Flying from city to city in her job as a busy corporate trainer for a successful direct sales company, Kenzie Beckett doesn’t have time for a man. And most certainly not for the handsome cowboy she keeps running into at the airport. Burned twice, she doesn’t trust anyone wearing boots and Wranglers, especially someone as charming and handsome as Tate Morgan.
Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can handle the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle the beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story.
As the holiday season approaches, this Christmas Cowboy is going to need more than a little mistletoe to win her heart.
A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.
In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.
Are you searching for a clean romance with humor, a spine-tingling romance with some hunky, genuine cowboy on the side? If you are, this book is unequivocally for you! You will find no profanity nor bedroom scenes, but you will find romance that will set your head spinning (it sure did mine). Just because it is a clean book does not mean that it is not "smokin' hot!" There were several times that I had to set this book down for a moment to catch my breath. There is no doubt that Shanna Hatfield knows how to write clean romance that is nothing but pure romance that incurable romantics like me crave. (Those closest to me may be shocked to think I would describe myself in this manner, but I am! Though jaded from "settling" for less than true romance, I still long for it in the core of my being.)
I will be honest--the ending has a bit of "cheese" in it for me, but that didn't bother me. And I know that a book like this will satisfy those who long for happy endings. However, I was pleased to discover that the author tried to make it somewhat realistic with the inclusion of danger here and there. I usually do not relish reading contemporary romances, but I would gladly read one of Shanna Hatfield's again!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Finally, someone who can write a convincing cowboy. I often avoid books with cowboy and ranch themes. Growing up on a cattle ranch, I know real cowboys! This book was sweet and light. A perfect holiday read.
Intended to be a ‘clean’ romance, this book dragged and is more suitable to a novella format especially since there is not much going on except kisses.. Yep. This story is like an overlong date with plenty of kisses, so if that’s what you like you’ll probably enjoy reading it. There is literally nothing else going on. Here is an accurate summary of the book:
1 airport meeting (1st time meeting hunky conveniently unattached cowboy) 2 sweet kiss for ‘good luck’ 3 2nd air port meeting 4 kiss 5 rodeo meeting 6 kiss 7 bbq with tight jeans 8 kiss 9 horse riding 10 drawn out kiss 11 next day meeting 12 rainfall of kisses 13 going to his ranch 14 kisses with trembling
Its easy to continue this…
Okay, admittedly, who doesn’t enjoy a good kiss in a romance book? However, I’m a fan of an actual plot embellished with a slow-burn romance, the kind of romance where people take the time to get to know each other and temper their emotions. I do not fancy kissing a complete stranger based on unbridled emotion or overdone kisses on every page, so please spare me. As you can see, it was easy to predict the end so there was no need to read further… The characters Tate and Kenzie , I felt that I couldn’t really know them through the haze of their fervent kisses.. I know they would end up with their happily ever after, with about 10,000 more kisses in between.
This author always brings a smile to my face as she gives you a wonderfully written story with such passion but is still able to give you a clean read. The Christmas Cowboy isn't just a Christmas time read but a read for anytime you just want a nice read filled with a little mystery, rodeos, cowboys, a hot tempters lady, that toes the line and pushes just a little with passion. I really enjoyed this read of passing in the night trying to make times for each other when they live hours away along with traveling to get in their way. This author shows if there is a will and love you can make it work.
Kenzie has been burnt before with cheating cowboys. First her father who she adored and than her ex she has no time for men in cowboy boots who do not know how to keep their hands to themselves. She keeps running into Tate every time she gets on a plane. There is just something about him she can't walk away. With many misunderstanding there just doesn't seem to be a way to make this work. Kenzie is just a lovely kind sweet lady who gives so much of herself to those she loves. Love has not been kind to her she has trust issues and doesn't take time to really think things over as she flies off the hand and runs to save her heart.
Tate is just a good old sweet cowboy who never would cheat, he isn't into settling down but with one lady catches his attention it looks more like he just might be hooked. That is if he can get the lady in question to stop jumping to the wrong concussion. He might just have to tie her down to make her listen. The women do seem to love this man as much as I do. He is innocent of all charges. This is a man every woman would be honored to call their own. When he gets hurt it will break your heart he was doing so well but his head isn't in the game. Will he win at love or will he lose all his dreams.
I just loved Tate's father he is a sweet heart and gives Tate words of wisdom. Tate doesn't need them as she chases the women across the country to make her his. You will love each character as this author puts a smile on your face. You have stalkers which will bring danger, love like no other which will last a lifetime.
I listened to this on audio with Luke E. Andreen as the narrator. He does a wonderful job with his tones and emotions as he brings this story to life. You always know which character is talking by his many different voices. You can hear the hurt, passion, love, anger, laughter in his voice and he gives a compelling voice to this wonderful story. This audio flows easy with no breaks or background noise. He makes you fall in love with each character as your heart breaks for Tate and all the misunderstands that comes his way. Luke as a wonderful voice that is smooth and flows easy to the ears. At times he has a very sexy voice that pulls you in and takes you away. I have enjoyed listening to him very much.
This is a well told story with a wonderful plot full of pain, sorrow, loss and love. There will be times you will laugh and others where you are sad. This is one author that knows how to pull on your heartstrings. I love the characters and found this to be a very believable read. At times I forgot it was fiction as the author and narrator took me away to a wonderful ride in the rodeos. If you haven't read the Rodeo Romance this is the one you want to start with. There is still enough time to read both books before the new one comes out.
Classic romance with all the familiar tropes. And this is definitely a kissing book, people, so if that isn't your thing, don't give ol' Tate there a second glance. It's funny because GR reviewers either love it or hate it because of all the smooching. I personally, didn't have a problem with those scenes (waving her fan and blushing furiously.) But they are why I'm calling The Christmas Cowboy a classic. This is traditional, warm-fuzzies, feel good, pure romance.
Things start sizzling as sparks fly during the meet-cute, and they never cool down, even during the 'dark moment'. Tate and Kenzie meet at the airport, but they've noticed each other on multiple occasions previously since they are both frequent flyers. So, while it's their first actual meet, the reader knows that these two have been circling around each other for months.
Tate comes off all flirty and charming...but it's important to know that he's only that way with Kenzie. She's wary, not just because of his heart-breaking smile, but because she has some history with cowboys, and not the good kind. What follows is a fabulous little romance that stretches out over half a year or so which means you'll have to wait until about two thirds of the way through to get to the Christmas stuff.
I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Luke E. Andreen He did a great job, but I really do prefer a female narrator -- especially for the heroine 'voice.' Still, I enjoyed the listen and will be continuing with this Rodeo Romance series -- all Christmas based with a rodeo cowboy theme! Yeehaw!
I ended up quite enjoying this one. At times the story was a little unbelievable but I liked both characters and was grateful that the relationship took time to develop. Cute story.
Content: Clean (no language but there is passionate kissing and some mild innuendo) Source: Kindle Unlimited
This one is a mixed bag for me. While I liked the characters well enough and the plot was okay, the book went on way too long. I kept checking to see how much I had left and would groan. Several times, I just knew I'd reached the HEA, only to find out I had several more hours left of the audio. This is a good example of a book going on after what should have been the end. The narrator was decent, not riveting. I would listen to him again, but I will not read anything thing else by Ms. Hatfield. Unfortuantely, this just was not my cup of tea. From looking at other reviews, many of them really loved this book. It just goe to show, reading is very subjective and what one person loves another, not so much. Happy reading!
If you are looking for a sweet and clean romance, slightly fluffy, but with no crudeness or sex, then this is the read for you. It is one of my favorite romances, with a western flavor, and Christmas related to boot.
Tate Morgan grew up on a ranch; it's his way of life. On top of that, he is a talented bronc rider taking awards on the rodeo circuit. As you read this story, you are either going to think to yourself, "Is this guy real? He's too good to be true" or "Ok, what's his game?" But it turns out that he's a genuinely nice guy who loves life and people. He's surrounded by women fans. Sometimes they get on his nerves because of their aggressiveness. He would rather do the chasing when it comes to finding one that would fit into his life. So far, he hasn't found one he can picture living with and having a family with. Then he meets Kenzie Beckett.
Kenzie Beckett is a little shy when it comes to cowboys. She's had some bad experiences. But secretly she really likes Tate Morgan once she gets to know him. The problem is she believes all cowboys are players. So when she thinks she sees evidence of that in Tate, she runs. The best part of the story is how they resolved this issue.
There's a lot of great humor in this story. That's one of my favorite parts of this book. I enjoy laughing, and the give and take Tate and Kenzie share is wonderful. And Tate's friends are great guys too. That's good writing on the part of the author.
From time to time I enjoy an uncomplicated plot, especially around the holidays. I find it enjoyable to read a more simple story between larger novels with complex plots and scenes, and non-fiction books. This fits very well in that category. If you enjoy a great, clean story with a feel good romance, a clear cut hero and heroine, a happily after, (and yeah, it's formulaic, which is OK) then I recommend this book for you.
I loved this book!!! This is only my 3rd book by Shanna Hatfield and I must say she is now a favorite author I can hardly wait to read more of Shanna's books!!! Kenzie is a bright beautiful smart career driven strong independent lady and Tate Morgan Rodeo Star Cowboy can't help being drawn to her. Can Tate break down all the defenses Kenzie has built around her heart??? Kenzie has sworn off Cowboys after having her life forever altered by cheating Cowboys. Tate will sure give all he's got if he can win the beautiful lady's heart and trust. Wonderful well written and pure enjoyable reading this book is not to be missed. A must read!!!
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by the author for review Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a sweet romance that had some twists and turns, not all good. A lot of the story was spent on the rodeo circuit which was interesting and made it down to earth. Tate, Cort, Huck and the others brought the rodeo to life, not all of it glamorous. Tate was an owner of a ranch but left it mostly in the hands of his manager since he decided to go pro on the rodeo circuit. Kenzie is a corporate trainer for Dew, a skin-care company. Their paths crossed at the airport and they struck up a conversation and the rest is history or is it? Megan is a good friend to Kenzie and Megan and her husband Owen are good friends of Tate so it’s surprising their paths never crossed at their get togethers. Tate’s dad, Kent, was pretty spry for a man in his 90’s, has all his faculties and gives some zingers to his son. He was a breath of fresh air and he and Kenzie formed an interesting friendship. I love Tate’s nickname for her, Dewdrop, and how they connected on so many levels. There was a playfulness to their friendship when Kenzie wasn’t jumping to conclusions and running away and sparks were flying and there were lots of chemistry between them. They seemed to get each other like others couldn’t.
There were secrets, rodeos, injuries, fans, family and friends, breakups, Christmas, travel, kisses, love and romance. Watching Kenzie take care of Tate after he’s injured was heartwarming but heartbreaking too since they spent so much time apart due to a misunderstanding that Kenzie did not want to hear an explanation for. She had her reasons for her stubbornness but Tate was clueless since she wouldn’t talk to him and held back a lot of things from her childhood. It was nice to see them get closure and also try to put the past behind them.
The epilogue gave nice closure to the story although it was sad. There was a recipe for Gingerbread Bars at the end which were mentioned throughout the story and was Tate’s favorite cookie. They look easy to make and sound delicious. I look forward to reading other books in this series which I was happy to see numbers five. There was an excerpt for book two, Wrestlin’ Christmas, which only whet my appetite for more. There were also blurbs for several of her other books.
Hatfield is a new to me author and I will be adding her books to my always growing TBR pile not only those in this series. I don’t know how her books never made it to my radar since most are holiday romances or books with cowboys as well as historicals, all genres that I love.
Twenty-seven-year-old Kenzie Beckett is a corporate trainer with Dew, a female cosmetic firm. Her executive position required that she traveled constantly. As fate would have it, she met a fellow passenger that was well acquainted with her best friend Megan Montgomery. Tate Morgan, a part-time rancher, and full-time rodeo star, also spent much of his time traveling. At twenty-nine, Tate was happy with his life but meeting Kenzie made him realize that one major element was missing. Inner feelings and unsettling emotions caused him to consider Kenzie as that missing constituent. Dew Drop, a play on words and Tate’s pet name for Kenzie, wasn’t into cowboys. Past experiences caused her to steer far away from cowboys and their ilk. She wasn’t prepared for Tate’s tenacity and his electrifying effect his touch and presence had on her. Another plus he couldn’t deny was that Kenzie seemed to be his lucky talisman as since meeting her he finished every bronco ride. You may think that a summer break lasting seventy-eight days, eighteen days, and twenty-six minutes would cool the passion between these two almost lovers. Talking on the phone or texting wasn’t like a face to face liaison. As if no time had passed, their mutual attraction continues to grow and continues to develop and expand. Past baggage and closet ghosts have a way of affecting the future and this is the case with Kenzie. If you expect coitus to slowly erupt, as could be expected by a man that is used to riding bareback, you will be disappointed. This is pure vanilla. Family and Christian values take a major role in this cute romance. It is nice to read a romance that can avoid salacious scenes but can combined love and passion, without steamy sex scenes.
I grew up in Texas (El Paso) and am no stranger to rodeos, but I must admit that I’ve thought little about them since moving to Europe forty years ago. I find this story refreshing as the rodeo angle adds something new to the worn-out romance stories. The title would suggest that this story would be a December holiday season book, but the Yule Tide season remains a mist in the background, making this a year around tale of country romance and love.
“I don’t make a habit of becoming friends with people I randomly meet at the airport.” Running from love, Kenzie Beckett has been burned by one too many cowboys. Now gun-shy, she runs from relationships, pushing away before she gets hurt again. Handsome, sweet and sexy Tate Morgan lost his heart to the gorgeous businesswoman he met at the airport. “She was everything Tate never realized he was looking for in a woman.” This is a sweet story of faith and forgiveness, filled with fun twists and turns. I enjoyed the solid, loyal friendships, the brotherhood on the rodeo circuit. Courtly Kent stole my heart, while stalker Darcy added a shocking moment. While this is a clean read, it is chock full of sizzling kisses, passion, and romance. This is the perfect story to keep you warm on a cold winter night.
I liked the basic storyline and I even liked the characters quite a bit. The writing style is enjoyable... this was a quick and easy read for me.
But-- I did have one problem with it. I have to say that it was too sensual for my taste. Too much kissing, making out, & near sex scenes. As a Christian book, I would have lowered the rating. However, understanding that this book doesn't seem to be considered Christian fiction (even though that's how it's listed on Amazon), I went ahead and gave it 2.5 stars.
Just a heads-up: If you consider "clean" to be strictly no sex and no bad language, then this book is clean. I, however, prefer to go a bit beyond that. So I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't call it.... "squeaky clean". And it gets worse as the story progresses.
I just found Kenzie a fool. How can she blame the man she claims to love for what another woman does to him in a public place? I mean, seriously, I was just about to give this a two or even three star for characterisation, but then seeing this plot devise, the one meant to give them drama, so obvious, so without substance, I got fed up. Sad to see such a lame turn to the tale. She wasn't willing to listen to him, and she allows her fears to rule her life. And the line, she was going to fly from her troubles, that just took the cake in my opinion. Of course there's going to be a happy ending, but truly, I just couldn't read more after this awful plot twist. A pity because I was starting to like them both.
Books are a passion of mine, some are engaging, some are heartbreaking, and then some are so comforting you knew you were meant to take their journey. The same can be said about the authors, some really satisfy, while others miss the mark. Enter Shanna Hatfield into my library of books and I’ve found a true winner. She not only comforts, her books intrigues me, and fills my heart with satisfaction and great joy. A Christmas Cowboy is my 7th book by her and might possibly be my favorite to date. Tate and Kenzie have captivated my love and devotion. Their journey to find one another is how “happy ever after” stories are meant to be told. A beautiful love story.
Let me just tell you I cold not get enough of this book. I am now a fangirl of Shanna's. Tate Morgan has got to be the hottest and most genuine cowboy that I have ever come across. Although this book was a bit lengthy it was perfect. The words and story line just simply flowed. I didn't want to put the book down. A sweet and wonderful clean romance that anyone can read and enjoy. I am so ready to one-click man more from this author. Superb writing!
I'd been wanting to read this book for a while and by the time I finished it, I wondered why I hadn't picked it up sooner! I enjoyed the story very much and I'm a big fan of both Tate and Kenzie. I liked how Shanna had the characters meet in the beginning - very unique and memorable. From that first meeting until the end, the book was a page turner. I have to say, it also made me want to attend the Pendleton Round-Up myself some day!
One of the longer Christmas romances on my Christmas romance marathon. It was well written, clean contemporary romance, but long. I'm also not a rodeo story fan. I also thought the "secret" at the end didn't make sense. However, I did enjoy the book. The characters were likeable. And for the most part, I enjoy reading stories that give a lot of details, and that's Shanna Hatfield's writing style.
I have completely fallen in love with Shanna Hatfield's writing this year. I've read a lot by her this month as I challenged myself to read nothing but Christmas books for the month of December. I wanted to read 31, one for each day, but I'm exceeding that and one reason why is all of Shanna's amazing Christmas stories! I look forward to continue reading her work in the new year and beyond!
I love those cowboys. The heroine is sassy, independent and strong, yet leary and untrusting of cowboys. The cowboy is strong, hot, a great bronc rider, and all-around good guy. Can he break down her barriers and make her trust again? Read to see. Highly recommend.
While this had Hatfield's trademark great characters, this story could have used some editing. The story had lots of good parts but seemed to meander between them. However, it was still a nice read.
I was so excited to be read a great book that when they talked about where they were I knew where they were talking about. This was a great love story. Special thanks for writing a great book and tell the world about the Tri-Cities.
A clean romance that will have you smiling, laughing, hurting and loving along with the characters. Kenzie and Tate are loveable characters who demonstrate love takes patience, virtue and willingness to achieve things together.
I was looking for a Christmas story to read and came across this book on Book Pub. Very predictable Christmas romance but good light read. The restraint of this cowboy and his girlfriend is a bit unbelievable. Story was pretty drawn out.
Kenzie Beckett is a corporate trainer with Dew, a skincare company. As a frequent traveler, she’s seen Tate Morgan, a rodeo star a few times at the airport. While she’s waiting to board the flight to Denver she meets him again. This time they introduce themselves and get to know each other.
Loved the story line but got tired of the repeated references to her delicious scent and his masculine scent. I mean, enough already! Really did like the story though so hard to give a critical review. I'll definitely try another book by this author...
Tate and Kenzie meet in the airport several times as they both pursue their respective careers. Will the bronc riding cowboy and the direct sales trainer find a way to be together or will the groupies that follow the rodeo circuit break them apart?
This is a classic romance with holiday undertones. I even cried once! For sure, it's one of Shanna's best books to date, and I recommend it as a good light read.