Thee's a new cowboy at Creed's Creek Ranch by Rhonda Lee Carver

 (Make sure you stay until the end. I've included an unedited snippet)

There's something about a romance novel that can make a person feel...special.

Especially a contemporary western romance.

Maybe it's the contrast between the grit of the ranch and the softness of romantic chemistry. The way a cowboy can get his hands dirty, wrangle cattle, mend a fence, and work the land through a thunderstorm without flinching, and then turn around and unravel a woman with just one look.

The modern-day cowboys aren't just riding their horses across dusty prairies any longer. In novels, they're fighting to save ranches and farms, ex-military heroes who are running away from something or toward something, carrying old scars, champions chasing one last dream. Readers expect these cowboys to be stubborn, small-town charmers who always expected a bull to know them flat onto their backs but never love.  

Oh, and the women they love? Yee-haw! They're just as gritty and stubborn. Independent. Sharp-witted. Ready to stand her ground. They don't need rescued, at least not in the traditional sense. They stir up trouble and can handle any situation that comes their way. They force a cowboy to break free from all the demons and scars.

I've been asked a dozen times: What makes a contemporary western romance an addiction to write?

It's not the attraction. It's the conflict.

The tension in that moment of an exchanged glance, touch, or run-in that changes their lives forever.

And of course, what's a cowboy without his ranch?

Dust under his boots.

Bonfires on lonely nights.

Country music and a beer.

The scent of leather, whiskey, and summer heat.

A ranch is a perfect atmosphere for love.

I'd like to guess that in every cowboy's heart, he's looking for a woman brave enough to tame the storm inside him.

BLURB from The Texas Ranger: Saddled Up:

The mission says no. Desire says yes.

Texas Ranger, Ben “Bear” Lane, has spent his life chasing criminals and living by the badge. When it comes to matters of the heart, he has one steadfast rule: “badge before babes”. When his team, Texas Heat, is ambushed, they are placed undercover in a small-town working a ranch. He's about to face the fight of his life. Nothing rattles his control like Aasia Powers, a brilliant scientist who's been his friend since he arrived in town.

She makes Bear realize some rules are meant to be broken. She could be the only thing that brings him to his knees.

Every laugh, every glance, every touch burns a fire right through him, dissolving every doubt. One slip could put the mission—and them both—in danger, especially when suspicion leads directly to her. Danger puts her in the crosshairs of a ruthless enemy.

Fin’s Creek is full of drama and suspicion. Secret pregnancies. Family drama.Friendships on the line.

Bear and Aasia must navigate responsibility, broken relationships, and the complexities of the past as their emotions deepen and temptation becomes impossible to resist. Boundaries will be tested. Trust will be questioned. Danger is moving in, and Bear is losing focus. Will he tell her his secrets, or will he continue to be an “honest liar” and lose her?

What Bear knows...he's saddled up for whatever may come. Revisit this charming, complex town, Fin's Creek, where love grows in the Texas heat.

UNEDITED SNIPPET:

A scream fell off her lips and she jumped up, feeling the softness of Bear’s face bumping her.

“What the…?”  His voice pulled her out of her shocked state.

She wasted no time. She came off the bed and landed both feet on the floor. Pointing, she couldn’t seem to get her voice to work. Finally, she stammered, “Rat. There. It was watching.”

He climbed to his feet, reached over and switched on the lamp. The dim lighting lit the small space. The rat was gone.

“It was there. I saw it. I did.” Just as soon as the words were out, she realized Bear had one hand clamped over his nose and blood seeped from between his fingers. She had bloodied his nose. “Oh no! I’m so sorry. I’ll grab something.”

Aasia raced into the bathroom and grabbed a clean towel from the rack. Bear was sitting on the bed, still cradling his nose in his palm.

“Let me see,” she said gently.

He lowered his hand and he had two trails of wetness streaming from his nostrils.

“I’ll be okay,” he said confidently. “It’s just a nosebleed.”

“I’m going to help you.” She shook out the towel and pressed the terry cloth against his injured nose. He looked up at her and she could see the humor in his gaze. She was grateful he could find the humor in the situation, but she wasn’t quite there yet. “Bear…I…”

“Stop. This is nothing.” She did manage a smile when hearing how he sounded with the towel pressed against his face, muffling his words. 

“I hate rats. Since I was a child. We used to have them and sometimes they’d come into my bed.” She pulled the towel away, checking the condition of his nose. “It’s not broken and the bleeding has stopped.”

He took the towel away from her and used his thumb to lift her chin so she’d look at him. “Hey, it’s okay. I understand.”

She met his gaze and what she found there made her heart skip a beat. He truly wasn’t angry or bothered. “Thank you for understanding.”

“Maybe this was for the best. You deserve more than a ramshackle camper.”

Aasia felt closer to him than she ever had. She sat down on his lap and wrapped both her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “You are an amazing man, Bear.”

“I’m glad you think so, but you’re cutting off my air supply.”

She quickly let go. “I’m truly not trying to beat you up.”

He chuckled. “How about we get you out of here?” He lifted a tendril of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.

“I agree.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to catch the rat and take it home as a friend for the kitty you rescued?” His teasing made his eyes light up.

“That’s not even funny. I think that’s where Pedora would draw the line.” She stood and found her clothes.

She found him watching her. His expression trickled excitement through her. “You’re going to probably a bruise on your nose.”

“I’ll come up with a good story to tell the boys.”

“Yea?”

“Yea. How I got attacked by a lioness, she knocked me to the ground and nearly consumed me with her sharp teeth, but I managed to save myself from her claws.” His eyes sparkled.

“You’re full of jokes, aren’t you?” She threw her shirt in his face, and it fell onto his thigh. He lifted it and inhaled her scent from the material.

Something changed between them. An understanding of sorts. She realized the rough and tough Bear had a softer side, and she wanted to investigate it further.

A Cowboy's Hat

 

In the cattle country of the 1870s and 1880s, a cowboy's hat was far more than a piece of clothing--it was as necessary as a saddle or a good horse. Wide-brimmed hats shield a rider from the brutal sun of Texas trails, sudden prairie rain, and the choking dust kicked up by longhorn herds on the move. Before the famous "cowboy hat" became standardized, many drovers wore whatever they could find: battered Civil War slouch hats, Mexican sombreros, or broad felt hats bought from frontier merchants. By the late 1870s, John B. Stetson's "Boss of the Plains" began gaining popularity across the West because it was durable, waterproof, and could survive hard months on the range. 

 A cowboy's hat often reflected the man beneath it. Some curled the brim high on the sides to keep rain from running down their collars, while others pinned one side up for style or convenience. Sweat, dust, and weather gave each hat its own character, and a seasoned cowboy could sometimes be recognized from a distance simply by the shape of his crown. Hats served dozens of purposes on the trail: cowboys used them to fan campfires, water horses, swat flies, or even scoop water from a creek when no bucket was near. A man might sleep with his hat pulled over his eyes beneath the stars, then wake before dawn and ride out with the same hat still carrying yesterday's dust.

To Western readers of the era, the cowboy hat became a symbol of independence and frontier grit. Newspaper illustrations, dime novels and Wild West shows helped turn the broad-brimmed hat into an emblem of the American frontier. Yet for the working cowboy there was little romance attached to it--a hat was judged by how well it stood against wind, rain, and hard labor. The best hats stayed on during a gallop, held their shape after a storm, and lasted through years of cattle drives.  By the close of the 1880s, the cowboy hat had become inseparable from the image of the American West, representing not only the men who rode the range, but the rugged spirit of the frontier itself. 

Sandra

                                                  Available at Amazon

Hi everyone! Brandi Creek here, and I’m so excited to be visiting Cowboy Kisses for my very first blog post!

I write emotional small-town western romance filled with horses, ranch life, second chances, protective cowboys, and all the messy emotions that come with finding your way back to the people you never truly forgot.

Since my newest release, Ride Back to Me, has just been released, I thought it would be fun to talk a little about one of the biggest inspirations behind the story and why reining became such an important part of Avery and Reed’s journey.

How Reining Inspired Ride Back to Me

That love for horses, especially reining, became a big inspiration behind my newest release, Ride Back to Me.

I’ve always been fascinated by the partnership between horse and rider and the amount of trust it takes to compete at that level. The sliding stops, the spins, the seamless lead changes that happen so smoothly you barely even see them, there’s just something about the athleticism and precision of the sport that completely pulls me in every time I watch it.

