Tanner

I'VE MISSED YOU SARAH! It's been too long.

So one of my all-time favorite authors is at it again (seriously, if you haven't read Anticipation, GO READ IT RIGHT NOW and thank me later), with the first in a series she's collaborating with a bunch of different authors to write. Tanner is her entry.

So nice, loyal Evie flies to meet up with Troy, the childhood friend/bull-riding guy of her dreams that she (after a one-night stand) believes is just as into their relationship as she is. And here is the least shocking moment of all: he's not, and when she meets up with him, she catches him sucking face with a buckle-bunny. But turns out the true guy of her dreams is also there for this awful moment: Tanner, Troy's opposite. Tanner and Evie get to know each other thanks to his over-developed hero complex, and thanks to some unfortunate (or fortunate?) circumstances that come up in Tanner's life, they get real REAL close.

This one doesn't do anything revolutionary, but it is still just doggone GOOD. I love the characters, and even appreciate how she doesn't completely villainize Troy. I was seriously rooting for Evie and Tanner, and practically cheered out loud at every major step forward in their relationship.

4 sold stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Unknowingly setting herself up for heartbreak when she empties her savings and hops on a flight on the off-chance that the one-night stand with a man she’d known all her life wants her as badly as she wants him, Evie Forrester’s trip to America suddenly seems like a wasted one when it’s clear that Troy Jensen has moved on fully and wholly from her. Her only saving grace is Tanner Harding, another bull rider whose white knight complex insists on taking her in.

Unfortunately, Tanner and Evie weren’t exactly a couple that worked for me, perhaps because the start of this pairing felt too much like an accidental slip into a ‘relationship’ when Tanner was actually a rebound for Evie—for a woman who was hurting for her unrequited love—and Evie was simply someone whom he couldn’t resist. I couldn’t see the draw that brought them together apart from the very obvious physical attraction and Evie’s impulsive naïveté was off-putting at times, particularly with the more worldly Tanner who preferred women like him. It also seemed too easy for Evie, despite all the years of being in love with someone else, to shrug off the heartbreak and fall for Tanner in a matter of days because he’d been good to her, so she did seem emotionally flaky, and well, too needy for my liking.

I do like Sarah Mayberry’s writing however and that’s primarily the reason I requested for this book. Normally I expect heart-wrenching moments with every Mayberry book, but in this case oddly enough, the bull-riding scenes provided me more wide-eyed-wonder moments that had scarce little to do with the romance. From the looks of it, I probably wouldn’t continue with this series and that has more to do with the series not being one I could see myself getting into rather than Mayberry’s assured writing.

A realistic depiction of bull riders and the thrill, not to mention danger of the sport. The author carefully crafted a bull rider in Tanner who embodies the true concept of the riders and the pure physical strength, as well as character that literally leaps off the page in its realism.

Tanner and Evie are a couple that will not be easy to forget. Their chemistry, his tenderness, and her vivacious are so completely captivating...driving the story, keeping me immersed within their story.

Since this was the first book in the series, I look forward to reading the other stories as they are introduced.

This ARC book was provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Tanner is the first book in the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series written by author Sarah Mayberry. Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the advance copy.

I almost always enjoy Sarah Mayberry's books and I enjoyed this book as well.

Our heroine, Evie, is a young and sweet veterinary student. She is a little on the naive side, but not slap worthy. Evie is likable and easy to empathized with. She is somewhat pragmatic despite still wanting to believe in happily ever after. I really liked that she recognized early on in the book that the relationship she had with her childhood friend would never play out the way she had always fantasized it would. Childhood crushes rarely survive the realities of being an adult and it would have been painful and tedious to go through the seven stages of grief for the death of her crush in this book.

Tanner, Evie's love interest, is just an all around good guy and I liked him from the start. He is very much a stand-up guy. He is emotionally honest while still maintaining a stoic cowboy vibe. He is dealing with his own issues through out much of the book but is still enough of a grown up to treat Evie in a respectful and kind way.

There is a fair amount of bull riding action in the book, which I skipped because I always skip detailed action sequences, but I'm sure this would be enjoyable and add credibility to the story for those who enjoy such things.

I found Evie and Tanner's relationship believable and worthy of an HEA (which is always nice in a romance).

I would recommend this book to any fans of Sarah Mayberry or contemporary romance.

