Synopsis from Goodreads:
In Lost Rider, the first Western romance in New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Harper Sloan’s Coming Home series, an injured rodeo star encounters an old flame but will she be just what he needs to get back in the saddle? Maverick Austin Davis is forced to return home after a ten-year career as a rodeo star. After one too many head injuries, he’s off the circuit and in the horse farming business, something he’s never taken much of a shine to, but now that it’s his late father’s legacy, familial duty calls. How will Maverick find his way after the only dream he ever had for himself is over? Enter Leighton Elizabeth James, an ugly duckling turned beauty from Maverick’s childhood—his younger sister’s best friend, to be exact, and someone whose heart he stomped all over when she confessed her crush to him ten years back. Now Leighton is back in Maverick’s life, no longer the insecure, love-stricken teen—and Maverick can’t help but take notice. Sparks fly between them, but will Leighton be able to open her heart to the one man who broke it all those years ago? Written in the vein of Diana Palmer and Lindsay McKenna, this Texas-set series is filled with sizzle, heart, and plenty of cowboys!
Review:
Before I began reading, I was expecting the typical formula for romance novels: 2 people fall in love + 1 difficult situation designed to tear them apart forever = an ending where 2 people admit they love each other enough to work past their difficulties and live happily ever after. *Rolling eyes* Blah, blah, blah. Thankfully, that was not the case for this novel. I was pleasantly surprised.
Maverick left town years ago because of his tyrannical father and vowed never to return. Before leaving town, he made sure to break Leighton's heart so that she could heal and move on without waiting for him to return. What he didn't expect was to still need Leighton even after achieving his rodeo dreams. Ten years later, though, he figured he didn't stand a chance to be with her because she was probably married with a family. Is it too late for Maverick to win Leighton back?
Leighton was all set to leave town with Maverick and join him on his rodeo circuit, if he would just ask. Instead, Leighton stays behind. In spite of her broken heart, Leighton agreed to go to Maverick's rodeo competitions with Mav's brother and sister. Leighton never let Maverick see her at the competitions because she didn't want him to know she was there. He probably didn't care to see her anyway since he had made his feelings clear before he left. Then, when he comes back to town ten years after leaving, Leighton is excited and scared all at once. She was glad to have Maverick back but what if she let him in and he broke her heart before leaving town again? Was it worth the risk to try and rekindle what they had?
Leighton and Maverick's conflict happened long before this novel started. I still kept expecting the other shoe to drop while I reading the novel - probably because I've read too many cookie-cutter romances over the years. This is not a cookie-cutter romance. It's a bit spicier. And by spicier, I mean f-bombs, dirty talk, sex scenes, self-pleasuring scenes, etc. This definitely isn't your Harlequin-inspired romance - thank God! I would definitely recommend this to those people who enjoy a romance but are looking for something outside the boring norm.
I cannot think of any issues with this story so I'm going to give this 5 out of 5 stars.
*A NetGalley copy was approved and provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster (Pocketbooks), in exchange for an honest review.