Jen Taylor is a top-class competitive barrel-rider on her grey quarter horse Diamond. Colt Mead is one handsome bull- rider and they compete at the same rodeo events. Jen steers clear of the guys in most cases, working hard. She has succeeded in finding a great sport for her despite a learning disability that makes reading difficult. But Colt Mead might just be her downfall, and the other barrel- riding competitors can't resist teasing her.

THE BULL-RIDER'S COWGIRL does a fine job of letting us get to know young Jen at the very start. We're cheering for her as she tries to secure her ride in the finals. Colt in turn demonstrates the whiplash danger and adrenalin ride of his sport. But Colt is really playing hooky from his father's firm, and bad news comes calling. A plane crash has killed his father and stepmother, and he has to go take care of his little step-sister. Jen decides that nobody should do this without a friend, and volunteers to accompany Colt, missing a rodeo.

I like that we also meet some more of the group; Tammy, another dedicated barrel-racer, is Colt's cousin, but the sides of the family don't speak due to past differences. She's delighted for Jen to go on the long drive instead of her. Margaret, Colt's seven-year-old sister, barely knows him and she is in a mansion still trying to live by the rules set for her. And Jack Evans, an outsider running the family firm, doesn't hesitate to tell Colt what he thinks of him for skipping off to play rodeo king.

This is a tale of swift contrasts, of divided loyalties and high hopes. Even Diamond the horse is a distinct personality, sure of himself and determined to win. Young Margaret definitely engages our sympathies as she has experienced not just loss but a very formal lonely kind of growing up around schools and servants. She's even afraid of ponies. Now her life undergoes a sea change.

Jen has her own issues of what she will do when she's forced to quit competition. Other girls go to college. This is an adult romance but mostly it is about young people growing up rather abruptly and taking responsibility, seeing where their futures might lie. April Arrington has written a cracking story full of action and personality. THE BULL-RIDER'S COWGIRL will make a lot of friends.