Christmas at Home

Spikes & Spurs #5

by Carolyn Brown

'Tis the season for:

- A matchmaking grandma on a long-disantance mission.
- Mistletoe temptation in every doorway.
- A sexy cowboy with a killer smile.

When Gran Presely agrees to sell Creed Riley the Rockin' C Ranch for a song at Christmastime, he can hardly believe his good fortune. There's just one little catch - her tantalizing granddaughter Sage is part of the deal...

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Western Romance, Cowboy Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!

Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.

I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.

I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.

Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!

I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.

Happy reading!

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars to Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown.

I have many books by this author on my TBR. For a couple of years I have been adding them but only read my first book now. Why? I really don't know. Since this is the time of year I start reading Christmas romances, I made it a point to "dig" down my list and read one of the older ones I added. Of course I came across more than a few by Carolyn Brown. Read the blurb, read the book and here we are.

Sage and Creed.....
I can say with complete honesty that I loved Creed from the first moment he appeared on the pages. He is actually not the type of hero I am used to reading. He was not a possessive, arrogant, alpha. Creed was kind and caring. He was considerate and a gentleman. He was no wimp, that is for sure. Creed was a cowboy through and through. From, "yes ma'am" to "thank you darlin'"he was perfectly sexy and charming. I also found his character to be strong and confident; not afraid to go fo what he wanted.

AND it was only a short time before Creed discovered he wanted Sage.

Sage was not my favorite heroine. I'll be honest. I didn't like her very much. My opinion of her stayed steady throughout the whole book, I'm sorry to say. That said, I don't have to love both hero and/or heroine to enjoy a book. I don't want to say too much about why I didn't like her because that may end up spoiling some of this book for you. The truth is I'm not even sure I could pick one thing that irked me about her; it was a general feeling I had through the book.

That said...I really enjoyed the premise and plot. There was a bit of angst, some emotional, and even some humorous moments. Of course the secondary characters were perfect. Even the four legged ones. Especially the four legged ones! ;)

Sage and Creed are stuck together at Sage's grandmother's ranch during a snow storm. Creed is there because he is buying the ranch. Sage calls the ranch home and is determined not to let her grandmother sell it to Creed or anyone. Unfortunately, her grandmother has left to visit her sister in Pennsylvania and Sage and Creed are alone together in Texas. Hmmm....sounds like a bit of matchmaking may be going on.

Creed and Sage learn quickly to work with each other. They slowly become friends and then something more. But what will happen when Sage's grandmother comes home to sign the ranch over to Creed? Will their happy little bubble burst?

The pace of this book was steady although it took me extra time to finish due to the near 400 pages. Still I enjoyed it and will definitely read another of Carolyn Brown's Christmas romances in the next coming weeks. I am looking forward to it.

This is my honest and unbiased opinion. Thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! 2020 has been one of the weirdest years ever. Can’t complain about the weather, we had a perfect Summer which extended all the way to mid Fall. If there was no pandemic, it would have been flawless. I cannot deny that COVID-19 took a toll on my mental health and I had to find ways to cheer myself up more than one time. One way to do that is to read books that are light, sexy, or funny. CHRISTMAS AT HOME by Carolyn Brown is one of those books. The story is sassy, the characters sexy, and the ending sensational. I love the tension between Sage and Creed, but I also love the animal rescue aspect. It is a quick read that will lift your spirit.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you, RAINCOAST BOOKS for sending me a final copy of this sexy romance novel. CHRISTMAS AT HOME by Carolyn Brown is available at your favourite bookstore.

🎅🏻📕 CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Are you looking for the perfect gift for a book lover? Look no more and go check out the beautiful book sleeves and bookmarks available at @readinginthecountryshop. Their products are rightly priced, and shipping is free in Canada. Click here to access their Etsy store. Don't forget to use my code: TWODOGS25 and save! Shipping is FREE in Canada! 📕🤶🏻

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[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover & Title - five out of five.
Favorite Character - Sage

I want Creed Riley for my Christmas present.

No truer words have ever been written.
This book was my brightness on a cold, dark autumnal day. It is a real pick me up of a story. I would go as far as to compare it to the literary version of a cuddle.
I loved the characters, Creed is one sexy cowboy & Sage is one creative Miz. The relationship between them is a slow but beautiful build. The author makes their love very realistic. The story is sweet & made me smile. I loved how it all worked out & the ending was heart warming. I am normally such a Grinch about corny Christmas stories but this story really worked for me.

