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Eight Seconds to Fly
Tessa May Everett had grown up loving four things in life; bull riding, her father and her best frenemies, Branch and Beau.
But in less than eight seconds, she'd lost all four things and the single most important person in her life.
Four years later, Tessa May is back and ready to reclaim her dreams. She was going to be the first woman to compete on the professional bull riding circuit, and nothing was going to stop her. Not the Boys Club that already held her to a different standard. Not the other riders who looked at her with barely veiled contempt. And certainly not the reappearance of her former crushes and now rivals.
With her best friend Frankie at her side, Tessa May was going to do what she'd dreamed of since she was a little girl; ride rank bulls in front of cheering crowds.
And if she happened to ride a few cowboys on the way? Even better.
*Warning* This book may contain strong themes that some readers find disturbing or confronting and reader discretion is advised.
But in less than eight seconds, she'd lost all four things and the single most important person in her life.
Four years later, Tessa May is back and ready to reclaim her dreams. She was going to be the first woman to compete on the professional bull riding circuit, and nothing was going to stop her. Not the Boys Club that already held her to a different standard. Not the other riders who looked at her with barely veiled contempt. And certainly not the reappearance of her former crushes and now rivals.
With her best friend Frankie at her side, Tessa May was going to do what she'd dreamed of since she was a little girl; ride rank bulls in front of cheering crowds.
And if she happened to ride a few cowboys on the way? Even better.
*Warning* This book may contain strong themes that some readers find disturbing or confronting and reader discretion is advised.
420 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2020
472 people are currently reading
2824 people want to read
About the author
Grace McGinty
64 books2,201 followersWhen I was nine, my grandmother and her friends used to read and swap Harlequin Mills and Boons novels. When I was busted reading one, they started sneaking me boxes full of strong heroines and rugged men. Thus started a long love affair with the romance genre.
Then I discovered urban fantasy, and fell in love with broody Alphas and sexy paranormals, and combining them together was a no brainer.
Then I discovered Reverse Harem.... Oh my. Why choose, am I right?
Then I discovered urban fantasy, and fell in love with broody Alphas and sexy paranormals, and combining them together was a no brainer.
Then I discovered Reverse Harem.... Oh my. Why choose, am I right?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
dnf-nope
March 6, 2023Can’t read. Skimmed through a little of it though.
They’ve known each other since kids yet they still fuck others. Two of them have shared a women once or twice and that’s a no no in my books especially if you’re gonna say the heroine was the only person who served to be between you two.
I prefer books where they haven’t shared a girl before so this wasn’t really safe for me.
No virgins (that I know of)
One hasn’t had sex in a year, one has never had sex without protection and I don’t know about the others.
They’ve known each other for so long, have been in love with each other yet they continue to have sex with others?! Authors need to stop writing this trope because it’s getting on my nerves. Some of them give off the manwhore vibe too🤮
“I’d think he was gay if he didn’t chase every buckle bunny this side of the Alamo.”
Yeah no. I’ll pass on this one. I was really hoping this would be safe since I’ve been dying to read a bull rider why choose romance but no. Maybe next time though😕
They’ve known each other since kids yet they still fuck others. Two of them have shared a women once or twice and that’s a no no in my books especially if you’re gonna say the heroine was the only person who served to be between you two.
I prefer books where they haven’t shared a girl before so this wasn’t really safe for me.
No virgins (that I know of)
One hasn’t had sex in a year, one has never had sex without protection and I don’t know about the others.
They’ve known each other for so long, have been in love with each other yet they continue to have sex with others?! Authors need to stop writing this trope because it’s getting on my nerves. Some of them give off the manwhore vibe too🤮
“I’d think he was gay if he didn’t chase every buckle bunny this side of the Alamo.”
Yeah no. I’ll pass on this one. I was really hoping this would be safe since I’ve been dying to read a bull rider why choose romance but no. Maybe next time though😕
August 10, 2020
Damn I was definitely not expecting this. I was waiting for a cliché cowboy romance, but this one definitely beat all the ones I've read. I love the title of this book, when I found the meaning it made so much sense, it's the perfect analogy! This book shows how big the heart is, how strong it can be and overcome everything if you really want it. Tessa is such feisty, strong, badas* woman! She is a true role model, one I hope to be one day. The boys... Well if one cowboy is heaven, four is fricking paradise. "the best friend, the nurture, the alpha and the sexy one", all 🔥 af and with such big, beautiful hearts, I just wanted to bring them all home. It was another amazing book, by this wonderful super talented author. Now excuse me while I watch sexy cowboys bull riding on YouTube 😉
July 23, 2022
10/5⭐️’s This was written so well. If you love reverse harems…READ THIS! If I didn’t have such good memory when it came to books I would reread this. HEA.
•
4 guys:
2 from her childhood, 1 she has known for some years, and 1 is a one night stand turned more.
•
These side characters deserve some love also: Caly, Vanessa & A.N.T., Davi, Matt, Miguel, and of course Judy & Jack!!
•
4 guys:
2 from her childhood, 1 she has known for some years, and 1 is a one night stand turned more.
•
These side characters deserve some love also: Caly, Vanessa & A.N.T., Davi, Matt, Miguel, and of course Judy & Jack!!
July 31, 2020
Would you enjoy...
-Four 🔥 cowboys?
-Climbing back on the bull after life knocks you off it?
-A take charge, sassy girl kicking taking a male-dominated sport by the balls?
-Watching the “good old boys” get red faces, black eyes, and a run for their money?
Well, what are you waiting for?
Eight Seconds to Fly gave me two things I certainly hadn't expected: a standalone that I truly enjoyed (okay, I don't hate standalone, but I'm admittedly a serial series reader) and bull riders. I can honestly say that bull riders or any sense of cowboy are just not something I've run into a lot in the RH world, so immediate points go to McGinty for giving me something new to dive into.
Tessa May Everett aka T.M. Moore aka Nugget is our leading lady, and she is not a damsel. Tessa is confident, not afraid of her s*xuality, and brave and ballsy enough to make a name for herself in a male-dominated field where misogyny IS the status quo. Bull riding is in her blood, but she's had to deal with some sh*t and pay her dues to get experience and the chance to leave her mark. She's a good balance of softness and a steel backbone, and I really like her, which isn't actually what I say about all of these leading ladies. Tessa seems like the kind of girl who'd be fun to hang out with, and it's easy to root for her.
The guys- Frankie, Beau, Branch, and Dylan- fill a few different roles. We've got the new best friend, a bull fighter with moves that would make Magic Mike thirsty, the childhood best friend and first kiss, the childhood friend turned overprotective antagonist, and the newbie who has to find a way to stand out among a group that shines so bright. Like Tessa, the guys are easy to like, and I think it's easy to tell the four of them apart, which isn't always the case in standalone. The group has a good chemistry together, and there's a delightful bromance (no MM though) between Beau & Branch which is a breath of fresh air amidst the toxic masculinity that Tessa is surrounded by.
Overall, I was definitely entertained and pleasantly surprised by this new contemporary standalone. It's got a lot of the old favorites-friends to lovers, girl against the world, best friends within the harem, and more- but McGinty's choice to dive into the world of bull riding is a creative and interesting spin that lets us explore these old favorites in new ways. Plus, we get an epilogue that gives a look at what happens in the future for our FMC and her guys, so we get a nice little bit of closure in the end.
-Four 🔥 cowboys?
-Climbing back on the bull after life knocks you off it?
-A take charge, sassy girl kicking taking a male-dominated sport by the balls?
-Watching the “good old boys” get red faces, black eyes, and a run for their money?
Well, what are you waiting for?
Eight Seconds to Fly gave me two things I certainly hadn't expected: a standalone that I truly enjoyed (okay, I don't hate standalone, but I'm admittedly a serial series reader) and bull riders. I can honestly say that bull riders or any sense of cowboy are just not something I've run into a lot in the RH world, so immediate points go to McGinty for giving me something new to dive into.
Tessa May Everett aka T.M. Moore aka Nugget is our leading lady, and she is not a damsel. Tessa is confident, not afraid of her s*xuality, and brave and ballsy enough to make a name for herself in a male-dominated field where misogyny IS the status quo. Bull riding is in her blood, but she's had to deal with some sh*t and pay her dues to get experience and the chance to leave her mark. She's a good balance of softness and a steel backbone, and I really like her, which isn't actually what I say about all of these leading ladies. Tessa seems like the kind of girl who'd be fun to hang out with, and it's easy to root for her.
The guys- Frankie, Beau, Branch, and Dylan- fill a few different roles. We've got the new best friend, a bull fighter with moves that would make Magic Mike thirsty, the childhood best friend and first kiss, the childhood friend turned overprotective antagonist, and the newbie who has to find a way to stand out among a group that shines so bright. Like Tessa, the guys are easy to like, and I think it's easy to tell the four of them apart, which isn't always the case in standalone. The group has a good chemistry together, and there's a delightful bromance (no MM though) between Beau & Branch which is a breath of fresh air amidst the toxic masculinity that Tessa is surrounded by.
Overall, I was definitely entertained and pleasantly surprised by this new contemporary standalone. It's got a lot of the old favorites-friends to lovers, girl against the world, best friends within the harem, and more- but McGinty's choice to dive into the world of bull riding is a creative and interesting spin that lets us explore these old favorites in new ways. Plus, we get an epilogue that gives a look at what happens in the future for our FMC and her guys, so we get a nice little bit of closure in the end.
July 28, 2020
One thing you can count on with Grace McGinty's books is a unique story. Beginning with the Redeemer series, through all of her other stories, she's offered incredible stories with fresh ideas. 8 Seconds to Fly is no exception.
June 23, 2023
8 seconds to fly.
I really did like this book but I’m not going to lie, maybe it was because I wasn’t in the mood for contemporary like I thought I was but it moved a little too slow at times. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I can’t count how many times I’ve read a standalone that moved too fast. I’m usually not fond of instalove and I’m glad this wasn’t like that, there was already past chemistry with some of the characters but it was by far not fastburn and I liked and disliked that. Liked because I don’t buy into instalove but also disliked a little because I felt like some of these relationships could have already happened if there was some better communication. I don’t mind it for the drama but it was three out of the four guys, that this happened with so I was a little exasperated. Also *spoiler* I was kind of annoyed about the guy’s past. That Branch was a jerk and supposedly in love with her since they were young but still was a playboy his senior year. I know they weren’t together but I don’t like when a character knows they are in love with someone but still fools around. How was poor Tessa supposed to know that he liked her when he acted like that? Apparently, Beau dated someone back in high school and because the chick told him to, he ignored Tessa for a bit ? These are just little glimpses from the past that I’m sure we aren’t really meant to ponder much but they bothered me. Obviously, the guys are older and have changed but I didn’t vibe with the fact they were in love with Tessa and still acting in that way. These things probably won’t bother you because it was just spoken of in passing but I’m just very particular about those kind of details.
That being said I liked Tessa, she was literally the baddest beech ever. I have so much respect for her going against the patriarchy and misogynistic b-holes and doing a sport that’s not only dangerous but also excelling at it. I really did like the guys despite some of the things I mentioned and they all had substance and different personalities. Branch and Beau made me straight up swoon and yes and that’s even with me still wanting to smack Branch. omg Frankie was so insert fire emoji here and Dylan was a literal sweet heart.
So in a nutshell despite some little kinks, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Not only is the storyline unique but the characters are amazing and the writing is well done THE SEX SCENES were Smoking!!! You will not be disappointed.
I really did like this book but I’m not going to lie, maybe it was because I wasn’t in the mood for contemporary like I thought I was but it moved a little too slow at times. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I can’t count how many times I’ve read a standalone that moved too fast. I’m usually not fond of instalove and I’m glad this wasn’t like that, there was already past chemistry with some of the characters but it was by far not fastburn and I liked and disliked that. Liked because I don’t buy into instalove but also disliked a little because I felt like some of these relationships could have already happened if there was some better communication. I don’t mind it for the drama but it was three out of the four guys, that this happened with so I was a little exasperated. Also *spoiler* I was kind of annoyed about the guy’s past. That Branch was a jerk and supposedly in love with her since they were young but still was a playboy his senior year. I know they weren’t together but I don’t like when a character knows they are in love with someone but still fools around. How was poor Tessa supposed to know that he liked her when he acted like that? Apparently, Beau dated someone back in high school and because the chick told him to, he ignored Tessa for a bit ? These are just little glimpses from the past that I’m sure we aren’t really meant to ponder much but they bothered me. Obviously, the guys are older and have changed but I didn’t vibe with the fact they were in love with Tessa and still acting in that way. These things probably won’t bother you because it was just spoken of in passing but I’m just very particular about those kind of details.
That being said I liked Tessa, she was literally the baddest beech ever. I have so much respect for her going against the patriarchy and misogynistic b-holes and doing a sport that’s not only dangerous but also excelling at it. I really did like the guys despite some of the things I mentioned and they all had substance and different personalities. Branch and Beau made me straight up swoon and yes and that’s even with me still wanting to smack Branch. omg Frankie was so insert fire emoji here and Dylan was a literal sweet heart.
So in a nutshell despite some little kinks, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Not only is the storyline unique but the characters are amazing and the writing is well done THE SEX SCENES were Smoking!!! You will not be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spicy content 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Spice quality 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
Oh my goodness, who doesn't love a badass female bull rider who gives the men a run for their money?
I didn't know what to read from my TBR, and this had been on my list for a little while, so I decided why the hell not.
I have never read this author before, but I really enjoyed reading this book.
In this book, we follow the POV of our heroine Tessa, aka nugget, which is new for me as I am so used to Duel POV'S but I honestly enjoyed it.
This is also a why choose romance or reverse harem where Tessa lands herself 4 hot cowboys! Oh my word.
Three which she has a past with and one she has a one night stand with. But they all end up falling in love with her and can't be without her. While she loves each of them and can't be without any of them.
The world building and bull riding parts of this book are very well written and not skimmed over, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We're a lot of authors would have skimmed over the while bull riding aspect this author did not. For that, I am thankful.
I love that each of Tessa's relationships is authentic and individual and even all the guys friendships with each other is amazing as well.
I find that this book would be a very good introduction to reverse harems for anyone looking for an adorable read with a little bit of drama and bad assery thrown in the mix.
Spicy content 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Spice quality 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
Oh my goodness, who doesn't love a badass female bull rider who gives the men a run for their money?
I didn't know what to read from my TBR, and this had been on my list for a little while, so I decided why the hell not.
I have never read this author before, but I really enjoyed reading this book.
In this book, we follow the POV of our heroine Tessa, aka nugget, which is new for me as I am so used to Duel POV'S but I honestly enjoyed it.
This is also a why choose romance or reverse harem where Tessa lands herself 4 hot cowboys! Oh my word.
Three which she has a past with and one she has a one night stand with. But they all end up falling in love with her and can't be without her. While she loves each of them and can't be without any of them.
The world building and bull riding parts of this book are very well written and not skimmed over, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We're a lot of authors would have skimmed over the while bull riding aspect this author did not. For that, I am thankful.
I love that each of Tessa's relationships is authentic and individual and even all the guys friendships with each other is amazing as well.
I find that this book would be a very good introduction to reverse harems for anyone looking for an adorable read with a little bit of drama and bad assery thrown in the mix.
June 26, 2021
This is wow, I absolutely loved it.
June 22, 2023
3.5
Female Bull Rider in a male dominated world? Childhood friends to lovers? Second chance? Hot southern men galore? Sign me up! 🤣
This book was a pleasant surprise. I picked it up on a whim, something I need to do more often, I’ve never read this author before and I really enjoyed this one. Don’t expect any critical reviews from me I rate purely based off of my feelings.
This book is single pov in our heroines head, which is great if you’re like me and love single pov which is hard to find now a days. This is also a why choose, reverse harem, whatever you want to call it. The heroine winds up with four guys. Three of which she has a past with. Two she grew up with, one she became best friends with, and the other is new to her world.
The writing in this was super easy and fun to read. I loved all of the characters and their dynamic together and with Tessa. They all become really close friends while things are developing with Tessa. The development with Tessa and the guys felt really realistic to me. And I loved the Bull Riding setting. The competitions, the traveling, just that world in general.
I don’t mind the RH aspect, but I’ll be honest I would have been happy if she had just wound up with Beau and Branch or just Branch. I felt the most connection with her and Branch. I think that that would have made for a much deeper love story than all the guys but that’s just my personal opinion.
If you love hot southern men, strong as fuck female leads, bull riding, drama, and fun easy writing this is a great book to pick up! Solid 3.5 stars, because to me 3 is still a good rating, it was a great fun read but could have been better. 🤷🏻♀️
Female Bull Rider in a male dominated world? Childhood friends to lovers? Second chance? Hot southern men galore? Sign me up! 🤣
This book was a pleasant surprise. I picked it up on a whim, something I need to do more often, I’ve never read this author before and I really enjoyed this one. Don’t expect any critical reviews from me I rate purely based off of my feelings.
This book is single pov in our heroines head, which is great if you’re like me and love single pov which is hard to find now a days. This is also a why choose, reverse harem, whatever you want to call it. The heroine winds up with four guys. Three of which she has a past with. Two she grew up with, one she became best friends with, and the other is new to her world.
The writing in this was super easy and fun to read. I loved all of the characters and their dynamic together and with Tessa. They all become really close friends while things are developing with Tessa. The development with Tessa and the guys felt really realistic to me. And I loved the Bull Riding setting. The competitions, the traveling, just that world in general.
I don’t mind the RH aspect, but I’ll be honest I would have been happy if she had just wound up with Beau and Branch or just Branch. I felt the most connection with her and Branch. I think that that would have made for a much deeper love story than all the guys but that’s just my personal opinion.
If you love hot southern men, strong as fuck female leads, bull riding, drama, and fun easy writing this is a great book to pick up! Solid 3.5 stars, because to me 3 is still a good rating, it was a great fun read but could have been better. 🤷🏻♀️
January 20, 2024
I really liked Tessa and the men in her harem. And actually overall the storyline was also entertaining enough. But I think it might be a theme for me and McGinty‘s books but I just need a little more relationship building. 3/4 in the harem starting off with an established relationship makes it so difficult to feel alongside the characters. And even with the fourth, there really wasn‘t much evolution. Add to that the occasional typo and it made a slightly unsatisfying read.
May 4, 2025
I fear this may be the start of my cowboy era
December 28, 2024
3'75⭐
sorprendentemente me ha gustado bastante y no hay plotholes. todo lo que se me venía a la mente durante el bullriding era scott eastwood en the longest ride hahaha
sorprendentemente me ha gustado bastante y no hay plotholes. todo lo que se me venía a la mente durante el bullriding era scott eastwood en the longest ride hahaha
September 22, 2020
I was really impressed with this one. It's rare to find a reverse harem book with a plot outside just smut, and the author did a great job of making this a real story with good sexy times mixed in. Every character in this was great. Tessa was strong without being bitchy, and the four guys all felt like separate, fleshed out characters. So many times, menage/reverse harem writers just write the same guy with different names, but these guys were all distinct characters. Hardest part is picking my favorite one.
(Probably Dylan)
I do think the ending got a little off track, and the inclusion of the other surprise polygamous relationship was a little cheeseball cringy. It felt kind of PSA-y, rather than being a natural part of the story.
Overall, the writing was solid, the characters were strong, and the relationship was hot! I haven't read anything by this author before, but I definitely plan to do so now.
(Probably Dylan)
I do think the ending got a little off track, and the inclusion of the other surprise polygamous relationship was a little cheeseball cringy. It felt kind of PSA-y, rather than being a natural part of the story.
Overall, the writing was solid, the characters were strong, and the relationship was hot! I haven't read anything by this author before, but I definitely plan to do so now.
July 2, 2021
Have you ever had a massive book hangover where nothing you read captures your attention? Well that was me last week, but then I picked up this book and it was exactly what I needed in that moment to finally pull me from my reading funk.
8 Seconds To Fly features Tessa, a sassy and sweet bull rider who dreams of making it to the professional circuit. As a female navigating her way through a male dominated sport, Tessa faces a lot of obstacles but has the tenacity, smarts and strength to be successful and achieve her dreams.
Along the way, Tessa befriends a sweet and sexy bull fighter, meets a charming bull rider, and reunites with her childhood best friends. Tessa is 100% my kind of heroine. She’s super smart, strong and brave and doesn’t take any crap. I loved the dynamic within the harem and the romance aspect of this book is very sweet.
Coming into this book, I knew absolutely nothing about bull riding and I enjoyed learning about a new sport. Grace’s writing is perfectly balanced giving us enough detail to follow along while also keeping the romantic relationships front and center. Amazing standalone and I can’t recommend this book enough!
8 Seconds To Fly features Tessa, a sassy and sweet bull rider who dreams of making it to the professional circuit. As a female navigating her way through a male dominated sport, Tessa faces a lot of obstacles but has the tenacity, smarts and strength to be successful and achieve her dreams.
Along the way, Tessa befriends a sweet and sexy bull fighter, meets a charming bull rider, and reunites with her childhood best friends. Tessa is 100% my kind of heroine. She’s super smart, strong and brave and doesn’t take any crap. I loved the dynamic within the harem and the romance aspect of this book is very sweet.
Coming into this book, I knew absolutely nothing about bull riding and I enjoyed learning about a new sport. Grace’s writing is perfectly balanced giving us enough detail to follow along while also keeping the romantic relationships front and center. Amazing standalone and I can’t recommend this book enough!
August 15, 2020
Absolutely amazing!
Not only is the FMC killer being the first female in bull riding to make it to the big leagues. She fights back when others would push her down, she stands up for others, she fights against racism, sexism, sexual abuse, and the people she cares about making her an amazing role model to young people watching her be the first female bull rider and to readers. There are several twist in this story that catch you by surprise and add a level of depth that is not usually in RH books. Even the 'side' or 'background' characters are extremely developed and play a vital role in the story. This is truly an inspiring piece of literature for young women to show them they can do anything they want as long as they have the determination to do it and never back down. To borrow from Tessa May, "You can have and do whatever you want. You just have to believe you can do it and have the stubbornness to ignore anyone who’ll tell you that you can’t.”
Round of applause to Grace McGinty for another amazing book.
Not only is the FMC killer being the first female in bull riding to make it to the big leagues. She fights back when others would push her down, she stands up for others, she fights against racism, sexism, sexual abuse, and the people she cares about making her an amazing role model to young people watching her be the first female bull rider and to readers. There are several twist in this story that catch you by surprise and add a level of depth that is not usually in RH books. Even the 'side' or 'background' characters are extremely developed and play a vital role in the story. This is truly an inspiring piece of literature for young women to show them they can do anything they want as long as they have the determination to do it and never back down. To borrow from Tessa May, "You can have and do whatever you want. You just have to believe you can do it and have the stubbornness to ignore anyone who’ll tell you that you can’t.”
Round of applause to Grace McGinty for another amazing book.
August 22, 2020
A country girl in a man's sport proving she can and deserves to be there. Bull riding is no joke a tough sport. It's not if, but when you'll get hurt riding and that's a fact. I've seen it time and time again as I live in the south.
The mc is a take no crap girl, who is oblivious to those around her who have feelings for her. It's kind of comical. The book read a little slow, but after bit it picked up and I found myself entertained and cheering the characters on. I would definitely recommend this standalone.
The mc is a take no crap girl, who is oblivious to those around her who have feelings for her. It's kind of comical. The book read a little slow, but after bit it picked up and I found myself entertained and cheering the characters on. I would definitely recommend this standalone.
April 23, 2023
Everything about this book was bad, first the whole she’s strong and powerful blah blah breaking gender norms only for her to end the book by having children and retiring….a literal disappointment. Also this book read like a wattpad book. The plot was centered around trying to make it seem like she has trauma blah blah, she was a badass blah blah. The smut was also just bad. Like really bad, most people aren’t reading Reverse harem’s for the plot. They’re reading it for the smut and this book managed to give bad plot, bad characters, and bad smut.
December 29, 2021
I’ve never read a cowboy romance before so I didn’t know what to expect but that was definitely not that ! That was so good !!
It’s not a secret how I love rh and this one was perfect, I loved everyone, the guys were so sweet with the FMC and they were friends before that. It’s a nice change from all the bullying in a lot of other rh (don’t get me wrong, I love these too)
I’ll def be reading more cowboy romance in the future
It’s not a secret how I love rh and this one was perfect, I loved everyone, the guys were so sweet with the FMC and they were friends before that. It’s a nice change from all the bullying in a lot of other rh (don’t get me wrong, I love these too)
I’ll def be reading more cowboy romance in the future
July 28, 2020
What’s the saying save a horse ride a cowboy. Yes please especially if they’re one of Grace’s. Loved this story, the characters were relatable and the premise exciting and interesting. Who’s have thought bull riding could be sexy and steamy, but Grace certainly managed to make it that way. This was a great read, that will go in my reread pile and I highly recommend you give it a go.
August 21, 2020
Amazing!!
Wow this book was so refreshing! This was my first by this author but it sure won't be my last. The characters were great and Tessa was one strong chick. I loved how it wasn't about winning and being the best for her but instead just doing what she loved. Definitely worth all 5 stars!!!
Wow this book was so refreshing! This was my first by this author but it sure won't be my last. The characters were great and Tessa was one strong chick. I loved how it wasn't about winning and being the best for her but instead just doing what she loved. Definitely worth all 5 stars!!!
May 20, 2021
Wonderful, sweet read
I have been struggling to finish books lately, my attention span is shot. But this was something different. I really enjoyed the plot, characters and ending. This will definitely be on my re-read list.
I have been struggling to finish books lately, my attention span is shot. But this was something different. I really enjoyed the plot, characters and ending. This will definitely be on my re-read list.
February 13, 2023
ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝟐.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐲·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 (h) has dreamed of being a bull rider since she was a little girl, but being a woman in a male-dominated sports industry has made it difficult for her. When she was younger, she disguised herself as a boy to get the opportunity to ride, but when her dad found out, he instantly sent her packing. Unfortunately, that night they got into an accident that ended his life, and she left her hometown and never said goodbye to her childhood friends Beau and Branch. Five years later, she makes it to the World Bull Riding Professional Circuit (WBRP) and has to prove herself because no one believes a woman deserves to be in her place. Luckily she has her best friend, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬, by her side, and she bumps into 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧, who is also in the circuit, followed by 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧, a physiotherapist, and 𝐃𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞, her one-night stand. When she catches herself falling for all of them, she’s placed in an uncomfortable predicament of having to choose… but maybe she doesn't have to afterall.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
I usually love all of the men in a reverse harem, but this one fell flat because of Dylan. The FMC had great chemistry with all of them and shared a deeper relationship with her two childhood best friends, but when it came to Dylan, he was just a one-night stand. Despite the moment they shared, it was a one-year time jump, and it is hard to believe that the sex was so great that he never forgot about her. If he weren’t in the harem, it honestly wouldn’t have hurt them, compared to the loss of Beau, Branch, or Frankie. Beau was a mediator and the medic of the group, Branch was the Alpha bull rider who didn’t want to share, and Frankie was her best friend that would instead share her than lose her completely. I can talk about Dylan, but there isn’t much to add; when it came down to keeping his sponsors or ending things with Tessa, he walked out. He came back, but his moment of hesitation spoke louder than words because the others would have never picked bull riding over her. I am also kind of mad that her dream was to make it big and be a bull rider, but then she got pregnant in the end and had to retire. I could have sworn she mentioned that she was not good with kids and would rather be anything else than be around them… so why did the five-year time jump give her a kid! She should have been a successful World Champion; this is FICTION make her the best bull rider ever!!! I was good with the topic of RH because their dynamic happened naturally, but I did feel for Branch because he is very possessive and always thought he was the only man for her. He claimed her as a little kid so I can imagine his heartbreak when he wasn’t going to be the sole keeper of his heart. Either way, they all got along so well and communicated about how it would work, so I was rooting for them. The sharing scenes > I thought Dylan and Frankie had good chemistry too NGL. I usually don’t read RH standalones because they are never that good, but this one delivered. I did wish there was more context to Beau and Branch’s relationship with her in the past. We just got that one scene of Branch kissing her and then he didn’t see her for five years. I happened so quickly, and when they reconnected it was an instant connection. I wish the development had made more sense than continuous time jumps. Other than that, the book and the relationships were pretty good and there was enough love to go around.
