It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Time for holidaying, family gatherings, gift-giving, loving. And always, always time for reading. Especially books about loving like the two featured here in our year-end issue. Happy Holidays and Happy Reading! 

Seasoned Romance 

When you’re an introvert who works on a ranch, it’s pretty hard to meet women. Unless they fall from the sky… 

Peter Jeffers spent his entire life working on his family’s ranch. His friends joked that he could have been a grumpy mountain man if Texas wasn’t so flat. But the truth is, the peace and quiet of working on the land suits him. Even if it gets a bit lonely… 

Dr. Abigail Southerland has a job to do. There’s been a report of animal abuse on the Jeffers ranch, and as the county’s lead animal cruelty investigator, she’s obligated to see if the reports are true. She thinks she’s being stealthy hiding in a tree to get a look around the property, but she’s never been particularly graceful. Which is how she winds up literally landing on top of the man she came to investigate… 

When a snowstorm strands Abby at the ranch, she’s forced to spend more time with the grouchy introvert and his Christmas-obsessed family. As cold days lead to hot nights, the lonely veterinarian learns that sometimes, found family is the best family—and sometimes love comes just when you least expect it. 

Texas Christmas is a midlife instalove romantic comedy with a grouchy rancher, a jaded veterinarian, naughty animals, and a matchmaking family determined to finally marry their son off to a good woman. This book is part of the multi-author Country Christmas series. Now available from Amazon Kindle Unlimited. 

Rose Bak has been obsessed with books since she got her first library card at age five. She is a passionate reader with an e-reader bursting with thousands of beloved books.  

Although Rose enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, romance novels have always been her favorite guilty pleasure, both as a reader and an author. Rose's contemporary romance books focus on strong female characters over age 35 and the alpha males who love them. Expect a lot of steam, a little bit of snark, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Rose lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and special needs dogs.  

Inspirational Romance 

Christmas is around the corner… 

And love might be right next door. 

Hope Crossing, Texas, is just what Jillian McKenna needs. Here, she can recover after a terrible attack…and create a home for her baby-to-be. But she also has a complication next door. She once saw a future with veterinarian Gabriel Vaughn—a future that feels impossible now. But with love, faith, a support dog, and some Christmas spirit, maybe it’s not too late after all… 

Her Christmas Healing is a Love Inspired book and is available from major retailers.  

Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She’s a multi-published author of contemporary Christian romance and resides on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer, and the occasional coyote, mountain lion, or snake. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking, and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel.