Cowboys of Crested Butte Series by Heather Slade

Fate put her in his path, and he has no intention of ever letting her go. Olivia Fairchild gave up her dream of being a competitive barrel racer at nineteen, to follow her first love wherever his life as an F15 pilot took them. When his plane was shot down months later, right before the birth of their daughter, Liv’s world shattered. She returned to her parents’ isolated ranch in Colorado to raise her daughter alone... moreFate put her in his path, and he has no intention of ever letting her go. Olivia Fairchild gave up her dream of being a competitive barrel racer at nineteen, to follow her first love wherever his life as an F15 pilot took them. When his plane was shot down months later, right before the birth of their daughter, Liv’s world shattered. She returned to her parents’ isolated ranch in Colorado to raise her daughter alone. One year led into the next, and before she knew it, her daughter was grown and gone—leaving Liv bored and cranky. She finds herself spending too much time on social media feeds, cyber-stalking the hot guitar player she met at a concert over the summer. Ben Rice recognized her as soon as he saw her sitting at the bar. Liv, that was her name, and fate kept bringing them together. The first time he saw her, after his band CB Rice opened at Red Rocks, he watched her. She loved music—and she felt it. Not everyone did. She danced, she laughed, she smiled, she lived. That was why he remembered her name when he introduced himself at the end of the show. “I’m Liv,” she’d said. And he was ready to. He’d endured too many struggles in the last few years. He’d worked hard to keep the band going, and he wasn’t going to give up. With a new record about to be released, this was their year—he could feel it. Used to getting what he wants, Ben pursued the reluctant Liv. But knowing he wanted more from her than she was willing to give, she told him following a man around the globe wasn’t in the stars for her. Been there, done that, retired the t-shirt. She had her own stars to chase this time. When those stars fall around her feet, and Ben refuses to let her sweep them up alone, how could a girl not love him? And when she does, how can she let him go? A better question is how can she ask him to stay when she sees how bright his future could be without her? This is book can be read as a standalone with no cliffhanger. less

Wherever he was, Billy owned the air. It belonged to him, and he took it. Last year saddle bronc rider Billy Patterson reached the pinnacle of success in his sport and had the championship buckle to prove it. He needed that flashy reminder this year, because now nothing seemed to be going right in his world... moreWherever he was, Billy owned the air. It belonged to him, and he took it. Last year saddle bronc rider Billy Patterson reached the pinnacle of success in his sport and had the championship buckle to prove it. He needed that flashy reminder this year, because now nothing seemed to be going right in his world. He couldn’t manage an eight-second ride to save his life; the girl he’s wanted forever, his best friend Renie, is oblivious to how he feels about her; and her mother sold him a ranch that he was incapable of taking care of alone. But the worst of it was, with no anchor at the ranch other than her horse in his boarding stable, Renie was probably leaving too, if he couldn’t convince her to stay. That becomes the least of Billy’s worries, however, when he suddenly becomes a single parent to a child he didn’t even know about. That complicates everything, but he can’t regret having the daughter he quickly falls in love with. The question was—did that mean the end of his chances with Renie? At her age, asking her to become an instant mother would be selfish, even if she would entertain that absurd idea after her own mother was tied down around the same age. As much as Billy knew letting Renie go was the right thing to do, he also realized letting her go would mean allowing her to run right back into the arms of a man she didn’t belong with…and he didn’t think he could do that. This is book can be read as a standalone with no cliffhanger. less

Blythe Cochran is a woman who’s never been treated the cowboy way—and Jace Rice knows he is just the man to teach her what that means. Unless his twin brother, Tucker, gets in the way. The last place Blythe wants to spend Thanksgiving is at the Flying R Ranch in Crested Butte, Colorado, but that’s where she’s headed. She and her best friend’s family have always celebrated the holiday together, so it was go along, or spend the holiday home alone... moreBlythe Cochran is a woman who’s never been treated the cowboy way—and Jace Rice knows he is just the man to teach her what that means. Unless his twin brother, Tucker, gets in the way. The last place Blythe wants to spend Thanksgiving is at the Flying R Ranch in Crested Butte, Colorado, but that’s where she’s headed. She and her best friend’s family have always celebrated the holiday together, so it was go along, or spend the holiday home alone. Feeling sorry for herself because she’s dateless and her best friend is newly engaged, Blythe asks Renie to fix her up with a hot cowboy. When she arrives and meets not one, but TWO of the hottest cowboys she’s ever seen, Blythe decides the holiday might not be so bleak after all. When both men compete for her attention, it’s hard for her to choose. Who would win her affection—easy-going, bronc-riding, cowboy Jace, or brooding artist Tucker? Regardless of whom she chooses, there is a secret being held between the brothers which could drive a permanent wedge between the two men, who each touch a different part of her soul. When the hidden truth is finally exposed, will it tear a family apart, or heal past wounds? This is book can be read as a standalone with no cliffhanger. less

Professional saddle bronc rider Jace Rice has a habit of falling in love with women who turn around and fall in love with someone else. It had happened three times, and as much as he vowed to never let it happen again, it does. Although this time, the woman is in love with a guy Jace can't possibly compete with—a dead man... moreProfessional saddle bronc rider Jace Rice has a habit of falling in love with women who turn around and fall in love with someone else. It had happened three times, and as much as he vowed to never let it happen again, it does. Although this time, the woman is in love with a guy Jace can't possibly compete with—a dead man. Comforting sad-eyed widow, Bree Fox, leaves Jace Rice with plenty of gaping wounds himself, and a pent up desire to get to know more about her, other than how much she loved her late husband. But he knows Bree is not ready for that, so he waits...and waits. When she never contacts him again, he takes that as a sign, but that sign doesn't stop him from thinking about her, from wondering what could be if he just confronted her with how he felt. The problem was confronting her would be almost impossible, since her sister was married to his brother, who hated him, and they all lived together in Crested Butte, where he wasn't welcome. Going there would be like walking into a hornet's nest where he would likely be stung. Jace had been stung before, though, so many times he should be immune. And he wasn't a coward--otherwise he wouldn't be the fierce competitor he was in the rodeo arena. He knew he had what it took to go to Crested Butte and pound things out with his twin brother, if necessary. It wasn't like it was the first time they'd come to blows. What he didn't know was whether it would be worth it in the end. Could Bree Fox ever feel about him the way she felt about her former husband? Or would she forever be just another woman Jace was rejected by when the dust settled? less

Bullet Simmons never rides shotgun, but there is no question, Tristan McCullough has taken control of the wheel. Bad boy, bull rider Bullet Simmons has a good heart, he just has trouble in the decision-making department. When he meets Tristan McCullough, he vows to win her over, and convince her that he is worthy of a Lost Cowboy sponsorship... moreBullet Simmons never rides shotgun, but there is no question, Tristan McCullough has taken control of the wheel. Bad boy, bull rider Bullet Simmons has a good heart, he just has trouble in the decision-making department. When he meets Tristan McCullough, he vows to win her over, and convince her that he is worthy of a Lost Cowboy sponsorship. But can he become the kind of man her family’s brand represents? Tristan says she doesn’t believe he can, but there’s something about the cowboy that makes her hope she’s wrong. Hired as a hand with Flying R Rough Stock, Bullet Simmons, dreams of one day becoming a world champion bull rider. But after the death of his baby boy’s mama, he doesn’t know how he’s going to juggle raising his son, working for Flying R, and riding bulls. Billy Patterson needs someone to convince his daddy to raise broncs on their ranch in Black Forest. Enter Bullet. If Bullet can help convince him, Billy says Flying R will not only sponsor him, but they’ll arrange for Bullet to have his own personal bull riding coach. Tristan McCullough swore off bad boys in college when the bull rider she was certain was “the one,” broke her heart. When Lost Cowboy teams up with Flying R Rough Stock to sponsor competitors out on the rodeo circuit, Bullet’s twin sister, Lyric, challenges her to consider sponsoring Bullet. As much as Tristan tells herself she’ll never fall for another cowboy, this one particular bull rider becomes harder and harder for her to resist—especially when she finds herself alone with him for a week at Colorado Black Mountain Ranch. As we follow Bullet and Tristan’s stories, we also take a peek into the history of beloved characters Bill and Dottie Patterson. What brought the two together, and why has Bill vowed never to have anything to do with rodeo for the rest of his life? Favorite characters from the Rice and Patterson families pay us a visit, and also serve to help these two “lost” souls come together. This is book can be read as a standalone with no cliffhanger. less