Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy by Karen Baney, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy Series: Love at Vargas Ranch #1 Author: Karen Baney Publisher: Desert Life Media Release Date: February 3, 2026 Genre: Christian Western Romance
He’s running from his twin’s crimes. She’s haunted by the man who betrayed her. Can she open her heart to his identical twin? Shannon thought she’d buried the past—until she arrives at Vargas Ranch and sees the face of the man who shattered her trust. The man she swore she’d never forgive. Parker has spent his life paying for his brother’s sins. False accusations and shattered opportunities follow him everywhere—because no one sees the man behind the face. When Shannon mistakes him for his twin and has him arrested, his fragile fresh start shatters. Now forced to work together in the ranch’s equine therapy program, Shannon and Parker must navigate a tense enemies-to-friends journey. As they confront the pain of the past and the pull of unexpected attraction, trust becomes the hardest battle of all. She must learn to trust the man her heart keeps mistaking for the one who broke it. Parker must prove he’s not his brother before he loses his second chance at love. When the past collides with the present, can love build the bridge to healing and forgiveness? A heartfelt Christian romance about redemption, mistaken identity, and love that dares to heal. Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy will steal your heart.PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Also Available
About the Author
Karen Baney is a member of Faith Hope & Love Christian Writers and the author of over 30 Christian contemporary cowboy romances and historical romances. She writes faith-laced stories where characters feel like lifelong friends—flawed individuals navigating second chances, redemption, and personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, Karen loves researching the state’s rich history and seamlessly weaving real settings and historical details into her novels.
In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. They enjoy exploring Arizona together, discovering new adventures that often influence Karen’s stories. Both are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.Connect with Karen by visiting karenbaney.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a “There’s no such thing as too many books” tote & makeup bag, plus two slimline inspirational journals, and a signed copy of Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 11, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 18, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
How Living in Arizona Influences My Writing
By Karen Baney
When I moved to Arizona almost thirty years ago, I fell in love with my new home state. The diverse landscape captivated me from the Sonoran Desert around Phoenix and Wickenburg to the high country Ponderosa pines of Flagstaff and Prescott, to the stunning red rock of Sedona. The different climates and amazing wide-open vistas inspired something in me that has never faded.
That love sent me on a journey to learn more about Arizona’s history, which eventually inspired my historical novels set near Prescott. But when I wanted to create a contemporary ranch setting, I looked closer to home: Wickenburg, Arizona.
Wickenburg sits about an hour and a half from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, just outside the Metro Area, yet it’s managed to keep its small-town feel even as the city grows. During my research, I discovered several “dude” ranches or guest ranches in the area, and they became the inspiration for my Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort.
The Setting as A Character
In my stories, the Arizona setting often becomes almost a character itself. Readers experience the oppressive summer heat that fades to a slightly less hot (but still hot) fall, then gives way to mild winters and breath-taking springs that feel like paradise to visitors from colder climates.
In Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy, readers enjoy the mild temperatures at Vargas Ranch during the busy winter season, then experience the contrast when hero Parker travels home to Flagstaff to help his mom with a burst water pipe. The freezing high-country winter—with its snow and ice—stands in sharp relief to the desert warmth he left behind. That temperature difference mirrors Parker’s internal journey, the clash between his troubled past and his hopeful present.
Small-Town / Big City
One of the most unique things about Wickenburg is how it manages to feel both close to the Phoenix Metro Area and remarkably distant from it. It’s entirely possible to spend your whole life in this small city and never really cross into the big city feel. Yet it’s equally possible to enjoy the benefits of being so close to a major metropolitan area.
I explored both dynamics in Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy. My characters maintain their small-town ranch lifestyle while still being connected to the larger world beyond.
Desert Details
Writing about the Sonoran Desert means honoring authentic details like the afternoon sun warm on your shoulders while a cool breeze keeps you comfortable, mountains standing constant in the distance, the scent of creosote after rain, wind rustling through ocotillo, saguaros standing sentinel against impossibly blue skies.
When Shannon describes sunrises painted in soft gold and burnt orange, stretching endlessly over the horizon, she’s experiencing the same views that first captured my heart decades ago.
Cowboy Culture
The Arizona setting grounds my stories in authentic ranching culture. My characters attend church potlucks, participate in Independence Day celebrations with fireworks shows and BBQ buffets, and gather for harvest festivals with hayrides and country music.
The guest ranch business itself reflects Arizona’s unique position as a winter destination. While traditional dude ranches in Montana or Wyoming might be busiest in summer, Vargas Ranch thrives in fall, winter, and early spring when visitors escape to Arizona’s warm desert sun.
Architecture
The setting shapes every detail, right down to the buildings. My casitas feature southwestern stucco exteriors in warm colors, dark wood accents, and interiors that blend rustic charm with modern luxury. The dining hall has log beam ceilings and glass panel walls that open to a patio, creating that perfect indoor-outdoor living space that Arizona architecture does so well.
Welcome to My Home
So, come join Parker and Shannon as they explore the vast beauty of my adopted home state. It’s a place as hearty as my characters and reflects their journeys toward redemption and healing.
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