Book Review: Century Trails by BA Tortuga
Book Blurb
The last thing cowboy Dawson Kincade needs in his life is a job teaching a bored Hollywood star how to fight bulls. But since he’s off work while recovering from an injury, he’s doing just that at his idol, Coke Pharris’s bull fighting school. He’s grumpy about it, and he expects the actor in question to be spoiled and entitled but, to his surprise, he finds so much more.
Seamus Givens has no idea why Dawson dislikes him so much on sight, but he’s at a bull fighting school in New Mexico to learn something for his job, so he can put up with it. He just has to do what he needs to do, and then he can go home. The thing is, he finds a lot to admire in Dawson, and he has a feeling they could be friends, at the very least.
Once Dawson sees Seamus, his sunny personality and his hardcore work ethic, he knows how wrong he was, and the two of them are willing to admit how attracted they are to each other. But Dawson is a bull fighter, and Seamus is a megastar. Can they find a way to combine their lives, and deal with all of the emergency problems that come their way, or will their trails go in different directions?
Book Review
BA Tortuga is one of my go to Authors for all things Cowboy, so I was very excited to read Century Trails and I am happy to report that this was an exceptional read! Century Trails is the first book of the Roughstock Season two series. Bull fighter Dawson Kincade is hired to teach Hollywood star, and self-described nepo-baby, Seamus Givens all things bull fighting. The two get off to a rocky start when Dawson unfairly pre-judges Seamus and eventually things come to ahead. After a course correction, Dawson and Seamus rapidly become firm friends and more and the story follows their developing relationship.
I adored this book and everybody was so well written that it was like being amongst old friends. Dawson starts off as very grumpy character and is quite difficult towards Seamus before he can really get to know him. However, after he realises the error of his ways and acknowledges his attraction to Seamus, he becomes the most devoted and loyal partner anyone could ask for. While I developed a soft spot for Dawson, my heart went completely to Seamus. As a celebrity and the child of two celebrities, his life was just different and he acknowledged and accepted very graciously that he had a good life. It was really refreshing to read such a well-rounded character who accepted that he was blessed with a good family, a good life and a job he loved. He was kind, sweet and generous to those he cared for, as well as inwardly vulnerable and he needed someone who could accept him and the uniqueness of his life. Dawson and Seamus together were perfect and perfectly written and watching them navigate and find space in each other’s lives was really heartwarming. When tragedy strikes the wider Cowboy community, we see the dynamic change and Seamus really become a part of that family and be there for Dawson. I found that entire section so emotional and so well written, I did shed a few tears. This is already one of my top reads for 2026 and I would definitely recommend it.
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