self working against him, just wow. So things don’t get fulfilled until the way latter part of the story. The interruptions were actually pretty funny and although I felt sorry for the two of them, I admit to smiling at their unfortunate situations a few times.

I though this was a cute summer read and plan to pick up Deleon’s story.

[Roni Denholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent cowboy-rodeo romance by Kari Lynn Dell. She knows this world inside and out, and it shows in her books. The characters are very real, their emotions vivid, and her descriptions of the action sparkle. She was a fantastic writer, and I am so sad that she has passed. Her stories, though, will live on!

[Prashanth Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!
A cow boy type story. Which has a vibe of Jack Reacher.

The protagonist came there because his life was spinning out of control. He has no plan to stay there
He is charming and handsome. And he attracts.
And then her problems become his

He is now in a maze. In which confronting them Is the only solution.


I loved the writing. It feels good . guilty pleasure novel

[Kame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboys and rodeo

I like the characters and a bunch of the secondary ones too

I borrowed this from the library with the Overdrive app, I would borrow others from this series