Judith’s review of Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys #5) by Lorelei James
Tanna Barker is a world champion barrel racer. But her personal life has been less of a success, and she’s feeling adrift. After her mother’s unexpected death, her father has remarried, and sold the Texas ranch she called home. Now a rodeo injury has left the restless spitfire holed up in Muddy Gap, unsure what her next move should be.
Until she meets her match in a wild, wild cowboy
Veterinarian August Fletcher has always put his job first. He’s never found a woman who could handle his on-the-road lifestyle. But when sassy, sexy Tanna blows into town, he finally finds the woman of his fantasies. And there’s something between them, but she claims she’s been burned by love ’em and leave ’em road dogs before. How can Fletch prove that he’s in it for the long haul, and that their sizzling relationship is better than winning any rodeo medal? It’ll take some sweet persuasion to convince Tanna that Muddy Gap is where she belongs.
There is little doubt in my mind that one of my favorite authors is Lorelei James. I got started with her, like many of us, with her Rough Rider series so I haven’t taken the opportunity to read very many of her other writing. I did read most of her single titles and now have read this book from the Blacktop Cowboys novels. There is also little doubt that lots have been written about the sport of rodeo but where there are lots of people there are lots of stories.
The two main characters in this novel are people of great intellect and are driven by their dreams. Both are stymied by life’s challenges. Tanna is a woman who has very specific goals but whose heart and soul have been bruised one too many times. Add in the fact that the ranch that was the love of her life, her home in every way, is now gone at the behest of a dad who confessed that he wanted nothing more to do with it once he remarried. He made millions off it and gave little or nothing to his kids, yet Tanna still loves him. She just has no place to settle now. The hero, Dr August Fletcher, is a man who loves his community and what he does. He’s lonely and wants a woman who will love the things he loves and will be his partner in life. No matter the attraction between him and Tanna, it doesn’t appear she is the woman for him.
As always is the case in Lorelei’s stories, there is a protagonist, if not as a person then as a situation. It appears that in many ways Tanna and August have the same problem . . . they are both hampered by their inner fears and past hurts. And in unique James style, those hurts and wounds hand out for everyone to see. Perhaps that is what draws me to this author’s work. She never backs away from a situation that offends, is brutal or unpleasant but very much a part of human experience. And we all know that romantic relationships are so often short circuited by the past hurts and long-term fears we carry inside our subconscious.
This novel is beautifully written with sparkling repartee and witty exchanges. These rodeo folk are let-it-all-hang-out kind of people and it shows in their actions as well as their conversation with others. These participants don’t have time for charm; they get on their animal of choice and simply let go at full speed. They rarely allow commitments to be established and once they sleep with someone, they’re off to the next gig. This as much as anything is the source of Tanna’s disillusionment.
I found this novel entertaining and another enjoyable reading experience. I got me hungry to read the other Blacktop Cowboy books so I have some reading ahead of me. And I am happy to conclude that once again a Lorelei James story was just as good or even better than I anticipated.
I give this novel a 4 out of 5
The Series:
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s book Place
This title is available from NAL. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
