Book 8: Country Fair Cowboy
The Cowboy Academy Series
On this page, you’ll find the story blurb, an excerpt, the story behind the story, and bonus content.
Will they win a blue ribbon for falling in love?
Dr. Wylie Newland loves being a vet, loves cheery Clementine, Oklahoma, but his crush on Dr. Hazel Hughes is a problem. The new resident has made it clear she’s a city girl at heart and won’t be staying. Working hand in hand at the fair is bringing them closer…and, hopefully, winning her over. Sure, Hazel is beginning to see that Wylie is pretty great, but he’s also stuck in many regards. With Hazel showing him new ways to look at the world, and Wylie showing her that settling down isn’t settling for less, could they take first prize for romance?
Readers love Country Fair Cowboy:
“The sense of community and family was outstanding. I always enjoy a sweet, clean romance with a little humor sprinkled in, and this one had it all.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
“This is a small town, sweet romance with a lot of heart, loads of laughs and mischievous animals that add to the entertainment of the story.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
Excerpt:
A man entered the clinic. Tall. Muscular. Older than Hazel but not old, per se. Face a set of hard angles that made his green eyes glitter. Black hair mostly covered by a ratty baseball cap with a tractor logo. He wore a green T-shirt and blue jeans, both bloodstained. His muck boots looked like they’d seen the inside of a deep and muddy paddock.
This couldn’t be her new boss. During their video interview, that man had worn a cheap suit and tie. On screen, he’d looked washed out and closer to forty than this man.
Hazel’s gaze flickered toward the photograph of the roping cowboy on the wall and then back to this newcomer. The Dr. Newland she’d met online hadn’t looked like he was the proud, strong descendent of the cowboys who’d crisscrossed the West. But this man… This man did.
He closed the door behind him, stare connecting with Hazel’s as if she was the only person in the room who mattered.
Oh, my. Oh-my-oh-my-oh-my.
Hazel’s heart beat faster, her mouth went dry, and her mind went blank. She felt like the time she’d been sixteen and Tommy Verdugo—high school senior, homecoming king, and star quarterback—had noticed she was alive. She’d been frozen silent then. She was frozen silent now.
“Dr. Hughes, I presume. We expected you yesterday.” The man came forward, large hand extended. “I’m Dr. Wylie Newland. Nice to meet you in person. You can call me Wylie.” His hand encompassed hers. Strong. Calloused. Shocking.
He’d hold me breathlessly close. He’d kiss with devastating command.
Hazel yanked her hand back from his and shoved unexpected attraction to a dark corner of her mind as she tried to channel the professional tone Dr. Reed lived by. “Yes. I’m Dr. Hughes. A flat tire delayed me. Didn’t you get my message? I left one on your answering machine.” When Wylie and Maisey exchanged knowing glances, Hazel hurried to add, “I’m Hazel to my friends and colleagues.”
“She’s trouble,” Maisey snapped before turning her attention to Nancy and the orange kitten. “We take cash or check. Plastic may be convenient to you but not to me.”
Nancy handed Maisey a wad of bills without looking surprised.
But Hazel… Hazel was stunned. Her jaw dropped. “We don’t accept—”
“Let me show you around, Hazel.” Wylie didn’t wait for Hazel to agree. He headed toward the back of the clinic, walking down a hallway lined with windows facing the parking lot.
Despite Wylie’s exasperating interruption, a reel of him riding on horseback and twirling a lasso kept playing on repeat in her brain.
Stop it.
This man and this place weren’t for her. Hazel had put the word out that she was still looking for a surgery center position. There was always a chance that a resident would be unhappy where they’d been assigned and she could go elsewhere.
The Story Behind the Story
I love adding humor to my books. But when I first drafted Wylie and Hazel’s romance, it lacked a little…energy. Oh, they had chemistry, as the excerpt above shows. But Wylie was so very serious about everything, including finding a woman to settle down with. He’s even hired a matchmaker. And that’s why Maisey, vet tech and ruler of the vet clinic, entered the picture. A lot of readers have told me that Maisey almost stole the show. (I’ll take almost!)
About the book’s title… I suggested County Fair Cowboy to Harlequin but apparently they don’t have county fairs in the Toronto area. Thus, they called it Country Fair Cowboy.
I’m really fond of this book and hope you give it a go!
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