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Cowboys of Eden Valley #1
The Gift of Family: An Anthology
Merry Christmas, Cowboy by Linda Ford
A wild snowstorm strands Colt Johnson in Eden Valley, where the storekeeper's daughter exudes welcome warmth. She's even offered to give the two orphans in his charge a Christmas to remember. An outcast, Colt doesn't dare hope for more�even though Becca's love would be a Christmas wish come true.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst
Cole Prescott's Gatlinburg visit will be just long enough to free his wife from their mistake of a marriage. Then he meets the daughter he hadn't known he had. Little Abby needs a father, especially at Christmastime. And all Cole wants is a chance to make a life with Rachel and Abby at last…
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2012
53 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Linda Ford
209 books359 followersLinda Ford grew up devouring books and making up stories in her head—often late at night when she couldn't sleep. But she hadn't planned to write. Instead, she dreamed of running an orphanage. In a way, that dream came true. She married, had four homemade children, adopted ten and lived (at times, endured) the dream.
Writing first took her to non-fiction human-interest articles for newspapers and eventually a non-fiction book about tuberculosis set in the 1930s and 1940s (Touched By The White Plague). But romance had always been her first love and she turned to writing love stories. She is multi-published in the CBA market.
She lives on a small ranch in Alberta, Canada, where she can see the mountains every day. She and her husband continue to enjoy their children and grandchildren.
Writing first took her to non-fiction human-interest articles for newspapers and eventually a non-fiction book about tuberculosis set in the 1930s and 1940s (Touched By The White Plague). But romance had always been her first love and she turned to writing love stories. She is multi-published in the CBA market.
She lives on a small ranch in Alberta, Canada, where she can see the mountains every day. She and her husband continue to enjoy their children and grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 12, 2024
The only thing that aggravates me more than books being part of a series and *NOT* being promoted as such (as BOTH of these are)... is books in TWO SEPARATE SERIES being put together into one bound 'book'. So... if I'm putting the series together on my shelf? Where do I put this one? With Ford's books, or with Kirst's 'Smoky Mountain' series?
A gross disservice to the reader, there.
In the name of marketing, of course.
Having vented my frustration, both stories are very good. Of course, you know you're supposed to know the people in the stories around them (after all, it's conveyed CLEARLY that there were books before either of these novellas)... but good luck to you on that.
The first is about a half-Indian man who was abused as an orphaned child, treated as a mongrel/slave... and he comes across a trapper who just put his Indigenous wife in a grave and was headed there, himself... leaving two small half-breed children. Colt takes the children to a white man town, but feels at odds with the kindness shown to him and the children by a merchant's beautiful white daughter.
I would've loved this to have been fleshed out way, WAY more, but it's a novella. The author is limited in words, so we suffer. Gotta love marketing.
The second story is about a town 'bad boy' (his daddy was a thief/liar, so he must be, right?), who is locked into a storehouse with the town princess... which equates to a shotgun marriage. They're both awkward kids and don't know how to be together, and the more he likes her, the less worthy he feels, until he runs away (leaving her pregnant).
All of that is backstory, though. He's found God, is back to 'set things right', and figures on a divorce, but then realizes he's a Daddy (and that he hasn't gotten over Rachel), so he wants to stay. The problem is that her Daddy and some others are hellbent on either running him out or killing him.
This also had a lot of promise - I would've loved to have have a FAR more fleshed out version of it. But we take what we can get, with LI. I should probably look out for a full-book equivalent of these, written by someone else. Because with LI books, the same plots are done over and over. Shouldn't be hard to find these stories, done better.
Still. If you want a quick, happy, holiday read? This is a good choice.
A gross disservice to the reader, there.
In the name of marketing, of course.
Having vented my frustration, both stories are very good. Of course, you know you're supposed to know the people in the stories around them (after all, it's conveyed CLEARLY that there were books before either of these novellas)... but good luck to you on that.
The first is about a half-Indian man who was abused as an orphaned child, treated as a mongrel/slave... and he comes across a trapper who just put his Indigenous wife in a grave and was headed there, himself... leaving two small half-breed children. Colt takes the children to a white man town, but feels at odds with the kindness shown to him and the children by a merchant's beautiful white daughter.
I would've loved this to have been fleshed out way, WAY more, but it's a novella. The author is limited in words, so we suffer. Gotta love marketing.
The second story is about a town 'bad boy' (his daddy was a thief/liar, so he must be, right?), who is locked into a storehouse with the town princess... which equates to a shotgun marriage. They're both awkward kids and don't know how to be together, and the more he likes her, the less worthy he feels, until he runs away (leaving her pregnant).
All of that is backstory, though. He's found God, is back to 'set things right', and figures on a divorce, but then realizes he's a Daddy (and that he hasn't gotten over Rachel), so he wants to stay. The problem is that her Daddy and some others are hellbent on either running him out or killing him.
This also had a lot of promise - I would've loved to have have a FAR more fleshed out version of it. But we take what we can get, with LI. I should probably look out for a full-book equivalent of these, written by someone else. Because with LI books, the same plots are done over and over. Shouldn't be hard to find these stories, done better.
