LITMIR.BIZ

      A Secret The Size Of Texas

      Veterinarian Lexi Lawson has her hands full—and not just when she’s delivering foals at the Langtry family’s ranch. Working there forces Lexi to confront Shane Langtry, the man who broke her heart. True, he seems different now—more generous, more grounded. But Lexi isn’t fooled: Shane lives for rodeo competition and nothing else. Besides, after what he did to her, there’s no way she’d take him back.

      Long ago, when they were in love, Lexi hid a terrible secret from Shane—one she planned to keep forever. But when he learns the truth, she’s forced to choose between the past she left behind…and the future they might still find together.

      “Listen, Shane.”

      Lexi jabbed at his chest. “Regardless of how or what I feel, you cannot kiss me while I’m at work, even if you do own the place! Who knows who saw that kiss? I have a reputation to maintain, so I suggest you get your butt on that plane and focus on your next ride.”

      “After you admit you still love me.” Shane leisurely leaned against the stall door.

      Lexi closed the distance between them and carefully kept her tone low so no one would overhear. “You arrogant, egotistical— How can you think for one minute— We just started—”

      “Yep, I knew it.” Shane slapped his thigh with his hat. “Some things never change, mi ángel de fuego.”

      Taking her off guard, Lexi was surprised to hear Shane refer to her as his “angel of fire.” The last time she’d heard the nickname was before they broke up. Struggling to compose herself she stared at him, afraid to speak.

      “Whenever you get riled up like this and can’t finish a thought, I know I’m right, and it kills you,” he said.

      If he only knew how much it all really was killing her….

      Dear Reader,

      Blame It on the Rodeo brings me back to when I interned on a horse ranch in New Jersey many years ago. My job of assisting the breed manager was far from easy, but the rewards outweighed the mud, muck and, well, all those other horse hind-end things. When I wrote this book, I was sad to discover the place that taught me so much no longer exists. While the people and foals I grew to love have moved on to greener pastures, the memories of those days come to life again in this book and the entire Ramblewood series.

      I would like to thank Ashleigh Orrock of Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, North Carolina, for inspiring my opening scene. A passing conversation during an emergency vet visit led to the first chapter of this book and began the bumpy trail ride of Lexi and Shane’s reconnection.

      Blame It on the Rodeo is the third book in the Ramblewood, Texas series, where the Langtry men always manage to rile up the women they love more than a yellow jacket in an outhouse.

      Feel free to stop in and visit me at www.amandarenee.com. I’d love to hear from you. Happy reading!

      Amanda Renee

      Blame It on

      the Rodeo

      Amanda Renee