“The well runs dry, kiddo,” Ava reasoned. “Nothing faster than a family to drain you. Cut yourself some slack and think of it this way: if you’re happier, they’ll be happier.”
“I should be happy now.”
Ava waved a dismissive hand. “We should all be happy. None of us are starving in Africa, we all have roofs over our heads, we have love in our lives—”
“Speak for yourself,” Laken said dryly.
Ava shot her a glare. “All right, everyone but Laken has love in her life, but constant hot sex is a workable substitute—”
The entire group broke up laughing. Even Ellie grinned.
…Excerpt from THE BOOK BABES OF AUSTIN by Jean Brashear © 2015
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Readers react to the TEXAS HEROES series:
“In all of Jean’s books so far I love the strong independent heroines and the men who know right away these women are special and fall in love in such a sweet way. Loving this series and can’t wait to read more.”
“Love the seamless flow from one book to another. Jean Brashear’s Texas Heroes series is well worth a read. The characters are vivid and so real…the storylines are captivating. You won’t go wrong purchasing this series.”
“Jean Brashear, you are now one of my favorite authors. I loved them all and I can’t wait to read some of your other books. You have the unique talent of making the reader feel like they have been transported to Texas and are part of the family. I found it very difficult to put down your books. Thank you for giving me hours of reading pleasure.”
The Marshalls
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“Ms. Brashear has written a great story line with characters who are both ‘larger than life’ in some ways and yet very likeable, believable people. I’m looking forward to getting the next one about Quinn’s brother, Josh, who is also in this book. Ms Brashear does indeed write very much like my most favorite author, Linda Howard.”
~Reader review
“The Marshall men are quite spectacular and what they will do for the women they love wow! Not only are these men handsome, passionate, nurturing, but they will do anything to protect their families. Great books!”
~Reader review
“Jean Brashear will knock your socks off!”
~New York Times bestselling author Stella Cameron
The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs
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“This was a fantastic series! The Gallaghers are a crazy bunch but have a heart of gold. The love each one has will be forever! I highly recommend this series!”
~Reader review
“Wow!! What a way to bring us back to the Texas Heroes series. Every time I read one of Jean’s books about Sweetgrass Springs it makes me want to find this town and become a member. Catching up with the characters in the past books and seeing how new ones are written into the story lines is what keeps me coming back.”
~Reader review
“I love taking trips to Sweetgrass Springs! The characters and the story draw you in and won’t let you put the book down until you’ve read the happily ever after. The writing is excellent and I really love the small town setting!”
~Reader review
“Sweetgrass Springs, Texas embodies a special place for hearts that need healing. This warm and romantic series only gets better with each story, as all the characters we have come to love, from the beginning, move forward with their lives.”
~Reader review
The Book Babes Trilogy
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“I love the concept of this story, about a unique group of women whose friendship cements them, despite their differences. How they grow into their relationships, as the years pass, becoming stronger as they find new challenges, is compelling.”
~Reader review
“Great start to what will be an awesome trilogy. I love the eclectic group of characters. All these strong women & some delicious men. I love the connection to Sweetgrass as well.”
~Reader review
More Sweetgrass Springs Stories
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“You will laugh, cry but most of all enjoy the love this story is filled with. A truly heartwarming story that will leave an impression on you! A great series!”
~Reader review
“This latest story from the Sweetgrass Spring series is the most touching and heartwarming yet. Beautiful story of redemption.”
~Reader review
“Oh boy, I just fell in love so hard. Tank is so damaged. I cried for the boy he was and the broken man he became. Chrissy is so feisty and has the heart of a lion. And she needs it, to help heal Tank. I think Jean Brashear’s writing just keeps getting better & better. What a powerful story of love & healing. So beautiful.”
~Reader review
“I must admit that I did tear up a bit with this one, but loved each of these people and their search for love and forgiveness. It’s a MUST read.”
~Reader review
“I can’t say enough good things about Jean Brashear’s books, I have read each and every one, and have loved them all. This one takes a hold of your heart and won’t let go. It has the characters of her other books, but there is enough description in it that it can stand alone. The characters are so well developed that you feel like you know each one of them. I for one would love to find the town of Sweetgrass Springs and live there for the rest of my life. The mystery surrounding the family is so well developed, you feel like that you know them personally, and I can’t wait for the next book.”
~Reader review
* * *
Cookie Day Recipes
Note: The lovely ladies with whom I quilt weekly kindly contributed these cookie recipes for your own Cookie Day
Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Joyce Walden
Favorite quilt pattern: anything with cats
1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup margarine, softened
1 egg
¼ cup water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
12-oz pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mix sugar, oleo, egg, water and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees until almost no indentation remains, 10-12 minutes.
Remove immediately from cookie sheet.
Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mel Brown
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Nine Patch
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
Semi-sweet chocolate chips to taste
Chopped pecans to taste
Measure flour, soda and salt.
Cream shortening, add sugars, eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
Add flour mixture, chips and pecans.
Drop on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake 375 degrees 10-12 minutes.
Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.
Cowboy Cookies
Ruth Sudduth
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Scrap Happy
3 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
3 sticks butter at room temperature
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
3 tsps. vanilla extract
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flaked or shredded coconut
2 cups chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks in upper and lower third. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Place butter in a standing electric mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth and light, about 1 minute. Slowly add in the white sugar and brown sugar, and beat to combine, about 2 more minutes. Add half the eggs, beat, then add the other half and beat again. Add the vanilla extract and beat again.
Lower the speed of the mixer to low and slowly add the flour mixture until just combined. Add the chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans, mixing until just combined.
If you like chewy cookies, drop about ¼ cup lumps of the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, separated by 3 inches to allow for enough room for the cookies to spread as they cook. Bake for 7-9 minutes, then rotate the cookie sheets front to back and top to bottom, then bake for an additional 7-9 minutes. Cook them until the edges are browned, but not the whole cookie.
For crisper cookies, use about 2 Tbsp. of dough per cookie and cook for 13-16 minutes, rotating half way. Cook them until they are all nicely browned.
Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
Makes 4-6 dozen cookies.
Gingersnaps
Linda Vise
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Bow Tie
1 cup shortening
2 ¼ cups sugar (reserve ¼ cup for dipping cookies before baking)
2 eggs
½ cup molasses or white Karo syrup
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground ginger
Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
Cream shortening with sugar; beat in eggs. Add molasses or Karo and mix in.
Add in dry mixture and mix.
Roll into 1 inch balls; dip the top of each in sugar.
Place on greased baking sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake at 375 degrees 15-18 minutes.
Makes 5 dozen cookies
English Breakfast Scones
Ceci Sinnwell
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Wedding Ring
In large bowl blend:
1 cup softened butter
2 ½ cup sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
¼ cup buttermilk
6 oz. dried cranberries
1/2 box golden raisins
Add:
5 cups flour
1 teas. baking powder
1 teas. baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray a nonstick pan (i use pampered chef)
Use a tablespoon to drop batter into cookie sheet.
Bake until scones are slightly browned and firm to the touch.
After done drizzle with frosting.
Frosting:
Blend 21/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teas. vanilla
add buttermilk to liquefy (1/4 cup or more)
until mixture runs off spoon.
Lemon Squares
Earlene Dorsa
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Log Cabin
2 cups flour
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
Combine flour, butter and powdered sugar. Pat into two ungreased 8-inch square pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
4 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
Additional confectioner’s sugar for dusting
For filling, in a second bowl, beat eggs. Add sugar, flour, baking powder, lemon juice and peel; beat until froths. Pour over crust. Bake 25 minutes longer or until golden.
Cool on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.
Makes 18 bars
Nutritious Cookies
Jane Shurtleff
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Grandmother’s Flower Garden
Cream together:
1 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well
Sift together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
Gradually add to cream mixture
Add to mix one at a time:
2 cups corn flakes
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut (3.5 oz. can is 1 cup)
1 ½ cup chopped pecans
You may have to mix this by hand. Drop on greased cookie sheet 2 heaping Tbsp. at a time. Mold by hand if necessary
Bake 350 degrees 8 minutes only.
Makes 5-5 ½ dozen.
Bar Cookies
Linda Johnson
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Tumbling Blocks
1 stick butter, melted in 13x9 pan
1 cup graham cracker crumbs, sprinkled over butter
1 small package (approx. 12 oz.) chocolate chips
1 small package (approx. 12 oz.) butterscotch chips
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts, your preference
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and nuts over butter/graham cracker mixture. Pour sweetened condensed milk over top. Press lightly.
Bake 350 degrees 30 minutes.
Cut into small bars, approximately 2 inches square. Makes about 2 dozen
Jackson’s Sand Tarts
Jean Brashear
Favorite Quilt Pattern: Dresden Plate
2 cups butter at room temperature (do not substitute)
¾ cup sifted confectioner’s sugar
4 cups sifted flour
1 Tbsp. cold water
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
2 cups chopped pecans
Additional sifted confectioner’s sugar
Cream butter and sugar; add flour and water and blend well.
Stir in vanilla and pecans.
Roll into small balls (teaspoon-size) and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 325 degrees for 5-8 minutes or until golden.
Roll in confectioner’s sugar while still warm.
Makes 12 dozen. Will freeze well.
* * *
About the Author
New York Times and USAToday bestselling Texas romance author of the popular TEXAS HEROES series and over 40 other novels in romance and women’s fiction, a five-time RITA finalist and RT BOOKReviews Career Achievement Award winner, Jean Brashear knows a lot about taking crazy chances. A lifelong avid reader, at the age of forty-five with no experience and no training, she decided to see if she could write a book. It was a wild leap that turned her whole life upside down, but she would tell you that though she’s never been more terrified, she’s never felt more exhilarated or more alive. She’s an ardent proponent of not putting off your dreams until that elusive ‘someday’—take that leap now.
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Table of Contents
About Texas Christmas Bride
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
The Families of Sweetgrass Springs
The Legend of Sweetgrass Springs
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter
Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Excerpt from The Book Babes of Austin
Readers react to the Texas Heroes series
Cookie Day Recipes
About the Author
Connect With Jean
Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 Page 16