IT’S SUMMER!
Do you have a favorite thing to do when summer arrives? Something that really means summer to you? Summer seems to start a different routine. Swimming? Travel? Gardening? Hiking? How about relaxing and refreshing?
When our local farmers’s market opens, I feel like summer has truly begun since I can taste all the locally grown treats. I miss having my own veggie garden, so the stalls selling fresh produce delight my heart.
Look at the goodies I found at the first market of the season! The fresh salsa is perfect…with just the right amount of fire with New Mexico Chiles. Honey from Enchanted Bees, radishes, even New Mexico Sage soap!
Putting up some jars of apricot jam is on my summer schedule, along with a couple of short backpacking trips. Reading on our patio is planned for many warm afternoons.
Is reading on your summer to-do list?
Here’s a suggestion. Since some of my favorite romance authors released a collection of SUMMER cowboy novellas, I thought I’d share my review with you. So join me on the shaded patio with a glass of iced tea (sweetened with local honey from Enchanted Bees) while I tell you about this sweet romance collection.
COWBOYS OF SUMMER by Mary Connealy, Cheryl St, John, Tina Radcliffe, Missy Tippens, Lorna Seilstad and Sherri Shackelford
What perfect romantic cowboy stories to enjoy during the summer!
I liked all these cute novellas by some favorite authors. Each one had great characters and fast pacing. I loved visiting the various communities with an emphasis on sweet summer romance…cowboy style.
Dr. Tess and the Cowboy by Mary Connealy
A fun-to-read story featuring enthusiastic paleontologist Tessa Rhoades searching for dinosaur bones on hard-working Joe Holt’s Nebraska ranch. His peace and quiet are disturbed by her exciting discovery. There is great entertainment as the couple must dig into their hearts to reveal their true passions.
Hometown Girl by Cheryl St. John
I always love a story with characters helping others, and Stevie Marshall is just such a woman as she helps teens through her garden market and 4-H activities. When her high school sweetheart, bull riding champion Justin Cooper, returns to town to help his father, summer fireworks flare. I enjoyed finding out if past regrets could be rectified to become something better for both of them.
Lake Effect by Tina Radcliffe
This is a fun story of leaving the past behind and forging ahead toward bright new beginnings. I enjoyed Jessica Richards’ experiences as she prepared to open Paradise Lake Bed and Breakfast. Rancher Tucker Jackson, with his work ethic and family priorities, is a strong hero. This summer visit to Paradise, Colorado, is filled with the beauty of the season and with plenty of friendly townsfolk to warm your heart.
His Lone Star Heart by Missy Tippens
Rancher Zeb West wants to buy his neighbor’s Double B Ranch, but the owner’s daughter, Beecher Brown, is hoping to keep her father’s ranch. To find true happiness, both face difficult struggles…Zeb to understand himself and Beecher to prove her abilities. I enjoyed the interesting conflict and the sweet romance.
Great Strides by Lorna Seilstad
Lorna Seilstad is a new-to-me author. Since I’m a former special needs preschool teacher, Dana Etherton’s dream for her equine therapy ranch was of particular interest to me. I liked the second chance theme of hardworking Adam Malone’s situation. The pace of this story great, as is the perfect inclusion of small details…fragrance, color, and weather. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
The Decoy Bride by Sherri Shackelford
The trials of pretending to be someone else is a fun premise in this story. As an office assistant to a publicist, Paige Monroe is given a chance to try out being famous. During this experience, she meets rancher Sterling Tanner. It’s a wild ride as the two get to know each other and overcome their fears. “It had taken a brush with the very thing she feared to finally free her.” A laugh-out-loud sweet romance!
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and highly recommended!
I hope you can fit some reading time into your summer days.
I pray you find some refreshment as you enjoy God’s treasured blessing of summer. Whatever you have planned, I pray it is fun, safe and filled with joy!
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
Blessings,
Sherida
…
Sherida Stewart 
Happy Summer, Sherida! Your farmer’s market sounds wonderful, and I loved the photo of your purchases. And sage soap—how delightful!
I’m so glad you posted about the Cowboys of Summer collection, because I’m getting ready to begin reading that and know I’ll enjoy it (especially seeing those amazing authors!).
This summer, I’m looking forward to celebrating my grandbaby’s very first birthday, and enjoying a family vacation to our Georgia coast! Sounds like you’ve got a fun summer ahead, too.
Hugs, Patti Jo
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Patti Jo, spending time with family sounds perfect! Enjoy the first birthday celebration and your vacation. And, yes, I know you will enjoy this collection. Thank you for stopping by! Hugs back to you!
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Hi, Sherida! I like summer, and love spring, but this year in my part of Texas the temperature hit triple digits in May, and hasn’t cooled off much since then. So far, most of my fun has been of the “relaxing and refreshing” variety you mentioned…and that was inside with the AC on. Enjoyed your review of Cowboys of Summer. Some of my favorite authors. Sounds like a perfect read for these long hot days…under the air conditioner 🙂 Hope it’s cooler where you are! Enjoy your back-packing trips!
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Laura, so glad you visited today for Tuesday Tea. We’ve also been hotter than usual, so refreshing with reading and AC is good. However you can, I hope you enjoy your summer. I know you have some exciting events coming up…..congratulations again!
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Hi Sherida! Thanks for the lovely review.
Favorite summer activity is hiding in an air-conditioned office. 107 here yesterday. EGADS. I hope you aren’t near the fires.
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Eeek, Tina! It is hot there. Glad you have a good AC plan.
Concerning the fires, we’re about 45 miles away. Some of our hiking areas are burning. Officials have now closed the entire San Juan National Forest until conditions improve. We’re praying for the firefighters and all impacted by the fire.
Thanks for visiting….and for writing about my favorite place…Paradise, Colorado!
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Sherida, thanks for the sweet tea and for the review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the collection!
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Hi, Missy! Here’s more iced sweet tea for you since this hot weather requires some cooling down. I loved your entry into the cowboy romance genre! And that you appreciated the help from friends on the details. A fun collection. Blessings!
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Thank you for the lovely review! I love tubing down the river. There’s nothing like a lazy trip with friends 🙂
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Sorry if this is a duplicate! Not sure if the first comment ‘took’. 🙂
Thank you for the lovely review!
I like river tubing. There’s nothing like a lazy float on a beautiful day with friends.
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Sherri, so good to have you stop by for Tuesday Tea. The idea for grouping the Cowboys of Summer collection is great. All the stories were fun and romantic….perfect for summer reading on the patio or deck…or inside with the air conditioning! Your river tubing sounds perfect! Have a relaxing and refreshing summer….in between writing more fun stories! Blessings!
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Hi Sherida, I love your word refreshment (as I sit here with a cold drink in my hand)!
I’m looking forward to reading this collection this summer, a great group of authors!
I love spending time with family. In fact, my sister who lives in Florida was just here for a week. I just got back from putting her on a plane, but before she left we had a lunch at Yoder’s Café, an Amish lunch spot, bakery and store. I love your haul from the growers market. I came home from the Amish market with red pepper relish, zucchini relish (a new one to me), coconut fig energy bars and had to get my sister’s favorite peanut butter cookies.
Thanks for the “refreshing” words, take care around those wild fires.
Have a great summer!
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Tracey, I love your family summertime get togethers. So special to spend some days with sisters. And what goodies from the Amish cafe!!! The coconut fig bars sound interesting. I’d probably bring home everything from their bakery.
You will like this summer reading collection, I’m sure. Thank you for your lovely thoughts. May your summer be blessed with all good things. Blessings!
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Absolutely delighted you enjoyed the stories in Cowboys of Summer! Thanks for the mention. xoxo
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Thank you for your comment, Cheryl! I’m happy to highlight this fun collection. May your summer be filled with blessings!
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