The Christmas Cowboy Hero: A Western Romance Novel (Heart of Texas, #1)

by Donna Grant

Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays - even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it's on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn't lose everything. Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she's helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she's also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit's end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby - and the inescapable longing in his heart - off the hook, however, is a whole 'nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero's dreams has been back at home all along?

• ISBN13: 9781250165428
• Publish Date: 31 October 2017
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 19 October 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Reasons to snuggle up with The Christmas Cowboy Hero

• Both Clayton East and Abby Harper are solid, genuine and flawed characters. They are the kind you can depend on and would call a friend. Clayton carries the hurt of a loss, and Abby bears the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers after their mom took off when Abby was just eighteen.  I connected with them, and from the onset we see sparks. Grant did a wonderful job of sharing their history, allowing for growth and building a believable relationship.



• Texas homelife on the ranch. Cattle, fixing fences and home cooked meals. Grant made me feel right at home.  Clayton's parents have a warm and welcoming ranch. You could see the holiday lights sparkling, and smell the coffee and homemade pie in the kitchen.



• The romance had a wonderful sweet buildup. Stolen moments, feelings and interactions felt genuine with a hint of that holiday magic.



• Abby's brothers, ranch hands, and Clayton's parents added depth and sense of family to the story.



• Side threads were developed and gave the story depth. You are made to feel part of life and happens on the East Ranch.



• The suspense angle was an interesting one. We have missing cattle and funds that created tension, a little mystery and a touch of danger.



• The story was well developed and the characters had depth creating a wonderful, feel-good story perfect for the holiday season. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[stacey_is_sassy]

Those Cowboys sure know how to ride…

When I was a little girl, I wanted a horse…until I rode one…and fell off. That’s a bloody long way down. And, if you’re not used to it, that is some serious butt sore you have to suffer through. So, my dream of becoming a Cowgirl never came to pass. To be honest, I’m not great with animals, so it was probably for the best.

There’s a little part of me, that always dreamed that I’d be a Cowgirl to my very own Cowboy. Hubby may not be a cowboy, but he did grow up on acreage. He used to ride his pony from house to house (in the neighbourhood) so they could all take advantage of the horse’s grass eating skills. You may scoff but this is about as close as I’ll get to marrying a Cowboy.

I guess I’ll have to stick to Cowboys in my reads….

Anyways…I really enjoyed The Christmas Cowboy Hero. It was sweet and a little cheesy, but in this case, I loved it. Most likely, the fact that it was offset by a sexy, tough and virile Ex-Navy SEAL, helped. So, he’s got the bada$$ down pat, add the jeans, boots and cowboy hat AND knows how to RIDE…HUBBA HUBBA!

Yes, the Cowboy had all the right moves and says all the right things. I think I like him. Now, add in that he’s fighting demons from his past, well, who doesn’t love a wounded hero?

As you may have guessed, it’s all about the hero for me in this one. Sure, I actually liked the heroine. She’s strong, resilient and loving as she brings up her two younger brothers. But, for me, her job was just to give the hero something else to make him shine.

There is an actual storyline besides the love story and it kept me enthralled from start to finish. Money laundering, cattle theft and protecting loved ones were the main focus of the story. Christmas is in the title, but only in a small way. Plenty of sweet and sexy times to show the connection between the hero and heroine. Another part that made this a great read for me, the angst is outside the couple and they fight together. Sure, they had their doubts, but it wasn’t drawn out and no one went running for the hills for 6 months (thank goodness).

If you’re looking for a light read with a great love story, a little suspense and a sexy Cowboy, I definitely recommend you try The Christmas Cowboy Hero.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.