When Granger Blue signed on as a drover for the Lazy J, he expected to suffer all the hardships involved in riding herd across the wild, dust-choked plains from Nebraska to Oregon. What he didn’t expect was temptation in the form of a young greenhorn with cornflower blue eyes named Billy Bower. With as many secrets as heads of cattle, the drive may turn out to be the most dangerous of Granger’s life as he works to bring the herd in with his skin — and heart — intact.

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Thousands of hard hooves pounded across the prairie, churning the dusty soil into great, swirling, dun-colored clouds. Cattle, wagons, and cowboys alike were coated the same dull gold as the Earth. Nothing was spared from the bite of the prairie; not the horses, the water, or the food. Dust clogged the nose, parched the throat, and stung the eyes.

Wild-eyed steer jostled and bumped one another, their lowing drowned out only by the deafening sound of their hooves striking the ground as they raced across the open prairie. Granger got the feeling the herd was driven by fear, whipped into a panic by something more than the rolling thunder of the approaching storm. Flashes of frequent lightning gave brief, blue-white glimpses of the herd, and the cowboys who struggled to rein them in. (continue reading…)

Saddles, spurs, Stetsons . . . and love? Sexy cowboys grab hold of more than a saddle in these entrancing stories from four talented authors of the genre. Kiernan Kelly takes us on an adventurous cattle drive to the Oregon Territory with a greenhorn and an old hand. Angela Fiddler’s retired rodeo men accept each other and the black riders. Two men overcome grief, rebuild a ranch and find love in Dakota Flint’s story. And JL Langley offers a light-hearted tale of a city boy and a rancher filled with love, laughter and a marriage of convenience?

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“Ah ha! I should have known.” AJ laughed and leaned against the rail.

Grinning at his brother, Tucker headed up onto the porch. “Should have known what?”

“Where you went. Do you have to smoke when you drink?”

Yes, and he was out of cigars, which is what he preferred with his whiskey. It was good fortune he’d stashed some cigarettes in his glove box. With any luck they weren’t stale; he couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually had one of them. “Self preservation, there are still guests.” He’d rather face a boardroom of sharks than a horde of teenagers any day. Tucker lit the cigarette then put the lighter into his pocket. He held up his tumbler of whiskey to AJ in a silent toast, pulled the cigarette out from between his lips and took a sip. “I’m surprised you haven’t hit Granddaddy’s liquor cabinet as well.”

“I tried but Granddad and Juan beat me to it. Dad’s out of town so I figured someone in charge should be sober but, I’m hitting it after.” Sitting on the rail, he studied Tucker, his head cocking to the left a little. “I’m glad you came. You need a break. You look tired.” (continue reading…)