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Longing for a Cowboy Christmas
Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.
Fall in Love with Christmas
Whether it's a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve...every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.
Fall in Love with Christmas
Whether it's a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve...every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 24, 2019
55 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 9, 2019
This was my very first Advance Review Copy from Netgalley. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book for a fair review. I have recently been more into Western HR. I requested this book specifically because I have really enjoyed Amy Sandas' previous westerns. Long for a Cowboy Christmas is a collection of six novellas by six different authors, and I had previously only read two of them. I appreciated the introduction to some new to me authors.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood - 4 stars
This was one of the four authors I had not read before. It was a very sweet story about a widower with a young daughter who worked very hard to make money for his daughter's future. However, this left very little time. While traveling to his in-laws, he became very ill and was nursed back to health by a very attractive spinster. Clara, the daughter, was a well-written child character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. My only complaint was that it ended too abruptly, but it is difficult to fully wrap-up a story in a novella length. I definitely plan to read more by Leigh Greenwood.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - 3 stars
I had not ready anything by this author before either. i really thought she bit off more than she could chew for a novella. i was about to rate it 2 stars and explain how much happened before the story that I could only get a glimpse of. Then, I read the note from the author at the end. This is a novella sequel to a full length story that I had not read. If you read and enjoyed Paradise Valley, I am sure you will appreciate this Christmas follow-up. For those you have not, it was okay.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday - 3.5 stars
This was the least romantic novella of the six for me, but I enjoyed the story. The town of Hope's Crossing was populated by people needing a second chance at life. The heroine Rebel came up with the idea for the ladies to have a town-wide advent for the children. It was a tremendous success; and through the story, most of the town was introduced. There were perhaps too many characters for a novella, but it felt like a glimpse into the town. I have no idea if she has other stories set in Hope's Crossing, but I would definitely give them a chance if so.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - 4 stars
This was my first book by this author and second favorite of the six novellas. It was a sweet, clean read about a teacher who decided to be "santa" for all the children of the town. She was also choir director of her grandfather's tone deaf elderly choir. Their "singing" disturbed the hero's dog, which was how they met. Through some other chance meetings, he offered to assist at santa's workshop. Their work paid off with the children's happiness as well as their own. I will definitely read more by this author. In fact, I have downloaded another story already.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - 3.5 stars
This was the fourth new to me author. It was a second chance story, not one of my favorite tropes; but it was well done. Evelyn and Colin split up because he wanted to get married immediately, and she didn't want to lose her accepted spot in med school. Five years later, they were both lonely. Evelyn became a doctor with no patients, and Colin was sick. They were forced together of necessity. Fortunately, they did not waste the opportunity.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas - 4.5 stars
Finally, the last story was the one I was looking forward to; and it did not disappoint. Gentleman George was a rake and an outlaw who originated from Scotland. Lucy was a self-sufficient half Native American loner. The weather forced them together if she was to save his life. Everything else developed naturally. I plan to read everything written by Amy Sandas.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood - 4 stars
This was one of the four authors I had not read before. It was a very sweet story about a widower with a young daughter who worked very hard to make money for his daughter's future. However, this left very little time. While traveling to his in-laws, he became very ill and was nursed back to health by a very attractive spinster. Clara, the daughter, was a well-written child character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. My only complaint was that it ended too abruptly, but it is difficult to fully wrap-up a story in a novella length. I definitely plan to read more by Leigh Greenwood.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - 3 stars
I had not ready anything by this author before either. i really thought she bit off more than she could chew for a novella. i was about to rate it 2 stars and explain how much happened before the story that I could only get a glimpse of. Then, I read the note from the author at the end. This is a novella sequel to a full length story that I had not read. If you read and enjoyed Paradise Valley, I am sure you will appreciate this Christmas follow-up. For those you have not, it was okay.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday - 3.5 stars
This was the least romantic novella of the six for me, but I enjoyed the story. The town of Hope's Crossing was populated by people needing a second chance at life. The heroine Rebel came up with the idea for the ladies to have a town-wide advent for the children. It was a tremendous success; and through the story, most of the town was introduced. There were perhaps too many characters for a novella, but it felt like a glimpse into the town. I have no idea if she has other stories set in Hope's Crossing, but I would definitely give them a chance if so.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - 4 stars
This was my first book by this author and second favorite of the six novellas. It was a sweet, clean read about a teacher who decided to be "santa" for all the children of the town. She was also choir director of her grandfather's tone deaf elderly choir. Their "singing" disturbed the hero's dog, which was how they met. Through some other chance meetings, he offered to assist at santa's workshop. Their work paid off with the children's happiness as well as their own. I will definitely read more by this author. In fact, I have downloaded another story already.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - 3.5 stars
This was the fourth new to me author. It was a second chance story, not one of my favorite tropes; but it was well done. Evelyn and Colin split up because he wanted to get married immediately, and she didn't want to lose her accepted spot in med school. Five years later, they were both lonely. Evelyn became a doctor with no patients, and Colin was sick. They were forced together of necessity. Fortunately, they did not waste the opportunity.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas - 4.5 stars
Finally, the last story was the one I was looking forward to; and it did not disappoint. Gentleman George was a rake and an outlaw who originated from Scotland. Lucy was a self-sufficient half Native American loner. The weather forced them together if she was to save his life. Everything else developed naturally. I plan to read everything written by Amy Sandas.
October 10, 2019
This was my very first Advance Review Copy from Netgalley. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book for a fair review. I have recently been more into Western HR. I requested this book specifically because I have really enjoyed Amy Sandas' previous westerns. Long for a Cowboy Christmas is a collection of six novellas by six different authors, and I had previously only read two of them. I appreciated the introduction to some new to me authors.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood - 4 stars
This was one of the four authors I had not read before. It was a very sweet story about a widower with a young daughter who worked very hard to make money for his daughter's future. However, this left very little time. While traveling to his in-laws, he became very ill and was nursed back to health by a very attractive spinster. Clara, the daughter, was a well-written child character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. My only complaint was that it ended too abruptly, but it is difficult to fully wrap-up a story in a novella length. I definitely plan to read more by Leigh Greenwood.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - 3 stars
I had not ready anything by this author before either. i really thought she bit off more than she could chew for a novella. i was about to rate it 2 stars and explain how much happened before the story that I could only get a glimpse of. Then, I read the note from the author at the end. This is a novella sequel to a full length story that I had not read. If you read and enjoyed Paradise Valley, I am sure you will appreciate this Christmas follow-up. For those you have not, it was okay.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday - 3.5 stars
This was the least romantic novella of the six for me, but I enjoyed the story. The town of Hope's Crossing was populated by people needing a second chance at life. The heroine Rebel came up with the idea for the ladies to have a town-wide advent for the children. It was a tremendous success; and through the story, most of the town was introduced. There were perhaps too many characters for a novella, but it felt like a glimpse into the town. I have no idea if she has other stories set in Hope's Crossing, but I would definitely give them a chance if so.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - 4 stars
This was my first book by this author and second favorite of the six novellas. It was a sweet, clean read about a teacher who decided to be "santa" for all the children of the town. She was also choir director of her grandfather's tone deaf elderly choir. Their "singing" disturbed the hero's dog, which was how they met. Through some other chance meetings, he offered to assist at santa's workshop. Their work paid off with the children's happiness as well as their own. I will definitely read more by this author. In fact, I have downloaded another story already.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - 3.5 stars
This was the fourth new to me author. It was a second chance story, not one of my favorite tropes; but it was well done. Evelyn and Colin split up because he wanted to get married immediately, and she didn't want to lose her accepted spot in med school. Five years later, they were both lonely. Evelyn became a doctor with no patients, and Colin was sick. They were forced together of necessity. Fortunately, they did not waste the opportunity.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas - 4.5 stars
Finally, the last story was the one I was looking forward to; and it did not disappoint. Gentleman George was a rake and an outlaw who originated from Scotland. Lucy was a self-sufficient half Native American loner. The weather forced them together if she was to save his life. Everything else developed naturally. I plan to read everything written by Amy Sandas.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood - 4 stars
This was one of the four authors I had not read before. It was a very sweet story about a widower with a young daughter who worked very hard to make money for his daughter's future. However, this left very little time. While traveling to his in-laws, he became very ill and was nursed back to health by a very attractive spinster. Clara, the daughter, was a well-written child character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. My only complaint was that it ended too abruptly, but it is difficult to fully wrap-up a story in a novella length. I definitely plan to read more by Leigh Greenwood.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - 3 stars
I had not ready anything by this author before either. i really thought she bit off more than she could chew for a novella. i was about to rate it 2 stars and explain how much happened before the story that I could only get a glimpse of. Then, I read the note from the author at the end. This is a novella sequel to a full length story that I had not read. If you read and enjoyed Paradise Valley, I am sure you will appreciate this Christmas follow-up. For those you have not, it was okay.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday - 3.5 stars
This was the least romantic novella of the six for me, but I enjoyed the story. The town of Hope's Crossing was populated by people needing a second chance at life. The heroine Rebel came up with the idea for the ladies to have a town-wide advent for the children. It was a tremendous success; and through the story, most of the town was introduced. There were perhaps too many characters for a novella, but it felt like a glimpse into the town. I have no idea if she has other stories set in Hope's Crossing, but I would definitely give them a chance if so.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - 4 stars
This was my first book by this author and second favorite of the six novellas. It was a sweet, clean read about a teacher who decided to be "santa" for all the children of the town. She was also choir director of her grandfather's tone deaf elderly choir. Their "singing" disturbed the hero's dog, which was how they met. Through some other chance meetings, he offered to assist at santa's workshop. Their work paid off with the children's happiness as well as their own. I will definitely read more by this author. In fact, I have downloaded another story already.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - 3.5 stars
This was the fourth new to me author. It was a second chance story, not one of my favorite tropes; but it was well done. Evelyn and Colin split up because he wanted to get married immediately, and she didn't want to lose her accepted spot in med school. Five years later, they were both lonely. Evelyn became a doctor with no patients, and Colin was sick. They were forced together of necessity. Fortunately, they did not waste the opportunity.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas - 4.5 stars
Finally, the last story was the one I was looking forward to; and it did not disappoint. Gentleman George was a rake and an outlaw who originated from Scotland. Lucy was a self-sufficient half Native American loner. The weather forced them together if she was to save his life. Everything else developed naturally. I plan to read everything written by Amy Sandas.
August 17, 2019
I wrote the story CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE, which is in this anthology. The book is coming September 26 and has 6 great Christmas stories in it, all by authors who write for Sourcebooks. You will love these heart-warming stories!
October 2, 2019
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Set in 1880, spinster Nan is the owner of a nice farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Just a few days before Christmas, businessman Will Atkins and his daughter Clara wind up on her doorstep when Will falls sick and there’s nobody else available to take him in. On his way to leave Clara with her maternal grandparents because he’s unable to look after her, Nan could be the answer to this lonely pair’s prayers.
Two things struck me about this one; first of all, no cowboys? Which seems kind of odd in an anthology with a cowboy theme? Setting that one aside, this felt way more like a marriage of convenience story which could eventually turn into a love story than two people falling deeply in love in the space of a week, probably because it WAS just so very convenient for both of them to do so. Will securing his future in the valley without actually sharing his plans with Nan beforehand and asking for her input and opinion was just the icing on the don’t-like-this cake for me. Two stars.
