The Christmas Cowboy

Montana Made #2

by Eve Gaddy

A Marriage of Convenience…or is it?

Rancher Liam McFarland has always been attracted to Val Fletcher, his best friend’s little sister, but thought she was too young for him. But when Val confides that she’s pregnant and the father has rejected her and the baby, Liam proposes and offers to raise the baby as his.

Having loved Liam all her life but knowing he doesn’t feel the same, Val resists Liam’s marriage offer though she knows her father will never accept having an unmarried, pregnant daughter living on and working the family’s ranch. But when Liam shares how the marriage will help him solve a problem, Val agrees, hoping for a Christmas miracle—that Liam will fall in love with her.

Their marriage is everything Val dreamed of –almost–until the baby’s biological father intervenes determined to destroy their newfound happiness. Val knows she must leave to protect Liam. Can Liam convince Val that he’s fallen in love with her and that the best Christmas present of all would be to face the future together?

Genres: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Eve Gaddy is the award winning, national bestselling author of forty novels and novellas.

Eve 's books have won and been nominated for awards from Romantic Times, Golden Quill, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Texas Gold, Daphne Du Maurier and more. She was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance as well as winning the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year. Eve’s books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been published in several languages and many foreign countries.

Eve’s writing career began when she was in search of the perfect job and a friend challenged her to write a novel. Naturally, she thought of romance, since that is one of her favorite things to read.

Eve loves her family, spring and fall in east Texas, the Colorado mountains, dogs, chocolate, books, and electronics. She enjoys cooking except when she is creating, and has been known to tell her husband that is what takeout was created for.

Eve also loves a happy ending. That's why she writes romance.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a lovely Christmas romance, a romance that will have you smiling as neighbours Val Fletcher and Liam McFarland work their way to a HEA but will they find it?

Liam is a rancher and has steered clear of any serious relationship since the disaster with his last partner when he finds his best friend’s sister Val crying and steps in to offer a shoulder and learns that she is pregnant and the father wants nothing to do with them, he proposes marriage and is very happy to bring the baby up as his own, marriage will also help him as well, he has always felt an attraction but he felt she was too young and also the fact that she is his best friend’s sister.

Val cannot believe that the man she has loved forever has stepped in to help her and offered to marry her she is unsure whether to accept when Liam explains that it will help him as well, will her dream come true that he will fall in love with her, after all it is Christmas time and miracles do happen.

Val and Liam are moving ahead in such a beautiful way until the baby’s father steps in and starts to cause problems Val is beside herself and is sure the only thing to do is break up but that will break her heart, Liam is not having any of that because he has fallen in love with her but trying to convince her is very hard, will they get through this and find the love and happiness they deserve?

I did thoroughly enjoy this beautiful story, it is sensual and romantic and Christmassy and it is one that I highly recommend, fabulous characters and wonderful setting.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my copy to read and review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Cowboy is a wonderful holiday romance. It is the second book in Eve Gaddy’s wonderful Montana Made series. The book is set in Marietta Montana at Christmas. As the book opens, Liam McFarland is winding down after his brother’s wedding. He comes upon his best friend’s little sister Val Fletcher who is crying. She tells Liam she is pregnant and when she told the father, he accused her of lying and refused to take any responsibility. She is afraid of how her father will react. Liam offers to marry her and be a father to her baby. He has a motive as well, he wants his mom to marry her long time boyfriend. Val accepts his proposal and the two make plans to get married. They tell their brothers and her best friend who stand up for them. After a short honeymoon, they return home and tell their parents. It is known by everyone but Liam that Val has always been in love with him. Both are interested in having sex but neither makes a move to initiate it. Liam has always been attracted to Val but the 8 year age difference and the bro code didn’t allow him to act on it.

As time goes by, the couple talk and make a life on the ranch. They share several passionate kisses but don’t go further. Finally, they discuss their attraction and decide to consummate the marriage. Both have strong feelings for the other but neither will mention it. Liam decides to take Val on romantic dates to show his feelings. Val has a run in with the biological father and he threatens to go for custody once he learns she’s married to his archenemy. She is afraid of what he’s capable of and debates divorcing Liam to protect her baby. They tell their parents about the baby and admit that Liam is not the father. There is a lot of angst for the couple.

This is a fantastic story with lots of sweet romance and enjoyable interactions between the friends and family. The suspense with the biological father is exciting to read. I love how well Val and Liam fit as a couple. It is fun seeing the other McFarland family members that we met in the prior book. I love the inclusion of all the Christmas activities in Marietta. This is another 5 star book that I highly recommend.

I was fortunate to receive this ARC from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam McFarlane and Val Fletcher have known each other for ever. Val has had a crush on Liam since she was just 13 and Liam has strong feelings for Val, but he was best friends with her brother and their was a code, you don't touch your BFFs little sister. But that all changes when Liam finds out that Val is pregnant and that the father of her child does not want her or the baby. Liam proposes marriage and Val agrees, because she does not want to tell her father. At first Val rejects this proposal, but she changes her mind and little by little the truth comes out.
They went into this knowing that keeping the truth about the baby and their true feelings would eventually when they made it a true marriage.

This was a lovely and spicy romance with both Val and Liam trying to hide their true feelings from each other and both eventually can't keep their hands off each other. Lots of fun to read and a little spicy enough to melt the snow and lots of holiday spirit that the town of Marietta brings to the season.
Eve Gaddy always give her readers a great story, throw in the holiday season and you have a great read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Cowboy is a fabulous holiday cowboy romance with charm, suspense, and most definitely a page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Christmas Cowboy to the point where I did NOT want to set the book down for a single second. The Christmas Cowboy is a Montana Made romance book, which I found to be an absolute masterpiece of a holiday cowboy romance. The Christmas Cowboy is the amazing story of Liam McFarland and Val Fletcher who are fabulously well-developed and perfectly executed throughout this fascinating book. I love that Liam and Val have a happily ever after with them being together and bringing a baby girl into the world. The Christmas Cowboy is the first book that I have read by Author Eve Gaddy. Author Eve Gaddy has created a breathtaking Christmas cowboy romance which has a sensational plot, spectacular characters, and an outstanding outcome for the main characters. I would most definitely give The Christmas Cowboy as a recommendation for anyone whose looking for an amazing holiday cowboy romance. I’m looking forward to reading more amazing books written by Eve Gaddy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in Montana and this time the story belongs to rancher Liam McFarland and Val Fletcher.
Liam and Val have known each other for years since his best friend is Val’s brother. He’s been attracted to Val but not only was she his best friend’s sister and that would desetroy the bro code, but also, at the time, she was too young. Meanwhile Val, has been in love with him most of her life.
When Val finds herself single and pregnant, with the father not wanting to get involved, she is beyond stressed out. Especially since her father is very religious and strict.
Liam sees this as the perfect opportunity to not only help her but also help his mother, by proposing marriage.
What starts out as a “marriage of convenience” with an end date, soon becomes much more.
What happens when true feelings develop? Will they confess their love to each other? When things seem to be going their way, the bio father shows up to create problems.
In the end , will they get their true HEA?
This was an entertaining story about family, and new beginnings.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Gwen Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet and touching love story this is. It might have started out as a marriage of convenience but boy that did change. Liam McFarland has always been attracted to Val Fletcher, but she is his best friend Riley's little sister. But when he found her in the barn crying he knew he wanted to help her. Val confides to him that she is pregnant and the father wants nothing to do with her or the baby. He says it is not his fault the condom broke. They talk for a while and then Liam suggests that they get married and he will raise the baby as his own. Finally Val agrees knowing this is the only answer as her dad is going to explode if he finds out she is unwed and pregnant.

No one knows but has loved Liam since she was 13 years old so this is a dream come true for her she just wishes it was under different circumstances. Maybe they will grow to love each other in time. They go to a neighboring town and get married and everything seems to be perfect until the baby's biological father decides he wants custody of the baby.

So what will happen from here? Will Liam and Val stay together? Who will end up with the baby?

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in this series. Liam is at his brother's Logan wedding to Cici, the girl he brought out to the ranch for himself. But nothing clicked for them. He notices that Val has gone outside , so he looks for her and finds her crying in the barn. She tells him she is pregnant from a one night stand and a broken condom. She tells him that the father is refusing to do anything and states that it could be anybodies. Liam tries to help her by offering to marry her and be a father to her child. After they marry , they now have to work on their own feelings and needs. Having to tell the families that they married and the support from the families is wonderful. Always good to have his brothers and the rest of the families to show up in this continuation of the series. And don't forget the trouble caused by the return of the baby's father. Lots of steamy scenes, action, family and twists. Can't wait for the next one. Would strongly recommend this story and this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Liam finds his neighbor and best friend’s sister sobbing in his horse barn, he instinctively wants to help her. He’s always been attracted to Valerie, but knew Ryan wouldn’t like it, plus she was too young for him. She’s not a little girl any more, she’s a beautiful woman. Val confesses she’s pregnant after a one night stand and the baby father refused to beIieve it and told her to have an abortion. She was on her own. Her father is very strict and she’s afraid how he will react. Liam offers to marry her and raise the baby as his own. That way it will get his mother off his back and allow her to marry her long time boyfriend. Val has been in love with Liam most her life and agreed to his proposal hoping he would fall in love with her too. This was a great read with a storyline that had all the feels. The characters were real and believable. I loved Liam and Val’s story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Montana Made Series should have been rancher Liam McFarland’s HEA but it was not to be. How wonderful that he does get his in Eve Gaddy’s The Christmas Cowboy, the second book. I would not have wanted him to wait until the end of the series, he is such a great guy and deserves to love and be loved. Proposing to Val Fletcher, his best friend’s little sister show just how great he is. He does it with open arms and an open heart even though he is thinking a baby and friendship at first. Why, because Val is all grown up now and pregnant. The baby’s father’s loss is going to be Liam’s gain, I just knew that was going to all work out for Liam, Val and the baby, even though there were bumps in the road as the story progress.

A marriage of convenience at Christmas and a precious life to come. A delightful read making you believe that happy ending can happen in this world. Read today.

[SOMDReigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

They’ve been ranch neighbors since childhood. She’s loved him since she was a teen, he was always aware of her but she’s his best friend’s sister and a bit younger than him. She is pregnant from a one-night stand and petrified of her father’s reaction. He offers to marry to help her and to help him get his mother off his back.
What follows is the angst as neither thinks the other is attracted to them, town gossips, and former relationships causing trouble.
I loved the relationships and support of their brothers and close friends. Liam is the ultimate romance hero cowboy – sexy, dependable, trustworthy, hard worker, and protective. This is an easy read with a Christmas setting as Liam and Val find their marriage of convenience turn into a marriage filled with love.

arc received via publisher

[DeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story. Of course it was set in Marietta so it was in a beautiful little town. Liam and Val had a pretty steamy relationship. There was a lot of Christmas events. Made you feel like Christmas is right around the corner. 😉
Valarie has a one night stand and finds herself pregnant. The father wants nothing to do with Valarie or the baby. Liam finds Valarie crying and wants to do anything he can to help her. Her brother is his best friend so he’s held his self at bay for that reason and the fact that there is a bit of an age difference between them. That being said, he definitely could not walk away from Valarie and leave her to the devastation she was feeling.

I highly recommend this book and I hope it’ll bring you the same joy that it brought me.

Thank you to Tule publishing for allowing me to read and review this book for you in return from my honest opinion.

[Denise Schenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val Fletcher has always had a crush on rancher Liam McFarland. Liam finds Val in his barn crying after his brother's wedding. It seems that Val is pregnant from a one-night stand and the father is denying it's his baby. Liam wants to marry and have a family and his mother has been pushing him to get married.
So, Liam offers to marry Val because her father would not accept her being an unwed mother. As they grow closer after having eloped, they are finding they do have feelings for each other until the baby's father intervenes. Seems the baby daddy hates Liam and is now going to cause problems for the couple.
Wonderful story of finding love with the right one and facing your problems together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with Liam at the Wedding reception of his brother Logan and Cici (Liam's "mail order Bride" who we met in The Wrong Brother) brooding over the fact that he'll never find a wife. He finds Val in tears-eight years younger and his best friend's sister she seemed off limits to him but when Val shares her dilemma Liam proposes to her. The first half of the book was a frustrating slow burn between Liam and Val- should they sleep together or not. Once they did the deed it paved the way for some hot, steamy scenes and a satisfying conclusion to the story as they navigate their feelings for one another and the task of becoming parents. The magic of Christmas, the joy of a newborn and a sexy cowboy make this a fun romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Cowboy by Eve Gaddy, book two in the Mountain Made series, is a sweet, heartwarming, and moving story, friendship, romance, and love. While at his brother's Logan wedding to Cici, Liam McFarland notices that Val Fletcher, his neighbor and best friend’s sister, has gone outside. He finds her sobbing in his horse barn and instinctively knows he wants to help her. He’s always been attracted to Val, but knew Ryan wouldn’t like it, plus she was too young for him. Val confesses that she’s pregnant after a one night stand and the baby father refused to believe it and told her to get rid of it. She was on her own. Her father is very strict and she’s afraid how he will react. Liam offers to marry her and raise the baby as his own. It was the perfection solution to getting his mother off his back, and able to finally marry her long time boyfriend. Val has been in love with Liam most her life and agreed to his proposal hoping he would fall in love with her too.

After they marry, Val and Liam try to hide their true feelings from each other, but eventually talk about their needs, and feelings; unable to keep their hands off each other, making this a true marriage. When the sleazy baby-daddy shows up, trying to cause trouble, Liam and Val confront him, requesting that he sign away his rights. This was a wonderful story about family, new beginnings, holiday magic, and enough heat to melt the snow. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val Fletcher took the chance on the wrong man and found herself pregnant. Her old-fashioned father might kill her. When rancher Liam McFarland finds her crying, he offers her a marriage of convenience. Liam has been attracted to Val for years but held back since she is eight years younger than him and more importantly the sister of his best friend. Morning sickness and concerns about each other impacts their marriage. I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love this book and the series. I love how caring Val and Liam are and how well they mesh together.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Cowboy ~ Montana Born #2 by Eve Gaddy

Publisher Description
A Marriage of Convenience…or is it?

Liam McFarland and Val Fletcher have had feelings for each other for a long time. Liam is 8 years older than Val and is best friends with her brother Riley, so they are off limits until they aren't.
During Logan's wedding, Liam finds Val crying in the family barn. He goes to comfort her, only be be told that she is pregnant and the baby's father doesn't want anything to do with her. So Liam, the noble man that he is asks Val to marry him.

A wonderful brilliant-written story, that has characters you fall in love with from the start. The way the story has been written by Eve brings the whole story to life. I was engaged from the start and could not put the book down. I highly recommend this book to all and of course, the first book, which is Logan's story.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Inspirational, Original, Page-turner, Romantic, Realistic, Marriage of Convenience, Wonderful characters and Marietta Montana :)

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam has been looking at his best friend's sister with interest but as she's younger than him and he doesn't want to upset his friend he's tried to ignore her. Then he encounters her in the barn, she's sobbing. He finds out what the matter is.
Val has loved Liam for years but hopes he doesn't know. They come to an arrangement and all seems well, but they're not good at communicating with each other! Can they tell the other how they feel?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Another great read from Eve

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas Cowboy is book 2 in the Montana Made series by Eve Gaddy 4.5 stars

Liam and Val have known each other since childhood, both have feelings that they have kept hidden from each other and he’s been best friend’s with her brother so she’s off limits. Things change when he finds out her secret and a marriage of convenience happens…can they turn it into a real marriage…only time will tell..

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from the Tule Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Val and Liam when she has found out she's pregnant but the father doesn't want she or the baby. He proposes a marriage of convenience so she doesn't have to tell her religious parents about what's happened. What neither knows is that they have had feeling for each other for a long time. Soon the marriage of convenience becomes much more through the twists and turns of the book. This is a wonderful Christmas story about family and learning about each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Val. Hes her brothers best friend and older. Shes always been in love with Liam. When she tells Liam shes pregnant and the father doesnt want anything to do with them Liam tells her he will marry her and raise the baby. But the real father is making trouble because he doesnt like Liam. After a lot of truths are revealed this couple may have their Christmas miricle. This is a feel good family story for the holidays.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hang onto your hats people because this romance read is taking off fast with no slowing down. I wish I could give this book by Eve more than just five stars because it is an excellent romance story and easy to fall in love with the characters. In fact, I think it's so great of a love story it has a wonderful insight to the characters romance that keeps you glued to the pages. I love the way the cover grabs your attention right away as well.

[Donnajo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

I was hoping to enjoy The Christmas Cowboy by Eve Gaddy as much as I liked the first book in the Montana Made series and I did enjoy it just as much if not more than the first book. I liked that we got to visit some of the same characters plus a few new ones in The Christmas Cowboy. You can't go wrong with reading Eve Gaddy's books you always get a great storyline.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt marriage of convenience.

Val was always off limits to Liam because Val’s brother was Liam’s best friend. But when Val finds herself pregnant and confides in Liam, he vows to help her out by marrying her. I really enjoyed this emotional story. It showed all the struggles and emotions that they went through on their journey to finding their happily ever after. It’s a wonderful story that I highly recommend.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val���s one night stand was a piece of work and he continues to be a problem throughout the book. Liam proposes marriage when she tells him he’s pregnant. They’ve had romantic feelings for a while but neither admitted it because she’s his best friend’s younger sister. Liam romances her but she still has trouble believing that he really wants her and is not just being noble especially when the baby’s father is spreading rumors and trying to break them up.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Liam’s and Val"s story. Val has been in love with Liam since she was a child, truth be told, I believe the same was true for Liam. It just took him a little longer to see it. I'm really enjoying the McFarland family,looking forward to Connors story. I'm also glad mom (Maureen) will get a second chance at love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Val have both had feelings for each other for a long time. Neither acted on their attraction for different reasons. When Val ends up pregnant and alone Liam steps in and gives her a way out. What starts out as a marriage of convivence soon becomes so much more. I loved everything about this book. It was a beautifully written story. Highly recommend. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marriage of convenience is on for pregnant Val and Liam. For Val, it is a way for her baby to be born in marriage, just not to the biological father. For Liam, it is a way to persuade his widowed mother to remarry. Things are great for Val and Liam until the baby’s father starts making huge waves.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining rancher, marriage of convenience, romance book that grabs your attention and holds it from beginning to end. The storyline is intriguing as the elements unfold. The characters are well written with depth to the personalities and strong chemistry together. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One night and her world is turned upside down. Liam,whom she's loved for ever , suggests they get married . Maybe he'll begin to love her back and not just see her and the baby as a responsibility he has to take care of.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely story with Val and Liam. They are neighbors and he's her brothers bf. She finds out she's pregnant from a one night stand. He offers her a marriage of convenience. She excepts. When they marry their emotions grow. Enjoyed their story. Received a free copy.