Welcome 2026 ~ Julie Lence

 

Greetings Cowboy Kisses Readers! 2026 is here and I sincerely hope it’s a good year for everyone. As we put away the Christmas decorations and try our best to stick to resolutions made, the one thing I am asking for this year is to not break another bone. Last January, I fell on the ice and broke my wrist. This year I have promised myself to not venture outside for a walk with the pup if it is cold or snowing, even if the sidewalks are clear. I don’t relish another six weeks in a cast, weeks of PT, and basically getting back to normal.

Speaking of normal, the Cowboy Kisses authors are gearing up for another year of dazzling you with their blogs. Whether it’s something writing related, a character interview, or a fascinating outlaw or inventor from the old west, be sure to continue following this page. We greatly appreciate of your support, (more than words can express here) and invite you to interact more with us on our Facebook group page. There you’ll find new releases, sales, pre-orders, and prompts to join in the fun. Get to know more about the Cowboy Kisses authors and meet fellow readers here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CowboyKisses

Until next month, enjoy January and keep warm!

Julie

Welcome to 2025 ~ Julie Lence

 

Hello Cowboy Kisses! As the cowgirls and I usher out 2024 and ring in the new year, we thank you for your continued support of this blog. Without you, none of this would be possible. 

2024 was a good year for the cowgirls. Some of our authors released new stories and some won awards for their work. We said goodbye to a few authors and welcomed their replacements. Readers and authors both had a blast at the Round-Up party and the cowgirls look forward to hosting another Round-Up this autumn. If that seems too far off for you to catch up with the cowgirls, you can always find them on the Cowboy Kisses Facebook page. The group is a great way to stay up-to-date with them, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday offer prompts for everyone to chime in. If you haven’t already joined us, please do.

As always, I will keep you informed of any changes during the year. More importantly, I wish all of you a very happy and blessing-filled 2025. Hugs!

Julie         

Cowboy Kisses News ~ Julie Lence

 Hello Cowboy Kisses! Can you believe we're already into July? 2024 is chugging along at a rapid pace, and with that pace comes changes to the group. I'm sad to report that Nan O'Berry and Raine Rochelle have moved on from the group. I wish them well with their future endeavors and hope they remember to come back for a visit. 

At this time, I'm happy to report we have 2 new authors to the group, Reggi Allder and Cali Black, both writing western romance. Reggi is taking over Nan's 4th Tuesday slot, beginning July 23rd. Cali has slid into Raine's 1st Friday slot and hopes to have her first blog up next month. Please say hello to each and be sure to check out their author pages (listed on the right side bar) when you see them. 

Welcome Reggi and Cali. We're super-excited to have you as part of the team. 

Julie      

Welcome 2024 ~ Julie Lence

 

Hello Cowboy Kisses! As the cowgirls and I usher out 2023 and ring in the new year, we thank you for your continued support of this blog. Without you, none of this would be possible.  

2023 was a good year for the cowgirls. Several released new stories and some won awards for their work. We said goodbye to a few authors and welcomed their replacements. Readers and authors both had a blast at the Round-Up party and the cowgirls look forward to hosting another Round-Up in 2024, mostly likely in early November. If November seems too far off for you to catch up with the cowgirls, you can always find them on the Cowboy Kisses Facebook page. The group is a great way to stay up-to-date with them, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday offer prompts for everyone to chime in. If you haven’t already joined us, please do.

As always, I will keep you informed of any changes during the year. More importantly, I wish all of you a very happy and blessing-filled 2024. Hugs!

 Julie            

Thank You Ladies ~ Deborah Camp

 Every writer has other writers tot hank for inspiration, encouragement, and lessons learned. Although I have a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, I learned how to be a novelist from other working writers and from books I feel in love with and wanted to emulate. I’ve studied- and still so, occasionally -novels as my textbooks. Authors such as Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, and Victoria Holt sparked my interest in romantic suspense. I examined their sentence structure, their dialogue, and their expertise with mood setting and describing characters and action sequences.

Janet Dailey and Sandra Brown fired my imagination with contemporary and historical stories of people who were more familiar to me – more realistic and sexier. I can’t begin to count how many hours I’ve spent going over and over certain paragraphs and snippets of dialogue penned by these women. They were my able tutors.

LaVyrle Spencer’s books challenged me to write straight from the heart, elevate my prose, and take risks. She made me fall in love again with historicals -- especially those set in the 1800s. To me, her novels are works of art. 

Lately, I’ve taken lessons from Roni Loren, Katrina Halle, and Mia Sheridan, and Deanna Raybourn, but there are so many wonderful writers whose stories and characters cling to my mind long after I finish their books. When I write, I aspire to join them in their stratosphere. Sometimes I make it up there with them, and let me tell you, the view from there is addictive. Visiting that place makes me work harder and learn more as a writer so that I can breathe that rarefied air.

I owe a huge debt to all the westerns on TV that my dad insisted on watching. As for me, well, Saturday would be Saturday back when I was a kid if I didn't watch Roy Rogers and Gene Autry! I also had a thing for Hop-a-long Cassidy. All those years of watching westerns came back to me when I started writing them. Nowadays I'm totally into the TV series 1883, so the love affair continues.

We never know what will influence us until it does. When I picked up my first western romance novel, I had no idea that I would later be compelled to write one! I was totally a contemporary romance novelist back then. But the beauty of the writing and the memories of all those TV westerns overwhelmed me and I found myself plotting my first western romance.

So, a big thanks to all the wonderful writers who continue to inspire me, challenge me, and entertain me!

Learning the craft ~ Raine Rochelle

 As you may know, my sweet cowboy series is self-published although I have been traditionally published for several years in a different genre under another pen name. The reason I wanted to go it alone with my cowboy stories is that I wanted more control over the look and feel of the books, as well as the price, marketing, etc. 

I have been to all the Self-Publishing Live Shows in London, and this year was no exception. I love the atmosphere at these events, and the chance to meet other authors from all genres and just talk about everything concerning books. The experts on stage gave out brilliant advice and were full of ideas for improving our author businesses as well as our writing. As usual, I came home brimming with enthusiasm and a plan to put into action all that I’d learned. 

One of the biggest takeaways for me this year was that my covers for The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch might be ready for a makeover. 

Other books of clean, sweet cowboy romances tend to have more scenery and less emphasis on people on them, which is something I hadn’t noticed until it was very kindly pointed out to me. To this end, the first thing I plan to do is to change the covers of, at least, the first three books in the series. 

Don’t get me wrong; I love the covers I have. I hadn’t realized though, that I wasn’t adhering to reader expectation. Readers have their own ideas of what the cover of a book in a particular genre should look like, and it seems I may have overlooked this. In this business we are all learning constantly, and aiming to keep up to date with current trends and opinions. I have already contacted my cover artist and asked her to design some other options for me, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with. 

I’d love to know your opinion on this if you could leave a comment below. Do you think my covers convey the sweet, clean cowboy romance genre or are they too different to be included with other books of their ilk? I’d really value your input, and thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Until next time take care and stay safe

Raine x

Cowboy Kisses News ~ Julie Lence

 Good Morning Everyone! I hope this 1st Thursday of May finds all of you well and looking forward to summer. The Cowboy Kisses authors and I are hoping for pleasant days and lots of sunshine.  

As we begin May, Cowboy Kisses says goodbye to Dorothy Wiley and Jacqui Nelson. We wish them well in the future and hope they'll come back for a visit. Taking over the 2nd Friday slot is author, Melissa Maygrove. Her 1st day to blog is May 13th. Melissa is excited to be part of the team and I hope you'll give her a warm welcome and get to know her by checking out her author page, located on the right side bar. 

As soon as I firm up the final slot, I'll let you know. Until then, be safe, healthy and happy. 

Hugs,

Julie     

Cowboy Kisses Welcomes 2022 ~ Julie Lence

 

Greetings Cowboy Kisses Readers and welcome to 2022! I hope your holiday season was merry and bright. Mine differs very little from year to year. It’s just hubby, kiddo, Harley and me, (most of our family reside in New York State) and with kiddo older, it’s a joy to not have to get up at 4 a.m. Christmas morning. I have finally convinced him to sleep in. And Harley sleeps until he hears me get up. I’m hoping 2022 will see him healthy and back to his normal, long walks. (For those who don’t know, Harley was at the groomer Halloween weekend and decided to jump out of the tub after the gal finished bathing him. He caught his back paw on some sort of a ramp and cut his toe and pad and required stitches and a lengthy time in keeping quiet.) 

 

Harley

Harley’s foot healing isn’t the only thing I’m looking forward to in 2022. Cowboy Kisses is an honor to manage and I’m excited for another prosperous year. Most of our authors have been with us for a spell, but if you missed announcements last year, we do have two new authors, Lynn Landes and Lianna Hawkins. Be sure to take a look at their author pages to get to know them better and to connect with them on their social media pages. And be sure to connect with Cowboy Kisses on our Facebook group. Everyone is invited to join in each week and enjoy a laugh with Tuesday Humor, gain a little bit of inspiration on Wednesday Writing, and to step back into the past with Vintage Thursday. You can also participate in Question Tuesday, share what you’re currently reading on Read Wednesday, and tell others something about you on Tattle Thursday.  If you’re a western romance author, you’re invited to share new releases on Monday and Friday and older works on the weekends.   

 

Last year, the Cowboy Kisses authors had a great time hosting their annual Round-Up. The Cowgirls will again host Round-Up this year, most likely during one of the autumn months. Information regarding the Round-Up will come later this year. Until then, I encourage you to stay current with the Cowgirls by either following them on their social media pages and connecting with them on the Facebook group page. I’m sure some of them will have new releases that you won’t want to miss. As always, if you have any questions or are a western romance author and would like to feature a new release on the blog, please don’t hesitate to contact me at julie@julielence.com 

 

Hugs, and I hope 2022 is good to everyone!   

Julie      

     

Cowboy Kisses News ~ Julie lence

 Hello Readers.

June and July have brought some changes to the Cowboy Kisses team. Authors Andrea Downing and Patti Sherry-Crews have departed the blog to concentrate on their writing, but not to worry. I'm excited to announce two new members to the team; Lynn Landes and Lianna Hawkins. Each write western romance and some of you may have read Lynn's 1st post last week. (Lianna's 1st post will be the 3rd Friday in August.) 

I invite you to get to know Lynn and Lianna better by checking out their author pages, located on the right side tool bar.  They are also on the Facebook group, so be sure to look for them there. 

As always, have a great day and Thank You for your continued support. 

Hugs,

Julie   

 

WRITING, SOME ADVICE FROM WRITERS

 Post by Doris McCraw

writing as Angela Raines

Photo property of the author

When thinking about beginnings and all that entails for artists I thought of all the advice we get given over our lifetimes. They are numerous and like all advice, worth what you pay for them. Still, there are nuggets that shine through, especially for me as I take the writer's journey. It seemed an appropriate time to share eight of them with all of you.

1. Elmore Leonard published a book "Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing" in 2007. While all of his ten are worth taking a look at but the one that sticks out to me is: Leave out the parts readers tend to skip. And to add a bonus 'If it sounds like writing, I re-write it."

2. George Orwell, known for "1984" and "Animal Farm" said: If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

3. Neil Gaiman, has a list of eight that are so simple, yet we don't think about them. His #1 is Write and #8 is The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like ...

4. Joyce Carol Oates has something I personally relate to:  Read, observe, listen intently - as if your life depended on it. 

5. Helen Dunmore's advice: Finish the day's writing when you still want to continue.

6. P.D. James: Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell.

7. Louis L'Amour's advice: Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

8. Rainer Marie Rilke, who wrote the lovely book, "Letters to a Young Poet" gave this piece of advice: "Go into yourself. Find the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write."

Most of us have favorite authors, a number of them are here at Cowboy Kisses. While advice helps, it's the joy of writing, the heartwarming feedback from the readers we write for and telling the story in the way only the individual writer can. 

For writers, please keep writing. For readers, let the authors you've read know what their work means to you. It's the conversations that add so much to the experience and makes all the hours authors spend honing the story worth it. 

Advice helps us focus, but the real work: Telling your story.

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in

Colorado and Women's History

Angela Raines - author: Telling Stories Where Love & History Meet

Books: Angela Raines Books

Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2021 ~ Julie Lence

Greetings Cowboy Kisses readers!

Despite all the rules and social distancing Covid has brought to our lives, I hope everyone had a wonderful 2020 holiday season.  For me, the holidays weren’t much different than past holidays. It’s usually hubby, kiddo, and me since most of our family reside in New York, unless you count the real Christmas tree. We haven’t had a real tree in 30 years because I hate the mess from the needles, but hubby and kiddo wanted one so I gave in. (I really had little choice since Fed Ex delivered a tree stand from Amazon, lol.)  But now that the celebrations are behind us and the decorations are put away, I’m ready to dive back in to writing, and part of that includes Cowboy Kisses.

In 2020, Cowboy Kisses said goodbye to some authors and welcomed others. Currently, we have tremendous talent on this blog and I urge you to get to know our team better by checking out their author pages.   

In other news, if you haven’t already, I invite you to join our Facebook group. Membership there grows almost weekly, and everyone enjoys the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday prompts for all members to participate. Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CowboyKisses

We’re also on Twitter and you can catch our tweets here: https://twitter.com/CowboyKisses1

The Cowboy Kisses authors will continue with Excerpt Sunday, which is also located on our Facebook page. We will also host our annual round-up this fall. Last year we held the round up on our Facebook page and it was a success. Unlike the previous year, guests were able to comment without encountering Facebook issues, so we will again hold this year’s party on the group page. And last, but certainly the best, the Cowboy Kisses blog passed over 1,000,000 hits in 2020 since it’s conception. That is a thrilling milestone and one we certainly couldn’t have reached without you, our loyal readers. The Cowboy Kisses authors and myself Thank You for your support and your loyalty, and we look forward to sharing another year with you.

Hugs,

Julie 

 Five Quick Ways to Support Your Favorite Authors! And a Reward for Doing So!

by Dorothy Wiley 

Storyteller of Love and Heroes on the American Frontier 

There are numerous ways you can show your support for your favorite authors and in today’s highly competitive publishing environment, your help means a great deal to each of us. Each of these suggestions are safe and helpful to authors and with all the terrible piracy of books going on, I wanted to share some of the websites that are the most beneficial to us. Of course, buying an author's books is the most obvious way to help (we all like to eat and pay bills), but there are other important ways as well. These suggestions may seem like a lot, but it only takes a few seconds or minutes to complete each one.

1) First, and foremost, rate and write a review of the author's book(s) for the book’s page on Amazon.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  This helps the author, by helping to increase the book's ranking, and it helps readers find good books. Your review doesn’t have to be long—a couple of sentences is sufficient. While you’re there, read some of the reviews for the book, and just beneath each review, click on “Yes” if the review was helpful to you. You can find the book's Amazon page by entering either the title or author's name in the search box. 

Also, follow the author on Amazon. Just click "Follow" under their photo on their Author Page. For example, here's my Author Page. 

2) Join BookBub.com a free service that helps millions of readers discover books they'll love while providing publishers and authors with a way to drive sales and find new fans. 

Follow your favorite authors there and you will be notified of their new releases and discounted or free books. I hope you'll follow me on BookBub.  I'll have a major giveaway through BookBub on Nov. 6! You can also write reviews for your favorite books. 

3) Join Goodreads a great site for book lovers, more than 1 million now, and it’s free!

Once you find your author, you can write reviews of their books. (Tip: you can copy your Amazon review and paste it on the book's Goodreads page.)  There's lots of good information on Goodreads and some authors, like me, have a blog there as well. 

4) If the author has a YouTube Channel, first, “subscribe” to their channel (it’s free). The Subscribe button is right under their name. That way you’ll know when they upload new book trailers. Second, view their trailers on YouTube and give them a thumbs up.

5) Follow the author on your favorite social media, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  You can like, but more importantly, SHARE the author’s posts. The SHARE arrow lets you share the author’s posts with others and increases its visibility. On Twitter, the most important thing you can do is tap the RETWEET button. On Facebook, many authors have both a personal page and an author page. Mine are Dorothy M. Wiley and Dorothy Wiley Author. On my personal page, I'll share family and political posts but on my author page, it is strictly book stuff. 

If you've done any of these for any of the authors you follow in this group, I know they are grateful!!! So, as a thank you, here's one of my favorite Fall recipes. It smells great while cooking and makes a quick and easy breakfast in the Fall. 

PUMPKIN BREAD BY AUTHOR DOROTHY WILEY

Makes two loaves. Warm oven to 325 degrees. 

1 cube butter softened

1/2 cup light tasting olive oil

3 eggs

1 small 15 oz. can pumpkin

2 1/2 cups sugar (I use 1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cup Stevia powder in the bag)

3  1/2 cups flour (I use 2 white and 1 whole wheat)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. cloves

1/2 or 1 cup chocolate chips or nuts

Mix shortening, eggs, and pumpkin. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients, and then add to pumpkin mixture and blend well. Add chocolate chips or nuts. (Can also be added to just one loaf, leaving one loaf plain.) Pour into two cooking spray coated loaf pans and bake for one hour. Let cool and then turn the pan over. It will drop out into your hand. Enjoy!

WWW.DOROTHYWILEY.COM

www.amazon.com/author/dorothywiley

Cowboy Kisses 6th Annual Round Up!!

The Cowboy Kisses authors invite you to join them for this year's party. The event will be held on the Cowboy Kisses Facebook group page. Each author has a 15 minute slot to chat with you and maybe give away a prize or two. Don't miss the fun! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CowboyKisses 

  

Cowboy Kisses News

Please join me and the cowgirls in welcoming 3 new authors to the blog:

Sable Hunter

Kathleen Lawless

Ruthie L. Manier

Each writes in the western romance genre and will make a fantastic addition to the group. To get to know a little more about them and their days to blog, please check the right side tool bar for websites and the blog schedule, and look for their upcoming author pages. 

Welcome Ladies! I’m so happy to have you as part of the team.

Julie

Welcome to 2020 By: Julie Lence

Hello & Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2020. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas celebration and a joyful New Year’s Eve celebration. Both of mine were quietly spent with hubby, kiddo, and Harley, who enjoyed the treats Santa left in his Christmas stocking. With today marking the beginning of a new year, and decade, it’s time for me to bring you up to date with the Cowboy Kisses team.

First off, you’ll notice our mascot has a new banner. I love the blue hues and think the scenery represents all of the Cowboy Kisses authors' stories.

Second, you’ll notice we’ve said goodbye to Maggie Carpenter and Lauri Robinson. The team and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Lauri was alternating months with Paty Jager. Danni Roan will now take over Lauri’s shared spot with Paty beginning this month. As soon as Danni’s old slot and Maggie’s slot are filled, I will let you know.   

We do have a new author to Cowboy Kisses. Please welcome Sable Hunter to the team. She’ll begin blogging this month. I invite you to get to know more about Sable by visiting her website. The link is located on the right side bar.  

In addition to recruiting authors, I’ve updated this page to reflect our Twitter feed, so be sure to see what the Cowgirls are Tweeting each day. Excerpt Sunday has been incorporated into the Facebook group and readers like stepping into the pages of the Cowgirls’ stories. And as always, the Facebook group has prompts for everyone to participate on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

This year we will host our 6th annual Round-Up. Time and date will be announced later in the year, but I’m thinking some time in November. To let you know, this past year Facebook was very wonky with allowing folks to post comments to the party. And it just wasn’t the Cowboy Kisses party that had this problems. Others did, too, and I’m hoping Facebook corrects the issue before this year’s round-up.

In closing, I thank the Cowboy Kisses Team for their continued support of the blog and group pages and me. Without them, Cowboy Kisses would’ve ceased to exist a long time ago. I also thank each and every one of You for your continued support of the Cowboy Kisses blog and its authors. Hugs to everyone and all the best in 2020!

Julie

Paty Jager's Clue Facebook Party

Join Paty Jager and some of your favorite authors for a Clue Facebook Party. Guest authors will be giving out clues for you to mark off on your Clue sheet (available on a Google Document), with the exception of 3 clues that you will need to deduce at the end of the party and enter the contest for a chance to win the grand prize of a Kindle Fire. Authors are hosting their own giveaways during their time slot, so hop on over to Facebook on December 7 for a fun time! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/426351174658554/

Cowboy Kisses Annual Round-Up

Join the Cowboy Kisses authors Friday, December 6th for their annual Round-Up party. Chat with your favorite author(s), meet new friends, and enter the giveaways. The party is on Facebook and runs from 9 a.m. thru 4:0 p.m. Mountain Time. We hope to see many of you there.




Schedule:
9 am Kristy McCaffrey
9:30 Andrea Downing
10 am Stephanie Berget
10:30 Danni Roan
11 am Jacqui nelson
11:30 Doris McCraw (a.k.a. Angela Raines)
12 pm Kristine Raymond
12:30 Patti Sherry-Crews
1 pm Paty Jager
1:30 Robyn Echols (a.k.a. Zina Abbott)
2 pm Maggie Carpenter
2:30 Rhonda Frankhouser
3 pm Nan O’Berry
3:30 Shanna Hatfield
4 pm Julie Lence
4:30 Close

https://www.facebook.com/events/701014447081549/ 

Cowboy Kisses Annual Round-Up

Join the Cowboy Kisses authors Friday, December 6th for their annual Round-Up party. Chat with your favorite author(s), meet new friends, and enter the giveaways. The party is on Facebook and runs from 9 a.m. thru 4:0 p.m. Mountain Time. We hope to see many of you there.