I would recommend this book & I would read more by the author.

Click for more of my reviews

[Simply Love Book Reviews]

Gennie's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

5 Stars

Carolyn Brown hits it outta the park once again with Mistletoe Cowboy, the fifth installment of herSpikes and Spurs series. This book is focused more on the two main characters than the others in this series, but I love it just as much as the others.

In this installment, we meet Sage Presley, an artist who has sworn off commitment and men because they never stay. Sage is a relatable heroine who has a quirky and fun way of looking at the world, but there were times when I wanted to shake her. Creed Riley is the hero of this tale. If the name sounds familiar that’s because Creed is one of Ace’s (One Hot Cowboy Wedding) brothers. Creed is everything I love in a good cowboy hero: sweet, hot, alpha and loves family!

Sage knows that her grandmother has talked about selling the ranch, but she NEVER thought that would actually happen! So, after getting a call that she was serious, Sage rushes home to change her mind, blizzard be damned! Little does Sage know that granny is already gone and that Creed has moved in on a trial basis. What ensues over the next snow-filled days is an intricate dance of two people understandably gun-shy when it comes to relationships. There are many fun-filled moments that include an ugly dog, a cat and kittens, and meddling older women!

Ms. Brown paints a wonderful picture of the unique beauty of West Texas, especially that of the Palo Duro Canyon. She also weaves together a sweet story of love, family and community. If you enjoy cowboy romance with a hot male and a sassy heroine, then this story if for you!

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an ARC review of Mistletoe Cowboy and I absolutely loved it! She has one sassy cowgirl Sage and one hunkalish cowboy Creed (one of Ace's brothers)and sparks fly between them as they are stranded together in a blizzard. Both dealing with commitment issues they face off and try and get along and work the ranch but for different reasons. She started out not wanting to like him but he somehow he grow on her and find a way into her heart. Creed wants the ranch to have his own place but starts to care about Sage and doesn't want to separate her from the only family she has left, her grandmother. When they come across two abandoned pets and start to care for them it opens Sage heart a little bit more since she never wanted to have pets growing up. Sage is an artist and works on her paintings while she is inspired by the mistletoe that Creed keeps bringing in from the outside. I wouldn't mind seeing for myself because they were sound so beautiful. Things work out for Creed and Sage and I couldn't be happier. I read that she hopes to return to the canyon and tell more stories and I do hope that Alice Pierce is one of them. I am a fan of Carolyn Brown and her Spikes and Spurs series and think this story is a great addition to the others.

[Amy Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is the season for Holiday romance! I enjoy curling up by our fireplace with a roaring fire, cup of cocoa, and a sexy romance to read. I was looking forward to reading Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown this holiday season because I usually love anything by this author.

Unfortunately, this was not one of my favorites by this author. I couldn't get into the plot and Sage was not a favorite character for me. She was snotty and stand offish. I just couldn't bring myself to care about her turmoil and personality. Creed was a little more likable, but he was still on the dull end of the spectrum. When these two are put together in an unlikely situation, the chemistry fizzled and never really took off for me. This book has a bunch of stereotypes including speech that kept me from truly enjoying it.

While I consider this a light and fluffy read for the holidays, I don't consider it a feel good romance that filled that reading hunger I was looking for. It wasn't a book I couldn't stop reading and it wasn't one I kept wanting to finish until the last page. Others might enjoy this type of read, but I wanted a little more substance and chemistry in my reading.

[Wminbc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving it so far...Creed sounds so good...the man is hot, big, and can cook!

My review was up a while back...I should find the link for y'all

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFed at page 175

I just can't finish this. Just the thought of having to trudge through the other half of this book makes me want to rip my eyeballs out. It's just so boring. I can't decide if the characters are dull or if I just don't like them. Either way I have zero emotional connection with Sage or Creed, and therefore have literally zero fucks to give about anything that happens in this book. I tried, I really tried, but I just can't envision this getting any better for me. If anything it'll only get worse, so for my own sanity I'm not going to continue. I was so sure cowboys would be my thing. Maybe pure romance novels are just not for me. Or maybe I just started with a bad one. All I know is I'm glad to be done with this and it needs to leave my house immediately. Maybe I'll "forget" it in a public place, and hopefully someone will pick it up and give it the love every book deserves.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creed Riley wants his own ranch. When he steps foot on the Rockin' C Ranch he finally feels peace. It feels like he has come home. Grand, the owner, has agreed to sell it to him for a very good price but there are some stipulations. He has to live there for three weeks to see if it is really what he wants and there always has to be a place for her granddaughter, Sage, for as long as she wants.

Sometimes when you meet the 'one' it doesn't sink right in. It may take some time. But when it feels right you just know it. Follow Creed and Sage on their journey to a happy ever after. To say I enjoyed every moment of his book is an understatement. I was sad for it to end. Try it. You just might like it.

[Ellen Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Home

As with all of Carolyn Brown's books about cowboys and the women they fall for, I loved it. Sage and Creed were a fun couple and I enjoyed the animals also.

[Sandy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep telling myself every holiday season I’m going to read more Christmas stories. So when I ran across Carolyn Brown’s latest, I decided to start there. Despite a couple of issues, you do get the feeling of the season, lots of snow, chopping down and decorating the Christmas tree, all along with a sexy cowboy any woman would love to spend a quiet, warm evening on the sofa in front of a roaring fireplace.


Aside from Creed Riley, our hero of the book, I also enjoyed the mistletoe theme that’s weaved throughout the story. But first thing’s first. Creed has just made an agreement to buy the Rockin’ C Ranch in Duro Canyon from Sage’s grandmother. He’s been looking for the perfect ranch to call his own, and since the price is right, even with an odd stipulation, Creed thinks he’s found just the place. There’s a blizzard in the making, and if he’s lucky, he might have a few more days to himself in his new home before the terror of the canyon shows up.

Of course, his luck doesn’t hold out. Sage does whatever it takes to get through the storm and to the ranch before the brunt of it hits. She just makes it. Determined to talk her grandmother out of selling their home, she doesn’t realize she’s too late. Her grandmother has made the deal and it’s Creed she finds in the house instead. I’m happy to say that Ms. Brown doesn’t prolong the antagonism between these characters overmuch. That’s been my one beef in a lot of her books; the meanness just goes on and on. But this time, once Sage gets to know Creed and because they’re stranded while the blizzard rages, their attraction takes center stage much sooner.

Sage is an artist, a very talented and successful one at that. She’s now got plenty of time to set up her easel and create more for a future exhibit. Seeing the mistletoe that Creed has tracked into the house gives her the inspiration she needs to start a new collection. I really enjoyed this part of the story. Starting with the mistletoe, Sage’s ideas come from the paint gods, and what she comes up with is perfect for the holiday season. Creed also encourages her when it comes to her talent, something she’s not had outside her family. Sage is learning very quickly what a gentleman Creed is, how he looks at life and how he lives that life. What she learns she can’t help but like, but the man is still after her family home.

I do like Creed a lot. He’s the perfect cowboy gentleman from a loving home. He knows what he wants and he goes for it. Sage included. It does take a little bit to warm up to Sage, since she’s the one with the attitude against Creed in the beginning. This is a basic format in Ms. Brown’s books, which makes it feel as though you’re reading the same story, just different characters. So it’s nice this book doesn’t take that format too far. That being said, Sage does grow on you after a while once she sees what’s most important in her life.

One thing that makes reading Ms. Brown’s stories a little off kilter is her dialogue. While she has grown a bit in the areas I’ve already mentioned, dialogue is something that’s not grown at all. The main problem is the non-use of contractions more often. They are used at the beginning of a sentence and then suddenly they’re not used and the reading becomes stiff and awkward. And people just don’t talk to each other the way these characters do. A lot of the dialogue is used for information dumping at times. There’s also a lot of abrupt topic changes in conversations, which is disconcerting. I keep hoping Ms. Brown will take advantage of her RWA affiliations to help in this area.

But another area where she’s grown as an author is the love scenes. In early books those scenes didn’t go very far, to the extent where you felt a tad cheated when she closed the bedroom door on you after all that sexual innuendo and tension. However, in this book we’re more a part of the bed play, getting to know these characters even more, and that adds an extra layer to the entire story.

So if you’re looking for a Christmas read, try this one. Despite those couple of issues, it’s fun and has several nice ideas that make up for the missteps. A nice surprise, indeed.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com

[Jessica Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandma is ALWAYS right. Except Sage Presley wants to fight her Grand tooth and nail to keep from selling the family ranch. A snow storm of the century takes place, but that doesn’t stop Sage from driving in it to give Grand a piece of her mind. When she gets there, she finds a tall cowboy instead. Both Creed and Sage are as stubborn as it comes. Creed insists the ranch will be his.
With the weather, they get snowed in. Will they come to be friends, enemies, or even lovers? Turning the pages will help you find out. Couldn’t put this down! Fast and delighted treat to read for the holidays!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Sage Presley is seeing red. Her grandma made a deal with a cowboy she doesn't know. He just got to take care of Rockin' C ranch for the next 3 weeks and when Ada come back the day before Christmas, he can buy the ranch. Rockin' C is Sage home since she was a toddler and lost both her parents in two different accidents. She come home on a snowstorm when there's no electricity, no heat and roads are closing. When she wakes up the next day, there's a stranger in her house. She's not happy being stuck with him, no matter how sexy he is.

Creed Riley can't believe his luck. Ada Presley is ready to sell her ranch for a pretty low price and he already have plan to improve business. So what if there's a clause for the sale saying that her granddaughter can live on the ranch as long as she wants. They'll just have to share space,right ? Bickering and bumping into one another is just an other benefit, no ? But what about this crazy attraction ? It's only because of Christmas time and the blizzard and being in close quarters with the beauty, he try to tell himself. He's gonna be an old bachelor , just like his uncle, he thinks.

Sage have no plan to get attached either. She have commitment/abandonment issues and is happy with her job as a painter. She exposed in a galery and her work is going well. But how can she stop from falling for his sexy smile, his mesmerizing green eyes, his skills in the kitchen, the fact he have no trouble helping with the chores and his kindness to animals ? Because Sage won't have to share her home just with Creed; a stray dog break into the house and will soon be joined by a momma cat and her newborns. All those wonderful people will worm their way into her heart.

What Sage and Creed don't realize is that it's part of Sage's grandma plan to match them and she's never wrong about this kind of things.


Even if this author sometimes use the same ideas, it's never boring and always feel different.There's no bullshit with her characters. When they're mad, they say it and clear the air. The same when they're happy or sad. I like that there's never a lack of communication and no misunderstanding between the protagonists. Creed embody that perfectly. He's honnest, direct and good-hearted. Carolyn Brown makes everything seem like fun. And by everything I also mean things that are not supposed to be fun or that I wouldn't enjoy like :
- Rise up at 4 or 5AM
-Going to church every sunday
-Household chores and hardworking all day with the ranch's chores

It's sweet when they're naming the animals and it may be an overused idea but it's cute that they're always interrupted when they kiss or are about to. It's sweet that the heroine makes this cowboy wants to have a family and that he build doghouse and cathouse. And it's always a delight to read the romantic lines the hero tell.

Carolyn Brown have lots of good series, but the Spikes & Spurs is my favorite.

[Book Reading Gals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Mistletoe Cowboy

Series: Spikes & Spurs bk 5

Author: Carolyn Brown

Genre: Contemporary/ Western Romance

Commitment! It made Sage run the other way. It made Creed shudder. But Sage's granny, the Widow Presley, was determined to get her granddaughter a cowboy for Christmas. And who better than Creed, the man interested in purchasing the widow's Rockin' C Ranch?

The fact that a three-day blizzard was blowing in just made things all the better. A person can't run from commitment when they're snowed in, now can they?

Mistletoe Cowboy is book 5 in Brown’s Spikes and Spurs series. I was hooked from the first page to the last and didn’t want the book to end. I couldn’t put this book down.

This western romance set in Texas but parts of the story took place in Pennsylvania. There’s a hunky cowboy, a granddaughter who comes home to save their family ranch and a feisty grandma to boot. What’s not to love especially when there was immediate chemistry between the cowboy, Creed, and the granddaughter, Sage, they fought it as much as possible until they each realized what they were feeling. They were also very supportive of each other, even though they had just met, and tended to help each other whenever possible.

I loved the descriptions of everything the blizzard, the ranch, Sage’s paintings, the newly found pets and their kittens and puppies were so well described I felt like I was there. Feeling the cold and wind, sinking into the snow when having to go out to take care of the ranch animals, and feeling the warmth of the fire transported me. The plot and characters were fantastic. There was laughter, tears, angst, sorrow, happiness, fighting and then making up along with romance and love.

If you haven’t read books by Carolyn before, give her a try. You’ll be glad you did. She’s one of my favorite authors and her books will be added to my ever increasing TBR pile!

Favorite Quote: “I heard her voice again, Creed, and she’s fine.”
Creed pulled her to his chest and tipped her chin up with his fist. “Why wouldn’t she be? She’s doing exactly what she wants to do.” All the air left Sage’s lungs. She wanted her grandmother to come home and never leave again, but after only three days she didn’t want Creed to leave either. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to snuggle into his arms and listen to him describe her paintings to her. She couldn’t have it all and she only had until Christmas to decide what she wanted most.

Grade A+
Review by: Helen
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a really good example of when a book's rating has much more to do with intended audience than quality of the book.

Writing-wise, this book's about a 2.5 to a 3. Nothing to knock your socks off, fairly predictable, but it had its good moments. The dialogue was a little uneven (solid Texas drawl on the part of all the characters... except in spots where it sounded oddly formal), and there were a few bits that didn't ring true (it would make more sense for Sage to be all toe-curly about Creed's "sexy Texas drawl" if EVERYONE in the book didn't talk like he does. SHE talks like he does. She LIVES in Texas. Der.) I can sympathize with Sage having lost her parents young, but the way she clings to the apron strings starts to strain belief (at least to me). And Creed's not bad, but I really could've done without his patronizing brand of "manners." If some strange guy had just barged in and told me he now owned the family home I'd lived in most of my life and then handed me glurge like "darlin', if you want your face to freeze like that, then just hold on to that nasty look," he and his "sexy" Texas drawl would be out on his ass before he got his chiseled jaw closed.

As far as intended audience goes... it definitely wasn't me. It made me think of that line from Blues Brothers: "We've got both kinds [of music]! Country AND Western!" This book is waaaaay deep into country. My idea of a night out on the town does not include the Cracker Barrel, cowboy boots are not the height of fashion, and Precious Moments-style paintings are not my idea of fine art. If George Strait came on the radio, I'd change it quicker than a hog downin' corn pone. (And yes, the book is full of sayings like those, too.)

From the jacket description, I'd been looking for a bit of culture clash and H/h at loggerheads. There's some friction between the H/h to start, but most of it is Sage feeling bereft that her grandma's deserted her. There's no culture clash to speak of... it's all just a passel o' cowfolk gettin' cozy in a blizzard.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 out of 5. Those who love Carolyn Brown's work and this series in particular will be delighted with this newest addition to the series. If you read Book 4, the story about Ace Riley and Jasmine, you will enjoy this novel that highlights Ace's younger brother Creed, a man who is now wanting his own spread and who has entered into a conditional agreement with Widow Presley. However, contending with the widow is nothing compared to the anger and resentment to be endured from Sage Presley, successful artist and granddaughter to the owner, a woman whose roots go deep and who almost cannot endure the thought of someone other than her family owning the Rockin C. Yet her exposure to this very manly man whose heart is in the right place, who understands and appreciates family, but whose own personal past is as wounded as Sage's, does a number on her in many ways. It is a story of growth and redemption, of facing one's own fears and finding a way into the future. It is a quintessential Carolyn Brown novel and will be enjoyed by her fans and a delight to those who will discover her. A truly terrific read!

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cozy story! Snowed in at Christmas time with a sexy cowboy who is buying her Grandma's ranch for dirt cheap isn't exactly what Sage had in mind. She wanted the ranch! She was raised on the ranch! Sage believes that her grandmother has completely lost her mind! Little does Sage know that Grandma had very good reasons for selling her ranch to Creed Riley. This story has everything in it that I love about Carolyn Brown's style of writing. Conflict, hilarious banter, awkward situations that make you laugh until you cry, sexy cowboy, and always the funny old ladies!

[Rachel Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. I got an ARC of this from netgalley and since I try to write reviews on there, I decided to give it a try, but it was just too much drivel for me. I like a little more action and adventure (and a story) in my romance and this one was just too homey and cuddly. Not to mention the dialect got on my nerves. Not all people who come from a ranch or small town use "we was..." or "you was..." and that drove me crazy! STEREOTYPE! I didn't need that at all.

[Kori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, I would like to be snowed in on a ranch with nothing but a sexy cowboy to keep me company. I don't mind if this causes me to be bumped from next year's "nice" list. In fact, I prefer it that way.

[Ann (Noumena12) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why but it took me forever to get through this one. Very slow from the beginning to late middle of book in my opinion.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man I've had a run of bad luck lately.
Sage is a neurotic, commitment phobic mess. She also paints and somehow lands Creed.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. It fit my holiday mood. I really liked Creed; he's a gentleman. I liked Sage as well, although it took a little bit more time to warm up to her.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very boring story. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Luvmyfamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice edition to the spikes and spurs series. Sweet and innocent and just enough sexy to keep it interesting

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

another one I just couldn't really get into so I didn't finish it.. the heroine bugged me

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Sage Presley raced home to the ranch she grew up on in Palo Alto Canyon. Her grandmother's decision to sell the ranch blindsided her. Sage didn't want her to sell. It was the only home she had ever known. Sage barely made it home before the winter storm made travel impossible. When she entered the cabin, Sage noted the power was out and it appeared that her grandmother had already gone to bed. It was very late, so she decided to do the same and would talk to her grandmother in the morning.

Creed Riley awoke at daylight and the storm was still raging. It was forecast to stall over the canyon for several days. The electricity and phone service had gone out before he went to bed the night before. It was going to be a while before services would be restored. Miz Ada would be gone for three weeks and Creed agreed to care for the ranch and its animals while she was away. He would have plenty of time to learn about the property he had agreed to buy. When she returned, they would complete the sale. He assumed Miz Ada's granddaughter postponed coming to the ranch to protest the sale because of the severity of the storm. Creed was glad he wouldn't need to add dealing with an angry person to his long list of duties caring for the ranch.

This was a cute, feel-good story. Sage and Creed definitely butted heads when they first met. They were on opposing sides about selling the ranch and each had good reasons for the positions they held. Because they were snowed in, they worked together to care for the farm. Sage knew how everything worked on the ranch and Creed, who also grew up on a ranch, had good ideas on how to work differently because of the blizzard and its aftermath. The storm brought more than snow to the ranch. A dog and a cat, who appeared to be strays, came to the cabin during the blizzard and were brought inside. Both were pregnant and puppies and kittens were part of the story. By the time Sage's grandmother returned, Sage and Creed had fallen for each other. The story was a bit cheesy, but it worked. I was happy with how the story ended.

[Reading-for-life (Angela Sanford) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Home is a novel that will soften even the hardest of hearts! Sage Presley has always guarded her heart since it seems she loses anyone or anything that she loves with the exception of her grandmother, who has raised her since a little girl. When she learns her grandmother is selling her beloved ranch in Palo Duro Canyon, Sage is determined to change her mind, but when she gets there, she doesn't find her grandmother but handsome Creed Riley, the soon to be new owner. While her grandmother is visiting her sister in Pennsylvania, Sage is snowed in with the sexy Creed, during a massive snowstorm, without electricity or phone service. Will she be able to discourage Creed from buying her beloved ranch or will Sage lose more than her beloved home?
Author Carolyn Brown knows how to write a heartwarming novel. The magic from this amazing Authors words seems to leap off each page! I always look forward to reading more from this best selling author!

[Kristie Leaphart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at Home was a good Christmas story. Not Hallmark style has it has a bit of adult content, but similar.
Sage was raised by her grandmother in a ranch in the Palo Duro Canyon. She gets a call from her grandmother right before Christmas telling her she is going to sell the ranch to a rancher that showed up on her porch one day. Sage is furious and immediately heads to the ranch to talk her grandmother out of the sale, but is in for a rude awakening. When Sage gets to the ranch, he grandmother is gone and the new rancher in there in her place.
Creed thought the snow storm would keep Sage from making it to the ranch, but instead it snows them in together. The roads are closed and the power is out and Sage and Creed finds themselves working together. This Christmas is going to be one for the books!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Brown has done it again. Christmas at Home is a heartwarming holiday story. Sage Presley has been brought up on a ranch by her grandmother. Now she is in her twenties and her grandmother wants to sell the ranch. Sage is crushed when she hears this. She is dead set against it. Her grandmother told her she was selling it to Creed Riley with the stipulation that Sage can live there as long as she wants. Things are off to a rocky star between Sage and Creed. It's a great book to read and find out what happens with them. I loved every minute of this book and didn't want it to end.

[Merle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creed has a big, loving family. So why is he in Palo Duro Canyon, five hours from his family, contracting to buy a ranch of his own? He wants to make his own way and this ranch immediately feels like home. Sage is the owner's granddaughter and she is equally determined to send him packing. First comes the blizzard, then the homely dog who makes herself at home. The chores, Sage's painting, the new mama cat with three kittens, all make them closers than they intended. Being a Brown story, there is a lot of smart talk, between Creed and Sage, and between the two sisters, one of whom is the owner. Both widows, they speak their minds regularly. Well done.