Romance on the Ranch Series

Sarah Carter, who goes by the pen name, Mims Murphy, meets Sage Tanner at Imaginings Publishing while he's posing for the cover of her soon-to-be-released romance novel. After being bulldozed into a coffee break with him by her publisher, an embarrassing incident makes Sarah furious, and she walks out. Of course, fate has a wonderful way of intervening in matters of the heart. Deciding she needs to write from experience, she signs up for "dude" lessons at Lazy M Dude Ranch. Imagine her chagrin when she discovers the owner of the ranch is none other than Mr. Tanner himself! Sage Tanner works as a high fashion model to keep his ranch in the black. While posing for the cover of a romance novel, he meets the author, but ends up ticking her off, which ticks him off. How can a romance writer be such a prudish, stick-in-the-mud? A few weeks later when she shows up at his dude ranch, his anger vanishes and he's determined to change her mind about leaving.

Rodeo star, Harris Brightman, is recovering from an injury he suffered after being thrown and trampled by Devil-for-Hire. His physical injuries however, are no match for the emotional ones caused by reporter Lucinda Bergamot, the woman he was falling for. Her betrayal in revealing tabloid worthy secrets about his life isn't something he can forgive. But when she shows up in his town working for Paxtonville's local newspaper, and the lead story becomes her apology to him and his family, he's astonished. Even so, forgiveness isn't an option. Lucinda made the biggest mistake of her life when she threw Harris "under the bus" and she regrets the exposé that appeared in The Seattle Daily. The only way to make amends is to swallow her pride and print a public apology in his town's local newspaper. Of course, no one knows she was hired by The Paxtonville Weekly because the editor of the "Daily" made a secret deal to get her there. She's digging a hole for herself that she may never escape. Note: This is the last book in the "Romance on the Ranch Series" and many characters from previous books find their way into this story.

Ann Hackstetter first met Jackson Martinez while vacationing at Lazy M Dude Ranch with her husband and teenage son. Part of the "dude" package was a night of fun at Boot Bustin' Barn. At the time, Ann suspected that Sage Tanner, owner of Lazy M, bribed Jackson to ask her to dance as a way of making her inattentive husband jealous. On a whim, she danced with him. Little did she realize he would awaken emotions long suppressed. Of course, she ignored those emotions. Now, five years later, she's a widow--a destitute widow. Over the years, her son's friendship with Sage's daughter, Julie, has blossomed, and now they're getting married. Wedding responsibilities have temporarily taken Ann's mind off her desperate situation. At the reception, Jackson asks her to dance again--reawakening those emotions. He makes her feel twenty-one, instead of forty-one. Jackson Martinez has an easy way with the women, but the one woman who sets his heart to racing is Annie Hackstetter. She's older, has a grown son, and probably has an aversion to men after being married to a jerk. When Sage reveals Annie's sad state of economic affairs and says she's looking for a job, Jackson knows his heart is in trouble when he offers her a position managing his household so he can concentrate on running his cattle ranch. Little does he know, or anyone else, that Annie has a secret.

After a bull riding competition accident, widower Dirk Branigan is flat on his back with a busted leg. In dire need of a nanny for his ten year old daughter Tessa, as well as someone to cook and clean, he accepts a referral from friends and hires a woman sight, unseen. After meeting his "domestic help," he decides his friends are going to owe him big time. The woman is spoiled, temperamental, frustrating, and yes, occasionally, endearing. Thankfully, Tessa takes to her immediately. As for Dirk, uncovering the woman behind the facade will take patience, coaxing, and a lot of love.

Tooty Townsend bore a child at the age of sixteen. Now, four years later, she has her hands full raising Harris and trying to make a living. Reclusive author, Maxwell Henry a.k.a. Miles Brightman, is looking to hire a personal assistant while he's in Colorado finishing up his latest suspense thriller. Sarah Tanner, stepmother to Tooty's best friend, Julie, and a friend of Miles, recommended her to the author. Unfortunately, Harris climbed onto the guy's lap at Julie and Jacob's wedding reception and asked him to take him for a ride in his wheelchair. Then he asked him to marry his mommy and become his daddy! Tooty needs a job and she's swallowing her pride to apply for this one.

