Wyoming romance

The Cowboy’s Easter Surprise + Giveaway

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Illustrated flowers on white background. Cover of The Cowboy's Easter Surprise by Jill Kemerer. Text, "New Release + Giveaway. Petticoats & Pistols Blog"

I have a new book in stores! Yeehaw!

The Cowboy’s Easter Surprise is the fifth book in my Wyoming Legacies series. Trent Lloyd is navigating his new life as temporary guardian for his three adorable nieces while managing Cade Moulten’s new horse boarding center. Trent quickly realizes he needs help with the girls. He just wishes the helper was anyone but Gracie French.

Gracie is a former wild-child determined to make better choices about men and life in general. Her heart goes out to Trent’s nieces, and she’s drawn to him. But he sees her as she used to be, not as she is now, and that’s a deal breaker for her.

If you’re a fan of opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers, cowboys, horses, and fun little girls, this book is for you!

 

Cover for The Cowboy's Easter Surprise by Jill Kemerer. Prairie background with little blond girl in a cowboy hat and sundress. She's holding a white bunny.

Can three little hearts bring two opposites together?

As temporary guardian of his three nieces, stable manager Trent Lloyd is in desperate need of a babysitter. His only option: former classmate Gracie French, who’s back in town and determined to prove she’s a responsible, independent adult. The girls instantly adore Gracie, and after a fun-packed Easter weekend, Trent fears he’s not the only one captivated by Gracie’s charm. But he can’t forget the wild child he knew in high school. If he can trust Gracie with his nieces, can he also learn to trust her with his heart?

Read an excerpt:

Trent Lloyd sensed mutiny in the air.

If he didn’t ask any questions, there was a slim chance he’d avoid whatever headache his three nieces were preparing to hit him with from the back seat of his truck. One by one, the trio buckled their seat belts. Click, click, click. The snowy weather couldn’t be more miserable for a Monday in the third week of March. That was Jewel River, Wyoming, for you, though—harsh winters were the norm. Trent checked the rearview mirror as he backed out of the babysitter’s driveway.

Three blondes with different shades of blue eyes met his gaze in the mirror. None of them looked happy.

Nine-year-old Emma sat directly behind him, four-year-old Noelle was kicking her legs from the booster seat in the middle and seven-year-old Sadie sat in a matching booster seat on the other side of Noelle.

“We aren’t going back there. The three of us decided.” Emma tended to assume responsibility for her younger sisters. Sadie was more reserved, but her brain never stopped processing information. And little Noelle had Trent wrapped around her pinkie finger and tied into a tight bow. All three of them did, really.

The girls had been living with him for over a week, and his carefully ordered life had been turned inside out and upside down, leaving him thoroughly shaken.

He flicked on the windshield wipers and checked for oncoming traffic before pulling onto the road. Should he ask Emma why? He wasn’t thrilled with Mrs. Pine, either, but at this point, she was the only person willing to watch Noelle while the other two were in school. After school, Emma and Sadie joined Noelle at Mrs. Pine’s, and Trent picked them up at five.

“I don’t like her!” Noelle’s outburst held a tint of fear, and he inwardly sighed at the tears sure to be on their way. “She’s mean.”

No point in arguing. Mrs. Pine didn’t seem to enjoy children much for being a full-time babysitter.

“She spanked Sammy, and he didn’t do anything.” Emma huffed. “He’s only three. That kid cried and cried. Gave Sadie a headache.”

“My head does hurt, Uncle Trent.” Sadie’s small, pitiful voice made his gut clench. Not Sadie, too. He glanced back again. Sure enough, his middle niece was on the verge of tears. Noelle reached over to hold Sadie’s hand.

“And she smokes surrogates.” Noelle’s lower lip plumped out. “It’s yucky.”

“Cigarettes, Noelle,” Emma said sharply. “She smokes cigarettes.”

“Well, I don’t like ’em! They stink. Make me wanna throw up.”

Mrs. Pine smoked? Trent grimaced. This wasn’t a good development. His brother—technically his stepbrother—would not be okay with the girls being exposed to secondhand smoke. Nor would Kevin allow the girls to be physically disciplined by anyone but himself.

None of this was sounding good.

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Purchase Links: The Cowboy’s Easter Surprise

I’m giving away one copy of The Cowboy’s Easter Surprise. Simply answer the question below in the comments to be entered! The winner will be selected via random number generator and announced on the blog Thursday, 03/06/25, in a separate post.

Do you enjoy children in novels?

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Have you joined the FB Petticoats and Pistols Reader Group? Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2143576775865837

THE COWBOY’S MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Deborah Clack–AND A GIVEAWAY!

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A big, hot-in-the-sun hello to everyone! I’m super excited to be here today with you. Thank you for having me.

Because I’m a native Texan, one might think I set my debut Love Inspired novel The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain on the lovely plains of the Lone Star State. But my characters needed big skies, wide open spaces, and (sorry, Texas) my hero needed snow-capped mountains for his storyline. So we’re headed to the fictional town of Elk Run, Wyoming to meet the folks at Four Cross Ranch.

Nothing pairs better with the Great American West like strong family values. Years before the opening pages of the book, the four Cross siblings circled the wagons to take care of each other and the family ranch when their parents died. The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain showcases the oldest of the three brothers and sister.

From the back cover: “To pull his ranch out of a downward spiral, widowed cowboy Chase Cross will do anything—even if it means making a deal with the woman he can’t stand. Because Lexi Gardner’s about to inherit a fortune…if she marries in thirty days. A marriage of convenience is the answer to both their problems. But when their bargain begins to feel real, will they put aside their differences for a future together?”

I had the most fun writing the banter between Chase and Lexi. Despite their disagreements, they both held deep respect for the other which created a wonderful internal conflict as they each drew closer.

But that banter wasn’t just for Chase and Lexi. Chase has a twin, Hunter. “The twins resembled two trucks of the same model, only wired differently under the hood. Both ruggedly handsome, they had brute mountain man appeal, six foot two inches of height and a daring look behind their hazel eyes, the weight of the family ranch on their shoulders. But Hunter believed everything would work out fine, whereas Chase wanted all the details nailed down and pursued accordingly.” While Chase grapples with whether or not to marry Lexi, he doesn’t always appreciate Hunter’s sage words.

And let’s not forget the two younger siblings. Sister Cora’s midwifery brilliance is sprinkled in this story, along with whispers of the wayward youngest bull-riding brother, Ryder.

And I’m so glad I set these stories in Wyoming because snow plays a huge part in the second book, which I’m about to send my editor for consideration. Not a lot of snow here in my home state, and when it does try to hit the ground, we scare it away almost immediately with our unskilled winter-driving and non-committal low temperatures.

Today, I brought a fun giveaway for readers. Due to postage costs, this giveaway is for continental US addresses only.

One reader will take home a signed print copy of The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain along with two items taken straight from the pages of the book, a Four Cross Ranch coffee mug and a fun pair of socks.

To be entered, simply leave a comment letting me know about your family and siblings. Where are you in the birth order? Do you all banter like the Cross family? Are you an only child? I’d love to hear from you.

 

Thanks for spending the day with me! Head on over to my website at deborahclack.com and sign up for my newsletter to get updates on Hunter’s, Cora’s and Ryder’s stories. I also have a FREE novella to tide you over until our next visit to Wyoming.

You can find your copy of The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain at your favorite retailer:

Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Marriage-Bargain-Uplifting-Inspirational/dp/1335597492/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZPDMEOYBY712&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3Xy5_-i5c8xiHH_dbKqyTg.chbBjjmqoQwfIbHcGAH7DVt3QeMQg3fsXcESurvhKNE&dib_tag=se&keywords=deborah+clack+the+cowboy%27s+marriage+bargain&qid=1713412887&sprefix=%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1&tag=pettpist-20

Harlequin https://bit.ly/3VDS2zE

Kobo https://bit.ly/4eh5AZb

The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain is a standalone book.

 

Award-winning author Deborah Clack is a native Texan who believes in the power of fiction, the lost art of lip synching, and that chocolate should be eaten without nuts. A high school AP history teacher for 10 years, Deborah earned a Master’s Degree in Education and was awarded Teacher of the Year for Arts in Education. Now she creates stories of her own filled with endearing characters and a hard-fought romance.