I’m celebrating this weeks, my P&P friends. The Cowboy’s Comeback, Book 2 in my Juniper Falls Ranch series released this past Thursday and wow, I’m just over the moon about how much readers are loving Cassie and Bo’s story.
This one was a little bit of a departure for me—I’ve never used the enemies-to-lovers trope before. Mostly, I think because I really hate confrontation. I mean seriously hate it. I’ll go out of my way to avoid a confrontation in my real life, so writing a story based on one was a little uncomfortable.
My heroine, Cassie Franklin, has no qualms about saying exactly how she feels. A journalist and World Champion barrel racer, she’s had to make her own way for most of her career. She faces life head on. When horse trainer Bo Kennedy’s accusations destroy their relationship and they go their separate ways, the embers of her anger continue to burn for five long years. All it takes is seeing him again to stoke those embers back into flames, and she’s furious with him all over again.
The muscle in Bo’s jaw worked as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, Cassie, it’s been five years. I’ve forgiven you. Can’t we put it all in the past and start new?”
“You forgive me?” It was the last straw after he’d practically wrenched the painful story of losing Pierre from her. “You … you …” she spluttered, too angry for words. She shoved the comb in her back pocket, clipped Storm’s lead under the mare’s chin, and unhooked the crossties. “Stick your forgiveness where the sun don’t shine, George!” She yanked on the lead and started to stalk out but stopped in a few feet, took a deep breath, and patted Storm’s neck. “Let’s walk, baby,” she said quietly. “Good girl. Let’s walk.”
As they try to work together to get her new horse ready for competition, Cassie is alternately cold as ice and yet so ticked off, she steams, so she gets really snippy to Bo. And that’s the part that I had to pull from a place inside me I didn’t know existed. Well, I knew it was down there somewhere because I can be really snippy in my head if provoked, but I can’t think of a time when I’ve brought that attitude to my real life. I’m always the peacemaker, even in an argument I win. I don’t hold a grudge and I’d almost rather cut my tongue out than say something that might make someone be mad at me. Cassie has not such compunction with Bo.
All this to say, Cassie comes at life (and Bo) with metaphorical guns a’blazin’. After a lot of years of being pretty passive, who knew I could write confrontation so convincingly? Go figure. We writers often discover new things about ourselves as we create characters, and sometimes, readers discover something new about themselves, too, when they read our stories. I like that, don’t you?
The Cowboy’s Comeback
It’s an enemies to lovers showdown between the cowboy who can’t trust and the cowgirl who won’t forgive.
Injured rodeo cowboy, Bo Kennedy, takes a job as a horse trainer at a Montana ranch. His skills training cutting horses are in high demand, but he’s holding out hope his days of competing aren’t over. Then his first client arrives, desperate for help with her mare. One problem, she’s his ex.
When World Champion barrel racer Cassie Franklin needs a new horse quickly, her last hope to rebuild her career is to switch to cutting competitions. She brings her new mare to Juniper Falls Ranch, hoping the highly hyped horse whisperer can help. She’s stunned to see Bo. They haven’t spoken in five years after he wrongly accused her of sabotaging his horse when he saw her flirting with his fiercest competitor.
Working together seems impossible, especially as the chemistry still sizzles. Will one of them finally lower their guard and admit they were wrong?
I’ve got a couple of e-books of The Cowboy’s Comeback to give away to two lucky commenters. Just tell me below if you’ve ever discovered something new about yourself that surprised you.
I don’t know if it’s so much that we actually *discover* things about ourselves in our seasoned years as we accept them and … gasp … very possibly like them! You may have had Cassie in there fussing to get out for years! 🙂 The Cowboy’s Comback is a great story, Nan!
Excellent point, Liz! Cassie may have been in there all along. Thanks, my friend! <3
I can be really mean coming out of surgery and being in pain!
Hey, and it seems to me to be totally justified.
When I am frustrated I can get sarcastic, although I’m trying to control it.
Yeah, I can do that too!
I find that I don’t worry about things as much as I use to and just let things go.
I think less worry about things beyond our control comes with age. Not accepting everything, but also not stressing so much.
I have discovered I can get very frustrated and actually voice those frustrations instead of stuffing my feelings down.
That is soooo important. Talk it out. My mom always gave me and my siblings this warning, “Ten minutes to pout and then talk it out.” It worked mostly.
My daughter insists I am on the spectrum and I am beginning to think she is correct. It does explain some things in my life.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to go back to school with what they know now about kids’ minds and how they work? I think we’d all be surprised.
After 78 years I have learned that I CAN KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT, even when provoked. I have always been more like Cassie I guess, said what I think, but I’m finally learning that I don’t have to say anything everytime. Would love to win a copy of your book. Sounds great!
I’ve always been just the opposite, always biting my tongue. I’ve gotten more willing to speak out as I’ve gotten older because really, what do I have to lose if I’m honest, but keeping it kind?
I’ve become more empowered.
Brava you! This is a time when we need to be empowered!
I’ve discovered that I can actually “let it go.”
Oh, Rhonda. That is one of the hardest things to do. Good on you!
I was surprised how much I enjoy romantic suspense books. I am finding that the older I get, the more I am finding wider ranges of genres that I enjoy reading. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I’m finding new book interests as I get older as well, Debra. It’s always good to expand our horizons! Hugs!
Nan, we writers always discover new things both about ourselves and our writing. Stretching the boundaries and getting outside my comfort zone has really benefitted both my books and me. My critique partner just made that same observation the last time we spoke. I’ve written about hangmen, an outlaw community, an herbal healer, and many others that I never would’ve tried in the beginning of my career. Good luck and much success with your new release! I have it on my Kindle if I ever get a moment. Hugs, Filly Sister.
Oh, Linda, doesn’t research and learning take us to places we’ve never been before? Comfort zones, I think, are made to be stretched. Delighted you have The Cowboy’s Comeback on your TBR–enjoy! Thanks always for your support and hugs right back, my filly sister!
I discovered that I can be calm in an emergency situation… then breakdown emotionally later.
I hear you, Colleen. That happens to me too!
I learned that I can handle more than I thought especially when it looks like it might break me, I’ve learned to depend on my faith to get me through tough times.
Laura, sometimes faith is the only way to get through. Hugs.
I discovered that I can stop worrying about what other’s think of me and just be myself. Although I’m still learning.
Kim, that’s a tough one, but good on you for working on it. Other’s opinions are worth pretty much what you pay for them.
I had always considered myself as “not a social person”, not anti-social, just not particularly social. During covid I was very surprised to realize how “social” I really am – go figure :o)!
Nothing shows you how much you need other people than a time when you can’t be around others. Covid was an eye opener for me too, Molly!
Nan,
I’ve learned to accept some things about myself in my later years.
Thank you,
Julie
Julie, and isn’t accepting oneself a huge part of the battle?
not really
I’m a little over half way through The Cowboy’s Comeback and am really enjoying it. I really need to find more time to read. I’ll have to find book one and catch up with the series.
I had never traveled or really been away from home , even living at home during 4 years of college. Four weeks after graduation, I left for a Peace Corps assignment on the other side of the world. It was both exciting and daunting. I discovered I had more of a sense of adventure than I had imagined. Traveling alone in unfamiliar places and having unexpected experiences was exciting and not a problem. Over 50 years later, I don’t know that I could operate that way now, but I wouldn’t mind trying. There is so much out there to see and experience.
Patricia, thanks for reading! I sure appreciate your support! Book 1 is here: https://tulepublishing.com/books/forever-cowboy/ How exciting that you were in the Peace Corps–that’s amazing and fascinating. I think I was much more adventurous years ago, but there are places I still want to see. Hugs and thanks for stopping by!
I was walking around Micchael’s craft store one day with nothing really in mind. I started walking through the silk flowers and starting picking out ones I thought would go well together. When I got home, I put them all together in the vase I also bought. They looked amazing! The biggest thing about all this is that I’m visually imaired!