A British cowboy bachelor, the rodeo queen he’s been crushing on, and fateful family entanglements ➱Christmas With the Cowboy Book Tour with Guest Post and giveaway
A British cowboy bachelor, the rodeo queen he’s been crushing on, and fateful family entanglements threatening to keep them apart…
Christmas With the Cowboy
A Cowboys and Tiaras Romance Book 2
by Shantal Sessions
Genre: Small Town, Second Chance Christmas Romance
A
British cowboy bachelor, the rodeo queen he’s been crushing on, and
fateful family entanglements threatening to keep them apart…
While
visiting his former Oxford flat mate, British bachelor James
Davenport falls in love not only with the small town of Primrose, CO,
but with rodeo queen Isabelle Pomeroy. But a family crisis sends
James scuttling back across the pond leaving Isabelle without an
explanation.
Isabelle
Pomeroy spent the last year touring the state as Miss Rodeo Colorado,
and comes darn close to winning Miss Rodeo America. But her tenure is
over and she’s anxious to come home to her family for Christmas.
Helping at her family’s ranch is a welcome distraction from the
heartache left by a handsome Brit who left without so much as saying
goodbye.
Without
warning, James returns, working hard to become a true-blue cowboy and
anxious to win her back. Isabelle is determined to avoid another
heartbreak, but it seems a tall order amidst her small town’s
festive traditions and everyone brimming with holiday spirit.
Will
James weave some Christmas magic and convince Isabelle of what’s
truly in his heart? Will Isabelle allow herself to heal, so they can
finally forge a real relationship?
Christmas
with the Cowboy is a heartwarming second chance romance bursting with
Christmas magic, charming holiday traditions, and an emotionally
satisfying happily-ever-after.
**On Sale Now! Get it fast before the price goes up!**
Caught by the Cowboy
A Cowboys and Tiaras Romance Book 1
A
disillusioned rancher, a runaway rodeo queen, and two old flames who
could burn them both…
After
his father lost their ranch in a high-stakes poker game, Will Hawkins
fought for his job as general manager at the Hayfork River Ranch.
With his inheritance now in the hands of a California billionaire,
he’s determined to make sure it doesn’t get developed into luxury
ranchettes and shopping centers. And try to forget about the woman
who betrayed him and broke his heart.
Emmy Jo Jackson is
hiding from her ex-fiancé and a raging social media storm. As a
rodeo queen vying for the state title, it’s only a matter of time
before he finds her and tries to take revenge. She seeks refuge in
the Hayfork River Canyon where she hopes the beautiful vistas and
wide-open spaces will allow her a chance to steel her resolve and
train at the ranch for her upcoming pageant.
Will is
resigned to his life and bent on not getting distracted by another
pretty heartbreaker. Emmy Jo is determined not to let a grumpy cowboy
who’s easy on the eyes derail her from chasing her dream. Except
spending time together on the ranch weakens their defenses, like a
rail fence coming undone, and pretty soon they’re both questioning
their previous notions. When their pasts come-a-calling, can Emmy Jo
and Will round-up the lies and see them for what they are? Or will
the love that blossomed on the ranch be lost forever?
Download
Caught by the Cowboy today and get roped into this sweet and clean,
grumpy/sunshine romance, breathtaking scenery, and an unforgettable
cowboy guaranteed to make you swoon.
Praise
for Shantal Sessions--
“Caught
by the Cowboy combines the charm of a rodeo queen, Emmy Jo, with the
rugged allure of Will Hawkins, a ranch manager who should have been
the heir. Both have their guard up, but the chemistry between them is
electric as they move from antagonists to swoony kisses. The wit and
banter as Emmy Jo and Will challenge each other leads to some
hilarious outcomes.The author includes a gorgeous ranch that I’d
like to go visit, as well as authentic rodeo details. Add their
despicable exes causing more havoc, and you’ve got a book you can’t
put down. Recommended."
~Jen Peters, award-winning author
(Black Rock Ranch series)
"Sessions does a great job
of pulling the reader into life on the ranch and shows the dedication
it takes to become a rodeo queen. Caught by the Cowboy is a
captivating, authentic, small-town romance that will keep readers
turning pages well past their bedtime." ~Jill Burrell, Author of
the Best-selling Finding Providence Series
"Caught by
the Cowboy is everything a sweet romance should be--complete with
vivid characters, flirty banter, and sizzling chemistry." ~USA
Today Best-selling Author Kimberly Krey (Sweet Montana Bride
Series)
"The chemistry between Will and Emmy Jo is
palpable, as their blossoming relationship forms the heart of the
story. The author expertly crafts scenes that are laden with tension,
emotion, and a genuine sense of connection, captivating readers and
drawing them into the characters’ lives.” ~USA Today Best-selling
and award-winning author Donna K. Weaver
**Get it FREE for a limited time!!**
Christmas with the Cowboy Excerpts
The bonfire roared, climbing all the way to the top
of the woodpile, sparks flying like hundreds of fireflies dancing in the night.
James saw them approaching and smiled, his eyes locking with Isabelle’s. His intense
gaze launched a thousand butterflies fluttering in her stomach at once.
“Hi,” they said at once to each other, and then
shared an awkward, huddled laugh.
“So, what was that about?” James asked nervously.
“We were totally talking about you. Were your ears
burning?”
“As a matter of fact, they were,” he answered,
rubbing an ear instinctively.
“They apologized for keeping a certain secret.”
Isabelle angled an accusatory, though playful glare at him.
“As I intend to do…” James cleared his throat,
gearing up for the apology.
Except a snowball hit James in the back of the head,
knocking off his cowboy hat. His shocked expression, eyes goggled, mouth wide
open, made Isabelle burst out laughing. As he turned around to identify the
culprit, Isabelle could see Clint and Cole lobbing snowballs at everyone.
Another snowball came flying toward James. He dodged it, but Isabelle was too
busy laughing to notice it in time; it hit her clean in the face. Luckily, it
was soft and didn’t cause any harm, but it had her spluttering in surprise.
“Ha, serves you right for laughing at me!” James
shouted, balling up a snowball in his hands and threw it at her.
She ducked.
“How would you like one in the face, Mr. Fancy
Pants?” Isabelle bent down and began wadding up snow.
“Fancy Pants?” James paused, hands on hips, and
sniffed haughtily. “And here I thought you liked my suits, Queenie.”
“Queenie? Now, you’re just making fun of me.”
Isabelle threw her snowball and it hit him square in the chest, exploding into
his face.
“Oh, you’re in trouble now!” James shouted, chasing
her.
Isabelle screeched and took off running. He caught
her by the arm and tackled her. They fell into the snow, and James landed on
top of her. Isabelle wriggled and squealed as James hovered, the two of them
reeling in laughter, trying to control their jagged breaths. A broad smile
teased at James’s lips.
“I guess this would be a bad time to ask you out on a
date.”
“Some might consider this the perfect time.” She
quirked a silly smile and winked.
His cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink as he
rolled into the snow and stood. He held his hand out to her and pulled her up.
“Would you like to go on a sleigh ride with me, Isabelle?”
Isabelle hesitated. She saw the look of
disappointment already filling his eyes. He’d worked hard to regain her trust
and try to rebuild their friendship. He deserved a break and she wasn’t prone
to hold grudges. She was in the mood for some Christmas fun, and hadn’t gone on
one since she was a kid.
Besides, it’s just a sleigh ride, right?
“I really need to get my tractor up here and bust
through the ice in that pond, so the cows aren’t in danger and have something
to drink. And, uh, I guess I need to pay for my share of this fence?” Isabelle
dug the toe of her boots into the ground and wouldn’t make eye contact with
Will.
“We got this, Isabelle,” Will said, but gave James a
meaningful look, clearly nudging him to participate. “Say something,” Will
mouthed to James, a look of irritation on his face.
“May I have a moment of your time?” James asked
Isabelle sounding far too formal. He cringed.
“Sure,” she answered sweetly and waved at him to
follow her. “You can help me get my truck out of the mud.” A mischievous grin
lit her face.
“Okay, I deserve this.” James planted a hand on his
hip, scratched the scruff on his chin in thought, noting the thin tread on the
tires and how deeply they sank into the mud.
“Yes, you do.” Isabelle winked and hopped into the
truck.
“If I suffer this penance to your satisfaction,”
James said, approaching the window. “Will you at least have a cup of coffee
with me?”
“Make me a killer bowl of soup and you’ve got a
deal.”
“Done.” James drummed his hands on the window sill a
couple of times and then went to the back of the trunk to push it out of the
mud.
Isabelle turned on the ignition, put it into gear,
and pushed the gas. As the tires spun, they sunk at least three inches deeper,
dirty snow and mud spraying out from under the tires.
“It’s not going to go without a couple of guys,” Will
hollered, trudging toward the rear of the truck. “Put your back into it, and
try to stay away from the spray.”
After a series of tries, the truck sunk deeper into
the mud. Dirty, tired, and frustrated, James ran back to the UTV and grabbed
some old plyboard he’d found on the way in. He tucked the pieces under the back
wheels. Before he stepped away, Isabelle gunned the gas and the truck sped out
of the hole. The force of movement made James fall backwards. He sprawled on
the ground completely splattered in mud.
The truck screeched to a halt on firmer ground.
Isabelle hopped out and ran toward him. When she saw him, her eyes and mouth
widened, obviously at the shock of seeing him, and she doubled over in
laughter. “You should see yourself! You look like you’ve been in one of those
Dirty Dash races.”
“I’m glad to see my misfortunes entertain you so
much.” James couldn’t help smiling grudgingly.
“Be grateful she’s laughing, partner,” Will whispered
out of the side of his mouth as he pulled him up from the ground.
“I am glad about it,” he whispered back, “but I’d
hoped it wouldn’t be at my expense. Just so you know. . .” He gazed at Isabelle
over Will’s shoulder, addressing his comment to her. “I’ve never been so
embarrassed in all my life. First, flying donuts, and now this. The indignity
of it is…” His voice trailed, then a bubble of laughter escaped his throat. He
guffawed and his shoulders shook. He tried to stop, but couldn’t. The laughter
rolled out of him like a tsunami hitting the shore.
After he finished the first verse, Isabelle’s face
erupted into a dazzling smile, warming him to the very depths of his soul. He
could spend a lifetime singing to Isabelle if she looked at him like that. But
then her features crumpled and tears welled in her eyes.
A bit alarmed, James stopped playing. “Did I do
something wrong?”
“No,” she laughed through her tears. “It’s so
beautiful. You’re very talented at the guitar and your voice that sounds like
it’s wrapped in warm silk. You know…” she said, meeting his eyes. “This is
exactly what I never knew I needed. I love that song so much!” Then with a bit
of mischief in her expression, she murmured, “Do you really want me to show you
around town and take you to where I watch the snow come down?” she asked,
quoting the song.
“More than you know,” James continued to strum chords
as he stole glances at her.
“That’s so sweet.” Isabelle positioned the kitten in
the crook of one arm and dabbed her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie with the
other.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to know about you.”
He stopped playing and leaned over his guitar, staring intently into her eyes.
“I’m not sure there is anything else to know. I’m a
simple, home-town kind of girl.” Isabelle tried to force a smile, then looked
away.
“What’s something you’ve dreamed about doing, but
there’s not a chance in the world it will ever happen?” James was the most
curious about this.
“Hmm…” Isabelle narrowed her eyes, tapping her chin
in thought. “I’ve never shared this with anyone except Gracie, so you’d better
keep it a secret or I’ll come after you with my six-shooter,” she chuckled,
dropping her head in laughter over the precious kitten. “Like most little
girls, I dreamed of being a princess.”
“Most folks around here would argue that you already
are a princess, or more accurately a queen,” James said, quite seriously.
“First runner-up to Miss Rodeo America is something everyone looks up to around
here.”
“Oh, you know. The fairytale kind.” Isabelle’s eyes
glistened suddenly. “As I got older, I just wanted someone who treated me like
a queen, especially after what happened to Gracie and between my parents. I
still fantasize about wearing a beautiful gown and tiara, and dancing with the
love of my life under the stars.”
For a moment, James didn’t know what to say, his
feelings for Isabelle welling up. “That’s all fine and good, Isabelle,” James
whispered, cupping her cheek as he looked earnestly into her eyes. “But you
don’t need to wear a gown or a tiara to have a man treat you like a queen.”
She placed her hand over his and lovingly looked into
his eyes, an air of electricity pulsing between them. James knew then and there
he’d move heaven and earth to make her dream come true.
“Hey, everybody! I’m home,” Isabelle hollered into
the quiet of the house, and shrugged out of her coat, putting it and her hat
and gloves on hooks near the front door.
Gracie flew out of the kitchen with her phone in her
hand, a look of earnest relief on her face. “You have no idea how worried we
all are were until James finally texted.” She pulled Isabelle into the tightest
hug she could remember.
“I know. I’m sorry. He kept trying, but service was
super sketchy.” Then she looked intently into Gracie’s eyes and asked, “Did you
really think I was in danger?”
“Well, no.”
Gracie grinned. “But it was one heck of a storm. So, uh, I guess Will put you
up for the night?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Isabelle shot her a
mischievous smile. “I curled up on the couch with James.”
“No way,” Gracie whispered in shock, her eyes
widening. “Did he kiss you?”
“Oh, yeah.” Isabelle nodded once giddily, and winked.
“Sparks?” Gracie arched a brow.
“Massive explosions.” Isabelle raised her hands to
her head and mimicked a volcano erupting.
“What’s that?” Gracie pointed at her neck, trying to
suppress a smile.
“What’s what?” Isabelle asked, confused as she probed
the area just above her collarbone. A sudden memory came back, one of James
lingering a little too long in that spot, and she blushed.
Gracie convulsed with oncoming laughter, stifling the
“pfft” sound by covering her mouth. “I’m happy for you,” she tittered. A sweet,
genuine smile warmed her face. “What happens now?” she asked, plopping on the
couch.
“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked with a shrug and
joined her.
“Well, are you going to keep seeing each other, or is
it a thing you two want to keep on the down-low for a while?”
Isabelle snorted. “The ranch hands woke us up, so
that’s not really possible.”
Gracie clapped a hand over her mouth trying to
contain another giggle.
Gracie’s laughter was always contagious, and Isabelle
pressed her lips together, trying to suppress her own bubble of laughter. “Are
you snickering at me?”
“Not yet.” Gracie then pinched her nose, but not
before accidentally exuding a tiny snort. “I’m trying to imagine the looks on
the faces of all those guys. What did they say?”
“Nothing, they just stood there gawking. It was the
silliest thing ever. And James…” she paused, remembering his expression. “He
looked so proud of himself.” Isabelle bit her lip on a laugh and shook her
head.
After staring into his gorgeous green eyes throughout
the ceremony and saying “I do,” Isabelle noticed James’s expression had changed
from emotional to a little mischievous.
“I love the way you look in this,” he said, fingering
the veil and caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers.
The sensation made her stomach flutter, as if a
thousand butterflies launched at once.
“But I need to reinforce an important point between
us.” He took off the veil and tiara and handed them to Gracie. “I love you,
Isabelle.” He cupped her cheeks and stared into her eyes. “You do not need to
wear a tiara to have a man, to have me,” James whispered fiercely,
“treat you like a queen. That’s my promise to you as your husband.”
Brushing a tendril of hair away
from her face, he leaned down and kissed her once, ever so softly. Isabelle
breathed in his wonderful scent, fresh and clean, sexy, masculine. His lips
curved into a smile, promising a sultry future. Ripples of delight coursed
through her, tingling from the top of her head, circling her palpitating heart,
and pulsing deliciously down her spine. He brushed her lips with his thumb, a
frisson of electricity surging between them, and kissed her again. So sweet and tender, she felt a little wobbly in her
knees.
Caught by the Cowboy Excerpts
“Excuse me,
little lady, but you’re on private property.”
Emmy Jo’s eyes
popped open at the sound of a man’s voice. She shot to her feet, raising a hand
to her heart in surprise. She realized far too late that she was teetering on a
wet rock. To her utter shame and embarrassment, her arms reeled comically
before she fell backwards into a deep pool, the current swift as it flowed
downstream.
Not her best
moment.
After she came
up for air gasping, coughing, and wanting nothing more than to kick his hide up
around his ears, she stopped dead in her tracks.
He just sat
there on his horse . . . doing absolutely nothing . . . except, well, looking
as hot as a firework on the Fourth of July.
“Are you just
going to sit there?” Emmy Jo snapped and shot him a murderous glare. She
tromped onto the bank of the river. Her cut-off denim shorts and tank top
caused rivulets of water to run down her legs while she tried to squeeze water
from her braids. Giving up in a huff of frustration, she snatched her boots
from the rock, sat on a fallen log, and struggled to pull them on.
“You seem to
be doing just fine on your own.” Completely relaxed and gnawing on a stalk of
grass, the man was unperturbed as he took in her disheveled appearance. In
fact, a tiny hint of a smile seemed to be lurking under his close-cropped
beard. A tri-color border collie emerged from the trees and stopped. Panting as
it looked from Emmy Jo to the cowboy and back again, it barked once happily and
rushed off to chase something in the brush.
“I am not fine!” Emmy Jo enunciated,
clipping the “T” in irritation, and stood up, her arms tense, her hands curled
into fists. “What if the current had swept me out into the river. I could’ve
drowned.”
“Then I most
certainly would’ve come in after you on my trusty steed, lassoed you with my
sturdy rope, and dragged your lovely, although rule-breaking behind, out of the
river and onto shore.” His eyes danced with mischief and his mouth curved into
an unmistakable smirk.
She already
wanted to hate him…
“You know how
to dig worms?” An incredulous expression lit his features, his brows lifting in
surprise. “There are not many women in the world who’d be willing to do that.
Nevertheless, it’s an unwitting error on his part.”
“Excuse me?”
Emmy Jo put her hands on her hips and moved closer, her face just inches from
his. Her heart skipped a beat and skittered somewhere high in the clouds. “Pops
always reels them in.”
“I’m sure he
does, but my dad would say it’s a crude method,” he said softly, the corner of
his mouth hinting at a smile as he tucked an errant tendril of hair behind her
ear.
As his fingers
lingered on her cheek, a pool of tingly heat rippled through her body. Her arms
rose involuntarily, desperately wanting to return his touch. At that moment,
her universe began to spin inward, her full attention focused on Will. With
thick brown hair curling at the nape of his neck and a few days’ growth on his
face, he was the epitome of rugged and handsome.
“Besides…” He
cleared his throat and looked down, breaking the moment. “There are far
superior ways of wooing a trout.”
“Wooing a
trout?” Emmy Jo chuckled. As the irony of the phrase settled in, her laughter
turned into a full-throated guffaw. She wondered how a cowboy at heart could
have such a fine way with words. Was he trying to send her a message? Perhaps
he was trying to woo her, too? The thought ignited a fire within her, and heat
sizzled all the way down her back. “What does your dad know?” she asked with
some sass, trying to cover her enormous attraction to him.
“If this
relationship makes no sense at all,” he said, achingly soft and sweet, touching
her tenderly under her chin to meet his gaze. His expression was raw and
uncertain. “Then why do I want to kiss you so much?”
Her heart
suddenly skittered out of control as warmth surged through her veins. “I just
have that effect on people.” She teased him because she couldn’t begin to
express how his words affected her.
“Lucky is the
man who has the pleasure of getting to know you.” Will’s voice was rough and
low as he threaded his hand under her braid and placed it on her neck, pulling
her close. Emmy Jo could feel his breath on her lips. He looked down at their
hands, his finger brushing her palm. It sent a thrill racing through her system
that she could hardly contain. The world stopped.
“And kiss
you…”
Emmy Jo could
barely stand the anticipation as she waited for him to close the miniscule gap
between his lips and hers. In all her life, she’d never wanted anyone to kiss
her more than she did at that moment, grumpy cowboy or not. Something more
claimed her attention within the mists of desire: She wanted a world where they
could be together. And just as surely, she felt her heart wrench apart at the
realization. It was never going to happen. Too much kept them apart. But his
lips were so close, and she couldn’t wait to feel their softness as his
masculine scent overwhelmed her; sage, sandalwood, and something astringent she
quite couldn’t place. Maybe citrus. Just a breath away now. It was going to
happen, even if they’d probably never see each other again.
“Oh, you’ve
got to be kidding me!” A familiar voice carried across the clearing.
Startled, Emmy
Jo and Will jerked apart, and tried to act like they hadn’t been in the throes
of almost kissing. Clint and Cole had stumbled into the area on their way back
from fishing, flashlights aimed right at them.
What are your top ten books of all time?
There are far too many wonderful books in
the world to answer this, but I will give you a few that have changed my life,
improved my thinking, or have left an impression on me. See also www.shantalsessions.com
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels by
Phillippa Gregory
The Magic of Sea Glass by Jenny Hale
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
Facing the Enemy by Paige Edwards
A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale
Tell us about your favorite character
from a book.
One of the most memorable characters I’ve
read recently is Tress of the Emerald Sea. Tress is everything you think a hero
couldn’t possibly be: sweet, kind, loving, has beautiful hair and likes to
clean. In other words, too feminine, too traditional. But every single trait
she has evolves into a way to conquer the bad guy. It is absolutely marvelous
to watch Tress’s arc develop in the story.
Shantal is hopelessly romantic. She adores writing ALL THE FEELS right up to the first kiss and beyond saying, “I do.” She is a multi-genre sweet romance author who engages in her two great passions: reading and writing heart-soaring romance, charming characters with chemistry, and scintillating kisses that will steal your breath away. Originally drawn to writing young adult Medieval romance, she’s since written contemporary romance, all sweet and clean.
Happily living in a love story all her own, she lives in Utah with her husband, near her two married sons and amazing daughters-in-law, and her two granddaughters. Shantal loves the great outdoors and can be found gardening in summer and skiing in winter. She’ll come inside to hunker down for a Jane Austen book or film (or romance, romcom, and costume drama), and to make the most delectable pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on the planet. Learn more at https://www.shantalsessions.com.
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