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A man who's traded his power suits for cowboy boots and then starts a relationship with his nanny...can they find love this Christmas?
Since the death of his wife a few years ago, Eli Whittaker has been running from one job to another, unable to find somewhere to settle. But he's left the tropical beach and the luxury resort where he used to work to brave the snow in Coral Canyon, Wyoming. Now that his older brother is back in their hometown and running the energy company, Eli wants his son, Stockton, to have a closer connection to family.
Eli buys a dozen horses for the lodge and is working to book families and other vacationers to come stay at Whiskey Creek and enjoy horseback riding lessons. Meg Palmer is Stockton's nanny, and she comes with her boss, Eli, to the lodge, her long-time crush on the man no different in Wyoming than it was on the beach. When she confesses her feelings for him and gets nothing in return, she's crushed, embarrassed, and unsure if she can stay in Coral Canyon for Christmas.
Then Eli starts to show some feelings for her too.
Meg's fantasies of making a family with Eli and Stockton grow and grow, especially when she sees how Eli is kind and patient with her difficult and demanding mother, who suddenly needs a place to spend the holidays.
Can Eli move past his first wife and find the faith he needs to build a new family with Meg? Or will she finally admit it's time for her to take her heart and find someone else to give it to?
Since the death of his wife a few years ago, Eli Whittaker has been running from one job to another, unable to find somewhere to settle. But he's left the tropical beach and the luxury resort where he used to work to brave the snow in Coral Canyon, Wyoming. Now that his older brother is back in their hometown and running the energy company, Eli wants his son, Stockton, to have a closer connection to family.
Eli buys a dozen horses for the lodge and is working to book families and other vacationers to come stay at Whiskey Creek and enjoy horseback riding lessons. Meg Palmer is Stockton's nanny, and she comes with her boss, Eli, to the lodge, her long-time crush on the man no different in Wyoming than it was on the beach. When she confesses her feelings for him and gets nothing in return, she's crushed, embarrassed, and unsure if she can stay in Coral Canyon for Christmas.
Then Eli starts to show some feelings for her too.
Meg's fantasies of making a family with Eli and Stockton grow and grow, especially when she sees how Eli is kind and patient with her difficult and demanding mother, who suddenly needs a place to spend the holidays.
Can Eli move past his first wife and find the faith he needs to build a new family with Meg? Or will she finally admit it's time for her to take her heart and find someone else to give it to?
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2018
3324 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Liz Isaacson
357 books1,187 followers★ USA TODAY BESTSELLER, AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR, and KINDLE ALL STAR! ★
Liz Isaacson writes inspirational cowboy romances. Her Three Rivers Ranch Romance series has multiple #1 bestsellers in half a dozen categories. She loves all things to do with contemporary cowboys, and will write romance in Texas, Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, and anywhere else she can find horses and mountains. Find out more at lizisaacson.com. Join her fandom by texting COWBOY to 801-618-2114 for exclusive sales and freebies.
Liz Isaacson writes inspirational cowboy romances. Her Three Rivers Ranch Romance series has multiple #1 bestsellers in half a dozen categories. She loves all things to do with contemporary cowboys, and will write romance in Texas, Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, and anywhere else she can find horses and mountains. Find out more at lizisaacson.com. Join her fandom by texting COWBOY to 801-618-2114 for exclusive sales and freebies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
October 8, 2018
There will be spoilers because what the fuck?!
~~~
And here I sit at 1149pm looking around going what the fuck just happened here?! Because things were going along. And it was great. The characters were lovely, the romance with the perfect amount of road blocks, the holidays, the cute kid. Everything. And then it was like...here have a serious fucking random train wreck of an ening! Tada!
The Gist: Meg is in love with her boss (she's his nanny). Her boss who lost his wife 4 years earlier and still hasn't moved on or forgiven himself over. And telling him she has a thing for him? Well it upends his whole world and he's left trying to figure out what to do with himself and his sexy nanny.
Alright. So this was a great book until like the 80% mark. Eli is an awesome hero. He's strong, amazingly caring and generous, a family man, hard working. Sexy and still a bit broken over his loss. I loved him. And his son Stockton who is just adorable. His family...incredible. And for a long while Meg was great, too. She loves this family, struggles with her own family. Is sweet and kind.
But then she just loses her everlovingmind.
Because he can't tell her he's madly in love with her 5 weeks (and 2 dates) after she sprung all this on him she... packs up her bags at midnight, wakes the kid up to say she's leaving forever but loves him and...leaves. Not just leaves but completely abandons her life. Leaves her cell phone at a store, empties her bank accounts and moves to another state and gets a job as a secretary. Not telling a single soul where she is. When he finally finds her weeks later and apologizes (what the fuck for I can't figure out!) she's like okay but the only way I'll go back to Wyoming is if you marry me. But we can't get married for four months so I'm gonna keep living here while you live in Wyoming with your son and entire family but then I'll move back.
Except she never fucking plans on moving back! Oh no. She wants to stay in Cali on the beach with her new friends and job as a secretary and waits until they're at the alter to tell him. And he's like well okay.
Fuck me.
Are you serious with this crazy selfish woman?
She had no trouble abandoning Eli and his son after spending 4 years with him but then suddenly her friends at this secretarial job are the best thing ever and she couldn't possibly leave them! Nope. Nope I don't buy it. Or that he'd be totally fine with leaving his home, his entire family, his work, the horses he loves and the bonds his son has with his aunts/uncles/cousins he's wild about and grandparents. Everything. To just uproot and move to Cali.
I just can't even.
