So it comes as no surprise to his friends and family when their favorite defensive tackle player returns from Afghanistan with a Purple Heart for an injury sustained while saving three fellow soldiers during an ambush. He’s the only one who blames himself for the one man he failed to rescue from their burning vehicle before it plunged over a cliff. Despite his own injuries, he’s determined to atone for the loss of his battle buddy, Marcus, by devoting the rest of his career to search and rescue operations. Kristi Kimiko was first called the “dog whisperer” on her sixteenth birthday when she coaxed a wounded Boston Terrier from their burning apartment complex. Seven years later, she’s living her dream as an expert search and rescue trainer in Disaster City, Texas. Unfortunately, it leaves her little time for dating or any sort of social life, for that matter. When the hunky Axel half-limps and half-swaggers his way into her renowned dog training course with his beautiful golden retriever, she senses her life is about to change — especially after he somehow manages to coax her into serving as his Plus One at a big family birthday bash the following weekend. If she’s learned anything in her line of work, where there’s smoke, there’s a fire; and this particular hunky firefighter has a way of making the sparks fly every time he looks in her direction! Step into the world of Disaster City Search and Rescue, where officers, firefighters, military, and medics, train and work alongside each other with the dogs they love, to do the most dangerous job of all — help lost and injured victims find their way home.

     Jenna Wright grew up next-door to Chestnut Ranch and the five Johnson brothers. Her older brother was best friends with Seth Johnson, and Jenna may or may not have had a crush on the handsome cowboy in her younger years. It was a long time ago, she tells herself. Now that she's divorced and back in town, she definitely has eyes for her best friend. Will he ever notice her? Jenna reasons that he's busy with his ranch and his dog rescue operation. They had an Edible Neighborhood project they were working until funding became a problem, and when Seth learns he's inherited over two billion dollars from his mother's half of a family cosmetic empire, he rushes to tell Jenna they can now fund the Edible Neighborhood.  He wasn't supposed to kiss her.  It was an accident, he tells himself. But Seth's own feelings roar to the surface, and he can't ignore them. Where did those come from? Can best friends Seth and Jenna navigate their rocky pasts to find a future happily-ever-after together? Read all the Chestnut Ranch Cowboy Billionaires by Emmy Eugene: 1. Cowboys Never Marry Their Best Friend 2. Cowboys Never Kiss Under the Mistletoe 3. Cowboys Never Get a Second Chance 4. Cowboys Never Have a Secret Baby 5. Cowboys Never Marry Their Boss 6. Cowboys Never Cry Over a Fake Marriage 7. Cowboys Never Kiss and Tell

    With her young son in her arms, the task of climbing out of the crippled vehicle appeared overwhelmingly difficult. At that moment, a stranger offered his help and reached down for the child, but before she could struggle out after him, he immediately rode off with her son. She followed only to discover the fellow was Jamie’s new guardian. If she wanted any part in her son’s future, she must fight her sister-in-law plus her own deep attraction to Jamie’s new guardian.Furious that the widow would abscond with his ward, Lord Adron Gladrey rescued Jamie, determined to protect him from a selfish mother able to persuade men to do her bidding and uncaring enough to expose her son to untold danger. After seeing her beauty for himself, he believed every word against her. He vowed she would soon learn he was not so easy to manipulate.Complicating her life still further, a villainous jewel thief committed murder for a rare blue diamond she had no idea was in her possession and he would kill again. After many twist and turns, she must fight for her life. Will her son’s guardian put aside his prejudices against beautiful women in time to help her or will she follow her husband to an early grave?

    All detective Judd Hanna was looking for was a few days of peace and solitude, away from the dark shadows of big-city crime. But in a little town in the Wyoming high country, he found something more, much more; a woman who made him dream, for the first time in years, of a life filled with love and laughter. . . But even here, peace was hard to find. For Charlotte "Charlie" Franklin, a strong but gentle woman who was raising an adorable little girl alone, was in mortal danger. And before Judd could hope for a future with her, he had to make sure she lived to see tomorrow. . . .

    But Beau Tyler is back, and Natalie Haskell feels defenseless against the powerful pull of the brawny soldier. Especially when she finds herself suddenly widowed and needing the shelter of his strong arms. She's the hometown sweetheart. The girl Beau left behind but never forgot, despite his battle-scarred soul. Now Natalie is the real reason he's staying on at the ranch, despite rumors that he was somehow involved in her late husband's death. Because something in Beau has stirred to life again--something he believed his painful past had destroyed. And not even wild horses can keep him from the woman he still loves ....

     After his deployment, injured and discharged Major Squire Ackerman returns to Three Rivers Ranch, anxious to prove himself capable of running the cattle operation so his parents can retire. Things would be easier if the ranch wasn’t missing 1.6 million dollars, which forces Squire to hire Kelly, the girl who rejected his high school prom invitation, as his accountant. She’s back in town with her four-year-old son, living in her parent’s basement until she can get her life back together. With fresh ink on her divorce papers and open gashes on her heart, she’s not ready for much beyond her new job on the ranch. Squire wants to forgive Kelly for ignoring him a decade ago. He’d like to provide the stable life she needs, but with old wounds opening and a ranch on the brink of financial collapse, it will take patience and faith to make their second chance possible. For fans of inspirational western romance authors Kimberly Krey, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter. Themes/Topics >Clean romance >Contemporary romance >Western romance >Cowboy romance >Military romance >Second chance romance >Romantic suspense >Texas ranch, divorce, PTSD, some mystery elements, forgiveness, acceptance, love

    The rodeo was his life, and retirement gives him too much time to think about Becca Johnson, the woman who betrayed him. But when Grady buys a ranch in Cameron, Utah, he comes face to face with Becca again. Becca is no longer the insecure teenager Grady remembered – she's now a strong, confident woman. She's never stopped loving Grady, but she knows she can't get too close to him. Becca is hiding a huge secret – she can't let him find out that her daughter is his daughter, too. When Grady finds out the truth, will this new betrayal destroy their second chance at love?