Christmas In Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
Apparently this is something of an extended epilogue to another book by the author, so if you read that book and fell in love with the two main characters, you might absolutely love this. I hadn’t read it and didn’t feel like I really got to know Sage and Maggie here. What I did learn was that they’d been through a lot of Drama and Sage was a thoroughly decent sort of man, since Maggie had been not only married before but also violently gang-raped just before they met, and was carrying a child of that abuse which Sage vowed to raise as his own. Part-Cheyenne, it’s also nice to see a hero of color in a Western historical romance. I’ll give this one four stars.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
If you’ve read any of Linda Broday’s books about the people of Hope’s Crossing, a town of former outlaws trying to ‘go straight’, you’ll recognize Rebel, the former saloon girl who dreams of a respectable life, the two children she adopted after they were freed from an asylum, and Travis, the young outlaw who loves her. This charming novella follows Rebel and Travis being reunited at Christmastime and Rebel’s determined efforts to make a place for herself in the community of Hope’s Crossing. There’s lots of found-family sweetness, but readers familiar with Broday’s work should be aware she doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of life in the Old West. The only thing which disappointed me here was that Travis’ release from jail was very much skimmed over in passing, after having been made much of it being a major problem for Rebel. Four stars.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
An absolutely adorable tale set in 1886 in Haywire, Texas, this is the story of schoolmarm Holly who desperately wants to make sure all the town’s children have something to smile about on Christmas morning. Though she’s being courted by the richest man in town, it’s the new blacksmith Tom and his idiotic dog Winston who tug at her heartstrings. Full of delightful plot moppets and with the spirit of Christmas imbuing every page, this is sweeter than a candy cane. Five stars.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
This is a second chance romance and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why Evie would even consider taking Colin back. He treated her like a possession when he asked her to marry him the first time around, completely disregarding her wishes and goals for her life, and now that she’s achieved her dream and become a doctor, he’s no better. He doesn’t even want her to treat him when he’s literally dying of pneumonia because ‘if the fellas back at the ranch found out he’d gone to see a female doctor, he’d never hear the end of it’. Riiight. Sounds like someone really secure in his masculinity, huh? A man who’d love and support his well-educated wife in her career? NOT. I wanted so much better for Evie, and honestly when she made the decision to accept Colin without even talking about how the future might look for them, I wanted to scream. Two stars.
Through The Storm by Amy Sandas
I have to admit I love Trapped Together In A Snowstorm as a trope, and this is done really well, with George and Lucy having just one brief encounter before they end up snowed in together at Lucy’s cabin. George chivalrously steps in when a creep is hassling Lucy - although she doesn’t need his help, and he recognises that - and then she actually saves his life when he’s lost in the blizzard. They get to spend enough time together to really fall for each other, and I absolutely believed in the romance between them. Five stars.
Overall, this was a collection which I found wildly variable in terms of quality. There were a couple of stories I really loved and a couple I might well have DNF’ed if they’d been full length rather than short novellas I could get through quickly. Of the authors I hadn’t read before, I’ll definitely be looking to check out more of Amy Sandas’ and Margaret Brownley’s work. As a whole, I’ll give the collection four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Set in 1880, spinster Nan is the owner of a nice farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Just a few days before Christmas, businessman Will Atkins and his daughter Clara wind up on her doorstep when Will falls sick and there’s nobody else available to take him in. On his way to leave Clara with her maternal grandparents because he’s unable to look after her, Nan could be the answer to this lonely pair’s prayers.
Two things struck me about this one; first of all, no cowboys? Which seems kind of odd in an anthology with a cowboy theme? Setting that one aside, this felt way more like a marriage of convenience story which could eventually turn into a love story than two people falling deeply in love in the space of a week, probably because it WAS just so very convenient for both of them to do so. Will securing his future in the valley without actually sharing his plans with Nan beforehand and asking for her input and opinion was just the icing on the don’t-like-this cake for me. Two stars.
Christmas In Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
Apparently this is something of an extended epilogue to another book by the author, so if you read that book and fell in love with the two main characters, you might absolutely love this. I hadn’t read it and didn’t feel like I really got to know Sage and Maggie here. What I did learn was that they’d been through a lot of Drama and Sage was a thoroughly decent sort of man, since Maggie had been not only married before but also violently gang-raped just before they met, and was carrying a child of that abuse which Sage vowed to raise as his own. Part-Cheyenne, it’s also nice to see a hero of color in a Western historical romance. I’ll give this one four stars.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
If you’ve read any of Linda Broday’s books about the people of Hope’s Crossing, a town of former outlaws trying to ‘go straight’, you’ll recognize Rebel, the former saloon girl who dreams of a respectable life, the two children she adopted after they were freed from an asylum, and Travis, the young outlaw who loves her. This charming novella follows Rebel and Travis being reunited at Christmastime and Rebel’s determined efforts to make a place for herself in the community of Hope’s Crossing. There’s lots of found-family sweetness, but readers familiar with Broday’s work should be aware she doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of life in the Old West. The only thing which disappointed me here was that Travis’ release from jail was very much skimmed over in passing, after having been made much of it being a major problem for Rebel. Four stars.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
An absolutely adorable tale set in 1886 in Haywire, Texas, this is the story of schoolmarm Holly who desperately wants to make sure all the town’s children have something to smile about on Christmas morning. Though she’s being courted by the richest man in town, it’s the new blacksmith Tom and his idiotic dog Winston who tug at her heartstrings. Full of delightful plot moppets and with the spirit of Christmas imbuing every page, this is sweeter than a candy cane. Five stars.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
This is a second chance romance and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why Evie would even consider taking Colin back. He treated her like a possession when he asked her to marry him the first time around, completely disregarding her wishes and goals for her life, and now that she’s achieved her dream and become a doctor, he’s no better. He doesn’t even want her to treat him when he’s literally dying of pneumonia because ‘if the fellas back at the ranch found out he’d gone to see a female doctor, he’d never hear the end of it’. Riiight. Sounds like someone really secure in his masculinity, huh? A man who’d love and support his well-educated wife in her career? NOT. I wanted so much better for Evie, and honestly when she made the decision to accept Colin without even talking about how the future might look for them, I wanted to scream. Two stars.
Through The Storm by Amy Sandas
I have to admit I love Trapped Together In A Snowstorm as a trope, and this is done really well, with George and Lucy having just one brief encounter before they end up snowed in together at Lucy’s cabin. George chivalrously steps in when a creep is hassling Lucy - although she doesn’t need his help, and he recognises that - and then she actually saves his life when he’s lost in the blizzard. They get to spend enough time together to really fall for each other, and I absolutely believed in the romance between them. Five stars.
Overall, this was a collection which I found wildly variable in terms of quality. There were a couple of stories I really loved and a couple I might well have DNF’ed if they’d been full length rather than short novellas I could get through quickly. Of the authors I hadn’t read before, I’ll definitely be looking to check out more of Amy Sandas’ and Margaret Brownley’s work. As a whole, I’ll give the collection four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 12, 2019
• Provided by NetGalley •
I wanted to read this because of Amy, Rosanne, Linda and Leigh because I love their work and I didn’t know about the other authors in this anthology so I thought why not try them and have a good session of light-fun reading.
SO. WORTH. IT. ALL. 5. STORIES!!!
Christmas anthologies are a hit or miss for me because I always end up getting bored by them but not with this one, miraculously. ♥️
I wanted to read this because of Amy, Rosanne, Linda and Leigh because I love their work and I didn’t know about the other authors in this anthology so I thought why not try them and have a good session of light-fun reading.
SO. WORTH. IT. ALL. 5. STORIES!!!
Christmas anthologies are a hit or miss for me because I always end up getting bored by them but not with this one, miraculously. ♥️
August 17, 2019
Leigh Greenwood has an uncanny talent in delivering amazing storylines with epic conclusions. He is sure to lift your spirits into Christmas joy!
Rosanne Bittner’s- Christmas In Paradise.
Christmas In Paradise was such an amazing trip back into Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker’s journey.
Rosanne Bittner never ceases to deliver such wonderful characters and plots that truly capture the essence of the West.
Ms. Bittner weaves her magic from a tragic incident into a beautiful Christmas miracle wrapped in unconditional love and joy.
Linda Broday’s - A Christmas Wedding
“He could draw and shoot in the blink of an eye, but he didn’t know how to live without the woman who’d seen the man he wanted to become.”
“He was her future, her destiny, her one true love for all time.”
Travis and Rebel beat the odds that were stacked against them. Their lives, just like Ely and Jenny’s lives, we’re destined to become a family forever.
What an amazing story of love, devotion, and belonging.
Ms. Linda Broday captures the true meaning of Christmas as Hope’s Crossing embraces the Christmas spirit in A Christmas Wedding.
This outlaw town truly transcends itself into a magical oasis of giving, rejoicing, and finding hope, which most had given up on ever having again and for some, never knew existed.
“Hope’s Crossing, the town of outlaws, was celebrating the birth of Jesus as only they knew how.”
Ms. Broday truly weaves each and every character into your soul, they will grab your heart, and remain with you forever.
Margaret Brownley continues to intrigue me with her storylines and plots.
Anna Schmidt really brings he readers into her culture. She captures the essence of Christmas with this beautiful story.
Any Sandas knocks this one out of the park. I loved the characterization she incorporated with the Christmas season.
Netgalley supplied me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rosanne Bittner’s- Christmas In Paradise.
Christmas In Paradise was such an amazing trip back into Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker’s journey.
Rosanne Bittner never ceases to deliver such wonderful characters and plots that truly capture the essence of the West.
Ms. Bittner weaves her magic from a tragic incident into a beautiful Christmas miracle wrapped in unconditional love and joy.
Linda Broday’s - A Christmas Wedding
“He could draw and shoot in the blink of an eye, but he didn’t know how to live without the woman who’d seen the man he wanted to become.”
“He was her future, her destiny, her one true love for all time.”
Travis and Rebel beat the odds that were stacked against them. Their lives, just like Ely and Jenny’s lives, we’re destined to become a family forever.
What an amazing story of love, devotion, and belonging.
Ms. Linda Broday captures the true meaning of Christmas as Hope’s Crossing embraces the Christmas spirit in A Christmas Wedding.
This outlaw town truly transcends itself into a magical oasis of giving, rejoicing, and finding hope, which most had given up on ever having again and for some, never knew existed.
“Hope’s Crossing, the town of outlaws, was celebrating the birth of Jesus as only they knew how.”
Ms. Broday truly weaves each and every character into your soul, they will grab your heart, and remain with you forever.
Margaret Brownley continues to intrigue me with her storylines and plots.
Anna Schmidt really brings he readers into her culture. She captures the essence of Christmas with this beautiful story.
Any Sandas knocks this one out of the park. I loved the characterization she incorporated with the Christmas season.
Netgalley supplied me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2019
This talented team of writers all focused on the holiday theme is a supreme Christmas gift to reading fans and newcomers alike. I couldn't click fast enough to have all western historical Christmas romancing by all familiar and greatly enjoyed writers onto my device.
Fairytale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
As far as I could tell this is a standalone and takes place on a farm in a Shenandoah Valley small town. Christmas comes for a lonely, worthy woman, Nan, who thinks her chances of love and family have passed her by until she takes in a sick widower, Will Atkins, and his young sweet girl, Clara, who has never had a home Christmas or family togetherness.
Simple country charm, reflective romance.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
#1.5 Paradise Valley
I read Paradise Valley so long ago, but with the built in details of their past in this novella, I was right back in the thick of things in no time. I never expected to get more of Maggie and Sage's story so this was a real Christmas treat to a fan.
Settling in to their home and ranch life in Paradise Valley, Wyoming, Sage and Maggie must come to terms with their past if they are to have joy for the future. Maggie is secretly fearful that Sage will one day wake up to realize she isn't the gorgeous, sophisticated woman that his ex-wife was or that he can't love a woman who was raped and carries another man's child. And, Sage's outlaw past, half-Cheyenne race, and abandonment by adoptive parents has him wondering when all this blessing and good fortune will be taken away especially when people come to stir up trouble and there is a drought condition and worry of fire.
They both take some convincing and I enjoyed their Christmas surprise.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
#2.5 Outlaw Mail Order Brides
This novella falls between a few of the larger stories of the series and gives a sweet Christmas story for the whole town paired with the specific romance of side characters Travis the outlaw that a bounty hunter caught up with and Rebel the former saloon gal. It standa alone just fine for those new to the series.
Rebel is moping with Travis gone indefinitely, the two orphans she has adopted struggling with a bully and abandonment issues, and no one thinking of Christmas. So Rebel decides they all need some cheer. She gets her own Christmas surprise even as the whole town feels the wonder of Christmas.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Haywire Brides #2.5
This is easily read as a standalone between books in the series. Holly attempts to whip her grandfather and his friends into a Christmas choir and has plans to bring Christmas cheer to the town and children even after the hard year. Her plans are big and she gets help from the shy, new to town blacksmith, Tom Chandler, with the adorable dog. Her aunt is pushing her toward the prosperous hotel and property owner, but there is something about Tom.