. *. ⋆O͢V͢E͢R͢A͢L͢L͢
This book was good for a RH but because it was a short standalone, I didn’t connect to anyone other than Tessa and it felt like some of the relationships were underwhelming. There was a lot going on in this book and the men (not the MMCs) were terrible to her. I love that she was the first woman in the circuit, go her!
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐲·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 (h) has dreamed of being a bull rider since she was a little girl, but being a woman in a male-dominated sports industry has made it difficult for her. When she was younger, she disguised herself as a boy to get the opportunity to ride, but when her dad found out, he instantly sent her packing. Unfortunately, that night they got into an accident that ended his life, and she left her hometown and never said goodbye to her childhood friends Beau and Branch. Five years later, she makes it to the World Bull Riding Professional Circuit (WBRP) and has to prove herself because no one believes a woman deserves to be in her place. Luckily she has her best friend, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬, by her side, and she bumps into 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧, who is also in the circuit, followed by 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧, a physiotherapist, and 𝐃𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞, her one-night stand. When she catches herself falling for all of them, she’s placed in an uncomfortable predicament of having to choose… but maybe she doesn't have to afterall.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳
I usually love all of the men in a reverse harem, but this one fell flat because of Dylan. The FMC had great chemistry with all of them and shared a deeper relationship with her two childhood best friends, but when it came to Dylan, he was just a one-night stand. Despite the moment they shared, it was a one-year time jump, and it is hard to believe that the sex was so great that he never forgot about her. If he weren’t in the harem, it honestly wouldn’t have hurt them, compared to the loss of Beau, Branch, or Frankie. Beau was a mediator and the medic of the group, Branch was the Alpha bull rider who didn’t want to share, and Frankie was her best friend that would instead share her than lose her completely. I can talk about Dylan, but there isn’t much to add; when it came down to keeping his sponsors or ending things with Tessa, he walked out. He came back, but his moment of hesitation spoke louder than words because the others would have never picked bull riding over her. I am also kind of mad that her dream was to make it big and be a bull rider, but then she got pregnant in the end and had to retire. I could have sworn she mentioned that she was not good with kids and would rather be anything else than be around them… so why did the five-year time jump give her a kid! She should have been a successful World Champion; this is FICTION make her the best bull rider ever!!! I was good with the topic of RH because their dynamic happened naturally, but I did feel for Branch because he is very possessive and always thought he was the only man for her. He claimed her as a little kid so I can imagine his heartbreak when he wasn’t going to be the sole keeper of his heart. Either way, they all got along so well and communicated about how it would work, so I was rooting for them. The sharing scenes > I thought Dylan and Frankie had good chemistry too NGL. I usually don’t read RH standalones because they are never that good, but this one delivered. I did wish there was more context to Beau and Branch’s relationship with her in the past. We just got that one scene of Branch kissing her and then he didn’t see her for five years. I happened so quickly, and when they reconnected it was an instant connection. I wish the development had made more sense than continuous time jumps. Other than that, the book and the relationships were pretty good and there was enough love to go around.
. *. ⋆O͢V͢E͢R͢A͢L͢L͢
This book was good for a RH but because it was a short standalone, I didn’t connect to anyone other than Tessa and it felt like some of the relationships were underwhelming. There was a lot going on in this book and the men (not the MMCs) were terrible to her. I love that she was the first woman in the circuit, go her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2025
Genre: Adult Contemporary Polyam
Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
Tropes & themes: MFMMM, friends to lovers, second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, woman in a male dominated sport, forced proximity, love after loss
*TW for SA/rape
Spoiler-free Summary:
Tessa left home without looking back when tragedy struck, leaving behind her best friends, the boys that had become the men that she relied on. Now she’s professionally bull riding like she always wanted, and living her best life with her best friend Frankie. However, when he past comes knocking, and Frankie shocks her with a revelation of truth, Tessa suddenly finds herself in the middle of a four-man date-off in which they believe she’ll pick a winner. Unfortunately, Tessa isn’t so sure she’ll ever be able to choose. Especially not when they’re the only ones she can trust in the dangerous world of bull riding.