Since childhood Angel Martinez has loved Harris Brightman, the son of her parents' friends. But now, as a grown woman, she must make a decision to go for what she wants or continue pleasing others. Her entire life has been one of accomplishment and praise. She was always at the top of her class and now has a Master's Degree in Business Administration, with many lucrative employment opportunities. Often, she's been admired for her beauty and even turned down modeling offers. Yet, with everything she has going for her, she's miserable. Her heart's desire is to be a homemaker like her mother and create a beautiful haven for her own family. After a heart-to-heart talk with her best friend she makes a decision that takes her out of her comfort zone. She decides to confront Harris--now a famous rodeo champion--with her feelings to see if they have a chance. However, life can be quirky and the best laid plans often go awry.

Although born into wealth and privilege, Cecelia Brightman has never found the forever-after kind of happiness she seeks. She has devoted her life to helping others through charity work, but now, at the age of forty-two, she can no longer continue on the same path. Much to the chagrin of her parents and friends, she leaves the trappings of wealth to follow her heart to the small town of Paxtonville in Colorado to be near her brother and his large family. Connor MacKenzie is carrying baggage from a previous sorrow that almost destroyed him. However, Cecelia Brightman, the new owner of the local coffeehouse, is rocking his lonely world. Note: This story has been written specifically with Christmas in mind, so, of course, there are children involved. Some of the youngsters are new to the series; others are rejoining the ongoing saga. Can be read as a standalone.

At the age of twenty-two, Tessa Branigan has already been married and divorced, and entering into another romantic relationship is not an option. She's perfectly content working as receptionist for Tanner Veterinary Clinic, owned by Preston and Toby Tanner, twins she's been friends with since childhood. Preston Tanner has asked her to dinner more than once, but she always finds an excuse to beg off. Unexpectedly, Sean Barfield returns to town to spend time with his family for some much needed R and R. Tessa is not happy that her heart goes ballistic whenever he's around. She's known him since she was twelve and they palled around together. To keep her wayward heart in line, she avoids him as much as possible. Besides, what would a famous musician like him see in a small town girl like her? Sean Barfield escapes the fast life to regroup in the town of Paxtonville in Colorado where, as a teenager, he visited his birth father for a few weeks each year. But if he's honest with himself, he's also returning to see the girl he first met when he was fifteen. He's always had a crush on her, so her marriage only a year out of high school came as a shock. But now she's divorced and living back in her hometown. The problem is, Tessa keeps avoiding him. When a job opening to work as a ranch hand for her father arises, he applies for the position and is hired. He'll even muck horse stalls to prove he's just a regular guy.

Book seven in the "Romance on the Ranch Series." Toby Tanner has everything—loving family, career, looks, money, friends—but something changed when his twin brother married. No longer satisfied with superficial relationships he wants to connect with a woman in ways other than physical, like his brother has. When Toby meets Dovie Juniper, he falls for her fast and hard, but his easy manner with women is wasted on her. He's going to have to work for this relationship. Dovie hasn't lived a perfect life like handsome cowboy, Toby. In fact, she has major physical challenges that have kept men away from her. However, her biggest challenge will be opening her heart to a man who loves her unconditionally.

Hannah Tanner, daughter of Sage and Sarah Tanner from book one, Dream Kisses, has always dreamed of experiencing diverse cultures in countries other than the United States. To that end, she joins a nonprofit organization that sends her to a third world country where she works as office assistant to a doctor in the same organization. From the beginning, Hannah and the doctor develop a rocky relationship, but over time they become friends--and inevitably much more. Hannah falls deeply in love...then the unthinkable happens. Working for a non-profit organization in a third world country requires tenacity and drive, both of which Dr. Alexavier Wyndham (son of an English Earl) possesses in abundance. The latest addition to his staff isn't what he expected. The girl may be young and frail looking, but the fact that she doesn't kowtow to him is rather impressive.