COWGIRL Summer Reads

Recipes for Life: My Memories
By Linda Evans (Post Hill Press)

Actress Linda Evans became a star playing Audra Barkley in the classic western series The Big Valley; later she became a television icon portraying Krystle Carrington in the popular drama Dynasty.  When she wasn’t working alongside such motion picture luminaries as Barbara Stanwyck, Lee Marvin, and Steve McQueen, Evans spent time cooking and developed a love for preparing food and entertaining.  In her latest book Recipes for Life: My Memories, Evans combines her affection for cooking with tales of her career in Hollywood.  In addition to recipes from her childhood and from legends such as John Wayne, readers will find an assortment of anecdotes and photographs of the actress, her family, and well-known cast members she performed with during her illustrious career in the entertainment industry.  Evans’ reminiscences include intimate glimpses into her high-profile romances and a behind-the-scenes look at the numerous films and television programs in which she appeared.  Her bonanza of forty recipes include filet of beef bourguignon, Kung-Bau chicken with peanuts, butternut squash salad, artichoke dip, and lemon meringue pie.  The collection of memories, inspirational stories, and mouth-watering recipes make Recipes for Life: My Memories a savory read.

The Essential Fergus
By Jean Abernethy (Trafalgar Books)

What the Dilbert cartoon strip is to engineers the Fergus cartoon strip is to horse owners and riders.  The charmingly imperfect “everyman’s equine” created by artist Jean Abernethy has been making readers laugh for more than ten years.  The Essential Fergus is a collection of some of the most hilarious and poignant strips about the life and times of the popular, white-nosed horse.  The Fergus comic strip first appeared weekly in the Ocala Star Banner pets page in Ocala, Florida.   The situations Fergus encounters include a range of horse experience, in nature, in horsemanship, with his rider Shelby, and his stablemates of various breeds. His voice is both wise and innocent. Fergus is not a human in a horse suit doing human things, thinking human thoughts. He’s all horse. That’s why he’s so effective at showing us how human we are.  Abernethy is a graduate of the Ontario College of Arts and has been producing equestrian-related drawings and horse portraits along with cartooning for three decades.  She has illustrated several books and instructional articles, technical how-to drawings, and diagrams.  In addition to many of the fan favorite strips, The Essential Fergus includes a number of brand new cartoons.  The Essential Fergus treasury of comic strips is a pleasure for all ages.    

South of Nowhere
By Minerva Koenig (Minotaur Books)

For those interested in suspense, South of Nowhere by Minerva Koenig is a great bedside mystery.  Rehabilitated thief Julia Kalas is starting life afresh in a small town in Texas when she finds the remains of a dead man in a home she is remodeling.  The presence of the murder victim thrusts Julia into the spotlight of local authorities, the press, and the head of the Witness Protection Program who has gone to great lengths to keep her safe.  When her fledgy construction business stalls as a result of the discovery of the corpse, she decides to assist a private investigator in locating a missing person in exchange for a handsome fee.  Julia did not anticipate the twists and turns that came with taking the job as the P.I. assistant nor is she amused by them.  Instead of earning a hefty sum for what she perceived to be an easy assignment she finds herself pulled into a dangerous case that involves Mexican drug lords, shady surgeons, and a gang of Native American women  with an ax to grind.  Author Koenig’s lead character is suffering from PTSD and just when you think she’s conquered the affliction she gives into the ailment that has derailed her career and relationships on numerous occasions.  Julia Kalas is a troubled character and that’s what makes this thriller unpredictable.  Not only does the reader find themselves trying to solve the crime, but trying to get to the bottom of Julia’s personal struggles as well.  South of Nowhere a whodunit wrapped in a mystery.    

Comanche Sunset
By Roseanne Bittner (Diversion Books)

Books about mail-order brides of the Old West are quite popular and Comanche Sunset by Roseanne Bittner is one of the most sought after mail-order bride reads.  Mail order bride Jennifer Andrews headed to Texas ready for adventure. But when her stagecoach was attacked, the auburn-haired beauty wished she’d never left St. Louis. All at once the renegades were gone—and she was cradled in the strong arms of fellow passenger Wade Morrow. The handsome man had saved her life, and though they were all alone on the vast Texas plains, she felt safer than she ever had before. Burned by past betrayals, Wade wanted to harden his heart against the sweet desire Jennifer awakened. But how can he deny the passion they share?  He saved her life.  Can she save his heart?

All reviewed by Chris Enss, COWGIRL Book Editor, and a New York Times Bestselling author who writes about women of the Old West. 

Reckless in Texas
By Kari Lynn Dell (Sourcebooks)

Joe came to Texas to escape a life spiraling out of control. He never planned on sticking around.  But Violet is everything he never knew he was missing, and the deeper he’s pulled into her beautiful mess of a family, the more he realizes this fierce rodeo girl may be offering him the one thing he never could find on his own.

Defender
By Diana Palmer (Harlequin)

Isabel is an assistant district attorney committed to serving the law, no matter how risky it gets. But right now, the man she can’t forgive is the one protecting her. If she can’t trust herself to resist him, how can she trust him not to break her heart all over again?

Cowboy Come Home
By Janette Kenny (Kensington)

Without her overprotective father to guide her, Daisy’s trying to stand on her own at last.  But a sinister foreman with a grudge seems determined to cut her down at every turn. And Trey, the one man she can count on, is the same man she could never trust herself to resist…not even now, when her heart—and her life—are at stake.

Outlaw Cowboy
By Nicole Helm (Sourcebooks)

Caleb Shaw vowed he’d mend his wild ways, and he means to keep his word.  He knows he should want absolutely nothing to do with his crazy old life… or the maddening temptation that is Delia Rogers.  Because Delia is nothing but trouble.