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McCabe Multiples #2
Lone Star Christmas
synopsis unavailable
Hardcover
First published December 1, 2014
About the author
Cathy Gillen Thacker
385 books107 followersDear Readers,
The love stories in my family have always been fodder for romance novels.
My maternal grandmother and grandfather simultaneously ran a business together and raised four daughters, long before it was an accepted thing to do. Grandpa O’Dell ran the gas station and the barber shop; Grandma O’Dell managed the grocery and cooked for customers. They were true partners and madly in love and parted, tragically, way too soon when he succumbed to cancer when he was in his early fifties. Grandma grieved deeply but eventually picked herself up, started a new career as a cafeteria chef, and eventually found deep romantic love and happiness again, in the form of a second marriage.
Read more here...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 27, 2016
Callie is a young widow with a two-year-old son. Nash is her neighbor.
Okay.
Nash really started out on the wrong foot with me by being a pig. When Callie comes over to his place to complain about the noise he and his men are making with the chainsaws, all Nash can do is look around for hermaster husband.
"Just out of curiosity, ma'am, does your HUSBAND know what you're up to?"
For a moment, his uninvited visitor seemed caught off guard. Perplexed, almost. Then she stiffened and squared her shoulders, even more militantly. "For your information, cowboy, I don't need 'permission' from anyone."
Amused, he looked her over slowly, head to toe. "Then your husband wouldn't MIND you creating a ruckus?"
Another long, thoughtful pause. Followed by a glimmer of inscrutable emotion in her eyes. "No," she said finally. And without another word, left it at that.
Which meant what? he wondered. Her husband was used to her temperamental ways? Or was just so weak he had no say? Her cagey expression gave no clue. Nash knew one thing, however. If she were HIS woman he wouldn't want her out here, stirring up trouble with a group of cattle and horse wranglers temporarily turned lumberjacks.
Okay... Listen, hombre, she's a woman - not a stray dog. I'm really baffled here. All he can think about is who owns her and why he isn't curbing her better. Is her owner weak, too weak to control his own property? Nash certainly knows how to control his women and sneers at 'weaker' men who allow their women to wander into other males' territory, which as you know is just inviting rape and possible death.
I mean, this book is written in 2014 and ostensibly is taking place in 2014. This isn't the Dark Ages. He isn't a werewolf. This isn't some future erotica novel where all women are sex slaves, so... WTF? Am I supposed to LIKE this guy? Think he's attractive? Oh, hell no.
This just continues. Like the next day when she shows up at his house to apologize with her little son and some homemade food.
If anyone had accompanied Callie for the mea culpa, Nash would have expected it to be her husband. But then, maybe Mr. Grimes didn't know what his little woman had been up to.
I mean, I just can't with this shit. I know this might be a revelation to Nash, but women are people, people who are independently mobile and capable of speaking, walking, and making decisions for themselves. I know, I know, this might be too radical an idea for his brain to handle, but someone's got to tell him. Also, some women are *gasp*unowned without husbands! And, even more shocking, some women are married to men who treat them as equals and fellow human beings!!! They can even make decisions and act for themselves without getting permission from their masters husbands!!!! Mind-blowing, right?
Then, we've got another problem with the book, which is everyone's complete disrespect and lack of compassion towards Callie, a young recent widow.
"I still think you're selling yourself short," Maggie told her. "You're still young enough to marry again and have another baby or two."
That's her sister.
"This is exactly why you've got to think about remarrying," Doris was telling Callie.
That's her dead husband's parents, who are strongly pressuring her to marry again and wonder why she didn't do it yet.
Then we have Callie's own parents, who seemingly want her to grieve forever.
It all makes me sick. I don't know how these people were raised, but it's considered bad form to tell widows that they should remarry and that if they don't they are wasting their lives, damaging their children, and being stupid. Seriously, Callie is told this over and over again in the novel. And she never tells these people what I WANTED her to tell them, which is: "Fuck off!" Goodness gracious. I can't even WRAP MY HEAD around how insensitive and rude and fucked-up it is to tell someone who has lost her husband to "just move on" and "remarry already" and "your son needs a father, just marry the first man who shows interest" etc. etc. Do you have no compassion? Do you have no respect?!!? What a bunch of assholes.
