Recommended reads, sponsored by the letter B

What do a Scottish historical, a contemporary fairy tale starring a hotel magnate and an affair between rodeo riders have in common? (Besides being recently released romance novels … and highly entertaining ones at that.) Give up? All three are written by authors whose last names begin with a B! Why the letter B? Umm …why not?

Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown

What it's about (back cover copy courtesy of Sourcebooks):

She's got her eyes on the prize ...

Gemma O'Donnell wasn't the first woman to win the ProRodeo buckle for bronc riding, but she was darn well going to be the second. What she didn't count on was her main competition sweeping her off her feet.

He'll do whatever it takes to win ...

Trace Coleman isn't really after a title — he needs the cash prize to buy his dream ranch. But one sexy, determined cowgirl keeps getting in his way. In his effort to take her out of the running, he risks losing both the title — and his heart.

They're both in for a little surprise ...

Everybody's world is turned upside down when a pint-sized bundle of joy gets dropped right into Trace's lap ... and suddenly all the stakes are higher.

Why you should read it: Brown's much-loved family of Spikes & Spurs tales continues to grow and HEA is pleased to welcome this newest addition. Since both hero Trace and heroine Gemma are bronc riders vying for a grand prize — talk about conflict! — Brown provides an up close and personal look at the rodeo arena, with exciting action scenes written in her vivid, you feel like you're right there style.

Just a Cowboy and His Baby hog-ties your attention right off with a fast-moving, tongue-in-cheek opening that features one feisty female. But all that spunk suffers a setback when Gemma realizes she's falling for Trace. She knows darned well she can't be a top competitor on the rodeo circuit and grow a romance at the same time, which leads to hurt feelings and heartache. Family ties and obligations and the mystery of an unwanted baby lend the story an even deeper poignancy. Between rodeos, Trace and Gemma volunteer at a dude ranch, and although their interactions with 20 preteens are funny and sweet, they do slow the pace. But, boy, howdy, does Brown know how to write one heck of a climax — pun intended. Not only is the book super sexy, but the way Gemma and Trace arrive at their HEA had me in tears. With Carolyn Brown at the reins, you're guaranteed one rib-ticklin' read!

What the Carolyn Brown has to say: "I'd thought Gemma might have a whirlwind courtship and wind up married to one of the Riley cowboys (One Hot Cowboy Wedding), but she would not cooperate. Not until she hitched her trailer to the back of her truck and spent a few months on the rodeo tour. Once she won the prize, she promised that she'd come back to Ringgold and she and I would visit about that happy-ever-after stuff.

"It didn't work that way. She and Trace Coleman met each other and suddenly I was in the middle of rodeos, traveling from one rodeo to the next, holding my breath while the judges tallied up the scores, and dodging bullets from Gemma's momma who sure didn't want her youngest child to move away from Ringgold and find her HEA out in the Texas Panhandle."

Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee

What it's about (back cover copy courtesy of Montlake):

Waitress and single mom Jessica "Jessie" Mann is practical to a fault. Even if she had time to date, which she doesn't, she'd be determined to provide her son with a more secure upbringing than the one she had — and that would mean a husband with big bucks. When Jack Morrison — a sexy-as-sin, seemingly broke customer with a cowboy hat and a seductive grin — tries to flirt with her, she shoots him down. She doubts a carefree dreamer like Jack can provide the financial stability she needs. Yet with Christmas just weeks away, and Jessie not wanting to spend it alone, the charming Texan is proving hard to resist.

As the heir to the Morrison luxury hotel empire, Jack is used to being fawned over. But Jack needs someone who will fall in love with him — not his wealth. He's set his sights on Jessie, though her hardened heart just might get in the way … To be sure, he conceals his true identity and offers to help Jessie find the rich husband she seeks. But Jack's daring charade may rob him of the holiday wish he wants most of all …

Why you should read it: Jack Morrison is the kind of hero I wouldn't mind finding under my Christmas tree. As a gift, I mean — not because I dropped it on him. The man is ambitious, charming and wealthy, with a generous streak nearly as big as his … bank account. (He is a Texan, after all.) I adore him for not being judgmental about the have-nots, and for being a guy's guy — he hangs out with three buddies who promise to make drool-worthy heroes of their own stories. (And as it just so happens, Not Quite Dating kicks off Bybee's Not Quite series.)

Like any convincing romance hero, Jack has his faults, the biggest of which is his duplicity. Usually I'm not a big fan of the "lie to get the girl and hope it all works out" storyline, but with a lighthearted flair, Bybee makes it work. Jack is adorably earnest in his pursuit of Jessie, determined to make her love him for himself. And Jessie recognizes that the "you can't afford me" line she gives Jack is less than flattering, but she's a single mother willing to sacrifice pride for practicality. Except, Jack sure does make her yearn for the freedom to be completely impractical …

Not Quite Dating offers a sweet and satisfying Cinderella fantasy that will keep you smiling long after you've finished reading — and it may even motivate you to troll your local Denny's for hotel tycoons.

What Catherine Bybee has to say: "At the young age of 18, I moved to Southern California from Washington state for the opportunity to go to college. Before I could register for school, I had to be a California resident for a year. In that first year I took on nowhere jobs and cars that broke down more than they ran. The opening pages of Not Quite Dating are an actual glimpse into the life of a Denny's waitress working graveyard. The scenes where Jessie deals with broken down cars and bills that pile up … yeah … I've so been there. Done that! But like every good love story and every holiday romance … I wanted Jessie's cold world to find a warm and fuzzy happily-ever-after complete with a sexy hero and the twinkling of holiday lights."

Highland Surrender by Tracy Brogan

What it's about (back cover copy courtesy of Montlake):

To seal a fragile truce, Fiona Sinclair's brothers trade her in marriage to their sworn enemy. Though devastated by their betrayal, she has little choice in the matter, for if she refuses, her innocent young sister must take her place. The spirited Fiona is willing to sacrifice her freedom to protect her kin, but she vows never to surrender her heart.

As the eldest son of a clan chief, Myles Campbell is accustomed to having his own way. But when the king of Scotland commands he wed a defiant Highland lass instead of a French mademoiselle, Myles must obey his royal duty. Meeting his bride for the first time on their wedding day, he is pleased to discover the lass is a beauty, but she quickly proves she'd just as soon kill him as kiss him. When two such warrior spirits collide, sparks fly, igniting a fiery passion that strains against the bonds of family honor, clan loyalty — and the ultimate surrender — love.

Why you should read it:Highland Surrender is Brogan's first historical, and it makes for a dazzling debut. If you think the cover is gorgeous, wait until you check out what's behind it. Brogan's writing weaves a 16th-century Scottish spell that long outlasts the final page. She provides a fresh and endearing slant on the arranged marriage plot, the history laced into the story intriguing and never intrusive. But it's the well-motivated, well-rounded and pleasantly unpredictable cast of characters that makes this book wholly absorbing.

Fiona finds it easy at first to despise Myles, but his earnestness in wooing her, in making their new life together as palatable as possible, make her yearn to be a true part of the devoted Campbell family. I watched, enthralled, as she weighed an innate loyalty against a reluctant love and her desperate need to be valued — the amount of time it takes for her to decide where her future lies is both believable and agonizing.

Meanwhile, her new husband's actions are more unexpected. His need to be loved makes him overly trusting and optimistic when it comes to his bride, which results in some highly amusing romantic missteps. Myles' lack of guile with Fiona I found truly refreshing, especially in contrast to the secrecy surrounding them. Every reader adores a plot twist — and Brogan handily provides many — one was especially stunning. Highland Surrender is sumptuous and sensual, and a stellar start to Brogan's historical romance writing career. I'm eager to check out her contemporary debut, which she made this past October with Crazy Little Thing.

What Tracy Brogan has to say: "Highland Surrender is the story that tugged at my mind for years, the one I was referring to every time I said, 'I'm going to write a book someday.' When I started doing research, I became fascinated by the childhood of James V (1512-1542). He became king when he was an infant, so Scotland was ruled for years by a power-hungry Board of Regents, each with their own personal and political agenda. When Archibald Douglas married the widowed queen (James' mother), Douglas decided the baby king was a threat and held him captive in Tantallon Castle. James didn't realize he was being held captive until he got to be about 12 and discovered he was forbidden to leave! His evil stepfather (there's a twist for you) tried to placate him with all sorts of entertainments, including prostitutes (another twist). Once he escaped captivity, James became a powerful leader, ruthless to his enemies but dedicated to the common population. He was the father of Mary, Queen of Scots, and legend has it that he died just days after her birth, despondent she was a mere girl who would certainly amount to nothing, and devastated that the Stewart reign would end with her. Ultimately James' story became a tiny footnote in the background of Highland Surrender, but someday I hope to write a prequel. There I go again, talking about the book I'll write ... someday!"

Kathy Altman's debut contemporary romance novel, The Other Soldier, came out over the summer. She also writes romantic suspense. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Washington Romance Writers (WRW) and is also active in the online Harlequin community. Her website is KathyAltman.com.