Schedule:
9 am Kristy McCaffrey
9:30 Andrea Downing
10 am Stephanie Berget
10:30 Danni Roan
11 am Jacqui nelson
11:30 Doris McCraw (a.k.a. Angela Raines)
12 pm Kristine Raymond
12:30 Patti Sherry-Crews
1 pm Paty Jager
1:30 Robyn Echols (a.k.a. Zina Abbott)
2 pm Maggie Carpenter
2:30 Rhonda Frankhouser
3 pm Nan O’Berry
3:30 Shanna Hatfield
4 pm Julie Lence
4:30 Close

https://www.facebook.com/events/701014447081549/ 

Hot Western Nights Anthology By: Julie Lence

Hi Ya’ll! I’m so excited to announce that tomorrow, July 4th, I’m appearing in my first ever anthology. The fabulous ladies at Prairie Rose Publications have included A Summer to Remember in their Hot Western Nights release. I’m honored to join the following western romance authors:

Karen Michelle Nutt

J. Arlene Culiner

Angela Raines

Elizabeth Clements

Kaye Spencer

Purchase your copy here: www.amazon.com/dp/B07T9F21B5

Sneak peek for A Summer to Remember:

Blurb:

Amy Jansen is known for her high-brow ways and her infatuation with Creel Weston. Truth be told she loves Ryan Jansen and realizes her dream of becoming Ryan’s wife after Creel moves away. But words misspoken during an argument cause a rift between her and Ryan that she’s hard-pressed to mend. Apologies fall on deaf ears, and when Creel returns, even jealousy doesn’t provoke a response from Ryan. She’s finally deduced the best way to prove her love and loyalty to him, only he sends her away, vowing he doesn’t love her.

Though he loves his wife, Ryan Jansen has come to realize he never should’ve married her. Amy has loved Creel Weston since childhood and there’s nothing he can say or do to change that. To keep his sanity, it’s best he and Amy divorce, until a preacher shows up on his doorstep with a startling truth—Amy does love him. But he sent her away, and now he must find her and convince her they’re meant for each other, that this really is A Summer to Remember.   

Excerpt:

Ryan rubbed a hand over his jaw and stared blindly at the land passing by the window, recalled every smile Amy bestowed on him, every sweet kiss. Hours later, heart still hammering, the train chugged into another station. His mouth dry, he peered out the window across the aisle for a water barrel and froze. A green dress, holding a carpetbag as she approached the train; he slouched down and tugged his hat low.

Footsteps of passengers boarding reached his ears. The conductor shouted. The whistle blew, and the train inched forward. Ryan waited a long spell before pushing his hat back and stepping into the aisle, his gaze honing in on a blonde braid. She sat in the middle of the car staring out the window. Striding forward, he wondered what she thought, struggled for words and heard himself say, “Mrs. Jansen, a woman as pretty as you shouldn’t travel alone.”

Amy gasped, and jerked her attention his direction. Her surprise over seeing him was expected. So was her unease, but past those emotions, he detected favor―for him—and caught himself before he tumbled face-first into her lap.

“What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.” He stretched his hand toward her and caressed the curve of her cheek, savored the softness of her skin.

“Why? You made your feelings for me perfectly clear. What more is there to talk about?”

“Plenty,” he thumped, lowering his hand to her elbow. “Join me at the back seat. Please?”

“I don’t think that’s wise.”

He chuckled. “Not many things about us have been wise. That’s about to change.” He tugged her to her feet, lifted her carpetbag. “C’mon.”

Cowboy Kisses Updates

Cowboy Kisses bids a teary goodbye to one of its authors. Due to other  obligations, Mina Beckett is stepping down from her post on the 3rd Friday of each month. She is still active on the Facebook Group page, so be sure to keep up with her there. Hugs to you Mina and all the best in the future.

Cowboy Kisses is happy to welcome western romance author Kristine Raymond. Kristine is taking over Mina's slot and should begin this month. Kristine is also active on our Facebook group page and has an author page here (see right sidebar) for you to become more acquainted with her.  Welcome Kristine!

Leave of absence: Maggie Carpenter will be away from her post for a few months. Maggie will still be active on the Facebook Group page. Be sure to connect with her there until she resumes her posts here.

As always, Thank You to our readers for joining us, both here and on the Facebook group page. And Thank You to the authors who contribute to this blog and keep it going. I couldn't do this without you. Hugs!

Julie