Hello Smexy! I’m back with a new release after a long time away.

I’ve written posts about my new series and reminisced about some old-school
romance favorites. If you’re interested in reading more about me or romance
history, I have links on my website. It’s fun to take a trip down memory lane and
chat about the past, but today I’m focused on recent reads.

These are the best Westerns I’ve read lately.

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund

This historical Western is published by Bethany House, so it includes a hint of the Christian faith. I don’t normally read inspirational romance but I enjoyed this whole series by Hedlund. A Cowboy for Keeps is an exciting go-West adventure with a plucky heroine and an honorable hero. It’s full of angst, mental lusting, and misunderstandings. Greta and Wyatt stumble around each other in awkward but adorable ignorance for most of the story. If you’re tired of smug, overconfident heroes, give Hedlund a try. She makes her characters work hard for their HEA. 

Marrying Off Morgan McBride by Amy Barry

My previous recommendation, A Cowboy for Keeps, has a precocious little sister character. So does Morgan McBride. The sassy young ladies in both stories steal the show without detracting from the central romance. Barry’s historical Western is charming and traditional but not old-fashioned. She has a fresh, funny voice and a modern sensibility. The heroine, Epiphany Hopgood, is easy to root for. Marriage-shy Morgan McBride doesn’t stand a chance.

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

Ms. Jenkins is a legend in historical romance for a reason. Her stories are meticulously researched, with interesting and little-known details of American history. They’re also deeply moving and damned sexy. Tempest is my favorite of the Old West series. It features a mail-order bride heroine, which is a Western romance classic. Jenkins pairs the bold, independent Regan Carmichael with straitlaced Dr. Colton Lee, whose little girl who needs a mama. Sparks (and bullets) fly from their first meeting. Be still my heart.

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

Have you heard of the Rebel Blue Ranch? It’s where the hottest cowboys in Wyoming live. Ada arrives at Rebel Blue in her Prius with her iPad, tattoos flashing, ready to meet a new client for an interior decorating job. She’s not ready for Weston Ryder, a tough but sensitive cowboy with a heart of gold. He’s too good to resist, so she doesn’t. The cover copy fails to mention the book’s best element, which is the hero’s struggle with depression. This one is sweet and savory, with plenty of steam.

There’s something for everyone in these recs, from sweet inspirational to sexy
contemporary. Have you read any of these authors? Do you have a favorite
Western romance? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

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Be sure to check out Jill’s new release:

Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect Book 1) 

U.S. Marine Jason Reed survived wounds that should have ended him. Instead, he’s stepping into the streets of Last Chance, Texas, to honor a battlefield promise to his fallen comrade. Haunted by war and torn between duty and the cowboy life calling him home, Jason plans to check on widowed Natalie Luna and move on. But Natalie’s fragile beauty and fierce resilience kindle a hunger he can’t outrun. When a dangerous suitor threatens her, Jason’s protective instincts surge, compelling him to stay awhile.

Natalie is barely holding on, juggling two jobs and a spirited son who tests her every day. She has no time for a charming stranger, even one trading handyman skills for a place to rest his head. Yet Jason’s disruptive presence stirs a longing she can’t ignore. She wants him in her bed, and if he proves worthy, maybe more. But Jason is a man of secrets—dare she trust him?

Can Jason protect Natalie from danger and win her heart? Or will the truth he hides destroy their shot at love?