So sweet and I loved the humor laced throughout.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
As far as I know, this is standalone. A second chance romance comes for once drifting cowboy, Collin Foster, and new doctor, Evelyn Prescott. They had quarreled years back when he wanted her to marry him and stay at his side and she wanted to pursue medical school after being recently accepted. Both had a stubborn, independent streak, but now when Collin arrives sick and looking for a doctor and she's had time to reflect, the feelings are still there on both sides.
I liked how the author brought out both sides, showed that both still harbored feelings and regrets, and they both took ownership for it not working out even while finding themselves in a different place in life when the decision can be different.
Through the Storm By Amy Sandas
#3.5 Runaway Brides
A lovely standalone story about side character, outlaw Gentleman George, and a mountain man's half-Cheyenne daughter in a snowed in romance. I recently discovered this series and loved Gabriel's story so it was fun coming right back into that world when George and Lucy encounter and then end up stuck together which had surprising and engaging results just in time for Christmas.
So, six wonderful holiday stories that, series or not, easily offered a delicious taste of each author's talented writing chops in the western historical romance world. I found each story well developed in setting, characters, and romance with a strong holiday element for most. I went in with high anticipation for certain author's stories, but ended up deeply impressed with each so that I couldn't choose a favorite if I wanted to. I have no hesitation recommending these to other western historical romance fans.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fairytale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
As far as I could tell this is a standalone and takes place on a farm in a Shenandoah Valley small town. Christmas comes for a lonely, worthy woman, Nan, who thinks her chances of love and family have passed her by until she takes in a sick widower, Will Atkins, and his young sweet girl, Clara, who has never had a home Christmas or family togetherness.
Simple country charm, reflective romance.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
#1.5 Paradise Valley
I read Paradise Valley so long ago, but with the built in details of their past in this novella, I was right back in the thick of things in no time. I never expected to get more of Maggie and Sage's story so this was a real Christmas treat to a fan.
Settling in to their home and ranch life in Paradise Valley, Wyoming, Sage and Maggie must come to terms with their past if they are to have joy for the future. Maggie is secretly fearful that Sage will one day wake up to realize she isn't the gorgeous, sophisticated woman that his ex-wife was or that he can't love a woman who was raped and carries another man's child. And, Sage's outlaw past, half-Cheyenne race, and abandonment by adoptive parents has him wondering when all this blessing and good fortune will be taken away especially when people come to stir up trouble and there is a drought condition and worry of fire.
They both take some convincing and I enjoyed their Christmas surprise.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
#2.5 Outlaw Mail Order Brides
This novella falls between a few of the larger stories of the series and gives a sweet Christmas story for the whole town paired with the specific romance of side characters Travis the outlaw that a bounty hunter caught up with and Rebel the former saloon gal. It standa alone just fine for those new to the series.
Rebel is moping with Travis gone indefinitely, the two orphans she has adopted struggling with a bully and abandonment issues, and no one thinking of Christmas. So Rebel decides they all need some cheer. She gets her own Christmas surprise even as the whole town feels the wonder of Christmas.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Haywire Brides #2.5
This is easily read as a standalone between books in the series. Holly attempts to whip her grandfather and his friends into a Christmas choir and has plans to bring Christmas cheer to the town and children even after the hard year. Her plans are big and she gets help from the shy, new to town blacksmith, Tom Chandler, with the adorable dog. Her aunt is pushing her toward the prosperous hotel and property owner, but there is something about Tom.
So sweet and I loved the humor laced throughout.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
As far as I know, this is standalone. A second chance romance comes for once drifting cowboy, Collin Foster, and new doctor, Evelyn Prescott. They had quarreled years back when he wanted her to marry him and stay at his side and she wanted to pursue medical school after being recently accepted. Both had a stubborn, independent streak, but now when Collin arrives sick and looking for a doctor and she's had time to reflect, the feelings are still there on both sides.
I liked how the author brought out both sides, showed that both still harbored feelings and regrets, and they both took ownership for it not working out even while finding themselves in a different place in life when the decision can be different.
Through the Storm By Amy Sandas
#3.5 Runaway Brides
A lovely standalone story about side character, outlaw Gentleman George, and a mountain man's half-Cheyenne daughter in a snowed in romance. I recently discovered this series and loved Gabriel's story so it was fun coming right back into that world when George and Lucy encounter and then end up stuck together which had surprising and engaging results just in time for Christmas.
So, six wonderful holiday stories that, series or not, easily offered a delicious taste of each author's talented writing chops in the western historical romance world. I found each story well developed in setting, characters, and romance with a strong holiday element for most. I went in with high anticipation for certain author's stories, but ended up deeply impressed with each so that I couldn't choose a favorite if I wanted to. I have no hesitation recommending these to other western historical romance fans.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2019
Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492683833 (ISBN13: 9781492683834)
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.
Fall in Love with Christmas
Whether it's a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve...every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Schoolteacher and all around kind soul Holly Sanders works hard to find a way for every child in her small Texas town of Haywire, population less than 80, to have a present from Santa under the Christmas tree in the year of 1886.
Gathering help from local merchants for donations appropriate to the childrens wishes she manages to fill her dining room with boxes of all sizes.
Local blacksmith Tom Chandler and his faithful little dog Winston are also convinced to join her in this endeavor, which of course leads to the pair finding more than helping grant Christmas wishes to others when all is said and done.
Local hotel magnate/real estate professional Nelson Parker is a contender for Holly’s affection after being introduced to him by her matchmaking Aunt Daisy who lives with Holly in the family home she inherited from her parents.
The miracle of this Christmas holiday novella is two-fold and gives the children back their belief in Santa and Holly her very own special present as well as Tom getting one for him.
Very sweet as expected.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
The small Texas Panhandle town of Hope's Crossing is home to Rebel Avery, her daughter Jenny and son Ely.
Rebel is in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter who had been captured seven months prior to this story by a bounty hunter.
Ely is always at odds with young Billy Truman, whose father is a stagecoach driver and whose overwhelmed mother already has her hands full with Billy’s 9 brothers.
Mrs. Truman is also hugely pregnant with her 11th child and does not have the time or energy to rein young Billy in by herself.
Taking place during the Christmas holidays this tale focuses on the beauty, joy and wonder that is Christmas as well as new beginnings for the towns inhabitants.
Most especially that of Rebel, her children and Travis.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Having resigned herself to spending the Christmas holidays lonely Nan Carson gets an early gift when ill Will Atkins and his 5-year-old daughter Clara are brought to her farm.
Now with two people who need her to care for them Nan finds her Christmas spirit rekindled.
A delightful young child to share that joy with and a handsome man who makes her long for the family of her own that so far has not been realized also rekindle dreams Nan had almost given up on.
For all three this particular Christmas does become a season of miracles and one none of them will ever forget!
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Formerly an itinerant cowboy, now foreman for local rancher Tom Madison, Colin Foster makes his way into the town of Sagebrush New Mexico looking for Doc Williams on Christmas Eve.
What he finds is former flame Evelyn Prescott, now the practicing physician instead.
Luckily for the almost deathly ill the lady MD proves to be a good doctor and manages his lung infection and ensuing symptoms with capable hands.
In the years since the two parted ways on somewhat shaky terms to say the least both have found no one else that has touched their heart.
This Christmas miracle novella is a second chance romance with an HEA as it's ending.
Through the Snow by Amy Sandas
Taking place in Chester Springs Wyoming this novella finds Edmund Alistair George Linwood, otherwise known in America’s western territories as Gentleman George, and Lucy Jones as it’s leading characters.
Also taking some billing as characters are the town’s undertaker, Hewett Durand and Tad Perry who owns the Tobacco Shop next to the saloon that this foursome are playing cards in at the time this story starts.
Perry’s friend and crony Joe Turnbull is the fourth player.
Lucy is the half Shoshone daughter of Mountain Man Jones and soon to be the savior of George, returning the favor that he tried to enact on her behalf in town the day they met. Also the day that Miss Jones was forced to fend off the unwanted attention of Perry and Turnbull.
When the pair weather a blizzard snowed into Lucy’s cabin they find that a mutual attraction becomes impossible to withstand, and neither really wants to after all is said and done.
Love blooms and the rest is inevitable as well as fraught with excitement as one last effort to exact revenge on the pair results in a change of life for the both.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
The sweet story of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker is actually a continuation of their earlier relationship giving readers a look into how the pair are embracing the future and life together after a rather hasty marriage.
The sprawling ranch that Sage owns is a beautiful piece of property in Paradise Valley Wyoming.
For Maggie their log home is a true wonder and her husband is also as her life prior could not compare favorably.
For Sage his second wife is a far cry from his first as Maggie embraces both his part Indian heritage and his checkered past as well without any judgement or hesitation on her part.
This is a story of 2 people finding happiness together and weathering all hardships, both manmade and that of nature.
Their Christmas miracle is a time of new life and a stronger, deeper bond than both thought possible.
6 authors I enjoy reading the work of with 6 western romance novellas set at Christmas that uplift the reader with their positive messages and strong leading male/female characters.
Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492683833 (ISBN13: 9781492683834)
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
BOOK BLURB
Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.
Fall in Love with Christmas
Whether it's a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve...every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.
My Thoughts
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Schoolteacher and all around kind soul Holly Sanders works hard to find a way for every child in her small Texas town of Haywire, population less than 80, to have a present from Santa under the Christmas tree in the year of 1886.
Gathering help from local merchants for donations appropriate to the childrens wishes she manages to fill her dining room with boxes of all sizes.
Local blacksmith Tom Chandler and his faithful little dog Winston are also convinced to join her in this endeavor, which of course leads to the pair finding more than helping grant Christmas wishes to others when all is said and done.
Local hotel magnate/real estate professional Nelson Parker is a contender for Holly’s affection after being introduced to him by her matchmaking Aunt Daisy who lives with Holly in the family home she inherited from her parents.
The miracle of this Christmas holiday novella is two-fold and gives the children back their belief in Santa and Holly her very own special present as well as Tom getting one for him.
Very sweet as expected.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
The small Texas Panhandle town of Hope's Crossing is home to Rebel Avery, her daughter Jenny and son Ely.
Rebel is in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter who had been captured seven months prior to this story by a bounty hunter.
Ely is always at odds with young Billy Truman, whose father is a stagecoach driver and whose overwhelmed mother already has her hands full with Billy’s 9 brothers.
Mrs. Truman is also hugely pregnant with her 11th child and does not have the time or energy to rein young Billy in by herself.
Taking place during the Christmas holidays this tale focuses on the beauty, joy and wonder that is Christmas as well as new beginnings for the towns inhabitants.
Most especially that of Rebel, her children and Travis.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Having resigned herself to spending the Christmas holidays lonely Nan Carson gets an early gift when ill Will Atkins and his 5-year-old daughter Clara are brought to her farm.
Now with two people who need her to care for them Nan finds her Christmas spirit rekindled.
A delightful young child to share that joy with and a handsome man who makes her long for the family of her own that so far has not been realized also rekindle dreams Nan had almost given up on.
For all three this particular Christmas does become a season of miracles and one none of them will ever forget!
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Formerly an itinerant cowboy, now foreman for local rancher Tom Madison, Colin Foster makes his way into the town of Sagebrush New Mexico looking for Doc Williams on Christmas Eve.
What he finds is former flame Evelyn Prescott, now the practicing physician instead.
Luckily for the almost deathly ill the lady MD proves to be a good doctor and manages his lung infection and ensuing symptoms with capable hands.
In the years since the two parted ways on somewhat shaky terms to say the least both have found no one else that has touched their heart.
This Christmas miracle novella is a second chance romance with an HEA as it's ending.
Through the Snow by Amy Sandas
Taking place in Chester Springs Wyoming this novella finds Edmund Alistair George Linwood, otherwise known in America’s western territories as Gentleman George, and Lucy Jones as it’s leading characters.
Also taking some billing as characters are the town’s undertaker, Hewett Durand and Tad Perry who owns the Tobacco Shop next to the saloon that this foursome are playing cards in at the time this story starts.
Perry’s friend and crony Joe Turnbull is the fourth player.
