A Forrest for the Holidays: A spicy, cowboy, Christmas romcom

by Erin Marie Bassett, Liza Illuzzi (Editor)

A Forrest for the Holidays is a spicy, cowboy, Christmas romcom featuring a reluctant rancher, an out of place actress, and a meddling highland cow. It's a story about two people learning to understand the world and finding their place in it together.

(Awwww, I know but he, umm, gives her several mustache rides too.)

🤠 Cowboy
🎄 Christmas/Holiday Season
🎬 An Actress FMC
🐴 Ranch Life
🎿 Former Ski Patrol MMC
🌶️ Open Door Spice
🐮 A Meddling Highland Cow

A Forrest for the Holidays is Book 1 of the Howdy Holidays Series coming October 7th - PREORDER TODAY!

Genres: Holiday, Christmas, Romance, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Westerns

356 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Erin Marie Bassett is a geriatric millennial, wife and mother of two living in Chicago. (A mile west of Wrigley Field but she, like her husband and kids, are St. Louis Cardinal Fans). When she’s not reading or writing romance, Erin helps small businesses and local organizations use the magic words to connect with their communities. She volunteers hard at her kids school and she believes in the power of S.L.O.W. Living.
Her doctor tells her not to but she drinks a lot of coffee. Like, a lot.

Take the Book Boyfriend Quiz to be matched with one of Erin's MMCs!
erinmariebassett.com
@erinmariebassett

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Cute easy holiday read, truly a hallmark story come to life on the pages.

[Kelly Tollefson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed with this family, the animals, and the feel good cabin/cozy/romance that this was!

[Anna Knoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and I couldn’t be more grateful! It has all the banter and spice you could ask for! Absolutely perfect to get you in the holiday mood!

[Stephanie McIlhattan · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could rate this zero stars I would. The writing was so bad and the ~spicy~ scenes were so so cringey I almost DNFed. Don’t waste your time reading.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Upstate Expectations, Erin quickly became a favorite author of mine. When I caught wind of this book coming out, I knew I'd love it. That statement is 100% true. Sylvia and Forrest are both in transitionary periods of their lives. Forrest is home (instead of in Colorado) after an accident at work. Sylvia just finished up filming her latest Heartmark Christmas movie and has discovered she's aging out of the young female lead role and into a more mature role, which doesn't sit well with her. After a crazy winter storm leads her to sleep in her car, she finds herself in trouble with the law in a small town that doesn't allow sleeping in your car. Thankfully, Forrest's family takes her in while she serves out her sentence as co-chair for the Holly Days celebrations. Her co-chair partner? The one and only Forrest. I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet. It was spicy. And it was perfect.

[Mylissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel 😍❤️🎄 Get ready for the feel good, romantic holiday vibes you expect when you watch a classic Heart(Hall)mark holiday romance movie.

Imagine this: a beautiful winter wonderland, a close-knit town that celebrates the holidays with festive community events and two individuals who aren't looking for love but find it anyways 🥰

Sylvia is an actress looking to escape the limelight & Forrest is a ski patrol worker who is visiting home after an accident at work. The pair meet in such a unique way that was giving me Schitt's Creek vibes that I couldn't help but get excited for the fun story ahead. I absolutely loved the community and family relationships in this novel, as the reader if felt like a warm hug and it was exactly what the two main characters needed. The dialogue between Forrest and his family had me laughing out loud often and it felt so natural and inviting as the reader.

In true Erin fashion this novel is HOT & sizzling to balance out the sweet and romantic. This is an open door and moderately spicy novel (🔥🔥🔥/5). I enjoy how Erin's intimacy builds upon the emotional connection the characters have formed outside the intimate setting.

Thank you Love Story PR for the ARC

[Mel Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar, SPICE, and oh so nice! I absolutely loved this holiday romcom from Erin Marie Bassett! Actress and FMC Sylvia is looking for an escape from the limelight and lands in a small town for the holiday season. MMC Forrest is a hot and broody cowboy who is home after an accident at work. Holiday shenanigans ensue and these two unsuspecting characters find love where they least expect it.

Forrest and his family were such a joy to read. They had me cracking up with their banter and love for one another. Then you add in the connection between Forrest and Sylvia and everything just made sense. In true Erin fashion, this book brings the heat (delicious, delicious heat) while also tugging at all of your heartstrings. An absolute must read this holiday season!

Thank you so much to Erin and LoveStory PR for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Christina Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are ready for a sweet and spicy cowboy holiday romance this story is for you. When the sweet FMC Sylvia (who is a Heartmark actress) gets stranded in the small town of Sweetflower she is in for a wild ride. From the first time she met Forrest the sparks began to fly.

If you are ready for a holiday romance that adds in comedy, family, a holiday festival and some meddling animals this book is for you!

Thank you so much to the PR team and Erin Marie Bassett for the opportunity to ARC read this book. I hope you continue in this universe!

[Amber Crook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes:
🎄 Cowboy Christmas
🎄 Small Town
🎄 Funny Meet Cute
🎄 Hidden Identity
🎄 Christmas Competitions

Sylvia is an actress that hasn’t really had real life experiences when it comes to romance. She uses her Hallmark equivalent romance movies to help guide her. She thought he costar might be into her, but when she sees him with others and gets a call that the roles she’ll have in future movies, she decides to run…and gets stuck in snow in a small Wyoming town. She finds out that sleeping in your car isn’t allowed, and gets picked up by a police man, who has his drunk brother in the back. To pay for their crimes, they are put in charge of the town’s Christmas competitions…

Forrest and Sylvia are fun. Sylvia’s inexperience with life experiences and how she tries to accommodate that was so interesting. The way they met was so funny, and I loved how hard she tries to integrate herself in the town and their traditions. This was a fun Christmas read!

Thank you, Erin, for sending me a copy of this book!

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ rounded up. This was cute with some cringe (as most Christmas books are).

The writing and some wording choices caught me off guard and pulled me out of the book a few times but I was still overall able to enjoy it. That being said, there are so many things in this book that would never happen in real life - it was mildly distracting.

[Gabsss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was selected to do an ARC on this book and omg I am so excited to have been chosen.

This book was seriously so sweet! The spice was 🥵 and the banter between the family was hilarious! I truly enjoyed the whole book! Definitely worth the read!

I know everyone loves a little Christmas love ❤️

[M.H writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take it from someone who is trying out Erin Bassett's book for the first time.

This story captures a spicy cowboy Christmas rom-com. You are in for the family banter, unexpected love and let me not mention the spice 🔥🥵.
If you want a heartwarming cozy holiday romance read, then this won't disappoint. Take it as a Christmas treat from Erin to you.

Being a part of Erin's ARC team was soo worth it ♥️🤭.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Forrest for the Holidays
By Erin Marie Bassett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💕This is Erin’s first cowboy romance and it’s a cute and funny story about two lost souls who wind up at the same place at the same time- in a police cruiser!

🌶️The spicy thoughts start almost immediately but the actual intimacy is more of a slow burn.

💕In the beginning, I saw Sylvia as a boss babe - successful, sexy, confident, and famous. Her character changed once she was on her own on the ranch. Without a script, she became unsure of herself and how to be in a relationship. I had a little trouble connecting to Sylvia and the super fast pace of the relationship (almost insta-love), but I still enjoyed the it a lot.

Forrest returns home to the family ranch following an accident where his boss suffered in major injury. Sylvia, a Hallmark-type actress, flees to a random town after a romantic getaway goes sideways. So they both get arrested separately, but in the same evening by Forrest's brother and they get bailed out by Forrest’s, mom who offers Sylvia a place to stay. She has nowhere to go and she agrees. Thankfully, this is not a dark romance because things could’ve really gone sideways here! They get sentenced to mandatory community service- as co-leads of the town’s Christmas festivities. Now, is this a believable chain of events? No, but did it make for a great story? Yes!

Sylvia and Forrest suddenly find themselves together all the time and the attraction blooms instantly!

Tropes :
-Small Town
-Cowboy
-Slow-Burn
-Instant-Attraction
-Found Family

Sylvia is so used to following a script that she finds she doesn’t know how to navigate on her own.
Thankfully she has Forrest and his family- especially his mama to guide her.

I loved Forrest’s mom, Ruby! She meddles, but not in a bad way. Her intentions were pure!

This will be the perfect book to add to your holiday TBR!

[Katelynn | booksareadoorway · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have a hard time believing you had to pull any moves at all, Forrest Woodson.”

A Forrest for the Holidays is like my perfect Hallmark story, but make it spicy. We’ve got the big city FMC stuck in a small town. The small town MMC who had to return home after his life down around him. The quaint small town full of quirky, meddlesome characters. And of course, the snowy winter setting complete with chickens and a highland cow. What more could you want?

“You’re every glorious thought I could have and every carnal one too.”

Sylvia is our fish out of water actress FMC. When she gets stuck in small town, she’s forced to find where her actress personality ends and her true personality begins. I loved getting to see her open up as the story progresses. Then of course, there’s the man, the myth, the legend himself, Forrest Woodson. With the Tom Selleck mustache that any girl would want to take a ride one (and believe me there are plenty of rids in this story), Forrest is not your typical small town MMC. After being forced to return to his home town, he has to take a long hard look at himself and come to terms with loss, his dreams, and who he wants to me. From the moment, these two meet the banter is top tier. They both have so much wit and their chemistry is so good. Don’t even get me started on their spicy moments, but believe me, you’ll love them.

“The wild world doesn’t leave things up to chance. If you hadn’t gotten lost, hadn’t tried to make pasta, hadn’t opened your heart to me, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

This story is spicy, emotional, and laugh out loud funny. The found family aspect is so strong and I love how Erin portrays blood family sometimes having to find their way back to each other as well. This is only book one of the Howdy Holidays series and I will be devouring all the other stories that Erin throws my way. If you need a sweet yet spicy holiday romcom, welcome to Sweetflower, Wyoming.

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting into the Christmas spirit has never been sweeter! This book feels like stepping right into a classic Hallmark holiday movie—cozy, heartwarming, and filled with just the right mix of charm, laughter, and a sprinkle of spice. From the very first page, I was completely hooked.

The chili cook-off scene had me laughing out loud—it was playful and so entertaining, but also the perfect backdrop for that spark of instant connection between the characters. I adored how natural their chemistry felt, almost like fate had been nudging them together all along. Their banter was fun, their tender moments melted my heart, and the way they fell for each other just felt magical.

What I loved most was how the romance balanced sweetness with just enough heat to make it feel real and exciting. It captured all the cozy feelings of the holiday season—family, laughter, community—while also giving me those swoony, romantic moments I live for in a Christmas read.

This story was absolutely adorable from start to finish, the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, a mug of cocoa, and lose yourself in its charm. I can only hope the author gives us more of these enchanting holiday romances, because I would happily spend every December in this world!

[Leigh-Ann Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review of A Forrest For The Holidays by Erin Marie Bassett

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

Forrest and Sylvia’s meet-cute was so unique and absolutely perfect. As a huge fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, this story hit all the right notes for me. I loved how Sylvia kept comparing real life to a script - it felt so authentic, like she truly didn’t know what was coming next.

Forrest is everything you’d ever want in a hero, and I adored watching their love story unfold. The banter between him and his brothers had me smiling nonstop, and I’m crossing my fingers that River and Ash get their own books in the future. Ruby, their mom, was such a standout too - I loved every bit of her dialogue.

This book completely swept me up and left me in the holiday spirit. A cozy, festive romance I’ll be thinking about long after the last page!

✨🎄❤️

What To Expect:
🤠 Cowboy
🎄 Christmas/Holiday Season
🎬 An Actress FMC
🐴 Ranch Life
🎿 Former Ski Patrol MMC
🌶️ Open Door Spice
🐮 A Meddling Highland Cow

#ErinMarieBassett #AForrestForTheHolidays #ARCReview #cowboyromance #ChristmasRomance #LivingMyBestBookishLife #SmallTownRomance

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 3.5
🌶️ 2.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 21, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, epilogue
📚 Tropes/Themes: forced proximity, rancher/cowboy MMC, actress FMC, secret identity, small town, low angst, cinnamon roll MMC, grief/healing
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: mentions of parental death
🛍️ Available: 10/7

💬 I feel sorta meh about this book, but it did have some enjoyable moments.

I think my biggest frustration was just how low angst it was, and there was minimal buildup. I kept wondering when the drama would it, and then the "climax" was maybe 2 or 3 pages long. Plus, although it was hinted at, when it happened I was like, oh yeah, I forgot about that part. 😅 The plot idea was so cute but I feel like there could have been a lot more tension with it.

I liked the forced proximity plot line, and the reason for it was cute. The small town vibes were well done, although I think I would've liked to learn more about some of the townspeople.

I also enjoyed the romance between Sylvia and Forrest, it was sweet and adorable with some very funny parts.

