Jill Kemerer – Welcome to Tumbleweed, TX – plus a Giveaway!

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Howdy, fillies! It’s wonderful to be back at the junction!

Welcome to Tumbleweed, Texas, where love is in bloom and broken hearts heal in the most surprising circumstances. Embrace the small-town community, juicy storylines, and faith-filled romance in this four-book continuity published by Love Inspired.

Today I’m sharing about my new book, The Rancher’s Unlikely Match, which releases on Tuesday, April 28th, and giving you the inside scoop about the fictional town of Tumbleweed, Texas. The first three books in the continuity released in January, February, and March, and were written by different authors.

Book 1: The Coach’s Secret Child by Lee Tobin McClain

Book 2: The Pastor’s Easter Prayer by Tina Radcliffe

Book 3: The Police Chief’s Instant Family by Mindy Obenhaus

Book 4: The Rancher’s Unlikely Match by Jill Kemerer

When the four of us authors were approached to write the continuity, we immediately shared files to help us keep the town and characters consistent. Tina drew up a fictional map of the town, and that helped tremendously. The rest of us added stores and businesses as we were writing our books.

Tumbleweed is a small fictional town located in eastern Texas, and it’s full of charm and fascinating people. You can get your hair done at Beauty Lounge, worship during Sunday services at Tumbleweed Community Church, grab a delicious meal at the Friendly Fork, or snack on a Texas-sized cinnamon roll from Sweet Dreams Bakery. Personally, I want to do it all!

The town square has a gazebo, and you might spot the manager of the Grocery Spot racing across the park to catch his runaway wiener dog. You’ll definitely want to set up your chairs early to watch the Tumbleweed Days parade. The entire town shows up for the annual event. Former mayor, Jim Stewart, is in charge of the planning committee, and rumor has it that he and local ranching matriarch, Patty Wright, have been getting cozy. Hmm…I wonder what’s going on with them?

Back to Tumbleweed. Here’s what each author had to say when asked about the town.

If you could visit Tumbleweed, Texas, where would you go first? And who would you most like to meet?

Lee Tobin McClain:

As a teacher from a family of teachers, I’d head to the high school to watch my heroine, Kayla, mentor Coach Mike in the art of teaching. Then I’d head to the Friendly Fork diner for a bite to eat. Finally, I’d get my hair done at the Beauty Lounge, so I could catch up on all the gossip from Ginger Jackson, the owner.

Tina Radcliffe:

I fell in love with Sweet Dream Bakery. If I visited Tumbleweed, I’d stop in and say hi to baker Luna Perez and order both a cinnamon roll and a chocolate croissant. If it were a Wednesday, I’d order a cupcake slathered with fudge buttercream frosting. Yum!

Mindy Obenhaus:

Sweet Dreams Bakery would definitely be my first stop. I have a voracious sweet tooth. And I wouldn’t mind chatting with Patricia Wright. It takes a mighty strong woman to handle the largest ranch in the county AND Jim Stewart.

Me!

I’d head straight to Sweet Dreams Bakery for one of those Texas-sized cinnamon rolls and a latte. Then I’d find Jessica and find out how she’s doing with those goats!

As you can see, we all clearly are craving yummy treats from the bakery. In fact, I could go for a cinnamon roll now…

My book begins at Big W Ranch. Patty Wright’s son, Ben, took the large cattle operation over after Patty’s husband died years ago. Three of the new neighbor’s goats have invaded Patty’s garden, much to Ben’s three kids’ delight. They love goats. Ben’s not happy about it, but the single dad is always grumpy. Enter the new neighbor, Miss Sunshine herself, Jessica Howard, and sparks begin to fly. I’ve always loved a good grumpy-sunshine trope. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!

I had such fun writing The Rancher’s Unlikely Match, and I have a happy announcement. There will be a second four-book continuity set in Tumbleweed, Texas, that will be released in early 2027! Yeehaw!

Giveaway Time

I’m giving away one copy of The Rancher’s Unlikely Match to a commenter. US winner will receive a signed paperback. International winner will receive an e-book! Simply leave a comment below to be entered.

Does your town have any special festivals the entire town attends? I’d love to hear about them!

Could her fresh start…be the answer to his prayers?

Widowed rancher Ben Wright doesn’t need more complications, especially not runaway goats from the pretty new farmer next door, Jessica Howard. With three kids, a farm and a baseball team to coach, he’s earned his gruff reputation. Jessica left a draining social work career in Houston, hoping for a fresh start and to save her inherited farm from debt—the last thing she needs is a grumpy neighbor. But despite their rocky start, Jessica begins to see past his tough exterior as she spends time with his kids. When old hurts arise, Ben and Jessica must decide…is a future together worth fighting for?

Purchase THE RANCHER’S UNLIKELY MATCH here!

Jill Kemerer

 

About Jill Kemerer

Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of heartwarming, emotional, small-town romance novels often featuring cowboys. Nearly a million of her books have sold worldwide. Jill’s essentials include coffee, caramels, a stack of books, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband. They have two adult children. For more information, visit her website, jillkemerer.com.

 

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61 thoughts on “Jill Kemerer – Welcome to Tumbleweed, TX – plus a Giveaway!”

  1. There’s a buried Ait Fair during June, along with a food Taste if Bloomington by the various restaurants, wineries, brewery, and distilleries in the area with several municipal performance areas.

  2. Our county’s fair draws the community out. It’s held the last full week of September. On Monday there is a parade with all of the schools marching bands in the parade, old cars, and other programs as well as some fire departments and police departments represented. The children do not have school that day so the fairgrounds are crowded.

  3. Welcome back, Jill! So glad to see you again and that you’re sharing about your new release. What a fun continuity – I think I’d love to live in Tumbleweed!

    Wishing you all great success and lots of sales. Hugs!

  4. Out town did have a brickfest every year up until last year. In Arkansas we have many festivals we have a srawberry, watermelon and Toadsuck days to name a few.

  5. Here in my small town in the
    Ozarks we have lots of special events to celebrate farmers, creative persons, hometown businesses, all through the seasons. Our biggest event seems to be the annual Fall Festival in October.

  7. My hometown, Alma, Arkansas, used to have the Spinach Festival every year when we were the Spinach Capital of the World. We still have a Popeye statue in one of our city parks, but when the canning factory shut down and we lost the title, they changed the name of the festival to the Spring Fest. My family also loves visiting the Dogwood Festival in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and the Apple Festival in Lincoln, Arkansas.

  8. Ridgecrest, CA has an annual Petroglyph festival. Petroglyphs are paintings on rocks (inside caves, on mountain sides, on large boulders…) and were created by the Native Americans who populated this area before European explorers arrived.

    I’d love to win a copy of “The Rancher’s Unlikely Match,” Jill. Thanks for running the giveaway!

  9. Flemingsburg, KY. My small Kentucky town has a Holiday Hoopla in early December. There is a Christmas Parade on Friday night, a huge Christmas tree, various vendors, and beautiful decorations along the parade route. Saturday is a day for ice skating, kid-friendly activities, and Christmas shopping at the various vendor booths. This past December’s hoopla was capped with a beautiful fireworks display. Many people say our litrle town is Hallmark worthy during this time!

    • Wow! That is right up my alley! I love Christmas. I write a Christmas book for Love Inspired every year, and I watch a ton of Hallmark movies! I’m tempted to visit the Holiday Hoopla!

  10. We don’t have anything in our little community. There is only one business that is referred to as “the blue store.” It isn’t even a store but it used to be years ago. It is a little eatery that cooks up catfish on Thursday, steak on Fridays, hamburgers on Saturdays, and a plate lunch on Sundays. They are only open a few hours on each of those days but the community really comes out to support them.

  12. My small town does have several family friendly community events, from Christmas parades, to Thankgiving turkey giveaways and rummage sales to farmers markets. They have a great 4th of July fireworks show as well. Sadly I am homebound and can’t really attend but love seeing that they post on the City’s facebook page all those events and pictures that they take.

  17. Tumbleweed sounds like my kind of town. I would head to the bakery first and hope they have fresh donuts. If not, I love a good cinnamon roll. Yum, yum! Can’t wait to read this series and the next.

  19. Tumbleweed sounds like a town I would Love to visit especially the bakery as I love Raspberry filled doughnuts and this book sounds amazing have a Blessed Weekend!

  20. Hi Jill, welcome back!!! I’m so excited to see you. I hope you’re doing well and glad you’re writing up a storm. This Tumbleweed, Texas multi-author project looks like so much fun but I’m sure it took a lot of coordination. I once wrote a multiauthor anthology where we had to make all four stories fit together and that was tough. And I’ve also been in several muti-author series where a few things have to be identical in each book. Those were fun but really stressful.

    As for what’s going on here in Lubbock, Texas. This is a big town so there’s always events. This weekend, today and tomorrow, George Strait will be here and both shows are sold out. The county fair is another big draw every year. We also have a big winery that has a lot of events. Lots of parades downtown and also chili cookoffs. Lots happening.

    It’s just great to see you. All the Fillies wish you success and much love.

  21. My little home town in Colorado used to celebrate Santa Fe Trail Days with a big parade among other things. It is a part of this famous trail. I have been away for many years so I don’t know if they still celebrate or not.

  22. My town doesn’t have something that everyone attends. There’s no place big enough for everyone to attend! We do have an annual tree lighting ceremony, and a few other things, though.

  24. Every September, everyone attends the Festival for the Arts. A juried art show held behind town hall in a park. Also, everyone attends the 4th of July parade and Christmas parade.

  25. Hi Jill, your book sounds like a great read! Tumbleweed sounds like a great town! Congratulations on your upcoming new release! Our town has a Water Carnival every July, we have a big swimming pool that is part of where the springs used to run a while back so, the City puts on a water carnival play by local people that want to write a play every year, it is also when the new Miss Ft. Stockton is crowned, it is also the time when they have HS reunions. In April we have the Big Bend Car Race and that attracts alot of people from different states also who come to compete in the race. We also have a Historical Days gatherings which are always nice. We have the Christmas Parade and we also have the HS Homecoming Parade, there is always something to do in our little town, even though people complain and say that there is nothing to do in this town, but there actually is. Our Library gets musicians that play their beautiful instruments or sing that come from different places. Your book sounds like a great read, Thank you for sharing about it. I enjoyed reading this post. Have a Great weekend.

  26. Oakboro, NC, is a tiny town with a huge 4th of July celebration. It is a week-long event, and folks come from all over. In addition, they have an antique car show along the streets one evening every month for 9 months out of the year.

  27. My town has different things going on throughout the year… Saturday Farmers market, holiday activities, bicycle events, etc.

  28. Hi Jill. Since you are from NW Ohio, you are aware of all the wonderful festivals our area has throughout the year. I would say one of the biggest would be JeepFest. It not only draws people from our area, but also people from all over the world. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.

  31. I would visit Sweet Dreams Bakery and talk to the baker, Luna Perez!
    Every Autumn my town has a festival called Fall For Greenville. We also have live music every Thursday during the Summer months. There’s always something going on in my mid-sized town!

  34. In our city we have had a number of festivals. I just recently attended a book festival. I also have attended a food truck festival and a crawfish festival previously. There have also been seafood festivals and art festivals.

  37. Our nearest town celebrates Pamcake Day one Saturday in September every year. They hold it on the town square, serve free pancakes all morning, then have a parade and activities the rest of the day.

  38. San Diego, CA. We have a big county fair in the month of June that attracts a lot of people. There is also a big Christmas festival.

  39. My town is really small and I’m not sure if there’s a festival that everyone shows up to, but our library usually holds a family fall festival, the town hall holds a holiday craft fair & also Christmas Eve Santa visit with presents, and then a few of the little towns together hold a baked bean dig(I think it’s called).
    The town before ours holds many festivals throughout the year.

  40. There are several around here. They have a Brass Band festival, Balloons over the Bluegrass which is a balloon race which is kind of neat and a few others.

  41. We have several festivals, celebrations in this area, most of which are related to the fruit and vegetables that grow in the area. Everything from Cherry Days (July 4th) in my home town to the Sweet Corn Festival and Peach Days. There is also a lavender celebration. Incidentally, Jill, there is a small town in western Wyoming by the name of Kemmer. We moved there when I was about 2-1/2 – 3 years old and I had my tonsils removed there! We had a kitten show up at our door during a blizzard, so of course, his name was Kemmy! Poor thing was dress in doll clothes, mauled by two little girls who adored him -but he waas still tough enough to take any inquisitive dog out of our yard!! Just thought you might find it interesting!

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