The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby

Curvy Bear Ranch #1

by Liv Brywood

Sexy cowboy Brady Grant belongs in Rachel’s past.

After a final round of chemotherapy fails to cure her son’s leukemia, she’s forced to hunt down the man who broke her heart. Her only hope of saving her son is to convince his father to undergo a dangerous operation.
But before she can ask for his help, she must reveal the secret she’s been hiding for four years.

Brady’s stunned by Rachel’s deception, but he can’t contain his bear’s carnal response to the BBW’s seductive curves. While he struggles to forgive her secret, he must risk his own life to save his son’s.
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This is the first book in the paranormal bear romance series - Curvy Bear Ranch. This is a stand-alone book with no cliff-hangers, and an HEA.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Fantasy

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2015

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowbear’s Secret Christmas Baby is book one in the Curvy Bear Ranch series by Liv Brywood. This is my first book by this author and I really, really enjoyed it. I chose it first because of the cover. I mean, just look at it. I thought it would be a perfect addition to my Christmas reading for this year. And it was.



Brady Grant has been home for just a couple of months from his tour with the Marines. He lives on a working ranch with his brothers. Brady is a bear shifter. He felt so strongly about doing his duty and serving his country. But the things he saw have haunted him since he’s been home. Brady has never gotten over the girl he left behind four years ago. The only girl he had ever loved. He thought she would wait for him when he told her he had enlisted. But she was so angry that he was leaving her that she ended things. Over all these years, though, she was never far from his thoughts. And then one day, as he was working a horse on the ranch, he looked up at the sound of a car, and there she was.

Rachel Stevenson was only eighteen years old when the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with told her he had enlisted in the Marines and was leaving. She couldn’t believe he did this, that he was going away and leaving her. There was something very important she had planned to tell him that night. But she couldn’t do it. He was leaving. So she walked away and took her secret with her.



Now, four years later, Rachel has a sweet little boy who is very sick. He has leukemia. The doctors have tried everything. He did not respond from the latest treatment and there is only one option left. But for it, they need his father. A father that doesn’t even know he exists.

“They were perfect together, made for each other. How could she have ever let him go?”

Rachel doesn’t know if Brady is back or not so the best place to start is their family ranch. When she pulls in, there he is! He’s still just as handsome as he ever was and the feelings all come rushing right back. She’s sure she is the last person he wants to see but she has to find a way to tell him he is a father. Will he walk away? Or will he help her?



This was such a sweet book and it had all the elements of a beautiful Christmas story I could ask for. Rachel’s little boy was adorable. And I fell in love with Rachel and Brady, and their families as well. They were so sweet together and their chemistry was hot! The story is brought to a conclusion regarding Rachel and Brady but there are still some elements that will continue through the series. Book two, The Cowbear’s Curvy Christmas, focuses on Brady’s oldest brother, Mack. I definitely look forward to continuing with this series.

[Puna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rachael was HORRIBLE!!!! She keeps the knowledge of her child to herself even when he gets sick. Making him go through painful, experimental treatments rather than tell the father & his family that there is a child. All with the stupidest excuses, she didn't tell when she first found out because she was young, meek & didn't want the MC to resent the baby. Later it was because she didn't know how to reach him. Umm, he sent her letters and his family lived in her home town. The when the child became sick she wanted to handle it on her own and still supposedly didn't know where he was. Once she comes back to town she acts like SHE's the victim.

Once you get passed all of that BS you have the magical medical stuff to deal. If only every hospital waiting room had nurses handing out pills to calm families down. Who knew you could have a transplant or be in a coma and be out of the hospital making snow angels in barely 48 hrs.

[Wild_irish_rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story, but then I love secret babies and add in a bear shifter--I am in reading heaven. I plan to read the rest of the series! This is my favorite of the series. Learning you have a son is traumatic, but hearing he is dying is devastating and Brady definitely was that.

[Holly Bargo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Clean editing is a nice surprise in this novella. The story moves at breakneck pace and the relation issues are quickly resolved after our protagonists fall into bed. The plot's pretty shallow and could use more layering or depth. Still, it's not a bad story, just not quite what it could be.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was fine, without any noticeable grammar / style issues. Rachel's reasoning for not telling Brady about his son was immature, but I could overlook that. I could also put aside my annoyance that she waited two years to tell him that their son had leukemia, putting off a bone marrow transplant, or the fact that she even waited so long when she saw him. I can understand the need for drawing out conflict.

Here's the reason I gave it two stars rather than three or four. Believablility. (There are spoilers below.) I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but there were too many in this short story to ignore.

- Rachel was eighteen when she got pregnant, just out of high school, with a single mom who didn't have a lot of money but she chose to move away to another town with no mention of any contacts in that other town or any way to support herself rather than stay with her mom. Not exactly logical, but okay, maybe.

