Did you know that only 9% of American farms are run by women? And that women farmers are, on average, younger than their male counterparts and more likely to be first-timers? Those facts add up to a bigger one: that more and more women are choosing this field, and that we’re on the cusp of a big shift in who’s wearing the pants in American agriculture.
That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to Josie Star, the heroine of my most recent Tule release, Texas Cowboy Sweetheart. Josie’s family has been in Last Stand, Texas for generations, and so has her family’s ranch, the Lone Star. But when her dad has an accident and she leaves her corporate career to come home, she becomes the first woman to take the reins of the two-thousand-acre cow-calf operation.
Luckily for Josie, she can rely on Easton McKinney, the ranch foreman – and the best friend about whom her feelings are best described as “it’s complicated” – to help her get situated, but that doesn’t mean she’s in for an easy ride. Resistant ranch hands and antiquated systems are hurdles she’ll need to overcome, all while balancing her family’s legacy on her shoulders.
So maybe it’s no wonder that so many women farmers are in start-up mode! After all, sometimes it’s easier to start something from scratch than trying to change what’s already in place. For Josie, though, there’s more on the line than just the ranch’s profit and loss statement. She’s writing a new chapter of her family’s history book, and she wants it to be the best one yet.
One of my favorite parts of the research for Josie’s character was learning more about the day-to-day of life running a ranch. I probably shouldn’t admit how many hours I spent watching farming videos on YouTube! It’s so fun to get a peek into such a unique way of life, that is both deeply traditional and full of innovation. That’s certainly the balance Josie has to strike: respecting the past while moving forward into the future. All while catching feelings for her lifelong best friend!
I hope readers will enjoy this unique workplace romance, in which the office is a ranch and the heroine is the boss! Texas Cowboy Sweetheart is also a friends-to-lovers tale and the first book in a new series, so keep your eyes peeled for the next installment in my Stars of Texas series!
Rebecca
About the Author
Rebecca Crowley inherited her love of romance from her mom, who taught her to at least partially judge a book by the steaminess of its cover. She writes contemporary romance with smart heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and never tires of the happily-ever-after. Having pulled up her Kansas roots to live in New York City, London and Johannesburg, Rebecca currently resides in Houston.
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