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Men of the West #23
Christmas With the Mustang Man
She'd come for the mustangs, Dallas Donovan told herself. Just a quick visit to Boone Barnett's Nevada ranch. Then her truck's engine seized and she stayed the night in the rugged, off-the-charts sexy Boone's home. Had pizza with his daughter, waited for the mechanic�and woke up to a snowfall keeping her in the reclusive rancher's grasp for another few days.
Boone didn't believe in Christmas or miracles or a woman who understood his love for this wild untamed land. Yet now Dallas brought decorations and laughter and joy to his home. But what would happen when the snow melted and Christmas was over…?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Stella Bagwell
451 books86 followersAt seventeen, Stella married her high school sweetheart: Harrell, and they had a son Jason. She began her writing career almost by accident. She was a hairdresser and worked in her sister's beauty shop. Ironically, Stella developed a severe allergy to hairspray and was forced to resign. With time on her hands, Stella wanted to do something creative. She remembered a high school English teacher telling her she could be a writer if she wanted. Although she always loved reading romances, she never thought to write one herself. Armed with that now notion and an old, manual typewriter, she went to work, attempting to create a story similar to those she liked reading. The result‚ her first book, purchased by Mills & Boon and issued under the Harlequin imprint. After that, she became a full time writer and today, has close to forty published novels. Her for the future is to continue writing romance novels as long as there's an audience to enjoy her work.
Next to writing, traveling is one of her most favorite activities. Yet, because the southwest is dear to her heart, she sets most of her books there in rough, rugged ranch country. She feels it's essential to know a place before writing about it; that philosophy gives her more reason to plan trips! The marriage has always lived in southeastern Oklahoma. But, they purchased a portion of a twenty-two hundred, acre ranch; they now make their home there. Before moving onto the ranch, she had a swimming pool in her back yard and spent most of her summer evenings in the water. Her husband has promised to put in another pool, but for now she has to make do with the creek that runs through their property. The closest town of three thousand is fifteen miles away; she says she loves the seclusion, living among the woods and horses and wildlife. The only thing she doesn't like is making the thirty mile round trip to the post office or grocery store. Worse still, is the eighty-five mile trip to get office supplies!
One of her greatest joys was to see Jason, her only son, graduate from college with degrees in math and physical education. He now lives in Port Lavaca, Texas, where he teaches high school algebra and geometry and coaches football and weightlifting. Family has always come first with Stella and she enjoys spending time with her son when he visits Oklahoma. Sometimes, she and her husband drive down to the Texas coast to see him. However, her mother, step-father and siblings all live nearby and they have routine get-togethers. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing violin and guitar, both of which she can play by ear. She claims to need years of practice before calling herself a musician. Stella also enjoys gardening and being outdoors.
Next to writing, traveling is one of her most favorite activities. Yet, because the southwest is dear to her heart, she sets most of her books there in rough, rugged ranch country. She feels it's essential to know a place before writing about it; that philosophy gives her more reason to plan trips! The marriage has always lived in southeastern Oklahoma. But, they purchased a portion of a twenty-two hundred, acre ranch; they now make their home there. Before moving onto the ranch, she had a swimming pool in her back yard and spent most of her summer evenings in the water. Her husband has promised to put in another pool, but for now she has to make do with the creek that runs through their property. The closest town of three thousand is fifteen miles away; she says she loves the seclusion, living among the woods and horses and wildlife. The only thing she doesn't like is making the thirty mile round trip to the post office or grocery store. Worse still, is the eighty-five mile trip to get office supplies!
One of her greatest joys was to see Jason, her only son, graduate from college with degrees in math and physical education. He now lives in Port Lavaca, Texas, where he teaches high school algebra and geometry and coaches football and weightlifting. Family has always come first with Stella and she enjoys spending time with her son when he visits Oklahoma. Sometimes, she and her husband drive down to the Texas coast to see him. However, her mother, step-father and siblings all live nearby and they have routine get-togethers. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing violin and guitar, both of which she can play by ear. She claims to need years of practice before calling herself a musician. Stella also enjoys gardening and being outdoors.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 4, 2014
Good book with two people who have some baggage to unload before they can find a future together. Dallas has come to Boone's ranch to buy some horses for her equine therapy business. When her truck breaks down she has to stay the night with Boone and his daughter, which gets extended to several days when they have to wait for a part for the truck.
Dallas is attracted to the sexy rancher, but doubts the feelings that are growing in her. She was engaged a few years earlier to a man who broke it off right before the wedding. He had been more interested in becoming part of her wealthy family than in being married to her. Now she doubts her own judgment when it comes to men. When she first came to the ranch all she could see was how isolated and desolate it seemed to be. But being with Boone and Haley she starts to see the beauty of it. I loved seeing the connection that Dallas and Haley had right away. The sparks that were there between Dallas and Boone were strong and I loved seeing their connection grow.
Boone and his daughter had been by themselves for a long time. His ex-wife had left when Haley was small because she couldn't handle life on the ranch. He has also had longstanding issues with his father who had also had problems with life on the ranch. He doesn't date because he has no plans to ask another woman to make her life there. He loves his daughter but doesn't realize until Dallas comes how much Haley misses having a woman in her life. He's surprised by how quickly Haley takes to Dallas. He's also surprised by how quickly he starts to feel things for her too. She starts to bring life and light back into his life and he would love to ask her to stay. But Boone doesn't think that she would be happy for long if she were so far from her family and friends and refuses to ask her.
Both of them were letting their pasts blind them to the possibilities of their futures. Dallas made her leap of faith sooner, but couldn't convince Boone that she knew what she wanted. I loved the talking to she got from her grandmother that motivated her to go after what she wanted. Boone was so afraid of ruining Dallas's life that he couldn't see what a difference her love made. It isn't until Haley forces him to have a long overdue conversation with his father that he sees the mistakes that he has made. I loved the ending and the decisions that were made to enable them all to be happy.
Dallas is attracted to the sexy rancher, but doubts the feelings that are growing in her. She was engaged a few years earlier to a man who broke it off right before the wedding. He had been more interested in becoming part of her wealthy family than in being married to her. Now she doubts her own judgment when it comes to men. When she first came to the ranch all she could see was how isolated and desolate it seemed to be. But being with Boone and Haley she starts to see the beauty of it. I loved seeing the connection that Dallas and Haley had right away. The sparks that were there between Dallas and Boone were strong and I loved seeing their connection grow.
Boone and his daughter had been by themselves for a long time. His ex-wife had left when Haley was small because she couldn't handle life on the ranch. He has also had longstanding issues with his father who had also had problems with life on the ranch. He doesn't date because he has no plans to ask another woman to make her life there. He loves his daughter but doesn't realize until Dallas comes how much Haley misses having a woman in her life. He's surprised by how quickly Haley takes to Dallas. He's also surprised by how quickly he starts to feel things for her too. She starts to bring life and light back into his life and he would love to ask her to stay. But Boone doesn't think that she would be happy for long if she were so far from her family and friends and refuses to ask her.
Both of them were letting their pasts blind them to the possibilities of their futures. Dallas made her leap of faith sooner, but couldn't convince Boone that she knew what she wanted. I loved the talking to she got from her grandmother that motivated her to go after what she wanted. Boone was so afraid of ruining Dallas's life that he couldn't see what a difference her love made. It isn't until Haley forces him to have a long overdue conversation with his father that he sees the mistakes that he has made. I loved the ending and the decisions that were made to enable them all to be happy.
August 1, 2017
Two everyday people who have been hurt by their one time significant others in the past, come together because of wild mustang horses. She wants marriage and children and was engaged to be married (but got dumped just days from the wedding. He married a woman who had issues, who couldn't adapt to life as a ranchers wife out in the middle of nowhere. This a really good well written story.
October 31, 2022
Cute little Christmas story. Good to read next to the fire with snow falling.
January 9, 2025
Like reading a Hallmark movie
January 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this story. Right away there is this chemistry that comes up between these two characters even though she sees him as non smiling rugged rancher & single father. He looks at her as a customer with to much money. Although beautifully sexy doesn't think she would ever look at him twice. Her truck breaks down & she is forced to stay the night in his home with his daughter & him which gives them both goose bumps. His daughter 12yrs. Takes an instant liking to her since she can see that her dad has souly responsible for her & the farm. Therefore, being able to have someone first of all is a huge plus, then her just being another female is another us plus, & then her not having a mother just let's you know what the girl is hoping for. Loved it.
November 23, 2013
Nice little book. Cute but not likely to happen story. I like books with a Christmas theme. This book doesn't have high drama and although I cry about almost anything this book didn't make me cry.
Light read.
Light read.
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: Men of the West
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January 22, 2012My Christmas stocking book. Pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews