Twelve years ago, equestrian Olympic hopeful Olivia Canaday and her best friend, Jake Lassen, made a pinky-swear promise to reunite at the Big Marietta Fair on her thirtieth birthday and marry each other if they were both still single. But that was before they grew up and went their separate ways.  Now, after a disastrous divorce and a career-changing accident, Olivia limps home, minus her mojo, her courage and her faith in love. She retreats to her parents’ ranch, determined to play it safe, but when ex-Army helicopter pilot Jake Lassen arrives to make good on their promise, he reignites passion and hope, two things Olivia had forgotten existed. Olivia resolves to keep Jake at arm’s length, even though the memory of his kisses keeps her up at night. She knows better than to let her heart get involved, but Jake is planning for the future. Their future. Can Jake convince her to risk it all one more time and really make this a fair to remember?

Drive, she said... When Isabella Stanton's Dallas society wedding becomes the most humiliating day of her life, there's only one thing to do: run—hard to do in a wedding dress. She begs a ride from the handsome wedding limo driver offering him a huge bonus to help her escape. After a lifetime of trying to please everyone but herself, Isabella has no plans, no job, and no set destination. Her only certainty–she can never go home again. Will Hardesty understands escape. Growing up heir apparent cowboy on his family's ranch in Marietta, Montana, he left behind his difficult father to play football in college and the NFL. After an injury costs him his career and his wife, he buys a limo company, focusing on business not romance. Initially he thinks he's Driving Miss Crazy, but even his inner cynic can't resist his adorable passenger who's funny and consistently finds the bright side of everything. But will an emergency detour to his family's ranch...

Unsung Hero: A Band of Brothers Romance

Single mom, Shay Hardesty, thinks her life finally checks all the boxes: teenage son and semi-dysfunctional, but loving family, check. New ranch enterprise, check. Heartbreak free? Check. Then her brother hires her old secret crush, the sexy cowboy Cooper Lane to work on their Marietta Ranch. Uncheck! She fears the cattle rustling scandal that tore his family apart could hurt her fledgling business by association. Worse, his hard work and kindness toward her son are breaking down her carefully built walls, risking her cautious heart. After years of exile training horses in Texas, Cooper returns to Montana to rebuild his life with his dad who's finally freed from prison. Working on the Hardesty ranch is a blessing and crossing swords daily with the beautiful Shay is a challenge. Changing her mind about him won't be easy, but he's loved her since they were kids, and he'll work hard for this second chance. But when the ranch experiences break-ins and vandalism,...

Unexpected Hero: A Band of Brothers Romance

Kierin McKendry is indentured to J. Talbot, a ruthless saloon owner, until Clay Holt wins her in a rigged poker game. When Clay tries to collect his winnings, he's attacked by Talbot's men and badly injured. Clay never expected Keirin to take him to the wagon train on which he was due to leave, or that she would lie about being his wife and nurse him back to health while on the trail. But, Keirin isn't interested in a man consumed by avenging his wife's murder. She's pursuing her father, who sold her for a ticket to the California gold fields. However, posing as a married couple, spending night after night together, is fanning Keirin and Clay into a different kind of blinding passion that's blazing the way for Talbot, who will kill to have what's his. Previously Titled: Passion's Prize AWARDS:Best First Historical, Romantic Times REVIEWS:"...lively plot, believable characters and exciting adventures with a sensual love story." ~Marilyn Dickman, Romantic Times WILD WESTERN HEARTS, in series orderHolt's GambleRenegade Bride ABOUT BARBARA ANKRUM:Bestselling author Barbara Ankrum was a successful commercial actress until her love of romance novels led to a publishing contract. Years later, she still believes in happy endings and feels very lucky to do what she loves, with her husband, two cats and one scruffy, unrepentant dog at her side.

Traveling West to join the man she agreed to marry four years before, Mariah Parsons begins to doubt the appropriateness of the match when she meets Creed Devereaux, the man charged with delivering her to her new husband.  

NOWHERE TO TURN Lost, alone, desperate, Carly Jamison had returned to the Colorado high country, and to the only man she had ever loved--a man she had walked away from years before .... Rafe Kellard's secluded ranch was a place of healing and comfort, for her and her young son. But there was danger here, too, in the temptation of a passion that had never died--and a secret that could never be revealed .... For what would this proud, solitary man do if he knew that the boy she'd brought into his home was the son he'd never known he had?

When Montana Mountain man, Jesse Winslow, returns unwillingly to the family farm at his mother's request, he finds his parents dead and his old flame, Andrea—who is now his brother's widow—giving birth to his brother's child.Staying is the last thing Jesse wants to do, so he devises a plan: find a husband for Andrea, sell the farm and turn the money over to the newlyweds.But Andrea won't co-operate. Staying on the Winslow farm is the only thing she wants... that, and Jesse.While the pair fights reawakening passion, raiders strike surrounding farms, terrorizing the community. The violence appears random, but Jesse's sure someone is stalking Andrea.The mountain man knows what must be done, but first he must come to terms with what drove him into isolation, and then decide to become a permanent part of something bigger than himself.REVIEWS:"Ms. Ankrum has a gift for characterization and a unique voice that will speak to many readers' hearts."...

The Copper Mountain Rodeo has returned to Marietta and cowboy reputations aren't the only thing at stake...Marietta Kindergarten teacher, Kate Canaday, is doing perfectly well without the ex-love of her life mucking up her intention to stay gloriously uncommitted. So what if she's become—according to her sisters—a serial dater? If pro-bullrider Finn Scott's untimely defection six years ago taught her anything, it was that men come with an expiration date. And she's more than happy to oblige them. Trouble is, the sexier-than-ever Finn, now a devoted single father, has just moved to Marietta with his adorable five-year-old twins. He's in an unexpected custody battle with his ex and too proud to ask Kate for help in making his crazy life look stable. But Kate sees helping him as a way of sealing off the hurt from her past once and for all. If they can just keep their hands off each other. After all...expiration date, right?Not if Finn has anything to say about it...

During the Battle of the Wilderness, Union Major Chase Whitlaw shoots a Rebel soldier, just as they're both cut down by a terrible explosion. As the Reb lies dying, he begs Whitlaw to return a locket to his wife, Libby, in New Mexico and tell her he loves her.Chase half-heartedly agrees, until Libby's picture in the locket becomes his touchstone, helping him to survive his injuries.In New Mexico, Chase finds Libby in desperate straits and offers help instead of truth.Libby's horse ranch, plagued by unexplained accidents, is failing. Until the arrival of the war-scarred stranger, a neighbor's unwelcome offer of marriage was the only way to save her son's inheritance.But now, she has Chase. Working side-by-side, their passion becomes undeniable until Chase's truth is revealed.Now, Libby must decide: forgive or say goodbye forever.REVIEWS:"...a splendid tale of strong men, stubborn women, wild horses and a love that heals as it grows." ~Melinda Helfer,...

Event planner Eve Canaday and her secret crush, Dr. Ben Tyler, are unexpectedly drafted to help a little girl fulfill her late mother's wish—a magical Christmas to create some happy memories. Eve sees this opportunity as a sign; Ben, as a glitch in his plan to leave Marietta behind for good. As the trio checks off the to-do list of Christmas fun, Ben's 'bah-humbug' opinion of the holiday fades, along with ideas about keeping his distance from Eve. Getting involved is the last thing he wants to do but, alas, there's no accounting for cosmic interference. With the season of miracles upon this jewel of a town, will Eve find it's possible that Christmas wishes aren't only for little girls?