The Pioneer City Rodeo – A Perfect Setting for Second Chance Love
I’ve loved everything cowboy since I was a child, and dreamed of living where I could have a horse. But, unfortunately, that wasn’t a dream my parents shared, and as I grew into adulthood, I moved on to other interests. Like many in Wisconsin, or Illinois where I live now, I used to think that all rodeos happened in the west. Just yesterday at church a woman was surprised I was interested in rodeo or that rodeos occur so close to us. There are a lot of rodeos going on in my home state of Wisconsin and all around the Midwest during the warmer months. A fact I learned about a dozen years ago when a friend invited me to a rodeo.
The Pioneer City Rodeo, where Second Chance Love is set, is a real event that happens every Labor Day weekend, which I attend every year now. Like in my story, there are rodeos on three consecutive evenings, and we attend all three. Located in the tiny village of Palestine, a southern Illinois town nestled along the Wabash River, the rodeo offers a wonderful getaway to cap off the summer. We meet a lot of the locals sitting around us in the stands and on Main Street during the street fair. Although some of the retail establishments in my story are from my imagination, many are real, including the Back Porch Smokehouse and the Wabash Coffee House, located a short distance upriver from Palestine.
When I decided to write the story, it was a natural to make my hero, Jace McGowan, a bull rider, since that’s one of my favorite events. My heroine, Sydney Knight, is a born and bred Chicagoan and can no more picture herself living on Jace’s Texas ranch than he can see himself hanging up his bull rope and living in a Chicago apartment building. This conflict leads to a lot of tension, but they both have baggage beyond that which must be overcome before they can move forward and learn how much they really do have in common. I hope you’ll read my story to find out.
Second Chance Love
Chicago lawyer Sydney Knight and Texas bull rider Jace McGowan have nothing in common but everything to lose when they are thrust together during a weekend rodeo in rural Illinois. Neither one of them would have imagined two years ago that the deep attraction they sensed during a day-long outing would resurface when Sydney’s boss assigns her to Jace’s legal case.
Sydney has been through a world of hurt since losing her dad when she was sixteen, then being dumped the morning of her wedding. She’s sworn off romance and instead devotes her time toward a partnership in her father’s law office.
Jace has found faith in God and wants out of his sponsor contract with a risqué restaurant chain that requires him to pose with scantily-clad women. He’s about to bail on the contract and pay steep penalties—something he can ill afford, given that his deceased father left the family with unpaid taxes.
Sydney is determined she’ll get Jace out of his contract and return to Chicago with her heart intact, but Jace is just as determined to help her see they are meant to be together. Can a city girl with roots deep in Chicago and a bull-riding rancher with roots deep in Texas give themselves a second-chance love?
Giveaway!
Pam will give one lucky reader a Kindle version of Second Chance Love. Leave a comment to enter.
- What is your favorite rodeo event?
I’ve never been to a rodeo, but I thought it was interesting that you and I both have lived (or do live) in Wisconsin. I guess my family has never been that interested in rodeos. I didn’t know Wisconsin had so many. 🙂
I went to a few rodeos. I really enjoyed the bull riding. It takes a lot of talent.
I would love to go to a rodeo. It’s a shame that we have a pretty good sized rodeo area close to my house, but I have no one to go with (and I don’t like doing things alone). The only one I have been to was one held at a prison when I was a teenager. It was a field trip through the police department in my town when I was part of their police explorer program.
I have seen a few events live… do not really have a favorite.
Have been to quite a few rodeos and I love them. They, however, have all been Native American rodeos. My favorite event was an American Indian event of how fast a teepee can be raised and taken down. Fascinating to watch. : )
Hi all. I’m so happy to visit Karen’s blog today and share about my new book, Second Chance Love. I didn’t see a link to the site where you can purchase the book in either print or Kindle formats. So here it is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1946016047
Another aspect of rodeo that I love is how patriotic they are and that before the events begin a prayer is always said for safety for the competitors and for the animals, and often in Jesus’ name.
Bull riding because they make it seem so easy but its so hard and dangerous.
I agree, Kim. I’ve heard some say anyone can do something for eight seconds. Not when you’re sitting on the back of a bull. 🙂
Welcome, Pam! So happy to have you. I love all aspects of the rodeo–from the grand entrance with the flags to the last event. Here in Texas where I live, we have a lot of rodeos each year. My favorite though are the ranch rodeos where the neighboring ranches compete for nothing more than bragging rights. Those cowboys are really tough.
Congrats on your new book! It looks awesome.
Bull riding is exciting as is bronco riding. We go to the PBR events when they come through here. (we are volunteer ushers at the venue, so get in to all the events for a few hours work. Good deal.) It is a dangerous sport and several people were injured with one sent to the hospital last time we went. They used to have full blown rodeos there, but haven’t for several years. There are some small rodeo that are held in the neighboring counties. The first rodeo we went to was the Little Britches Rodeo when we lived in Colorado Springs, CO. It was really enjoyable watching the events for the young ones.
Patricia, I love the PBR too. They were just here in the Chicago area last January, and we had a great time. Turned out the couple sitting in front of us were from the little down where the rodeo in my story takes place. I was so surprised and, of course, told them all about my book. Never have seen a Little Britches rodeo.