I thought this story had a very solid writing style and very good indirect characterization… until a point. I loved the first part of this book, when the main characters are beginning to know each other in awkward circumstances - and Sarah Mayberry really writes these initial interactions superbly. I thought the heroine’s crush on another man was well solved, with a quite effective shock treatment. Tanner’s attitude in that part really defines him for the rest of the story: honorable, dependable, honest. And the way their romance started was quite original, I laughed several times. The author creates comic moments stemming from rather embarrassing situations.
Things didn’t go so well for me in the second part, where the author resorts to telling more than showing the attraction between the main characters. There are a lot of sex scenes which don’t add much to the plot, I’ve just skipped them. I was even a bit surprised that Tanner was having sex immediately after his severe injury and a long travel – but, well, I’m not a doctor. I felt that things were a bit rushed and I was a bit disappointed but, all in all, I’ve enjoyed the story and really liked the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. It starts off with a typical romance trope - girl finds out that the guy she’s in love with is cheating on her. Evie Forrester is a student to become a vet in Australia. She travels all the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma to surprise the guy she’s had a crush on since she was a teenager and finally had had a hook-up with him. He’s a bull rider competing on the bull-riding tour. She’s deceived herself to believe that he feels the same. Big surprise - he doesn’t. As she’s trying to figure out what to do with herself in a strange country. She’s rescued by a hot, former national champion bull rider, Tanner Harding. He just can’t stop himself from helping her out.

Needless to say, Tanner and Evie are soon very attracted to each other and things are proceeding as one expects in a standard romance novel. But what makes the book different is that Tanner’s eye is injured after riding a bull and has to cope with being helpless and the loss of his career. Evie is determined to help him get past the first weeks of his recovery. He doesn’t want to accept her help, but has to acknowledge how she is special to him and figure out how to have a romance with a woman who has a life on another continent.

The relationship between the two builds quickly, but believably. Both protagonists are very likable and I enjoyed their interactions. Altogether this helped raise above the standard romance story.

Sometimes planning to surprise someone can end up with you being the one that's surprised. That's certainly what happened when Evie Forrester flew from Australia to unexpectedly visit heBull riding boyfriend! After being rescued by Tanner Harding from interrupting her boyfriend with a buckle bunny, she has to ditch her original plans and accept that her teen crush is just that and their one night stand was truly a one night only. Now she has to sort out what to do till she can fly home me again...... That's where Tanner keeps on proving to be a gentleman and a knight for her. As the two get closer, their mutual attraction builds. It is when Tanner is the one in need of help that she proves she can be just as stubborn as him!

This is a story of teen dreams crashing and burning but the Phoenix of true love rising from the ashes of disaster. It is a great start to a new series and has a range of brilliantly portrayed characters as well as an engaging plot. I enjoyed escaping into this story and will definitely look out for more in the series and more by this talented author in future.

I was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and chose to read and review it. This is my honest opinion after reading it.

4.5 Stars

Review coming soon (Going up this weekend! )

To be honest, I wasn't sure about the whole bull riding thing at first. But I told myself, this is Sarah, she's not going to disappoint you. And of course, she didn't. She knows how to get readers emotionally. Waiting impatiently for her next book.

sarah mayberry is a must-read, must-buy author for me. i love, love her novels. but she hasn't published much recently, which made me sad. luckily the wait is over, and tanner is the delightful start to the american extreme bull riders tour book series. every novel in the series takes on one of the bull riders, each book authored by someone different as a standalone.

tanner opens with evie forrester's arrival in kansas in order to surprise her longtime crush-possible boyfriend troy, a bull rider on the tour circuit. she runs into tanner harding first, and he protects her from the humiliation of catching troy with some other girl. but since she bought nonrefundable tickets and planned to stay with troy and liquidated her savings to get to the states from australia, she's kind of stuck. when tanner realizes the dire straits she's in, he swoops in with a helping hand.

he's kind to her. and evie can't help but wonder why. but he makes no demands of her, even though evie is startled to realize that she wouldn't be opposed to any demands coming from him. he's actually super dreamy. when the sexual tension blows up between them and they fall into bed, evie and tanner are happy to enjoy the unexpected fling.

but when tanner is injured and learns that he may never play again, evie steps up in a big way to help him through it. helping him retreat to his colorado ranch, she gets a glimpse of what life could be like with this amazing man. but her life needs to go through melbourne. she is on the last year of completing her veterinary degree and transferring at this stage would put her behind for years. tanner knows he can't ask evie to stay, even though he wants to. at the same time, how can he let her go, when the two weeks that they've spent together have saved him from losing everything.

there's a simple enough solution, and they do eventually see it. and their journey to that moment is utterly enjoyable. i'm glad sarah mayberry is back.

Tanner by Sarah Mayberry
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour #1

Going into the story, if you read the blurb, you know that Evie will not get the man of her “dreams” and that Tanner will “rescue” her and that they will more than likely find a HEA BUT the story is so much more than just that. Both Evie and Tanner are wonderful characters with personalities that leapt off the page. Their vigor and vitality, charm and character, humor and humanity, intelligence and so much more made them well rounded individuals that were people I could see myself wanting to get to know better – and – I could easily see why the two of them were attracted to one another. Sure, they seemed clueless at times or had quirks to deal with BUT I liked them and liked their story. I had never read a book by this author but will be looking for more of her books in the future. I can also say that as soon as I finished the book I looked to see what the next book in the series was and when it would come out and immediately requested an ARC to read because this is a series that started well and is one I don’t want to miss a book in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

3.5 Confronting Your Fears Stars
* * * 1/2
Another wining series for Tule Publishing.
A woman who thinks the crush she's had since teen years is the man for her...she surprises him on the Bull Riding Tour only to discover... she wasn't his only woman. Tanner, another top rider sees the meltdown and from there is part protector/ part new friend.

These two are thrown together and from the beginning... it all works terrifically well.
She is a strong woman, no whining and he is a man who just sees how wonderful she is. When he needs to have someone in his corner... there she is for better or worse.

We also are treated to learning just what it takes to be a Bull Rider...we are there, handling the ropes, the feel of being in the shoot and the power of the bulls.
As I said...a wonderful start of a series.

I love Sarah Mayberry's writing and have followed her for years. Tanner did not disappoint. The love story here is borne out of such a sad situation but blossoms into something beautiful and unexpected. These two face so many challenges so early in their relationship and fight to overcome - including his career ending injury and the potential distance in their lives.

3.5 - 4 stars. I've read a couple of books by this author before and enjoyed them, so when I saw that she was writing something new I definitely wanted to read it. She never disappoints in strong writing skills, a writing style that is engaging and easy to read, and great characters. I loved the characters in this book. Both Tanner and Evie were likeable. I think the bull riding portions were extremely well done, as was the friendship and relationship development of the couple. The original premise was a little far fetched for me, although a bit less so since Evie had known Troy her whole life, but it still just didn't ring true for me, her flying across the world to see him. And I found some of the storyline predictable, as in I literally guessed what was coming before it happened. These things brought my rating down a star. I was occasionally confused by the Australian words (I assume), but I don't hold that against the author bc the character was Australian and it was always Evie. But, overall, a nice book, and I like this concept of the series written by different authors and I can't wait to read the other stories.

"Tanner" was a quick read that I found completely engaging. I chose to suspend reality slightly while reading, because it was a bit of a stretch to think that our main character, Evie, would fly halfway around the world to be with her one true love, and then get over that love within a few days, only to fall in love with someone else. Hence the suspension of real life... Once I did that, I totally bought the evolution of the relationship between Tanner and Evie.

All of that alternative reality aside, I LOVED Tanner. Usually I like my alphas pretty strong willed, but I bought Tanner's quiet self confidence and fell for it completely. When he becomes injured and has to leave his dreams behind, I felt his fear and his rage. I held my breath waiting for him to give in to Evie's help and support. It was gut-wrenching.

Aside from a few little spelling and editing errors, the grammar throughout is great and I had no issues with they way it was written, which means I will be checking out Sarah Mayberry's other works. I'll also be checking out the next in the series of American Extreme Bull Riders Tour.

4.75 stars from me.

enjoyable book

I really enjoyed "Tanner". It was a good solid romance. Great characters.

This is a sweet romance novel with enough steamy scenes to keep you hot and bothered. By sweet I mean that the main characters are both extremely likable and good people. No underlying dark. Whether in a relationship with them or not, you would genuinely enjoy hanging out with them. It jumps right into the story with no long build-up, allowing you to get hooked right away. It's a nice escapist read.

TANNER is my first read by Sarah Mayberry and I was not disappointed. I love Cowboy novels and Bull Riders definitely get the heart pumping, with their fearless demeanour and sexy unabashed charm.

This is a love/hate story of second chance romance that was never meat to be rekindled, and an unexpected new and exciting possibility of future happiness. I liked the characters and look forward to more from this captivating series.

I loved this book! This one has everything I like laughter, tears, romance and a little more. Don't miss this one!

The first half of the novel was great, balancing humor and angst. I loved the hero from the first moment he stepped on the stage. The heroine was more problematic for me. I wish more time had been devoted to showing the development of their relationship rather than cramming it all into the epilogue.

The first book in this new Tule Publishing Series, American Extreme Bull Riders Tour is an amazing start to what looks to be a strong series. Well-written and well loved Sarah Mayberry gives us Tanner. She takes a w common trope of the cheating boyfriend and turns it around so that boyfriend is not the user heartless villain that is the usual case.

Evie, the heartbroken is strong enough to see her role in this fairy tale she has concocted. I liked that she did this instead of putting all the blame on Troy. Tanner the older and wiser bull rider sweeps in to help Evie in a strange country. I liked this knight in tarnished armor, but didn’t it turn out he needed as much help as Evie. These are wonderful twists in this story made the story interesting as well as entertaining.

High fives to Sarah Mayberry. Tanner starts off this series with story that provides pleasure in reading and sticks the ending. Tanner would be pleased.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

This was a great read that I would definitely recommend. It kicks off a new series coming from Tule Publishing. The focus of this story is Tanner, a former champion, and Evie, a young woman who travels half way around the world only to have her heart broken when she finds out the man she's in love with is a lying cheat. Tanner witnesses the incident and steps in to help Evie out and that begins their story!

In retrospect traveling half way around the world to surprise a man you’ve loved for most of your life… but you’re not so sure he feels the same might not have been the best idea Evie ever had. But she had to know. Even if that doubt was well hidden, it was still there. Troy would be happy to see her, of course he would and he’d erase all these doubts of hers. Well, things didn’t work out quite the way Evie had hoped, not with a buckle bunny attached to the man she thought was hers. She was saved from utter humiliation on the spot by a handsome cowboy with broad shoulders to hide behind… and then walked away with her head held high and tears clouding her vision. She never expected to see the stranger again, but it turns out that knights are truly alive and well.

Tanner was at the top of his game, well on the way to another championship year. Seeing the lovely lady get the worst surprise of her life had him stepping in and trying to shield her from that ugly reality. He’d thought it was finished and he’d done his good deed for the day. But then he saw her again that night, heading to a run down motel in the worst part of town – he couldn’t keep on driving away. Somehow he felt responsible for this sad woman and he’d step in once again to insure that she was alright. It would turn out to be a snap decision that would change the rest of his life.

I completely enjoyed Tanner and Evie’s romance. It has such depth, so many layers to their relationship that there was always a surprise around every corner of this story. They were a realistic, believable couple even though their first meeting was unusual to say the least. It was touching to watch Evie move on from her childhood infatuation with the boy she’d grown up with, to realizing the difference between a girlish crush and real love. Evie is spunky, funny, smart and it’s so easy to see a part of her in every woman who has given her heart unwisely. Lessons learned, and move forward with her life was her attitude – it just so happened that Tanner was right there to show here what the right man could mean for her. Tanner wasn’t expecting the connection he felt with Evie, his world was bull riding and little else got in the way of that life. Love, family that would all come later once he was retired. But love rarely works that way. When an injury has a devastating effect, Tanner and Evie will quickly learn what truly matters. It might take them a bit before they act on that, but the knowledge is there.

Tanner kicks off the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series with a great couple, an intense story and an interesting look into this dangerous yet exciting sport. I admit to missing Sarah Mayberry’s works recently, but the reality is that life happens. Tanner is an excellent story to discover from an author that I have always enjoyed so much. I would highly recommend this story and I cannot wait to dive further into this new series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I loved Tanner. I thought the book was well balanced between becoming friends , becoming lovers and then so much more.
While Evie went to Oklahoma for a different reason she was able to pull herself up . She was determined to make the most out of her situation.
I liked the different angle the author took when this couple first started out. They were fun and flirty then it turned serious and the couple adjusted.

I received s copy for a honest review

4 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

I have made it no secret that I am a huge Sarah Mayberry fan. Back when I was reading Harlequins like they were going out of style, I found her to be a refreshing voice full of humour and sass, and always unique characters and situations. And I've read a few of her books outside of the Harlequins (she's had a few with Tule publishing), and she always just feeds my happy romance reader heart.

I was worried that I wasn't going to fall in love with Evie at the beginning of the book. She just struck me as really naive, and I couldn't help but groan at the decision she had made and how she couldn't see how it was going to end up, you know? But somewhere along the way, Ms. Mayberry made me love her anyways. I can't say I completely understand why she decided on the surprise trip, but I can accept it I guess, you know? I was OK with what we got from the fallout of that decision (how she dealt with it), and surprisingly didn't end up hating Troy (the boyfriend). I kind of feel like that's a miracle. And the way that all went down helped to make me believe in her developing relationship with Tanner...I think if it had been any different, it would have rubbed me the wrong way you know? That was an intriguing balancing act by Ms. Mayberry.

And Evie was just so sassy, I loved her dry sense of humour. I LOVED the way she handled Tanner after the turning point, she was just perfect. And you really could see her kindness and stubbornness. And I loved that we got to see her depth, and I really believed in her love of animals and such.

I'm not always a huge fan of taciturn heroes, but Tanner was so much more than that. Sure, he could be gruff and grumpy, but he could also be sassy and teasing and he made me swoon with how he stepped in right away with Evie. He had his lower moments, of course, but I was satisfied with how that all played out. I kind of wish we could have seen him deal with the plot twist...we got some of it at the beginning, but then it faded a bit. I just wanted his feelings revisited a bit, it was overshadowed by the romance.

But damn people, the romance was smoking. I really did feel the chemistry and the steamy scenes were very hot.

The other thing I really appreciated about this story is how well she can drop you into an environment and really make you feel it and understand it. I've never had any interest in bull riding, but I felt like we got a realistic glimpse of what the sport is like, with both the challenges and the highs. I really appreciate that, because then it doesn't feel like a gimmick, but something that is a really big part of the heroes life.

All in all it fulfilled my romantic heart, as Ms. Mayberry's stories always do. And the epilogue gave me just enough to have me grinning from ear to ear.

Oh only if I could give more than 5 stars! Now this is how a romance should be written. WOW! Did I love this book.

The best part was Evie drinking, she was so entertaining. Smart, funny and perfect for Tanner. It was the perfect romantic story. It will make you laugh and tear up, truly a great book.

If your looking for a HEA then this book will hit all your buttons. The story was so engaging and fun. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net galley and Tule publishing.

Tanner by Sarah Mayberry is the first in the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series, a multi-authored set of romances that looks at the life of rodeo cowboys who participate in this extreme sport – and the women who lasso them in. While the theme of the series isn’t something that normally peaks my interest, I have very much enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this talented author in the past. I trust her to take a new-to-me topic and weave it into an entertaining and sexy romance and she has definitely succeeded here.

Australian vet student Evie Forrester knows that showing up out of the blue to surprise her ‘sort of’ boyfriend Troy on his American bull riding rodeo circuit tour will either cement their fledgling relationship or dash her hopes of long term commitment to the ground. It turns out to be the latter when he’s found to be otherwise engaged with a 'buckle bunny'. Fortunately, another cowboy, Tanner Harding, shields Evie from being discovered by Troy to at least partially mitigate her embarrassment at being so wrong about her childhood crush and family friend.

Tanner can’t help but feel sympathy for Evie who has had her hopes dashed (her heart bruised, but clearly not broken) and now is trying to find a way to return home to Australia with Troy none the wiser about her unexpected visit. Realizing she has no friends or family here, and not much extra money to speak of (having thought she’d stay with Troy), his protective instincts kick in and he insists she stay with him while she’s sorting out her return tickets. Evie is a delightful young woman, and he can’t help but be attracted to her. And the feeling is very mutual. One thing leads to another, and with the knowledge that Evie will leave soon, they both feel free to indulge in some mutually desirable encounters. But unexpected events lead to a change in plans for them both when Tanner sustains a serious injury. Will it also lead them to a new future together?

I loved this story! Not knowing much about the rodeo circuit, I enjoyed reading about the life of a professional bull rider and the challenges and danger it involves. It’s definitely not a sport for the faint of heart as the injury quotient is fairly high. I hadn’t really thought about what kind of training one might go through in order to be successful, but Tanner clearly takes his job very seriously and works hard at being in tip top shape (a physique Evie can’t help but notice). The author does a great job of making the rodeo ring come alive.

Tanner will steal your heart as a calm and caring nice-guy hero. He’s quick to empathize with Evie’s situation and offer her a helping hand. He respects her boundaries and only shows his attraction to her when she reveals hers to him first, culminating in some very sexy scenes between them. When Tanner is injured, he reacts as one might expect to an event that could be life changing, at first pushing Evie away. But Evie shows her fortitude and determination in standing by Tanner as he did for her.

I really liked Evie’s character. Though she may have acted with her heart and not her head by her unexpected appearance to force Troy’s hand, she does show competence and level headedness for the rest of the story. Evie's vet schooling comes in handy in some scenes that show her training and skill. Clearly she and Tanner have a lot of compatible interests – they just have to decide whether it’s worth pursuing a real relationship from what should have been a simple vacation fling. While the couple has some ups and downs, some of it due to their equal hesitance to expect things from the other, the ending is quite sweet and there’s a nice epilogue to tie things off. I’m definitely interested in reading more of this series – especially Troy’s story to see how his ‘player’ character gets redeemed. Tanner is a great cowboy romance showcasing a hero with heart.

This review has been posted at Amazon. It will be featured on Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link.

Started reading this story and thought I was going to be disappointed. Boy was I wrong. The friendship that grew between these two characters was lovely and the romantic entanglement grew beautifully. I loved Tanner and even liked Troy half way through the book. An excellent read.

Loved this book and it was a quick read. It was refreshing to see that Sarah chose to embrace a random act of kindness turning into something more. Tanner and Evie were hot together and they just steamed up my glasses.

I really liked this one! Not only because of the eyecandy on the cover, oh my, but the story was really good as well. You have a woman trying to make progress on her love life and fly halfway around the world only to find out she was more in love with him than he was. Then life happens and throws her together with Tanner. They are both almost too stubborn for their own good. Aren't we all?!

I can't wait to read more from this series!

I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.

Just loved this book i adored both Tanner and Evie and loved watching their relation grow a super read that you wont want to put down i loved it and cannot wait to read the rest of the series would recommend to all.

TANNER is the first book in a new alternate-writers series from Tule Publishing, called American Extreme Bull Riders Tour – and this first instalment is written by Australian romance author (and one of my fave-of-faves!) Sarah Mayberry.

Now, cowboys are not really my thing. Every romance reader has their trope-of-choice; and cowboys just aren’t mine. My bestie is all about the ice-hockey players, while I’m more of a Scotsman in a kilt kinda gal … but the whole Western Romance/Cowboys/Bullriders thing has just never been on my radar. Until now.

The series starts out with 25-year-old naïve Evie, flying all the way from her family’s farm in Australia to Tulsa in America, to be with her long-distance boyfriend (and childhood crush) Troy, on the last 2 weeks of his Extreme Bull Riders circuit tour. But when Evie arrives she’s met with the shocking realisation that Troy hasn’t been anywhere near as invested in their relationship as she was – and has in fact been bedding buckle bunnies for the months that Evie was pining for him and planning her grand-gesture surprise arrival.

The one person to witness the full-force of Evie’s uncovered betrayal is Troy’s opponent on the tour, Tanner ‘Hard Man’ Harding – a famous Bull Rider tipped to win this circuit. Against his better judgement, Tanner is moved by Evie’s plight – and impressed with her stoicism in the light of such betrayal. He rescues Evie from a seedy motel, and insists she take the spare bed in his Hilton hotel room – and stay with him for the few days it takes her to sort out a plan for the two weeks she’s stuck in America on a non-refundable plane ticket.

But pretty soon Evie is forgetting all about Troy and her heartbreak; so focused on the kindness and gruff compassion of Tanner, not to mention an impressive body crafted from years on the Riding circuit. Tanner, for his part, quickly becomes infatuated with Evie – her iron-will, and sweet disposition – and the two of them fall into an intense and loving fling that only grows stronger when an accident forges a friendship in the fires of tragic circumstances.

*********************
There was a small silence, but as he climbed back into bed she blew her nose. Not a delicate little lady honk, either.
“Thank you.” Her voice was thick with tears. “Sorry if I’m keeping you awake. I think it’ll pass soon.”
“Don’t apologize for having your heart broken,” he said.
Troy was the one who should be apologizing. Tanner had no problem with anyone taking pleasure where they found it, but trying to have a bet each way struck him as being greedy and more than a little selfish. If Troy wanted to play, he shouldn’t have made whatever promises he’d made to Evie, and vice versa.
She blew her nose again, then he heard the sound of her moving around in the bed, changing position.
“I think maybe I came to Tulsa to have my heart broken,” she said very quietly.
*********************

Sarah Mayberry’s TANNER is more of what I love from this auto-buy author. Her characters often start out in the trickiest of circumstances – in this case, Evie getting her heart broken by her childhood crush in the first two chapters! – but the strength of Sarah’s romances is how these character get back up again and find their way to happiness in spite of the worst circumstances.

The other thing I love about Sarah Mayberry’s books is that they’re just so darn hot – and TANNER has got to be one of her hottest yet! I said I didn’t like cowboys so much, but Sarah has imbued this hero with a commendable chivalry and tender compassion that’s mouth-wateringly tempting. There were a few times when Tanner could have been seen to come across as He-Man bossy, but when his particular brand of take-charge gruffness was up against Evie’s own iron-will, it only made for a spectacular coupling with a give-take that was so much fun to read!

I’m keen to read more from the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour, even if Sarah isn’t penning the next three … She’s coaxed me over to the Cowboy-Trope side, and has sprinkled this first instalment with enough intriguing characters that I’m now keen to follow their stories (not least among them being Troy, because even though he does something awful to Evie in this book – there’s hints of a dark past that needs addressing before he can open himself up to love!)

Sarah Maybery is one of my favourite, favourite, favourite romance writers – ever! – and TANNER has just made its way onto my Top 5 faves from her list. Which is really saying something!

4.5 Stars I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author and this series.

Tanner is the first book I have read by Sarah Mayberry and the first book in the American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series. I really enjoyed Tanner with his strong, controlled persona and Evie was adorable and a great match. It may have been fate that had them meet as Tanner isn’t her intended target but sometimes love comes from where you least expect to find it.
This is a fabulous start to American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series!

We all have those authors that are insta-clicks, don't we. If you're a contemporary romance reader and Sarah Mayberry isn't one of yours, I'll admit to being confused. I have at least liked, if not loved/adored/drooled over, everything she's written and Tanner is no exception.

The kick-off of a new series, we leave Mayberry's normal stomping grounds of her native Australia and head to the American west for a story about a bull rider. I went to the rodeo once when I lived in Colorado and I cannot say I gave much thought to the lads on the animals beyond hopes for their safety. If I go back, Mayberry has shifted my focus.

Evie, our heroine, is so damn in love with her boyfriend that she hops a plane from Australia to the U.S. to surprise him. Except she's the one that's surprised when she discovers him with someone else! Turns out, he wasn't under the impression they were dating, much less moving towards engagement like Evie did. Before you get too judgey, our Evie admits she made a lot of assumptions and asked very few questions. Let that be a lesson to all of us; DTR before draining one's savings account.

Tanner is the strong, silent type - but he's also a good man, which means he's not going to leave a shellshocked Evie to fend for herself. The story moves from them being strangers, to them learning to face new challenges together, to sneakily falling in love. With trademark wit and heat, Mayberry has penned another winner.

A great start to a new series by Tule Publishing, American Extreme Bull Rides Tour. Evie has traveled half way around the world for the man that she thought she in love with, only to find out he is a cheat. Tanner steps in and offers her a bed to sleep in, soon they can't fight off their mutual attraction. Tanner is in a riding accident that will soon change the course of his life, but Evie stand by her man, even when he doesn't want it.

This is book that I could not put down. I would get so mad at Tanner but soon he had me melting my heart for him. Can't wait to read more of this series.

Tanner is really great love story between an Ausie girl and bull rider. I was really pleased with the whole story, character and plot. The chemistry, dialogues between Tanner and Evie are great, full of fun sass and their bedroom activities dam hot and sizzling. But the story has also a little bit deeper meaning. It is a story about loss and story about giving up and finding new meaning in life. I loved Tanner his charm and great gentleman way he acted toward Evie. Evie is also great and fun and smart I loved how determent was she to help Tanner and didn’t give up. I was so glad that they both mustered courage and fight for their love.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly