From Fireworks to Fiction — What July Looks Like Around Here at The Romantic Reader
Cowboys, snowy chapters, and a little something for everyone.
And Hello to You!
Welcome to all the new subscribers of The Romantic Reader! I’m thrilled to say we’ve had about thirty new readers join us in the past week, so yayyyy and big virtual hugs! Whether you’re here for the slow burns, the steamy cowboys, the holiday magic, or just to sneak a peek behind the scenes of a writer juggling too many ideas and not enough coffee or time, I’m so glad you’re here.
Now, let’s talk about July. Can you believe we’ve already turned the corner into the second half of the year? I swear, I blinked sometime around Valentine’s Day and now here we are, staring down summer heat, iced tea pitchers, and the sticky-sweet scent of watermelon on every page I write.
So what’s happening in The Romantic Reader world?
Let’s start with the big one.
I’m currently wrapping up Trust Me, Cowboy, the second full-length novel in my Texas Heat series. This one’s all about Tyler and Rhea, two people with scorching chemistry and complicated pasts who never expected to fall into something real. It’s gritty, emotional, and packed with everything I love about small-town romance—family, forgiveness, and yes, a stubborn cowboy who thinks he's immune to love.
Blurb:
Tyler Gates has always been the easygoing guy, the one who rolls with the punches and doesn’t let much shake him. But when it comes to Rhea Larky, his best friend and the woman who’s owned his heart for years, nothing is as simple as it seems. Her creativity, her smile—she’s been his guiding light through some dark times. But recently, his feelings have shifted from friendship to something deeper, something far more dangerous.
Rhea has always been Tyler’s rock. She’s stood by him through everything, but now she’s starting to notice the way he looks at her… and it’s not just as a friend anymore. For years, she’s kept her own feelings hidden, not wanting to risk what they have. But when a single request brings them closer than ever before, Rhea finds herself falling for Tyler all over again.
Sometimes, love isn’t just about finding someone to be with—it’s about finding the courage to open up and let them in.
For my paid subscribers, get ready because this month is brimming.
✨ Coming soon: Love in a Heartbeat brings you a brand new monthly novelette titled Under a July Moon
Blurb:
She came to Foxbend to mend her heart. She never expected to find a place to belong or a man who could see right through the walls she’d built.
After a string of heartbreaks, including a broken relationship and the surprise of an unplanned pregnancy, Marcy Blake arrives in the small town of Foxbend, Oregon, to regroup. Her plan is simple: fix up the old farmhouse her friend offered, keep her head down, and figure out how to move forward—alone.
But Foxbend has other ideas. Especially Lucas Reed, the town’s cowboy mayor with a worn-in smile, a heart made of steadiness and second chances, and a front porch view of the world that just might be wide enough for the two of them.
What begins as an awkward introduction (and one unfortunate incident involving her breakfast and his boots) slowly grows into something gentler and deeper—a connection neither of them saw coming, and a romance strong enough to weather fear, uncertainty, and the tender ache of hope.
Under a July Moon is full of fireworks, warm nights, second chances, and the kind of love that sneaks up on you when the stars come out, the air turns sweet, and the past finally stops chasing you.
🎄 And because it’s July…
This month will also kicks off my Christmas in July serial for my paid Substack readers: A Cold Montana Christmas, delivered in tri-weekly chapters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, ending August 23rd. First chapter arrives tomorrow!
Christmas already? I know. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But July is the sweet spot for me. The middle of the year. The turning point. And I’m feeling more inspired than ever.
So yes, it’s hot outside. My characters are sweating bullets in one scene and snowed in during another. I’m drinking too much iced coffee and pretending that Christmas in July doesn’t make me want to break out the multi-colored lights and ornaments.
Blurb:
Old hurts are healed, love is rekindled, and a cold Montana Christmas becomes a second chance for two star-crossed lovers.
Eight years after Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder destroyed his marriage and nearly took his life, all ex-Marine Colton Ritter has left are summers with his son and his family’s sprawling ranch, the Lucky Jack. When his father dies and leaves the ranch's future in the hands of Colton's estranged wife, Lauren, Colton knows he has one chance at saving everything he holds dear.
Loving the cowboy was never the problem. Learning to live with the soldier who returned from war was, so the stipulation of her father-in-law's will is nothing short of insanity. But living at the ranch for a year may be the only way she can save her son's inheritance from being auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Like the five generations before him, the Lucky Jack is in Colton's blood, and Lauren knows he'll do anything to protect it even if it means breaking her heart again.
In addition, I’ve been outlining a new romantic suspense novel, which means lots of late-night pacing, post-it notes, and muttering things like “but what if she finds the money in the floorboards?” while feeding chickens or washing dishes. It’s twisty, emotional, and promises to keep your heart pounding for more than one reason.
And let’s not forget the short stories because every week I’ve been submitting pieces of my heart in under a thousand words. Some sweet. Some sassy. All romantic and fun.
A little side note here. The Love in a Heartbeat novelettes will no longer be available at the CurtissLynn Publishing store. Starting this month, they’ll only be available to my paid Substack subscribers.
*Also, if you’ve tried to access the CLP website and found it unavailable, it’s undergoing maintenance.
On the Artsy side of things: I usually save the artsy posts for my ArtAlive newsletter, but I can’t help myself. I’m too excited not to share! Two of my original paintings, Inner Flint and Eyes of the Prairie, are now available for sale starting today at MinaBeckettFinnArt.com. Inner Flint is a piece that means a lot to me. Flint doesn’t burn on its own, but strike it, and it sparks. That silent strength, that unassuming fire, is what I imagined in the boy I painted. He’s not loud, but he endures. He lasts. And Eyes of the Prairie? That one captures a spirit rooted deep in the land. Steady, watchful, and grounded in something time can’t touch. Both pieces are close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to finally offer them to collectors (frames not included in purchase).
Thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been reading for months or just joined, I’m grateful. Stick around. There’s a lot of love, a lot of heat, and a lot of romance coming your way.