- Rachel's mom, who she says she visited a decent amount, still lives close enough to the baby's father that his brother sees that Rachel has a kid, but only this time. Even if the father was overseas most of that five years, his five brothers never once saw Rachel pregnant or with a kid all the other times she came to visit her mom? Again, maybe.

- This one, though...Rachel says she was an elementary school teacher who misses her students when she had to take family leave to take care of her son when he got sick, which means she had to have been teaching for a little while. So in approximately five years (four year-old son plus nine-month pregnancy), she graduated with an education degree, managed to do her student teaching, get a job that allowed her to take a decent amount of time off (the son's been sick for two years). All while she was pregnant and then a single mom. And since she didn't grown up with money, she would've needed a job in there too. Most teachers have difficulty completing their degree and student teaching in five years without all of that.

- And, finally, the tipping point for unbelievably. The bone marrow transplant. The dad has a single vial of blood drawn to test and less than a couple days later, they're doing an emergency stem cell transplant when the little boy gets a fever and a nosebleed they can't stop. As in they run into the hospital and they're all taken straight to the OR where the doctor does this emergency surgery. And then Rachel is allowed to see her son right away. As in sit by his bedside, hold his hand. And the kid leaves the hospital not long after. Ten minutes of internet research would've done wonders.

I don't think every author needs to do Diana Gabaldon level research on every minute detail and I'm all for the suspension of disbelief and stretching things a bit, but I was really disappointed. Because the author's writing was good, I'm going to give another book a try and hope this was just a one-off of poor plotting.

[Jamoz23 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have read this book ages ago. Once I started reading it I remembered it had annoyed me due to Rachel’s weak attitude.
You do anything for your child and go even further when he is dying. She was too slow in not telling Brady about Jimmy’s sickness. As a single mother with a very sick child she should have been portrayed as tougher than she was. You don’t survive things like that without inner strength. She allowed Brady to treat her badly again when she went to tell him about their son.
YES, she was in the wrong for not telling Brady she was pregnant and she was very wrong for not letting his family know about Jimmy. Yes, she said some nasty things but she thought he was her forever and he just went off and joined the Marines.
Brady was a bit of a meany and it seemed to be all about him and what he wanted, needed. He HAD to join the marines. Rachel never even had the time to tell him she was pregnant before he was gone. Yes, he had written to her and been ignored but she was only a child herself struggling with being pregnant, believing he didn’t love her when he left her. He never once thought about what Rachel was going through, never asked his brothers to check on her or anything.
He was very nasty to her when she came and tried to tell him about Jimmy. There was no apology until right at the end for upping and leaving Rachel. Then he says I FORGIVE YOU. OOOhhh I was so wanting to kick him where it hurts.
This book wound me up so I did not have that feel good vibe at the end. These two idiots deserved each other.

[Nancy Williamson]

I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. Brady and Rachel were separated when Brady went into the marines and Rachel was shocked and didn't tell him about the son she was carrying. Now Brady is out of the Marines and their son is very sick. Can she ask him for help when it could mean him putting his life on the line? Will he even speak to her after their years apart?
When Brady sees her, he wants nothing to do with her and his brothers are very protective of him due to his time in the Marines.

This is a heart warming story about righting wrongs and seeing that love concurs all. I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put id down until I found out what happened. The writer did an awesome job of putting fears, love, and all emotions into the story so that you felt them as well. You will be glad you read this heart warming story. Truly awesome.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by this author loved this book

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming

[D Call · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth my time

My Rating System
5 stars--WOW
4 stars--would read again
3 stars--was good, won't read again
2 stars--read it, but didn't enjoy it
1 star--didn't finish, it was so awful

Do I need to read books before this one: no
Cliffhanger: no, though Mack's story is set up

Summary
Four-year-old Jimmy's options have all been explored to no avail. He needs a stem cell transplant for any hope of life, and Rachel's blood won't work because she's not a shifter. That leaves his father. Rachel bundles him up and they drive to West Yellowstone. She leaves Jimmy with her mom, June, and drives to Brady's family's ranch. They haven't seen each other in four years, when he joined the Marines and she broke up with him. He asks if she got his letters, or did June hide them from her? No, she got them, she just never wrote. Their meeting doesn't end well. She goes to her mom's place, asks if she'll watch Jimmy for the night, then heads to a bar for dinner. Brady's older brother asks if that was Rachel. He'd seen her earlier in town with a child about age four. Brady's upset. Brady heads to a bar and gets drunk. He sees Rachel and confronts her about the child, but she won't talk to him drunk. She heads outside, and her car won't start. Brady goes out, sees a woman slumped over the steering wheel, and feels he has to help to do something right today. When he approaches, he sees it's Rachel.
Evaluation
Could you throw any more tropes into one title? Christmas, paranormal, cowboy, and secret baby. The book is short, and might have been able to address one trope well, but it doesn't. Brady trains a horse before Rachel comes the first time,and that's all the cowboy wet get. Brady shifts only once, and, other than it affecting donor compatibility, it isn't addressed again. Secret baby causes grief, but since it's resolved in less than a week, and despite what the brothers think, it must not be an issue. And Christmas was sappy at the end. The author got West Yellowstone right.

