Betting on Hope ~ Review

Betting on Hope
A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance 1
By Debra Clopton

The last thing Maggie Hope wants is to conduct an interview with Tru Monahan.  But Tru's sponsors want this and the powers that be have ordered Maggie to fill in for the reporter scheduled to conduct the interview.

But Maggie is totally out of her element, after all she's an advice columnist not a reporter.  And the interview goes from bad to worse with the highlight being Tru stating he could teach anyone to ride and Maggir betting him he couldn't teach her.  Unfortunately for both Tru and Maggie both the station and his sponsors see opportunity in their "bet".

Maggie and Tru are given two months to fulfill their bet.  And they have no choice in the matter - Tru's sponsors see $$$$, the network sees ratings, and the future of Maggie's column depends on her accepting the bet.  But will the small town of Wishing Springs, Texas ever be the same after Maggie gets done with it?

Maggie is determined to avoid Tru's charm and becoming the newest tabloid fodder.  Tru is determined to keep any and all women at arm's length for their own good.  But Maggie's constant presence just may make that a tad difficult, especially if she can't overcome her klutzy ways.

Betting on Hope is both humorous and emotionally moving as Maggie and Tru fulfill their obligations while dealing with issues from their pasts.  The various residents of Wishing Springs add to the richness of the story, adding both a depth and dimension that will make you want to revisit Wishing Springs.

I was provided with a copy of this book through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description:

A bet gone wrong. A small town’s meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it’s beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie’s bosses know this is the opportunity she's been looking for to launch her career—and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the bet that he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat.

Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he’d like, but he knows it's the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru’s fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do—for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart’s desires.

About the Author:

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist first published in 2005 and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra is the author of the acclaimed Mule Hollow Matchmaker Series, and her goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.