I watch The Run for a Million every year, and seeing those horses and riders compete at that level always reminds me why I love the sport so much. The control, the power, and the connection between horse and rider are incredible to watch.

I grew up around horses and still spend time with them today, so that lifestyle naturally finds its way into my books. When I started writing Avery and Reed’s story, I knew I wanted reining to be part of their world because it added so much passion, pressure, dedication, and emotion to the story.

But at its heart, Ride Back to Me is really about coming home, facing the past, and finding your way back to the people who never truly left your heart. Along with the second-chance romance between Avery and Reed, readers also meet Maisie, the surprise daughter who changes everything between them in ways neither of them expected.

This book was such a special story for me to write because it combines so many things I love: horses, family, ranch life, emotional healing, and the kind of connection that never fully lets go.

It’s available in Kindle, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited for readers who love emotional western romance, second chances, surprise daughter stories, ranch settings, and plenty of heart.

For those of you who love holding a book in your hands, the paperback edition is available too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I laughed, cried, and couldn’t read it fast enough.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A simply amazing story centered around the fascinating equine sport of reining.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Sweet, tender, and impossible to put down.”

If you’re ready for horses, second chances, ranch life, and a surprise daughter who changes everything, get in here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX32TZQT

Happy reading,
Brandi Creek

My beginning Writing Practice

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

When I decided to get serious about writing, I began a writing practice that I followed for about three years. I would write a Haiku and post a photo before midnight at least five days a week. Over the course of that practice, I wrote a lot of poems.  

It also showed me what I was capable of when I was disciplined. Below are three examples. I hope you enjoy. What is your go-to writing practice? (I still write poetry when I'm feeling stuck.)

Photo and text copyright 2019 by

Doris McCraw

See the wind talking

Trees and grasses say so much

Telling tales of life.

***************

Photo and text copyright 2019

Pale opaque curtains

Stretched across distant stars

Moon plays hide and seek

*****************

Photo and text (c) Doris McCraw

This could be heaven.

Picture-perfect start of day

All in perspective

Until next time

Stay safe - Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

The Wild West of Nicknames ~ D. K. Deters

Names didn’t carry much weight in the Old West, but reputations did. More often than not, a reputation earned a man a new name to match.

I wanted to do something fun this month, so I decided to explore nicknames in the Old West. The following information is based on historical accounts of frontier life and naming practices.

Some nicknames served a practical use. Communities often sprang up fast in mining camps or cattle towns, and several men may have been named “John”. A nickname like “Red,” “Slim,” or “Texas Jack” instantly identified who you meant.

The West drew folks who wanted to reinvent themselves and leave their pasts behind. One way to do this was to create a new identity that fit their reputation better than their given name. One desperado, Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, became known as The Sundance Kid.

In just a few words, “Silent Bill” or “Mad Dog” could tell a story, reflecting personality, appearance, or reputation—useful in rough places where first impressions mattered.

Storytelling, newspapers, and dime novels loved colorful names. Think of Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid, or William H. Bonney. A good nickname traveled faster than a plain one.

Literacy levels varied, and record-keeping wasn’t always consistent. Nicknames helped identify individuals whose names varied in spelling over time.

In the Old West, nicknames were not only plentiful but also useful for recognition, reinvention, and storytelling—where they mattered a great deal.

Would you have recognized these names?

Butch Cassidy (Robert Leroy Parker)

Kid Curry (Harvey Logan)

Black Bart (Charles E. Boles)

Big Nose George (George Parrott)

Curly Bill (William Brocius)

Rustling Bob (Roscoe Bryant)

Little Britches (Jennie Stevenson)

Cattle Annie (Anna Emmaline McDoulet)

Doc Holliday (John Henry Holliday)

Buffalo Bill (William Frederick Cody)

Welcome to the Team ~ Julie Lence

 

Psst.... Deborah Camp and Reggi Alder are no longer with the group. We hate to say goodbye to friends, and will miss them dearly, but both need to focus on other aspects of their lives. We wish them well and invite them back anytime they wish to guest blog. Replacing them are 2 very talented authors, Brandi Creel and Dalyn Weller. Brandi is filling the 2nd Wednesday slot and slated to begin dazzling you on May 13th.  Dalyn is taking over the 4th Tuesday slot and will have her 1st blog ready for you to read on June 30th. Please give each a warm welcome and check out the right hand side bar for author pages to enable you to know them better and connect with them on social media. 

Welcome to Cowboy Kisses Brandi and Dalyn! We are truly blessed to have both of you on our team. 

Julie      

Character Interview with Zach Maldonado ~ Julie Lence

 

Nothing says springtime like horses playfully chasing each other around a corral. I’m at Bennett Ranch this morning asking Zach Maldonado some of the same questions I asked Barbie Bennett last month. A former bull rider on the rodeo circuit, Zach now works the Bennett Family Ranch. Standing outside the corral with him, it’s easy to understand why Barbie is completely enamored with his dark hair and broad shoulders.

‘Thank you for talking with me today, Zach. What can you tell my readers about you?’

‘Ain’t much to tell. I grew up in San Diego. Dad worked a ranch outside the city. He had me work alongside him and the other cowboys every summer of my teen years, to keep me off the streets. He cracks a grin. Probably the best thing he ever did. That grin widens. Anyway, I learned to rope and ride, and when I turned 16, he took me to the rodeo. Bull riding was my favorite event and it stuck with me. I spent the rest of that summer learning to stay on the back of one for eight seconds. Good thing. Those lessons helped me take care of Mom after Dad passed away.’

 ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’

He nods.

‘How long were you part of the rodeo circuit before you met Barbie?’

‘A handful of years. I always liked her music. Never thought I’d meet her.’  He wipes a hand over his jaw. ‘Was nothing but dumb luck that day I happened upon her. I didn’t even know it was her. Just saw a guy grab a girl and stepped in to help her.  If she hadn’t sent her bodyguard to find me later that afternoon, that woulda been my only time seeing her face-to-face.’

‘What did you think that night when you had supper with her?’

‘Lots of things.’ He hooks his booted foot on the bottom rail, stares at the horses on the opposite side of the corral. ‘I always thought she was pretty, but up close, she was more than pretty. She was drop-dead gorgeous; the kind of face guys dream about.’ He pauses. ‘But, she was more than that. She was sweet… kind… and thanked over and over for helping her. All the time she was talking, I wanted to kiss her, but didn’t dare.’       

‘Why not?’

‘Her crew and bodyguard were lollygagging around outside the tour bus; some bigger than me. Had a feeling if I tried, they wouldn’t hesitate to trounce me.’

“Did Barbie want you to kiss her?’

He shrugs. ‘Too scared to ask. I mean… I was with Barbie Bennett. Her face was on the cover of every magazine in the country… six brothers, cars, homes, money, thousands of screaming fans chasing after her…I was just a bull rider who helped her. I didn’t find out until months later that she would’ve let me kiss her.’  

‘You and she have been together for a long time. How would you describe you relationship?’

‘Barbie’s the best thing to have happened to me. I like to think she feels the same about me.’ He pauses again. ‘She stood beside me when that bull threw me and busted my knee, made sure I had the best doctors, and then badgered the heck outta her brother to give me a job. When she was away on summer tours, she called me every night. I woulda called her, but she wasn’t always back on the tour bus the same time each night. We learned to trust each other, to ignore the gossip magazines… I tell her every day how much I love her. She swears the same to me, and that’s all I need, ‘cause deep down, I know she isn’t leaving me for anyone else.’  

‘How would you describe Barbie?’

‘A sweet, kind, fun, loyal, bossy when it comes to her career, anxiety-riddled woman I’d give my life for.’ 

 ‘How would she describe you?’

 He thinks a moment, cracks another grin. ‘She says she likes my muscles, so I have that going for me.’ He faces me. ‘I think she thinks I’m honest. Someone who would never hurt her.’

‘Between working the ranch and trying to carve out a life with Barbie, how do you relax?’

 ‘Friday nights on the couch with her at my side. Don’t know how she does it, but she brings a calm to me that I’ve never experienced.’

 ‘Where do you see yourself five years from now?’

 ‘With her, in a home of our own on. If not on this ranch, then somewhere close. Could be a condo or a tent, as long as she’s with me, I don’t care.’

 And that, readers, is true love. To learn more about Zach and Barbie, pop on over to Amazon and grab a copy of The Pop Star Loves Her Cowboy. You’ll thank me!  

 www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG48TFYH