Lucy is the half Shoshone daughter of Mountain Man Jones and soon to be the savior of George, returning the favor that he tried to enact on her behalf in town the day they met. Also the day that Miss Jones was forced to fend off the unwanted attention of Perry and Turnbull.
When the pair weather a blizzard snowed into Lucy’s cabin they find that a mutual attraction becomes impossible to withstand, and neither really wants to after all is said and done.
Love blooms and the rest is inevitable as well as fraught with excitement as one last effort to exact revenge on the pair results in a change of life for the both.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
The sweet story of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker is actually a continuation of their earlier relationship giving readers a look into how the pair are embracing the future and life together after a rather hasty marriage.
The sprawling ranch that Sage owns is a beautiful piece of property in Paradise Valley Wyoming.
For Maggie their log home is a true wonder and her husband is also as her life prior could not compare favorably.
For Sage his second wife is a far cry from his first as Maggie embraces both his part Indian heritage and his checkered past as well without any judgement or hesitation on her part.
This is a story of 2 people finding happiness together and weathering all hardships, both manmade and that of nature.
Their Christmas miracle is a time of new life and a stronger, deeper bond than both thought possible.
6 authors I enjoy reading the work of with 6 western romance novellas set at Christmas that uplift the reader with their positive messages and strong leading male/female characters.
[EArc from Netgalley]
September 23, 2019
Longing For a Cowboy Christmas is an anthology of, well, cowboy Christmas stories set in the late 19th century. Some of these authors were familiar to me; some were new. I thought perhaps it was too early for me to get into the holiday spirit. I started this late yesterday afternoon. I guess it wasn't too early for me - I couldn't put this book down and totally forgot that it was 90 degrees in Southwest Georgia! These stories are perfect for any season.
Leigh Greenwood's A Fairly Tale Christmas featured Nan, who is asked to care for an extremely ill stranger, Will, and his adorable daughter Clara. Rosanne Bittner's Christmas in Paradise brought back her characters Sage and Maggie, newlyweds who are expecting a blessed event. Linda Broday's A Christmas Wedding is a return to Hope's Crossing where Rebel, whose man Travis was taken by a bounty hunter and she has no idea of his fate, tries to bring Christmas cheer to the entire town. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa has school teacher Holly and newly arrived blacksmith Tom joining forces to bring gifts from Santa to the community's children during hard times. Anna Schmidt's One Snowy Christmas Eve is a second chance romance for Colin and Evie, who parted ways when Evie left for medical school. And last but not least, Through the Storm by Amy Sandas gives us George and Lucy, who are trapped in Lucy's cabin after she finds George lost in a snowstorm.
There is not a single dud in this entire collection; I was enchanted by them all. However, there are some standouts. Linda Broday had me absolutely bawling like crazy when Rebel and Travis are reunited, and a devastating hardship occurs. My poor puffy face! Margaret Brownley also had me crying over her sweet story. Seriously, who can resist a Christmas story with a lovable dog? No one, that's who! And Amy Sandas brought the heat with George and Lucy, trapped in their isolated hideaway complete with a fireplace and furs. Treat yourself to this beautiful anthology to prepare you for the Christmas season.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Leigh Greenwood's A Fairly Tale Christmas featured Nan, who is asked to care for an extremely ill stranger, Will, and his adorable daughter Clara. Rosanne Bittner's Christmas in Paradise brought back her characters Sage and Maggie, newlyweds who are expecting a blessed event. Linda Broday's A Christmas Wedding is a return to Hope's Crossing where Rebel, whose man Travis was taken by a bounty hunter and she has no idea of his fate, tries to bring Christmas cheer to the entire town. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa has school teacher Holly and newly arrived blacksmith Tom joining forces to bring gifts from Santa to the community's children during hard times. Anna Schmidt's One Snowy Christmas Eve is a second chance romance for Colin and Evie, who parted ways when Evie left for medical school. And last but not least, Through the Storm by Amy Sandas gives us George and Lucy, who are trapped in Lucy's cabin after she finds George lost in a snowstorm.
There is not a single dud in this entire collection; I was enchanted by them all. However, there are some standouts. Linda Broday had me absolutely bawling like crazy when Rebel and Travis are reunited, and a devastating hardship occurs. My poor puffy face! Margaret Brownley also had me crying over her sweet story. Seriously, who can resist a Christmas story with a lovable dog? No one, that's who! And Amy Sandas brought the heat with George and Lucy, trapped in their isolated hideaway complete with a fireplace and furs. Treat yourself to this beautiful anthology to prepare you for the Christmas season.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
August 30, 2019
This is my second year to read the Leigh Greenwood Christmas anthology and it did not disappoint! I received Longing for a Cowboy Christmas as an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review. This beautifully written book contains short stories from two of my all-time favorite HWR writers, Linda Broday and Rosanne Bittner as well as other great authors and a few I hadn't read before. All the stories were great feel good stories for the Holiday season. I don't usually read holiday books in the heat of the Texas summer but I knew this would be a great read because of the authors included within it's beautiful cover. The fact that it could wisk me away from the upper 90° and over 100° temps, dry dead grass, sweating even when inside to a winter wonderland was a huge draw on top of it being an ARC! This book is a great read and I'm blessed to have received it from Netgalley.
August 5, 2019
What a great collection of Christmas tales featuring cowboys. I found each selection to be well written and entertaining. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher. This is my unbiased review.
April 30, 2020
April 2020, reread of Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - revisited Paradise Valley in preparation for Rosanne Bittner's newest book coming soon that will have Sage Lightfoot appearing in it.
And I still gotta say, Sage and Maggie's story is still a favorite one.
+++++++
This is a wonderful collection of Christmas short stories - each one giving a couple hour dose of a feel-good story to snuggle up with. I totally read this book out of order, going first with the stories I was looking forward to the most and working my way through the rest, and not being disappointed in any of them!
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I was so thrilled when I found out we were getting more of Sage and Maggie from Paradise Valley (one of my favorite RB books)! I had faith going in I'd love the follow up to their story, and I wasn't disappointed. Sage is still all protective of Maggie, and patient with her as she's settling into her spot as his wife. He knows he's got a treasure in her and makes sure she knows it deep down. Maggie is still as sweet, determined, and strong, as much as she's vulnerable and struggles with some insecurities. But Sage won't let those fears keep their grip on her. Loved the touch of adventure and drama, and the beauty of their Christmas miracle, both in seeing them settled, and in seeing their happily-ever-after come full circle. Honestly, this just made me want even more of their story, and I'd love to see a sequel novel someday for Sage and Maggie and their family.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
Christmas in Hope's Crossing, pouring out good on people who deserve all the good they can get! Loved getting to know Rebel even more, watching her big heart dig deep to find joy and spread it around. And then Travis finally getting the new start he needed and finding his way home again to wrap his family up in his protective arms and shower them with love. Add in some breath-catching moments and some giggles along with a few tears, and you get a sweet addition to Linda Broday's Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. So glad that there's more coming for this town and hopefully we'll get to see more of Rebel and Travis in future stories.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas
Through the Storm starts off with a sweet, slow burn that builds to an inferno, keeping you needing more. George is fully captivated by Lucy when he first meets her, and fate helps to bring her back to him. George is an interesting character with his charm and gentleman ways mixed in with outlaw edginess. Lucy is an adorable mix of sweet and capable, the best match for George! Loved watching the embers of their attraction grow into a steady burning flame. This story probably surprised me the most in how much I ended up enjoying it!
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
This is a super sweet story of a man and a woman who both desperately need something the other can provide, but fears and plans and a touch of stubbornness get in the way. Nan desires a family with everything she has, but isn't willing to settle for less than what she deserves or wants. But she does know how to open her heart and grasp to what she is given. Will has a mapped out plan for his life, even if he's struggling with some of the consequences and hanging onto the past. Luckily, a winter storm, the love of a child, and some words of wisdom combine to grant dreams and love to three people who deserve their family and own special happily ever after.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Holly and Tom's story melted my heart with all the joy and goodness that Christmas can bring. Holly brought a smile and cheer to a town that was hurting, and wiggled her way into the heart of a man who was lost. Loved her heart and charm. Tom proved to be a man worthy of his Holly, and had a heart of gold as well. This story left me with a few tears but a heart overflowing with good. Definitely a Christmas story to experience! Also, despite being a short novella story, I felt like I got all the feels for a full length novel!
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Evie and Collin's story is one of second chances, letting go of pride, and chasing down your hearts' desires. A little bit of fate stepped in to give them the opportunity needed to reflect on the past, where they're at now, and grasp hold of what they still want now. Toss in a little meddling and a leap of faith and you have a delightful Christmas blessing story! I loved how we got flash backs of their history, giving us a deeper sense of their connection and showing what was worth fighting for.
This is a collection of Christmas shorts not to be missed!!
And I still gotta say, Sage and Maggie's story is still a favorite one.
+++++++
This is a wonderful collection of Christmas short stories - each one giving a couple hour dose of a feel-good story to snuggle up with. I totally read this book out of order, going first with the stories I was looking forward to the most and working my way through the rest, and not being disappointed in any of them!
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I was so thrilled when I found out we were getting more of Sage and Maggie from Paradise Valley (one of my favorite RB books)! I had faith going in I'd love the follow up to their story, and I wasn't disappointed. Sage is still all protective of Maggie, and patient with her as she's settling into her spot as his wife. He knows he's got a treasure in her and makes sure she knows it deep down. Maggie is still as sweet, determined, and strong, as much as she's vulnerable and struggles with some insecurities. But Sage won't let those fears keep their grip on her. Loved the touch of adventure and drama, and the beauty of their Christmas miracle, both in seeing them settled, and in seeing their happily-ever-after come full circle. Honestly, this just made me want even more of their story, and I'd love to see a sequel novel someday for Sage and Maggie and their family.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
Christmas in Hope's Crossing, pouring out good on people who deserve all the good they can get! Loved getting to know Rebel even more, watching her big heart dig deep to find joy and spread it around. And then Travis finally getting the new start he needed and finding his way home again to wrap his family up in his protective arms and shower them with love. Add in some breath-catching moments and some giggles along with a few tears, and you get a sweet addition to Linda Broday's Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. So glad that there's more coming for this town and hopefully we'll get to see more of Rebel and Travis in future stories.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas
Through the Storm starts off with a sweet, slow burn that builds to an inferno, keeping you needing more. George is fully captivated by Lucy when he first meets her, and fate helps to bring her back to him. George is an interesting character with his charm and gentleman ways mixed in with outlaw edginess. Lucy is an adorable mix of sweet and capable, the best match for George! Loved watching the embers of their attraction grow into a steady burning flame. This story probably surprised me the most in how much I ended up enjoying it!
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
This is a super sweet story of a man and a woman who both desperately need something the other can provide, but fears and plans and a touch of stubbornness get in the way. Nan desires a family with everything she has, but isn't willing to settle for less than what she deserves or wants. But she does know how to open her heart and grasp to what she is given. Will has a mapped out plan for his life, even if he's struggling with some of the consequences and hanging onto the past. Luckily, a winter storm, the love of a child, and some words of wisdom combine to grant dreams and love to three people who deserve their family and own special happily ever after.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Holly and Tom's story melted my heart with all the joy and goodness that Christmas can bring. Holly brought a smile and cheer to a town that was hurting, and wiggled her way into the heart of a man who was lost. Loved her heart and charm. Tom proved to be a man worthy of his Holly, and had a heart of gold as well. This story left me with a few tears but a heart overflowing with good. Definitely a Christmas story to experience! Also, despite being a short novella story, I felt like I got all the feels for a full length novel!
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Evie and Collin's story is one of second chances, letting go of pride, and chasing down your hearts' desires. A little bit of fate stepped in to give them the opportunity needed to reflect on the past, where they're at now, and grasp hold of what they still want now. Toss in a little meddling and a leap of faith and you have a delightful Christmas blessing story! I loved how we got flash backs of their history, giving us a deeper sense of their connection and showing what was worth fighting for.
This is a collection of Christmas shorts not to be missed!!
February 13, 2021
I only read the first three stories as those are the writers i normally read.
A Fairy Tale Christmas-Greenwood's - a frivolous short story with winter/X-mas as a background. It wrapped up a bit quickly for me but it was a nice light read.