It makes sense for Nash to be saying this to her, I guess, since he thinks all women should be leashed - and he also is trying really hard to get into those panties - but I understand it a lot less coming from her various family members. Do none of them have any compassion for her? Do none of them think she's capable of making her own decisions? Do none of them realize that she really loved her husband and is grieving his death? Jumpin' Jehoshaphat. o.O
Nash also talks to her very disrespectfully, like when she turns down his advances and he's just like, "So, you're never having sex again?" WOW. Kick him out of your house immediately (she had invited him over for dinner.) I don't know many women who would tolerate being spoken to this way by some man, and I know even less men who think they have a right to talk like this to a woman without getting a beat-down. Thacker keeps being like, "Oh, Texas gentlemen, blah blah blah" and I'm like "You have got to be kidding me. This guy is as far from a gentleman I've ever seen. And that's not a compliment."
Callie nodded, a lump in her throat. It had been a long time since she had been looked after by a man.
I think I'm supposed to be charmed by his offer to "have her back" and "come over any time day or night to help," when these are obviously less "support" on his part and more desperate attempts to get her to sleep with him. It's disgusting. I can't stand disrespectful men, I can't stand them. ARGH.
Then we have her two-year-old son, who forms a quick attachment to Nash and wants him as his new daddy. I think that as a mother Callie would be terrified by this and shut that relationship down quickly (especially since Nash is so icky) but instead she's like "strong male figures in my son's life" and "he needs a man around" and I'm like, "Not this man!!!!" UGH. Also, just because your TWO YEAR OLD son who can't even form complete sentences thinks you should marry someone doesn't mean you actually have to do it. Fuck. This goes double for how the kid is treated in the book. I mean, I understand Callie feels guilty that Brian is growing up without a father, but you don't give in to every request from a two-year-old. For example, if he asks for a dog, you say, "Maybe when he's older." You don't just get it for him. o.O
Then, later, the book wraps up with Nash being very upset Callie won't introduce him as her boyfriend to her friends and family. He hates being kept on the DL and he hates thinking of himself being used for sex by her.
How's the sex, Carmen?
The sex is fine, except for the fact that I despise this man and really don't want to think about going to bed with him.
Also, he fucks her up against a tree at one point. Obviously the author has no idea what this is really like: painful as hell. Very not enjoyable. Avoid this activity.
Three, he goes down on her but doesn't finish the job!!!! ARGH!!!! That makes me very irritated. I'm annoyed. ANNOYED.
Can you tell I didn't like this guy? But it's not like Thacker is bad at writing sex, she's fine. She's only bad at writing attractive men, apparently.
Tl;dr - A recent widow is pressured by everyone from her 75-year-old parents-in-law to her 2-year-old son to remarry, even though she isn't ready. She meets an absolute pig of a man and eventually is forced to make him Boyfriend due to social pressure. Highly depressing.
1 real star, 1 romance star.
Okay.
Nash really started out on the wrong foot with me by being a pig. When Callie comes over to his place to complain about the noise he and his men are making with the chainsaws, all Nash can do is look around for her
"Just out of curiosity, ma'am, does your HUSBAND know what you're up to?"
For a moment, his uninvited visitor seemed caught off guard. Perplexed, almost. Then she stiffened and squared her shoulders, even more militantly. "For your information, cowboy, I don't need 'permission' from anyone."
Amused, he looked her over slowly, head to toe. "Then your husband wouldn't MIND you creating a ruckus?"
Another long, thoughtful pause. Followed by a glimmer of inscrutable emotion in her eyes. "No," she said finally. And without another word, left it at that.
Which meant what? he wondered. Her husband was used to her temperamental ways? Or was just so weak he had no say? Her cagey expression gave no clue. Nash knew one thing, however. If she were HIS woman he wouldn't want her out here, stirring up trouble with a group of cattle and horse wranglers temporarily turned lumberjacks.
Okay... Listen, hombre, she's a woman - not a stray dog. I'm really baffled here. All he can think about is who owns her and why he isn't curbing her better. Is her owner weak, too weak to control his own property? Nash certainly knows how to control his women and sneers at 'weaker' men who allow their women to wander into other males' territory, which as you know is just inviting rape and possible death.
I mean, this book is written in 2014 and ostensibly is taking place in 2014. This isn't the Dark Ages. He isn't a werewolf. This isn't some future erotica novel where all women are sex slaves, so... WTF? Am I supposed to LIKE this guy? Think he's attractive? Oh, hell no.
This just continues. Like the next day when she shows up at his house to apologize with her little son and some homemade food.