~~~
And here I sit at 1149pm looking around going what the fuck just happened here?! Because things were going along. And it was great. The characters were lovely, the romance with the perfect amount of road blocks, the holidays, the cute kid. Everything. And then it was like...here have a serious fucking random train wreck of an ening! Tada!
The Gist: Meg is in love with her boss (she's his nanny). Her boss who lost his wife 4 years earlier and still hasn't moved on or forgiven himself over. And telling him she has a thing for him? Well it upends his whole world and he's left trying to figure out what to do with himself and his sexy nanny.
Alright. So this was a great book until like the 80% mark. Eli is an awesome hero. He's strong, amazingly caring and generous, a family man, hard working. Sexy and still a bit broken over his loss. I loved him. And his son Stockton who is just adorable. His family...incredible. And for a long while Meg was great, too. She loves this family, struggles with her own family. Is sweet and kind.
But then she just loses her everlovingmind.
Because he can't tell her he's madly in love with her 5 weeks (and 2 dates) after she sprung all this on him she... packs up her bags at midnight, wakes the kid up to say she's leaving forever but loves him and...leaves. Not just leaves but completely abandons her life. Leaves her cell phone at a store, empties her bank accounts and moves to another state and gets a job as a secretary. Not telling a single soul where she is. When he finally finds her weeks later and apologizes (what the fuck for I can't figure out!) she's like okay but the only way I'll go back to Wyoming is if you marry me. But we can't get married for four months so I'm gonna keep living here while you live in Wyoming with your son and entire family but then I'll move back.
Except she never fucking plans on moving back! Oh no. She wants to stay in Cali on the beach with her new friends and job as a secretary and waits until they're at the alter to tell him. And he's like well okay.
Fuck me.
Are you serious with this crazy selfish woman?
She had no trouble abandoning Eli and his son after spending 4 years with him but then suddenly her friends at this secretarial job are the best thing ever and she couldn't possibly leave them! Nope. Nope I don't buy it. Or that he'd be totally fine with leaving his home, his entire family, his work, the horses he loves and the bonds his son has with his aunts/uncles/cousins he's wild about and grandparents. Everything. To just uproot and move to Cali.
I just can't even.
August 25, 2022
It is marked as a 'religious fiction' on amazon.
Was it really so hard to give the same warning in here?
And why the fuck is this shitshow on my recommendations list?
I mean, come on.
It's starting to piss me off for real at this point.
Have I ever expressed anything but pure hatred towards christian/ religious romance fiction?
I don't think so.
So yeah, that's a big fat nope.
Always has been, always will be.
Was it really so hard to give the same warning in here?
And why the fuck is this shitshow on my recommendations list?
I mean, come on.
It's starting to piss me off for real at this point.
Have I ever expressed anything but pure hatred towards christian/ religious romance fiction?
I don't think so.
So yeah, that's a big fat nope.
Always has been, always will be.
November 12, 2025
I LOVE the nanny and employer romance trope, so this one totally pulled me in. Initially, I wasn’t sure where the story was going since they clearly had feelings for each other and they weren’t exactly well hidden. But as things unfolded, it became clear that Eli wasn’t being honest with Meg, and she needed to know if he could truly see her as more than just his son’s nanny. When the ultimatum came, it really made me wonder if Eli would finally decide he was ready to see Meg as more than his nanny and maybe even as a wife.
I really liked this story! It even had a moment that turned into a real tearjerker. That said, the ending felt a bit abrupt for me, and it wrapped up a little too quickly. I also wasn’t totally happy with Meg’s decision making toward the end since she came across as a bit selfish. Still, I’d definitely read more books in this series. I think my disconnect was more with the FMC herself than with the story. I’d love to explore more of the romances in this series.
I really liked this story! It even had a moment that turned into a real tearjerker. That said, the ending felt a bit abrupt for me, and it wrapped up a little too quickly. I also wasn’t totally happy with Meg’s decision making toward the end since she came across as a bit selfish. Still, I’d definitely read more books in this series. I think my disconnect was more with the FMC herself than with the story. I’d love to explore more of the romances in this series.
Want to read
August 8, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/7/2019)! 🎁
June 7, 2022
Of the numerous “cowboy” romances that I’ve read in recent months to try to beat insomnia, this is probably the most interesting from the point of view of character development. (Most of these novels have been populated by shallow stereotypes.) In this novel, the main characters are a young couple with obvious emotional wounds who work not only together to improve their mutual understanding but also independently to understand themselves.
The male main character, 35-year-old Eli Whittaker, is a single father who is still, four years after the accidental death of his wife, unable to move beyond his feelings of grief and guilt. Pairing Eli up with 32-year-old nanny Meg Palmer (who has been employed to care for Eli’s young son, Stockton, for four years) results in a challenging situation. This trio has shared much in these four years, including international household moves to accommodate Eli’s career. Their relationships seem very healthy, with good communication skills and an admirable level of respect and trust. But there is a “fly in the ointment”. Meg admits to having deeper feelings for Eli.
Meg is a very loving, dependable, and capable young woman who is encumbered by the emotional abuse she has suffered for most of her life at the hands of her eccentric and mean-spirited mother. And yet, she demonstrates considerable integrity and strength as she encourages Eli to examine his own emotional wounds and consider the nature of their future together — as boss and employee or husband and wife?
For his part, Eli is a very non-traditional male character. He is gentle, kind, and honest in all relationships and willing to delve deep to heal his own wounds and move forward with Meg. Together they navigate the murky waters of their emotions and their relationship in surprising ways.
While this novel provides neither inspired dialogue nor the breath-taking sense of place which is offered by the setting of the story, as a short contemporary romance it stands head-and-shoulders above many examples of this genre which have lulled me to sleep in recent months. In my books (pardon the pun), this does not qualify as an “insomnia book”.
