By Stacy Finz
Who doesn’t love a cowboy or a cowgirl? I think my fixation for cowboy romance novels started with Linda Lael Miller books and by the time I got to Jodi Thomas I was hooked. Now, I write them. But as soon as I get my allotted word count done for the day, I sink into my favorite chair and escape in a good contemporary cowboy romance. Here are the books on my to-be-read pile because when I’m looking for a story to take me away these are my go-to authors.
A Cowboy State of Mind by Jennie Marts
I’ve one-clicked A Cowboy State of Mind by Jennie Marts. It’s the first book in her new Creedence Horse Rescue series (out June 30), a spinoff of The Cowboys of Creedence series, which I adored. The story is about a scarred hero who’s good with animals but lousy with women and a heroine who takes in strays but draws the line at damaged men. I can’t wait to see what happens.
My One and Only Cowboy by AJ Pine
AJ Pine has kicked off her new Meadow Valley series with My One and Only Cowboy. In this story AJ explores one of my favorite tropes: saving the ranch. In this case, it’s a guest ranch and the hero is barely hanging on. Things go from bad to worse when the heroine shows up, claiming half the ranch belongs to her. That’s when things get complicated and I love me some complication.
The Cowboy Says I do by Dylann Crush
Speaking of new series, I can’t wait to get my hands on Dylann Crush’s The Cowboy Says I do (out Aug. 4). It’s the first Tying the Knot in Texas book. The town’s mayor wants to re-brand the town of Idont to Ido by turning it into Texas’s top destination for weddings. Of course, the town’s deputy sheriff gets dragged into the mayor’s redux. But how far will he go to revive the town he loves?
Her Cowboy Sweetheart by Cathy McDavid
Who can resist a story about a single mom living next door to a bull rider? I certainly can’t. Cathy McDavid’s Her Cowboy Sweetheart delivers all the feels. In this sweet romance, the hero and the heroine have enough on their plates, neither is looking for love. But we know how that goes.
The Second Chance Rancher by Kat Pearce
I never miss a chance to visit Kate Pearce’s Morgan Valley and hang out with the Miller men. And this summer I plan to spend some quality time with Ben Miller in The Rebellious Rancher (out July 28). If you love my Dry Creek Ranch series and Northern California cowboys you won’t be able to put Kate’s books down. Start at the beginning of the series with The Second Chance Rancher. You won’t regret it.
Three cousins become cowboys when an unexpected inheritance leaves them with a ranch—and a future as wide open as the California sky . . .Sawyer Dalton may be an investigative journalist, but he has no interest in the story of the sexy stranger who has invaded his barn’s loft apartment on Dry Creek Ranch. After months on the road, he just wants to settle in. But according to his mother, publicist for the beautiful celebrity chef sleeping in Sawyer’s bed, Gina DeRose needs a place to hide out until a scandal dies down. And Sawyer can never say no to his mother . . .
Gina is devastated that her hard-won career is about to collapse. Someone is stirring up sabotage. And when a hoaxter blows up the internet with incriminating photos, even brooding—gorgeous—Sawyer is convinced she needs his help. Once they join forces, there’s no escaping each other—and with the heat simmering between them, soon neither wants to try . . .
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