Review: Rodeo Rebel by Joanne Rock
RODEO REBEL
WELCOME TO KINGSLAND RANCH
Rodeo Rebel by Joanne Rock is the first book in the author’s Kingsland Ranch series with Harlequin Desire. It features ex-bull-rider Gavin Kingsley, who is angry and reeling from being disinherited from his late father’s will, and Lauren Hamilton, the owner of an equine-therapy center who is depending on Gavin to help her secure some much needed funding for her program.
BOOK REVIEW
In Rodeo Rebel by Joanne Rock, the first book in the author’s four-brother Kingsland Ranch series with Harlequin Desire, an angry, bitter, thrill-seeking ex-bull-rider must come to terms with being left out of his father’s will, despite having spent his time and invested his own money trying to get a new program for the ranch off the ground. Gavin Kingsley’s obvious hurt leads him to make some rather off-the-cuff choices, including one where he decides to leave Montana for good, despite knowing his decision will disappoint two of his brothers and the one woman he’s wanted to get to know for years, Lauren Hamilton.
Lauren and Gavin have been working on creating a charity bachelor auction to benefit the equine-therapy center she is working to build, but Gavin leaving town would upend all the work they’ve done and threaten to cut into a large portion of her proceeds, as he is the main draw for the event. While Lauren manages to convince Gavin to stay and see his promise to her through, Gavin secretly has his own plan—finding out what, if anything, Lauren knew about his father’s plans to cut him out of his will.
See, Gavin has been judged for mistakes he made as a teen for most of his life, and too many people—his late father included—have wrote him off because of it. Doesn’t seem to matter that he’s not quite who people perceive him to be, because they’ve already made up their minds and have labeled him exactly what they think him to be. So much so, Lauren herself is still a bit leery of him. At first, anyway. Until she actually stops and gets to know him.
Lauren is still dealing with her own past, so learning how different Gavin is from who everyone seems to say he is creates an issue for her. One she can’t seem to reconcile without also feeding into the attraction she feels toward him. And the more she gets to know the man beneath the rebel reputation, the more she starts to see the cracks in the stories being told about him.
“Find out for yourself if I’m as bad as everyone says.”
I really liked Lauren and Gavin. Though Gavin is pretty angry and bitter at his father for most of the book, he’s still a great character because he’s reeling from a blow he didn’t expect to feel and it’s a bit compounded by his growing feelings for Lauren and his desire to both help her and to discover what, if anything, she knew about his unforeseen disinheritance.
Lauren’s desire to make her benefit a success is just as complicated by her growing feelings for Gavin and having to deal with the judgment of his past, along with his present hurt, makes things even more difficult for her, since she’s also dealing with her own pressures and insecurities. Add in complications with her own family, and she’s a stressed-out woman with a mountain on her plate. Yet, she’s also a woman who gets things done, doesn’t shy away from difficult talks, and she is willing to take a romantic leap even without knowing quite where she’s going to land.
This story deals with preconceived notions and how they can color the view of who a person is underneath, and how the past can haunt the present in numerous and unexpected ways. For that alone, I recommend reading this book. But also, for the characters, because they were great, and the perfect way to tell this story and to setup all the stories to follow.
With wonderful characterization and complicated family dynamics, Joanne Rock’s Rodeo Rebel gives readers an in-depth romance filled with realistic emotions and beautiful, passionate encounters. It’s a bit of a slow-build, in terms of the romance, but it delivers on its story promise and setups up what looks like a fun, emotion-filled romance series for the rest of the Kingsley brothers.
RATING: 
This rancher wants to uncover the truth…and may just enter himself in a bachelor auction to find it!
Don’t miss the first installment of Joanne Rock’s new Kingsland Ranch series.
Rodeo Rebel by Joanne Rock Series: Kingsland Ranch #1
Published by Harlequin, Harlequin Desire on January 24, 2023
Genres: Category Romance, Western Romance
Pages: 223
Format: eBook
Source: Harlequin+, Harlequin.com
Buy: Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Goodreads | Publisher
RATING:
“Find out for yourself if I’m as bad as everyone says.”
When infamous bull rider Gavin Kingsley finds out he’s been disinherited, he wants answers—and Lauryn Hamilton, his father’s former employee and the local sheriff’s daughter, may have them. Participating in a charity bachelor auction for Lauryn’s horse rescue is the perfect opportunity for Gavin to find what he’s looking for…even if he has to seduce the truth out of her. When bad boy Gavin unlocks sweet Lauryn’s rebellious side, he may be roped into more than he bargained for.
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