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Sapphire Mountain Cowboys #1
A Valentine for the Cowboy: A Harlequin Single Dad Romance
THIS COWBOY'S PRECIOUS JEWEL… After a painful divorce that left him the sole parent of his sweet baby girl, Eli Clayton shut the door on relationships. Hard. Then he walks into his ranching family's small-town gem shop and sees his daughter in the arms of a stunning woman whose eyes are the color of Montana blue sapphires. And he melts. Brianna Frost can't deny the serious attraction between her and the hunky cowboy dad, or the bond she has with his little girl. Still, Brianna can't quite shake the feeling that Eli's ex is still in his life-and in his heart. Would falling for this Clayton cowboy mean loving a family who could never be hers?
- GenresRomance
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Rebecca Winters
1,162 books206 followersaka Rebecca Brown Burton, Rebecca Burton
Rebecca Winters, born Rebecca Brown Burton, was the author of over 175 romance novels published with Harlequin, delighting readers worldwide for more than 35 years. Her stories, translated into many languages, have sold nearly thirty million copies. A French teacher turned novelist, she combined her love of language, family, and storytelling into a remarkable literary legacy.
Rebecca Winters, born Rebecca Brown Burton, was the author of over 175 romance novels published with Harlequin, delighting readers worldwide for more than 35 years. Her stories, translated into many languages, have sold nearly thirty million copies. A French teacher turned novelist, she combined her love of language, family, and storytelling into a remarkable literary legacy.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 25, 2017
I enjoyed this book which is more complex than the usual romance and addresses thorny issues. We see that a ranching family in Montana also owns a sapphire mine, and sells lovely jewellery from a gift shop. A divorced father gets to know a young woman who after graduating has come to help her aunt and uncle run a saddlery.
Quite a few complications ensue; and while we can sympathise with a mother with post-natal depression, the character is deftly drawn to ensure we keep two minds about the mother's right to see her child and ex-husband. The protagonists do fall for each other quite quickly, but it is a romance story with no underlying reason for them to dislike each other. Sometimes people do soon feel this way.
I especially like the details about mine runoffs causing environmental pollution. Even closed mines can contaminate water, we learn, and the sapphire mine owners understandably want to keep mining, but they are also ranchers. This aspect can be taken as a sideways look at the environmental spoiling caused by fracking in the Midwest, a topic probably too fraught to be addressed in a romance novel.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Quite a few complications ensue; and while we can sympathise with a mother with post-natal depression, the character is deftly drawn to ensure we keep two minds about the mother's right to see her child and ex-husband. The protagonists do fall for each other quite quickly, but it is a romance story with no underlying reason for them to dislike each other. Sometimes people do soon feel this way.
I especially like the details about mine runoffs causing environmental pollution. Even closed mines can contaminate water, we learn, and the sapphire mine owners understandably want to keep mining, but they are also ranchers. This aspect can be taken as a sideways look at the environmental spoiling caused by fracking in the Midwest, a topic probably too fraught to be addressed in a romance novel.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
February 6, 2017
3 stars
I just did not believe the insta-love. Eli and Brianna basically go on two dates and decide they are in love and they are going to get married right away. They skipped over the part of their courtship where they actually got to know each other. Considering that Eli was already divorced once, with a baby daughter - I just did not find the relationship convincing.
Eli has been raising his daughter, Libby, with the help of his family after his wife, Tessa left him. Tessa, suffering from postpartum depression, went back to live her parents, filing for divorce and wanting nothing to do with Eli or her baby. Hurt and confused, Eli is determined to be the best father he can be, but he worries that Libby won't ever have a loving relationship with her mother.
Enter Brianna. She instantly forms a bond with Libby, and after some initial reluctance, falls for Eli, too. The formation of their family unit happens over an unbelievably short time frame. When Brianna suggests that Eli try to patch things up with Tessa in order for Libby to get to know her mother, Tessa makes a remarkable (and also unbelievable) recovery. Suddenly, she wants to be a part of Libby's life. And she wants Eli back.
I read Harlequins for the happy endings, and while this story certainly had one, the journey to the HEA was unrealistic. Despite the gravity of the issues involved, nobody really looses their temper, raises their voice, or displays the kind of emotions you would expect with all of this drama. I recommend this for a quick read when you have some time to kill, or when you need a little distraction for RL, but don't expect much breadth of emotion here.
I just did not believe the insta-love. Eli and Brianna basically go on two dates and decide they are in love and they are going to get married right away. They skipped over the part of their courtship where they actually got to know each other. Considering that Eli was already divorced once, with a baby daughter - I just did not find the relationship convincing.
Eli has been raising his daughter, Libby, with the help of his family after his wife, Tessa left him. Tessa, suffering from postpartum depression, went back to live her parents, filing for divorce and wanting nothing to do with Eli or her baby. Hurt and confused, Eli is determined to be the best father he can be, but he worries that Libby won't ever have a loving relationship with her mother.
Enter Brianna. She instantly forms a bond with Libby, and after some initial reluctance, falls for Eli, too. The formation of their family unit happens over an unbelievably short time frame. When Brianna suggests that Eli try to patch things up with Tessa in order for Libby to get to know her mother, Tessa makes a remarkable (and also unbelievable) recovery. Suddenly, she wants to be a part of Libby's life. And she wants Eli back.
I read Harlequins for the happy endings, and while this story certainly had one, the journey to the HEA was unrealistic. Despite the gravity of the issues involved, nobody really looses their temper, raises their voice, or displays the kind of emotions you would expect with all of this drama. I recommend this for a quick read when you have some time to kill, or when you need a little distraction for RL, but don't expect much breadth of emotion here.
February 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this. I loved how Libby took to Brianna right away. After not having her mother around due to a severe postpartum depression, Libby needs a mother figure around. Brianna is one understanding woman when it comes to Eli's ex-wife. In a way, I felt bad for Tessa, his ex, but in a way, I didn't once I knew her backstory. I can't wait to read the next one.
February 5, 2017
A Valentine For The Cowboy by Rebecca Winters. Eli Clayton has full custody of his little girl toddler. His ex had a breakdown and divorced him. He meets Briana Frost and knew she was for him. Later his ex wants him back. A very good read.
January 5, 2017
I enjoyed the book very much
January 12, 2019
A beautiful compassionate unpredictable love story.... A true pleasure to read!!!
April 8, 2017
I have to say I absolutely fell in love with Eli and Brianna. The two were just meant for each other. I can relate to this book in so many ways. My boyfriend and I were both going through bad divorces when we met and he had 3 children. So the fact that Eli fell for even though he had just been through a divorce touches home on so many levels with us and the kids. This book is a real heart string puller! I can not wait to see what else Rebecca has in store for us throughout the rest of the Sapphire Mountain Cowboys! This one was exactly what I needed.
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January 20, 2017"In this Sapphire Mountain Cowboys novel, Winters throws readers a twist by bringing the two main characters together, and it is a joy to watch them slowly fall for each other. There are great secondary characters, too..." (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews)
Miniseries: Sapphire Mountain Cowboys
Miniseries: Sapphire Mountain Cowboys
June 13, 2022
Eli Clayton has his hands full caring for his toddler daughter after his wife divorces him and succumbs to clinical depression. When he meets Brianna Frost, life begins to look up, and she must be a saint when she tells him to fight for his ruined marriage and help his ex-wife interact with their daughter.
When he does so, he is as surprised as anyone when that ex-wife does an about-face and decides to get to know their little girl and become his wife again. Not something he wants.
Brianna may have set herself up for heartbreak if Eli follows through with what Tessa wants, so he has to make the decision that will govern how he wants to live his life and with whom. Who will he choose?
When he does so, he is as surprised as anyone when that ex-wife does an about-face and decides to get to know their little girl and become his wife again. Not something he wants.
Brianna may have set herself up for heartbreak if Eli follows through with what Tessa wants, so he has to make the decision that will govern how he wants to live his life and with whom. Who will he choose?
June 26, 2024
I really liked this story. Yes I think the feelings happened really fast and so that part might be a little hard to get around. I won't tell you what happens in the book but I had a really hard time putting this book down. The hero has a daughter who is really cute as well.
January 12, 2023
I gave up at the 6th chapter, the plot just seemed to drag on without much clarity.
February 14, 2023
This was okay. I didn't really feel the romance and the characters weren't my favorite either. It was a nice, quick read though and I loved the family elements.
March 31, 2023
Great, sappy Valentines read.
January 7, 2017
Not good
This book was boring .Not Rebecca's best book. I would not recommend. Too much angst.The story was missing substance .
This book was boring .Not Rebecca's best book. I would not recommend. Too much angst.The story was missing substance .
February 16, 2018
Fast, Cute, and Fun!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews