Book Thoughts

So today I thought I'd share my thoughts on a book I read several months ago. I absoultely loved this book. I know some people (and some of you are reading this blog) aren't into romance, even Christian romance, although personally, I don't understand because God did create romance, yes? Anyway, my ranting thoughts on why Christian romance is good aside...this was a well written story and there was SO much more to it than romance, though that was great too. Anyway, enough prefacing--here's what I thought.

Rodeo Sweetheart
By Betsy St. Amant


Samantha Jenson isn’t the kind of woman that Evan Ames is used to meeting. She’s a gorgeous, stubborn, caring contradiction with cowboy boots. And Evan, a guest at Samantha’s family’s ranch-turned-dude-ranch, is fascinated.

Sam’s too busy worrying about the financial situation at her family’s ranch to give Evan the time of day, much less a second look. Her father’s death has left Sam and her mom on the edge of bankruptcy without any option but to make their ranch a dude ranch, which Sam resents. The presence of a city boy who can’t tell one end of the horse from the other is not something Sam pays much attention to—until Evan finds out Sam’s secret.

Winning the bull riding competition at an upcoming local rodeo is the only way Sam can think of to get enough money to do what needs to be done to get the ranch back on track. But can she—should she—knowingly put her life on the line is the same event that cost her father his life?

As she wrestles with this she fights feelings for Evan, who has a crush on her but is caught in a tug of war between his manipulative father and what he knows to be right. If Evan’s real estate mogul father has his way, Sam will lose everything—with or without the bull riding prize money.


Betsy St. Amant’s story immediately makes the reader feel invested in all that’s at state—monetarily and relationally. The setting felt so real and was a great escape from everyday life—just thinking about this story makes me want to pull on my cowboy boots and start driving west. The love story is sweet and believable, and the other driving parts of the story also grip the reader’s attention and make this book one I’ll enjoy reading over and over again.