The Heart of the Rodeo

by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue

Blake Young is a rising star in the rodeo circuit and one of the most talented bull riders the town of Melville has seen in years. Fearless and fiercely independent, Blake is used to calling the shots—until a brutal fall during the biggest competition of her career leaves her sidelined and vulnerable. Forced into recovery, Blake's world is turned upside down when she's placed under the care of Dr. Jane Steibold, a no-nonsense, in-home physician with a sharp wit and a stubborn streak to match.
At first, Blake and Jane clash. Blake resents the loss of her independence, and Jane isn't thrilled with her new patient's defiant attitude. But as the days go by and walls begin to fall, Blake discovers that Jane's steady presence and compassionate heart are exactly what she never knew she needed.
As sparks fly and trust builds, Blake must confront her deepest fears—not just about her career, but about letting someone else in.
Perfect for fans of LGBTQ+ western romance, opposites attract, and healing love stories, this novel delivers a heartfelt tale of resilience, unexpected connection, and the kind of love that takes you by surprise.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue is a Midwest-based author known for her captivating lesbian romance novels, compelling mysteries, and heart-pounding thrillers. With a talent for weaving emotion, suspense, and authenticity into every story, Nicole has built a loyal readership drawn to her richly developed characters and relatable themes. Her work reflects a deep understanding of human connection, identity, and resilience, often exploring the complexities of relationships in high-stakes settings.

Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Business Management with a focus on marketing, a background that not only informs her strategic approach to publishing but also brings a thoughtful precision to her storytelling. She began writing at a young age, inspired by a book she found in her local library written by a fellow eight-year-old. That early moment of discovery sparked a lifelong passion that has guided her creative journey ever since.

When she’s not writing, Nicole enjoys cooking new recipes, exploring new places through travel, and spending quality time with her family. Her stories are rooted in experience and imagination, making her voice both grounded and uniquely engaging. Whether penning a slow-burning romance or a thrilling mystery, Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue invites readers into worlds where love and intrigue go hand in hand.

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just a very poor story and storytelling. Not worth even the sale price of 99c.

[Kellye · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I raised horses and raced barrels as s kid in the 60s and early 70s, I really wanted to like this book. The locale is somewhere in the west in a relatively small town which seems to have a thriving lesbian scene. The relationships and characters are superficially drawn and as such don't support some of the actions taken. Greater character depth might have helped sell the story. For me, too much is missing for this to be a believable story. Looking forward to a longer book.

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic storyline

Wow what a fantastic storyline it pulls you right in I couldn't put it down defiantly in my top ten must read.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow this book was difficult to get into. The plot was choppy and the chemistry between Jane and Blake not completely believable with a rushed ending. In my humble opinion, I feel this storyline would benefit if expanded to a full length book. It pains me to give this rating since I am a fan of lesbian western romances.

[DR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story and a good read. There was a mending of a new relationship but there wasn't closure to what Martha had done. So, that was a bummer. I would have liked to have closure there. It would only have taken a couple of pages; but, I'm not the author.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

Blake finds herself injured after an incident with a bull and new Doctor in town Jane offers to nurse her through her injuries in exchange for accommodation while she gets settled. Blake is stubborn, insisting she doesn’t need help and certainly isn’t pleased with the idea, but as it’s her only option, she begrudgingly agrees. It soon becomes clear that although they clash, they might be just what each other needs.

This was a simple and sweet story with a lot of angst between two very different characters. The tension between them built a nice premise to set them up on the path to a relationship. In learning to trust one another it gives, mostly Blake, but both characters a chance at a life and love they have always dreamed of. As with all romance this has its drama, and a few ups and downs they have to overcome in learning to love one another.

Filled with sweet and angsty moments, this a simple romance that I really enjoyed, and hope to see the characters again in future.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue writes a clean western romance for the ladies in The Heart of the Rodeo (2019).

There is nothing like the fiery chemistry of a cowgirl who can stand on her own who gets injured. Then we have the lovely doctor who just moves to town who volunteers to help with Blake’s rehabilitation. Throw in some competition and the fights are on!

Higginbotham-Hogue keeps it all fun and feisty. Rodeo is a quick read with a happy ending. Everyone should be so lucky to get this cowgirl.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I've read written by Nicole Higginbothan-Hogue; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, short romance for a nice lazy afternoon or evening. I felt like the story had more to tell at the end, to give some closure to the issues that were introduced earlier, but I enjoyed the story and characters.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! A fantastic, well written read. An intense storyline that holds your attention as you get caught up in the fierce twists and hot chemistry. Plenty of excitement and emotionally heartfelt. A thrilling must read.

[Suzi Vilkman (Hautaniemi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

City vs small town

I enjoyed the story although there were some issues with grammar. It was a sweet and entertaining love story that started out as an enemies to friends storyline.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant story.

As always with novellas I kind of want it to be longer and more detailed. It was a very nice read but it left me with questions. For example: what happened with Martha and the clinic?

The idea for this book was very good. I liked it. It was fast and easy to read.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Sosa Coleone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't hide your love form me?

[AL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short story however I was expecting more details about the relationship of these two characters l.