*Disclaimer*
I do not support rodeos, as I personally believe that they propagate animal abuse. I have worked in places with animals rescued from rodeos and have seen enough evidence and read enough evidence to know that even the best meaning rodeos are fraught with abuse. However, I am capable of turning off that part of my brain and enjoying this book.
Thoughts:
Rodeos aside, I really loved this book. Easily my favorite of Grace McGinty’s and I’m so glad that I had the chance to mood read. It was exactly what I wanted: fast paced, action filled, dangerous and sexy.
Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
Tropes & themes: MFMMM, friends to lovers, second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, woman in a male dominated sport, forced proximity, love after loss
*TW for SA/rape
Spoiler-free Summary:
Tessa left home without looking back when tragedy struck, leaving behind her best friends, the boys that had become the men that she relied on. Now she’s professionally bull riding like she always wanted, and living her best life with her best friend Frankie. However, when he past comes knocking, and Frankie shocks her with a revelation of truth, Tessa suddenly finds herself in the middle of a four-man date-off in which they believe she’ll pick a winner. Unfortunately, Tessa isn’t so sure she’ll ever be able to choose. Especially not when they’re the only ones she can trust in the dangerous world of bull riding.
*Disclaimer*
I do not support rodeos, as I personally believe that they propagate animal abuse. I have worked in places with animals rescued from rodeos and have seen enough evidence and read enough evidence to know that even the best meaning rodeos are fraught with abuse. However, I am capable of turning off that part of my brain and enjoying this book.
Thoughts:
Rodeos aside, I really loved this book. Easily my favorite of Grace McGinty’s and I’m so glad that I had the chance to mood read. It was exactly what I wanted: fast paced, action filled, dangerous and sexy.
May 7, 2025
This was fast paced but still fun.
The book itself isn't perfect. Some of the story elements felt thrown in there and character personalities were a bit messy at times. The boys were all adorably cute. They were a little too perfect in my opinion of how on board they were with everything, but it was mostly fine. Tessa was all very fine. I liked her fiery personality and no nonsense attitude. I do like how she treated the boys (even if I was very Team Branch).
Just a short solid little book.
Following is a trigger note
The book itself isn't perfect. Some of the story elements felt thrown in there and character personalities were a bit messy at times. The boys were all adorably cute. They were a little too perfect in my opinion of how on board they were with everything, but it was mostly fine. Tessa was all very fine. I liked her fiery personality and no nonsense attitude. I do like how she treated the boys (even if I was very Team Branch).
Just a short solid little book.
Following is a trigger note
November 12, 2022
Oh this was so so good. Now listen, I’m not a fan of cowboys. I kind of steer clear of cowboy romances. Usually their misogyny and my feminism do NOT mix. But these less misogynistic and more liberal cowboys, I’ll take. I loved the characters, I loved the story, I loved the pacing, and the writing. Seriously this is now toward the top of my list of favorite why-choose romances.
April 17, 2024
OMG! 🔥💯❤️🤠🐂. This surprised me. I am not a huge cowboy fan, but this was amazing. Loved the plot and characters. Loved the setting in the bull riding world -which I know nothing about- found it interesting and the plot gripping. I've had bad luck with a lot of books lately...this was a total winner 🏆 🥇 💯💋
May 21, 2024
What if a woman wanted to ride bulls? What if she loved 2 boys from her past and then falls for her best friend and another bull rider? What if some rich asshole tries to run her out of the bull riding association? What if her polycule is outed and people have capital O opinions?
This book is emotional and sexy.
This book is emotional and sexy.
August 24, 2024
3.5 🌟
Whilst I loved this cute little cowboy romance, I could picture cowboys being poly. I know it’s a book and anything can be, I just couldn’t get it in my head. I wanted a little more heart ache over the father dying.
Whilst I loved this cute little cowboy romance, I could picture cowboys being poly. I know it’s a book and anything can be, I just couldn’t get it in my head. I wanted a little more heart ache over the father dying.
September 19, 2022
4.5/5
The way this men love their woman is all consuming. I loved every second of it. The guys have their own distinct quality, and they fit right in, with her and with the other guys. I especially loved Beau, he's the sweetest, cutest, and over all best man ever.
The way this men love their woman is all consuming. I loved every second of it. The guys have their own distinct quality, and they fit right in, with her and with the other guys. I especially loved Beau, he's the sweetest, cutest, and over all best man ever.
August 31, 2024
So good! Only 228 pages, but she packed so much into the story. Yet it didn’t feel rushed! We got to love each of the guys, plus Tessa, as individuals AND as a unit. Another win for Grace McGinty
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