Changing A Cowboy's Tune

Rodeo Road #1

by Stephanie Berget

When her fiancé demands Mavis abandon her goal of barrel racing at the National Finals Rodeo, she chooses to follow her dream and loses the man she adores.

Dex wants nothing more than to marry the woman he loves and build a future on his family’s ranch, but when he pushes her to settle into life as a mother and rancher's wife, she bolts.

Years apart haven’t dampened their desire, but can they see past their own dreams for the future and invent a life they both love?

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2018

About the author

Stephanie Berget was born loving horses and found her way to rodeo when she married her own, hot cowboy. She and her husband traveled throughout the Northwest while she ran barrels and her cowboy rode bucking horses. She started writing to put a realistic view of rodeo and ranching into western romance. Stephanie and her husband live on a farm, located along the Oregon/Idaho border. They raise hay, horses and cattle, with the help of Dizzy Dottie, the Border Collie and Big Al, team roping horse extraordinaire.

Reviews

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Always Belonged Together💘

Modern Second Chance Western Romance💕

Mavis has been on the road with her barrel mare, Tuneful, for a few years. She disappeared into the national barrel circuit after her breakup with rancher and rodeo bronc rider, Dex.

Dex never wanted to let her go, he hoped she'd agree to settle down to ranch life and they would rodeo in weekends. Not to be.
Mavis has some kind of chip in her shoulder that is weighing her down. Dex is doing his best to bring her back around to seeing them as a couple, including buying a fancy bred gelding for her to train on barrels. He just hasn't told her yet that the horse belongs to him!

ARC Received from Hidden 💎Gems.
I also got the book with KU.
This is a novella and a sweet romance.

I thought this was a well written representation of modern rodeo life. I rode in many rodeos over the years as crowd entertainment between the broncs and the bulls, usually.
For contestants and entertainers, it's all hurry up and wait, just for a few seconds or minutes of being in the arena. But I have lots of great memories!

There is some angst in this book, but Dex, to his everlasting credit, never gives up!

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning of the story we meet the two main characters Mavis, who dreams of winning the national barrel racing championship, and Dex, who is also in the Rodeo circuit. They had a long history and where high school sweethearts until an event separated them for 6 years. The story starts with them meeting up after 6 years.

I enjoyed the story and would give it 3 stars. The story line was good. The positive is that it is a HEA. The story line is believable in that it is not an instant romance. It did have the makings of a Hallmark/Lifetime movie. Hallmark and Lifetime movies are my hidden addiction because they are predictable but still has the capability to make me cry when the climax hits. I love that I logically I know it will be a HEA, but my emotions are like nooooo don’t do something stupid.

Now the reason that it is ranked a 3 is because the characters fell flat. I felt no growth from Mavis and Dex. The only character that I felt any growth from was Nana Lucy and it felt like it was thrown in as an afterthought. This story had great potential, but more details needed to be added to the characters to give them personality that I could relate to more. That is the whole purpose in reading a romance story to fall in love with the characters and that did not happen to me.

Finally, I felt that the timeline was not developed especially with her switching between characters point of view. Don’t get me wrong I love when authors have dual point of view but reading Mavis’s point of view, I felt like days have passed and then Dex it felt like hours. I was confused in the timeline of events.

Overall it was an ok story but not one that I would keep in my library to re-read the story again. I was given an advance copy of the book for my honest review.

review can be found on my link text

[Patricia Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mavis and Dex have known each like forever. Mavis is a rodeo barrel racer with a passion for her lifestyle and her horse. Mavis is a very independent outspoken woman. She does what she likes and doesn't let anybody dictate to her. Mavis has returned home after a long absence; but she's not staying long it's just a visit. Dex is a former rodeo bronc rider who made the decision to leave the rodeo to stay home and run his father's ranch. His father is in a home with a declining health issue and his grandmother (Nana) is at the ranch taking care of the house. The storyline continues with Dex trying to reconnect with Mavis romantically. It seems most of the town is interested but Dex's grandmother is not happy. The story continues with plenty of action between Mavis and Dex, not all of it is happy as the two constantly have a clash of wills. The story does comes to a HEA as things from the past become resolved.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is entertaining and interesting. Dex is a charming, amusing and gentle man who puts his grandmother's wants first in his life. Mavis is a strong, independent and determined woman. They fell in love when they were teenagers, but when it came to their future Dex wanted her to be what his grandmother said she should be, so he gave Mavis an ultimatum, she gave her dream or she gave up him. She chose to follow her dream. Six years have passed and they run into each other. Dex wants to know why she left town and didn't back, Mavis wants to know why he didn't love her enough to choose her over his grandmother. The love they had as teens has never died and they have a hard time fighting it, but they still face the same issues. Dex is a stubborn, stupid man has hasn't learned anything, but he doesn't want to give her up again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hidden Gems. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Kimkbries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance story. Dex and Mavis were together at nineteen when something happened and she left. Now she is back. Has too much time past or is love still there? I enjoyed as they both found where their heart belonged. Dex frustrated me until he finally stood up for himself and followed his heart. I liked that is was a storyline about around the rodeo as I have not read too many of those

[Tracey Tranter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good old Cowboy book and stories about second chance romance.

This book is well written and had a great story line with some interesting twists. There are some heart-warming and heartbreaking moments to keep it interesting.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Hidden Gems

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good second chance romance. I really enjoy these types of stories. In this one we have Mavis and Dex. When they were younger Dex had wanted to marry her. However, she wanted to follow her dreams. After several years they come across each other again. They of course realize they never got over each other and finally get their HEA.

[Dawn Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Changing A Cowboy’s Tune was a story of young love that takes a turn and sends them apart. Now years later they come back together but are they ready to get past the past. If you enjoy a fun and entertaining story with cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo this is the story for you. A well developed story with some great characters. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

This is my first book by this author and I must say I was not disappointed at all. The descriptions of the events pulled me into the book and had me feeling like I was there. I loved reading about the rodeo, cowboys and lost love. A little saucy but not an over kill. I am looking forward to reading the rest in this series. Highly recommended this book!

[Reader43 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet second chance tale

After six years of separation, Dex and Mavis find themselves back home together. Misunderstandings from the past has to be faced and cleared. A sweet romance. For those who enjoy westerns, rodeos, and second chances.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully sweet read! It has a great storyline; interesting characters; lots of rodeo planning and action; and a hard won HEA. Put this one on your TBR today! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it to be a really sweet read.) ❤️

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written second chance story of two people who went their separate ways six years ago because of an argument. I enjoyed reading this story this is the first book by this Author that I have read. I relieved a copy of this book and I am leaving an Honest and voluntary review.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance story. Mavis and Dex were young when they first fell in love and not experienced enough to weather the hard times. Six years later, can they overcome this time?

I really liked these characters as well as their friends and family.

[Robert Enns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Stephanie is teaching me about rodeo and barrel racing and I’m finding a new field of interest I knew nothing much about. Went to the Calgary Stampede as a kid but had to leave early. My little brother saw a horse fall and started to cry inconsolably.

[Jodie Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Loved this story, great little reads.
Enjoy your cowboy rodeo stories and will definitely be reading the next one! I think I'm just over halfway through all the books you have written!