[Pies, Books & Jesus 01] • Firefly Summer

Welcome to Sugar Pine, Texas, where there is one red light, one taxi cab, and one grieving mama left wondering why the Lord didn't grab hold of her prodigal son before it was too late. Grieving artist Sessa Chambers is left with a grandchild to raise and a decision to make: could she accept a dream job restoring carousel horses for the Smithsonian, manage a ranch, and take care of her granddaughter? With the ladies of the Pies, Books Jesus Book Club in her corner, she accepts the job and awaits the first shipment of horses. Then one day a handsome cowboy arrives on her doorstep to complicate everything.

Former rodeo star turned Houston surgeon Trey Brown is haunted by the night he killed a man-a teenager, really-with the same hands he uses to hold a scalpel. Forgiveness is his only hope, so he seeks out his victim's only living relative, his mother. Ranch owner Sessa Chambers is not at all what he expects. Her presence is more jolting than any eight-second bronco ride from his former rodeo days, and the only thing he wants to do is get to know her better. She's mistaken him for the hired help, and he's fine with that. Until he finds a way to admit he killed her son, Trey will work off the guilt that is plaguing him.

In tiny Sugar Pine, Texas, everyone knows everyone else's business and most of them know the others' pie recipes as well. Thus, the ladies of the Pies, Books Jesus Book Club are determined to figure out exactly who Sessa's handsome cowboy is and what he wants with their Sessa. Once they do, can Trey and Sessa's growing love for one another survive the truth?

Bestselling author Kathleen Y'Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than one hundred books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas AM Association of Former Students and the Texas AM Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few other fabulous organizations if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once.

When she's not spinning modern day tales about her wacky Southern relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books.

Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and one very adorable Londoner.