The male main character, 35-year-old Eli Whittaker, is a single father who is still, four years after the accidental death of his wife, unable to move beyond his feelings of grief and guilt. Pairing Eli up with 32-year-old nanny Meg Palmer (who has been employed to care for Eli’s young son, Stockton, for four years) results in a challenging situation. This trio has shared much in these four years, including international household moves to accommodate Eli’s career. Their relationships seem very healthy, with good communication skills and an admirable level of respect and trust. But there is a “fly in the ointment”. Meg admits to having deeper feelings for Eli.
Meg is a very loving, dependable, and capable young woman who is encumbered by the emotional abuse she has suffered for most of her life at the hands of her eccentric and mean-spirited mother. And yet, she demonstrates considerable integrity and strength as she encourages Eli to examine his own emotional wounds and consider the nature of their future together — as boss and employee or husband and wife?
For his part, Eli is a very non-traditional male character. He is gentle, kind, and honest in all relationships and willing to delve deep to heal his own wounds and move forward with Meg. Together they navigate the murky waters of their emotions and their relationship in surprising ways.
While this novel provides neither inspired dialogue nor the breath-taking sense of place which is offered by the setting of the story, as a short contemporary romance it stands head-and-shoulders above many examples of this genre which have lulled me to sleep in recent months. In my books (pardon the pun), this does not qualify as an “insomnia book”.
December 21, 2018
Not Quite the Whole Story
Caroline died when her son Stockton was two years old. Eli hired Meg as his nanny, so that Eli could resume part of his life, and Meg went along when Eli accepted a position with a resort Bora Bora.
Now Eli is working with his brothers to create a resort in Montana, and Meg is there too.
But she is getting older and wants more out of her life. Will Eli give it to her? CAN he?
Although Isaacson draws a vivid picture of the situation, I don't think she has adequately addressed Meg's emotions at being separated from the child she has by then been raising for four years.
Recommended for readers of clean romance with a twist of wealth.
Caroline died when her son Stockton was two years old. Eli hired Meg as his nanny, so that Eli could resume part of his life, and Meg went along when Eli accepted a position with a resort Bora Bora.
Now Eli is working with his brothers to create a resort in Montana, and Meg is there too.
But she is getting older and wants more out of her life. Will Eli give it to her? CAN he?
Although Isaacson draws a vivid picture of the situation, I don't think she has adequately addressed Meg's emotions at being separated from the child she has by then been raising for four years.
Recommended for readers of clean romance with a twist of wealth.
August 26, 2018
This is the first Liz Isaacson book I’ve not loved. Won’t spoil it but I didn’t like the ending.
Meg is not a person I admire, I see her as selfish, and somewhat manipulative. Stockton is a sweet kid and Eli is a typical man dealing with grief and feeling disloyal.
Overall I overall somewhat disappointed.
Meg is not a person I admire, I see her as selfish, and somewhat manipulative. Stockton is a sweet kid and Eli is a typical man dealing with grief and feeling disloyal.
Overall I overall somewhat disappointed.
August 29, 2018
I’m not sure how I feel about this story. The premise of the story is great but the characters are frankly annoying.
April 13, 2020
Long Winding Road
This story of two people that fall in love is like the long winding road of life. Absence can make the heart grow fonder. Big D
This story of two people that fall in love is like the long winding road of life. Absence can make the heart grow fonder. Big D
August 14, 2025
This was cute until Meg was selfish: when she got her job she wanted, the man and his son just happy go lucky to uproot and follow her to another state. Whatever and the ending left my eyes rolling. Her Cowboy Billionaire Boss is the original title. Hate when authors does this title change.
September 8, 2019
Slow
This took a little while for me to get into. Maybe I just don’t get how slow this guys can be emotionally.
This took a little while for me to get into. Maybe I just don’t get how slow this guys can be emotionally.
September 2, 2018
I wanted to like this story a lot more than I actually did. I loved Eli and Stockton, and I liked who I thought Meg was going to be based on what we saw in the previous book. I just didn’t much like who she turned out to be in the end in this one. I was proud that she stood up for what she felt she deserved. I just thought her ‘line in the sand’ was rushed and unfair. I also have issues with characters refusing to discuss important matters with each other until the eleventh hour and this story hit that hot button for me several times. I love the sense of family and togetherness that the Whittaker clan embodies, so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the next brother.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
April 22, 2020
I ended up not liking this story at all. Normally, this author's work makes me feel happy, uplifted, or hopeful. I got none of this from this book.
Eli found out how Meg felt about him in November. By Christmas he was still trying to figure out what he felt. I personally didn't think that was unreasonable. Especially when it seemed like during the initial 4 years, she hadn't made her feelings known.
Eli was way too wishy washy in terms of trying to explain to Meg what he felt. I understood him having difficulty moving on with his life. That was until his brother made ONE statement. That blew Eli's reasoning out of the water. Until finding out later that he had a completely different reason for feeling like he did.
I didn't like Meg at all. She had her own issues she needed to resolve. I felt like she did the things she did, not because that was what she really wanted to do, but because she wanted to force Eli's hand.
Also the first of the last major moves Meg made, we did with NO thought to what it would do to Stockton. One, he was a six year old child, she had been caring for since he was two. Basically the only mother he had ever known. Two, she supposedly loved him so much. Three, I felt she was so selfish, she didn't even try to make things easier for him. Forget about Eli, but you don't treat a kid that way.
She worked for Eli for 4 years. She decided to tell him how she felt. She decided to give him a timeline in which to feel the same way. She decided he should be over the death of his wife. She decided to threaten him with an ultimatum. She decided on the cavalier way she choose to treat his son. She decided to not share a major decision with Eli until the very last moment. She made other decisions, but they would have to become spoiler alerts if I shared them. See the theme here....SHE decided.
Not to mention, what was the deal with Meg's mother? Did I miss something? I was waiting for The explanation about their relationship, about what Eli whispered to her, and about her attitude change at the lodge.
The straw that broke the camel's back was what she said to Eli when they were standing on the beach. Unbelievable!!! The end of this story was so off putting to me, I was really sorry I spent any time on it.
I don't feel like this was a romance or an HEA. I ended up feeling like it was a disaster waiting to happen with some pent up resentment ready to read its ugly head down The road.
The description sounded good, but I really did not expect this story to go in the direction it did. I was aiming for three stars, but the more I thought about this book, I could only give it two.
Eli found out how Meg felt about him in November. By Christmas he was still trying to figure out what he felt. I personally didn't think that was unreasonable. Especially when it seemed like during the initial 4 years, she hadn't made her feelings known.
Eli was way too wishy washy in terms of trying to explain to Meg what he felt. I understood him having difficulty moving on with his life. That was until his brother made ONE statement. That blew Eli's reasoning out of the water. Until finding out later that he had a completely different reason for feeling like he did.
I didn't like Meg at all. She had her own issues she needed to resolve. I felt like she did the things she did, not because that was what she really wanted to do, but because she wanted to force Eli's hand.
Also the first of the last major moves Meg made, we did with NO thought to what it would do to Stockton. One, he was a six year old child, she had been caring for since he was two. Basically the only mother he had ever known. Two, she supposedly loved him so much. Three, I felt she was so selfish, she didn't even try to make things easier for him. Forget about Eli, but you don't treat a kid that way.
She worked for Eli for 4 years. She decided to tell him how she felt. She decided to give him a timeline in which to feel the same way. She decided he should be over the death of his wife. She decided to threaten him with an ultimatum. She decided on the cavalier way she choose to treat his son. She decided to not share a major decision with Eli until the very last moment. She made other decisions, but they would have to become spoiler alerts if I shared them. See the theme here....SHE decided.
Not to mention, what was the deal with Meg's mother? Did I miss something? I was waiting for The explanation about their relationship, about what Eli whispered to her, and about her attitude change at the lodge.
The straw that broke the camel's back was what she said to Eli when they were standing on the beach. Unbelievable!!! The end of this story was so off putting to me, I was really sorry I spent any time on it.
I don't feel like this was a romance or an HEA. I ended up feeling like it was a disaster waiting to happen with some pent up resentment ready to read its ugly head down The road.
The description sounded good, but I really did not expect this story to go in the direction it did. I was aiming for three stars, but the more I thought about this book, I could only give it two.
February 2, 2020
The Cowboy Billionaire Boss: Christmas in Coral Canyon: A Whittaker Brothers novel 2 is by Liz Isaacson. This second book continues the story of the Whittaker Brothers and it is very predictable in that the brother moves in to take care of the Whittaker Lodge, meets an eligible girl, falls in love, and finally wins the girl’s hand in marriage. It is very predictable; but Liz has a way of making the action so different with each brother that the idea seems to be unique and fresh.
The characters are kept to a minimum and are very realistic and natural. The plot is always fun to follow. The book is a great one for reading romance that steers away from over treatment and doesn’t involve a raunchy scene or language.
Eli Whittaker has moved to Wyoming with his son, Stockton, and his nanny, Meg Palmer, to help his brother Graham, Andrew, and Beau run the family business and farm. Eli was happy to be with his brothers again. Stockton was thrilled to be able to play with his cousin Bailey on a regular basis.
Before coming to Wyoming, Meg had finally confessed her feelings for Eli; but at the time, he couldn’t forget his wife. She decided to give Wyoming a try; but it got worse as her feelings grew and his didn’t seem to. Finally, she leaves and ends up in California. She leaves no trace of herself as she leaves. How will Eli be able to find her? If he does find her, how will he be able to confess his feelings towards Meg especially since Meg’s Mother had confessed Meg’s secret?
The characters are kept to a minimum and are very realistic and natural. The plot is always fun to follow. The book is a great one for reading romance that steers away from over treatment and doesn’t involve a raunchy scene or language.
Eli Whittaker has moved to Wyoming with his son, Stockton, and his nanny, Meg Palmer, to help his brother Graham, Andrew, and Beau run the family business and farm. Eli was happy to be with his brothers again. Stockton was thrilled to be able to play with his cousin Bailey on a regular basis.
Before coming to Wyoming, Meg had finally confessed her feelings for Eli; but at the time, he couldn’t forget his wife. She decided to give Wyoming a try; but it got worse as her feelings grew and his didn’t seem to. Finally, she leaves and ends up in California. She leaves no trace of herself as she leaves. How will Eli be able to find her? If he does find her, how will he be able to confess his feelings towards Meg especially since Meg’s Mother had confessed Meg’s secret?
August 27, 2018
Meg has been a nanny to 6 year old Stockton since Eli's wife was killed in a car wreck. They have moved several times, but 11 months ago they moved to the family's lodge in Wyoming. Meg has fallen in love with Eli as well as Stockton but Eli can't seem to get over his wife's death. Things have been awkward between them for months since she told him her true feelings. She decides to look for another job and gives a two week notice. Eli however talks her out of it. Meg doesn't have many friends and is not close with her family. Her mom wants to come and visit for Christmas and Eli drives Meg to pick her up. Eli does stick up for Meg every time her mom puts her down. Eli is still unable to commit to Meg and she ups and quits and doesn't tell anyone where she is going. She goes to California and gets a job with a law firm. She makes goods friends with a couple of other ladies. Eli and Stockton are heart broken. He wants to hire a PI but his brothers tells him no. Out of the blue, an old friend calls from California and says a lady he met talks about being a former nanny to Stockton. Eli talks to Meg's friends at work and they agree to help him. Can he convince Meg that he is ready to move on? Does he propose? Does she quit her job and move back? I received an ARC of this book and I am giving an honest review.
May 24, 2024
Emotional
This book carried on nicely from the first one you already knew the characters but this time you got to see more like another branch of a tree. But not all family's are conventional and there are many types of families this one is nice that you don't have to give birth to be a mother. And then another side is just because your a motherr doesn't automatically mean that they love you unconditionally. Happy ending guaranteed.
This book carried on nicely from the first one you already knew the characters but this time you got to see more like another branch of a tree. But not all family's are conventional and there are many types of families this one is nice that you don't have to give birth to be a mother. And then another side is just because your a motherr doesn't automatically mean that they love you unconditionally. Happy ending guaranteed.
October 17, 2020
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May 25, 2025
2.5 + IMO, the first one was better and more realistic
This Summary/Review was copied from other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any Personal Notations are for my recollection only.
**
One not so positive review
The Gist: Meg is in love with her boss (she's his nanny). Her boss who lost his wife 4 years earlier and still hasn't moved on or forgiven himself over. And telling him she has a thing for him? Well it upends his whole world and he's left trying to figure out what to do with himself and his sexy nanny.
Alright. So this was a great book until like the 80% mark. Eli is an awesome hero. He's strong, amazingly caring and generous, a family man, hard working. Sexy and still a bit broken over his loss. I loved him. And his son Stockton who is just adorable. His family...incredible. And for a long while Meg was great, too. She loves this family, struggles with her own family. Is sweet and kind.
But then she just loses her everlovingmind.
Because he can't tell her he's madly in love with her 5 weeks (and 2 dates) after she sprung all this on him she... packs up her bags at midnight, wakes the kid up to say she's leaving forever but loves him and...leaves. Not just leaves but completely abandons her life. Leaves her cell phone at a store, empties her bank accounts and moves to another state and gets a job as a secretary. Not telling a single soul where she is. When he finally finds her weeks later and apologizes (what the fuck for I can't figure out!) she's like okay but the only way I'll go back to Wyoming is if you marry me. But we can't get married for four months so I'm gonna keep living here while you live in Wyoming with your son and entire family but then I'll move back.
Except she never fucking plans on moving back! Oh no. She wants to stay in Cali on the beach with her new friends and job as a secretary and waits until they're at the alter to tell him. And he's like well okay.
Are you serious with this crazy selfish woman?
She had no trouble abandoning Eli and his son after spending 4 years with him but then suddenly her friends at this secretarial job are the best thing ever and she couldn't possibly leave them! Nope. Nope I don't buy it. Or that he'd be totally fine with leaving his home, his entire family, his work, the horses he loves and the bonds his son has with his aunts/uncles/cousins he's wild about and grandparents. Everything. To just uproot and move to Cali.
***
In this novel, the main characters are a young couple with obvious emotional wounds who work not only together to improve their mutual understanding but also independently to understand themselves.
The male main character, 35-year-old Eli Whittaker, is a single father who is still, four years after the accidental death of his wife, unable to move beyond his feelings of grief and guilt. Pairing Eli up with 32-year-old nanny Meg Palmer (who has been employed to care for Eli’s young son, Stockton, for four years) results in a challenging situation. This trio has shared much in these four years, including international household moves to accommodate Eli’s career. Their relationships seem very healthy, with good communication skills and an admirable level of respect and trust. But there is a “fly in the ointment”. Meg admits to having deeper feelings for Eli.
Meg is a very loving, dependable, and capable young woman who is encumbered by the emotional abuse she has suffered for most of her life at the hands of her eccentric and mean-spirited mother. And yet, she demonstrates considerable integrity and strength as she encourages Eli to examine his own emotional wounds and consider the nature of their future together — as boss and employee or husband and wife?
For his part, Eli is a very non-traditional male character. He is gentle, kind, and honest in all relationships and willing to delve deep to heal his own wounds and move forward with Meg. Together they navigate the murky waters of their emotions and their relationship in surprising ways.
***
This Summary/Review was copied from other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any Personal Notations are for my recollection only.
**
One not so positive review
The Gist: Meg is in love with her boss (she's his nanny). Her boss who lost his wife 4 years earlier and still hasn't moved on or forgiven himself over. And telling him she has a thing for him? Well it upends his whole world and he's left trying to figure out what to do with himself and his sexy nanny.
Alright. So this was a great book until like the 80% mark. Eli is an awesome hero. He's strong, amazingly caring and generous, a family man, hard working. Sexy and still a bit broken over his loss. I loved him. And his son Stockton who is just adorable. His family...incredible. And for a long while Meg was great, too. She loves this family, struggles with her own family. Is sweet and kind.
But then she just loses her everlovingmind.
Because he can't tell her he's madly in love with her 5 weeks (and 2 dates) after she sprung all this on him she... packs up her bags at midnight, wakes the kid up to say she's leaving forever but loves him and...leaves. Not just leaves but completely abandons her life. Leaves her cell phone at a store, empties her bank accounts and moves to another state and gets a job as a secretary. Not telling a single soul where she is. When he finally finds her weeks later and apologizes (what the fuck for I can't figure out!) she's like okay but the only way I'll go back to Wyoming is if you marry me. But we can't get married for four months so I'm gonna keep living here while you live in Wyoming with your son and entire family but then I'll move back.
Except she never fucking plans on moving back! Oh no. She wants to stay in Cali on the beach with her new friends and job as a secretary and waits until they're at the alter to tell him. And he's like well okay.
Are you serious with this crazy selfish woman?
She had no trouble abandoning Eli and his son after spending 4 years with him but then suddenly her friends at this secretarial job are the best thing ever and she couldn't possibly leave them! Nope. Nope I don't buy it. Or that he'd be totally fine with leaving his home, his entire family, his work, the horses he loves and the bonds his son has with his aunts/uncles/cousins he's wild about and grandparents. Everything. To just uproot and move to Cali.
***
In this novel, the main characters are a young couple with obvious emotional wounds who work not only together to improve their mutual understanding but also independently to understand themselves.
The male main character, 35-year-old Eli Whittaker, is a single father who is still, four years after the accidental death of his wife, unable to move beyond his feelings of grief and guilt. Pairing Eli up with 32-year-old nanny Meg Palmer (who has been employed to care for Eli’s young son, Stockton, for four years) results in a challenging situation. This trio has shared much in these four years, including international household moves to accommodate Eli’s career. Their relationships seem very healthy, with good communication skills and an admirable level of respect and trust. But there is a “fly in the ointment”. Meg admits to having deeper feelings for Eli.
Meg is a very loving, dependable, and capable young woman who is encumbered by the emotional abuse she has suffered for most of her life at the hands of her eccentric and mean-spirited mother. And yet, she demonstrates considerable integrity and strength as she encourages Eli to examine his own emotional wounds and consider the nature of their future together — as boss and employee or husband and wife?
For his part, Eli is a very non-traditional male character. He is gentle, kind, and honest in all relationships and willing to delve deep to heal his own wounds and move forward with Meg. Together they navigate the murky waters of their emotions and their relationship in surprising ways.
***
September 3, 2018
Rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Sometimes in these stories the conflict can feel a little forced. Like the couple is getting along and then out of the blue break up for a time. I finally felt like this conflict was a legitimate problem. It would be very difficult to continue working for someone under these circumstances.
I didn't really like how things ended geographically but I believe it sets up the next novel in the series so it is probably important for things to go the way they did.
I get Eli not being able to let himself move on after the death of his wife and it was completely believable that feeling disloyal to the first spouse would prevent him from seeking a second spouse so I wondered why Eli's secret needed to be added to the story. It didn't feel like a necessary element. He already had enough of a problem. and the secret kind of felt anti-climactic.
I wanted to like Meg more than I did. She was so emotional and angst ridden. Sometimes she felt a little emotionally unbalanced. She held in all the problems with her family for so long that it seemed odd to have her suddenly losing it with Eli.
I think when writing a happily ever after it must be tempting for an author to wrap up every single thing into a pretty bow but that didn't happen here. The romance wraps up but other conflicts in the story remained unresolved. And that is true in life so I was good with that.
But overall I enjoyed the story. It is a clean, easy read.
No sex, violence or language.
Sometimes in these stories the conflict can feel a little forced. Like the couple is getting along and then out of the blue break up for a time. I finally felt like this conflict was a legitimate problem. It would be very difficult to continue working for someone under these circumstances.
I didn't really like how things ended geographically but I believe it sets up the next novel in the series so it is probably important for things to go the way they did.
I get Eli not being able to let himself move on after the death of his wife and it was completely believable that feeling disloyal to the first spouse would prevent him from seeking a second spouse so I wondered why Eli's secret needed to be added to the story. It didn't feel like a necessary element. He already had enough of a problem. and the secret kind of felt anti-climactic.
I wanted to like Meg more than I did. She was so emotional and angst ridden. Sometimes she felt a little emotionally unbalanced. She held in all the problems with her family for so long that it seemed odd to have her suddenly losing it with Eli.
I think when writing a happily ever after it must be tempting for an author to wrap up every single thing into a pretty bow but that didn't happen here. The romance wraps up but other conflicts in the story remained unresolved. And that is true in life so I was good with that.
But overall I enjoyed the story. It is a clean, easy read.
No sex, violence or language.
May 2, 2019
3.5 rating. These are fairly light stories about billionaire guys, who don't act like billionaires, and the women, who don't care about their money, who love them.
Eli is Graham's next brother younger than him. (Graham was the main player in the first story). He runs the lodge, and Meg is his son's nanny. Meg has liked Eli for a long time and lets him know it. He isn't sure what to do with it because he hasn't gotten over his dead wife yet - but he does have feelings for Meg, he's just torn.
I thought that Meg was rather immature. It was about her and what would make her happy and Eli was there to make it happen. She was concerned for Eli, but it was more important what she was going through than what he was going through.
There was a line near the end that made me cringe and laugh - God caused the stars to align - say what??? The stars aligning is an astrological concept, not something God would cause to happen (unless you count the star of Bethlehem).
Overall, a nice clean light read.
Eli is Graham's next brother younger than him. (Graham was the main player in the first story). He runs the lodge, and Meg is his son's nanny. Meg has liked Eli for a long time and lets him know it. He isn't sure what to do with it because he hasn't gotten over his dead wife yet - but he does have feelings for Meg, he's just torn.
I thought that Meg was rather immature. It was about her and what would make her happy and Eli was there to make it happen. She was concerned for Eli, but it was more important what she was going through than what he was going through.
There was a line near the end that made me cringe and laugh - God caused the stars to align - say what??? The stars aligning is an astrological concept, not something God would cause to happen (unless you count the star of Bethlehem).
Overall, a nice clean light read.
March 11, 2020
Failure to launch....
Even though the story begins with the reader knowing he is having an issue with commitment there is virtually no suspense in this story.
First of all, get an editor and if you paid for one, Ms. Isaacson, you were fleeced.
This is the second book by this author, that I've read and it unfortunately, will be the last.
Meg is nanny to Eli Whittaker's son, Stockton. She's developed feelings for her boss but doesn't want to be THE nanny who marries the boss. Well, that argument is really weak because no matter what she does she will always be the nanny who fell for her boss and eventually married him. She wants him to love her back. Sorry, but if he doesn't love me freely, if I have to scare him with the loss of me to get him to love me then adios. Things just happen in this story, there are no plot points because there is no plot.
This is truly a very weaker story. I don't recommend this series. There are others Faith based books that are written better.
Even though the story begins with the reader knowing he is having an issue with commitment there is virtually no suspense in this story.
First of all, get an editor and if you paid for one, Ms. Isaacson, you were fleeced.
This is the second book by this author, that I've read and it unfortunately, will be the last.
Meg is nanny to Eli Whittaker's son, Stockton. She's developed feelings for her boss but doesn't want to be THE nanny who marries the boss. Well, that argument is really weak because no matter what she does she will always be the nanny who fell for her boss and eventually married him. She wants him to love her back. Sorry, but if he doesn't love me freely, if I have to scare him with the loss of me to get him to love me then adios. Things just happen in this story, there are no plot points because there is no plot.
This is truly a very weaker story. I don't recommend this series. There are others Faith based books that are written better.
January 19, 2021
This is the follow up to Graham and Laney’s story and it is a lot lighter in nature. There is not same amount of drama but it is still a great story. It really shows how holding on the past is not healthy in many ways.
Meg is one of those people who really lack in self-confidence for many years. When she finally gets her confidence, she tells Eli exactly how she feels about him. But here is where things get really good and it was hard to put the book down.
Eli was always that brother who seemed to be confident and happy. He loved his son and his horses. When Meg confesses her feelings, he becomes the miserable brother and it is obvious to everyone. What is in his past that he is holding on to, you ask? You don’t find this out until the last chapters of the book.
I really enjoyed this part of the Whittaker brother’s story. While I felt that there was less drama, I guess I should have said that the drama was very different. There was drama but not as dark and the fact that I could not put the book down made it a great story.
Meg is one of those people who really lack in self-confidence for many years. When she finally gets her confidence, she tells Eli exactly how she feels about him. But here is where things get really good and it was hard to put the book down.
Eli was always that brother who seemed to be confident and happy. He loved his son and his horses. When Meg confesses her feelings, he becomes the miserable brother and it is obvious to everyone. What is in his past that he is holding on to, you ask? You don’t find this out until the last chapters of the book.
I really enjoyed this part of the Whittaker brother’s story. While I felt that there was less drama, I guess I should have said that the drama was very different. There was drama but not as dark and the fact that I could not put the book down made it a great story.
August 27, 2018
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eli hired Meg to be a nanny for his son four years ago when his wife died in a car accident. Meg finally got the nerve up to tell him how she really felt about him at Thanksgiving. Eli has not been able to get over his wife dying and his guilt about it. He has started to have feeling for Meg but didn't want to be the guy that falls for the nanny. They finally agree that they both have feeling for each other and will just see what happens. When Meg finally tells Eli that she loves him and he doesn't say it back and all he does say is that things are going too fast she tells him that she quits and packs up and leaves that night. The next day she just disappears without a trace. When Eli figures out that he made a huge mistake and that he really does love her and can see her as more than just a nanny, will he be able to find her and convince her to come back?
Eli hired Meg to be a nanny for his son four years ago when his wife died in a car accident. Meg finally got the nerve up to tell him how she really felt about him at Thanksgiving. Eli has not been able to get over his wife dying and his guilt about it. He has started to have feeling for Meg but didn't want to be the guy that falls for the nanny. They finally agree that they both have feeling for each other and will just see what happens. When Meg finally tells Eli that she loves him and he doesn't say it back and all he does say is that things are going too fast she tells him that she quits and packs up and leaves that night. The next day she just disappears without a trace. When Eli figures out that he made a huge mistake and that he really does love her and can see her as more than just a nanny, will he be able to find her and convince her to come back?
September 5, 2018
The Whittaker Brothers series by Liz Isaacson is so much fun to read! In Her Cowboy Billionaire Boss we find brother Eli with mixed feelings about his son Stockton’s nanny Meg, who believes you shouldn’t date your employee because it makes the work relationship strained, but what happens when you have feelings and aren’t sure what to do with them? Meg knowing exactly how she feels and telling Eli just confused him even more. Eli believes you shouldn’t date your employee because it makes the work relationship strained. This story adds an adorable six-year-old boy, a mixture of fun, laughs, family and a whole lot of Christmas and gives you an adventure you won’t want to miss! Family Christmas at the Whiskey Mountain Lodge with the Whittaker family is an event itself so when you add trying to sort out your feelings in the mix, it can become down right exhausting, especially when everyone has their opinions.
October 6, 2018
ARC for honest review with no compensation
Her Cowboy Billionaire Boss is book 2 in the Whittaker Novel (Christmas in Coral Canyon). Another well written, sweet romance!,
This book is about a love lost, moving from job to job, trying to raise a child on his own, never finding a place to call home and a Nanny who makes him want more out of life!
Eli Whittaker decides its time to come back home and raise his son closer to family and bring the nanny, Meg along to help with the transition for his son. Meg’s has had feelings for Eli for along time and decides to tell him except he shows nothing...now she is not sure she can continue to work for him knowing that he will never become more than her boss. He on the other hand has feelings for Meg but is afraid to give his heart again.
Can Eli move past losing his first wife, give his whole heart to Meg so they can build a future and a family with together??
