Author Spotlight: It’s Me, Montana Cowboys, & a Giveaway!

Bonjour, mes amis! Cue the confetti! Light the fireworks! The Cowboy’s Comeback, Book 2 in Juniper Falls Ranch, my very first cowboy contemporary romance series. I’m doing it–writing western romance–and I’m having the time of my life! As I work on finishing book 3 in this new series, I’m falling more in love with the little Montana town of Marietta with each book.

I talk about gratitude a lot here. It’s a very real part of my life every day and today, I’m so grateful that my River’s Edge readers have come along to Montana with me and that new readers are discovering River’s Edge because they’ve read my first cowboy romances. Thanks to all of you, darling readers, who’ve come along on my journey so far. There’s so much more to come!

Let’s celebrate today’s release of The Cowboy’s Comeback with a giveaway. In the comments below, let me know if you’re a reader who followed me from River’s Edge to Marietta or a new reader who loves Marietta and cowboy romance. Either way, I’m beyond delighted that you’re with me and there’s a box of goodies up for grabs that includes a signed print copy of Forever Cowboy, Book 1 in the Juniper Falls Ranch series, a handmade bracelet, a Forever Cowboy notebook, a $5 Starbuck’s gift card, and some other fun Montana swag. So comment with how you found me in Marietta, Montana and thank you for being a part of my world! I’m so very glad you’re here! (Continental US readers only)

The Cowboy’s Comeback

It’s an enemies to lovers showdown between the cowboy who can’t trust and the cowgirl who won’t forgive.

Injured rodeo cowboy, Bo Kennedy, takes a job as a horse trainer at a Montana ranch. His skills training cutting horses are in high demand, but he’s holding out hope his days of competing aren’t over. Then his first client arrives, desperate for help with her mare. One problem, she’s his ex.

When World Champion barrel racer Cassie Franklin needs a new horse quickly, her last hope to rebuild her career is to switch to cutting competitions. She brings her new mare to Juniper Falls Ranch, hoping the highly hyped horse whisperer can help. She’s stunned to see Bo. They haven’t spoken in five years after he wrongly accused her of sabotaging his horse when he saw her flirting with his fiercest competitor.

Working together seems impossible, especially as the chemistry still sizzles. Will one of them finally lower their guard and admit they were wrong?

Excerpt

She squared her shoulders and stepped away from his reach. “I can’t imagine what you have to say that I’d want to hear, Bo.”

“How about I was wrong?” The words were so soft that she wasn’t even sure she’d heard him correctly.

She turned back to him. “I’m sorry?” She pushed her hat off, letting it rest on her back by the soft leather stampede strings. The wind ruffled her bangs and cooled her hot face.

He cleared his throat. “I was wrong,” he repeated. “I was wrong about everything. I was bullheaded and stupid to think that you’d have anything to do with Marco. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I destroyed what we had between us.”

If Cassie had been sitting on Pansy, she’d have fallen right off again. As it was, her knees turned watery and she reached for the horn on Pansy’s saddle to keep from buckling down to the coarse grass. Her heart pounded and her mouth went dry as dust. Was he serious? “You’re sorry?”

He closed his eyes and dropped his head back for second, and when he faced her again, his voice came out husky with emotion. “I’ve been thinking about us so much since I got up here. My mom would say finding you here is fate’s way of smacking me upside the head for being a stupid fool. I’ve spent five years shutting down my feelings. I thought I’d been betrayed by another woman I’d opened my heart to. I didn’t think that night. I just reacted and I destroyed us. I’m not asking for a second chance, Cass, but when I saw that snake in front of you, my only thought was I can’t let anything happen to her … be-because …” He took a deep breath. “Because I love you.”

Cassie was pretty sure he’d just broken the record for most words Bo Kennedy had ever spoken at one time. Bo didn’t make flowery speeches. He let his actions speak for him—bringing her favorite ice cream to her trailer back when they were together. Or massaging her feet after a day of events. Making sure her trailer tires were aired up properly even though she knew how to do that and checking the oil in her truck. Taking her to heaven and back again in her bed—or his—each night.

He’d told her he’d loved her back then, but words weren’t Bo’s way of showing his feelings. Yet here he was, declaring himself on the side of a windy hill in the middle of a damn cattle drive.

She stared off into the distance where the others were rounding the herd up to get it moving again. For some reason, Del was standing in the bed of Gus’s pickup. “Bo, I-I … What am I supposed to do now?” She raised both hands, palms out in a gesture of total befuddlement. She was confused and wary, still bitter and yet so aroused by his declaration that she wanted to throw herself into his arms. The attraction she thought she’d beaten over the last five years came at her like a freight train as he stood there in front of her looking abashed and so damn hot.

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just needed to tell you.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah.” The old taciturn Bo was back. Her man of few words. “And maybe do this, too …” He stepped closer, and with his eyes locked on hers tilted his head. He was a breath away, clearly waiting for her to show some kind of acquiescence … permission.

She tipped her face up, and against all her better judgment, allowed him to touch his lips to hers. A gentle kiss, slow, sweet, and tender. As if he cherished her. Longing wafted between them—a tangible thing she could reach out and touch.

When he lifted his lips from hers, it was as though the world had paused and neither of them knew quite what might happen next.