Christmas in Paradise-Bittner-this was a short story epilogue to her book Paradise Valley.
In that book, towards the end Maggie is pregnant. This story deals w/her pregnancy & her on-going developing relationship with Sage. It was also a sweetly developed story. I'd recommend reading that book first as this is a nice treat for those readers who enjoyed that story.
A Christmas Wedding-Broday-this was an in b/w story for the Outlaw Mail Order Bride's series. It dealt w/a romance that developed b/w 2 of the characters in the first book. It was a sweet story. I like those characters so it was nice to the town of Hope's Crossing.
A Fairy Tale Christmas-Greenwood's - a frivolous short story with winter/X-mas as a background. It wrapped up a bit quickly for me but it was a nice light read.
Christmas in Paradise-Bittner-this was a short story epilogue to her book Paradise Valley.
In that book, towards the end Maggie is pregnant. This story deals w/her pregnancy & her on-going developing relationship with Sage. It was also a sweetly developed story. I'd recommend reading that book first as this is a nice treat for those readers who enjoyed that story.
A Christmas Wedding-Broday-this was an in b/w story for the Outlaw Mail Order Bride's series. It dealt w/a romance that developed b/w 2 of the characters in the first book. It was a sweet story. I like those characters so it was nice to the town of Hope's Crossing.
August 6, 2019
What a delightful Anthology. I've always loved anthologies because you get a bunch of short stories by authors you most likely have never heard of before. In my case, Longing for a Cowboy Christmas had six stories by authors I had never had the pleasure of reading.
In this Anthology it's all about Christmas, second chances & finding love. Some stories made me laugh, some made me cry, but in the end, I enjoyed them all.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood was about Nan, who is going to be all alone this Christmas. Well, right up until Will and his Daughter Clara show up at her door. Will is sick and he needs someone to look after him. Nan takes up the task of making him well again and in the process she can't help but fall in love with him and his sweet daughter.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner is a short story about two characters from the book Paradise Valley. In this story it's a small continuation of Sage & Maggie's love story. They have been married only for 5 months and Maggie is expecting. Without spoiling the story, I can tell you that the author provides enough back story that you won't need to read Paradise Valley to enjoy this.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is about a woman names Rebel who is taking care of 2 small children that were rescued from an Asylum. Travis, the man she is in love with was taken by a Bounty Hunter and she has not heard from him since. Between her and the children, they are missing him like crazy and with Christmas coming it seems everything is going wrong. Trying to bring up everyone's spirits, Rebel comes up with a way for the whole town to come together and bring joy to everyone in Hope's Crossing.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley was my favorite of them all. In the little town of Haywire things have been pretty rough for the residents due to the bad economy. Holly, a school teacher has a plan though. She is going to have all her students write a letter to Santa. As a matter of fact, all the towns children are writing Santa letters and Holly is bound and determined that each child will get his or her wish. Tom has just come to Haywire after the passing of his uncle. He is undetermined if he will stay as he has not been very impressed by the town or the people. Until he meets Holly that is. Once these two get a chance to know each other, they cannot help but fall in love.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is about Colin & Evie. Two people who 5 years ago were madly in love. Things didn't work out the way either of them thought they would when Colin proposed marriage. When Evie wanted to go off and become a doctor instead of a housewife, Colin walked away. Regretted it everyday too. Now, Colin is sick and finds himself outside the Doctors office where Evie is working. Evie loved Colin. Still loves him and hopes this time they can get things right.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas is about George and Lucy. George was just playing some cards in town when Lucy shows up. Standing outside by her horse, she is accosted by a man who thinks he can just have her now that her father has passed away. George was not about to let her get attacked by this guy and steps in. After she leaves, George decides to head back home but gets caught in a blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him into her home. These two had some explosive chemistry and being stuck together during a snowstorm... Things are about to heat up. literally.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for short & sweet Christmas stories.
- ARC provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley -
In this Anthology it's all about Christmas, second chances & finding love. Some stories made me laugh, some made me cry, but in the end, I enjoyed them all.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood was about Nan, who is going to be all alone this Christmas. Well, right up until Will and his Daughter Clara show up at her door. Will is sick and he needs someone to look after him. Nan takes up the task of making him well again and in the process she can't help but fall in love with him and his sweet daughter.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner is a short story about two characters from the book Paradise Valley. In this story it's a small continuation of Sage & Maggie's love story. They have been married only for 5 months and Maggie is expecting. Without spoiling the story, I can tell you that the author provides enough back story that you won't need to read Paradise Valley to enjoy this.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is about a woman names Rebel who is taking care of 2 small children that were rescued from an Asylum. Travis, the man she is in love with was taken by a Bounty Hunter and she has not heard from him since. Between her and the children, they are missing him like crazy and with Christmas coming it seems everything is going wrong. Trying to bring up everyone's spirits, Rebel comes up with a way for the whole town to come together and bring joy to everyone in Hope's Crossing.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley was my favorite of them all. In the little town of Haywire things have been pretty rough for the residents due to the bad economy. Holly, a school teacher has a plan though. She is going to have all her students write a letter to Santa. As a matter of fact, all the towns children are writing Santa letters and Holly is bound and determined that each child will get his or her wish. Tom has just come to Haywire after the passing of his uncle. He is undetermined if he will stay as he has not been very impressed by the town or the people. Until he meets Holly that is. Once these two get a chance to know each other, they cannot help but fall in love.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is about Colin & Evie. Two people who 5 years ago were madly in love. Things didn't work out the way either of them thought they would when Colin proposed marriage. When Evie wanted to go off and become a doctor instead of a housewife, Colin walked away. Regretted it everyday too. Now, Colin is sick and finds himself outside the Doctors office where Evie is working. Evie loved Colin. Still loves him and hopes this time they can get things right.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas is about George and Lucy. George was just playing some cards in town when Lucy shows up. Standing outside by her horse, she is accosted by a man who thinks he can just have her now that her father has passed away. George was not about to let her get attacked by this guy and steps in. After she leaves, George decides to head back home but gets caught in a blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him into her home. These two had some explosive chemistry and being stuck together during a snowstorm... Things are about to heat up. literally.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for short & sweet Christmas stories.
- ARC provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley -
October 18, 2019
I love a good anthology book. Reading one allows me to revisit authors I love (hello Linda Broday!) and fall in love with new authors (hello Amy Sandas!) This time around, we have 6 historical novels featuring cowboys, so there is even more for me to love!
Let’s look at each story:
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood: The writing in this story is very descriptive. For example:
She felt like a pumpkin dusted with November Frost.
In this story, we find Nan Carson in a not very Christmas-y spirit til the arrival of Will Atkins and his daughter Clara. Nothing like a child to bring in the Christmas spirit in a romance story. I think this story did suffer from the downside of anthologies. The romance between Nan and Will moved very quickly. Honestly, I think Nan’s love for Clara is more authentic than her affection for Will. In this instance, I would have preferred more back-story on the characters and the opportunity to see their love grow over time.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner: This story makes a lot more sense after reading the Author’s Note that followed. We meet Maggie and Sage Lightfoot in Christmas in Paradise after the actions of Ms. Bittner’s novel Paradise Valley. I haven’t read Paradise Valley, but after reading this short story, I’ve added it to my TBR! I enjoyed meeting Maggie and Sage. Their story is very touching. Sage is clearly a great protector and husband.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday: This is a great, but short, visit back to Hope’s Crossing. I’ve loved my other visits to this town of characters. For this visit, we meet up with Rebel and Travis. It was great to reacquaint myself with these two characters and to see how their love overcomes some serious adversities. What I enjoyed most about this story, though, is it shows how the community of Hope’s Crossing bands together to celebrate Advent and Christmas.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley: A sweet and touching story with a hint of humor. Holly Sanders is the small-town teacher determined to give every child their Christmas wish. Tom Chandler is the new to town blacksmith who volunteers to help. Plus, cute dog alert! Like A Christmas Wedding by Ms. Broday, the townspeople shine here, donating time and gifts for the children.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt: Plucky heroine alert! And old loves reunited! Two of my favorite tropes. Evelyn Prescot is a doctor in 1903 New Mexico. Colin Foster is the one who walked away from their relationship years ago. Colin may be delirious with fever, but he knows Evie will make everything better. I enjoyed this rekindled romance. But I especially admire Evie and her can do attitude.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas: This one by far is my favorite in the anthology. It blew me away. It’s a great final story to the whole book. Witty banter and super sexy times between Lucy and Gentleman Jack while they are stuck together during a blizzard. The two characters are well developed for a short novel. I appreciate how independent Lucy is and I’m a bit in love with Jack myself. After all, ginger Scots are my weakness! 😉 Especially so when they read poetry and make breakfast. I’ll certainly be checking out more of Ms. Sandas’s novels to see if there are more flirty conversations between the main characters!
I utterly enjoyed this anthology, visited some old friends and made some new ones. Each story is unique, but tied together with Christmas ribbons. And maybe some twinkly lights, as those are my favorite. I’ll certainly be checking out more books by these authors.
Let’s look at each story:
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood: The writing in this story is very descriptive. For example:
She felt like a pumpkin dusted with November Frost.
In this story, we find Nan Carson in a not very Christmas-y spirit til the arrival of Will Atkins and his daughter Clara. Nothing like a child to bring in the Christmas spirit in a romance story. I think this story did suffer from the downside of anthologies. The romance between Nan and Will moved very quickly. Honestly, I think Nan’s love for Clara is more authentic than her affection for Will. In this instance, I would have preferred more back-story on the characters and the opportunity to see their love grow over time.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner: This story makes a lot more sense after reading the Author’s Note that followed. We meet Maggie and Sage Lightfoot in Christmas in Paradise after the actions of Ms. Bittner’s novel Paradise Valley. I haven’t read Paradise Valley, but after reading this short story, I’ve added it to my TBR! I enjoyed meeting Maggie and Sage. Their story is very touching. Sage is clearly a great protector and husband.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday: This is a great, but short, visit back to Hope’s Crossing. I’ve loved my other visits to this town of characters. For this visit, we meet up with Rebel and Travis. It was great to reacquaint myself with these two characters and to see how their love overcomes some serious adversities. What I enjoyed most about this story, though, is it shows how the community of Hope’s Crossing bands together to celebrate Advent and Christmas.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley: A sweet and touching story with a hint of humor. Holly Sanders is the small-town teacher determined to give every child their Christmas wish. Tom Chandler is the new to town blacksmith who volunteers to help. Plus, cute dog alert! Like A Christmas Wedding by Ms. Broday, the townspeople shine here, donating time and gifts for the children.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt: Plucky heroine alert! And old loves reunited! Two of my favorite tropes. Evelyn Prescot is a doctor in 1903 New Mexico. Colin Foster is the one who walked away from their relationship years ago. Colin may be delirious with fever, but he knows Evie will make everything better. I enjoyed this rekindled romance. But I especially admire Evie and her can do attitude.
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas: This one by far is my favorite in the anthology. It blew me away. It’s a great final story to the whole book. Witty banter and super sexy times between Lucy and Gentleman Jack while they are stuck together during a blizzard. The two characters are well developed for a short novel. I appreciate how independent Lucy is and I’m a bit in love with Jack myself. After all, ginger Scots are my weakness! 😉 Especially so when they read poetry and make breakfast. I’ll certainly be checking out more of Ms. Sandas’s novels to see if there are more flirty conversations between the main characters!
I utterly enjoyed this anthology, visited some old friends and made some new ones. Each story is unique, but tied together with Christmas ribbons. And maybe some twinkly lights, as those are my favorite. I’ll certainly be checking out more books by these authors.
October 23, 2019
Anytime of the year is a great time for a Christmas story or two (or six) set in the Old West. Each story in this collection presents a strong female character who is fully capable of tackling the harsh frontier, and many of these women reverse the stereotype and 'rescue' the main male character from certain death. How refreshing!
Each story promises a romance that is completely sweet and sometimes steamy enough to cut through a Christmas Eve blizzard.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood starts this collection off with a beautiful story about a child and her father bringing joy to Nan's heart and brightening a Christmas destined to be lonely and bereft of family and joy.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner shifts into a somewhat different theme as the main female character, Maggie, was brutally mistreated but now finds herself surrounded by love and acceptance and hope for a bright future with Sage Lightfoot, who loves her unconditionally.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is a wonderful vignette from the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series that focuses on one of my favorite characters, Rebel Avery. Rebel's character in this series is interesting and full of opportunity for more development, so having a little story about her and her Christmas wish will definitely be an added bonus for fans of this series.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley has both humorous and serious moments, offering two main characters, Holly and Tom, who get off to a rocky (and noisy) start. Both are goodhearted and magnetically drawn to each other. The way Holly addresses her students' letters (and Tom's discarded letter) to Santa is heartwarming, inspiring, and delightful.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is a unique story because Evelyn is a new doctor in town who faces the uphill battle of being taken seriously as a female physician. This story has another unique feature in that Evelyn has a past history with the man she tirelessly nurses back to health. Evelyn and Colin have obviously been brought back together for a reason, but will they give each other a second chance?
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas ends this collection with a blizzard, an outlaw Scotsman, and a woman living alone in the mountains. When said blizzard traps these two together in a small cabin, the sparks can barely be contained. The dynamics between George and Lucy are both steamy and lovely, and they both discover that it is okay to let someone into your heart and trust them to fill the next chapter of life with love and hope.
As you can see, all of these stories will capture your heart; kindle the spirit of the season; and fill your imagination with romance, second chances, and a Christmas miracle or two.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Each story promises a romance that is completely sweet and sometimes steamy enough to cut through a Christmas Eve blizzard.
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood starts this collection off with a beautiful story about a child and her father bringing joy to Nan's heart and brightening a Christmas destined to be lonely and bereft of family and joy.
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner shifts into a somewhat different theme as the main female character, Maggie, was brutally mistreated but now finds herself surrounded by love and acceptance and hope for a bright future with Sage Lightfoot, who loves her unconditionally.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is a wonderful vignette from the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series that focuses on one of my favorite characters, Rebel Avery. Rebel's character in this series is interesting and full of opportunity for more development, so having a little story about her and her Christmas wish will definitely be an added bonus for fans of this series.
A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley has both humorous and serious moments, offering two main characters, Holly and Tom, who get off to a rocky (and noisy) start. Both are goodhearted and magnetically drawn to each other. The way Holly addresses her students' letters (and Tom's discarded letter) to Santa is heartwarming, inspiring, and delightful.
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is a unique story because Evelyn is a new doctor in town who faces the uphill battle of being taken seriously as a female physician. This story has another unique feature in that Evelyn has a past history with the man she tirelessly nurses back to health. Evelyn and Colin have obviously been brought back together for a reason, but will they give each other a second chance?
Through the Storm by Amy Sandas ends this collection with a blizzard, an outlaw Scotsman, and a woman living alone in the mountains. When said blizzard traps these two together in a small cabin, the sparks can barely be contained. The dynamics between George and Lucy are both steamy and lovely, and they both discover that it is okay to let someone into your heart and trust them to fill the next chapter of life with love and hope.
As you can see, all of these stories will capture your heart; kindle the spirit of the season; and fill your imagination with romance, second chances, and a Christmas miracle or two.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
November 6, 2019
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.8.
August 5, 2019
A compilation of short stories by six different authors who proffer their versions of a cowboy Christmas. The stories revolve around late nineteenth century western environs and the hardy women who ventured to live there. Also, the strong, rigged cowboys who showcase all the characteristics men back then were expected to exude. I love these stories because the life was hard, but yet appealing with justice very defined and the lines of right and wrong clear. My favorite was by Bittner. She conjures cowboys that are swoon worthy. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
October 23, 2019
“It’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.” That double entendre is among my favorites and it fits this book perfectly. When I picked up this midsized paperback, I was a little skeptical that it could hold six stories that would satisfy me in such a small amount of space. I am glad that I was proved wrong. I believe that one of the stories is a snippet of a full-length book while the other five are novellas, but they all very much represent the best of this genre. While each story has its own distinct flavor, the high-quality editing is evident throughout the whole package. There are no messy typos or confusing text in this little gem. (ETA: Oh darn, the page numbers on the index are a bit off in the ARC, but I’m sure they fixed it in the final copy.)
Greenwood’s A Fairy Tale Christmas and Brownley’s A Love Letter to Santa has descriptions that make my brain dance with delight. I could see everything because they described every detail so carefully. I read those stories deliberately so that I wouldn’t miss anything. A Fairy Tale Christmas is the perfect story to start the anthology with because it is the least steamy of the six. Although A Love Letter to Santa is also pretty tame in the sexy department. But don’t get me wrong; there is tons of delicious tension between the love interests. However, if you’re more accustomed to historical romances that follow the “normal and proper” rules of courting behavior from that era, those two stories will leave you breathless but not quite flushed.
If you want to feel the heat and read a happy ending (double entendre strikes again!), Bittner’s Christmas in Paradise, Broday’s A Christmas Wedding, and Schmidt’s One Snowy Christmas Eve are juicy appetizers to the sinfully sensual Through the Storm by Sandas. I don’t know if it’s because of the time period, but I appreciate that the couples in these stories have way more going on under the surface beyond just pure, animal physical attraction. With the exception of One Snowy Christmas Eve, the lovers in all of these particularly steamy stories fell in love pretty quickly but it is obvious to the reader that they found their match and simply were not wasting any time in expressing their love for each other.
I really enjoyed how this anthology featured scenarios that I’m sure existed at the time but I never put much thought into before. For example, A Christmas Wedding is set in a town populated by asylum refugees, ex-outlaws, and other society castoffs. Christmas in Paradise’s male protagonist is a divorcee and One Snowy Christmas Eve’s female protagonist turns down the love of her life to become a doctor. I feel like the common thread in all of these stories, besides the Christmas bit, is an independent woman who finally falls in love when she meets a man strong enough to catch her. Take your pick of wine or hot cocoa and settle in. You need these stories in your life!
Greenwood’s A Fairy Tale Christmas and Brownley’s A Love Letter to Santa has descriptions that make my brain dance with delight. I could see everything because they described every detail so carefully. I read those stories deliberately so that I wouldn’t miss anything. A Fairy Tale Christmas is the perfect story to start the anthology with because it is the least steamy of the six. Although A Love Letter to Santa is also pretty tame in the sexy department. But don’t get me wrong; there is tons of delicious tension between the love interests. However, if you’re more accustomed to historical romances that follow the “normal and proper” rules of courting behavior from that era, those two stories will leave you breathless but not quite flushed.
If you want to feel the heat and read a happy ending (double entendre strikes again!), Bittner’s Christmas in Paradise, Broday’s A Christmas Wedding, and Schmidt’s One Snowy Christmas Eve are juicy appetizers to the sinfully sensual Through the Storm by Sandas. I don’t know if it’s because of the time period, but I appreciate that the couples in these stories have way more going on under the surface beyond just pure, animal physical attraction. With the exception of One Snowy Christmas Eve, the lovers in all of these particularly steamy stories fell in love pretty quickly but it is obvious to the reader that they found their match and simply were not wasting any time in expressing their love for each other.
I really enjoyed how this anthology featured scenarios that I’m sure existed at the time but I never put much thought into before. For example, A Christmas Wedding is set in a town populated by asylum refugees, ex-outlaws, and other society castoffs. Christmas in Paradise’s male protagonist is a divorcee and One Snowy Christmas Eve’s female protagonist turns down the love of her life to become a doctor. I feel like the common thread in all of these stories, besides the Christmas bit, is an independent woman who finally falls in love when she meets a man strong enough to catch her. Take your pick of wine or hot cocoa and settle in. You need these stories in your life!
November 11, 2019
Travel the 19 & 20th century to see how life is lived and Cowboys fall in love during the holiday season. Cowboys find love and redemption during the holiday season. Whether in the mountains of Virginia to the wilderness of the Wyoming and New Mexico territories these men and the women they fall in love with must over come blizzards, misconceptions, and their own fear of being alone to come together in six stories of love during and holidays and the women Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.
A Fairy Tale Christmas Leigh Greenwood Shenandoah Valley, Virginia 1880
Nan Carson isn't planning on celebrating Christmas until Will and Clara Atkins come to stay with her. Will has gotten sick and is brought to Nan for treatment. His frightened young daughter Clara, immediately draws Nan's attention. Taking longer to heal than he expects Will begins to remember what life was like living in the country. He begins to realize how much he's missed his roots. Clara and Nan become fast friends. Nan and Will begin falling in love with each other but it's going way to fast. He'd been taking his daughter to live with her grandparents while he worked all the time but the idea comes to leave her with Nan, but Will changes his mind. A marriage proposal is made and declined. Nan goes searching for Christmas presents. Being kept together for several days by a blizzard changes their perception of the relationship. Will makes a mysterious trip to town. A sleigh ride to church services, presents exchanged. A marriage proposal and declaration of love and a woman's dream of a family comes true.
Christmas in Paradise Rosanne Bittner Wyoming Territory August 1886
Maggie Lightfoot keeps trying to prove herself to her husband. Married for a short time, she's still not sure of their connection to each other. His perfect first wife has made Maggie feel insecure. Even though Sage keeps reassuring her about how much he loves her and the baby she carries. Sage is returning from catching her wedding present, when he runs into visitors coming to the ranch. He's suspicious of all visitors because of the hired men's and his own pasts as outlaws. Sage finds out what that the visitors so keyed up that Maggie gets him to tell her the reason for the people's visit. Danger, conflict and drought have the Lightfoots fighting for their ranch. Sage is injured and Maggie worries about who's baby she might be carrying. The labor and birth finally solves the mystery of the baby she carries. Celebration for the newest member of the ranch.
A Christmas Wedding Linda Brody Texas Panhandle November 1880
Rebel Avery can't forget the man she loves, even though he's told her to move on. She's trying to find a way to help her adopted son become less angry and quit fighting. Christmas is just a short time away and she comes up with an idea and shares with the town. A town celebration is planned with everyone in town working together. Rebel works on making a new friendship. A missing member of a local family goes missing and Rebel helps to find the child. Travis Lassiter returns to Hope Crossing in time to help celebrate Christmas. Travis helps the missing boys father become more involved with his family. Rebel becomes deathly ill and the doctor holds out little hope she'll live. She's contagious so Travis sends the children to the neighbors and takes care of her himself and won't let anyone help him. Rebel proves everyone wrong and lives just as Travis gives up hope. Travis makes rebel a promise. A miraculous recovery and a Christmas wedding is planned, bringing together a town and family forever.
A Love Letter to Santa Margaret Brownley Haywire, Texas 1886
Holly Sanders is determined to give the town a wonderful Christmas. Tom Chandler has recently come to look into his uncle's blacksmith business. Unfortunately, the noise from next door is a problem and is about to get him thrown out of his boarding house. Trying to keep his room he goes next door where Holly and her choir are practicing, which doesn't work. An immediate attraction ensues. Getting kicked out of the boarding house he ends up living at the blacksmith shop. Tom and Holly are at odds because she thinks he doesn't like Christmas. Tom volunteers to help Holly with her Christmas boxes and the letters to Santa. Another beau has Tom thinking he doesn't have a chance with Holly. A Santa letter has them wondering how to help the young man and his mother. Tom and his dog come across the family and sees how selfish he's been by keeping his dog to himself and offers the dog to the boy. The Christmas Pageant, holly organized is a disaster. Tom makes her feel better. They share a kiss. Holly gets a look at the real man behind the beau she's been seeing. She's shocked by seeing the for sale sign on the blacksmith shop. An old friend plays cupid and Tom and Holly make plans.
One Snowy Christmas Eve Anna Schmidt Sagebrush, New Mexico 1903
Colin Foster is wanting to get medicine from the doctor and leave. A sign above the doctor's office has a reads Evelyn Prescott, MD. He realizes the woman he loved 5 years ago has achieved her dream. He doesn't see his old friend the former doctor but sees Evie and hides around the corner. His illness gives him away and she takes him into the office for help. Evie then realizes who Colin is. He doubts her abilities and she's determined to prove him wrong. Colin takes a turn for the worse and Evie feels guilty for falling asleep. Colin tries to go after wood to help replenish the supply because of the storm. They begin discussing their feelings for each other and how they haven't fallen out of love with the other one.
