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Cowboy #9
Christmas Gifts: Small Town Christmas / Her Christmas Cowboy
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin
When seven-year-old twins act up in temporary teacher Amy Carroll's class, she meets their very apologetic widowed father, Mike Russet. The handsome man has his hands fullbut can two mini matchmakers and holiday cheer open his heart to Christmas romance?
Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton
After being jilted a week before her wedding, Elizabeth Harden attends a bull-riding event for her dad, where she triesunsuccessfullyto avoid bull fighter Travis Cooper, a too-handsome heartbreaker. But could her first impression of Travis be mistaken? A Christmas wedding just might be in her future, after all .
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
21 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gaymer Martin
147 books137 followersMulti-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin writes Christian fiction for Winged Publications with many books published by Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing, where she was honored by Heartsong readers as their Favorite Author of 2008. Gail has 77 published novels or novellas with over four million books in print. She is the author of Writers Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance and a founder of American Christian Fiction Writers, a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and presents workshops at conference across the US. She was named one of the four best novelists in the Detroit area by CBS local news. Gail loves to hear from readers through her website contact and adds the reader's name to her bi-monthly drawing for a free book or two.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 10, 2011
I have a rule...no Christmas songs, decorations or fa-la-la-la-la fun until December. Over the last few years I've become a little fanatical about it as stores begin decorating in October. But when it comes to books from my favorite authors I'm more impatient than a child on Christmas morning. So when I got Gail Gaymer Martin's new Love Inspired release "Christmas Gifts" in the mail I started reading it immediately (even though Halloween hadn't arrived.)
You'll want to read this book anytime of the year-curled up by the fire in December or on the beach in July.
Frazzled father Mike Russet is the man and the mom of the house. The widower is raising precocious seven-year-old twins Holly and Ivy.
Teacher Amy Carroll's life is in upheaval. Budget cuts force her to leave her job in Chicago for a job in a small town. Even as she makes her new life she must deal with her baggage from the past.
Amy knows first hand what it's liked to be raised by a single father. She sees a chance to help Mike give some tough love to the twins.
Mike sees beyond Amy's beauty and hard shell.
The twins see a chance to help their favorite teacher find a permanent place in their school and in their daddy's heart.
While Mike's genuine faith challenges Amy to put the past to rest, Amy awakens feelings that the father thought he had buried with his wife.
The novel wraps up realism, romance, faith, and the magic of the season in one small package (It's 110 pages and I read it in one sitting.) And "Christmas Gifts" keeps on giving with a bonus novel "Her Christmas Cowboy" by Brenda Minton.
I'm putting "Christmas Gifts" on my keeper shelf and I have a feeling I'll be pulling it out this summer for a little Christmas in July!
Join Readers of Gail Gaymer Martin on Facebook.
Available in stores, online or as an ebook download.
*I was provided with a free copy of this book to review.
You'll want to read this book anytime of the year-curled up by the fire in December or on the beach in July.
Frazzled father Mike Russet is the man and the mom of the house. The widower is raising precocious seven-year-old twins Holly and Ivy.
Teacher Amy Carroll's life is in upheaval. Budget cuts force her to leave her job in Chicago for a job in a small town. Even as she makes her new life she must deal with her baggage from the past.
Amy knows first hand what it's liked to be raised by a single father. She sees a chance to help Mike give some tough love to the twins.
Mike sees beyond Amy's beauty and hard shell.
The twins see a chance to help their favorite teacher find a permanent place in their school and in their daddy's heart.
While Mike's genuine faith challenges Amy to put the past to rest, Amy awakens feelings that the father thought he had buried with his wife.
The novel wraps up realism, romance, faith, and the magic of the season in one small package (It's 110 pages and I read it in one sitting.) And "Christmas Gifts" keeps on giving with a bonus novel "Her Christmas Cowboy" by Brenda Minton.
I'm putting "Christmas Gifts" on my keeper shelf and I have a feeling I'll be pulling it out this summer for a little Christmas in July!
Join Readers of Gail Gaymer Martin on Facebook.
Available in stores, online or as an ebook download.
*I was provided with a free copy of this book to review.
December 7, 2024
While both of these stories were very sweet, as you would expect from a Christmas romance novella, the first was too much. Two days and they were all, "I can't fall in love I'm/she's moving!" And while I get that a novella has to move a lot faster than a novel, it was too much to believe. What were they falling in love with? His haircut? Her coat? And while the whole story was longer than two days, it was mostly focused on the conflict of the FMC wanting to move back to Chicago, not on the MCs getting to know each other beyond "I can put glue on pinecones" and "I have a decent singing voice." I'm basically expected to believe that after a weekend of raking leaves together, they're in love for a lifetime. Bah, humbug.
The second novella was more palatable, though it was only a week between meeting and declarations of love. But somehow, the time the MCs spent together in this novella felt like they were actually getting to know each other and the thing keeping them apart was more believable, even though it was essentially the same thing as the first novella. Honestly, my biggest complaint about this second story was, what kind of bullfighter wears his glasses to work when contacts are an option that uses on other days? That just sounds like an expensive choice.
In short, "Small Town Christmas" has me determined to never read another Martin work, but "Her Christmas Cowboy" has me thinking about finding more by Minton. There's clearly a whole series based on the Coopers, which I might go seek out. Maybe. Ehn, maybe not.
The second novella was more palatable, though it was only a week between meeting and declarations of love. But somehow, the time the MCs spent together in this novella felt like they were actually getting to know each other and the thing keeping them apart was more believable, even though it was essentially the same thing as the first novella. Honestly, my biggest complaint about this second story was, what kind of bullfighter wears his glasses to work when contacts are an option that uses on other days? That just sounds like an expensive choice.
In short, "Small Town Christmas" has me determined to never read another Martin work, but "Her Christmas Cowboy" has me thinking about finding more by Minton. There's clearly a whole series based on the Coopers, which I might go seek out. Maybe. Ehn, maybe not.
July 23, 2017
Christmas Gifts 🎁🎁: Small Town Christmas 🎄 This is the 1st book I read by Gail Gaymer. I liked this book's story line. I liked all the characters in this story. I liked the ending. Her Christmas Cowboy: This is the 2nd book I read by Brenda Minton. I'm sorry this book's story line was boring. I love ❤ Love Inspired & Christmas 🎄 stories but these didn't do it for me.
May 18, 2021
I loved this story. I thought it was a beautiful story to read at Christmas time. I liked how it all came together just as I thought it would end up. I would suggest to anyone looking for a great Christmas Story to read this book.
January 21, 2022
DNF’d at 68%
Was an okay Christmas read I found the first story to be too much of an Insta love and the story itself ended too fast. Book 2 Christmas Cowboy was boring for me and I couldn’t find there to really be any chemistry between the couple or the guy himself to be that attractive
Was an okay Christmas read I found the first story to be too much of an Insta love and the story itself ended too fast. Book 2 Christmas Cowboy was boring for me and I couldn’t find there to really be any chemistry between the couple or the guy himself to be that attractive
October 6, 2017
Fast reads and very entertaining.
November 17, 2019
I read only Brenda Minton’s selection and it was great! I love her work. Recommended.
January 27, 2022
predictable and preachy
January 12, 2023
Small Town Christmas and Her Christmas Cowboy were delightful to read. I read them both in one sitting.
May 27, 2023
Cute stories of Christmas and love. Second story is Travis and Elizabeth the Cooper creek kids
July 9, 2024
I loved it
October 9, 2011
Two VERY SWEET, feel-good, heartwarming, Christmas stories. Perfect for a cold, gray, (snowy), Fall or Winter day. To curl up with your favorite warm beverage, and your dog, or cat, or BOTH! BOTH are very good. And leave you with a feel good, Christmas spirit-feeling. I could easily see BOTH of these as Hallmark movies around Christmastime. :-)
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin (one of my FAVORITE authors) Has harried widowed father of twins, Holly and Ivy (born on Christmas Eve.) Who constantly argue. And generally cause mischief in school. And their temporary (substitute), city-girl, teacher, Amy Carroll. Amy is able to get-through to Holly and Ivy. They in turn become close to her. Asking Santa to make their temporary teacher, their permanent Mommy for Christmas...LOVED Holly and IVY. Especially Ivy! I especially liked that Gail didn't portray them as BRATS! JUST NORMAL MISCHIEVEOUS, 7-Year-old girls. Who happen to be lost with out a mom. I LOVED Amy's Gram's. LOVED Holly & Ivy's relationship with Gram's AND Amy! LOVED how Amy was able to get through to them. LOVED the OLD-FASHIONED-Christmas! With the Old-fashioned-decorations.
Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton....If I'm not mistaken The Cooper Family are a series?...Elizabeth Harden is jilted a week before her wedding. Her parents spend Christmas on her Honeymoon on a romantic Island. While Elizabeth ends up at a rodeo in Oklahoma, on business for her Dad. Where she meets, (painting, eye-glass-wearing, Russian speaking) Bull-Fighter, Travis Cooper. A flirt, and obvious -heartbreaker? Or is he? The last thing Elizabeth wants right after being jilted, is another romance. Or is Travis the one?
I JUST LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the Cooper family! I kinda remember ALL OF THEM! All the adopted Cooper children from Brenda's other books. I FELL-IN-LOVE with Travis Cooper! (SIGH!) I have a new FAVORITE hero!!! I can picture him as an adorable little blonde boy with glasses? Not speaking English! Showing in America and the Coopers for the first time as a five - year- old.
LOVED BOTH of these BOOKS!!! 5 STARS TO BOTH!!!
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin (one of my FAVORITE authors) Has harried widowed father of twins, Holly and Ivy (born on Christmas Eve.) Who constantly argue. And generally cause mischief in school. And their temporary (substitute), city-girl, teacher, Amy Carroll. Amy is able to get-through to Holly and Ivy. They in turn become close to her. Asking Santa to make their temporary teacher, their permanent Mommy for Christmas...LOVED Holly and IVY. Especially Ivy! I especially liked that Gail didn't portray them as BRATS! JUST NORMAL MISCHIEVEOUS, 7-Year-old girls. Who happen to be lost with out a mom. I LOVED Amy's Gram's. LOVED Holly & Ivy's relationship with Gram's AND Amy! LOVED how Amy was able to get through to them. LOVED the OLD-FASHIONED-Christmas! With the Old-fashioned-decorations.
Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton....If I'm not mistaken The Cooper Family are a series?...Elizabeth Harden is jilted a week before her wedding. Her parents spend Christmas on her Honeymoon on a romantic Island. While Elizabeth ends up at a rodeo in Oklahoma, on business for her Dad. Where she meets, (painting, eye-glass-wearing, Russian speaking) Bull-Fighter, Travis Cooper. A flirt, and obvious -heartbreaker? Or is he? The last thing Elizabeth wants right after being jilted, is another romance. Or is Travis the one?
I JUST LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the Cooper family! I kinda remember ALL OF THEM! All the adopted Cooper children from Brenda's other books. I FELL-IN-LOVE with Travis Cooper! (SIGH!) I have a new FAVORITE hero!!! I can picture him as an adorable little blonde boy with glasses? Not speaking English! Showing in America and the Coopers for the first time as a five - year- old.
LOVED BOTH of these BOOKS!!! 5 STARS TO BOTH!!!
October 23, 2011
I love the fact that there are two great stories in one book.
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin:
Amy Carroll is a teacher from Chicago who is out of a job due to her school closing its doors. Needing work, she accepts a temporary teaching position in her Grandmother's small town of Harrisville.
Mike Russet is a widower raising 7 year old twin daughters who are a bit of a handful and out of control, especially at school. It just so happens that the twins will be in Amy's second grade class.
Amy and Mike soon find themselves being drawn to each other. Can Amy forget her past and find happiness? Is Mike ready to move on? Will the twins come between them?
I really enjoyed how the author brought two lonely people together. As you read this wonderful story you will see how God played a huge part in bringing that about. This story was a great read!
Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton:
Elizabeth Harden was jilted by Richard a week before her wedding. Instead of being on her honeymoon she finds herself at a charity bull riding event in Tulsa.
Travis Cooper is a professional bullfighter who happens to be at the same event as Elizabeth.
Through circumstances due to the weather Elizabeth finds herself stranded in Tulsa. Travis's Mom invites Elizabeth to stay with them until she can get a flight back to St. Louis.
Can Elizabeth learn to love again after Richard? Can she learn to trust again?
Is Travis ready to settle down? Is Elizabeth the one for him?
Through God's intervention a heart begins to thaw. This heart learns faith, trust, and forgiveness leads to happiness.
I love how the author used Godly people and Godly actions to bring two hearts together. This story was a great read.
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin:
Amy Carroll is a teacher from Chicago who is out of a job due to her school closing its doors. Needing work, she accepts a temporary teaching position in her Grandmother's small town of Harrisville.
Mike Russet is a widower raising 7 year old twin daughters who are a bit of a handful and out of control, especially at school. It just so happens that the twins will be in Amy's second grade class.
Amy and Mike soon find themselves being drawn to each other. Can Amy forget her past and find happiness? Is Mike ready to move on? Will the twins come between them?
I really enjoyed how the author brought two lonely people together. As you read this wonderful story you will see how God played a huge part in bringing that about. This story was a great read!
Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton:
Elizabeth Harden was jilted by Richard a week before her wedding. Instead of being on her honeymoon she finds herself at a charity bull riding event in Tulsa.