So overall the story was ok. It didn't really grab me the way I hoped, but it was enjoyable

[JoAnne Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Erin Marie Bassett, for an ARC of A Forrest for the Holidays. This is a darling novel that is perfect for the holidays. I love the family dynamics between Forrest’s family member and his mother, Ruby, is an absolute hoot. I think Forrest and his brothers are great characters and I cackled at their brotherly shenanigans. The FMC, Sylvia, however, just never landed for me. I understand making your career your identity, but she legit didn’t know how to do anything else, even questioning if she and her three weeks were real. The first half of the book was a constant “he’s so sexy,” “she’s so hot,” back and forth, that I almost put it down and DNF. That being said, I’m glad I powered, through because the second half is where the magic happened. I am convinced I now want to own a farm and do the farm things. I even had a dream last night that I bought chickens and we walked them with our dogs 😂 The spice was a little tiny cringey for me, especially the first makeout scene. The last half, and especially the last quarter of the book made me giddy and I can’t wait to read the next books in the series.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review: Erin Marie Bassett A Forrest for the Holidays.
Published by EMB PUB LLC.

Some books feel like a Hallmark movie you half-watch while wrapping presents. This one feels like the upgraded version you actually sit down for, phone facedown, cocoa within reach. A Forrest for the Holidays is cozy, funny, heartfelt, and unapologetically spicy, and it delivers exactly what a cowboy Christmas romance should while still feeling fresh and self-aware.

Sylvia is a successful holiday movie actress who suddenly realizes she’s aging out of the roles that built her career. She’s tired, unsure, and very much not prepared for real life to stop following a script. Forrest, on the other hand, is a former ski patrol hero turned reluctant rancher who’s home after an injury and quietly grappling with the fact that his life did not turn out the way he planned. Their paths collide in a snowstorm-fueled mess that instantly sets the tone for the book. Awkward, funny, slightly chaotic, and full of possibility.

What I loved most is how grounded the characters feel beneath the romcom setup. Sylvia’s insecurity about her career hit harder than I expected, and Forrest’s struggle with feeling stuck felt honest rather than broody-for-the-sake-of-it. Their chemistry builds through shared responsibility, small-town obligations, and forced proximity that actually makes sense. Watching them learn each other instead of immediately falling into bed made the eventual spice feel earned, and when it arrives, it really arrives.

This book shines in its community. Sweetflower is the kind of town that rallies around outsiders, meddles with good intentions, and takes its holiday celebrations very seriously. The family dynamics, especially Forrest’s relationship with his brothers and mother, are warm, funny, and full of natural banter. I laughed out loud more than once, particularly during the festival scenes and anytime the Highland cow decided to insert herself into the plot. Veruca is not just comic relief. She’s a menace, and I adored her.

Bassett does an excellent job balancing cozy Christmas vibes with open-door spice. This is not a fade-to-black romance, but the intimate scenes never overshadow the emotional connection. Instead, they deepen it. One of my favorite lines perfectly sums up the heart of the story: “Sometimes the place you’re stuck is the place you’re meant to stop running.” That sentiment runs through the entire book and gives it more emotional weight than I expected going in.

If you love small-town romance, cowboy heroes, holiday festivals, and a story that feels like a warm hug with a little heat, A Forrest for the Holidays is an easy recommendation. It reads like a festive escape without being shallow, and it left me genuinely excited for the rest of the Howdy Holidays series. I closed the book smiling, already wishing it was December again.

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ out of 5

#AForrestForTheHolidays #ErinMarieBassett #BookReview #HolidayRomance #ChristmasRomance #CowboyRomance #SmallTownRomance #SpicyRomance #RomComReads #ARCReview #NetGalley #RomanceBooks

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Forrest for the Holidays is the perfect "heart(hall)mark" storyline. I loved the storyline and got entangled in the Holly Days Christmas chaos. I loved the meddling matchmaking mother and judge, with an assist from the sheriff. The day to day ranching and family dynamics was well written as well.

Sylvia had grown up on Hollywood sets and the majority of her life had revolved around whatever film she was working on at the time. Besides her relationship with her parents, all her friendships and relationships were on-screen or work related. She was so used to letting her characters shine, that she had neglected herself, she didn't know how to just be Sylvia. Without a script to guide her she had to improvise and trust herself. In Sweetwater and on the ranch she learned new things and a lot about herself. She also grew to love the small-town ranching lifestyle.

