Patty Sherry-Crew is here to talk about her story in A Cowboy to Keep Anthology.
What do you get when you
combine a cowboy with a fireman? One hot hero, that’s what.
I come from two
generations of firefighters so when I was invited to be part of a contemporary
western anthology, it was suggested I make my cowboy a firefighter. And so
Desert Heat was born. Boone Donovan and his brothers, working the family ranch
some days and fighting fires on others.
My story in a Cowboy to
Keep is the sequel to Desert Heat. I took my new story, Phoenix Heat, to the
next generation at the Donovan Brother’s ranch. Boone and Angel’s daughter,
Harper, comes home from NYC with her tail between her legs after a broken
engagement and failed business venture. When she sees handsome firefighter and
cowboy, Frank Flynn, she decides to get back in the saddle--except he snubs
her.
In constructing these
stories, I drew on my experience of growing up in a firefighter's family. It’s
not uncommon for a fireman to have a second job. Not all cities are the same
but typically a shift at the station is 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Many
of the men my father worked with had businesses they ran in their time off from
the station. Even now I see a roofing company and a landscaper around town that
were started by firemen back in my father and grandfather’s day.
And, if heroes who run
into burning buildings isn’t enough to make you swoon, in my experience firemen
are good in the kitchen too. In my father’s day, the department had a nice
budget and the men took turns shopping and cooking. My father developed such a
love of food, that he’d read cookbooks before bed the same as others read
novels. When he was home, he was the cook and we rarely had the same thing
twice. Today I smile when I see the firemen in their big coats shopping at the
grocery store--even if their fire truck takes up four spaces.
In Desert Heat the
hero, Boone Donovan, goes into rapture over food. In Phoenix Heat
firefighter/cowboy, Frank Flynn, is hampered by his lack of talent in the
kitchen. Lucky for him Harper Donovan is her father’s daughter, and loves food
so much she’s become a chef, and like her mother Angel, she knows how to use
Rosa’s recipe for cinnamon rolls to bring in her man.
Another aspect of
growing up in a family of firefighters is the undercurrent of danger. My
grandfather had the police scanner going in the background all day to find out
what trouble was brewing. If there was a fire and my father was on duty, My
mother would often take us in the car to watch my father and his crew in action
(which I now think was weird of her to do).
I tried to imbue
Phoenix Heat with that same sense of impending disaster. There is an emergency
situation--in fact there are two--but it might not involve the person you
expect.
PHOENIX HEAT by Patti
Sherry-Crews
Harper Donovan thought
she had it all when she turned her dream into a reality--opening a restaurant
in New York City. But when the venture fails and her fiancé leaves her, Harper
has little choice but to return to her family in Arizona.
When she meets handsome
firefighter and cowboy Frank Flynn,she decides it's time to get in the dating
game again. Except Flynn shows no interest and dodges her, but not before
claiming they've met before. Solving the mystery of the complicated Flynn gets
under Harper's skin, making her even more determined to seduce him.
When the two finally
come together, the smoldering passion ignites into a heat that rivals the
Phoenix desert. Now that Flynn has opened his heart, can Harper handle this
wounded cowboy who's playing for keeps?
Patti Sherry-Crews
lives in Evanston, IL with her husband, two children, a tabby cat, and a puggle
dog. She writes historical western and medieval romances for Prairie Rose
Publications. She also writes contemporary women’s fiction.
Catch a cowboy … Keep a cowboy …
Don’t miss this great collection from USA Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award-Winning
authors!!
Available at Amazon
THE LEGEND OF BAD MOON RISING by Carra Copelin
Sheriff Ben Hammond is finally over the woman who shattered
his heart, but when Dinah Horne suddenly returns, can he ignore the passion
still burning bright between them?
CITY BOY, COUNTRY HEART by Andrea Downing
Trading horses for subways for two years seemed like a good
idea to cowboy Chay Ridgway, but can city girl K.C. Daniels keep a rein on his
country heart?
BLUE SAGE by Kristy McCaffrey
Archaeologist Audrey Driggs rolls off a mountain and lands
at the feet of rugged cowboy Braden Delaney. Together, they’ll uncover a
long-lost secret.
THE DRIFTER’S KISS by Devon McKay
Determined to take back what belongs to her, Addison Reed
will do anything. Even trust a complete stranger.
HER MAN by Hildie McQueen
Deputy Mark Hunter falls for Eliza Brock during a murder
investigation. Is it fate or bad luck, especially when she may be involved?
BORDER ROMANCE by Hebby Roman
Widow Leticia Villarreal wants to establish a horse-racing
stable and old acquaintance John Clay Laidlaw offers to help. But can she trust
him with her business and her heart?
PHOENIX HEAT by Patti Sherry-Crews
After losing her fiancé and her New York City business,
Harper Donovan returns to Arizona and meets cowboy Frank Flynn. Will his past
and their differences extinguish the heat between them?
