Month: June 2025

new release

New Release! Out Today

Kristbethke

It’s here! Ready to jump into a new world and series with us? Tia and I are so excited to bring you the first book introducing you to Blue Creek Ranch and the lovely humans, and animals, that live there.

To say Mal Trevino is down on his luck might be an understatement. Out of work and the sole parent of his young son, he’ll do whatever it takes to get back on his feet again. But his luck seems to finally be turning when he applies for, and lands, a job at Blue Creek Ranch. The Harringtons seem too good to be true but he’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He takes all that they offer and works hard, while also trying to avoid getting too attached. Mal knows all too well that the good things in life can be taken in a blink.

Crew Harrington’s mission in life is to keep his family ranch thriving. Hiring Mal quickly proves to be a good decision. Mal is competent, capable, and shows a lot of talent. The only downside? That’s Crew’s kryptonite. Getting involved with an employee is a recipe for disaster. But there’s no denying the chemistry between the two men. All they have to do is figure out how to make it work. 

It starts out as a bit of a rough ride. Crew’s missteps reinforce Mal’s walls. But as the days pass and the more time they spend together, the harder it is for them to stay away from each other. As Crew and Mal learn to communicate, and let each other in, love isn’t far behind. All Crew wants is for Mal to take a chance; on him, on their future, and on happily ever after.

And how great is that cover designed by Morningstar Ashley? It’s awesome, right? She’ll be with us for the whole series, bringing our boys to life. That’s Crew Harrington up there.

This is just the beginning. We have so much in store for you with this series, and are already hard at work on the next book. We’re loving this one just as much. So jump in with us as we explore this new world and all these characters. Crew and Mal deserve all the love they eventually find with each other. Especially Mal.

And if you’re so inclined, please leave a rating and/or a review. It helps so much with visibility. We truly appreciate it!

Get your copy here!

new release

1 Week More!

Kristbethke

Are you as excited for Take a Chance as we are!

Well, maybe not. Tia and I can’t wait for this book to be in the wild, and hope you all fall as in love with Crew and Mal, and the Harringtons, as we are.

This was a blast to write and we have so much planned for the rest of the series. So many tropes and personalities, storylines and shenanigans, to explore. We’re thinking right now it’ll be a 6 book series. But of course, there’s always room for more and we have thoughts.

Today I thought I’d introduce you to Malachi Trevino. He’s a mess but also not. He’s down on his luck, through no fault of his own, and he’s got his adorable, precocious, too-smart-for-his-own-good, four-year-old son to worry about. Not that Payton is a worry in any way. But Mal has to make sure Payton has everything he needs to grow and thrive.

And first that means getting a job. He grew up on a farm, raising cattle and working the land. It’s what he loves. It’s in his blood. And though he has a lot of skills, they’re geared toward farming and ranching. He’s pulling out all the stop just to find work. He only wants to do an honest days work for a fair wage. So he can take care of himself and Payton.

Mal’s perseverance pays off, or maybe fate steps in, and he lands a job at Blue Creek Ranch. The Harringtons seem too good to be true. Eventually, Mal learns the family is exactly what they seem. But he still keeps his walls up and his heart guarded. Because he knows how quickly everything can come crashing down.

When he catches feelings for the handsome, enigmatic Crew, he doesn’t trust it. He can’t let go of his hang ups. Except Crew is everything he didn’t know he wanted. And he’s great with Payton. But Mal’s worried, so worried, about what would happen if he and Crew crash and burn.

Luckily, he takes a chance and finds his happily ever after. And a new place to call home.

Join Mal and Crew as they fall in love. Preorder here!

new release

2 More Weeks!

Kristbethke

Do you want to know how it started?

I had this idea, see, of a family with a ridiculous amount of siblings. The parents were teen parents, survived against all odds, and now have a baseball team of children…who were all grown up. Of course I took it to my amazing and lovely coauthor, because we’d been talking about shifting gears after we finished the third book in the Black Dog Inn series. (Check out that series if you haven’t already!)

Tia was immediately on board. They loved the idea. And as we were writing Remodeling Felix we started making notes. We wanted it to be set completely in a completely different location and setting than BDI and….well, I’m not even entirely sure how we settled on a horse ranch. Other than we’re both horse people. Tia, in particular, knows a lot about horses. And so Blue Creek Ranch was born. Set in Colorado, it’s a huge property, with a lot of family, a lot of horses, and a lot of love.

One of the things that was important to me, and Tia agreed, was that the Harrington family always supported one another. No internal drama. I mean, other than being in a family of twelve, with different personalities, you know? That’s not to say that it’s all fluffy. Of course it’s not. You’ve read our co-written stuff (I hope!). There’s definitely angst, of varying degrees, throughout the series. But there’s also silliness and banter, sweet and heat, and so very much love.

Crew Harrington kicks us off, as he falls in love with single dad Mal. Crew is the foreman on the ranch, working closely with his dad, who started it all. And though he runs the ranch, Crew’s passion is his broodmares (of which there are 8, and doing his best to better the breed. American Quarter Horse, that is. BCR breeds mostly for western pleasure, but they’ve had a few do well in hunter under saddle. He does everything he can to diversify, open up gene pools, and produce quality horses.

Care of the animals comes first with the Harringtons and all who work for them. Stewardship of the land comes second. Crew pushes to reduce their carbon footprint, reduce and reuse whatever they can, and work the horses as long as they are capable and willing. The animals get top-notch, quality care.

But so do the people. Crew is drawn to Mal from the start, realizing that Mal needs a hand up. But more than that, Mal is competent and capable. That’s Crew’s kryptonite. So it’s no wonder he catches feelings first. And maybe everything he does isn’t the smartest. But his heart is in the right place. Eventually, he gets Mal to take a chance; on him, on his new home, and on happily ever after.

If you want to Take a Chace too, preorder here!

new release

Coming Soon!

Kristbethke

Tia and I started a new series! You can expect more found family, but this time with horses, a single dad, and an actual family who seems too good to be true…but isn’t.

There still some angst, and there will be varying degrees of that throughout the series, which we think is going to be 6 books. But you can expect good men falling in love. And horses. And a family dynamic that most would be envious of…even if there are ten siblings.

Blue Creek Ranch is idyllic as it looks. Beautiful land, good morals, and run by a family that is actually as kind and hardworking as they seem. The Harringtons take stewardship of the land, and of people, seriously. This family doesn’t stop at blood. They treat everyone like their own.

Welcome to the Family.

The first book features the second born Harrington son and a man desperate for a new start for him and his child.

To say Mal Trevino is down on his luck might be an understatement. Out of work and the sole parent of his young son, he’ll do whatever it takes to get back on his feet again. But his luck seems to finally be turning when he applies for, and lands, a job at Blue Creek Ranch. The Harringtons seem too good to be true but he’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He takes all that they offer and works hard, while also trying to avoid getting too attached. Mal knows all too well that the good things in life can be taken in a blink.

Crew Harrington’s mission in life is to keep his family ranch thriving. Hiring Mal quickly proves to be a good decision. Mal is competent, capable, and shows a lot of talent. The only downside? That’s Crew’s kryptonite. Getting involved with an employee is a recipe for disaster. But there’s no denying the chemistry between the two men. All they have to do is figure out how to make it work. 

It starts out as a bit of a rough ride. Crew’s missteps reinforce Mal’s walls. But as the days pass and the more time they spend together, the harder it is for them to stay away from each other. As Crew and Mal learn to communicate, and let each other in, love isn’t far behind. All Crew wants is for Mal to take a chance; on him, on their future, and on happily ever after. 

How awesome is that cover by Morningstar Ashley? It’s the perfect depiction of Crew and the ranch.

We hope you’ll dive in to the new series with us. We’re especially fond of these characters and the new world we’ve created. Throughout the series, we’ll hit on all our favorite tropes. There will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Take a Chance releases June 26th.

Pre order here!