More Than a Cowboy and a Horse 

Hi everyone! Brandi Creek here.

If you've read any of my books, you've probably noticed one thing pretty quickly. I love horses.

I'm also an avid reader of Western romance, and over the years, I found myself wishing for something I wasn't always getting enough of in the books I read: more horses.

Of course, I'm reading romance because I want the romance. Give me the chemistry, the tension, the falling in love, and that happily ever after. But as a lifelong horse lover, I also wanted to see the characters actually interacting with their horses. I wanted the riding, the training, the barn work, and all those everyday moments that come with having horses in your life.

When I started writing my own books, that became really important to me.

I didn't want horses to simply be part of the scenery because the story happened to take place on a ranch. I wanted them to be an integral part of my characters' lives and the worlds I created.

My characters don't just own horses. They work with them, ride them, train them, care for them, and occasionally argue with them. Because anyone who has ever owned a horse knows they have plenty of opinions of their own.

I figured if I was searching for Western romances with more horses in them, there had to be other horse-loving readers looking for the same thing.

There's another side to writing horse-heavy stories, though.

Horse people know horses.

We've all watched a movie or television show where something happens with a horse and immediately thought. That's not how that works.

And once you notice it, it's really hard to ignore.

That's something I never wanted my readers to experience with my books. I spend a lot of time making sure the horse scenes are as realistic as possible. Whether my characters are working cattle, training a horse, competing, dealing with an injury, or simply saddling up for a ride, I want the details to feel authentic.

It takes more research and sometimes a lot more time to write those scenes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Because for me, writing Western romance isn't only about putting a cowboy in a hat and giving him a horse.

It's about bringing readers into the entire world that surrounds them.

And if you're anything like me, there's always room for a little more romance, and a lot more horses.

Happy reading,

Brandi

Hannibal, Missouri - Clemens, Sharpe, Tobin

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

About seventy miles from where I grew up is the town of Hannibal, Missouri. Most may remember it as the place that Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, grew up. Born in Florida, Missouri, in 1835, Clemens moved with his family to Hannibal when he was four. His time here, along the Mississippi River, informed his life and career.

Samuel Clemens
from Wikipedia

But he wasn't the only person of 'fame' that came from that town.

William Thomas Sharp
from Wikipedia

 In 1838, William Thomas Sharp was born in this town. So, who was Tom Sharp? If you were in southern Colorado, you would know this name. Sharp served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was in the Pikes Peak Region in 1859, had a trading post in Huerfano County in the 1870s, and later was a horse and cattle breeder.  

Margaret Bown
from Wikipedia

And of course, the last is Margaret Tobin. Born in 1867 in Hannibal, she moved to Leadville, Colorado at age eighteen with her brother Daniel. She met and married James Joseph, J. J., Brown in Leadville in 1886. At the time, there was not much money. However, by 1893 their fortune changed, and in 1894 they moved to Denver. In 1912, she booked passage on the Titanic and survived the sinking of the ill-fated ship.

These are just overviews of three amazing people who came from Hannibal, Missouri. All three have lives well worth looking into. You may be surprised. All I can say is there must have been something in the water. 

Until Next Time:

Stay safe - Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon 

The Cowboy Romance Reader Quiz

 Think you could survive life with one of my cowboys?

You’ve read cowboy romances. You’ve swooned over the ranchers. You’ve dreamed about wide open skies, strong hands, and slow-burn kisses. But that’s just fiction.

Grab a pen, keep a mental tally, or just have fun with it. No pressure. Just pure cowboy chaos.

If you’re curious how I scored, my results are waiting at the bottom.

Niki J. Mitchell

 

1. Your cowboy wakes you up at 5 a.m. because there’s a problem at the barn. You:

A) Grab coffee and head out with him
B) Ask what’s wrong first and then decide
C) Pretend you didn’t hear anything

2. He says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”

A) You trust him completely
B) You watch… just in case
C) You flip through your phone for answers

3. A horse is waiting for you.

A) You’re already halfway into the saddle
B) You approach carefully and try not to look nervous
C) You ask if there’s a smaller horse option

4. His entire family invites you to dinner.

A) You bring dessert and charm everyone
B) You ask your cowboy for a family cheat sheet first
C) You consider faking a scheduling conflict

5. A quiet moment under the stars happens.

A) This is exactly what you came for
B) You enjoy it but keep checking for bugs
C) You ask if stars always have this many bugs nearby

Tally Your Score 

🎯13–15 Points: The Ranch Born Heroine   🐎  🐄

You don’t just survive ranch life—you thrive in it.

You wake up early, trust your cowboy, and probably know how to saddle a horse better than he expects. You’re the kind of heroine who makes a grumpy cowboy forget his own name.

🌅 9–12 Points: The Ranch Curious Romantic ♥️ 

You belong in cowboy romance… just not full-time ranch labor.

You love the idea of ranch life, especially the sunsets, the cowboy, and the emotional tension. You’ll help with chores—but only if there’s coffee involved.

🍷5–8 Points: The Cozy Cowboy Reader  📕

You are here for the romance, not the ranch work.

You want the cowboy, the kisses, and the emotional payoff. The barn? That’s optional. The porch swing? Essential.

You’d rather read about ranch life than shovel it—and honestly, the cowboys don’t mind.

👠👠 0–4 Points: City Slicker Energy 💡

Ranch life? Hard pass.

You’re here for the cowboy romance, not the 5 a.m. wake-up calls, dirt, or livestock negotiations. You’d rather meet the cowboy after he’s already showered

Final Verdict:

No matter your score, one thing is clear: Cowboy romance works because it gives us the best part of ranch life—the love story. Everything else is just scenery. 

I turned out to be: The Cozy Cowboy Reader. Which doesn’t surprise me. I love romance, and horses, but I am a night owl to the core so getting up at sunrise doesn’t appeal to me in the least.

I want to know your result!

Reply to this email and tell me:

nikimitchellauthor@kuriouskatz.com

Or post your score on Facebook if you want to brag a little.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNikiMItchell/

Until next time—keep reading cowboy romance and dreaming big.

 

If you are wondering about Cindy’s Secret Cowboy, Chase and Cindy’s story, I just finished the rough draft. Now it’s time to go through some heavy editing and send it off to my editor. Preorder today.

https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-of-Sunrise-Ridge/dp/B0DZVGNRQP

 

The Belt Buckle ~ Julie Lence

 

my belt buckle

One distinct image comes to mind when I hear the term cowboy; a broad-shouldered, handsome man wearing scuffed boots, denims, chaps, checkered shirt, Stetson, and a wide belt buckle. Often featuring colorful gems or tri-colored metal, the belt buckle is crafted from sterling silver, brass or pewter, is either oval or square in shape, and offers several different center motifs, to include a bucking horse, a bull, a logo, a lasso, or a person’s name. Some are won at rodeo competitions, but mostly, they’re bought at a western store. Back in the day, I had several; my go-to was my Wrangler buckle, which I still have and sometimes wear.       

The buckle itself traces back to the Romans. Made of metal, it was developed for military to hold straps for sword scabbards and horse riding gear, to secure clothing, and to fasten armor. As the metal industry evolved with time, so did the buckle. Now made of silver and brass, the buckle was added to European fashion as a decorative feature and was sometimes engraved to signify wealth. Eventually, the buckle found its way to the United States, with the army using the metal for fastening clothing and gear, as the Romans did, and for belt buckles. The cowboy also used the metal for belt buckles and for their saddles. Today, the buckle is featured in several different manners, including automotive seat belts, ratchet straps, and decorative ornaments on shoes.       

Montana Silversmith

Sunset Trails designers are credited with creating a belt buckle Kevin Costner’s character on Yellowstone. Molly’s Custom Silver is another maker of belt buckles, but it’s Montana Silversmiths who lead the way in manufacturing today’s cowboy belt buckle. Always sparkly and shiny, the belt buckle is more than a necessity in clothing. It’s jewelry and fashion, and in a cowboy's blood.   

Declaration of Love Release Day!

 

Every story begins with an idea.

Sometimes it's a character. Sometimes it's a setting. And sometimes it's a simple "what if?"

For the Petticoats & Patriots series, it all began with a single silver locket.

I wondered what stories that little keepsake might witness if it were passed from one generation to the next. What if it connected women across 250 years of American history? What if each heroine faced her own challenges during a pivotal moment in our nation's story? And what if, through it all, hope, courage, and love endured?

Those questions became eight novels spanning from 1776 to 2026.

Today, I'm delighted to celebrate the release of Declaration of Love, the eighth and final book in the series.

A temporary postmaster. 

A contractor who fixes everything except his own heart. 

And a love story written 250 years ago.

Grady Guthry understands the weight of a promise. Years after returning from the Army to help his widowed sister and young nephew rebuild their lives, he’s created a solid life in Holiday, Oregon. With a thriving construction business and deep roots in his small town, Grady’s world is steady, dependable, and safe—just the way he needs it. The last thing he’s looking for is change, especially not in the form of the town’s new, temporary postmaster.

Kate Barton has always followed the horizon. An Air Force veteran who thrives on freedom and fresh starts, she moves from one assignment to the next, never staying long enough to put down roots. But when she arrives in Holiday, she carries more than just her bags. A cherished locket left behind by her father draws her into a legacy she never knew existed—and begins to stir a longing she can’t quite ignore.

As Holiday prepares for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, an unexpected friendship between Grady and Kate deepens into an undeniable slow-burn romance. Grady offers Kate a sense of home she’s never known, while she reminds him there’s more to life than duty.

But with Kate’s departure date looming, the independence they’ve both fought to claim may become the very thing that keeps them apart.

In a season of healing, hope, and second chances, will they find the courage to let go of their plans—and choose a future together?

Courage built a nation. Love made it worth fighting for.

Throughout 250 years of American history, a well-loved locket finds its way into the hands of eight spirited heroines—each standing at the crossroads of love and destiny, and each inspired by a true patriot. As it journeys from one heart to the next, these stories unfold with sweet romance, unwavering hope, and a deep love of country, proving that even in uncertain times, love is always worth the risk. Start reading the Petticoats & Patriots series today!

 

Also, to celebrate the book's release and the end of the series, this week is going to be packed full of fun!

Starting today and running through Sunday, participants in the Petticoats & Pistols Facebook Group can collect Holiday passport stamps, and enter a daily drawing. 

They can also play Bingo each day for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the week.

And ... we're hosting a party to wrap-up the series with a day full of games, giveaways, books, and shenanigans. It begins Thursday morning at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time).

You can join in the fun and the group by clicking the button below.

Have a grand time!

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.

The Legend of Montezuma’s Gold

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

The Aztec were a powerful Mesoamerican civilization with a complex system of politics, trade, and administration that lived in central Mexico from about 1300 to 1521. They founded the city-state of Tenochtitlan in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco. Today it’s the location of modern-day Mexico City.

They reached their pinnacle in 1519 when Hernán Cortés and his Spanish conquistadors arrived. He managed to take Tenochtitlan in 1521 with European diseases having already decimated the population, and from there the Spanish proceeded to move north into the Americas.

The Aztec emperor at the time was Moctezuma II (or Montezuma II). His treasure possibly consisted of gold bars, jewelry, coins, and elaborate headdresses. Legend states the treasure was moved to the north as Montezuma’s relationship with Cortés began to sour and was buried in northern Mexico or the southwestern area of the United States. A popular consensus is that it’s located in New Mexico or Arizona, specifically the Casa Grande region between Phoenix and Tucson, although some treasure hunters think it may be as far north as Utah.

No treasure has been found beyond a gold bar discovered in 1981 in Mexico City. It’s believed to have been looted by the Spanish during their conquest of Tenochtitlan.

* * * *

In my upcoming book, THE FALCON, Mateo and Josie are caught up in the search for an Aztec treasure that might be related to Montezuma's Lost Gold.

The Falcon by Kristy McCaffrey
Wings of the West: Book 12
Coming September 22, 2026

Mexico

December 1899 

Josie Ryan’s connection to Texas runs deep, from the land to an almost preternatural kinship with the animals in the wild. This bond has led her to the edge of life and death, from saving a boy caught in a fire when she was eleven years old to being struck by lightning to a mountain lion attack that almost ended her life. The discovery of an abandoned falcon chick leads to a fierce attachment, but with only intuition to guide her, Josie struggles to train the wildest creature she’s ever encountered. When she learns of a man who could help, she’s determined to gain an introduction. 

Mateo Almirón, El Halconero—The Falconer—and Argentine gaucho, is tasked with delivering two prized purebred Criollo mares to Matt Ryan, a man whose reputation casts a long shadow. Years ago, Ryan saved the life of Mateo’s father, and the horses will settle the longstanding debt, but when the exchange goes wrong, Mateo is entrusted with protecting Ryan’s daughter, Josie. Now Mateo and Josie must hide in the mountains of Northern Mexico where stories abound of Josie’s mother, a woman who lived among the Comanche and rose from the dead. 

But in a place alive with superstition, Josie and her untamed falcon will give rise to a new legend …

Josie is the youngest child of Matt and Molly from THE WREN.

* * * * *

Available for pre-order from Nook and Apple Books.

(It will also be available at Amazon, Kobo, Google Play Books, and in paperback on release day.)

Connect with Kristy

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Newsletter

Cowboy Culture

 

                                           Cowboys are iconic. 

Symbolic of Americana.

A unique culture.

 

Hi, my name is Dalyn Weller, and I write romance novels. My favorite heroes are cowboys. I suppose the Wild West is in my DNA.

My family, like many others, were European immigrants who managed to trek from Scotland, Sweden, and a few other countries. They eventually got itchy feet, looking for that greener grass, and came West in the late 1800s.

My Great-grandfather came to the Pacific Northwest with one of his brothers and became a game warden. Charlie raised mules. But most of my great-grandfather’s brothers and sisters stayed in Colorado, where the family had settled. They became prominent cattle ranchers. One of my great-great-uncles sold his ranch in the 70s. Maybe you've skied on his land? Or stayed at a luxury Western dude ranch where another of my great-great-uncles once raised his family and cattle. 

My great-great-grandfather was an illiterate freight wagon driver everyone called Sandy (as redheads were nicknamed back in the olden days), and my great-great-grandmother Ella was a tough little woman who ran a boarding house while her husband and young sons worked in a place they called Ditch Camp.

We idolize cowboys and always have, but what about the cowgirls? What about the women whose grit and no-quit attitudes built the West? Sometimes stone by stone? The rugged land, the unforgiving elements, and the dirt-poor living brought the cream to the top in my opinion. Many of us in the West owe our lives, and certainly our colorful family histories, to these women who carved out lives for themselves right alongside the men.

There’s a reason so many of us do our best to keep the western traditions alive and thriving all these generations later. We honor and value those whose calluses, tears, sweat, and blood made the West what it is: a place that values the land, the animals, the people, and the culture of a handshake promise, protective men, and women who can tame a horse with a baby on her hip. 

 

 

My great-great-aunt Belle is a prime example. Tenacious, tough, with a work ethic to put many men to shame. Aunt Belle built a ranch and started a herd while her husband worked the railroad, and after he got sick and died, she continued to own their brand. How I wish I could time travel and visit Belle on her ranch. I have so many questions, but mostly I’d tell her how proud I am… how often I look at her photo, and how I brag about her when I have the opportunity (like now). Her sister Pearl was pretty cool, too. 

Back to cowboys…

To me, cowboys have meant safety in a life that wasn’t always safe with a single mom raising my sister and me. I know where I stand with a cowboy, and I’m assured of help when and if I need it. Most of them are reliable and loyal, and they will keep working until the job is done.

I live in an agrarian area with lots of cowboys, farmers, ranchers, and the associated good old boys that sell them tractors and hay and come out to vet their animals, so I’m familiar with these guys. 

When I think of cowboys, I associate them with certain characteristics. I don’t just mean Wranglers (but who’s complaining about those?), cowboy hats, and boots. I mean grit, determination, a certain toughness of mind and body, hard work ethic, honesty, polite manners, deference to ladies, protective instincts, and the kind of determination that sometimes requires everything a man’s got to get ‘er done.

We think of cowboys as loyal and protective, with a quiet strength that stands guard between the vulnerable and harm. A man who is capable of becoming dangerous to danger. Swoon.

Yep. I like cowboys. For one thing, they often have horses and dogs. 

           If you like books with cowboys, kids, & dogs, check out the Apple Valley Ranchers. 

I write stories featuring cowboys because I want to fall in love with the hero right along with the heroine. He needs to be a certain type of guy to make me take notice. Work-worn hands and a soft heart hidden underneath a gruff exterior? Swoon.

How about you? What’s your favorite kind of hero?

          Until next month, Dalyn Weller