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Jubilee, Texas #3
A Cowboy for Christmas
If you’re looking for love, look no further than Jubilee, Texas! This small Western town with the big heart is the creation of New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde—and now she’s giving fans of Susan Wiggs, Susan Mallery, and Sherryl Woods, and contemporary romance readers everywhere the perfect holiday gift: A Cowboy for Christmas! Wilde’s third visit to Jubilee is a totally charming, utterly captivating holiday treat that combines all the elements that romance lovers love—passion, emotion, wit, warmth, family…and cowboys—as a lonely young widow raising her young son alone experiences a true Christmas miracle when a rugged, handsome stranger enters her life. Put A Cowboy for Christmas on your holiday wish list!
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2012
226 people are currently reading
1170 people want to read
About the author
Lori Wilde
394 books2,265 followersLori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 171 reviews
December 19, 2021
2.5**
From the book jacket: It’s Christmastime in Jubilee, Texas, but Lissette Moncrief is having a hard time celebrating… Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones’s pick-up truck. Yes, he’s a whole lot of handsome … but Lissy’s not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words. What she doesn’t know is that Rafferty’s in town just to meet her – and to give her a share in the windfall that doesn’t rightly belong to him.
My opinion
Okay, it’s an Avon Romance and I was expecting something predictable and heart-warming, not great literature. This had a lovely premise: a young widow with a toddler, struggling to make ends meet after her husband dies in Afghanistan. She’s now reeling from the new diagnosis that her son is going deaf when she meets the brother-in-law she’s never known and who inherited her husband’s life insurance. The sparks fly. Of course, he’s not only handsome, but also a gentleman, equally good with skittish horses and over-tired toddlers, and adept at writing a business plan and setting up a website. Oh, and he just happens to know American sign language so he can teach Lissy’s son, the basics so he can begin to communicate.
So far, I don’t have much of a gripe with the scenario – like I said it’s a cowboy romance and fairly predictable. But there’s a very weak subplot involving Lissy’s mother-in-law and the “terrible secret” she’s carrying which she just knows if she reveals it everyone will hate her, and she’ll never see her grandchild again. This tortured character just tortured me every time she appeared on the page, and the book lost a ½ star as a result.
Oh, well, ‘Tis the season, and I guess you can’t win the rodeo every time. I’ll probably get back on the horse at some point in the future and read another of Wilde’s books.
From the book jacket: It’s Christmastime in Jubilee, Texas, but Lissette Moncrief is having a hard time celebrating… Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones’s pick-up truck. Yes, he’s a whole lot of handsome … but Lissy’s not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words. What she doesn’t know is that Rafferty’s in town just to meet her – and to give her a share in the windfall that doesn’t rightly belong to him.
My opinion
Okay, it’s an Avon Romance and I was expecting something predictable and heart-warming, not great literature. This had a lovely premise: a young widow with a toddler, struggling to make ends meet after her husband dies in Afghanistan. She’s now reeling from the new diagnosis that her son is going deaf when she meets the brother-in-law she’s never known and who inherited her husband’s life insurance. The sparks fly. Of course, he’s not only handsome, but also a gentleman, equally good with skittish horses and over-tired toddlers, and adept at writing a business plan and setting up a website. Oh, and he just happens to know American sign language so he can teach Lissy’s son, the basics so he can begin to communicate.
So far, I don’t have much of a gripe with the scenario – like I said it’s a cowboy romance and fairly predictable. But there’s a very weak subplot involving Lissy’s mother-in-law and the “terrible secret” she’s carrying which she just knows if she reveals it everyone will hate her, and she’ll never see her grandchild again. This tortured character just tortured me every time she appeared on the page, and the book lost a ½ star as a result.
Oh, well, ‘Tis the season, and I guess you can’t win the rodeo every time. I’ll probably get back on the horse at some point in the future and read another of Wilde’s books.
January 30, 2014
Very good book. Lissy has had a rough few months. Her husband was killed in Afghanistan, and she discovered that he named his half brother as his beneficiary, leaving her with nothing. And now she has found out that her two year old son is going deaf and there is no way to stop it. Enter Rafferty Jones, Jake's half brother, who has come to Jubilee to give the money to her. He wants to give her the money and be on his way home, but something about her has him deciding to stick around for a little while.
I really liked both Lissy and Rafferty. Lissy has accepted Jake's death and the blow of not having his benefits. What she's having trouble with a the start of the book is the news that her son is going deaf and there's no cure for it. She's in the middle of a meltdown when she runs into Rafferty's truck. His kindness and understanding help her calm down and they go their separate ways, not knowing their connection. When he shows up at her door to tell her why he's there she is stunned. But she's finally getting to the point where she likes her independence and she turns the money down flat and sends him away. He comes back and offers to train the horse Jake left her so she can sell it for a higher price, so she agrees to let him stay. Lissy started out in the book as a woman finally starting to find out who she really is. She has been a peacemaker all her life, never wanting to be the one to rock the boat, even as a child. Her husband had been a man who tended to steamroll over anything that didn't suit his wants, so being on her own is different. Rafferty's offers of assistance worry her because she doesn't want to begin to depend on him and lose herself again. What she found was that he would simply make suggestions and leave the decisions up to her. He offered her support and stood behind her when she'd make a decision. I really loved seeing her develop the backbone she had never had before. I loved the scene at Thanksgiving dinner when she stood up to her whole family, shocking them all. Another thing that Lissy had to contend with was her mother in law's attitude toward Rafferty, who was the illegitimate son of her husband. Again, her growing confidence in herself allowed her to do what was right for her and her son rather than cave to Claudia's demands. But the best part of all was Lissy's gradual realization that Rafferty was the man she needed in her life if she could just overcome her fears. She feels guilty having these feelings for him so soon after Jake's death, but their marriage had been in trouble for a long time. She also isn't sure if the feelings are real or just another form of gratitude for the help he has given her. Besides, he has a life in California that he will be going back to soon. She just needs the courage to reach out for what she wants.
Rafferty was a really great guy. He had had a rough childhood with a bipolar mother who he took care of even when he was a child. He also did his best to care for his younger brother and sister. When he was sixteen he discovered he had an older brother when Jake showed up after finding out about him. Jake stayed with them for the summer, helping Rafferty with his family, and continued to try to be there as he got older. Meanwhile, Rafferty got involved with training horses and ended up with his own successful ranch in California where some of his horses were used in movies. He was out of the country when Jake died and didn't know about it for three months. When he found out about the money, the first thing he did was head to Texas to give it to Lissy. Rafferty has a "fatal flaw" in that he can't resist trying to help people who are in trouble, and he really doesn't want to get involved with Lissy and her problems. But he just can't resist the need to help her, especially when she refuses the money. He comes up with a way to help by training Jake's horse. He also discovers that he is really attracted to her, which horrifies him. He can't believe it would be acceptable to be lusting after his brother's wife. The more time he spends with her and her son the more he wants to stay. I really liked the way that, because of his experience with his deaf ranch foreman, he is able to help Lissy learn more about helping her son. I loved the fact that he didn't tell her what to do, but got her the information she needed to make up her own mind. It was great to see how good he was with little Kyle and what a difference he made in their lives. They also made a difference in his life, as being around them showed him what life with a family could be like. He looked at the town of Jubilee and couldn't believe how much he felt like he belonged there and with Lissy. All he had to do was convince her. I loved the ending and how they finally got together.