If anyone had accompanied Callie for the mea culpa, Nash would have expected it to be her husband. But then, maybe Mr. Grimes didn't know what his little woman had been up to.
I mean, I just can't with this shit. I know this might be a revelation to Nash, but women are people, people who are independently mobile and capable of speaking, walking, and making decisions for themselves. I know, I know, this might be too radical an idea for his brain to handle, but someone's got to tell him. Also, some women are *gasp*
Then, we've got another problem with the book, which is everyone's complete disrespect and lack of compassion towards Callie, a young recent widow.
"I still think you're selling yourself short," Maggie told her. "You're still young enough to marry again and have another baby or two."
That's her sister.
"This is exactly why you've got to think about remarrying," Doris was telling Callie.
That's her dead husband's parents, who are strongly pressuring her to marry again and wonder why she didn't do it yet.
Then we have Callie's own parents, who seemingly want her to grieve forever.
It all makes me sick. I don't know how these people were raised, but it's considered bad form to tell widows that they should remarry and that if they don't they are wasting their lives, damaging their children, and being stupid. Seriously, Callie is told this over and over again in the novel. And she never tells these people what I WANTED her to tell them, which is: "Fuck off!" Goodness gracious. I can't even WRAP MY HEAD around how insensitive and rude and fucked-up it is to tell someone who has lost her husband to "just move on" and "remarry already" and "your son needs a father, just marry the first man who shows interest" etc. etc. Do you have no compassion? Do you have no respect?!!? What a bunch of assholes.
It makes sense for Nash to be saying this to her, I guess, since he thinks all women should be leashed - and he also is trying really hard to get into those panties - but I understand it a lot less coming from her various family members. Do none of them have any compassion for her? Do none of them think she's capable of making her own decisions? Do none of them realize that she really loved her husband and is grieving his death? Jumpin' Jehoshaphat. o.O
Nash also talks to her very disrespectfully, like when she turns down his advances and he's just like, "So, you're never having sex again?" WOW. Kick him out of your house immediately (she had invited him over for dinner.) I don't know many women who would tolerate being spoken to this way by some man, and I know even less men who think they have a right to talk like this to a woman without getting a beat-down. Thacker keeps being like, "Oh, Texas gentlemen, blah blah blah" and I'm like "You have got to be kidding me. This guy is as far from a gentleman I've ever seen. And that's not a compliment."
Callie nodded, a lump in her throat. It had been a long time since she had been looked after by a man.
I think I'm supposed to be charmed by his offer to "have her back" and "come over any time day or night to help," when these are obviously less "support" on his part and more desperate attempts to get her to sleep with him. It's disgusting. I can't stand disrespectful men, I can't stand them. ARGH.
Then we have her two-year-old son, who forms a quick attachment to Nash and wants him as his new daddy. I think that as a mother Callie would be terrified by this and shut that relationship down quickly (especially since Nash is so icky) but instead she's like "strong male figures in my son's life" and "he needs a man around" and I'm like, "Not this man!!!!" UGH. Also, just because your TWO YEAR OLD son who can't even form complete sentences thinks you should marry someone doesn't mean you actually have to do it. Fuck. This goes double for how the kid is treated in the book. I mean, I understand Callie feels guilty that Brian is growing up without a father, but you don't give in to every request from a two-year-old. For example, if he asks for a dog, you say, "Maybe when he's older." You don't just get it for him. o.O
Then, later, the book wraps up with Nash being very upset Callie won't introduce him as her boyfriend to her friends and family. He hates being kept on the DL and he hates thinking of himself being used for sex by her.
How's the sex, Carmen?
The sex is fine, except for the fact that I despise this man and really don't want to think about going to bed with him.
Also, he fucks her up against a tree at one point. Obviously the author has no idea what this is really like: painful as hell. Very not enjoyable. Avoid this activity.
Three, he goes down on her but doesn't finish the job!!!! ARGH!!!! That makes me very irritated. I'm annoyed. ANNOYED.
Can you tell I didn't like this guy? But it's not like Thacker is bad at writing sex, she's fine. She's only bad at writing attractive men, apparently.
Tl;dr - A recent widow is pressured by everyone from her 75-year-old parents-in-law to her 2-year-old son to remarry, even though she isn't ready. She meets an absolute pig of a man and eventually is forced to make him Boyfriend due to social pressure. Highly depressing.
1 real star, 1 romance star.
April 4, 2024
Read this so quickly!! I absolutely love a romance 😍
Read
December 1, 2014"This second McCabe Multiples is a lovely, emotional story that brings to life that Christmas feeling" (RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: McCabe Multiples
Miniseries: McCabe Multiples
May 11, 2015
Good story. Callie is a widow with a two year old son. She moved to the area to start her life over after losing her husband. The holidays are very hard for her, but she's doing her best to give Brian the best Christmas she can. She has started a ranch and corporate retreat and is ready to welcome her first guests when Nash's Christmas tree farm kicks into high gear. Suddenly the noise looks like it could kill her business before it really gets started.
The initial meeting between Nash and Callie was pretty fiery. Nash and his crew are cutting down trees, trying to fulfill a large order, when Callie arrives hot under the collar. She confronts Nash, telling him that he has to stop making so much noise and so on. Rather than being angry, Nash is pretty amused by her and basically tells her to stuff it. Later that day, Callie arrives at his place with her son to apologize and bring him a welcome dinner. After being invited to stay for dinner, they manage to work out a compromise. Nash is attracted to Callie, but thinks she is married, so tries to ignore it.
After inviting Nash and his crew to join them for Thanksgiving, Callie realizes that she's attracted to Nash also. But losing her husband devastated her and she's not ready to risk her heart again. Once Nash discovers that there's no husband in the picture, he feels free to pursue her.
I really liked Nash. He has tragedy and loss in his own background, but he has made the decision not to let his grief run his life. I loved seeing how he connected with Callie's son. The more time he spends with both of them, the deeper his feelings get for Callie. I liked seeing the way he kept up his pursuit, working to overcome her fears, even though he nearly gave up at one point.
Callie had built up some serious walls around her heart. She's really afraid that if she gives in to love again it could totally destroy her, so she tries to keep Nash at a distance. Unfortunately for her, he's determined to get past those walls. She tries to keep him to a physical relationship only, but can't hide from herself that she's falling for him. When Nash pushes a little too hard for more than she's ready for, it scares her into withdrawing from him. I loved seeing her finally open up to him about her fears, and how they worked things out together. I loved the surprise she had for him in the epilogue.
One of the best things about the book was Callie's son Brian. He was a real little sweetheart and he took to Nash right away. I loved seeing the way that he brought Callie and Nash closer together. I had fun seeing the way he would think things out before making a decision. He was also definitely his mother's son, as once he had decided something it was really hard to change his mind.
The initial meeting between Nash and Callie was pretty fiery. Nash and his crew are cutting down trees, trying to fulfill a large order, when Callie arrives hot under the collar. She confronts Nash, telling him that he has to stop making so much noise and so on. Rather than being angry, Nash is pretty amused by her and basically tells her to stuff it. Later that day, Callie arrives at his place with her son to apologize and bring him a welcome dinner. After being invited to stay for dinner, they manage to work out a compromise. Nash is attracted to Callie, but thinks she is married, so tries to ignore it.
After inviting Nash and his crew to join them for Thanksgiving, Callie realizes that she's attracted to Nash also. But losing her husband devastated her and she's not ready to risk her heart again. Once Nash discovers that there's no husband in the picture, he feels free to pursue her.
I really liked Nash. He has tragedy and loss in his own background, but he has made the decision not to let his grief run his life. I loved seeing how he connected with Callie's son. The more time he spends with both of them, the deeper his feelings get for Callie. I liked seeing the way he kept up his pursuit, working to overcome her fears, even though he nearly gave up at one point.
Callie had built up some serious walls around her heart. She's really afraid that if she gives in to love again it could totally destroy her, so she tries to keep Nash at a distance. Unfortunately for her, he's determined to get past those walls. She tries to keep him to a physical relationship only, but can't hide from herself that she's falling for him. When Nash pushes a little too hard for more than she's ready for, it scares her into withdrawing from him. I loved seeing her finally open up to him about her fears, and how they worked things out together. I loved the surprise she had for him in the epilogue.
One of the best things about the book was Callie's son Brian. He was a real little sweetheart and he took to Nash right away. I loved seeing the way that he brought Callie and Nash closer together. I had fun seeing the way he would think things out before making a decision. He was also definitely his mother's son, as once he had decided something it was really hard to change his mind.
March 23, 2015
Second in the McCabe Multiples series. Great book.
July 22, 2019
This was a sweet Christmas novel. I couldn't get enough of that cute kid.
January 5, 2024
I love the ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews