The Harts of Texas Series by Barbara McMahon

Never trust a cowboy Burned first by her dead husband, then a second time by the foreman Shannon hired, she's sworn off cowboys forever! Except – she can't run the ranch she now owns without help and lots of it. Despite her distrust, she knows she needs someone who knows ranching. Shannon hopes to get that help from a rodeo cowboy she's never met before—but only until she can operate her ranch on her own... moreNever trust a cowboy Burned first by her dead husband, then a second time by the foreman Shannon hired, she's sworn off cowboys forever! Except – she can't run the ranch she now owns without help and lots of it. Despite her distrust, she knows she needs someone who knows ranching. Shannon hopes to get that help from a rodeo cowboy she's never met before—but only until she can operate her ranch on her own. Appealing to Jase Hart when he's down and out she parlays his friendship with her dead husband into an agreement to help her until he's fit again. Footloose and carefree No duties, no routine, no responsibilities—Jase Hart's a man living for the moment. After years of more responsibilities than any one man should have, he's following his own dream on the rodeo circuit. With a good shot at a chance at a winning season, he's temporarily sidelined by a few broken bones and cracked ribs. He never knew Bobby Blackstone was married, but when his widow shows up and asks for help, Jase's intrigued. And throws in with her plan—as long as they both know he's only there temporarily until he's fit to ride again. When her ranch is threatened, Jase makes an astonishing proposition. If Shannon agrees, it will change their lives forever. less

Career trumps romance For the last two years, Brianna Hart has focused on her career in order to forget the man who dumped her. She's a bit wary around those of the opposite gender these days, but time enough in the future to think about love and commitment. When her home is broken into, her office ransacked and her car searched the last person she wanted involved in any investigation is Detective Jake Morgan, the man who broke her heart two years ago... moreCareer trumps romance For the last two years, Brianna Hart has focused on her career in order to forget the man who dumped her. She's a bit wary around those of the opposite gender these days, but time enough in the future to think about love and commitment. When her home is broken into, her office ransacked and her car searched the last person she wanted involved in any investigation is Detective Jake Morgan, the man who broke her heart two years ago. To serve and protect Jake Morgan's no longer a beat cop, and has no business responding to the call of a B&E but he was almost at the address when the call came in. To his surprise, it's the woman he stopped seeing two years ago. Nothing adds up—not who could be stalking her, nor why she's still single when he thought she was on the verge of getting engaged to another man. He wants to protect—wouldn't he do that for any citizen? But when the chips are down, he lays his heart on the line. less

Last chance Molly Forrester's never held a job longer than six months. Now it's do or die time. If she can't find something she's good at, she'll have to admit defeat and return to her father's household and end up marrying some man more interested in her father's bank account than his only daughter. This time she has to make it work! Yet a cook and housekeeper at a cattle ranch? Even she begins to doubt she can stay the course. Still—she's the seventh in six months. And it's her last chance... moreLast chance Molly Forrester's never held a job longer than six months. Now it's do or die time. If she can't find something she's good at, she'll have to admit defeat and return to her father's household and end up marrying some man more interested in her father's bank account than his only daughter. This time she has to make it work! Yet a cook and housekeeper at a cattle ranch? Even she begins to doubt she can stay the course. Still—she's the seventh in six months. And it's her last chance. Cynical and contemptuous When his fiancée proves to be a gold-digging cheat, Josh Hart sends her packing and refuses to see any other woman in a different light. He'll leave romance to others. Falling for another woman is the last thing he'll do in this lifetime. He has a ranch to run. Unfortunately his long-time housekeeper left at the same time and over the last year six different women have quit or been fired. But to keep the cowboys on the ranch working, he needs a good cook—and soon. Nothing about Molly Forrester convinces him she's the right one, but he has no other alternatives at the moment. She can stay—but just until he finds a woman of fifty who can cook and clean and stay out of his way. At least that's the plan at the start. less