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Mistletoe Cowboy
In this heartwarming story of holiday romance, one cowboy is ready for love—whether he knows it yet or not . . .
Horse whisperer Parker doesn't drink, smoke, or gamble, and he doesn't have much to do with women, either. But that may change when a runaway Palomino leads him to his small Colorado town’s new schoolteacher. Widowed Katy, and her sweet daughter, are new in Benton. But while the little girl can’t even ride yet, Katy’s not new to horses or ranching. It seems she and Parker have a few things in common—including hearts in need of healing. With Christmas around the corner, could kisses under the mistletoe bring the handsome wrangler the gift of his very own family?
Horse whisperer Parker doesn't drink, smoke, or gamble, and he doesn't have much to do with women, either. But that may change when a runaway Palomino leads him to his small Colorado town’s new schoolteacher. Widowed Katy, and her sweet daughter, are new in Benton. But while the little girl can’t even ride yet, Katy’s not new to horses or ranching. It seems she and Parker have a few things in common—including hearts in need of healing. With Christmas around the corner, could kisses under the mistletoe bring the handsome wrangler the gift of his very own family?
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2021
154 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 books3,099 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 3, 2021
"Mistletoe Cowboy" is the story of Katy and Parker.
A sweet holiday romance between a single mother and a horse rancher. I have to be honest, I was a bit confused about what was happening and had to reread a few things to times to get a gist of what was happening. Short and snoozy.
Safe
2/5
A sweet holiday romance between a single mother and a horse rancher. I have to be honest, I was a bit confused about what was happening and had to reread a few things to times to get a gist of what was happening. Short and snoozy.
Safe
2/5
December 22, 2021
Katy leaves the East Coast to return to her grandmother's ranch and raise her daughter. She and her daughter, Teddie catch the eye of the local horse whisperer when they take in a rescued horse. Misunderstandings crop up when the former owner of the horse wants him back and Katy calls the lawyer that settled her husband's estate. Her husband had passed away six months ago and that's when Katy decided to make a change. Falling in love with the horse whisperer next door wasn't in her plans but fate had other ideas.
This was a sweet story about a horse, a little girl, and how they brought a family to the horse whisperer who wanted one. I immediately liked Teddie, she sometimes seemed like an old soul in a young body. Her mom made mistakes but what parent is perfect. She made up for them though. Parker wasn't Ms. Palmer's typical male character. He wasn't mean to the heroine, at least not like in previous novels. It was refreshing in that way. I like Ms. Palmer's books and this one was no exception.
This was a sweet story about a horse, a little girl, and how they brought a family to the horse whisperer who wanted one. I immediately liked Teddie, she sometimes seemed like an old soul in a young body. Her mom made mistakes but what parent is perfect. She made up for them though. Parker wasn't Ms. Palmer's typical male character. He wasn't mean to the heroine, at least not like in previous novels. It was refreshing in that way. I like Ms. Palmer's books and this one was no exception.
October 16, 2021
I enjoyed this short story very much, but it felt too hurried in the end. Parker and Katy are very much interested in becoming more than friends, but take it slowly, until Katy decides to take the word of her sleezy lawyer and have Teddy's horse put to death. Katy realizes that she made a terrible mistake with her decision when she has alienated both Teddy and Parker. She turns things around and supports Teddy, so Parker and Katy make up and decide to marry and have another child, in one short conversation. It seems to me that if they wanted to take things slowly, that decision wouldn't have come about in a make-up discussion. I think that the author rushed this one through in the end. I am disappointed after having read another of her books and loving it so much, to have followed it up with a new one like this that is so rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2023
DNF at 5 percent.
At three pages in, I felt like I was drowning in exposition. Skimming through to page 10, I finally found the first bit of dialogue. TEN PAGES of nothing but third-person POV background info about the hero: his personal history, his family relationships, his professional experience, his likes and dislikes. So. Much. Exposition.
At three pages in, I felt like I was drowning in exposition. Skimming through to page 10, I finally found the first bit of dialogue. TEN PAGES of nothing but third-person POV background info about the hero: his personal history, his family relationships, his professional experience, his likes and dislikes. So. Much. Exposition.
August 11, 2022
After her husband dies, Katy and her young daughter move back to her grandmother's ranch which is in need of some repairs. But Katy knows that they are safe there and they need a new start. Teddie is her 11 year old daughter who has adopted an abused horse after the owner was arrested for the abuse. Teddie loves the horse but doesn't know much about them. When the horse gets out, Teddie runs after it and that's when she meets Parker. Parker is a ranch hand and horse trainer for a nearby ranch and he's good friends with the wealthy ranch owner.
Parker is talking with Teddie when her mom finds her and they all talk about the horse. Parker and Katy meet for the first time and Parker decides to help Katy out around her ranch and with the horse, and training Teddie in what to do with it. Parker and Katy spend more time together and even though both of them are slow to give in to what they feel because of past hurts in both of their lives, they do get closer.
Of course there's a misunderstanding that comes between them because they don't have great communication skills and don't talk. So they have to find a way to work that out. The one problem I had with this book was that Teddie acted much more mature than a 11 year old would.
I've been reading this series for such a long time but somehow missed this one. I know the wealthy ranch owner Parker works for and read he and his wife's story a while back. After reading the books in this series for so long, you feel like you know everyone and how they're going to react at times.
I always know what author to go to when I want a feel good romance. I enjoyed this story.
Parker is talking with Teddie when her mom finds her and they all talk about the horse. Parker and Katy meet for the first time and Parker decides to help Katy out around her ranch and with the horse, and training Teddie in what to do with it. Parker and Katy spend more time together and even though both of them are slow to give in to what they feel because of past hurts in both of their lives, they do get closer.
Of course there's a misunderstanding that comes between them because they don't have great communication skills and don't talk. So they have to find a way to work that out. The one problem I had with this book was that Teddie acted much more mature than a 11 year old would.
I've been reading this series for such a long time but somehow missed this one. I know the wealthy ranch owner Parker works for and read he and his wife's story a while back. After reading the books in this series for so long, you feel like you know everyone and how they're going to react at times.
I always know what author to go to when I want a feel good romance. I enjoyed this story.
June 9, 2024
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brian Hutchinson. I generally like Diana Palmer, although too many of her books (esp. the older ones) have basically the same premise with the Hero being an older, sexually savvy, and disgustingly insulting & mean man (who smokes-ewww) picking on and overpowering a young, sexually innocent woman. All of the earlier books seem to be narrated by Todd McLaren (who voices the men to sound 20 years older than they are and almost always voices the women so they sound like screechy cartoon characters). This is Parker’s and Katy’s story, and it’s lovely. Brian Hutchinson’s narration is so much more fitting except for his habit of much too often not dropping his voice at the end of a sentence (which people naturally do). At some places in the book, his reading becomes a little sing-songy (but still SO much better than Todd McLaren). So this is a book I will enjoy re-reading.
June 16, 2023
Back to Benton Colorado and Parker's story. He is a half Crow, horse whisperer and an astrophysicist . He has appeared in several other Benton stories. He had loved and lost his fiancee, when she died, with their unborn child while he was in the military. He finally meets a woman that he could see future with, Katy and her adorable daughter Teddie. She recently lost her husband who was a military doctor, and moved to the home that her husband had inherited. So two people get a second chance. this is a nice clean cowboy story from Diana Palmer.
July 13, 2023
Short and snoozy, but with a lot of repeats. I get annoyed by it but, I will just skip those paragraph sometimes I feel like writers are now just rewriting to fill pages. Don't get me wrong, this book was very easy to read and it will keep you reading to the next page. She is one of my favorite authors. I believe I have read this book twice now. So, that tells you it's an interesting book. It doesn't go into details about sex like all these other romance novels thing they need to. It keeps it private with suggestions of what they might be up. Great for a teenager that enjoys romantic books.
Read
October 21, 2021Teddie had her very own horse!
Katy was a war widow with a daughter to raise. It was a comfort to move back to her grandmother's ranch. The home was worn and in need of repair and a family. Here in this place was the vast memories of safety and happiness. With a rescued horse, Parker the local horse trainer, and a job teaching, Katy now felt at home with a future. Loved the book, enjoyed the writing and especially felt the caring of animals.
Katy was a war widow with a daughter to raise. It was a comfort to move back to her grandmother's ranch. The home was worn and in need of repair and a family. Here in this place was the vast memories of safety and happiness. With a rescued horse, Parker the local horse trainer, and a job teaching, Katy now felt at home with a future. Loved the book, enjoyed the writing and especially felt the caring of animals.
November 24, 2023
Two things REALLY bothered me about this book:
#1 This book has NOTHING to do about Christmas! I'm assuming the book never sold so at the VERY end of the book they added on a reference to kissing under the mistletoe so it could be sold as a holiday book. The only reason I read the book was its listing as a Christmas book.
#2 The commercial for Elon Musk (who I detest) in the middle of the book
#1 This book has NOTHING to do about Christmas! I'm assuming the book never sold so at the VERY end of the book they added on a reference to kissing under the mistletoe so it could be sold as a holiday book. The only reason I read the book was its listing as a Christmas book.
#2 The commercial for Elon Musk (who I detest) in the middle of the book
December 21, 2022
Great story
Great story where a horse brings the greatest of gifts. Always love a hot, strong cowboy who stands his ground. Being Native American makes him so much better. Taking up for an abused animal and a child makes him a hero to me but I wouldn't expect anything else from a soldier. Love the growth Katy shows.
Great story where a horse brings the greatest of gifts. Always love a hot, strong cowboy who stands his ground. Being Native American makes him so much better. Taking up for an abused animal and a child makes him a hero to me but I wouldn't expect anything else from a soldier. Love the growth Katy shows.
December 24, 2022
Mistletoe Cowboy by Diana Palmer – There is more than meets the eye to the local horse whisperer, but widowed mom Katy is grateful to him for helping her daughter. But a little Christmas magic may be in the air around these two lonely hearts! Diana Palmer delivers another sweet Western romance! Happy Holiday Reading!
January 5, 2022
Great Book!!
I enjoyed the characters and the book was very well written. There was no fowl language. This I enjoy. I would recommend this author to any one that likes a good clean well written Book.
I enjoyed the characters and the book was very well written. There was no fowl language. This I enjoy. I would recommend this author to any one that likes a good clean well written Book.
May 23, 2023
This book is so sweet
This is a wonderful book. Wonderful characters. I just loved that there are kiddos and animals in it. Parkers is a sweetheartI highly recommend it. All of Diana's books are so worth owning.
This is a wonderful book. Wonderful characters. I just loved that there are kiddos and animals in it. Parkers is a sweetheartI highly recommend it. All of Diana's books are so worth owning.
December 28, 2023
Christmas Joy
Very good short story about the meaning and joy of being a family at that time of year when love should abound. Small town characters who know and support each other. It might seem to be too simple the way things worked out. But love is often that simple.
Very good short story about the meaning and joy of being a family at that time of year when love should abound. Small town characters who know and support each other. It might seem to be too simple the way things worked out. But love is often that simple.
July 7, 2024
I should pay more attention to page count. Though a short story can be amazing, this felt rushed in the middle as a means to the end. Barely dating, one minor conflict of a misunderstanding and the next step is marriage? It just didn't work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2024
Such a cute book! It was a quick and easy read filled with love, excitement and a touch of spicy heat in the mix. I noticed the author reuses some names and words from her previous book that I read but nonetheless, the storyline was great and so sweet.
September 29, 2021
Short but very sweet
Wonderful story line great romance just a bit shorter than what I am used to from Diana Palmer. Recomend is a clean romance.
Wonderful story line great romance just a bit shorter than what I am used to from Diana Palmer. Recomend is a clean romance.
October 1, 2021
Steady and Strong
Diana Palmer does it again
Short but sweet. The love between Katy, Parker and Teddie encompassed Bartholomew. What a satisfying story.
Diana Palmer does it again
Short but sweet. The love between Katy, Parker and Teddie encompassed Bartholomew. What a satisfying story.
October 30, 2021
Christmas
Always a treat to read a book by Diana Palmer. The story about a little girl and her horse who won a new start
Always a treat to read a book by Diana Palmer. The story about a little girl and her horse who won a new start
November 15, 2021
Be Kind to Animals
Not my favorite Diana Palmer novel. It was an OK holiday story to read over a couple of days. Enjoy!
Not my favorite Diana Palmer novel. It was an OK holiday story to read over a couple of days. Enjoy!
December 30, 2021
A short and sweet Christmas novella
January 19, 2022
Great book
Diana Palmer always delivers a good heartwarming story. I have so many of her books. Don't know exactly how many but a bunch.
Diana Palmer always delivers a good heartwarming story. I have so many of her books. Don't know exactly how many but a bunch.
February 2, 2022
Nancy
Fun story and great characters and storyline. Interesting topics and good information about serious issues. Thanks for the cute story.
Fun story and great characters and storyline. Interesting topics and good information about serious issues. Thanks for the cute story.
March 2, 2022
Sweet story. Quick go read. Clean romance.
September 30, 2022
Very entertaining short story that had all of the feels. Well written, characters were well developed and the storyline kept your interest.
November 30, 2022
Horse lovers will love this one.
December 1, 2022
Good stories
Can not stop reading Diane Palmerston books love them !! These books are so truthful stories ! You can see the communities as real towns
Can not stop reading Diane Palmerston books love them !! These books are so truthful stories ! You can see the communities as real towns
July 18, 2023
3.5* an enjoyable romance
March 13, 2024
Katy and Parker
I loved this short read by Diana Palmer! Can’t wait to read the story about Matthews and his rescued wolf.
I loved this short read by Diana Palmer! Can’t wait to read the story about Matthews and his rescued wolf.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews