cover image The Wildest Ride

The Wildest Ride

Marcella Bell. HQN, $16.99 trade paper (384p) ISBN 978-1-335-77322-7

Two headstrong bull riders compete in a reality TV rodeo competition in this enthralling love story from Bell (Stolen to Wear His Crown). Lilian “Lil” Sorrow Island’s grandmother pushes Lil to enroll in the Professional Bull Riders Association Closed Circuit Tour after they discover that Lilian’s late grandfather took out a reverse mortgage on their family ranch. With the bank coming to collect, the cash prize is their best bet to save their ranch. Lil is an underdog, but her chances look good—until all-time great AJ Garza announces he’s coming out of retirement to compete. Garza, too, has a good reason: he hopes to use the money to save the CityBoyz, the after-school boys program he runs with his father figure. Eight years Lil’s senior, Garza is immediately enraptured by her beauty and skill, and Lil, meanwhile, is awed to meet a man she’s idolized. Though they’re rivals, their appreciation of one another, along with the close proximity the competition keeps them in, gives rise to a spontaneous kiss and plenty of spicy banter. The result is thoroughly charming, with strong cowboy flavor, fascinating family histories, and female empowerment front and center. True to its title, this wild ride is sure to sweep readers away. [em]Agent: Helen Breitweiser, Cornerstone Literary. (Aug.) [/em]