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Yuletide Cowboys: The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion / The Cowboy's Christmas Gift
The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion by Deb Kastner
When Sarah Kendrick meets her high school sweetheart again, she's ashamed to show Marcus Ender how far she's fallen. But when they're snowed in on her ranch, and he returns holiday joy to her family, Sarah could have a merry Christmas…if she'll say yes.
The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James
An injury forces rodeo rider Matt Ender home to his family's ranch—where he clashes with his grandmother's pretty business partner.
Former cowgirl Neely Spence has no time for love. Can they open their hearts and find family this Christmas?
When Sarah Kendrick meets her high school sweetheart again, she's ashamed to show Marcus Ender how far she's fallen. But when they're snowed in on her ranch, and he returns holiday joy to her family, Sarah could have a merry Christmas…if she'll say yes.
The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James
An injury forces rodeo rider Matt Ender home to his family's ranch—where he clashes with his grandmother's pretty business partner.
Former cowgirl Neely Spence has no time for love. Can they open their hearts and find family this Christmas?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 20, 2015
5 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Deb Kastner
109 books147 followersPublishers Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of over 50 novels and two million books in print, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational and sweet western stories set in small communities, often including animals as major secondary characters.
Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, her puppers Gabby and Sadie, and two mischievous bonded brothers, black tuxedo cats Hype and Dab. She recently went through what she terms her midlife crisis and adopted her very first ever real live horse whose name is sweet Moscato.
She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren with #3 on the way. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors and The High Kings are her favs), singing in the church choir and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, her puppers Gabby and Sadie, and two mischievous bonded brothers, black tuxedo cats Hype and Dab. She recently went through what she terms her midlife crisis and adopted her very first ever real live horse whose name is sweet Moscato.
She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren with #3 on the way. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors and The High Kings are her favs), singing in the church choir and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2020
Very enjoyable family Christmas Stories!
September 16, 2015
Yuletide Cowboys is by Deb Kastner and Arlene James. It is two books in one and both are inspirational novels so unwanted language and subject matter are avoided.
The Cowboy’s Yuletide Reunion is by Deb Kastner. Sarah Kendrick has tried her best to keep her husband’s family Christmas farm in the family; but he left too many debts behind and Sarah has sold almost everything to try to pay those. Now she has to start finding a place to move with her two daughters and her in-laws as well as finding a job to support them. Her last two horses have been sold to Sheryl Ender of her hometown and she is sending someone to pick them up. She is really sad about that; but there is nothing she can do. However, she is not prepared to face her high school boyfriend, Marcus Ender when he comes to pick up the horses. Marcus isn’t prepared to face Sarah either. He has no idea she is the one he is to get the horses from. Before he is able to get them loaded and leave, a blizzard hits and he is forced to stay with Sarah and her family over Christmas. But will there be a Christmas here?
The Cowboy’s Christmas Gift is by Arlene James. Matt Ender is forced to come home after an injury which sidelines his job as a rodeo rider. As he waits to find out if his hand will heal right so he can still ride in the rodeo, he has no place to go but home. Here he finds the Ender Ranch as he knew it gone; but his Grandmother and a former cowgirl Neely Spencer are raising quarter horses to barrel race. He learns the decision to change the output of the ranch was to be able to keep the ranch, he is embarrassed and guilty. He hadn’t been home in years so didn’t see how the ranch was sliding under. Maybe he could have helped. Now he has to make sure Neely Spencer is not out to take the ranch out from under Marcus and himself. As flames flare between Matt and Neely, the action heats up. Is Matt here to run Neely and her sister off the ranch?
Both books are exciting and romantic. As love blooms, so does the Christmas season.
The Cowboy’s Yuletide Reunion is by Deb Kastner. Sarah Kendrick has tried her best to keep her husband’s family Christmas farm in the family; but he left too many debts behind and Sarah has sold almost everything to try to pay those. Now she has to start finding a place to move with her two daughters and her in-laws as well as finding a job to support them. Her last two horses have been sold to Sheryl Ender of her hometown and she is sending someone to pick them up. She is really sad about that; but there is nothing she can do. However, she is not prepared to face her high school boyfriend, Marcus Ender when he comes to pick up the horses. Marcus isn’t prepared to face Sarah either. He has no idea she is the one he is to get the horses from. Before he is able to get them loaded and leave, a blizzard hits and he is forced to stay with Sarah and her family over Christmas. But will there be a Christmas here?
The Cowboy’s Christmas Gift is by Arlene James. Matt Ender is forced to come home after an injury which sidelines his job as a rodeo rider. As he waits to find out if his hand will heal right so he can still ride in the rodeo, he has no place to go but home. Here he finds the Ender Ranch as he knew it gone; but his Grandmother and a former cowgirl Neely Spencer are raising quarter horses to barrel race. He learns the decision to change the output of the ranch was to be able to keep the ranch, he is embarrassed and guilty. He hadn’t been home in years so didn’t see how the ranch was sliding under. Maybe he could have helped. Now he has to make sure Neely Spencer is not out to take the ranch out from under Marcus and himself. As flames flare between Matt and Neely, the action heats up. Is Matt here to run Neely and her sister off the ranch?
Both books are exciting and romantic. As love blooms, so does the Christmas season.
October 24, 2015
This is 2 stories in one. The stories can be read as stand alone but compliment each other. The stories are inspirational romances with a western flavor. The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion is written by Deb Kastner. Deb Kastner writes about former high sweethearts who have both had lives being brought at a time that they can help each other in different ways. Sarah Kendrick the heroine has been married is widowed and has children with a mountain of problems. Marcus Ender is on an errand for his grandmother and is ready for something different from his cowboy counselor life. The Cowboy's Christmas gift by Arlene James is about an injured rodeo rider forced to come home to the family ranch and finds out that things are different. What a merry story this is. No spoiler but you will laugh and cry at the same time. the two Cowboys are brothers and have to deal with leftover problems from the childhood.
A great read with a Christmas,cowboy and ranch theme.
A great read with a Christmas,cowboy and ranch theme.
December 22, 2015
Two brothers, each with their own romance story. One travels to Colorado where he meets up with his old girlfriend. They don't want to fall in love, but when a snowstorm traps them at her home, he falls for her, her in-laws, and her daughters.
The other brother drives home to his grandma's ranch in Oklahoma. It's run down and there's a woman sleeping in his bed. After a rodeo injury may end his career forever, he wonders if he can make a go at the ranch, and his grandmother's business partner wonders if she and her sister will have to find a new place to live.
Both stories are sweet and simple. Each are about a hundred pages. The romance is sweet. I think the second author's timing was actually off for how lone the first brother was actually missing, and I liked the first story better; but they were both great short stories.
The other brother drives home to his grandma's ranch in Oklahoma. It's run down and there's a woman sleeping in his bed. After a rodeo injury may end his career forever, he wonders if he can make a go at the ranch, and his grandmother's business partner wonders if she and her sister will have to find a new place to live.
Both stories are sweet and simple. Each are about a hundred pages. The romance is sweet. I think the second author's timing was actually off for how lone the first brother was actually missing, and I liked the first story better; but they were both great short stories.
December 13, 2022
Two brothers, Two stories, Two authors.
And the stories are well-written
for how short they are.
I haven't had good luck with Kastner,
but James can be delightful.
This is not delightful, per se, however. In fact, they screwed the WHOLE thing up by putting the stories in this book OUT OF ORDER. Good grief, Matt's story starts December 2nd, and Marcus' doesn't start until December 23rd. This is NOT rocket science...!! So be aware - read the second one first.
In 'The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion' (Kastner), the first brother - Marcus - is sent to Colorado to get horses his Granny doesn't want/need. It's all a set-up to get him face-to-face with his high school sweetheart. Sarah is widowed with two kids and two in-laws, two reindeer and two draft horses (which are HUGE, and yet somehow she gets on one bareback and spreads her hips to kingdom come to ride the thing...???).
The whole thing is insanely cliché and contrived - from moment one. We start off with him yelling 'COWABUNGA!' and jackknifing a horse trailer (!?!) trying not to hit a reindeer. First, he's from Oklahoma, doesn't surf... 'cowabunga' is a "cry of exhilaration, taken from surfers on the West coast" according to the 'Net. That's NOT this situation. ((sigh.)) Also, Kastner forgets the trailer is even jackknifed after the first paragraph. Go figure.
We immediately go from clear skies and bareback beauty to absolute blizzard in 0.002 seconds, because *story* cliché, and Marcus is stranded in a cabin with her, her babies, and Santa/Mrs. Claus (in-laws). Because 70yo couples *always* have their kids when they're in their 50s. (????) The author also has the kids/elderly sleeping half the book, in order for cozy moments... but people DO NOT sleep as much as contrived in this story, fyi.
The house is in disrepair, with cupboards hanging off the broken hinges in the kitchen - WHY can't Santa fix something simple like that, again...? Because author says 'poor chicka'?
But never fear, Marcus brings X-mess back into the house after... it never actually left. There was X-mess the year before, too, complete with tree, lights, nativity, etc, so... did I mention it's cliche and contrived?
The other contrived bit is that he'd "never had family" before. BS - he was raised with his brother by Granny, who loved him very much (enough to arrange this whole thing, hello). He claims that because momma took up with drugs and took off on them, he had no family - that's a load of reindeer poo. Even if momma had stuck around, she would've had to work just as much as Granny.
But Sarah and her girls were *family* he'd never had as a kid.
Whatever. Doesn't jive.
Anyhow, it was 'meh', at best.
-------------------
The second story was about Matt, who's been injured in a rodeo accident. His thumb got caught and pinched so tight it took all the flesh off it. It was all inside his glove, so they reattached it, but he's uncertain if he'll be able to compete (or even use his thumb) in the future.
Weirdly, James doesn't know WHICH finger he injured. On page 114, it's his index finger.
The rest of the time it's his thumb. I don't know, but amazingly, James has him using it from the moment he gets the bandages off - with NO physical therapy, so... praise God for faith healings? And it takes only four weeks for recovery from surgery. WoW.
By page 177 (remember, this is HALF the book, tho), Matt's on a horse with his grip 'not as strong as he'd like'. HIS MUSCLES WERE STRIPPED OFF, for the love of Mike! He wouldn't have any grip at all, but he's LIFTING NEELY off a horse with that hand. What the farts?! And they don't even mention the possibility of PT until pg 181. *sigh.*
Mostly I did like the second one better, though - it wasn't so heavy-handed on the CHRISTmas story (which I reject completely as unBiblical), and this even admitted that christchuns take massive liberties with Truth (although it falls short of going INTO what Truth really is).
I... have a huge box of X-mess 'Love, Inspired' books. At this point (eight books into it), I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make some hard decisions...
And the stories are well-written
for how short they are.
I haven't had good luck with Kastner,
but James can be delightful.
This is not delightful, per se, however. In fact, they screwed the WHOLE thing up by putting the stories in this book OUT OF ORDER. Good grief, Matt's story starts December 2nd, and Marcus' doesn't start until December 23rd. This is NOT rocket science...!! So be aware - read the second one first.
In 'The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion' (Kastner), the first brother - Marcus - is sent to Colorado to get horses his Granny doesn't want/need. It's all a set-up to get him face-to-face with his high school sweetheart. Sarah is widowed with two kids and two in-laws, two reindeer and two draft horses (which are HUGE, and yet somehow she gets on one bareback and spreads her hips to kingdom come to ride the thing...???).
The whole thing is insanely cliché and contrived - from moment one. We start off with him yelling 'COWABUNGA!' and jackknifing a horse trailer (!?!) trying not to hit a reindeer. First, he's from Oklahoma, doesn't surf... 'cowabunga' is a "cry of exhilaration, taken from surfers on the West coast" according to the 'Net. That's NOT this situation. ((sigh.)) Also, Kastner forgets the trailer is even jackknifed after the first paragraph. Go figure.
We immediately go from clear skies and bareback beauty to absolute blizzard in 0.002 seconds, because *story* cliché, and Marcus is stranded in a cabin with her, her babies, and Santa/Mrs. Claus (in-laws). Because 70yo couples *always* have their kids when they're in their 50s. (????) The author also has the kids/elderly sleeping half the book, in order for cozy moments... but people DO NOT sleep as much as contrived in this story, fyi.
The house is in disrepair, with cupboards hanging off the broken hinges in the kitchen - WHY can't Santa fix something simple like that, again...? Because author says 'poor chicka'?
But never fear, Marcus brings X-mess back into the house after... it never actually left. There was X-mess the year before, too, complete with tree, lights, nativity, etc, so... did I mention it's cliche and contrived?
The other contrived bit is that he'd "never had family" before. BS - he was raised with his brother by Granny, who loved him very much (enough to arrange this whole thing, hello). He claims that because momma took up with drugs and took off on them, he had no family - that's a load of reindeer poo. Even if momma had stuck around, she would've had to work just as much as Granny.
But Sarah and her girls were *family* he'd never had as a kid.
Whatever. Doesn't jive.
Anyhow, it was 'meh', at best.
-------------------
The second story was about Matt, who's been injured in a rodeo accident. His thumb got caught and pinched so tight it took all the flesh off it. It was all inside his glove, so they reattached it, but he's uncertain if he'll be able to compete (or even use his thumb) in the future.
Weirdly, James doesn't know WHICH finger he injured. On page 114, it's his index finger.
The rest of the time it's his thumb. I don't know, but amazingly, James has him using it from the moment he gets the bandages off - with NO physical therapy, so... praise God for faith healings? And it takes only four weeks for recovery from surgery. WoW.
By page 177 (remember, this is HALF the book, tho), Matt's on a horse with his grip 'not as strong as he'd like'. HIS MUSCLES WERE STRIPPED OFF, for the love of Mike! He wouldn't have any grip at all, but he's LIFTING NEELY off a horse with that hand. What the farts?! And they don't even mention the possibility of PT until pg 181. *sigh.*
Mostly I did like the second one better, though - it wasn't so heavy-handed on the CHRISTmas story (which I reject completely as unBiblical), and this even admitted that christchuns take massive liberties with Truth (although it falls short of going INTO what Truth really is).
I... have a huge box of X-mess 'Love, Inspired' books. At this point (eight books into it), I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make some hard decisions...
September 19, 2021
This book is a compilation of two stories by two different authors but each wrote about one of the brothers in the Ender family.
Marcus Ender goes on a trip to Colorado to transport two horses for his grandmother and ends up finding his high school sweetheart who has fallen on hard times.
Matthew's been away on the rodeo circuit, but now, hurt, he returns to his grandmother's.
Of course, both brothers find love. I'd find Marcus's story easier to believe--at least he and Sarah knew each other in high school and dated in high school, so they have a history. Sheryl has known Neely longer than Matthew has, and I doubt Sheryl would have let her stay if Neely wasn't up to par, but still. . . I have trouble with Matthew proposing to her as quickly as he did.
Marcus Ender goes on a trip to Colorado to transport two horses for his grandmother and ends up finding his high school sweetheart who has fallen on hard times.
Matthew's been away on the rodeo circuit, but now, hurt, he returns to his grandmother's.
Of course, both brothers find love. I'd find Marcus's story easier to believe--at least he and Sarah knew each other in high school and dated in high school, so they have a history. Sheryl has known Neely longer than Matthew has, and I doubt Sheryl would have let her stay if Neely wasn't up to par, but still. . . I have trouble with Matthew proposing to her as quickly as he did.
June 19, 2017
Christian romance. Two brothers find romance in two separate stories by two different authors.
April 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The two stories in it were great. The little children in both books were just so cute and funny.
February 11, 2021
Two very interesting stories that were a pleasure to read. Hard times, rediscovering high school sweethearts, horses, farms, babies to grandparents, cowboys, brothers, sisters, and faith.
December 6, 2015
Yuletide Cowboys is two stories in the one book. Two brothers. One brother in each story. The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion by Deb Kastner. Marcus Ender goes to a tree farm to pick up two horses his grandma bought. When he gets there he finds out the place is owned by an ex girlfriend in laws. Sarah Kendrick's husband was killed in an accident a year ago. She has a baby and a three year old. She lives with her in-laws. A big storm comes up. Marcus is stranded at the farm. Marcus and Sarah re-connect. Her two girls love Marcus. A very romantic story.
The second story is called The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James. Matt Ender is a rodeo star. He hurt his hand and went home to his grandma's ranch to re-coup. He finds a barrel racing woman and her sister living with his grandma. Neely Spence. Neely's living there and helping pay the bills. Matt is not happy and Neely is not happy. In this story they work out there problems. A nice romance story.
The second story is called The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James. Matt Ender is a rodeo star. He hurt his hand and went home to his grandma's ranch to re-coup. He finds a barrel racing woman and her sister living with his grandma. Neely Spence. Neely's living there and helping pay the bills. Matt is not happy and Neely is not happy. In this story they work out there problems. A nice romance story.
December 8, 2015
Authors Deb Kastner and Arlene James have created a hopeful, thoughtful, and light-hearted series. The stories of the Ender brothers' Christmases are compelling. I laughed a lot, almost cried several times and thoroughly enjoyed both stories. I would recommend this book to anyone but, especially those who like contemporary cowboy stories. I received this book through a giveaway but want to buy it for my church library.
October 13, 2016
The story drew me in at page one. I love second chance stories. This story is proof of life causing us to loose our faith for awhile in our walk with God. Well written & edited.
*I was given a copy of "The Cowboy’s Yuletide Reunion" as an IRCA Judge*
*I was given a copy of "The Cowboy’s Yuletide Reunion" as an IRCA Judge*
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January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
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January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
July 30, 2016
good christmas stories
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews