Welcome Guest Louise M. Gouge

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Thank you for inviting me back to Pistols and Petticoats. It’s been a full year since I last visited to promote my second contemporary Love Inspired book, A Faithful Guardian, and I’m so happy to visit you again. I never tire of talking about our favorite genre: western romances. At the risk of repeating myself, I’ll just say I love to cheer for our heroes and heroines as they work through conflicts and adversities on their way to earning their happily-ever-after. Today I want to talk about my brand new release, Feuding with the Cowboy, the third book in my series about the Mattson family of New Mexico cattle ranchers.

True confession: Sometimes I fear I’m committing cultural appropriation when I write about cowboys. Like Nan Reinhardt wrote on this blog the other day (January 6, 2026), I don’t know any real, actual cowboys. It doesn’t count that many, many years ago, I went to high school with some cowboys and cowgirls in my southern Colorado high school. Or that my late sister owned a small ranch in New Mexico that served as my original inspiration for this series. Still, like Nan, I have watched countless cowboy movies and television shows and rodeos. And several years ago, my granddaughter was a rodeo queen, Junior Miss Silver Spurs, in Kissimmee, Florida, and is still a champion horsewoman in college. Those are my only cowboy credentials.

Still, the allure of the cowboy mystique is strong, and I can’t resist visiting my imaginary ranches and creating fictional versions of those real life hardworking, rugged individuals who helped build this amazing country I’m blessed to live in.

Now, about Feuding with the Cowboy and my Mattson family of cowboys and ranchers. In the historical novels I wrote about the beginnings of this family dynasty, I included a feud with another family, one of the staples of Old West stories. Just for fun, I brought that feud forward to the modern day, which of course meant I had to create a Romeo and Juliet story. I mean, if two families have been feuding for over a hundred and fifty years, how could it fail to happen that two young people from those opposing families would fall in love? Here’s the story:

He once defied his family for love. Can he risk it again?
Despite the generations-old vendetta between their families, Sam Mattson fell for Juliet Sizemore in high school—only to have his heart broken and his trust betrayed. And now, ten years later and a single mom, she reappears, asking for his help to gain custody of her troubled half brother. Sam knows he’s wading into dangerous territory, but he can’t bring himself to turn his back on Juliet. Yet old emotions don’t always fade, and Sam’s fractured cowboy heart is already feeling more than it should. Especially when Juliet’s hiding a secret that will transform their lives forever…

Learn more on Amazon or Harlequin.

I’m delighted to share one print copy of Feuding with the Cowboy to a U. S. resident. Please leave a comment below and answer one of these questions: Do you know any cowboys? If so, what’s your connection to them? If not, why do you love cowboys?

South Carolina author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2006 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was also a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards in 2005, 2007, and 2008, and placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012. Most recently, she was a finalist in the 2023 and 2024 Selah Awards. A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a 25 year member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. Married for fifty-four happy years to her beloved husband, David, Louise is now widowed and spends her days researching and writing her next novel.

You can find her complete Booklist and more info about her writing at her website.

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48 thoughts on “Welcome Guest Louise M. Gouge”

  1. No, I don’t personally know any cowboys/girls. I grew up in the ’60s and my dad liked to watch western shows (as well as cop/robber, mystery programs). I came to love the good guys in white hats from watching “Bonanza,” “Wagon Train,” “Have Gun Will Travel,” and all the other oldies but goodies.

    “Feuding with the Cowboy” sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading; thank you for running the giveaway!

  3. I don’t know any real cowboys but I think the draw to them is their quiet strength. A true cowboy to me is someone who is steady, trustworthy, responsible and loyal. Though he may act tough to the outside world, he will defend with a passion and care for with tenderness those he loves.

  4. I do not know any cowboys but always love reading about them. My dad would always have a western book playing in the car when he would pick me and my sister up from work. Loved what that character represented.

    • My dad watched the TV westerns and read Louis L’Amour novels. I guess I caught my love for cowboy stories from him!

  5. Welp, Louise, you already know I don’t know any cowboys–sigh. However, I’m loving meeting them in the western romances I read and creating the ones in my own books. Congratulations to your granddaughter! That’s so cool!

    • Thanks, Nan. And you’ll be hearing more about my rodeo queen granddaughter in my next book coming next summer.

  6. Not a one. However, my sister taught at Kurray State University in Murray, Ky and the university has a Rodeo component. Oh and when my family visited the Tetons on the 60s we went on a trail ride that ended with a cookout dinner. That’s the sum total of my cowboy experiences. We’ll, I was in love with Roy Roger’s as a kid.

  7. well growing up on a farm with cattle and horses, plus watching all the old westerns is right where I want to be and reading about them is a great joy for me! I have been horse crazy since I was 4 and first began riding!

  8. I don’t know any cowboys but I love cowboy romances. Cowboys are strong, silent, and endlessly devoted. They live by a code. The Cowboy Way. John Wayne was the epitome of cowboys.

  9. No, I don’t know any cowboys, but I love the idea of cowboys. My perfect cowboy would be like John Wayne in his cowboy movies who I have based my ideal cowboy on -honest protector with a strong sense of right and wrong who at home with horses.

  10. I do know cowboys, and some are in my family. One even rode broncos on the rodeo circuit for a while.

  11. I do know some cowboys and even helped them break some wild mustangs one summer. I was living my best life!

  13. I live here in Arizona and have met several rancher -cowboy types of men.
    I like that they have honor, humor and a sense of commitment

  14. I don’t know any cowboys, but I love to read about them and enjoyed watching western shows when I was growing up. I think I like the rugged attitudes that they portray. The “good” cowboys are resourceful; strong; protective and allow you to feel that they can overcome any obstacles they encounter.

  15. I do not really know any cowboys but I enjoy watching them as they can do things I could never do.

  16. Your granddaughter is beautiful! My late father was a cowboy, and I grew up in that lifestyle. I’ve had horses my whole life, although the two that I have now are retired and I don’t ride anymore. I also have a donkey. In my younger years I did horse shows, parades, team penning and pleasure riding. My family also raised beef cattle, and I helped my dad with them. I’m so thankful to have that background.

  17. I really don’t know any cowboys but I love to read about them in books. My father always read cowboy books and watched the movies so maybe that is why I like them so much.

  18. I do know a cowboy. It has been many years since we saw him and his wife. I enjoy reading about them and watching the movies. I enjoy them because of their work.

  19. Well, being born and raised in northwest Ohio, there are no real cowboys. lol
    I love reading any great story with sweet romance. It really doesn’t matter if it’s cowboys or the boy next door as long as it’s a good read. I do admit, a cowboy romance is pretty good.

  20. I don’t personally know any cowboys, though I do personally know some guys that embody the essence of cowboys! I grew up watching westerns, still are my favorite movies (the old ones, especially).

  21. Welcome back, Louise. There are a lot of cowboys here in the Texas Panhandle who still ride horses in rounding up cattle and performing their duties. A writer friend of mine and her husband own a large ranch near the town of Fritch, Tx called the Sanford Ranch. I’ve been out there several times and watched the cowboys work. It’s amazing how skilled they are. I never tire of seeing those cowboys and their horses. 🙂 I think the thing that strikes me the most is their quiet, unassuming ways — their honor, love for the land and animals, and a fierce love for their families. You rarely have all that in other professions. Congrats on the new release! It looks like a winner.

  22. I don’t seem to be able to leave comments other than the first few. Sorry, everyone! I’m so much enjoying your comments and your connections to cowboys and/or love of cowboy stories.

  23. I have always loved Cowboys watching them in Movies and reading about them in stories I don’t know any real life cowboys but I always loved watching any movie with John Wayne in it Thank you for the chance to win your new book it sounds amazing Have a Blessed Weekend!

  25. I do not know any cowboys/cowgirls. I love their work ethic as well as their strong beliefs. They are determined and do not give up. They maybe quiet or vocal, but all have character in their own right. Thank you so much for sharing. Congratulations to your granddaughter. God bless you.

  26. To say I honestly know a true cowboy … not by my standards. Guys who wear a cowboy hat don’t necessarily qualify. Cowboys are attractive to me because I embrace their way of life. And, my love for horses always is at the center of my attraction to the west and the cowboy way of life. Hard work, hard play, ranching, cattle, horses, campfires, Texas Rangers, sheriffs, mail-order-brides, cattle drives, etc. I love reading about the hardships of life in the 1800’s. Thank you for coming today. I’ll check out your new release.

  27. I do not know any cowboys personally. But I remember growing up watching Western movies at the theatre and seeing tv series such as Bonanza. Who doesn’t like cowboys!

  28. I live where there are cattle farms and ranches as well as feed lots. It’s hard not to know someone who would fit the definition of cowboy. A friend from church was a long haul trucker who hauled cattle for many years. His job replaced the cattle drive cowboys of long ago. Another friend is a cattle buyer and raises cattle. One is a pen rider at a large feedlot and he met his wife when she, too, was a pen rider. Now she trains horses and stock dogs. She grew up on a ranch where her dad worked as a cowboy so she definitely qualifies as a cowgirl. Being a cowboy today doesn’t mean you have to own horses and cattle. It’s more about how you choose to live. Have to admit though I’ve met some wannabes who I would not call real cowboys.

  29. Hmmm, “do I know any cowboys”… That’s a sort of yes and no, since I spend a fair amount of time in the southwest and have met/known a number of cowboys/girls over the years, but generally not been involved in their jobs. A good friend was a rancher but I didn’t know her when she was wrangling horses (heard some great stories, though!). I grew up with Roy Rogers, et al., as well =o]

    I thought the rodeo queen photo was a younger you! Imagine my surprise to read she was 2 generations removed. Couldn’t tell from the outfit, as that style’s been around a good while.

    Your new book sounds like a lot of fun. Congratulations on your latest release!

  32. I do know a couple of cowboys, and the ones I know are very hard workers and very nice people. I grew up watching cowboy movies and series, my dad loved watching western movies and shows. Have a great weekend.

  35. I don’t know any cowboys in real life. I grew up with television cowboys, and they always appeared to my childhood to be hard working and honorable. The cowboys were good guys and heroes.

  36. Hi! Don’t know any cowboys, only farmers. Have read a lot of books about cowboys & watch TV shows.
    They always fight for justice & try to do right by the persons they love or come into contact with.
    Try to take care of the land and respect the people who are trying to make a living. Times were tough during those cowboy days!!!!

  37. I don’t know any real cowboys. We ushered for rodeos for several years and got to talk with some of them, but that isn’t really knowing them. We lived in Colorado Springs, CO for several years and it was our first exposure to “cowboy culture.” We enjoyed the rodeos, paraded, Flying W. Ranch, the girls participating in the Little Britches Rodeo, and driving through the countryside watching cattle drives, even those that held up traffic for a long time as they crossed the road. There is a different feeling out West. It is an ethic of hard work and respect, for both man, animals, and the land. It is a good life.

  39. No, I don’t know any cowboys. I love that they are hard working, know how to treat a woman, good family values, down to earth, respect, and the list goes on.

  40. I was born in Sydney, Montana and most of my relatives still reside in the Montana and North Dakota area where they are ranchers and farmers.

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