    All she wanted was a family of her own, so she decided to make that happen. A mix-up at the sperm bank leaves her with a baby in her belly, but the father is none the wiser. Ty was injured in a bull-riding accident, and now all he plans on doing is working on his ranch and keeping to himself. That is until a little dark-haired woman shows up on his doorstep. When their paths cross, will Mary-Jane be able to reveal to Ty that he’s the father? Will Ty be able to keep Mary-Jane from running? Will there be a lot of steam in this book? You betcha!Warning: This pregnant virgin story is wonderfully ridiculous and just as sweet as it sounds. Saddle up and take an evening stroll with this easy quickie.

    Suddenly responsible for an infant, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a kidnapper intent on taking the baby back--and leaving no witnesses. Texas Rancher Adam Firebrand has no idea how or why his name came up in association with a kidnapping, but he'll stop at nothing to keep a baby girl and her guardian angel safe.USA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb Han guarantees danger lurking around every corner, hearts on the line, and romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Join her Firebrand family in Lone Star Pass, Texas as they break through deep-rooted family feuds and find their way to love.

    He won awards in 4-H and rodeo competitions from the time he could walk, and he’s happiest in the spotlight. So when he got the chance to be a star—in porn—he took it. He still loves Montana and everything about being a cowboy, but when news of his alternate identity leaks out, he figures he’s lost the town’s goodwill forever. Clyde’s Corner would never accept an openly gay cowboy, even a hometown boy born and bred.Joshua Braintree always had the notion that he and his best friend’s kid brother, Ben, would end up together. Ben’s always been a diehard cowboy, just like him: they need the land and its freedom as much as they need air. So when Joshua learns Ben moved away from their small Montana town to be a porn star in Vegas, he can hardly believe it. He’s determined to finally declare himself and bring Ben home.Despite his longtime crush on Joshua, Ben won’t be as easy to tame as Joshua’s “lost cause” horses. It will take a lot of heart and holiday spirit for Joshua to convince Ben that even old prairie dogs can learn new tricks in the name of love.

    If she can just avoid questions from that cute guy at the newspaper, no one ever needs to find out about her past.Will Hamlin, editor of the local paper, has some serious questions about the mayor’s new secretary. She’s clearly hiding something—something that could be the big story the newspaper desperately needs to stay afloat. But after Will’s initial queries find nothing, he grows less interested in Cara’s past and more interested in winning her heart with slices of pie and stolen kisses.When a crime is uncovered at city hall just as Will unearths Cara’s secret, the repercussions shatter their romance. Can Cara ever escape her past? Can Will finally find a way to save the paper? And can they learn to place their trust in God and open their hearts to the love of a lifetime?

    (26,000 words)Growing up in rural Texas, Mitchell Evans' ambition to be a dancer made him a target. Though he found success in New York City, Mitch is at a crossroads, and heads home for the first time in twelve years to figure things out. When what appears to be a reindeer jumps out in front of his car, he drives off the road and into the path of the one man he hoped to avoid.The last person Texas Ranger Web Eisley expects to see four days before Christmas is his first love. He hasn't seen Mitch since they quarreled over coming out to their friends and family years ago. Though he's not in the closet now, Web has worked hard for the respect of his fellow officers, but he still regrets the loss of Mitch in his life. And his bed.The attraction between them is as strong as ever, and it doesn't take long for the men to pick up where they left off. But is love enough to keep Mitch in town in the New Year?

    Thrown out of his home for being gay, he is left without money or, it seems, anywhere to go. Until a stranger shows him that some people do give a lot more than a damn.Ben Hamilton is a rookie cop in his small home town. He finds a young throwaway, fresh from the city, sleeping on a bench in the churchyard on a snowy Christmas Eve. Can he be the one to give Zachary his own Christmas miracle?* * * * *First published December 2010

    When her father dies, the ranch’s long-time foreman leaves unexpectedly, and Blaire is left scrambling to hire anyone who can help her keep the ranch running smoothly—a seemingly impossible feat in the one-horse town. Cole Reeves has gone along with everyone else’s plans for his life since he was eighteen. Working for his father’s business has been a blessing and a curse, and he’s finally ready to see what he can do on his own. His looks and charm have always gotten him by, but he wonders if it’ll be enough to win over his boss—the only woman he’s ever truly wanted. Will Blaire and Cole be able to weather the challenges they face, or will the pressures of life on the ranch be too much for the runaway-prone cowboy?

    He wasn’t supposed to get involved, no emotional entanglements to tie him down. Setting down roots was never part of the plan, not until he opened himself up to love. Too bad the man he bet on bailed and left Hart holding the ranch. There were two choices after that: run away, or stay and build something real from nothing. Nearly six years later, Hart has created a home and a life he never expected, with the help of his best friend and foreman, Morgan Brace. The ranch is thriving thanks to its loyal men and strong ties to the community. But there’s a snake in the garden, and it takes many forms. There’s a dead man on Hart’s property, a man he knows, and the questions are piling up. As if that weren’t enough, his ex has reappeared out of the blue, with plans to reclaim what he willingly gave. And, to make matters worse, it appears Morgan is finally taking his dating life seriously. Everything Hart has built is unraveling. The life Hart wants doesn’t work without Morgan in it. Imagining a future without Morgan, him turning elsewhere for love and coming in second to someone else in Morgan’s heart—as well as his bed—is almost unbearable. So maybe, just maybe, the answer lies in Hart confessing that he loves Morgan more than life itself. If Hart gambles and loses, will he even still want the life he’s worked so hard to build?