Review & Giveaway: Cowboys of Summer by Mary Connealy, Lorna Seilstad, Cheryl St. John, Missy Tippens, Tina Radcliffe, Sherri Shackelford

Title: Cowboys of Summer

Authors: Mary Connealy, Lorna Seilstad, Cheryl St. John, Missy Tippens, Tina Radcliffe & Sherri Shackelford

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance / Western

As the summer weather sizzles, relax by the pool with stirring tales of handsome cowboys and the spirited ladies who wrangle them into romance. Six of Christian fiction’s most beloved authors join forces to bring you a collection of humorous, romantic and heartfelt novellas set against the sultry heat of summer.

In Mary Connealy’s, “Dr. Tess and the Cowboy”, sparks fly when Dr. Tessa Rhoades discovers dinosaur bones on Joe Holt’s ranch and decides to excavate—even if that means kicking Joe off his own land. 

In “Hometown Girl” by Cheryl St.John, injured rodeo champion Justin Cooper returns to the sleepy Oklahoma town he escaped for fame and fortune--and takes his biggest tumble yet--straight into the arms of Stevie Marshall, his first love who soon has him questioning his life choices. 

In Tina Radcliffe’s, “Lake Effect”, cynical cowboy Tucker Jackson knows he’s in trouble when he starts counting the days until the end of summer and praying ‘summer girl’ Jessica Richards will find a home for her heart in Paradise.

In "His Lone Star Heart" by Missy Tippens, rancher Zeb West tries hard not to fall for Beecher Brown, the feisty but off-limits sister of his best friend. As she tries to prove she's capable of running her family's ranch--the one he's trying to buy--he might just find he's met his match...for life.

Will Lorna Seilstad’s characters make “Great Strides” when Dana Etherton, the owner of a horse therapy ranch, must choose between the kids she serves and Adam Malone, the embezzler who’s been assigned to do community service there?

When Paige Monroe agrees to draw the press away from a country star’s wedding by pretending to be the look-alike bride, she wasn’t counting on having very real feeling for her decoy fiancé, Sterling Tanner.  In Sherri Shackelford’s, “The Decoy Bride”, two people feigning love forget they’re acting.

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My Review

I enjoyed these entertaining stories set in the Midwest on ranches and in small towns. They each had a creative plot and interesting characters that put up a fight at first, but just can't help falling in love. Some characters made the transition from antagonism to romance more quickly than others, but they were all fun to read. I especially enjoyed Tucker and Jessica in Lake Effect; they are both vulnerable and hesitant to risk a new relationship. Jessica is at a crossroads in her life and doesn't know what the future holds for her, and Tucker is guarding not only his heart but also his daughter's. It's a story that I would enjoy reading a longer version of, especially details of Jessica's inn and Tucker's ranch. Another story I found fascinating was Great Strides with Dana's career and passion for hippotherapy. I loved learning about how it works and the way that the horses helped strengthen the children. A wonderful collection for fans of sweet contemporary romance and cowboys ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Photo courtesy of
Ginger Murray Photography

Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

CONNECT WITH MARY: website,  facebook,  twitter,  instagram

You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols

Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor.

CONNECT WITH LORNA: website│facebook

Cheryl St. John is the award-winning author of more than fifty Harlequin and Silhouette books, as well as several independently published books. Her book Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writer's Digest is a popular seller. Cheryl has always loved the exciting and diverse worlds available between the covers of books. As a child Cheryl wrote stories and drew covers, then stapled them into little books. She cut all the tiny book images from the book club advertisements in the Sunday paper and glued them to bits of cardboard so Barbie® had a full library.

Cheryl believes in paying it forward, and her some of her most rewarding experiences have been sharing in the successes of writers she has coached over the years.
Cheryl loves hearing from readers.  You can email her at StJohn[at]aol[dot]com.

CONNECT WITH CHERYL: website,  facebook,  pinterest

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy Tippens has lived in Georgia for the last 25+ years. She is a pastor's wife and mom of three. A former microbiologist and teacher, she now focuses on her writing.
After more than ten years of working toward publication, Missy finally made her first sale of a novel in 2007. She feels very blessed to be working at home in her dream job!

CONNECT WITH MISSY: website, facebook

You can also find Missy at these sites: Seekerville and Yankee Belle Cafe

Tina Radcliffe is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty-five short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Find her at http://www.tinaradcliffe.com where you can sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss her fun giveaways and bad jokes.

CONNECT WITH TINA: website,  facebook,  twitter,  pinterest,  instagram

Sherri Shackelford is an award-winning author of inspirational, Christian romance novels for Harlequin/HarperCollins Publishers. A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. Look for her new adventure in Love Inspired Suspense, No Safe Place, in stores January of 2019.

CONNECT WITH SHERRI: website,  facebook,  twitter

GIVEAWAY

The authors of Cowboys of Summer are giving (1) winner:
Prize:

• (1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
• (1) 'I Trust in God's Unfailing' Mug
• (1) Reading at the Cafe Candle from Frostbeard Studios

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 21, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM on May 28, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER HERE or use the Entry Form below

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Review: Cowboy Creek Christmas by Cheryl St. John and Sherri Shackelford

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A season for love and family 

Mistletoe Reunion by Cheryl St.John 
When Marlys Boyd moves West hoping to find acceptance for her doctoring skills, she's surprised to find her former fiancé, Sam Mason, running the local newspaper. And with the ladies in town determined to make a match of the doctor and the single father, she's not sure she can resist building the family they once dreamed of.

Mistletoe Bride by Sherri Shackelford
Pregnant by a man who betrayed her trust, a mail-order marriage is Beatrix Haas's only hope. But when she arrives in Cowboy Creek and learns her intended groom has died, she needs a new daddy for the baby that's coming right away. Blacksmith Colton Werner offers the mother and child the protection of his name, but can their marriage of convenience ever lead to true love?

My Review

Mistletoe Reunion

A sweet story of second chance love between Marlys, a female homeopathic doctor and Samuel, a journalist and author. They never expected to be reunited after so many years, and old feelings are brought to the surface again to be explored. I liked that Marlys is intellectual and driven in her career because she wants to help people. She is very compassionate which shows her softer side. Samuel is a perfect match for her because he admires her independence and the sacrifices she makes to benefit the lives of others. He's a bit hesitant to see if she has room in her life for him, but his son helps them bond and see the happiness that the love of being a family would bring.

Mistletoe Bride

This story has a fabulous beginning with a great hook- Colton marries Beatrix on her deathbed to provide a name for her soon to be born son... but she doesn't die! He instantly feels protective and concerned for her, and it doesn't wane after she recovers, but blossoms into care and affection. Their romance grows sweetly, I loved how he defends her and shows his regard for her in such sweet ways since he doesn't have any experience with relationships. He also has deeper issues about his past which brings another dimension to the story as Beatrix helps him turn to God for forgiveness. There is a bit of a language barrier in the beginning and a cultural dynamic such as the persecution against Austrians by those of German descent because of the war in Europe. Well-developed characters and a great plot made this a story I'll want to read again.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: Want Ad Wedding by Cheryl St.John

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn't get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs?

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

My Review

Once again I made the mistake of reading the books in a series out of order. I read the third book in the Cowboy Creek series first, so I already had the background information that this book spends a lot of time providing. It does a thorough job of establishing the setting of the growing town and introducing all the main players, which detracted a bit from the focus on Daniel and Leah's relationship. The plot fell a little flat for me since there isn't much tension, chemistry, or obstacles in their romance (though I really liked the characters), and the altercations in the town don't get resolved since those plot lines are meant to last through the entire series. I'm still excited to read the middle book to see how Will ends up with someone so different from what he planned.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)