Old pictures combine two elements that curious minds like – history and photography. But have you ever wondered why you like looking at pictures more than written history? Why is that volume of World History so boring and less informative when it doesn’t have any photographs in it? That's because our brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, making it easier to learn through visual stimuli.

Once upon a time there was a teacher, and one hot August summer, she and her teacher friend went off to a conference in the cool Colorado mountains. The conference was great--what they saw of it, anyway. The trail ride they skipped the afternoon sessions for was a lot more exciting. You see, there were cowboys. And this teacher, even though she'd not ridden a horse since she was a kid, made the commitment for a four-hour trail ride into the Colorado mountains--two hours up and two hours back. All was well heading up the mountainside, the scenery was great, the horse was a dream, the cowboys were... well, cowboys. Coming down the mountain, however, was a different story. The teacher had a difficult time handling her horse on the downward slopes, crossing a little stream, and keeping up with the other horses. She mixed up her signals to her mount. When she thought she was telling the horse to slow down, she was really telling the horse to back up. Consequently, they lost their space in the horse line. So, the horse galloped. And the teacher held on for dear life. And when the teacher was finally finished with this nightmare, she could only think of one thing-- At least there were cowboys. Now, this story does have a happily-ever-after ending. You see, the teacher turned her adventure into a book. The opening scene--probably elaborated upon a bit--mimicked the teacher's chaotic ride down the mountain. She sold that book--her first published novel--and then the teacher wasn't a teacher any longer. She was a romance author who wrote about cowboys (and other things). True story. I swear. I have the book covers to prove it! The original book is on the left, the revised/rebranded and re-authored book, is on the right! Now, twenty-some years later, the sequel to this first cowboy book, is finally written. Readers have been asking for Mack and Jillie's story for years. Years! But other stories and different cowboys got in the way. Until now. The Cowboy's Secret Baby releases August 25, and I (Maddie James / the teacher) am ready to share it with the world! Here's the blurb: She’s the maid of honor. He’s the best man. Both are keeping secrets from the other. The long-requested sequel to Maddie James’ first published novel, Roses & Rawhide is now available! Readers wanted to know... What happened to Jillie and Mack’s relationship at the end of Roses & Rawhide? Why did Jillie go back to Kentucky? Will they get back together? What’s their story? While Kim Martin and Thad Winchester find their happily-ever-after in Roses & Rawhide, their best friends, Jillie Abernathy and Mack Montgomery, end their sleeping-bag-sharing relationship during the rugged, two-week pack trip into the Colorado San Juan mountains. But when Kim and Thad host their wedding at Thad’s Colorado ranch a few months later, Mack and Jillie must come face-to-face with reality—and with each other. She’s the maid of honor. He’s the best man. Both are harboring secrets—secrets that could break a potential future relationship if they both avoid telling the truth. Can they reveal those secrets to each other? And if so, can they get past the withheld truths to plan a future together? PREORDER TODAY! DON'T FORGET! A NEW BOX SET AND A FREE COCKTAILS BOOK! Some of the Romance Gems have teamed together to release a new box set with all-new summer beach stories, and their favorite summer cocktail recipe in a free book! See the details below! GET THE $0.99 BOX SET! | GRAB YOUR FREE COCKTAILS BOOK! And last, I'd love it if you would comment below to win our monthly giveaway prize. Details are here. COMMENT & WIN QUESTION: My chaotic ride down the mountain on the trail horse was not my most glamorous moment of all time. In fact, it was quite embarrassing. What's your most embarrassing moment? Comment below & (maybe) win! **** Maddie James writes romance – but don’t try to pin her down to one genre. From edgy suspense to flirty contemporary romance to darker erotic titles, she writes to silence the people in her head. Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense.” Learn more at www.maddiejames.com.