Forrest had grown up on the ranch but had left shortly after his father died. He followed his dream of becoming an EMT and became a valued member of the ski patrol. After a suspension, Forrest arrived back home to spend time with his family on the ranch. He loved the ranch but he also loved the mountains that he had made him home for years. Due to the suspension and feeling sorry for himself, he made a bad decision. That bad decision was troubling but due to circumstances beyond his control, it lead to something great.

Sylvia and Forrest were forced to work together and became neighbors. Sylvia chose to keep her public persona to her self but Ruby made sure her family knew the truth. While working together, they became friends and slowly a new relationship formed. Sylvia was very unfamiliar with off screen romances and wanted to take things slow, she needed not only to trust Forrest but herself. She was scared to make a mistake because in real life you can't yell "cut" and reset the shot. As time passed, Sylvia became like family on the ranch and she embraced her feelings for Forrest.

As Christmas approached, so did the end of Sylvia's break before her next movie. Her career had been her life for as long as she could remember and she enjoyed her work. Forrest began to live ranching again and the ranch started feeling like it was where he belonged. Both Forrest and Sylvia were at a crossroads in their lives and had to make a decision about their individual futures. They also had to decide if they wanted a combined future and how that would work.
Will Forrest and Sylvia get their heartmark happily ever after or do HEAs only exist in movies?

I loved this book and give it 4.5 🌟, I deducted 0.5 because some chapters seemed like the director yelled " cut" before the scene seemed complete. I really want to see who tames the Sheriff and am excited to read the rest if this series.

Thank you Love Story PR and Erin Marie Bassett for the ARC. Erin's books are always well written and the characters have depth.

[Chandler Majewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review: A Forrest for the Holidays

A cozy, wintery romance filled with cowboys, cabins, and the kind of charm that makes you want to light a candle and curl up under a blanket.

Forrest, a former ski patrolman turned small-town rancher, is searching for a new meaning of home when Sylvia, a Hallmark actress, finds herself stranded in his small town on a snowy night. Their unexpected encounter leads to a tender, slow-burn connection that feels like the perfect mix of Hallmark heart and cowboy heat.

The forced proximity, small-town family dynamics, and snowy ranch setting create the ultimate cozy holiday atmosphere. There’s plenty of humor, warmth, and just enough spice to make you blush and giggle at the same time.

I loved the balance of sweet romance and emotional depth, and the setting absolutely shines. The kind of story that makes you want to pack up and spend Christmas on a ranch.

If you’re looking for something that blends holiday cheer, small-town charm, and a hint of steam, A Forrest for the Holidays is the perfect pick to get you in the festive mood!!

Thank you Love Story PR for the ARC!!

[Shaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved reading Sylvia and Forrest’s story.
Sylvia is a Heartmark Christmas movie star and Forrest is back home on leave from his job at a ski resort. Fate brings them together in his hometown just in time for the Holly Days Christmas festival. I fell in love with all of the members of the Woodson family and how welcoming they were to Sylvia. The story explores their budding feelings for each other while addressing their insecurities and some family grief. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the stories in the series.
This book is perfect for anyone that loves Hallmark Christmas movies with a little spice.
Tropes include: forced proximity, small town, cowboy and he falls first
There is also a Spotify Playlist for the book that helps set the mood as you read!!!!
Thank you so much Erin Marie Bassett for the ARC and the chance to fall in love with The Woodson Family early!!!!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this as an ARC


Forrest is so sweet and funny. I really loved getting to know him and his family.

It was interesting to see a character (Sylvia) constantly be in work mode from her job as an actress for romantic holiday movies. I had never really considered if they turn it off or not. How do they know reality from fiction if they are constantly making movies and filming?? Sylvia also seemed to have similar thoughts.

I like that it was almost like a Hallmark movie inside a Hallmark movie.

But Forrest is super great in terms of book boyfriends.
Supportive, respectful, funny, and mature with the right amount of immaturity for fun.

The family dynamic is honestly my ideal family set up. The love and respect for each other, the close knit group and activities with just the right amount of ribbing and scolding.

[Ali Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had the pleasure of ARC reading for Erin Marie Basskett over the last year with her D.C. Renegades series, so when I heard she was saddling up for a cowboy romance, I was so excited—and A Forrest for the Holidays absolutely delivered.

Set against the magic of a Wyoming Christmas season, Forrest and Sylvia find themselves forced to team up to run the Sweetflower Holly-Days winter festival, and uncover a connection that just might change everything. This cozy and spicy holiday romcom has everything: cowboys, ranch life drama, a Hallmark-actress FMC, a rugged former ski patrol MMC, ALL the nicknames, a meddling cow, and open-door spice.

It’s a heartwarming story of found family and two people learning to understand the world—and finding their place in it—together, all with the added bonus of no third-act breakup. ❤️

[Tegan Houze · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you @erinmariebassett for this ARC! Receiving this book did not influence my review- my thoughts are honest and my own, as always💕*


“ I have a hard time believing you had to pull any moves at all, Forrest Woodson.”

This was by far one of the cutest and funniest cowboy Christmas romances I’ve read! Erin did an incredible job with her first cowboy romance — it was charming, heartwarming, and full of festive cheer.

The cozy holiday atmosphere was perfection and instantly put me in the Christmas spirit. I adored both main characters. Forrest starts off feeling a bit lost, but with the help of Sylvia — a Hallmark actress who’s spent her career filming love stories without ever truly experiencing one — he rediscovers his sense of purpose and home. Sylvia, in turn, learns what real love feels like through Forrest.

The balance between sweet and spicy was spot-on, the emotional depth gave the story real heart, and the small-town holiday setting made it all even more magical.

[Courtney Bourdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an ARC! 🫶🏼

Rating: 4.5 ⭐

This was my first Cowboy Christmas romance book that I've read, and it did not disappoint! Sylvia and Forrest were incredibly sweet, and while it felt a little insta-lovey, I ended up enjoying their dynamic. I'm always surprised by how much I enjoy side characters, and the siblings and mom were also standout characters in this book.

It felt like a Hallmark movie within a Hallmark movie within a book. I don't know how else to explain that, but if you read it, you'll get it. The idea that Sylvia didn't know who she was or what she wanted without a script made the story really interesting and felt different from other Christmas books I've read. I'm excited for the next book in the series!

[Cassie Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, it is NEVER too early for a Christmas read.

Now to the important stuff. This book truly has the most amazing Hallmark vibes. Forrest and Sylvia were the funniest duo; there was never a dull moment. The entire crew in Sweetflower were truly the icing on the cake in this book. There were sweet moments, funny moments, family bonding moments. This book had it all, without having to sit through any of the Hallmark commercials to make it through. This book kept me so invested the entire time and I cannot wait to read more of these characters, because they’re coming and I won’t be convinced otherwise.

At this point, I’m truly convinced EMB can’t write a bad story. And also, I’m proud to announce that Veruca the Highland Cow is very much in fact a MEDDLING cow

[Kelly (VanIslandCircus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Erin’s DC Renegades series, and when I heard that she was writing a Cowboy with Christmas thrown in, I knew I had to read it.

Erin’s ability to write characters with so much story, intimacy, friendship, and laughter is a treat. Add in her spice, and you have a fantastic read in your hands.

Sylvia and Forrest are absolutely adorable. Both navigate their lives in their own way. Add in all the small-town feels, Christmas, and a match-making judge, and how could they not fall for one another?

“Heart(hall)mark” at its finest.

Erin, whether you are writing about athletes or cowboys, I am here for them all!

Thanks to Love Notes PR and Erin Marie Bassett for an eARC of this delicious little romance, a perfect read to get in the mood for the holidays.

[Courtney M Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure Christmas mayhem in the best possible way a grumpy cowboy, an out-of-place actress, and a Highland cow with main character energy. I mean, that cow had more personality than half the people I know. 😅😅

It’s funny, flirty, and surprisingly heartfelt. I laughed, I blushed, and I’m not even gonna lie, the flirting had me grinning like an idiot. But what really got me was the heartfelt moments: watching Forrest and Sylvia, who feel like they don’t quite fit anywhere, slowly build a home, together. It’s messy, it’s sweet, it’s got that little zing— let's just say that Forrest's mustache was not just a face ornament. 😉😉

You definitely going to want to read this especially for the holidays.

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5🌶🌶🌶

[Katie Vitale · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Erin!!! Forrest may be my new favorite EMB book boyfriend!

The way that Forrest is infatuated with Sylvia from the first (in his case inebriated) moment was perfect! I love a man obsessed, and Forrest definitely fits that characteristic.

With they way some of the story is framed it can come across as insta-love, but the progression felt unrushed to me as I'm a complete fan of Hallmark Christmas movies. This has the same feel as a classic Hallmark movie with the stranded in a small town, big-city actress and the finally returning home cowboy.

If you're a fan of fun, lighthearted Hallmark-type Christmas romances this is right up your alley!