I really liked both Lissy and Rafferty. Lissy has accepted Jake's death and the blow of not having his benefits. What she's having trouble with a the start of the book is the news that her son is going deaf and there's no cure for it. She's in the middle of a meltdown when she runs into Rafferty's truck. His kindness and understanding help her calm down and they go their separate ways, not knowing their connection. When he shows up at her door to tell her why he's there she is stunned. But she's finally getting to the point where she likes her independence and she turns the money down flat and sends him away. He comes back and offers to train the horse Jake left her so she can sell it for a higher price, so she agrees to let him stay. Lissy started out in the book as a woman finally starting to find out who she really is. She has been a peacemaker all her life, never wanting to be the one to rock the boat, even as a child. Her husband had been a man who tended to steamroll over anything that didn't suit his wants, so being on her own is different. Rafferty's offers of assistance worry her because she doesn't want to begin to depend on him and lose herself again. What she found was that he would simply make suggestions and leave the decisions up to her. He offered her support and stood behind her when she'd make a decision. I really loved seeing her develop the backbone she had never had before. I loved the scene at Thanksgiving dinner when she stood up to her whole family, shocking them all. Another thing that Lissy had to contend with was her mother in law's attitude toward Rafferty, who was the illegitimate son of her husband. Again, her growing confidence in herself allowed her to do what was right for her and her son rather than cave to Claudia's demands. But the best part of all was Lissy's gradual realization that Rafferty was the man she needed in her life if she could just overcome her fears. She feels guilty having these feelings for him so soon after Jake's death, but their marriage had been in trouble for a long time. She also isn't sure if the feelings are real or just another form of gratitude for the help he has given her. Besides, he has a life in California that he will be going back to soon. She just needs the courage to reach out for what she wants.
Rafferty was a really great guy. He had had a rough childhood with a bipolar mother who he took care of even when he was a child. He also did his best to care for his younger brother and sister. When he was sixteen he discovered he had an older brother when Jake showed up after finding out about him. Jake stayed with them for the summer, helping Rafferty with his family, and continued to try to be there as he got older. Meanwhile, Rafferty got involved with training horses and ended up with his own successful ranch in California where some of his horses were used in movies. He was out of the country when Jake died and didn't know about it for three months. When he found out about the money, the first thing he did was head to Texas to give it to Lissy. Rafferty has a "fatal flaw" in that he can't resist trying to help people who are in trouble, and he really doesn't want to get involved with Lissy and her problems. But he just can't resist the need to help her, especially when she refuses the money. He comes up with a way to help by training Jake's horse. He also discovers that he is really attracted to her, which horrifies him. He can't believe it would be acceptable to be lusting after his brother's wife. The more time he spends with her and her son the more he wants to stay. I really liked the way that, because of his experience with his deaf ranch foreman, he is able to help Lissy learn more about helping her son. I loved the fact that he didn't tell her what to do, but got her the information she needed to make up her own mind. It was great to see how good he was with little Kyle and what a difference he made in their lives. They also made a difference in his life, as being around them showed him what life with a family could be like. He looked at the town of Jubilee and couldn't believe how much he felt like he belonged there and with Lissy. All he had to do was convince her. I loved the ending and how they finally got together.
December 22, 2016
review to come
February 3, 2020
Oh man is military window Lissy having a bad day! She's no longer receiving any military or veteran benefits because her husband Jake died in Afghanistan while disobeying a direct order, Jake also made a previously unknown half brother the sole beneficiary of his life insurance and survivor benefits, their toddler son Kyle has just been diagnosed as deaf due to a genetic predisposition, she's nearly out of money, she and Kyle had a mini-meltdown in the supermarket, and now, oops, she's just backed into someone's truck pulling out of her parking space and finds that she forgot to mail her insurance renewal. That truck belongs to a tall dark and handsome as sin cowboy, one who is a sucker for a damsel in distress. After telling her not worry he'll have the repairs handled from his own insurance and letting her cry on his shoulder, they part ways without exchanging names. This is key you see as a very short time later, the cowboy shows up on Lissy's doorstep and introduces himself as Jake's previously unkown half-brother, Rafferty.
Of course, you see where this is going to go -- and it did and it was a joy to follow this love story that also was a story about Lissy coming into her own, recognizing her own strengths, and adapting to the circumstances life has thrown at her. Rafferty himself is a bit of a lost soul on his own journey here to claim a family acknowledgment previously denied him. We also have Lissy accepting her son's deafness and wading through the controversy of signing vs. speech, adding a certain pathos to this romance.
And a lovely holiday romance it is -- covering from Halloween through New Years in Jubilee, TX -- with just a touch of hot sex to spice up the story but not dominate. Lissy by the way is a pastry chef, who during the story expands her part-time business with the help of Rafferty. That also means we are treated to lots of absolutely yummy baking and pastry descriptions, recipes at the end and one of the best lines from Lissy's culinary school pastry instructor: I believe in zee church of dessert
Of course, you see where this is going to go -- and it did and it was a joy to follow this love story that also was a story about Lissy coming into her own, recognizing her own strengths, and adapting to the circumstances life has thrown at her. Rafferty himself is a bit of a lost soul on his own journey here to claim a family acknowledgment previously denied him. We also have Lissy accepting her son's deafness and wading through the controversy of signing vs. speech, adding a certain pathos to this romance.
And a lovely holiday romance it is -- covering from Halloween through New Years in Jubilee, TX -- with just a touch of hot sex to spice up the story but not dominate. Lissy by the way is a pastry chef, who during the story expands her part-time business with the help of Rafferty. That also means we are treated to lots of absolutely yummy baking and pastry descriptions, recipes at the end and one of the best lines from Lissy's culinary school pastry instructor: I believe in zee church of dessert
January 16, 2020
Reading through the library, one book by every author, makes for some interesting contrasts. Perhaps the most stark is the transition from classic literature (in this case Oscar Wilde) to a modern romance novel like A Cowboy for Christmas . Terms like "cookie cutter romance", "chick-lit", and even "too stupid to live heroine" (ie. damsel in distress) are pretty much all applicable to this offering by Lori Wilde.
Meet Lisette. She's a recently widowed military wife whose husband was killed 3 months ago in Afghanistan. They have a two-year-old son, Kyle, who has just been diagnosed with genetically inherited, irreversible, progressive hearing loss. In the world of genetic disorders, deafness is one of the better hands to be dealt...but Lisette is still taking the news hard.
Into this grief-stricken landscape rides (or rather drives a giant red pickup truck...because Texas) her knight in shining cowboy boots Rafferty Jones. He also happens to be her late husband's half brother, and has come to give her the life insurance money that was left to him (instead of Lisette). Since this is a romance novel, and since Lisette is just now learning to Stand On Her Own Two Feet she can't possibly accept the large life insurance policy from this handsome stranger...never mind that her son needs special education and never mind that she is struggling financially. She has *Pride*, and she can do it on her own! Her stubbornness is the plot device which allows Rafferty to stay in town for a few months to train her cutting horse to compete in the futurity...allowing their relationship to develop in the process. Well there is a line between justifiable pride and stupidity as well as a line between imaginative fiction and stretching believability...this novel does both.
It's not all horrible nonsense though. Lisette does grow as a character throughout the book, she learns that deafness is hard for *her*, not so much for her son, and that her role is to support his journey as best as she can. My favorite parts are when she learns to stick up for her son...the opinions of her family be damned! Lisette meets an old lady in the local grocery store in the book's opening chapter who gives her these words of advice. "When you can accept your losses and forgive your mistakes, then you can embrace a happy future." She runs into the blue-haired lady again in the epilogue, and the ending brought the book up a half-star for me.
Bottom line: Well-written literature that will stand the test of time and countless college essays this is not. Sometimes a bit of fluff is needed though, and this little novel fits that bill just fine. Read it if you want to laugh at ridiculous plot devices, shake your head at angst, and be assured of a happy ending. Given 1.5 stars or a rating of "Below Average."
Meet Lisette. She's a recently widowed military wife whose husband was killed 3 months ago in Afghanistan. They have a two-year-old son, Kyle, who has just been diagnosed with genetically inherited, irreversible, progressive hearing loss. In the world of genetic disorders, deafness is one of the better hands to be dealt...but Lisette is still taking the news hard.
Into this grief-stricken landscape rides (or rather drives a giant red pickup truck...because Texas) her knight in shining cowboy boots Rafferty Jones. He also happens to be her late husband's half brother, and has come to give her the life insurance money that was left to him (instead of Lisette). Since this is a romance novel, and since Lisette is just now learning to Stand On Her Own Two Feet she can't possibly accept the large life insurance policy from this handsome stranger...never mind that her son needs special education and never mind that she is struggling financially. She has *Pride*, and she can do it on her own! Her stubbornness is the plot device which allows Rafferty to stay in town for a few months to train her cutting horse to compete in the futurity...allowing their relationship to develop in the process. Well there is a line between justifiable pride and stupidity as well as a line between imaginative fiction and stretching believability...this novel does both.
It's not all horrible nonsense though. Lisette does grow as a character throughout the book, she learns that deafness is hard for *her*, not so much for her son, and that her role is to support his journey as best as she can. My favorite parts are when she learns to stick up for her son...the opinions of her family be damned! Lisette meets an old lady in the local grocery store in the book's opening chapter who gives her these words of advice. "When you can accept your losses and forgive your mistakes, then you can embrace a happy future." She runs into the blue-haired lady again in the epilogue, and the ending brought the book up a half-star for me.
Bottom line: Well-written literature that will stand the test of time and countless college essays this is not. Sometimes a bit of fluff is needed though, and this little novel fits that bill just fine. Read it if you want to laugh at ridiculous plot devices, shake your head at angst, and be assured of a happy ending. Given 1.5 stars or a rating of "Below Average."
November 3, 2012
You know a book is going to be good when you are not done reading the first chapter and there are tears streaming down your face. If an author can make you feel something so deep with just a few words, then you are reading one amazing and touching story.
This story is about two people from two very different backgrounds and who have both endured very rough trials in their life. Lisette is a widow still trying to overcome her husband’s death when their son is diagnosed as being deaf. Rafferty has come to Jubilee, TX to give Lisette the death benefits that his half brother, Lisette’s husband, left him.
The romance between Lisette and Rafferty is sweet and feels real. Both of them have to overcome their own past and be willing to create a future together. I have to say that I like how Lisette handles the death of her first husband. It was very realistic and yet emotional.
A Cowboy for Christmas is #3 in the Jubilee series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I do recommend that you read the first books in this series because they are so very good!
This story is about two people from two very different backgrounds and who have both endured very rough trials in their life. Lisette is a widow still trying to overcome her husband’s death when their son is diagnosed as being deaf. Rafferty has come to Jubilee, TX to give Lisette the death benefits that his half brother, Lisette’s husband, left him.
The romance between Lisette and Rafferty is sweet and feels real. Both of them have to overcome their own past and be willing to create a future together. I have to say that I like how Lisette handles the death of her first husband. It was very realistic and yet emotional.
A Cowboy for Christmas is #3 in the Jubilee series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I do recommend that you read the first books in this series because they are so very good!
December 28, 2012
Wow. I can't put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I had tears flowing down my face almost from the beginning. Then, tension from the breakup you knew was coming cause Lisette couldn't accept that what she and Rafferty had was really love. Then, more tears at the end. But it was oh-so-good.
While this was the third book in the series, I didn't feel I missed anything by not reading the other ones in the series. Yes, the characters from the other books were mentioned, but this can easily stand alone. That being said, I will go back and read the rest of the the series cause I liked this :)
While this was the third book in the series, I didn't feel I missed anything by not reading the other ones in the series. Yes, the characters from the other books were mentioned, but this can easily stand alone. That being said, I will go back and read the rest of the the series cause I liked this :)
October 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's very heartwarming and offers a different storyline from the typical 'Hallmark' style narratives. The author's writing style resonated with me, and I will be reading other Lori Wilde's books in the future!
December 11, 2018
2.75 Stars
December 21, 2022
I just wasn't feeling this story. DNF at 5%.
November 13, 2012
Amanda's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 Stars
Have you ever felt you were at the end of your rope and couldn’t hold on? That if you had one more thing happen to you, you wouldn’t know if you were able to handle it? That’s what Lisette Montcrief was feeling as she is trying to shop for a few baking staples. She’s just been given the news that her 2 year old son Kyle is going deaf. This on top of the other news that her dead husband Jake left his life insurance money to a half-brother she didn’t even know he had. It’s been a trying 3 months since finding out her husband died in Afghanistan and wouldn’t be receiving any of the military survivor benefits either because he disobeyed orders and was not named the beneficiary. Money she could really use right now. She was on her own and had a son to take care of and only herself to rely on. The opening chapter captured my attention and my heart for this woman and I had to know how this was all going to play out for her and her son. What she wasn’t expecting was Rafferty Jones, her brother-in-law to come into her life and change it profoundly.
A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde is the final story in the Jubilee, Texas trilogy and is a heartwarming story of unexpected love and new found self- reliance for the heroine. For the first time in her life Lisette finds herself alone without a man for support and she knows she’s got to expand her baking business to support herself and her son. She’s got plans and is working things out as she goes along. Rafferty comes to Jubilee to give her the money Jake left behind but she won’t accept it. It wasn’t given to her for a reason and she’s not about to accept a handout. He can’t leave without helping her in some way so he comes up with a plan. He’ll train Jake’s cutting horse and try to sell him after his futurity competition at the end of the year in exchange for free room and board. He’ll stick around long enough to get her on her feet and somehow figure out a way to give her the insurance money. What he didn’t figure was his attraction to his dead brother’s wife and child. Something he’s always wanted for himself.
I really liked both of these characters individually and together. Lisette has strong maternal instincts and wanted to do what’s best for Kyle but didn’t know how to trust her own instincts. Her past behavior was to go along with what others wanted, especially her husband Jake, in order to keep the peace. But she’s been mulling things over in her mind that things can be so different now but she has got to start standing up for herself. I saw the gradual transformation, with Rafferty’s encouragement; she started to believe in herself and telling people what she wanted. She didn’t know exactly how she was going to approach Kyle’s teaching and didn’t want to be persuaded one way or another in how to teach Kyle how to communicate. The subtle changes she makes to please herself start to show from her website design even to her relationship with her mother-in-law Claudia. I saw a range of depth to Lisette’s character over feelings she is beginning to have for Rafferty. Should she be feeling this sexual desire for him? Should she act on them or is this a reaction to her needing help and its from gratitude? Rafferty is also feeling the same thing and wonders if he would ever escape the need to want to help someone in need. He is a well- established horse trainer in California with his own horse ranch, and he doesn’t need to take on a complication like his sister-in-law and her many needs. If he was smart he would get out of town fast. Yet he can’t deny this attraction to her. He wants her even knowing that he isn’t here for the long run. He needs to get back to his life in CA. Can they build on something that Jake somehow forced them together? When the two of them finally get together it just feels right for both of them. Lisette comes to the realization that what she had with Jake wasn’t strong enough to last for a lifetime but it could be with Rafferty. Now she could only hope he felt the same.
Don’t let the title fool you into thinking that it is a true Christmas story. I would have to say that it is more of a contemporary romance story which starts before Halloween and leads up to Christmas. I’m sad that this is the last story in this setting of Jubilee, Texas and yet this story finished on a high note and I’m happy it ended so well. The story has a little of everything from conflict and struggle, to sweet and tender moments. Lori Wilde is a favorite of mine and would recommend her to anyone who wants a small hometown feel good type story to read. A Cowboy for Christmas has a HEA with a cowboy and what more can you asks for.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Have you ever felt you were at the end of your rope and couldn’t hold on? That if you had one more thing happen to you, you wouldn’t know if you were able to handle it? That’s what Lisette Montcrief was feeling as she is trying to shop for a few baking staples. She’s just been given the news that her 2 year old son Kyle is going deaf. This on top of the other news that her dead husband Jake left his life insurance money to a half-brother she didn’t even know he had. It’s been a trying 3 months since finding out her husband died in Afghanistan and wouldn’t be receiving any of the military survivor benefits either because he disobeyed orders and was not named the beneficiary. Money she could really use right now. She was on her own and had a son to take care of and only herself to rely on. The opening chapter captured my attention and my heart for this woman and I had to know how this was all going to play out for her and her son. What she wasn’t expecting was Rafferty Jones, her brother-in-law to come into her life and change it profoundly.
A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde is the final story in the Jubilee, Texas trilogy and is a heartwarming story of unexpected love and new found self- reliance for the heroine. For the first time in her life Lisette finds herself alone without a man for support and she knows she’s got to expand her baking business to support herself and her son. She’s got plans and is working things out as she goes along. Rafferty comes to Jubilee to give her the money Jake left behind but she won’t accept it. It wasn’t given to her for a reason and she’s not about to accept a handout. He can’t leave without helping her in some way so he comes up with a plan. He’ll train Jake’s cutting horse and try to sell him after his futurity competition at the end of the year in exchange for free room and board. He’ll stick around long enough to get her on her feet and somehow figure out a way to give her the insurance money. What he didn’t figure was his attraction to his dead brother’s wife and child. Something he’s always wanted for himself.
I really liked both of these characters individually and together. Lisette has strong maternal instincts and wanted to do what’s best for Kyle but didn’t know how to trust her own instincts. Her past behavior was to go along with what others wanted, especially her husband Jake, in order to keep the peace. But she’s been mulling things over in her mind that things can be so different now but she has got to start standing up for herself. I saw the gradual transformation, with Rafferty’s encouragement; she started to believe in herself and telling people what she wanted. She didn’t know exactly how she was going to approach Kyle’s teaching and didn’t want to be persuaded one way or another in how to teach Kyle how to communicate. The subtle changes she makes to please herself start to show from her website design even to her relationship with her mother-in-law Claudia. I saw a range of depth to Lisette’s character over feelings she is beginning to have for Rafferty. Should she be feeling this sexual desire for him? Should she act on them or is this a reaction to her needing help and its from gratitude? Rafferty is also feeling the same thing and wonders if he would ever escape the need to want to help someone in need. He is a well- established horse trainer in California with his own horse ranch, and he doesn’t need to take on a complication like his sister-in-law and her many needs. If he was smart he would get out of town fast. Yet he can’t deny this attraction to her. He wants her even knowing that he isn’t here for the long run. He needs to get back to his life in CA. Can they build on something that Jake somehow forced them together? When the two of them finally get together it just feels right for both of them. Lisette comes to the realization that what she had with Jake wasn’t strong enough to last for a lifetime but it could be with Rafferty. Now she could only hope he felt the same.
Don’t let the title fool you into thinking that it is a true Christmas story. I would have to say that it is more of a contemporary romance story which starts before Halloween and leads up to Christmas. I’m sad that this is the last story in this setting of Jubilee, Texas and yet this story finished on a high note and I’m happy it ended so well. The story has a little of everything from conflict and struggle, to sweet and tender moments. Lori Wilde is a favorite of mine and would recommend her to anyone who wants a small hometown feel good type story to read. A Cowboy for Christmas has a HEA with a cowboy and what more can you asks for.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
October 30, 2012
I purposely don’t read a lot of excerpts or even check to see what the next book in an author’s series is about. Gets me too worked up and I have to wait even longer when there’s anticipation involved before that story finally makes it into my hands. All I knew about the next in this series by Lori Wilde is that it would involve a cowboy; Jubilee, Texas; and one of the characters I’d already met in a previous story. I’m so very glad I never read even the synopsis for this book, because the surprise of who’s featured and the beautiful story I just finished about them may not have had the same impact if I’d been expecting it all.
Lissette Moncrief is newly widowed, having just learned that she’ll not receive any benefits at all from the military – those are going to a half-brother of her husband she never knew about – and that her son is gradually but very surely going deaf due to a medical condition no doctor can do anything about. She’s in a daze when her day gets even worse, she backs into a truck in a parking lot. The only silver lining through it all is the fact the cowboy she hit is quite understanding and tells her not to worry about the accident. Another thing she doesn’t need right now, a nice – and handsome – cowboy. Lissette has a weakness for strong, sexy, and courteous cowboys.
Having just discovered his brother died in Afghanistan months ago and the man left his military benefits to him, Rafferty Jones is in Jubilee, Texas to find his sister-in-law to return the money to her. It’s hers by right and Rafferty won’t take anything that’s not his. The little fender-bender in that parking lot isn’t helping to make this a great day, so imagine his surprise when he knocks on the door of his brother’s house and that same woman who backed into his truck opens the door. He could never walk away from someone – especially a woman – in need, and Lissette definitely needs help and a friend. She won’t take the money that should be hers, she wants to finally be independent, standing on her own, so she’s opening a cowboy-themed bakery to make the money needed for future medical bills for her son. Rafferty has to respect that. And he does, just as much as he’s attracted to her.
Thrown together because of horrible circumstances puts these characters in positions that are heartbreaking. Their guilt is palpable when they think of Jake, the one who has brought them together from the grave. So Rafferty continues to take care of Lissette and her son, who he grows fonder of day by day, just as Jake wanted him to, though he has to get a tad creative to make sure she has what she deserves. Lissette blossoms when her business begins to grow, giving her the confidence and freedom she’s never had before. And she’s got feelings for Rafferty she never had for Jake, which causes such conflict for her. When they finally give in to their passion, you can feel the realness of it, the joy of it, and they decide to revel in each other for the time they have before Rafferty has to return to California.
I love Rafferty and Lissette. He’s a gorgeous, sexy cowboy with that slow drawl and gait that can arouse a woman in no time at all. Despite his horrible childhood, he’s a man who cares and loves with his whole heart. Lissette has a stubborn streak that has become more defined since learning about Jake’s betrayal. She’s a devoted mother who will do whatever it takes, no matter what anyone tries to demand of her, to make sure her child is protected. I enjoyed the scenes where her backbone is front and center, not letting family bully her into decisions she’s not ready or she doesn’t want to make.
This book brings back the fun of the first in the series, The Cowboy Takes a Bride, which is still my favorite, but A Cowboy for Christmas is a very, very close second. In between the fun there are heart-wrenching matters to be taken care of, a rumor mill of a small town to avoid, and a love that should never be to let go of. This book is vintage romance and a joy to read.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Lissette Moncrief is newly widowed, having just learned that she’ll not receive any benefits at all from the military – those are going to a half-brother of her husband she never knew about – and that her son is gradually but very surely going deaf due to a medical condition no doctor can do anything about. She’s in a daze when her day gets even worse, she backs into a truck in a parking lot. The only silver lining through it all is the fact the cowboy she hit is quite understanding and tells her not to worry about the accident. Another thing she doesn’t need right now, a nice – and handsome – cowboy. Lissette has a weakness for strong, sexy, and courteous cowboys.
Having just discovered his brother died in Afghanistan months ago and the man left his military benefits to him, Rafferty Jones is in Jubilee, Texas to find his sister-in-law to return the money to her. It’s hers by right and Rafferty won’t take anything that’s not his. The little fender-bender in that parking lot isn’t helping to make this a great day, so imagine his surprise when he knocks on the door of his brother’s house and that same woman who backed into his truck opens the door. He could never walk away from someone – especially a woman – in need, and Lissette definitely needs help and a friend. She won’t take the money that should be hers, she wants to finally be independent, standing on her own, so she’s opening a cowboy-themed bakery to make the money needed for future medical bills for her son. Rafferty has to respect that. And he does, just as much as he’s attracted to her.
Thrown together because of horrible circumstances puts these characters in positions that are heartbreaking. Their guilt is palpable when they think of Jake, the one who has brought them together from the grave. So Rafferty continues to take care of Lissette and her son, who he grows fonder of day by day, just as Jake wanted him to, though he has to get a tad creative to make sure she has what she deserves. Lissette blossoms when her business begins to grow, giving her the confidence and freedom she’s never had before. And she’s got feelings for Rafferty she never had for Jake, which causes such conflict for her. When they finally give in to their passion, you can feel the realness of it, the joy of it, and they decide to revel in each other for the time they have before Rafferty has to return to California.
I love Rafferty and Lissette. He’s a gorgeous, sexy cowboy with that slow drawl and gait that can arouse a woman in no time at all. Despite his horrible childhood, he’s a man who cares and loves with his whole heart. Lissette has a stubborn streak that has become more defined since learning about Jake’s betrayal. She’s a devoted mother who will do whatever it takes, no matter what anyone tries to demand of her, to make sure her child is protected. I enjoyed the scenes where her backbone is front and center, not letting family bully her into decisions she’s not ready or she doesn’t want to make.
This book brings back the fun of the first in the series, The Cowboy Takes a Bride, which is still my favorite, but A Cowboy for Christmas is a very, very close second. In between the fun there are heart-wrenching matters to be taken care of, a rumor mill of a small town to avoid, and a love that should never be to let go of. This book is vintage romance and a joy to read.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
November 1, 2012
I’m most likely going to be one of the few that thought that this was a less than stellar novel.
Lissette Moncrief’s husband had been killed in action and has left all his money to a half-brother instead of to his wife and child. Lissette is a baker and could have used that money to help her 2 year old son and grew her company that supplies wedding cake and other Texas goodies.
By accident, (literally) Rafferty and LIssette meet up in a grocery store parking lot when she hit his truck. Rafferty is in town to deliver something and you are left for a little while just sort of knowing that it is Lissette who is going to be the beneficiary of his delivery. Now this is where my dissatisfaction with this novel comes in to play…Lissette has just been told her child is going to need al sorts of special care but because of her ‘pride’ she is not going to take any of the money that really should have belonged to her.
Of course, sparks fly between Rafferty and Lissette and this is only 6 months after her husband’s death. Granted, they were not getting along very well even when he was state side and she had an idea that he was getting a little on the side. Still, only 6 months later? Oh yes Rafferty is a cowboy so perhaps that explains the reason of why the sparks are flying so soon and so thickly.
Lissette is prideful and very stubborn and Rafferty is more mild mannered and somewhat of a push over and while this may work in some stories, it failed to work for me in this one.
Now there is an interesting secondary story going on with Lissette’s mother-in-law who is holding on to a deep, dark secret that she is sure when once learned everyone will hate her for.
There is so much inner-dialoguing going on that there doesn’t seem to be anytime for real character interaction to take place. A lot of angst abounds in this novel also and can get a little tedious at times..
Normally I’m a fan of an author who gives us a character that has a physical impairment, but in this novel the female protagonist, Lissette Moncrief’s son is losing his hearing. Both his mother and late father had been carrying a rare gene that when combined leaves your child with profound and irreversible hearing loss. The author shocked me by treating this as if it were the end of the world. It is something a 2 year old will easily live with; it’s not an inoperable cancer or worse.
This was a good read but not a wonderful read, even though we do get our Happily Ever After in the end.
October 31, 2012
When I originally signed up to be on this book tour I was on a huge romance novel kick, which coincidentally always coincides with my period, and I kind of forgot about it. Then I got it in the mail and was like, oh... I hope this isn't one of those hokey romance novels where the woman just loses her breath when the cowboy whips a cow and and down on the farm loving.
Oh stop it, you know I'm judgey like that.
Fortunately, this turned out not to be like that at all and I totally loved it, finished it in the afternoon and really can say I'm a Lori Wilde fan after one book. What I love is that Lissette is not a wussy. She's a recently widowed mother of a son who she just finds out has a disability where he'll eventually become totally deaf. Which, single parent or not, that's a tough lot to handle. Her husband dies in combat and even though he wasn't the stellar husband she thought he'd be towards the end, it's still a rough situation. Then comes long lost half brother of her dead husband, Rafferty, and he just wants to do right by her and bam- it's kind of a tense situation but it obviously turns romantic.
But what I like about it is that it was actually kind of realistic. Sure, the chance of a widowed mother of a partially deaf child falling in love with her husband's long lost half brother in a few short weeks maybe isn't the most realistic, but it's better than some of the novels out there. And none of it was over the top, everything felt normal and not overly dramatic and it was just a really great book. I thought the ending with Rafferty was kind of ironic because he is portrayed as this guy who's always trying to do good by others and save others and becomes a victim himself, but I loved how there was that final twist so not everything is as smooth as some romance novels will have you believe.
So I loved it. It's a fun read, it's a fast read, and I think you'll like it. http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
Oh stop it, you know I'm judgey like that.
Fortunately, this turned out not to be like that at all and I totally loved it, finished it in the afternoon and really can say I'm a Lori Wilde fan after one book. What I love is that Lissette is not a wussy. She's a recently widowed mother of a son who she just finds out has a disability where he'll eventually become totally deaf. Which, single parent or not, that's a tough lot to handle. Her husband dies in combat and even though he wasn't the stellar husband she thought he'd be towards the end, it's still a rough situation. Then comes long lost half brother of her dead husband, Rafferty, and he just wants to do right by her and bam- it's kind of a tense situation but it obviously turns romantic.
But what I like about it is that it was actually kind of realistic. Sure, the chance of a widowed mother of a partially deaf child falling in love with her husband's long lost half brother in a few short weeks maybe isn't the most realistic, but it's better than some of the novels out there. And none of it was over the top, everything felt normal and not overly dramatic and it was just a really great book. I thought the ending with Rafferty was kind of ironic because he is portrayed as this guy who's always trying to do good by others and save others and becomes a victim himself, but I loved how there was that final twist so not everything is as smooth as some romance novels will have you believe.
So I loved it. It's a fun read, it's a fast read, and I think you'll like it. http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
October 25, 2012
Can't help but love me some Rafferty Jones...oh baby!! This book should come with a warning label, "Will Fall For Hero".
Lori Wilde does it AGAIN!! She always manages to grab my heart and play with it for a while, taunting and teasing, and then she gives it back whole again...I don't know if I can take it anymore. I loved the first two books in the Jubilee, Texas series, but I think A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS has some stiff competition for them...no pun intended...hee hee!
I simply adored this book from page one, getting sucked into Lisette Moncrief's grief and sorrow, falling in love with little Kyle and wanting to bring Jake back from the dead so that I could kill him again. But then Rafferty Jones walks, well saunters, into her life and somehow the sun is shining again. You will literally fall in love with Rafferty the moment he opens his mouth...he is everything Lisette needs and wants but doesn't think she can have.
I loved this book from start to finish, wishing that it would never end. The relationship that builds between these two is electric and I literally sat on the edge of my chair waiting for the tension to explode!!
This is a TO-READ, as well as, the other two books in the series, THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE and THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS. They will have you feeling joy and pain, will have you laughing and then crying, but isn't that what we love best about romance, the way a book can pull you so far into the story that you feel as if you are standing right there, feeling emotions right along with the characters...Lori Wilde does it to me EVERY TIME!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading!!
Lori Wilde does it AGAIN!! She always manages to grab my heart and play with it for a while, taunting and teasing, and then she gives it back whole again...I don't know if I can take it anymore. I loved the first two books in the Jubilee, Texas series, but I think A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS has some stiff competition for them...no pun intended...hee hee!
I simply adored this book from page one, getting sucked into Lisette Moncrief's grief and sorrow, falling in love with little Kyle and wanting to bring Jake back from the dead so that I could kill him again. But then Rafferty Jones walks, well saunters, into her life and somehow the sun is shining again. You will literally fall in love with Rafferty the moment he opens his mouth...he is everything Lisette needs and wants but doesn't think she can have.
I loved this book from start to finish, wishing that it would never end. The relationship that builds between these two is electric and I literally sat on the edge of my chair waiting for the tension to explode!!
This is a TO-READ, as well as, the other two books in the series, THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE and THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS. They will have you feeling joy and pain, will have you laughing and then crying, but isn't that what we love best about romance, the way a book can pull you so far into the story that you feel as if you are standing right there, feeling emotions right along with the characters...Lori Wilde does it to me EVERY TIME!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading!!
December 11, 2012
Lissette Montcrief may have lost her husband Jake in Afghanistan, but she had really lost him to the military long before his death. Finding out that her infant son, Kyle is slowly going deaf and that her husband left his life insurance and military death benefits to a half-brother she never knew of puts her into panic mode.
Struggling to figure out how she will support her son and take care of his added medical expenses. She begins her own baking business and tries to stay calm.
Upon receiving the monies from his brothers estate, Rafferty Jones knows that he can’t accept money that should for his brother’s widow and sets out to find her to give her what is rightfully hers. Rafferty is used to taking care of people and once he sets his eyes on Lissette and Kyle he knows he can’t just leave them. They need him and maybe he needs them just a little bit more.
Lissette is determined to do things on her own, Rafferty is determined to help, when these two opposites get together sparks fly and just maybe Lissette’s husband Jake knew what he was doing all along when he left his estate to his half-brother.
This is a heartwarming contemporary read. The characters are genuine and the background romance between Jake’s mother and her neighbor only adds to the story. Readers of Lori Wilde’s other Jubilee, Texas novels will certainly enjoy this latest addition.
This book is a great pic for a Christmas romance and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy after the last chapter.
A Cowboy for Christmas is currently available as a Mass Market Paperback for $7.99 or $4.37 for Kindle and $5.99 for Nook.
Struggling to figure out how she will support her son and take care of his added medical expenses. She begins her own baking business and tries to stay calm.
Upon receiving the monies from his brothers estate, Rafferty Jones knows that he can’t accept money that should for his brother’s widow and sets out to find her to give her what is rightfully hers. Rafferty is used to taking care of people and once he sets his eyes on Lissette and Kyle he knows he can’t just leave them. They need him and maybe he needs them just a little bit more.
Lissette is determined to do things on her own, Rafferty is determined to help, when these two opposites get together sparks fly and just maybe Lissette’s husband Jake knew what he was doing all along when he left his estate to his half-brother.
This is a heartwarming contemporary read. The characters are genuine and the background romance between Jake’s mother and her neighbor only adds to the story. Readers of Lori Wilde’s other Jubilee, Texas novels will certainly enjoy this latest addition.
This book is a great pic for a Christmas romance and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy after the last chapter.
A Cowboy for Christmas is currently available as a Mass Market Paperback for $7.99 or $4.37 for Kindle and $5.99 for Nook.
October 27, 2014
I read Lori's First Love Cookie Club a few years back and I loved it. This book was no different. It is what I like to call a cozy romance. It focuses on the characters rather than on a lot of sex.
Now don't get me wrong, I like a good smutty novel now and then, but at the holidays, I love books that are about PEOPLE! Lissy and Rafferty were people that were characters you could relate to. They had real problems. Lissy's son is going deaf and she lost her husband in the war in Afghanistan. Rafferty is her husband's half brother. The bastard child of Gordon Moncrief and Ameila Jones. He's had a hard life, but he's made good.
Both are strong characters determined to do what they feel is right for themselves and those they care about. You may think this may make the book slow, but it isn't . I breezed through this book in a day and loved every page.
I really loved her little boy, he was so sweet, especially as he starts learning sign language. There's a cute scene at Thanksgiving when a fight breaks out over dessert, because he signed that he wanted cake and pie.
One of the things that really draws me to Lori's books is the food. There's a whole lot of baking going on in her books and that makes me happy, especially when you get to the end and there are recipes. I can't wait to try them too!
If you love authors like Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr and Hope Ramsey, and their take on small town America, you'll love Jubilee, TX and all the people there!
Now don't get me wrong, I like a good smutty novel now and then, but at the holidays, I love books that are about PEOPLE! Lissy and Rafferty were people that were characters you could relate to. They had real problems. Lissy's son is going deaf and she lost her husband in the war in Afghanistan. Rafferty is her husband's half brother. The bastard child of Gordon Moncrief and Ameila Jones. He's had a hard life, but he's made good.
