Rivalries

Yellowstone meets Dallas against the backdrop of Texas horse country, as the death of a patriarch leaves his rich and powerful ranching family dynasty at odds, a high-stakes reining competition in the balance, and forbidden attractions in the mix. Fans of Linda Lael Miller, Danielle Steel, and Diana Palmer will devour this soapy saga filled to the brim with Texas-style drama, corruption, money, and sizzling affairs. Frank Culhane may be the wealthy patriarch of one of Texas' most prestigious families, but his party girl daughter, Jasmine, is only interested in the money the ranch brings in-and the cowboys. Until the day she heads to the stables in search of their hot horse trainer and instead discovers her daddy's body in their prize stallion's box stall. Roper's rodeo career was cut short by an injury. Now, he's hungry to compete in reining events, like the prized forthcoming Run for a Million. In the meantime, until his family can afford their own breeding business, he's got to work for the rich ranchers who snub them-including the Culhanes. But when an autopsy reveals Frank was murdered, Roper lands on the list of possible suspects. A city outsider, Detective Sam Rafferty's investigation propels him into a tangle of simmering rivalries. For the ranch is now in the hands of an explosive partnership: Frank's young, glamourous second wife, Lila, and his scorned first wife, Madeline. Lila has a genuine passion for ranching. Madeline is determined to destroy her. Through Sam's interviews, more tensions surface-there are Madeline's grown children who've been bypassed for control of the ranch, the socially dismissed McKennas, and the breeders, politicians, and gangsters ready to profit from Frank's death. But tricky alliances are also brewing. While Lila and Roper clash, they discover a fire beneath their sparring. And with a killer still at large, the heat between Jasmine and Sam could put the case, and all their futures, on the line . . .

For one prestigious Texas ranching family still reeling from the murder of their powerful patriarch, the aftershocks continue amid the most prized reining event of the year -and so does the infighting and scandalous romance from legendary author Janet Dailey! Frank Culhane's murder remains unsolved while his widow, Lila, is still battling to keep her beloved ranch from the grasp of his embittered first wife and grown children. As for arresting Frank's killer, time is running out for Detective Sam Rafferty to prove himself and save his career, and for his number one suspect-and Lila's lover-Culhane ranch manager Roper McKenna, to prove his innocence. Both men are staking their fates on the outcome of the imminent reining event of the year: the Run for a Million. Roper's dream of riding in Run for a Million is finally coming true. And for his struggling family, the million-dollar prize will mean everything. He'll be competing on borrowed stallion Fire Dance, with Lila's legendary stallion, One in a Million, as one of his backups. For now, only winning matters. But suddenly, even that is in jeopardy . . . On the road, a huge semi almost sideswipes Roper's truck and horse trailer. He just manages to save the rig from rolling, but the horses are severely shaken. Was it an accident, or an attempt to sabotage Roper-or to kill Lila, who was supposed to have accompanied him? Meanwhile, others are in turmoil of their own. There's Sam's clandestine affair with Lila's pampered stepdaughter-and murder suspect-Jasmine; dangerous information Jasmine has about her mother; and a long-buried secret Roper's sister harbors that could explode the Culhane dynasty. Then there is the sole witness to Frank's murder-a witness who can't speak, but may have a one in a million chance at revealing the truth . . .

From the bestselling First Lady of Romance comes Texas-style drama, scandal, and corruption set in the world of ranching, when the death of a powerful man leaves families at odds, a high-stakes reining competition in the balance, and forbidden attractions in the mix. Will appeal to readers of Robyn Carr, Danielle Steel, and Linda Lael Miller. Lila Culhane's life is in turmoil. As if coping with the murder of her husband isn't enough, now the glamorous young widow has Frank's even younger mistress to contend with. His pregnant mistress. Crystal. But Lila hasn't got time for more heartache. With everyone grasping to profit from Frank's death, including fighting for possession of her beloved ranch, she needs leverage for the battle. As it turns out, Crystal may be carrying just the edge Lila requires: an heir. Crystal offers to let Lila adopt Frank's baby-for a price. Lila is willing to consider it-pending a paternity test. Until then, she'll focus on her role in the upcoming high-stakes Run for a Million reining competition, and her ranch manager-and lover-Roper McKenna. Rugged, hardworking, and talented, Roper is finally getting his dream to ride in the prized competition. Lila expects he'll choose the Culhane's legendary stallion, One in a Million, as his mount. But when he considers other offers, she finds herself questioning his loyalty . . . Meanwhile, Detective Sam Rafferty's list of suspects in Frank's murder is growing. Besides Roper and Lila, Frank's bitter first wife and his sparring extended family, there are adversarial neighbors, ex-lovers, and perhaps even the woman Sam loves-Frank's own pampered daughter, Jasmine. And as the surprises multiply, a killer remains free to strike again-if these rivals don't kill each other first . . .