Welcome, Dear Reading Friend
Have you ever reached for a western romance because of your mood as much as the plot? Maybe you wanted a comforting Christmas story after a hard day, or an adventurous ride when life felt a little too quiet. With more than ninety western romances and related stories on my shelves, even long‑time readers sometimes ask, “Where should I go next?”
Think of this as a friendly, personal guide from me to you—a way to match your mood to one of my books or series. Whether you’re craving cozy comfort, high‑stakes drama, family sagas, or a touch of time travel, there’s a story waiting for you under that big western sky.
When You Want Comfort and Found Family
Some days you don’t want fireworks; you want kindness, community, and a hero or heroine who makes you feel safe. Those are days for small towns, front‑porch swings, and stories where family—by blood or by choice—wraps around the couple like a quilt.
Series to reach for:
Men of Stone Mountain, Texas – A rugged Texas setting, brothers you can count on, and neighbors who pull together when it counts.
The Kincaids – A sweeping family saga near fictional Kincaid Springs, Texas, filled with loyalty, second chances, and that big‑family warmth.
Pearson Grove – A smaller series with deep community roots, where the town matters almost as much as the couple at the heart of each book.
If you’re in a “give me comfort and connection” mood, start with the first book in Men of Stone Mountain or The Kincaids and let the family pull you in.
When You Want High‑Stakes Adventure and Danger
Other days, you want danger, gun smoke, and the thrum of risk behind every kiss. Those are “adventure” reading days, when you’re ready for outlaws, ambushes, and heroes and heroines who fight for their lives and their love.
Good choices for that mood:
Men of Stone Mountain, Texas – Along with the family warmth, this series includes ranch feuds, hidden enemies, and life‑or‑death confrontations in the Texas hills.
The McClintocks – A family series with stubborn cowboys, determined heroines, and plenty of trouble riding over the horizon.
Selected short stories like Stone Mountain Reunion offer a quick dose of suspense and reunion romance without committing to a long novel.
If you’re in the mood to sit on the edge of your seat, pick a Men of Stone Mountain title with “Bride” in the name—behind every bride is a secret, a danger, or both.
When You Want Holiday Cheer and Christmas Magic
When December rolls around—or when you simply need Christmas in July—holiday romances can feel like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. These stories lean into hope, forgiveness, and the simple joy of being loved just as you are.
For holiday happiness, try:
Holiday Hearts (from A Dickens Christmas) – A novella where ambition, office gossip, and holiday magic collide in a modern setting, originally written for a Christmas anthology.
Stone Mountain Christmas – A return to familiar characters and a beloved setting, with a festive twist and the promise of healing old wounds.
Other Christmas‑themed stories collected on my short stories page, many originally written for seasonal anthologies.
When your mood calls for twinkle lights, snow (real or imagined), and hard‑won happy endings, reach for one of these holiday stories and let the season work its magic.
When You Crave Mail‑Order Brides and Second Chances
Mail‑order bride stories are for the mood when you want courage, reinvention, and the thrill of strangers becoming soulmates. These heroines and heroes take enormous risks—often with very little—because they believe there must be something better ahead.
For that mood, good starting points are:
Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride – A full series built around brides coming to Texas with hope, fear, and secrets of their own.
Loving A Rancher (Montana) – Brides and cowboys in big‑sky country, with marriages of convenience and unexpected love.
Individual mail‑order bride titles and novellas scattered through multi‑author projects and short story collections.
If your mood says “fresh start, please,” these stories deliver courage, compromise, and the deep satisfaction of watching two strangers choose each other for real.
When You Want Time Travel, “What If,” and a Little Magic
Sometimes even the most devoted historical‑western reader wants a touch of the impossible—a door between eras, a second chance across time, or the sense that destiny nudged two people together. That’s when my time‑travel stories come in.
Look for:
Texas Time Travel – A series that blends western settings with time‑slip elements, sending modern characters into the past (or vice versa) and asking how love survives across centuries.
Selected short stories with a slightly magical or speculative twist, such as those in themed anthologies on the short story page.
Save these for days when your imagination wants to wander beyond strict history and ask, “What if I could step into another time and still find home?”
When You Only Have Time for a Short Escape
Not every reading mood fits a full‑length novel. Sometimes you’re in the doctor’s waiting room, between appointments, or simply too tired for a long story. That’s when short fiction shines.
On my website, you’ll find a curated selection of:
Western romance short stories such as Stone Mountain Reunion and Holiday Hearts that give you a complete love story in one sitting.
Other anthology pieces—seaside stories, weddings, and more—brought home to live together on the short‑stories page.
When your mood says “just a taste, please,” these short works deliver the emotional payoff of a happy ending without the time commitment of a full series.
A Quick Mood‑Matching Table
Here’s a simple guide you can save or bookmark when you’re deciding what to read next.
Your mood | Try this first |
Comfort and found family | Men of Stone Mountain, The Kincaids, Pearson Grove |
High‑stakes adventure and danger | Men of Stone Mountain, The McClintocks, select shorts |
Holiday cheer and Christmas magic | Holiday Hearts, Stone Mountain Christmas, other shorts |
Mail‑order brides and second chances | Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride, Loving A Rancher |
Time travel and “what if” stories | Texas Time Travel series, time‑tinged short stories |
A quick, one‑sitting escape | Short stories collection on my website |
Use this table whenever you stand in front of your book stack (physical or digital) wondering which of my stories fits your day.
How to Find the Right Order for Your Mood Reads
If you discover a new favorite mood—say, “comfort with a little danger”—you might want to read an entire series in order. To make that easier, I’ve put together a dedicated Reading Order page that lists my main series and how they fit together, including shorter works like Stone Mountain Christmas and Stone Mountain Reunion.
You can also browse the “Books” section on my website to see all my series and stand‑alone novels at a glance. Between the Reading Order guide and this seasonal mood guide, my hope is that you’ll never feel lost about what to pick up next.
Thank You for Riding Along With Me
Every time you choose one of my books—whether it’s a rugged Texas historical, a Montana mail‑order bride story, a time‑travel adventure, or a cozy Christmas novella—you invite me into your day. That is a gift I never take for granted.
My wish for you is simple: that you always have the right story for your mood waiting on your nightstand, e‑reader, or library hold shelf. When you’re ready to ride into a new world with me, this seasonal guide is here to help you choose our next adventure together.
No comments:
Post a Comment