Both are strong characters determined to do what they feel is right for themselves and those they care about. You may think this may make the book slow, but it isn't . I breezed through this book in a day and loved every page.
I really loved her little boy, he was so sweet, especially as he starts learning sign language. There's a cute scene at Thanksgiving when a fight breaks out over dessert, because he signed that he wanted cake and pie.
One of the things that really draws me to Lori's books is the food. There's a whole lot of baking going on in her books and that makes me happy, especially when you get to the end and there are recipes. I can't wait to try them too!
If you love authors like Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr and Hope Ramsey, and their take on small town America, you'll love Jubilee, TX and all the people there!
November 26, 2012
Lissette had lost her husband on July 4th, He had been serving and died saving children. The story opens in the fall of the year and Lissette has just discovered their son Kyle is going deaf. To make matters worse, Rafferty, the half brother who inherited her husband's large life insurance policy instead of her, shows up.
Rafferty had come not to cause more pain but to help and to return the money he felt belonged to Lissette, not him. He is as different from his deceased half brother as night is to day. Lissette is interested even though she knows it is very wrong.
The story unfolds in touching, funny and sometimes unpredictable ways. Unlike her husband, Rafferty encourages Lissette's timidly growing self confidence when trying to build her new bakery business. Although the story has a dog, a little boy, a prize winning cutting horse and great characters it falls a little short of the warm fuzzy feeling one gets in some Christmas stories. It is however a very comfortable read.
Rafferty had come not to cause more pain but to help and to return the money he felt belonged to Lissette, not him. He is as different from his deceased half brother as night is to day. Lissette is interested even though she knows it is very wrong.
The story unfolds in touching, funny and sometimes unpredictable ways. Unlike her husband, Rafferty encourages Lissette's timidly growing self confidence when trying to build her new bakery business. Although the story has a dog, a little boy, a prize winning cutting horse and great characters it falls a little short of the warm fuzzy feeling one gets in some Christmas stories. It is however a very comfortable read.
November 15, 2012
I really enjoyed A Cowboy For Christmas. Heartwarming, charming, sad, encouraging; the story of Lissette and her young son losing his hearing, and the cowboy who steps in to help them will keep you turning the pages. A must read for the Christmas season.
December 19, 2012
I have enjoyed Lori Wilde's Jubilee, Texas series, and loved this Christmas edition! Lori captures the small Texas town atmosphere so well, and her characters are personable, warm and loving! I highly recommend this series!
December 18, 2021
4.5
Once again, Lori Wilde pleasantly surprised me with an heartbreaking and compelling story while also delivering on the sweet and warm feelings I expect from a romance novels.
Lissette Montcrief's life resemble a drama movie lately. It'll be her first Holidays since her husband died in Afghanistan and she can't help think about all that went wrong between them before he enlisted again. And now she just learned her two year-old son have genetic nonsydromic autosomal recessive progressive hearing loss. In other words, he'll be completely deaf by the time he'll start school. Lissy also learned that her husband left his life insurance to an half brother she didn't know he had.
Rancher Rafferty Jones came to Jubilee, Texas to return money he believes doesn't belong to him. He's on his way to give it back to his half brother's widow when his car is rear-ended in a grocery store parking lot and he see a woman on the verge of an emotional meltdown. As chance would have it, she's the one he was searching for, and in more way than one.
There's an instant mutual attraction between Lissy and Rafferty and I loved how they communicated a lot with their eyes. Having someone in his life who can't hear, he was there to help her and give her advice without choosing for her. Something she appreciated greatly because it gave her the chance to finally stand her ground and make her own decisions, something she didn't allow herself to do with her people before. Him having a savior complex also means she didn't know if she could trust his feelings. Is it love or does he only see a damsel in distress ? There's also her former mother-in-law who's being acting weird lately. What is she hiding? But as a mother, Lissy have to think of her son first and she'll have to decide what she thinks is the best way to learn to communicate with her little boy. All kind of different love and Lori Wilde's books are always full of heart.
Once again, Lori Wilde pleasantly surprised me with an heartbreaking and compelling story while also delivering on the sweet and warm feelings I expect from a romance novels.
Lissette Montcrief's life resemble a drama movie lately. It'll be her first Holidays since her husband died in Afghanistan and she can't help think about all that went wrong between them before he enlisted again. And now she just learned her two year-old son have genetic nonsydromic autosomal recessive progressive hearing loss. In other words, he'll be completely deaf by the time he'll start school. Lissy also learned that her husband left his life insurance to an half brother she didn't know he had.
Rancher Rafferty Jones came to Jubilee, Texas to return money he believes doesn't belong to him. He's on his way to give it back to his half brother's widow when his car is rear-ended in a grocery store parking lot and he see a woman on the verge of an emotional meltdown. As chance would have it, she's the one he was searching for, and in more way than one.
There's an instant mutual attraction between Lissy and Rafferty and I loved how they communicated a lot with their eyes. Having someone in his life who can't hear, he was there to help her and give her advice without choosing for her. Something she appreciated greatly because it gave her the chance to finally stand her ground and make her own decisions, something she didn't allow herself to do with her people before. Him having a savior complex also means she didn't know if she could trust his feelings. Is it love or does he only see a damsel in distress ? There's also her former mother-in-law who's being acting weird lately. What is she hiding? But as a mother, Lissy have to think of her son first and she'll have to decide what she thinks is the best way to learn to communicate with her little boy. All kind of different love and Lori Wilde's books are always full of heart.
December 28, 2024
BOOK REVIEW ALERT 🚨
🌟
"A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS" by Lori Wild, the spirit of the holiday season intertwines beautifully with themes of love, hope, and new beginnings. Set against the charming backdrop of a small Texas town, the story follows the journey of two protagonists who, despite their pasts, find solace and connection in each other during the most magical time of the year. Wilde masterfully captures the essence of Christmas, showcasing how the warmth of the season can heal old wounds and inspire fresh starts. As the characters navigate their personal struggles, the blossoming romance between them serves as a poignant reminder that love can emerge even in the coldest of winters, making this heartfelt tale a perfect read for anyone seeking a little extra hope and joy during the holidays.
🌟A Cowboy for Christmas
✍🏻 Lori Wilde
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Genre: Romance
🎉 Pub Day: 2012
#️⃣ Of Pages: 334
🖊️ Author of "The Keepsake Sisters" and "There Goes The Bride"
🫶🏻 " Wilde has created a rich and wonderful story about the charm of small town life combined with the power and passion of first love. Delicious!” — Robyn Carr
From the Publisher
#acowboyforchristmas #loriwilde #romance #booksmut #jubileetexas #cowboy #christmas #christmasspecial #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbook #bookreview #bossmomsread #bookobsessed #ilovebooks #library #mylibraryisbiggerthanyours #booknook
🌟
"A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS" by Lori Wild, the spirit of the holiday season intertwines beautifully with themes of love, hope, and new beginnings. Set against the charming backdrop of a small Texas town, the story follows the journey of two protagonists who, despite their pasts, find solace and connection in each other during the most magical time of the year. Wilde masterfully captures the essence of Christmas, showcasing how the warmth of the season can heal old wounds and inspire fresh starts. As the characters navigate their personal struggles, the blossoming romance between them serves as a poignant reminder that love can emerge even in the coldest of winters, making this heartfelt tale a perfect read for anyone seeking a little extra hope and joy during the holidays.
🌟A Cowboy for Christmas
✍🏻 Lori Wilde
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Genre: Romance
🎉 Pub Day: 2012
#️⃣ Of Pages: 334
🖊️ Author of "The Keepsake Sisters" and "There Goes The Bride"
🫶🏻 " Wilde has created a rich and wonderful story about the charm of small town life combined with the power and passion of first love. Delicious!” — Robyn Carr
From the Publisher
#acowboyforchristmas #loriwilde #romance #booksmut #jubileetexas #cowboy #christmas #christmasspecial #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbook #bookreview #bossmomsread #bookobsessed #ilovebooks #library #mylibraryisbiggerthanyours #booknook
January 2, 2018
A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde is a romantic story about a widow named Lissette who learns her son is going deaf, and begins effecting change in her life when she would otherwise crumble over all the loss and devastation of losing a husband and being left alone to deal with all of life’s problems. She encounters her husbands half brother Rafferty when he comes to her hometown of Jubilee. Rafferty assists Lissette with many things that she would otherwise not of been able to handle so quickly, such as teaching her son how to communicate with his handicap. A genuine love and admiration for one another brews rather quickly and the two aren’t sure if this is drowning sorrows in lust or something more substantial, only they are each sure it is love and each does not want to be the first to say it! By Christmas, Rafferty and Lissette reunite in Jubilee but will they be able to set aside fear and take a chance in love? Side note- this is not a Christmas book, it spans from Halloween to Christmas which comes at the very end but the holidays/setting are not a primary focus in this book. It does not make a difference to me because the story line is really engaging! I just love a good damsel in distress story, sexy cowboy saves the day. Happy Reading!
October 4, 2022
Lissette Moncrief is dealing with a lot right now and backing into Rafferty Jones’s pick-up truck is just the icing on the cake. What more can possibly go wrong?
Rafferty Jones is in town for one reason. As soon as he completes the task he promised himself he would keep, he’s headed back home. The little fender bender in a grocery store parking lot is just a minor inconvenience. He assures the young woman who backed into him that everything is okay, and she shouldn’t worry about the damage to his vehicle. She finally agrees with him and drives off with her young son.
Imagine his surprise when Rafferty shows up at the home of his half-brother’s widow and sees that it’s the same woman who backed into him in the parking lot. When he explains why he’s there, Lissette refuses his offer. He ends up hanging around town anyway and as the two of them get to know each other, sparks fly. But both know that nothing can come of it. She lives in Jubilee, Texas, and Rafferty’s home is in California, and he needs to be heading home soon.
I loved this heartwarming story of two lost souls finding each other, and even shed a few tears.
Rafferty Jones is in town for one reason. As soon as he completes the task he promised himself he would keep, he’s headed back home. The little fender bender in a grocery store parking lot is just a minor inconvenience. He assures the young woman who backed into him that everything is okay, and she shouldn’t worry about the damage to his vehicle. She finally agrees with him and drives off with her young son.
Imagine his surprise when Rafferty shows up at the home of his half-brother’s widow and sees that it’s the same woman who backed into him in the parking lot. When he explains why he’s there, Lissette refuses his offer. He ends up hanging around town anyway and as the two of them get to know each other, sparks fly. But both know that nothing can come of it. She lives in Jubilee, Texas, and Rafferty’s home is in California, and he needs to be heading home soon.
I loved this heartwarming story of two lost souls finding each other, and even shed a few tears.
August 9, 2017
's Christmastime in Jubilee, Texas, but Lissette Moncrief is having a hard time celebrating . . .
Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones's pick-up truck. Yes, he's a whole lot of handsome—from the tips of his boots to the top of his Stetson. But he's no Christmas present. Lissy's not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words . . . only to watch him drive away in the end.
But what Lissy doesn't know is Rafferty's in town just to meet her—and to give her a share in a windfall that doesn't rightly belong to him. At first, he just wants to do his good deed and get out. But one look at this green-eyed beauty has him deciding to turn this into a Christmas to remember . . . making promises he's determined to keep—whether she believes in them or not
Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones's pick-up truck. Yes, he's a whole lot of handsome—from the tips of his boots to the top of his Stetson. But he's no Christmas present. Lissy's not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words . . . only to watch him drive away in the end.
But what Lissy doesn't know is Rafferty's in town just to meet her—and to give her a share in a windfall that doesn't rightly belong to him. At first, he just wants to do his good deed and get out. But one look at this green-eyed beauty has him deciding to turn this into a Christmas to remember . . . making promises he's determined to keep—whether she believes in them or not
January 28, 2021
You would think with a title like this that this story would be all rainbows and cotton candy but this story had a real feel concerning a new widow and her little boy who was going deaf. Lissy Moncrief had just come from the doctors who had given the sad news about her son when she stopped at the store to get some baking needs. As hard as she tried, she could not seem to keep her mind on flour while her world was closing in around her. After her son started crying, Lissy just left and was pulling out of her parking space when she backed into a cowboy’s truck. This was all she needed after learning that her late husband, who had died in the military, had left his life insurance to a half brother that she did not know. This is a delightful story of Rafferty Jones and his quest to try and help his half brother’s widow. Great story.
December 22, 2022
Raffery comes to Jubilee Tx to give Lizzy his step brothers wife his life insurance when he was killed in the war. Lizzy wouldn’t take it. Although she really needed it as she just found out that her son was going deaf. She was trying to expand her business as a baker. Rafferty stayed to help train her cutting horse so she could get good money for him. During this time they talked and get to know each other he helped her to become strong. They felt bad because it was his brothers wife. So he left and said if we really feel something be back on Christmas Eve. So as time went by he knew he really loved her on the way back to Cali a women was stranded on the side of the road, they blindsided him and left him for dead. They found him and word got back to Lizzy Rafferty was in the hospital, was coming to Tx for her. She goes to him and they became a family.
October 3, 2017
I really like this book. Lissette was told a long time ago that she would be a cowboy for Christmas. She never expected Rafferty to show up at her door. He comes in to her life just when she needs him but she is still getting over losing her husband.
They have an attraction but just not sure they are ready to this.
Things happen and Rafferty becomes more important to her and she to him. They finally realized that they love each other and that they can have a life together.
I love the way how Rafferty treats her son, Kyle and teaches him sign language. They are made for each other.
They have an attraction but just not sure they are ready to this.
Things happen and Rafferty becomes more important to her and she to him. They finally realized that they love each other and that they can have a life together.
I love the way how Rafferty treats her son, Kyle and teaches him sign language. They are made for each other.
January 1, 2021
I’m going to give this one a solid 3.75 for originality. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, but the pace was a bit too slow for my liking and I found myself getting distracted. It was a touching small town romance between a woman and her unknown brother in law, after the passing of her husband. He helped her when a new development turns her world on its axis, and they find comfort over their shared loss. Very sweet with a little dose of heat thrown in.
I’ve decided to try another book by this author and see how I feel afterwards.
I’ve decided to try another book by this author and see how I feel afterwards.
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