Sasha Summers kicks off her new Kings of Country series with Jace, a sexy contemporary romance that gives readers a glimpse behind the curtain of fame, fortune and country music.

Jace Black is an oilfield roughneck who won big on a national TV competition, granting him enough fame to open the door to the music scene. His cup continues to runneth over when he’s introduced to Krystal King, the June Carter of her famous family of country royalty. “Ashes of My Heart” is Krystal's most personal, most important song ever—and her people gave it to Jace and her twin sister, Emily, to record. At a critical professional juncture when it was supposed to be her time, Krystal not only has to let Emily steal the spotlight, but also deal with Jace. He’s big, he’s talented and probably worst of all, he’s handsome. He’s also crazy about Krystal. When an unexpected lineup change thrusts them together—and into in the national spotlight—Krystal jumps at the chance to claim her song, even if it means she has to spend more time with country music’s new golden boy.

Summers has crafted a compelling story with an interesting plot and relatable, incredibly likable characters. The music business is tough, regardless if it’s your first day or your 10th decade. Krystal is a second-generation singer and songwriter, and has spent her life surrounded by fame and fortune. It’s both a blessing and a curse, because her business is the family business, and her decisions are rarely her own. By contrast, Jace was thrown into the deep end as an overnight sensation, but rather than finding it difficult to keep his head above water, he’s able to stay faithful to his true self despite the glitz and glamour of his new life.

Just like her talented hero, Summers proves she is a rising star in this glitzy contemporary western.

New York Times bestselling author Julia London returns to her contemporary Western Princes of Texas series with The Billionaire in Boots, a romance between a hardworking cowgirl and a man struggling with his family’s legacy.

As the firstborn of the Prince family, it’s Nick’s responsibility to take over the family cattle ranch. There’s just one problem: He doesn’t want anything to do with cattle. Though he longs to pursue his goal of becoming a pilot, his father’s death causes him to put his plans on hold. Dealing with the family ranch is a necessity in the short term, but Nick views his return home as a temporary stop on the way to his dreams elsewhere.

Charlotte Bailey isn’t so sure about Nick. She knows his heart isn’t particularly invested in running the ranch and that he’s probably only doing it out of familiar duty. But Charlotte wants the ranch to succeed and as the resident office manager, it’s her job to whip Nick into shape and possibly find his cowboy roots in the process. The Billionaire in Boots plays with the trope of a city slicker who gets tangled up with a blue-collar, salt-of-the-earth cowboy by flipping the usual genders. Nick isn’t a stereopytical, outdoors-hating urbanite, but it’s clear that he needs an adjustment period to ranching. Charlotte easily falls into the role of expert rancher, and it’s a joy to watch her literally (and figuratively) show Nick the ropes.

The pain of his father’s loss and the discomfort he feels running the ranch only add to his prickly nature, but Nick’s gruff and grumbling demeanor is slowly smoothed out by the easy flirtation between him and Charlotte. (With Charlotte’s experience handling temperamental farm animals, Nick’s moodiness is child’s play.) London establishes their mutual attraction early on, and they don’t mind giving into something fleeting while Nick is back in town. But Charlotte wants something more permanent, a solid commitment and eventually some kids. Given the way Nick is counting down the days until the ranch is no longer a problem, he isn’t exactly the prime candidate for making Charlotte’s dreams come true.

Charlotte and Nick’s separate visions of their own perfect lives and the obstacles that stand in their way are at the heart of this romance’s conflict. Can people compromise the ways they view success and happiness when faced with a forever kind of love? If they can, should they? Despite such complicated issues, London’s characters are tender and gentle to one another. Like hearing a slow Southern drawl on a warm night or the satisfying sip of perfectly sweetened iced tea, this is a calming, expertly crafted contemporary romance.

Laura Drake begins her Chestnut Creek series with a second-chance romance between former high school sweethearts that’s sure to tug on some heartstrings.

Carly Beauchamp and Austin Davis were the talk of their small town as teens. They were the perfect couple, destined for marriage and a gaggle of kids. But once Austin joins the rodeo circuit, Carly becomes a “rodeo widow,” sitting home alone while he’s on the road, hoping for a wedding ring and a family. Carly is done waiting—she means it this time. After a heartbreaking split and an impulsive one-night stand, Carly finds herself on quite a different path than she had imagined.

With the rigors of the rodeo catching up to him, Austin is ready to leave the circuit and return to his hometown. He hopes that he can patch things up with Carly, but there’s one surprise he didn’t see coming—she’s pregnant. In the midst of small-town gossip and unresolved feelings, Carly and Austin will have an uphill battle to their happily ever after.

Early on, Carly and Austin realize that they’ve spent much of their lives as a couple, and haven’t grown as individual people. Who are they outside of their relationship? What are their goals? Their dreams? While their romance is a wonderful mix of the bitter and the sweet, The Last True Cowboy is also a journey of self-discovery, as both characters want to better themselves for the sake of a stronger relationship. The novel’s focus on the hero and heroine as individuals brings a fantastic, deeper perspective to their second chance. There’s also the added complication of an unplanned pregnancy. Watching Carly and Austin navigate both their reunion and a future baby is a reminder that sometimes the family you get isn’t the one you expect.

Though both Carly and Austin are complex characters, Carly is an easy favorite, given her strength to finally take steps to do what’s best for her. That takes guts, and it ultimately gives Austin the kick in the pants he needs to address what’s most important to him. Austin is a charming and sweet modern cowboy. He understands where Carly is coming from and respects her decision, but he also knows that he wants to become a better man for her. He wants to grow into the husband she deserves.

For readers who love romances that pack an emotional punch, The Last True Cowboy delivers on all fronts. This is a romance with grit, heart and just the right amount of sizzle.

Holiday, Texas, goes all-out for Christmas in Cowboy Christmas Jubilee by Dylann Crush. Jinx Jacobs doesn’t expect much out of life and hasn’t experienced a great deal of love. The holidays have never meant a thing to her, but that’s about to change when her broken motorcycle strands her in the small rural town, where she meets the Walker family and enters into the gleeful antics of this Christmas-crazy part of the country. Sheriff’s deputy and single dad Cash Walker doesn’t trust the tough loner at first, with her blue hair and tattoos, but soon he sees beneath the surface to find the warm woman with a big heart. Readers will enjoy the description of a holidays-gone-wild town that sponsors everything from a Turkey Trotter race to an Elf Auction to a Kissmas Cam. There are two unusual pets and a plot with some zany moments, but the characters are good, caring people who deserve to find everything their hearts desire under the tree.

This article was originally published in the December 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.