Recommendation
I recommend this to those who have time on their hands and don't want to socialize, watch TV, or play games. Other than that, find another book.

Favorite Quotes
Being an adult isn’t just about hitting a certain number on a development chart. It’s about learning to be responsible.

Possible Triggers (spoilers)
Sex: multiple scenes
Language: 0 F words, 20 Lord's name in vain, 3 S words
Violence: none

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Rachel is desperate to save her son, even if it means talking to his father. They split four years ago when he chose the military over her. Now they have a second chance but first they have to save their son.

This was a very quick holiday read. I don’t usually read secret baby romances but I decided to give this book a try because bears. I love bear shifter romances. This one was an easy read and a nice pallet cleanser. It had some issues with the story and pacing but still a good start to a series.

Rachel is a single mother whose son has leukemia. He has been fighting it for two years but he needs a bone marrow transplant and only his father will work since he is a shifter. I liked Rachel but I did think the reason they broke up was kinda petty. They definitely should have talked to each other. Brady was a quick tempered bear who knew Rachel was his mate but still pushed her away. His temper causes him problems with Rachel. Brady was ok. I feel like we barely got to know him from the story.

Overall, this was a quick holiday romance that is pretty forgettable. I don’t know if I will read the rest of the series since there isn’t much world development and that is one of the things that keeps me reading a series.

Trigger Warning: Son has Leukemia

This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out pretty good for me. I like an emotional romance, and a woman who had has to go see her ex in order to save her son's life has all the makings of being a pretty emotional story. Unfortunately, things just aren't very developed in here. While I understood Rachel's feelings and why she didn't tell Brady about the baby and why she left and cut off contact, Brady's reason made absolutely no sense. How can someone getting upset that his girlfriend doesn't support his decision to join the military - a decision he made with no prior indication to her, just dropped the bomb that he was leaving - be in any way equal to a young girl finding out she's pregnant and on the night she goes to tell the boy she loves finds out that he's leaving with no warning? It just doesn't work. And having Rachel apologize and get treated like she did the worse thing was just ridiculous in my opinion.

Everything after the bone marrow transplant seems unnecessary and drawn out. The story doesn't really go anywhere else, and the relationship between the MCs doesn't feel any stronger by the end.

Started strong, but just didn't have enough direction.

[PepperP0t · Rating 2 out of 5]

Single mom Rachel Stevenson got bad news on her 4 year old son's latest test results. The chemo didn't work and with no siblings his best chance at life is for his father to donate his bear shifter bone marrow. But Brady Grant broke Rachel's heart when he went to the marines and doesn't know he's a father. First things first, find Brady, tell him and save their baby.

Brady told Rachel was obligated to join the marines but her logic didn't accept it. Though Rachel was the first person Brady wanted to see when he got back, their bitter parting made him hesitate. When she shows him their son, Brady guesses he's the father but walks away in anger. While not a fan of the secret baby trope I never warmed to self-involved, cowardly and whiny Rachel in this rushed read.
Rating: 2stars

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The longest distance between two people is miscommunication

What an awesome read! This book mirrors real life in the way it portrays young love, the decisions we make, the results of those decisions and the long journey back to where we are meant to be. Rachel was young and under stress and reacted poorly when she spoke to Brady. He was no better, focused only on what he thought he had to do he missed what was right in front of him. With the support of family, these two struggle through a hardship no parent should have to endure in order to find their way back to each other and their HEA. I can’t wait to see what happens with the rest of the cowbears.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short sweet second chance romance that could have used a little more length to it.
The main issue I had with it is that the whole bear shifter made no difference to anything. He could have had a rare blood type or genetic condition that would have made the story play out exactly the same. It's not really a paranormal story and had no world building, so it feels tacked in there. Also, there were no cows mentioned, or horse riding. (Which is obviously a minor detail, but shows he was a pretty cutout 'cowbear'. There was a scene of him training a horse, but for part of the title I'd assume it plays a role in the story, and it doesn't.)
That being said, it was an enjoyable read, good to just switch off with something light and a HEA.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby by Liv Brywood. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I like the way these are written . They are a not for serious shifter fans. They are light romance reading with the extra element of the bear shifter. A young girl , a dying child,a father who doesn't know he is a father is a great mix.. Add bad storm both physical and weather wise to complicate things and add depth.. Liv manages to pull it all together and give us an enjoyable read. I like the happy ending.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and steamy second chance at Christmas

The Cowbear’s Secret Christmas Baby (Curvy Bear Ranch Book 1) by Liv Brywood is a sweet and steamy Christmas romance with paranormal bear shifter, secret baby and second chance at love elements thrown in for good measure.
These characters, their history and the spontaneous combustion of their chemistry make this book engaging and the plot feels urgent. Add in the Christmas timing and it’s a really special read.
Overall, an enjoyable holiday themed novella that has a perfect, happy outcome as well as the HEA romance readers love.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

His fated mate

I totally recommend this book to all readers who enjoy great romantic shifter books. Due to a misunderstanding Brady has no idea that when he left to go to do his military duty that his girlfriend Rachel was pregnant with his son. Jimmy needs a bone marrow transplant and Rachel knows only his father Brady can help but how do you ask someone who has no idea that you kept a secret child from him. Readers should enjoy these fated mates facing and admitting their truths.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two young lovers, Rachel and Brady, split up on the day she learns she is pregnant - because of the row she never tells him. He joins the Marines - the cause of the argument - and is sent to Afghanistan. Rachel leaves town.
At Christmas four years later Rachel has to find Brady - their son, Jimmy, will die unless he gets a transfusion and the only possible donor is Brady.
What more needs to be said, you know how "The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby" ends!
It's short, probably too short, but very touching, particularly toward the end.
3 Stars.
P.S. Cowbears - seriously?

[BookwormMomma7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Start to the Series

A story about second chances and overcoming our youthful decisions. Rachel and Brady have a lot of history, mostly all wonderful but one night changed everything and now she has to deal with the consequences, her boy’s life is on the line and she is going to have to tell his father about him in order to safe him.
Brady is a man trying to outlive his ghosts, one of wish just showed back up in his life and he can not deal with that on top of the ones his PTSD always keeps near by. He is so furious at what he finds out but his bear sure is making things difficult.
A poignant story with paranormal thrown in and a good introduction for book two.

[Jamie Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. it was kinda sad because of what was going on with the son but they put their personal problems aside to help him and it wound up saving their relationship ship and the boy's life. I'm pretty sure I've read another one in this series but I'd really like to read the second one because as gruff and growly as he is I want to see him find his mate.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby (Curvy Bear Ranch Book 1)

The love story of Brady and Rachel. Rachel's 4 year old son, Jimmy has leukemia and he need a bone marrow transplant. Now Rachel must tell Brady he has a son and he need his help. Will Brady help or will he then his back on his son? Great story.

[Pamela Lunder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby

I really enjoyed this book. I have just recently started reading shifter books and this one did not disappoint. Second chance loves are always a good read but add in a grizzly shifter and a sweet sick little boy and it made this book even better.

[Sarah Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet & Sexy Holiday Tale

I loved Rachel and Brady’s second chance romance! I’m glad Brady was able to forgive her after the huge secret she kept from him. I can understand her point of view on it too, with the way she felt like he had just abandoned her to join the Marines. That poor sweet little boy, whom has been through so much, deserved both his parents.

[Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this whole series back in 2018. The family in series are truly good people that I fail in love with and wish Liv Brywood would come out with another book so we can catch up on all the brothers and wifes and kids. If you get chance to read then you should start at the begin and read all the way thru!!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

They both made bad choices when they were younger and didn't talk things through. What don't get though is they together forever, how did he not know she was her fated mate and how could he all if a sudden know in the hospital ? Makes no sense to me .. Sweet sext and they get a HEA

[Deborah Countryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cowbear's Secret Christmas Baby

Rachel Stevenson had came home, her Five year old son, Jimmy had leukemia. Nothing seem to help. Jimmy was part Bear Shifter. The last hope was a bond marrow transplant. Brady Grant a Bear Shifter, had come home from serving time in the military service. Fated Mates Brady and Rachel will need to work through their problems to save their son.

[Jessica N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short story

Although it is a bear shifter story, there really wasn't any shifting going on.
It's a cute short story that read well as is, but could be expanded into a longer story.

[Roslyn Donohoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

I think this might be the first time I've read this author, (I'm not sure), but it won't be the last. I really enjoyed it. I'll be looking out for more of hers to read.. Well worth the read.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific read!

Oh my gosh...what an amazing read! Great storyline; awesome characters; just the right amount of angst; and a totally kickass HEA. ❤️❤️ This is definitely a keeper!