"I DO...I DON'T. . . I DO?" RUST CREEK RAMBLINGS The fallout from last month's wedding-to-end-all-weddings continues. Did you hear that Claire Strickland and her oh-so-handsome husband, Levi Wyatt, have called it quits? Everyone thought these two were the perfect couple with the most perfect baby. One minute they were together, the next there was a poker game and then... What could have possibly steered these two young lovebirds off course? Even though they are on the outs, rumor has it that Claire and Levi have both taken up domicile at Strickland's Boarding House. We find this behavior highly suspect--and everyone in town is weighing in, too So don't pack your suitcases yet, dear readers--we have a feeling this love story is far from over

"I DO ... I DON'T. . . I DO?" RUST CREEK RAMBLINGS The fallout from last month's wedding-to-end-all-weddings continues. Did you hear that Claire Strickland and her oh-so-handsome husband, Levi Wyatt, have called it quits? Everyone thought these two were the perfect couple with the most perfect baby. One minute they were together, the next there was a poker game and then ... What could have possibly steered these two young lovebirds off course? Even though they are on the outs, rumor has it that Claire and Levi have both taken up domicile at Strickland's Boarding House. We find this behavior highly suspect--and everyone in town is weighing in, too! So don't pack your suitcases yet, dear readers--we have a feeling this love story is far from over!

“Be forewarned that this book honors people like the woman in my hometown who paints the numbers of her favorite NASCAR drivers on her elephant ears, and a Tokyo gardener with over a hundred bonsai plants.” So says renowned garden journalist Felder Rushing in his new book Maverick Gardeners: Dr. Dirt and Other Determined Independent Gardeners. In this book, Felder delves deeply into the psychology of what motivates and sustains the Keepers of the Garden Flame. For thousands of years, a loosely connected web of unique, nontraditional gardeners has bonded people across race, culture, language, and other social conventions through sharing unique plants and stories. Found in nearly every neighborhood worldwide, these “determined independent gardeners” (DIGrs) are typically nonjoiners who garden simply and exuberantly, eschewing customary horticultural standards in their amateur pursuits of personal bliss. Included in Maverick Gardeners are classic “passalong plant” lists, a dollop of how-to, numerous color photographs, and thought-provoking essays on quintessential tools, sharing with others, getting away with wildflowers in suburbia, and organizing a plant swap. The centerpiece of this unique gardening journey is the no-holds-barred story of a ten-year cross-cultural collaboration between the horticulturist author and a flamboyant rebellious gardener who called himself Dirt. Through swapping plants and garden lore—and rubbing shoulders with fellow DIGrs—they unraveled their shared humanity. From the practical to the inspiring, Maverick Gardeners is the perfect book for those nonconformist souls who see no sense in trying to fit in and follow the footpaths of others.

RODEO MEN BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN… Jed Cullen was a rodeo legend. But he'd left his hometown under a cloud of suspicion, and now he needed a proper wife to prove that he was a man of honor. STANDS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE Kristi Ramsett had been waiting a long time for Jed to look her way. So when he asked her to be his pretend wife, how could she refuse? Of course, Kristi longed to stand by her man forever…. A secret father, a passionate protector, a make-believe groom—these cowboys are husbands waiting to happen!

Rust Creek Ramblings A WEDDING IN THE WORKS? We here at the Gazette are amazed to report that trust-fund cowboy Hudson Jones may soon be off the market. The boyish billionaire has been spending more time than ever with Bella Stockton, who manages his day-care center. It seems impossible that quiet, reserved Bella would have captured the fancy of such an alluring specimen of manhood. Bella finds it hard to believe herself, and she keeps pushing Hudson away. What are the odds the footloose cowboy will stick around once he finds out she can't have kids? Don't tell Bella, but our sources report Hudson has his heart set on a Christmas proposal. When he finds out the truth, will it still be a holiday to remember?

A BRIDE—AND A BABY!—UNDER HIS TREE! RUST CREEK RAMBLINGS Stop the presses! Can you believe there's about to be another wedding in Rust Creek Falls? Yes, local cowboy Jesse Crawford is tying the knot with Maggie Roarke, that Hollywood lawyer who's been flitting in and out of town for the past several months. Rumor has it their hasty nuptials might have something to do with Maggie's brand-new baby bump… We're all for one big happy family, but we're a little puzzled by this pairing. Maggie and Jesse couldn't be more different if they tried—are they really ready to saddle up for the long haul? Stay on the trail, faithful readers, and let's see if their baby-to-be can bring this new family together for the holidays—and ever after!

HIS NEW WESTERN HOME Lila Jenkins's Montana ranching town roots run deep. So why does the widowed B and B owner feel so connected to her latest boarder? Seth Maxwell might know his way around horses, but he's a wanderer, not a rancher. Lila's son thinks Seth's the hero he's been waiting for. And—heaven help her—so does Lila. Seth loves hunting for rare gems in remote areas, but maybe it's time to make a change. The footloose adventurer is tempted by rumors of sapphires in a nearby mine, but it's Lila and her boy who make Snowy Owl Crossing and the idea of a ranch to share feel like home…