During their discussion they're interrupted by the minister wondering why Evie wasn't at the church service the night before. He shares Christmas lunch with them. Colin and Evie realize that they do still love each other and why wait to get married. They go to the church where the minister arranges come of the town's citizens to come together for a celebration while Colin and Evie head home and start their lives together.
Through the Storm Amy Sands Chester Wyoming December 18, 1883
George Linwood is playing card in the local saloon. He's challenged playing against a man who cheats. When Lucy Jones brings a wagon into town for supplies she draws the attention of the saloon patrons. She's the local mountain man's daughter. He fellow card player who also owns the saloon goes after what he wants and that happens to be Lucy. George comes out to watch and maybe help the woman only she's able to take care of herself, but he ends up giving her some help. Revenge is declared against them. George and Lucy head out separately for home. He gets lost because of the blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him in. She hasn't had any company since her father. They realize that they saw each other in town. Each keeps the feelings they're having to themselves. Lucy and George spend several days together because of the storm. George is about to move on but their intense feelings get in the way. An enemy's revenge destroys Lucy's cabin and kills the enemy. George takes Lucy to the valley he and his friends live in. They reveal their feelings and plan a future in the valley.
Six Christmas historical romance so that true romance is alive and well in the world of a cowboy and the women who fall in love with them. A group of well known authors set the scene for danger love and romance in the early 20th century and the mid to late 19th century as six women are Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.
A Fairy Tale Christmas Leigh Greenwood Shenandoah Valley, Virginia 1880
Nan Carson isn't planning on celebrating Christmas until Will and Clara Atkins come to stay with her. Will has gotten sick and is brought to Nan for treatment. His frightened young daughter Clara, immediately draws Nan's attention. Taking longer to heal than he expects Will begins to remember what life was like living in the country. He begins to realize how much he's missed his roots. Clara and Nan become fast friends. Nan and Will begin falling in love with each other but it's going way to fast. He'd been taking his daughter to live with her grandparents while he worked all the time but the idea comes to leave her with Nan, but Will changes his mind. A marriage proposal is made and declined. Nan goes searching for Christmas presents. Being kept together for several days by a blizzard changes their perception of the relationship. Will makes a mysterious trip to town. A sleigh ride to church services, presents exchanged. A marriage proposal and declaration of love and a woman's dream of a family comes true.
Christmas in Paradise Rosanne Bittner Wyoming Territory August 1886
Maggie Lightfoot keeps trying to prove herself to her husband. Married for a short time, she's still not sure of their connection to each other. His perfect first wife has made Maggie feel insecure. Even though Sage keeps reassuring her about how much he loves her and the baby she carries. Sage is returning from catching her wedding present, when he runs into visitors coming to the ranch. He's suspicious of all visitors because of the hired men's and his own pasts as outlaws. Sage finds out what that the visitors so keyed up that Maggie gets him to tell her the reason for the people's visit. Danger, conflict and drought have the Lightfoots fighting for their ranch. Sage is injured and Maggie worries about who's baby she might be carrying. The labor and birth finally solves the mystery of the baby she carries. Celebration for the newest member of the ranch.
A Christmas Wedding Linda Brody Texas Panhandle November 1880
Rebel Avery can't forget the man she loves, even though he's told her to move on. She's trying to find a way to help her adopted son become less angry and quit fighting. Christmas is just a short time away and she comes up with an idea and shares with the town. A town celebration is planned with everyone in town working together. Rebel works on making a new friendship. A missing member of a local family goes missing and Rebel helps to find the child. Travis Lassiter returns to Hope Crossing in time to help celebrate Christmas. Travis helps the missing boys father become more involved with his family. Rebel becomes deathly ill and the doctor holds out little hope she'll live. She's contagious so Travis sends the children to the neighbors and takes care of her himself and won't let anyone help him. Rebel proves everyone wrong and lives just as Travis gives up hope. Travis makes rebel a promise. A miraculous recovery and a Christmas wedding is planned, bringing together a town and family forever.
A Love Letter to Santa Margaret Brownley Haywire, Texas 1886
Holly Sanders is determined to give the town a wonderful Christmas. Tom Chandler has recently come to look into his uncle's blacksmith business. Unfortunately, the noise from next door is a problem and is about to get him thrown out of his boarding house. Trying to keep his room he goes next door where Holly and her choir are practicing, which doesn't work. An immediate attraction ensues. Getting kicked out of the boarding house he ends up living at the blacksmith shop. Tom and Holly are at odds because she thinks he doesn't like Christmas. Tom volunteers to help Holly with her Christmas boxes and the letters to Santa. Another beau has Tom thinking he doesn't have a chance with Holly. A Santa letter has them wondering how to help the young man and his mother. Tom and his dog come across the family and sees how selfish he's been by keeping his dog to himself and offers the dog to the boy. The Christmas Pageant, holly organized is a disaster. Tom makes her feel better. They share a kiss. Holly gets a look at the real man behind the beau she's been seeing. She's shocked by seeing the for sale sign on the blacksmith shop. An old friend plays cupid and Tom and Holly make plans.
One Snowy Christmas Eve Anna Schmidt Sagebrush, New Mexico 1903
Colin Foster is wanting to get medicine from the doctor and leave. A sign above the doctor's office has a reads Evelyn Prescott, MD. He realizes the woman he loved 5 years ago has achieved her dream. He doesn't see his old friend the former doctor but sees Evie and hides around the corner. His illness gives him away and she takes him into the office for help. Evie then realizes who Colin is. He doubts her abilities and she's determined to prove him wrong. Colin takes a turn for the worse and Evie feels guilty for falling asleep. Colin tries to go after wood to help replenish the supply because of the storm. They begin discussing their feelings for each other and how they haven't fallen out of love with the other one.
During their discussion they're interrupted by the minister wondering why Evie wasn't at the church service the night before. He shares Christmas lunch with them. Colin and Evie realize that they do still love each other and why wait to get married. They go to the church where the minister arranges come of the town's citizens to come together for a celebration while Colin and Evie head home and start their lives together.
Through the Storm Amy Sands Chester Wyoming December 18, 1883
George Linwood is playing card in the local saloon. He's challenged playing against a man who cheats. When Lucy Jones brings a wagon into town for supplies she draws the attention of the saloon patrons. She's the local mountain man's daughter. He fellow card player who also owns the saloon goes after what he wants and that happens to be Lucy. George comes out to watch and maybe help the woman only she's able to take care of herself, but he ends up giving her some help. Revenge is declared against them. George and Lucy head out separately for home. He gets lost because of the blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him in. She hasn't had any company since her father. They realize that they saw each other in town. Each keeps the feelings they're having to themselves. Lucy and George spend several days together because of the storm. George is about to move on but their intense feelings get in the way. An enemy's revenge destroys Lucy's cabin and kills the enemy. George takes Lucy to the valley he and his friends live in. They reveal their feelings and plan a future in the valley.
Six Christmas historical romance so that true romance is alive and well in the world of a cowboy and the women who fall in love with them. A group of well known authors set the scene for danger love and romance in the early 20th century and the mid to late 19th century as six women are Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.
November 2, 2019
I'm continuing my quest to read more cowboy romances. I find that easing myself into a genre is always best when I have an anthology collection to help me. I had read a work by Linda Broday before, but I was eager to dive into the works by other authors as well. What I found in these stories were a collection ranging from the community-oriented, sweet and clean, and even the second chance trope! I have to be honest, I've been all about the second chance tropes lately, so I was very happily surprised to find one in One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt. Christmas in Paradise seemed to go over my head a bit, but that is mostly because it is meant to accompany Roseanne Bittner's other work, Paradise Valley. Either way, I enjoyed her writing and flow! I felt that Leigh Greenwood's story, A Fairy Tale Christmas, could have been a story much longer than a novella - maybe an idea for something else in the future? I haven't read one of Greenwood's books before, but I wouldn't mind diving into that. Broday's A Christmas Wedding was a bit of a palate cleanser as well as a novella in need of a full fledged story because it was not just about a couple and/or one woman really - it was about a community of characters all worthy of more detailed attention. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa really made my heart warm up and it reminded me of all the Christmas stories I love to read and watch as we get closer to Christmas. It was a sweet reading that anyone could enjoy. And finally Amy Sandas' Through the Storm gave me a bit of that rakish character that I'm used to reading in all of my other historical romances! It was welcomed and definitely stood out from the other stories. In fact, that is something I commend this collection for - each story was quite unlike the one before or after it. I never felt like I was reading something repetitive (which can happen in this genre). If anything, this collection made me wish for more of each authors' works. I will make sure to look for them in the future (and the back-list bump)!
October 19, 2019
This is a collection of six great cowboy stories from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas. I love how we get to read about six different types woman all set around Christmas in the late 1800s that are passionate, heroic, strong, independent and mostly loving. Let’s see how many Christmas miracles can happen?
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Nan Carson though she was going to be alone this Christmas but when there is a knock on the door bring more than one surprise for Nan. Can Dreams really come true or has Nan missed the boat of having a family of her own?
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I found this story so emotional and loving. It was love at first sight for these two even when one was at the lowest point of their life. The other turned out to be the most caring and loving person you would have never guess they would be. This story is about a recently married couple who live in Paradise Valley Wyoming, it about when you are in love but you still do not know each other complete.
This is a short story that following on after the Novel of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker “Paradise Valley” but don’t worry you want to need to have read it to enjoy this great story as the author fills in all the backstory you will need to know about.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
Rebel Avery lives in a very small town of Hope's Crossing in Texas a town that has given her a new start in life. She is now a mother of two orphaned children Ely and Jenny and no longer a Saloon girl. But she is a single mother in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter that has not returned to town in many months.
A love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - Not finished yet
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - Not finished yet
Though the Storm by Amy Sandas - Not finished yet
A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Nan Carson though she was going to be alone this Christmas but when there is a knock on the door bring more than one surprise for Nan. Can Dreams really come true or has Nan missed the boat of having a family of her own?
Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I found this story so emotional and loving. It was love at first sight for these two even when one was at the lowest point of their life. The other turned out to be the most caring and loving person you would have never guess they would be. This story is about a recently married couple who live in Paradise Valley Wyoming, it about when you are in love but you still do not know each other complete.
This is a short story that following on after the Novel of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker “Paradise Valley” but don’t worry you want to need to have read it to enjoy this great story as the author fills in all the backstory you will need to know about.
A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
Rebel Avery lives in a very small town of Hope's Crossing in Texas a town that has given her a new start in life. She is now a mother of two orphaned children Ely and Jenny and no longer a Saloon girl. But she is a single mother in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter that has not returned to town in many months.
A love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - Not finished yet
One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - Not finished yet
Though the Storm by Amy Sandas - Not finished yet
October 22, 2019
Romantic? Check.
Swaggering, strapping cowboys and roguish outlaws? Check.
(And maybe a few bull-headed men who need tending to.)
Strong female characters? Check, check, and check.
I love an anthology, especially when they include beloved authors, so I was happy to get my hands on this collection of romance stories. All are set in western settings, where times are tough, life is both simpler and hard, and the snow is falling because the Christmas holidays are approaching. Some stories are sweetly romantic while others bring a little more heat!
Linda Broday brings back a character with whom I fell in love in one of her previous novels (which you needn’t have read to enjoy this one) and near broke my heart with what she puts poor Rebel through!
Margaret Brownley’s tale of a woman rallying her town to bring Christmas to its children was perhaps my favorite. It was a story of love and sacrifice and warmed my heart.
If you like a little more heat to your romance stories, author Amy Sandas delivers it in droves in her story of a strong, resilient woman who rescues an outlaw in a snowstorm – and what follows as they are snowed together.
Anna Schmidt captures the frustration of a female doctor of the early 1900s in her tale “One Snowy Christmas Eve” as her first love stumbles, sick to death, into her practice. Nursing him back to health opens old wounds and stirs old flames.
Ultimately, all six stories paint pictures of hard times, love enduring and winning in the end – perfect for curling up under a cozy blanket but enduring enough for any time of the year.
Swaggering, strapping cowboys and roguish outlaws? Check.
(And maybe a few bull-headed men who need tending to.)
Strong female characters? Check, check, and check.
I love an anthology, especially when they include beloved authors, so I was happy to get my hands on this collection of romance stories. All are set in western settings, where times are tough, life is both simpler and hard, and the snow is falling because the Christmas holidays are approaching. Some stories are sweetly romantic while others bring a little more heat!
Linda Broday brings back a character with whom I fell in love in one of her previous novels (which you needn’t have read to enjoy this one) and near broke my heart with what she puts poor Rebel through!
Margaret Brownley’s tale of a woman rallying her town to bring Christmas to its children was perhaps my favorite. It was a story of love and sacrifice and warmed my heart.
If you like a little more heat to your romance stories, author Amy Sandas delivers it in droves in her story of a strong, resilient woman who rescues an outlaw in a snowstorm – and what follows as they are snowed together.
Anna Schmidt captures the frustration of a female doctor of the early 1900s in her tale “One Snowy Christmas Eve” as her first love stumbles, sick to death, into her practice. Nursing him back to health opens old wounds and stirs old flames.
Ultimately, all six stories paint pictures of hard times, love enduring and winning in the end – perfect for curling up under a cozy blanket but enduring enough for any time of the year.
October 24, 2019
Authors Leigh Greenwood, Roasanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas stories are all tied radiantly to old-time Christmases in this collection called Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.
This is an eclectic collection of Christmas stories that makes you long for a simpler time – a simpler time when getting married was as easy as walking down the street to a church. A simpler time when falling in love came at you so quickly it took your breath away. A simpler time when the acts of kindness were a community effort and decorations were homemade.
Each story in this collection stands on its own and each story is centered around Christmas in the most romantic ways. Reading a collection like this gives you the opportunity to discover new authors and their writing styles. From Greenwood to Bittner to Broday to Brownley to Schmidt to Sandas all their writing is solid, clean, and crisp and reflects the early tones and dialects of the historical eras they write about.
Of course, the one story that stood out the most to me being a dog lover was A Love Letter to Santa. I was crying at the end. Margaret Brownley really knew how to write a story that tugged at my heart. And what made it more endearing is how her story was inspired. Just when you think her story is going to be about a donkey it turns quickly to be about Winston/Cupid.
If you love the old-time magic of Christmas with romance then this collection is an essential read. You’ll not be disappointed. Who knows you might even be inspired.
This is an eclectic collection of Christmas stories that makes you long for a simpler time – a simpler time when getting married was as easy as walking down the street to a church. A simpler time when falling in love came at you so quickly it took your breath away. A simpler time when the acts of kindness were a community effort and decorations were homemade.
Each story in this collection stands on its own and each story is centered around Christmas in the most romantic ways. Reading a collection like this gives you the opportunity to discover new authors and their writing styles. From Greenwood to Bittner to Broday to Brownley to Schmidt to Sandas all their writing is solid, clean, and crisp and reflects the early tones and dialects of the historical eras they write about.
Of course, the one story that stood out the most to me being a dog lover was A Love Letter to Santa. I was crying at the end. Margaret Brownley really knew how to write a story that tugged at my heart. And what made it more endearing is how her story was inspired. Just when you think her story is going to be about a donkey it turns quickly to be about Winston/Cupid.
If you love the old-time magic of Christmas with romance then this collection is an essential read. You’ll not be disappointed. Who knows you might even be inspired.
November 26, 2019
Not my cup of tea, but for what it was, it was fine.
Story 1: 1880 Virginia. A stranger comes into town, too sick to do much of anything, and his young daughter. With the inn closed, spinster Nan takes him and his daughter in and nurses his back to health. When Will wakes up the two begin to quickly fall in love. Just in time for Christmas. 3 stars
Story 2: Wyoming 1886. Newly married Maggie feels she must prove herself to Sage, fearing he might leave her as she’s not carrying his baby. Sage shows his love for her constantly, but she’s still reluctant. She’d been a victim of outlaws, hurting her and killing her husband. Sage saved her and they fell in love. Outside forces try to claim her baby. But they prevail, plus the kid is actually her former husband’s, yay. 2.5 stars
Story 3: Texas 1880. Rebel’s beau had to leave, being an outlaw. Rebel now raises her two adopted kids alone, but misses Travis. One day he comes home and the two set out to get married on Christmas Day. Only Rebel gets sick and they almost don’t. 3 stars.
Story 4: Texas 1886. Tom is new to town, figuring out if it’s worth it to run his uncles business or sell it off. When he meets Holly, it’s not in the best of circumstances. However, he’s fully on board with learning who she is. Holly’s the local teacher and hopes to fulfill each child’s Santa request. Tom helps and they fall in love. 3.5 stars.
Story 5: New Mexico 1903. 5 years ago Colin had asked for Evie’s hand in marriage. Ignoring her goal of being a doctor, she couldn’t accept. When Colin shows up too sick to walk, she nurses him back to health. With a little Christmas spirit and a persistent pastor, Colin realizes she’s a strong woman in her own right and has opinions of her own, aka, they deserve to be partners in marriage. 3.5 stars.
Story 6: A blizzard almost takes the man’s life and she gives him shelter. They fall in love. 2.5.
Story 1: 1880 Virginia. A stranger comes into town, too sick to do much of anything, and his young daughter. With the inn closed, spinster Nan takes him and his daughter in and nurses his back to health. When Will wakes up the two begin to quickly fall in love. Just in time for Christmas. 3 stars
Story 2: Wyoming 1886. Newly married Maggie feels she must prove herself to Sage, fearing he might leave her as she’s not carrying his baby. Sage shows his love for her constantly, but she’s still reluctant. She’d been a victim of outlaws, hurting her and killing her husband. Sage saved her and they fell in love. Outside forces try to claim her baby. But they prevail, plus the kid is actually her former husband’s, yay. 2.5 stars
Story 3: Texas 1880. Rebel’s beau had to leave, being an outlaw. Rebel now raises her two adopted kids alone, but misses Travis. One day he comes home and the two set out to get married on Christmas Day. Only Rebel gets sick and they almost don’t. 3 stars.
Story 4: Texas 1886. Tom is new to town, figuring out if it’s worth it to run his uncles business or sell it off. When he meets Holly, it’s not in the best of circumstances. However, he’s fully on board with learning who she is. Holly’s the local teacher and hopes to fulfill each child’s Santa request. Tom helps and they fall in love. 3.5 stars.
Story 5: New Mexico 1903. 5 years ago Colin had asked for Evie’s hand in marriage. Ignoring her goal of being a doctor, she couldn’t accept. When Colin shows up too sick to walk, she nurses him back to health. With a little Christmas spirit and a persistent pastor, Colin realizes she’s a strong woman in her own right and has opinions of her own, aka, they deserve to be partners in marriage. 3.5 stars.
Story 6: A blizzard almost takes the man’s life and she gives him shelter. They fall in love. 2.5.
September 25, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS anthology brings us funny, charming, dangerous, loving stories from several well-known Western Historical Romance authors. I’ve followed each of these authors and have enjoyed their stories immensely. Getting a second look at some characters lives, returning to a town I’ve visited before and getting to meet new characters during the Christmas season is always a treat for me.
Each story within LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS is full of life during a bygone age when life was far different than we live now. I’ve always loved a look back, and these authors take us right into the heart and soul of the people who lived and loved during those early discovery days of the West. Each story is short, novella style yet each one delivers a story that will touch your heart, make you smile, even laugh and shower you with the Christmas season’s celebrations and love so real you could feel it. I enjoyed each one, can’t really pick a favorite so I’d encourage you to pick up this anthology and simply enjoy yourself.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS anthology brings us funny, charming, dangerous, loving stories from several well-known Western Historical Romance authors. I’ve followed each of these authors and have enjoyed their stories immensely. Getting a second look at some characters lives, returning to a town I’ve visited before and getting to meet new characters during the Christmas season is always a treat for me.
Each story within LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS is full of life during a bygone age when life was far different than we live now. I’ve always loved a look back, and these authors take us right into the heart and soul of the people who lived and loved during those early discovery days of the West. Each story is short, novella style yet each one delivers a story that will touch your heart, make you smile, even laugh and shower you with the Christmas season’s celebrations and love so real you could feel it. I enjoyed each one, can’t really pick a favorite so I’d encourage you to pick up this anthology and simply enjoy yourself.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
December 31, 2020
I got this for the Amy Sandas story. I did read a few of the stories.
One Snowy Christmas Eve: (3*)
Evie and Colin were lovers until Evie left for medical school. Now Evie is back home and has taken over her mentor's practice. However, being a female doctor means people really don't trust her and she is struggling to keep the practice. It took Colin time to see she was competent (despite being super sick) and just as good as a guy. Colin also took time to realize he was only thinking of himself and not taking in what Evie would want. Overall a decent 2nd chance love story in the very early 1900s. This is clean. No sex, no foul language, references to God.
Through the Storm: (4*)
George is the 2nd son of a titled family from Scotland who does something stupid and in the process his best friend is killed. While it was an accident, he was blamed for it (due to the deceased being the heir to a dukedom). He leaves for the US to spare his family additional hardship/scandal. Lucy is the daughter of a reclusive trapper and his Native American wife (who left him). Lucy is alone, her father having died a few years ago. Lucy is competent and doesn't take bullshit. George is offered shelter in her cabin while a blizzard raged outside. They get to know each other and feelings develop. I think this could be part of her new series (a Western one) that I haven't started yet. Good pacing with a beginning, middle, and end.
One Snowy Christmas Eve: (3*)
Evie and Colin were lovers until Evie left for medical school. Now Evie is back home and has taken over her mentor's practice. However, being a female doctor means people really don't trust her and she is struggling to keep the practice. It took Colin time to see she was competent (despite being super sick) and just as good as a guy. Colin also took time to realize he was only thinking of himself and not taking in what Evie would want. Overall a decent 2nd chance love story in the very early 1900s. This is clean. No sex, no foul language, references to God.
Through the Storm: (4*)
George is the 2nd son of a titled family from Scotland who does something stupid and in the process his best friend is killed. While it was an accident, he was blamed for it (due to the deceased being the heir to a dukedom). He leaves for the US to spare his family additional hardship/scandal. Lucy is the daughter of a reclusive trapper and his Native American wife (who left him). Lucy is alone, her father having died a few years ago. Lucy is competent and doesn't take bullshit. George is offered shelter in her cabin while a blizzard raged outside. They get to know each other and feelings develop. I think this could be part of her new series (a Western one) that I haven't started yet. Good pacing with a beginning, middle, and end.
September 24, 2019
This is 6 Christmas stories.
My favorite was A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley. 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved this wonderful story. It was filled with love, hope and the magic of the season. A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟was my second favorite. It was a wonderful, inspirational story about hope and love. A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood 4🌟🌟🌟🌟 Nan nursed Will when he was sick and took care of his daughter at Christmastime. Together they formed a bound and became a family. One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 A short sweet story about a second chance at love. Through the Snow by Amy Sandas 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was sweet story. Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was a sweet story.
My favorite was A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley. 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved this wonderful story. It was filled with love, hope and the magic of the season. A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟was my second favorite. It was a wonderful, inspirational story about hope and love. A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood 4🌟🌟🌟🌟 Nan nursed Will when he was sick and took care of his daughter at Christmastime. Together they formed a bound and became a family. One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 A short sweet story about a second chance at love. Through the Snow by Amy Sandas 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was sweet story. Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was a sweet story.
October 2, 2019
Can you ever go wrong with a cowboy, Hero (but is it the cowboy or the women that love them?) , and Christmas? Not in my book! Loved the shorter stories and life can get busy around this time of the year. I could read a story and come back and read another or as I found in my case .. keep reading and not feeling like I had to focus on who is doing what at all times. This was a fabulous book ! I felt like each story told the entire story and I was not wanting more etc. I loved my little breath of Christmas air and cowboy! All the authors are my favorites but I have to agree with others Bittner knows how to make a cowboy that you want to jump off the page or you on in the page. Her come hither cowboys hold it all and can make this old lady's heart careen out of control for a moment of two ... Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy for an honest review .
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