The first book in Joanne Kennedy's brand-new Blue Sky Cowboys series, Jess Bailey broke Cade Walker's heart when she left for the city―but she was just trying to find her own way in the world. When Jess's dad calls her home and tells her he's selling the ranch, she realizes she's about to lose the life she was born to live. And when she sees Cade again, she knows how much she's lost already. As their nearest neighbor, Cade is always trying to help. But he's got his own ranch and his horse training business to think about. Even though his heart fills with hope for a second chance when he sees Jess, she left him once when things got tough. She knows he moved on without her and fears she may never get another chance at her forever cowboy. As the sale of the Bailey ranch looms over them, Jess and Cade start looking to the future. But can they ever trust one another again? What people are saying about Joanne "Bring on the hunky cowboys."― Linda Lael Miller , New York Times bestselling author "Packs a powerful, emotional punch, and when it comes to capturing the appeal and feel of the West and its people, nobody does it better."― Booklist "Touching, vivid, entertaining, and fun."― Romance Book Junkies "Real honest-to-goodness red-hot passion."― Contemporary Romance Reviews
Joanne Kennedy's fascination with Wyoming’s unique blend of past and present leads her to write contemporary Western romances with traditional ranch settings. Her books include Cowboy Trouble, Cowboy Fever, and 2011 RITA nominee One Fine Cowboy. Her next book, Tall, Dark & Cowboy, will be released in November 2011. Two more contemporary western romances will be released in 2012.
At various times, Joanne dabbled in horse training, chicken farming, and bridezilla wrangling at a department store wedding registry. Themes that have remained constant throughout her life are Jack Russell terriers, a tendency to confuse fiction with real life, and a fascination with literature that led to careers in bookselling and writing. She lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with two dogs and a retired fighter pilot. The dogs are relatively well-behaved.
A member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Joanne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, www.joannekennedybooks.com.
Speaking Engagements
Joanne is available for speaking engagements on writing, romance, and the West. She teaches writing workshops including Finding Resonant Endings, Starting and Structuring Your Novel, The Strategic Synopsis and other topics related to
Oh these two, it is time to take out the slap on the head thing. *slaps both over the head* I need a gif like that *ponders this*
Jessie is living the big city life, but then her dad has a heart attack, and she goes back. She loves the ranch, but it needs to be sold cos her dad can't handle it. She is having issues with her new stepmum, why I do not know, cos Molly is great! Tsk, Jessie! She is avoiding her old boyfriend that she left behind and she is upset that he married someone else, Jessie, Jessie! Like he would pine forever. She believes something even when he tells her the truth (they need to be locked in a room for two days and talk things through) *slap in the head*
Cade is a cowboy, that does say it all. Yes he married an idiot, but he was sad and drunk. He did divorce her sorry behind. She was a piece of work. Poor guy has issues, drunk dad, girlfriend left, married an idiot. Poor Cade. Though then he does believe something that does not make any sense so he gets a slap on the head for that too.
These two love each other, but they have so much to work through. And they belong together, everyone knows it.
I liked her dad and Molly. They were fun.
I enjoyed it (even if they really needed to be thrown in a room together). It also built something interesting for the next book.
Narrator I like her style and I really get the feel of living there. She has great female and male voices.
Cowboy Summer begins the Blue Sky Cowboys series with a second chance romance that is full of emotions and feel-good moments as Cade and Jess navigate the present while trying to not repeat their painful past.
Jess made a choice to spread her wings in the city, far from her roots in ranching country. She left behind one broken-hearted cowboy who had believed they would be together for life… not just high school sweethearts. And to be fair, Cade made some really bad choices after Jess left – really bad, but he resolved them in divorce court.
When Jess’s dad becomes ill and the ranch becomes too much for him to handle he asks her to come home since he’s planning on selling the only home she’s ever known. She didn’t expect the emotions that overcame her… or her reaction to Cade.
I liked Jess and Cade, but I have to tell you I was sorely tempted to do… a lot… of smackin’ upside the heads and stern, very stern talking to moments with these two. Talk about stubborn, bad choices, and not seeing what was right in front of their eyes. Told from various points of view, we get an overall feel of what’s really going on from everyone. There were times when I wasn’t seeing why Jess was upset with people, but… I guess I just missed it.
In any event, I did enjoy Cowboy Summer and I’ll be watching for the next story.
Cade Walker’s heart broke the day Jess Bailey, the love of his life left town. How did he cope? Well, he relied on liquor and eventually married Amber Lynn Lyle, someone that Jess hated.
Great coping skills, Cade! (Please note the sarcasm)
But who can really blame him?
Jess had emotionally been destroyed when her mother left her and her dad. She left her small town - and Cade, her father, Heck, and her stepmom Molly- to make something of herself in order to get her mother to notice her.
But when Molly and Heck call her back, telling her that they are going to sell their ranch, Diamond Jack, she immediately comes back to the place she called home in Wyoming.
This was a cute little southern/western/cowboy romance read. Although I felt like we were a little. . . Misguided in the summary of the book.
Just so you know if you are thinking about reading this book:
HALF OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT HECK AND MOLLY!
You get about halfway through the book and then you get more insight and scenes with both Jess and Cade in it. But half of this book was about Molly and Heck, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I thought it was going to be about the two main characters instead.
This book was mainly about trust. Everyone had someone they didn’t trust in the book, and it kind of made me want to jump in the book and punch them. I don’t know, maybe I am just gullible, but some situations in this book were completely unnecessary.
I was gifted this book by a very good woman who is near and dear to my hear, Karen Hackett. I was summoned for jury duty, so I took this book with me to read!
It was an excellent read. There were times I LOL and got some interesting looks from others who had also been summoned. I think Ms. Kennedy may also have some other new readers joining her fan club!
Joanne Kennedy is a new author to me so to say I enjoyed this is a privilege and an honor! I do look forward to reading more of her creations!
Joanne Kennedy is at it again. Throwing smart, sexy, kind, compelling cowboys at us. This is the story of Cade and Jess, high school sweethearts who went their separate ways after graduation. Jess went to the big city while Cade stayed on a Wyoming ranch. Neither has stopped loving the other -- but it takes them both some time to figure that out, and to save Jess's family ranch. This is a flat-out fun lope of a read, plus you learn about how to give calves medicine.
This is my first book by Joanne Kennedy and truly loved the story. I really liked the characters, especially the way they seemed real and had problems just like normal people. Cade Walker had been in love with Jess Bailey since they were children. It took Jess leaving him after high school,that made him realize just how much he loved her. It took coming back home for Jess to realize the same thing. Great book
I loved the multiple perspectives in this book. Not only do we get Cade and Jess, but we get her dad, Heck, and her stepmom, Molly. It gives us a deeper understanding of Diamond Jack Ranch and all its inhabitants. This story sets up nicely what I hope is the second book in the series about Jess’s brother, Griff, and the hardware queen, Riley.
Wow!! Cade is one fantastic man!! He’s been through so much in his life but he has always loved Jess through it all. Jess had to deal with her mother leaving but she came through in the end. Great book!!
Jess left ranching to live in the city and make her own way. She is called back to the ranch to help her dad and step mother ready the place to sell. Her past catches up with her and plans have to be changed.
An ok read... just not my style. If you like cowboys, typical country type books this may be your jam. The author does a really good job with description and narrations.
For someone who was so in love, H was an idiot with his ex wife. Horrible book. Heroine is annoying. Ohhh I work for a hotel, I talk on the phone everyday with my hotel. Dumb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.