Travis Cooper is a professional bullfighter who happens to be at the same event as Elizabeth.
Through circumstances due to the weather Elizabeth finds herself stranded in Tulsa. Travis's Mom invites Elizabeth to stay with them until she can get a flight back to St. Louis.
Can Elizabeth learn to love again after Richard? Can she learn to trust again?
Is Travis ready to settle down? Is Elizabeth the one for him?
Through God's intervention a heart begins to thaw. This heart learns faith, trust, and forgiveness leads to happiness.
I love how the author used Godly people and Godly actions to bring two hearts together. This story was a great read.
November 4, 2011
Small Town Christmas by Gail Gaymer Martin
When Amy Carroll is laid off from her teaching job in Chicago she takes a temporary position in tiny Harrisville, Michigan, the home of her grandmother. Almost immediately, she is introduced to the most disruptive students in her class, twin girls suffering from the aftermath of their mother’s death three years earlier. She also meets their apologetic, overwhelmed father. The two hit it off almost immediately, but Amy’s past makes her unsure about entrusting her heart to him. And Chicago is never far from her mind. How could quaint, little Harrisville possibly compete with the exciting lifestyle the Windy City provides? As Christmas approaches, she learns that her temporary position could become a permanent one, and Amy is forced to make a life-changing decision, one that will force her to rely upon the God she fears has abandoned her. As usual, Martin’s characters are believable and engaging. We are immediately drawn into their lives and quickly come to care for them.
Small Town Christmas is paired with another charming tale, Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton in the book Christmas Gifts from Harlequin’s popular Love Inspired imprint. This title is a quick and easy read that will provide the perfect retreat from the hectic pace of holiday preparations and will help us to refocus our attention on the real reason for the season. The phrase “curling up with a good book” could have been invented for Martin’s latest romance.
P.S. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
When Amy Carroll is laid off from her teaching job in Chicago she takes a temporary position in tiny Harrisville, Michigan, the home of her grandmother. Almost immediately, she is introduced to the most disruptive students in her class, twin girls suffering from the aftermath of their mother’s death three years earlier. She also meets their apologetic, overwhelmed father. The two hit it off almost immediately, but Amy’s past makes her unsure about entrusting her heart to him. And Chicago is never far from her mind. How could quaint, little Harrisville possibly compete with the exciting lifestyle the Windy City provides? As Christmas approaches, she learns that her temporary position could become a permanent one, and Amy is forced to make a life-changing decision, one that will force her to rely upon the God she fears has abandoned her. As usual, Martin’s characters are believable and engaging. We are immediately drawn into their lives and quickly come to care for them.
Small Town Christmas is paired with another charming tale, Her Christmas Cowboy by Brenda Minton in the book Christmas Gifts from Harlequin’s popular Love Inspired imprint. This title is a quick and easy read that will provide the perfect retreat from the hectic pace of holiday preparations and will help us to refocus our attention on the real reason for the season. The phrase “curling up with a good book” could have been invented for Martin’s latest romance.
P.S. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
October 24, 2011
Gail Gaymer Martin has woven another heart-warming tapestry of love with her latest book, Small Town Christmas. Part of a two-book collection, Small Town Christmas follows Amy Carroll’s journey to her grandmother’s small town for a temporary teaching job. Determined it will be just that—temporary—Amy plans to return to Chicago where the big city holds her heart. She didn’t plan on widower Mike Russet, her grandmother’s neighbor, and his 7-year-old twin girls, Ivy and Holly, capturing her heart.
Guarded from her own experience of losing her mother and her father’s inability to fill the role of both parents, Amy’s journey is one of growth and forgiveness. From his gentleness with Amy to the romantic way he kisses her the first time, Mike’s role as hero is sure to please romance fans.
I enjoyed the genuineness of the characters and their real-life struggles of recovering from loss and opening their hearts to love. The little girls are adorable, whether they’re getting into mischief or pulling on your heartstrings as they cope with their own grief.
Ms. Martin’s spirituality and her gift for spinning a story flow through this wonderful Christmas romance novel. A must-buy for any Christian romance connoisseur this holiday season!
Guarded from her own experience of losing her mother and her father’s inability to fill the role of both parents, Amy’s journey is one of growth and forgiveness. From his gentleness with Amy to the romantic way he kisses her the first time, Mike’s role as hero is sure to please romance fans.
I enjoyed the genuineness of the characters and their real-life struggles of recovering from loss and opening their hearts to love. The little girls are adorable, whether they’re getting into mischief or pulling on your heartstrings as they cope with their own grief.
Ms. Martin’s spirituality and her gift for spinning a story flow through this wonderful Christmas romance novel. A must-buy for any Christian romance connoisseur this holiday season!
October 20, 2011
Mike Russet and his twins Holly and Ivy, stole my heart ( as well as Amy's!). Mike was trying to raise his daughters on his own after his wife died thinking he could do it all for them, be mom and dad. Afraid to trust and give his heart again the Lord put Amy Carroll in his path and that of his daughters. Amy had been inbetween jobs and went home to live with her grandmother and took a substitute position as a second grade teacher, where she meets Mike and his twins.
Mike and Amy began to realize that they could fall for one another but were afraid that they could hurt the girls if it did not work...the Lord had another idea. Miss Gail has delivered another story that makes me want to read more. The writing is smoothe and the characters are real.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and post for you!!
Mike and Amy began to realize that they could fall for one another but were afraid that they could hurt the girls if it did not work...the Lord had another idea. Miss Gail has delivered another story that makes me want to read more. The writing is smoothe and the characters are real.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and post for you!!
November 5, 2011
It was my pleasure to read Small Town Christmas. by Gail Gaymer Martin.
Gail Gaymer Martin has taken something unique to twins and
made it extremely realistic. Having seen twin boys turn on
each other out of grief made this all the more real to me.
This is a story that has qualities far beyond a romance and
once more this multi-tallented, multi-published author has
given us a story well worth the time in reading. The depth
of this story is tempered by cute antics of the twins and the
great romance we’ve all come to love that only Gail can produce.
This is not a waste of anyone’s time or money!
Gail Gaymer Martin has taken something unique to twins and
made it extremely realistic. Having seen twin boys turn on
each other out of grief made this all the more real to me.
This is a story that has qualities far beyond a romance and
once more this multi-tallented, multi-published author has
given us a story well worth the time in reading. The depth
of this story is tempered by cute antics of the twins and the
great romance we’ve all come to love that only Gail can produce.
This is not a waste of anyone’s time or money!
March 2, 2013
I enjoy the 'Love Inspired' line by Harlequin. These are short, sweet, clean Christian romances. They don't pretend to be great literature, but they most often remind me of God's truth.
These 2 stories were no exception. In the first, 'Small Town Christmas', I am reminded that God is faithful and knows the plans He has for my life, and that even though they are not always easy, they're always good. The second, 'Her Christmas Cowboy', reminds me about trust . . . not only trusting people, but most importantly, trusting God.
These 2 stories were no exception. In the first, 'Small Town Christmas', I am reminded that God is faithful and knows the plans He has for my life, and that even though they are not always easy, they're always good. The second, 'Her Christmas Cowboy', reminds me about trust . . . not only trusting people, but most importantly, trusting God.
February 16, 2016
Two stories in this one book
Amy Carroll is living with her grandmother and temporarily teaching in a small town after job cuts in Chicago. Mike Russet was the cute neighbor next door, but now widowed with twins in her class. Can Amy balance life?
Elizabeth Harden takes her father's place at a charity bull event due to her parents going on her honeymoon. She was dumped a week before the wedding. Travis Cooper rescues her from a bull and due to a storm invites her to his family's ranch for Christmas. Can the flirt settle down?
Amy Carroll is living with her grandmother and temporarily teaching in a small town after job cuts in Chicago. Mike Russet was the cute neighbor next door, but now widowed with twins in her class. Can Amy balance life?
Elizabeth Harden takes her father's place at a charity bull event due to her parents going on her honeymoon. She was dumped a week before the wedding. Travis Cooper rescues her from a bull and due to a storm invites her to his family's ranch for Christmas. Can the flirt settle down?
January 19, 2012
Good stories. In the first one I really liked how good Amy was with the twins. She was able to relate well to them, which helped their dad get better with his relationship with the girls. In the second story, I really liked the whole Cooper family and the way they sucked Elizabeth into the family celebration. It also helped open her eyes to what family can really be like.
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: Cooper Creek
December 2, 2012
Loved both stories. Have read Gail before. A first for Brenda. Going to look up more of hers!
January 6, 2013
Good sweat stories of love and relationships.
January 31, 2016
I always appreciate Gail Gaymer Martin's stories. The internal conflict that keeps the hero and heroine apart take precedence over external plot issues in a refreshing way.
December 14, 2015
Nice book. Good Christian read. I wish the second story, Her Christmas Cowboy, was a little longer. I think the story could have been a little meatier if it were longer.
November 1, 2013
Two quick, easy to read, sweet Christmas stories.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews