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The Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin Review

About the Book:

Title: The Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance; Western

Releases: November 28, 2023

She left home to chase her dreams

Now she’s back seeking a second chance…

When Callie Wade’s horse goes blind, there’s only one man who can save her barrel racing career. Brody Jacobs is the best horse trainer she knows—if he’s willing to help. She broke his heart when she left him behind to go after rodeo stardom. This time, will they put their hearts on the line to reach the championship…and a future together?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

About the Author:

Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.

My Impressions

“I’m here and I’m helping. You can’t stop me.” Truer words had never been spoken. If he could stop her, she’d have never left him.”

In the Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin, we are introduced to two very headstrong former lovers who have been separated by life. When Brody Jacobs’s dad had a life-altering accident 10 years ago, it changed Brody’s life plans, too. Instead of being a traveling, renowned horse trainer, he chooses to stay at the ranch to support his family.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Callie Wade, whom his family “adopted” because of her parents’ indifference, left about that time to follow her dream of being part of the rodeo circuit.

Ten years later, Callie is desperate for Brody’s help to retrain her beloved horse, Glow, so she can return to the rodeo circuit. What follows is a good look at two individuals who are trying to work life out for themselves, trusting no one but themselves. Secrets, heartache, and pain become patterned ruts. I liked this book because I got disgusted with both characters’ short-sightedness. But you know what? That is so typical of real people, trying to maneuver through life on their own, without others or God. So the characters’ flawed lives are fitting!

These two act like thornbirds, getting close, backing up, running away, hurting each other. “I’ll help Glow. On one condition.”…

“We don’t talk unless we’re training.”

“The Jacobses were like family to her, and she’d abandoned them, left them behind as though they had no value to her, and she’d never looked back.”

Can these two find a reason and the power to stop the cycle?

I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotable:

“Some things about people change, but usually, who they are at their core…that stays the same.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent. The characters are so flawed, but, oh, so true to real life!!

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Forever, Lovely: Forever in Time, Book Two, by Linore Rose Burkhard Review

About the Book

Title: Forever Lovely: Forever in Time, Book Two

Series: Forever in Time

Author: Linore Rose Burkhard

Genre: Inspirational Romance, Time-Travel

Release: November 28, 2023

Note: This sequel can be read as a stand-alone.

When Miss Margaret Andrews travels to the future to find her missing sister, she never expected to find true love. In 1819 England, Margaret is a bluestocking with dreams of becoming an inventress, but when the Tallit, a magical time-travel shawl, goes awry she finds herself stranded in 21st Century Manhattan. At a Jane Austen conference, she meets Stewart Russell, a grad student studying early British female writers. Stewart is immediately taken with Margaret and her effortless use of the speech and manners of Jane’s day—until she claims to be FROM Jane’s day! Worse, due to a mix-up, he is a wanted man and the clock is ticking. Margaret must find a way to get them both back to 1819—before the unthinkable happens.

If you enjoyed the time-travel romance of Outlander, then you’ll love Margret and Stewart’s story in Forever Lovely. Buy now before the price changes!

About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite and hopeless romantic. An award-winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book with Harvest House (Before the Season Ends) opened the genre for the CBA. Linore is a magna cum laude English Lit. grad from CUNY, but now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, two cats, and a Shorkie. Active in church and in two monthly writers’ groups, (one of which she is president of), Linore loves to craft stories that fill a sweet spot for readers who, like herself, savor a happy ending. Influenced by Georgette Heyer, Linore’s historical romances, steeped in Regency authenticity, provide the light-hearted, comedic effects that first sparked her love for the genre. Besides romance, Linore writes young adult apocalyptic suspense. (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard, her alter-ego!)

Sign up for Linore’s newsletter to follow her writing life, book sales and promotions. Upon sign-up, you’ll get a short Regency flash fiction tale in your inbox! (No links allowed here- visit her on the web.)

My Impressions

“You don’t need an invention; in fact, you already have one, for you’ve reinvented yourself.” “That is hardly an invention, as I have not actually done anything but changed the poor opinion of myself that I was accustomed to keep.” “That is no small thing,” he said quietly. “Many people never manage it.”

Forever, Lovely by Linore Burkhold is a time-travel novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. While it would be helpful to have read Forever, Lately, first, there is enough backstory presented that Forever Lovely can stand on its own.

Margaret Andrews, 18, has traveled from the 19th century into 21st, with a relative , hoping to see her sister Clarissa who has forsaken the 19th century for a new life in the future. Mostly, Margaret, convinced she will be both poor and a life-long spinster, wants to bring back to the 19th century an invention to bring her fame and fortune. “Becoming an inventress would change everything!”

The juxtaposition of the two centuries, or the knowledge and customs of each, makes for many a great laugh. I loved the way Burkhold works and actual bookish event into the story as an important part! The tallit, or shawl, is quite mysterious. Burkhold weaves the faith message into her story in a very unique way.

Stewart Russell is a unique individual, rather an outcast among his peers. Studying 19th century women writers, he dresses for a special convention, never dreaming how his life is about to change. Can he accept that change, or will it be too much for his sensibilities?

I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“As you know, I am called a bluestocking times at home, a wallflower, and utterly ignored. Soon I will be considered a spinster, an ape leader! In short, I have no prospects at home that cannot be equaled here or possibly exceeded.”

“you seem to enjoy the illusion of being unattractive.”

“We all like to put God in a box and assume He can only work in such-and-such a way, or through this or that means. But He is the Master of time. He lives outside it, He created it, He is beyond understanding and works in mysterious ways. The only way to judge whether something is of God or not is His Word, the Bible, not our preconceived ideas.”

“You will always be lovely, forever lovely.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Almost makes me want to time-travel!