'Kiss Me, Cowboy' by Carol Lynne It isn't easy to cling to teenage promises when you become one of the forgotten. For Eli Barron, Jesse Clooney has always been the one. From their first day of kindergarten through their high-school graduation, the pair were inseparable. So, when a situation arises that splits the two men apart, it's up to Eli to keep the home fires burning as Jesse sets off to follow his dreams on the rodeo circuit. But how long can a man continue to stoke the fire before the flames die out? 'New Vocations' by T.A. Chase Two men who believe in second chances meet and their lives are never the same again. Layne Daly comes to participate in the American Royal. He's there to show off the abilities of the retired thoroughbreds he adopts straight off the track. He wants people to know these animals can do so much more than race. He has three horses there to do exhibitions in reining, barrel racing and cutting. When his usual groom gets sick, he has to hire someone fast. Carl Stewartson used to love coming to Kansas City for the rodeo. He'd ride broncs and hang out with his friends. But since his career-ending injury early in the year, Carl has been spinning his wheels, trying to find something to do with his life now that he can't rodeo anymore. He runs into Layne and offers to help him with his horses. Together, they have to deal with not only the stress of the event, but also starting a new relationship. Second chances are what Layne does best and he's more than willing to give Carl the opportunity. 'Stallions and Ice' by Stephani Hecht Sometimes you have to climb a mountain to see the future. While Brandon loves to go and watch his friend, Nichole, at the American Royal every year, there is no way that he is ever going to climb on a horse. His feet belong on the ground or the ice. As one the of the players of the local minor league team, the Wichita Thunder, all he dreams about is someday moving up to the major leagues. That is, until he meets Nichole's brother, Ethan. Ethan grew up in a family that has always been in the rodeo circuit. There was no question that he was ever going to be anything else...until he's sidelined by seizures and can no longer ride. Then he meets Brandon and he begins to wonder whether maybe, just maybe, his life isn't over. Will decades of tradition tear the men apart? Or can they can overcome all their obstacles and be together? 'Playing with Fire' by Jambrea Jo Jones Ranch cook against restaurateur—who does it better? Hayden McGrath has the formal training and knowhow to run one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the city. This year he wants to prove his worth by entering the barbecue competition at the American Royal. It has nothing to do with a certain cowboy from the Flying P... Amos Vasquez has been the ranch cook at the Flying P Retreat since it was an actual ranch. Now it's a place tourists flock to so they can have a taste of his food. This year he is going to win the barbecue competition and nothing will stand in his way, not even a certain sexy redheaded restaurant owner who has caught his eye. This will be the barbecue competition to beat all competitions at the American Royal. 'Resuscitating Love' by Devon Rhodes If Hill keeps putting cowboys ahead of his marriage, even being a cardiologist won't help David fix their broken hearts. Hillard &‘Hill' Pearson, the new events director of the American Royal, has worked hard to get to where he is. This is his first year as director, and the huge responsibility of the more visible position has taken over his life. Yes, he could be considered a workaholic, b