Her Cowboy Billionaire Boss is book 2 in the Whittaker Novel (Christmas in Coral Canyon). Another well written, sweet romance!,
This book is about a love lost, moving from job to job, trying to raise a child on his own, never finding a place to call home and a Nanny who makes him want more out of life!
Eli Whittaker decides its time to come back home and raise his son closer to family and bring the nanny, Meg along to help with the transition for his son. Meg’s has had feelings for Eli for along time and decides to tell him except he shows nothing...now she is not sure she can continue to work for him knowing that he will never become more than her boss. He on the other hand has feelings for Meg but is afraid to give his heart again.
Can Eli move past losing his first wife, give his whole heart to Meg so they can build a future and a family with together??
November 10, 2025
I wasn't going to write a review, but I feel compelled because the more I think about it, the more it upsets me. Overall, the story and the plot were fine. However, it really bothered me that Meg's endometriosis was basically just used as a plot device. Endometriosis is a debilitating disease that leaves me trapped in bed on a not-so-regular basis. Other than her hysterectomy, we don't see the impact of the disease on her life, so it felt like token representation. I know that a hysterectomy can have a devastating impact and I'm not trying to negate that. But it felt irresponsible of the author to tie endometriosis to hysterectomy. Endometriosis spreads throughout the pelvis and therefore hysterectomy is not a cure, because the disease is not contained in the uterus. If you're going to write about something, please do it for more than just a plot point to keep the main characters from getting together for longer.
August 25, 2018
Eli with his son Stockton moved to Wyoming, to run a lodge, an according to his son, Meg was the best nanny. Thanksgiving changed things, could he love again, Meg stated her feelings. For Eli falling in love was easy for his first wife, with Meg, it was a question of what to do, so did nothing. Every time she said she was fine, he knew she wasn’t. A beautiful plot of him being stubborn, taking a chance, seemed foreign to him, and son would be devastated, by her leaving. The magic words, he’s been an idiot. Romance wasn’t easy, eight hour car ride might help. For Eli, talking over things with Meg, of his doubts, could he really change what he had thought. Maybe there would be pictures for them as a family. Delightful, heartwarming story to read, wasn’t smooth sailing for them at first. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
September 6, 2018
Another sweet read
A widowed single dad finds it hard to move past his departed wife, and admit his growing feelings for his son's nanny.
A sweet romance that covers loss in many different forms, i felt a lot of sympathy for Meg, a woman whose past ill health has caused her too have issues that she feels will have an impact on her future. Meg is a sweet, caring woman, with the most awful mother. It might have been nice too find out why her mother is so appalling to her.
A good clean romance with nothing more passionate than kissing, the characters are well rounded. Eli is conflicted with his feelings towards Meg, suffering as he is from the death of his wife, and Meg is a determined woman, who realises that changes need to be made to ensure her happiness.
A widowed single dad finds it hard to move past his departed wife, and admit his growing feelings for his son's nanny.
A sweet romance that covers loss in many different forms, i felt a lot of sympathy for Meg, a woman whose past ill health has caused her too have issues that she feels will have an impact on her future. Meg is a sweet, caring woman, with the most awful mother. It might have been nice too find out why her mother is so appalling to her.
A good clean romance with nothing more passionate than kissing, the characters are well rounded. Eli is conflicted with his feelings towards Meg, suffering as he is from the death of his wife, and Meg is a determined woman, who realises that changes need to be made to ensure her happiness.
January 5, 2019
It's a sweet contemporary romance. I really think my biggest problem with this book was the romancing the boss theme. I don't generally pick those reads since I feel that there is some line that is crossed when a boss is having a relationship with their employee.
Eli is a widower with a young son. He's hired Meg to be the nanny. And fast forward four years, Meg has confessed she has a crush on her boss and Eli doesn't know what to do about it.
There are definite sparks between the two, but also a lot of heartbreak going on. Eli's struggling with the feeling of cheating on his late wife as well as these new feelings toward Meg. And Meg can't seem to get a handle of what's going on with Eli.
It's a good read and part of a series. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Eli is a widower with a young son. He's hired Meg to be the nanny. And fast forward four years, Meg has confessed she has a crush on her boss and Eli doesn't know what to do about it.
There are definite sparks between the two, but also a lot of heartbreak going on. Eli's struggling with the feeling of cheating on his late wife as well as these new feelings toward Meg. And Meg can't seem to get a handle of what's going on with Eli.
It's a good read and part of a series. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
December 19, 2018
MARVELOUS SERIES
What do you do on a perfectly nasty, rainy, windy day (think scuba gear over hip waders for going outside ;-P) when you don’t have to go ANYWHERE? Especially when you have just downloaded ALL of the Christmas in Coral Canyon books onto your kindle app... =) You binge-read the entire series! I’ve fallen in love with all of the characters-their strong, and sometimes not so strong, faith, their care of family and the understanding that family isn’t always people with whom you are related. What started out as a dreary day, has be a joyous time of meeting ‘new friends’ and watching them grow in their faith and fall in love. *Sigh :) It’s been a LOVELY day!
What do you do on a perfectly nasty, rainy, windy day (think scuba gear over hip waders for going outside ;-P) when you don’t have to go ANYWHERE? Especially when you have just downloaded ALL of the Christmas in Coral Canyon books onto your kindle app... =) You binge-read the entire series! I’ve fallen in love with all of the characters-their strong, and sometimes not so strong, faith, their care of family and the understanding that family isn’t always people with whom you are related. What started out as a dreary day, has be a joyous time of meeting ‘new friends’ and watching them grow in their faith and fall in love. *Sigh :) It’s been a LOVELY day!
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