My plan is to start over without a man. But car woes and a cowboy are making it difficult. Lilith I don’t need a man. And I definitely don’t need his money. After spending twenty-five years as a trophy wife, I’m single again and on my own. Well, not completely alone. I have my cat. My fresh start isn’t going well. Car trouble leaves me stranded in the Texas Hill Country, but a helpful stranger with wicked blue eyes and well-worn cowboy boots shows up. Too bad he’s a man. I’ve sworn off men. Beau My mama taught me better than to leave a stranger on the side of the road . . . even if she is toting around an exotic cat and has fiery red hair and a temper to match. But like a kid with matches, I’m drawn to her in spite of the risk. Or maybe a little risk is exactly what my settled bachelor life needs. One problem: she hates men. And since I am one, trying to win her over might be harder than taming a wild stallion. But what’s the worst that can happen? Embarrassment? A broken heart? Death? She might be worth it.

My next big adventure is running a goat farm. I just need a few lessons from the cowboy who’s been volunteered to help. Joji Nearly the big 5-0, I decide it’s time to put down roots, but life without adventure is no fun. So, I buy a goat farm. I anticipate smelly livestock and a steep learning curve because I’ve never owned even a parakeet, let alone a four-legged creature. What surprises me is the redhead-hating, built-like-a-linebacker cowboy who’s supposed to teach me all about goats. He doesn’t seem to like those either. Clint I enjoy the routine of working as a ranch foreman. I have no desire to invite chaos into my quiet life by adding a woman to the mix. So when my boss gives me the job of teaching the redheaded Joji about goat farming, I’m less than pleased. She’s my opposite in every way. She’s short. I’m tall. I’m quiet. She talks up a storm. Enchanted with her, I find reasons to return even after she’s learned all she needs to know. If I can’t figure out how to move past hurts that have haunted me for years, I’ll break her heart. I’m pretty sure that would be worse than getting trampled by a bull.

My blunder puts the local pastor at risk of losing his job. The least I can do is help clean up the mess . . . by marrying him. Ava Still single at 50, I’m in shock that a dropped batch of lemon bars leads to a marriage proposal. Which is great and all except for the fact that it’s for show. Mad Dog needs me to marry him to suppress a scandal. Maybe now I can figure out how he got that nickname. My life won’t change much. He’ll live in my guest room, and I’ll feed him delicious food and yummy desserts. And maybe do his laundry. Mad Dog After months of trying to work up the nerve to ask out Ava and never actually doing it, a scandal creates an opportunity. But marriage is a big step. She’s happy to marry me, but I’ll have to earn her trust. Will wooing my wife from the guest room even work?

My landlord is the hot Cowboy Chef. But I don’t care what he’s cooking up because I’m not interested. Mindy Jeffrey Carpenter might make other women swoon with a wink and a smile, but not me. I set boundaries from our very first meeting. He’s nicer than I expected, but heartaches after forty hurt worse, and I’m not going to risk opening my heart to a man with his reputation. Renting his guest house makes things interesting and not just because I have a view of his pool where he swims almost every morning. Even in December. When I try to prove how uninterested I am, I end up putting my foot in my mouth. I’m pretty sure he hates me now. Jeffrey Shaking my bad boy image hasn’t been easy, but a man has to grow up sometime. And while I’ve earned many of the snide comments ladies have lobbed at me, insults about my cooking are undeserved. Mindy can have her opinions, but they won’t change the way I do things. Avoiding each other when possible, we settle in as frenemies, and all is well until we’re trapped together. Then things really get complicated. Now more than my reputation as a chef is on the line. \\\\\_ Inspired by Mindy is a sweet, small-town romcom with lots of heart and a little sizzle.

Dating again is not part of my plan, and romance with my late husband’s best friend is definitely off limits. When Blake shows up after five years, I remember how much fun he was to have around. With his own brand of humor, he keeps everyone laughing. Especially me. He’s fun, comfortable . . . until he shows romantic interest. Blake’s never been one for settling down, but even if he were, I can’t date him. There are so many reasons. Besides the friend thing, Blake hates wine. I own a winery. He rides the rodeo circuit. I stay far away from rodeos. A perfect match? Not at all. We’re more like two mismatched socks. Can two odd socks really make a pair?