Still. If you want a quick, happy, holiday read? This is a good choice.
June 26, 2017
Good book!
April 3, 2021
I enjoyed both books. You will too....
July 6, 2021
Love Karen Kirst's writing.
August 17, 2023
2 great stories of 1880 Christmas, prejudice, God guidance and believing He has our lives in His hand. Love is a beautiful thing
December 30, 2012
Two great stories by two great authors.
Merry Christmas Cowboy by Linda Ford is about a half-breed who rescues two half-breed children. They end up coming in from the storm to spend Christmas and a few days before with a white girl and her father. Colt remembers all the things he's been through all his life with not being accepted by either native americans or the white people, so he has a hard time accepting that Becca can really love him or the children in his care.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst reunites us with characters from several of her previous books. Remember Josh and Kate from "The Bridal Swap", and Julianna and Evan from "The Reluctant Outlaw"? In this story we have Cole and Rachel who were forced to marry because they were locked in a closet together overnight and that's just what they did back then. Cole had deserted Rachel about 8 months after they got married and now he's come back to release her from their marriage so she can get on with her life. Doesn't quite turn out that way though.
Both of these stories were fun to read.
Merry Christmas Cowboy by Linda Ford is about a half-breed who rescues two half-breed children. They end up coming in from the storm to spend Christmas and a few days before with a white girl and her father. Colt remembers all the things he's been through all his life with not being accepted by either native americans or the white people, so he has a hard time accepting that Becca can really love him or the children in his care.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst reunites us with characters from several of her previous books. Remember Josh and Kate from "The Bridal Swap", and Julianna and Evan from "The Reluctant Outlaw"? In this story we have Cole and Rachel who were forced to marry because they were locked in a closet together overnight and that's just what they did back then. Cole had deserted Rachel about 8 months after they got married and now he's come back to release her from their marriage so she can get on with her life. Doesn't quite turn out that way though.
Both of these stories were fun to read.
October 17, 2013
The Gift of Family Merry Christmas Cowboy / Smoky Mountain Christmas - Love Inspired Historical, No 155 Authors: Karen Kirst, Linda Ford
Merry Christmas, Cowboy by Linda Ford — A wild snowstorm strands Colt Johnson in Eden Valley, with two orphans. Becca Macpherson offered to give the two orphans a Christmas to remember. An outcast, Colt doesn't dare hope for more -- even though Becca's love would be a Christmas wish come true.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst
Cole Prescott's Gatlinburg visit will be just long enough to free his wife from their mistake of a marriage. Then he meets the daughter he hadn't known he had. Little Abby needs a father, especially at Christmastime. And all Cole wants is a chance to make a life with Rachel and Abby at last
Merry Christmas, Cowboy by Linda Ford — A wild snowstorm strands Colt Johnson in Eden Valley, with two orphans. Becca Macpherson offered to give the two orphans a Christmas to remember. An outcast, Colt doesn't dare hope for more -- even though Becca's love would be a Christmas wish come true.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst
Cole Prescott's Gatlinburg visit will be just long enough to free his wife from their mistake of a marriage. Then he meets the daughter he hadn't known he had. Little Abby needs a father, especially at Christmastime. And all Cole wants is a chance to make a life with Rachel and Abby at last
December 27, 2012
I won this book through a giveaway on Goodreads. I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with my first foray into a Cowboy/Historical Romance/Holiday themed story. The characters felt real and the settings were described perfectly. I really felt like I was back in the time period! This was such a feel-good book, I truly enjoyed it.
July 21, 2014
A wild snowstorm strands Colt Johnson in Eden Valley, where the storekeeper's daughter exudes welcome warmth. She's even offered to give the two orphans in his charge a Christmas to remember. An outcast, Colt doesn't dare hope for more—even though Becca's love would be a Christmas wish come true.
Sweetly written story about loves healing effect.
Sweetly written story about loves healing effect.
December 27, 2019
I enjoyed both of these novellas. I honestly couldn't pick a favourite between the two. I thought they were each good representations of what it means to be a Christian, open and nonjudgemental, and forgiving and trusting. I love when characters show us that they are Christ followers, and don't just pay lip service to the idea.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 4, 2013
this book was won on good reads. i feel that this was a good read, for a quiet afternoon. the charecters and settings were typical for this type of novel, and the writing style was easy to read which made it pleasent for me to read. i would recomend this to anyone who enjoys series type romance.
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: Cowboys of Eden Valley
Category: Inspirational Romance
Category: Inspirational Romance
Read
October 2, 2012Miniseries: Cowboys of Eden Valley
Category: Inspirational Romance
Category: Inspirational Romance
January 1, 2013
An easy read of great heartfelt Christmas stories.
December 10, 2012
Pretty cover and perfect plane reads.
February 9, 2015
Sweet historical western romance with no Heat. I like both of the authors in this book. Great little Christmas stories.
March 19, 2016
Very good series....
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews