Cowboy's Christmas Wife

Windy Creek Romances #4

by Mary Sue Jackson, Leslie North

A rancher on the brink needs some Christmas magic...

Daryl Rivers is about to lose it all—his family ranch, his business, everything he’s worked so hard for. So when single mom Laura, a childhood friend, offers him a way out of his financial woes, he reluctantly agrees.

There’s just one catch … Laura needs a husband. She’ll help Daryl out financially, and he’ll help her get the money that her ex now partially controls. It’s a business deal, nothing more. But things get complicated when business mixes with pleasure…

Daryl has his hands full making it appear that he and Laura are in love. But despite his best efforts, her greedy ex just isn’t buying it. A little pretend PDA goes a long way to convince folks what they have is real—and Laura soon finds herself convinced as well. But can she really trust that Daryl is different than her controlling ex?

With a crucial court decision pending and Christmas right around the corner, will Laura and Daryl discover that the greatest gift they can give each other… is their love?

Genres: Westerns, Contemporary, Romance

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2022

About the author

Mary Sue Jackson is the romance pen name created for all those cowboy dreamers! This Montana-based cowgirl is a rancher, and knows what hard work means. But despite being up at dawn and working past dusk, she still finds time for what she really loves... romance! With so many hours spent alone, riding across the seemingly never-ending expanse of grasslands, she has plenty of time to dream of love and the romantic tales of ranch life.

When Mary Sue's not out on the grasslands dreaming up her next story, she's most often spending time with her own personal hunky rancher, her husband. One of Mary Sue's favorite activities is to ride the ranch with her husband in the evening and hold his hand as they watch the sun go down over the prairie.

Reviews

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Sue Jackson has written a 5-star booK. This is the story of Laura and Daryl. Laura and Daryl had been friends in high school and Daryl had a crush on Laura. He was going to ask her out but before he could, she left to take a job with her father's company for the summer. When she came back to Windy Creek, she was with Clark. She ended up married to Clark but things didn't go well so she divorced him. Now she is trying to get him off the paperwork for her trust fund. Daryl runs his family ranch and they are in a little trouble. If he doesn't come up with the past due payments by the end of the year, the ranch will be lost. Laura and Daryl meet when he comes out of the bank and they end up talking. They each tell the other what is going on in their lives. Daryl wants to know what happened between her and Clark. She tells him that he cheated on her and after she left him, she found out she was pregnant with Lily. Laura tells him that she has an appointment and that they should get together again. When she goes to see her lawyer, Jeanette, she is told that from what Jeanette can tell, the paperwork for the trust fund doesn't name Clark as being her husband. It doesn't name anyone. It just said she had to have a husband. Jeanette tells Laura that all she has to do is get married, and they could fight Clark's claim on her trust fund. After Laura leaves Jeanette's office, she goes to see Daryl. When she gets to his home, and he answers the door, she asked him " Will you marry me?" Daryl is shocked by what she said. She explains what she meant and how it would help them both out. Daryl tells her that he has to think about it for a little bit. He finally agrees to the plan of Laura's. Daryl goes over to talk to Laura and he is shocked to find out that her home is in worse shape than she said. He talks her into packing some things for her and Lily and moving back to his house since they are going to be married. Things are going well for them until Daryl goes to Laura's appointment with the roofer and didn't wake her up for it. they have a court date to have Clark removed from the trust fund but he tries to stop it by saying that she only married Daryl to fool the court. The judge sets another court date for six weeks to see how things are between Lauren and Daryl. Things go well for them and when they go to court again, she gets what she wants. Laura is having her house worked on while staying with Daryl but she hears him tell his sister Georgina that what they had was nothing. When she hears that she knows that it is time to go back to her house. Laura knows it is time to get the divorce from Daryl. Laura is at the store and she runs into Georgina and is told a few things. After she gets back home, she can't get Daryl off her mind. When she goes to Jeanette's office to sign the divorce paper, she can't do it.
Will Laura and Daryl realize that without the other one, they are not happy?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone,.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy's Christmas Wife by Mary Sue Jackson & Leslie North

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily

A rancher on the brink needs some Christmas magic...

Daryl Rivers is about to lose it all—his family ranch, his business, everything he’s worked so hard for. So when single mom Laura, a childhood friend, offers him a way out of his financial woes, he reluctantly agrees.

There’s just one catch … Laura needs a husband. She’ll help Daryl out financially, and he’ll help her get the money that her ex now partially controls. It’s a business deal, nothing more. But things get complicated when business mixes with pleasure…

Daryl has his hands full making it appear that he and Laura are in love. But despite his best efforts, her greedy ex just isn’t buying it. A little pretend PDA goes a long way to convince folks what they have is real—and Laura soon finds herself convinced as well. But can she really trust that Daryl is different than her controlling ex?

This was a quick, welcome escape from reality. This is the fourth book in the series but I have read it as a standalone. With Christmas in the title you would expect this book to be festive, but Christmas only plays a small part and so I think that this book can be read at any time of year. A cute story full of drama makes this an enjoyable read.

Rating 4/5

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making Things Right . . .

Daryl Rivers had a leatherworking shop but he was not good at managing the financial portion of his business. He got behind on his mortgage payments to the bank and could end up losing everything.

Laura has returned to town. She had discovered her husband Clark Longbottom in the shower with another woman he had apparently been seeing for a long time. She immediately divorced him. But her inheritance from her grandfather is controlled by her “husband” who has to approve any withdrawals. To get control of her funds, she needs to get married to someone else who will then control the distribution.

When Daryl and Laura rekindle their friendship, they agreed to marry each other in name only. Laura will then pay his mortgage so he doesn’t lose everything, and she will get her ex-husband out of the role of controlling her money. Daryl will also be helping her with making repairs on her old house as well which has incurred some damage over the years.

Things still are not running smoothly when Clark questions her new marriage and tries to stop her from removing the control from him. Can they convince the judge that their marriage is real? Because if they cannot, Judge Morrison will annul the marriage and she will be back under the control of her ex. With the way both of them feel about each other, it should not be difficult to “prove” to the judge that this is real. But they need to talk about whether they want to remain married once everything else is settled. With Christmas coming, will their honest love and trust be a fitting gift to offer each other?

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the fourth book in the Windy Creek Romances but can be read as a standalone. You'll enjoy Laura and Daryl's story. She escaped from an abusive marriage and a cheating husband. But she was thrilled that one good thing came out of the relationship, her beautiful daughter. She returns home to start a new life and reconnects with her childhood friend, Daryl. He's struggling to keep his ranch afloat and she has an large inheritance from her grandfather and is willing to help. But a stipulation in the will says the withdrawal of funds must be approved by her husband. Since she hasn't remarried the court considers her ex as still in control. So she comes up with a scheme for her and Daryl to get married. Let the games begin and the chemistry start exploding. A cute story with some twists and of course drama. Well written with likable characters and an entertaining story line.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cowboy's Christmas Wife" (Windy Creek Romances Book 4) by Mary Sue Jackson was a great read. I loved Daryl and Laura's story. This was the first book in this series that I've read and I've already added the others to my wish list. This story was full of romance, hot cowboys, family, friends, second chance romance, and more. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series. Highly recommend it to all fans of romance, cowboys, family, and series.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review .

Laura Jo returns to her childhood home following the end of her marriage to Clark (dirtbag!!). She tries to have him removed from her trust fund but runs into difficulty...which is where her childhood friend, Daryl, comes in. Love Daryl's relationship with Laura daughter, Lilly. Both Laura and Daryl are infuriating at times and Laura idea of independence is over the top, but this is a lovely small town romance.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Jo was married and her husband cheated on her so she filed for a divorce. He didn't know she was pregnant until she left. Now for several reasons he wants to act the devoted spouse and wants Laura and the baby back. But she knows the real reason he wants them home

She runs into Daryl and he has always had a crush on her. She asks him to marry him and he agrees.

Check out the book. I loved it and I think you will too.

[Ally Doby (Schleicher) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.75 stars*

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daryl’s ranch needs an infusion of cash. Laura needs a way to get her ex-husband’s mitts off her trust fund. These two could be the answer to one another’s dilemma. Fake relationships are only slightly less enticing to me than second chances. This book has the benefit of being a little of both. It’s not a conventional “second chance” story, but it’s got lots of those vibes about it since the pair were drawn together when they were younger but never succumbed to the pull. I really enjoyed reading this story, but these two made me want to tear my hair out from the roots. They so stubbornly clung to beliefs that weren’t helping them. I was so glad when they were finally able to listen to the good sense of their friends and family, and their hearts.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout as part of the box set.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four of the Windy Creek Romances series and the main characters are rancher Daryl Rivers and single mum Laura Jo Longbottom, nee Sanders. Laura Jo has moved back to town, to live in the house her parents left her, with her young daughter after divorcing her husband Clark. She only found out she was pregnant after she left her husband, after finding him cheating on her. She finds that her parent’s former home needs a lot of repairs and whilst she has an inheritance from her grandfather, he set in motion some very antiquated rules and stipulations. She only had control of fifty percent of the funds and needing the authorisation of her husband if she needs any amount of money! Daryl inherited the family ranch when their parents died, while his older sister Georgina looked after them and younger brother Kyle ended up doing all the day to day stuff around the ranch. Daryl got side-tracked into his hobby of leatherwork, but wasn’t very organised and started getting behind with his orders and having to give refunds, losing him money. He was soon behind on the bills for the ranch and unable to get a loan to help out, even getting close to having the bank foreclose on the ranch if he doesn’t have enough funds by the end of the year!
Laura Jo needs a husband and her lawyer makes an odd comment that comes back to her when she hears of Daryl’s woes. Daryl knew Laura Jo when they were kids, before her parents died when she was twelve and she had to move to live with her grandfather. He had a bit of a crush on her at the time and is willing to help her now, after hearing about her ex-husband and what he is trying to do. Clark had even tried to get the judge to refuse to allow the divorce to go through, saying he wanted her back! Even though he was the one that broke their marriage vows. Laura Jo wants to stand on her own two feet and not have a man controlling her ever again. She makes it clear to Daryl that is a marriage of convenience only and they can get an annulment once she has her funds back under her control and she pays off his mortgage. Only problem is that in trying to make it realistic to everyone in the small town, as well as the local judge, they start getting a bit too good at it and real feelings are just below the surface.
Clark isn’t buying that their marriage is real and keeps trying to make trouble for Laura Jo and brings a court case to ensure he can stay on as a signatory on her accounts! Daryl and Laura Jo are enjoying getting closer and end up in bed together, but Daryl tries to do things to make it easier for Laura Jo, completely against what he promised her. She and her daughter are staying at the ranch until she can access the funds to get the roof fixed on her parent’s home. They started off by pretending, but now it is that much more. But can she stick with someone who wants to control her like her ex? Or does she decide to stick to having her freedom and going it alone? She has some difficult decisions to make and she may be too stubborn for her own good. Whether she has to stick to her latest decision and refuse his help, is up to her, but being alone is not necessarily the best of things. It can be darn right lonely! Two former friends end up falling in love when they set out to help each other, but there are always a few twists and turns, as true life never runs smooth. Fate has a plan and you shouldn’t try to change it! Two great characters trying to do the best they can and helping each other out, finding love sneaks up on them. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I haven't read the prior books of this series and you don't really need to to fully understand and enjoy this one.

This is written in my favorite dual POV format. Being able to see the character's thoughts during a scene really helped me to better understand and connect with a character.

Oh man this book was a great one. I really saw a much younger version of myself in Laura. She was so quick to anger and was pretty snarky at times that I really wanted to slap her a time or two. Daryl on the other hand was such a sweetheart (if a little forgetful at times). He tried so hard to please everyone but felt like he couldn't please anyone. In essence like a failure.

In trying to make extra money to help around the ranch, Daryl bumbles things when he tries his hand at his leather working hobby. Unfortunately the bank won't extend any more credit on the ranch. In fact, he only has until the end of the year to make up the missing payments! Laura is divorced from her cheating, mean and nasty husband. After discovering him messing around, she files for divorce and then discovers that she is pregnant. She returns to her childhood hometown to live his her childhood home. To make a life for herself and her little girl, Lily. Unfortunately Laura's grandfather stated that Laura's "husband" must agree to all withdrawals of her trust. Now the spiteful ex is trying to force her to return to him and remain on the trust even though they are no longer "husband" and wife.

Laura and Daryl run into each other outside of the bank. The two childhood friends reconnect for a third time (the second was when they went to the same college.) Laura realizes that a marriage of convenience between them could solve both of their problems.

Can these two convince the judge that their fake marriage is real in order to remove the ex from the trust? What can possibly happen when Daryl comes to aid Laura in up her house? His life is already full with the leatherwork and the ranch! Can these two realize that their feelings have gone from helping an old friend to something more real and everlasting? Well you will have to read for yourself.

This is a sexy read but the scenes were not overly graphic and wordy. But I would caution a parent of any under age person who wants to read this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy's Christmas Wife by Mary Sue Jackson is a totally entertaining contemporary cowboy romance featuring a twist on the marriage of convenience trope. Well, not really. Laura was beyond furious at her now deceased, sexist grandfather who had made her his heir, but with the proviso that her husband had to approve any expenditures. She had no husband, only an ex-husband, whom she had discovered in the shower with another woman. Hence, ex-. Then she discovered she was pregnant, but it was HER baby, not his. Now she was home, wanting to bring her parents' house up to date and he could not approve any money. He had been taking care of it for her, only it appeared he hadn't been. The judge had ruled than an ex-husband was the same as a husband in this case. The only way around it would be for Laura to remarry. But, who? Then she saw Daryl Rivers. They had been best friends until they were 12 and her parents had moved away. He had problems she could help with, too. Could it work?

Daryl is a good guy, but disorganized. He had borrowed money against the ranch to start his leather business but had fallen behind both in orders and loan repayments. Now, if he wasn't caught up by the end of the year the bank was going to foreclose. Laura was a marketing person, when she had last worked, which had been years since a working wife didn't fit into Clark's (ex-) scenario for the perfect wife. She swore she would never give up her independence again. Nor would she allow Lily to grow into anything but an independent woman. They were both strong and likable and stubborn. The conclusion was foregone, but the story getting there was enjoyable and amusing. The twists and turn in the plot made it well worth the read, one of Jackson's best.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Cowboy's Christmas Wife by the author, through Booksprout. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #booksprout #marysuejackson #cowboyschristmaswife

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and all the characters in it. The way the story played out is something I can see really happening, so it made the book all the more enjoyable to me. This book had the two MC's working through past relationship traumas of the familial and romantic variety, being able to process feelings, admitting you need help and then accepting it, among other things. What started out as a marriage of convenience could quickly turn into more, and there are moments of the steamy kind. Aside from the two main MC's, I loved Daryl's family and how accepting they were of Laura even knowing the why of the marriage. They definitely added some much needed clarity in moments, whether it was direct or indirect.

Laura is needing to figure out how to wrangle control of her trust from her cheating ex husband. Her best friend, who is also her lawyer, tells her maybe she should marry someone new to get the control back. Laura thinks about it and then runs into her old friend Daryl. He tells her that he is about to lose the ranch if he cannot get enough money together. Suddenly Jeanette's idea has merit and Laura proposes to Daryl.

Daryl is denied another loan at the bank and runs into Laura shortly after. After catching up, Laura proposes a temporary marriage of convenience to him. They are both needing something from it so he agrees. He moves her out to his ranch. He sees how much damage the ex husband has caused and doesn't want to add to it. Until one night, everything changes.

I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl and Laura had been best friends from kindergarten up until her parents were killed in an accident, and she had to leave Windy Creek for Denver to live with her grandfather. Daryl did not see Laura from age twelve until they reconnected in college by chance. Finally, he built up enough courage to ask her out by their senior year, but by then she was dating someone else. A few years later back in Windy Creek, Daryl runs into Laura after leaving the bank discovering she was now divorced with a daughter, Lily. They had gone for ice cream to talk and get caught up, where they talk their problems over like only old friends could. Daryl has less than three months to get the farm mortgage caught up or the bank will foreclose, and Laura cannot get to her trust fund without her ex-husband's authorization. Daryl was upset he had let his siblings down, and Laura was tired of being controlled by men. She wanted to be a strong independent woman her daughter could be proud of making her own decisions. Finally, she came up with a plan that would help both her and Daryl out of their predicaments. There was just one small problem with this plan. They both always had crushes on the other one way back when. This plan sounded fantastic in theory but in practice that would be another story entirely. Fate continued to draw them together and the chemistry could not be denied. One fabulous second chance at love story that will keep you turning the pages until you finish.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl and Laura were childhood friends until she left town to live with her grandfather after the death of her parents. Years later, she returns to town, recently divorced and the mother of an infant daughter. Daryl is surprised and happy to his old friend again. A stroll down memory lane leads to them telling each other their current troubles. He is surprised when Laura suggests they marry in order to solve their financial problems. A new marriage should free up her trust fund which will pay for the renovations of her family home in town and pay off the debts owed on ranch Daryl and his siblings own. It was also get her controlling, cheating snake of an ex out of her life and her finances. Daryl is reluctant to agree, but sees no other way to save the ranch. As Laura and her daughter settle into life of the ranch, she feels like she has become part of a family. Neither Laura or Daryl expected that their fake marriage would come to feel so real, that their hearts would become involved and they would feel like a new family unit.

Laura and Daryl have great chemistry, respect each other and have history as friends, but both have hidden insecurities, guilty feelings and regrets. They hold their feelings in when they should be talking to each other, and think that they have to solve their troubles on their own instead of sharing the burden. Will they find the courage to reveal their hearts to each other or will they push away their chance at a happily ever after?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing and I loved how the main characters thought by faking it that it would all work out for each other but when fate steps in she has other plans. Daryl Rivers has worked hard all his life on the family’s Ranch and now it looks like his brother Kyle and sister Georgina and himself maybe loosing the ranch but then a blast from the past and an old crush Laura makes him an offer that would save his ranch and in return he has too help her out as well. Laura Jo Longbotton has just returned to her home town with her baby daughter Lily after she divorced her ex husband Clark who still holds on to her money but only half of it but if she remarries she can go to court get it all back. Now she just needs a husband and who does she run into but the very sexy man she had the hots for Daryl Rivers. They get to talking and she tells him about everything and she asks him to by her fake husband and in return she will save his ranch but it has to look real to everyone and even her ex husband who is fighting to keep her money and his request to be a signatory has been denied in the courts and Clark’s knows there relationship is fake but he has to prove it before the pending court decision takes it all from him. But the closer they get to the court date Laura starts to have feelings for Daryl but is his feelings for her real or is he faking it just to get the money and save his ranch. To get these answers and how it all turns out get this amazing book I know you won’t be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura grew up in a small town that she dearly loved. Now she is back in town and determined to have a fresh start after divorcing her cheating husband, Clark. He did nothing good for her ever and she found out she was pregnant with Lilly a month after she left him. She is determined to raise Lilly with love and show her how to be a strong woman. Running in to Daryl was not something she was expecting but she really did miss her friends from childhood. Daryl couldn’t believe that she was back in town. He loved her for so long and was very close to asking her out in college when she hooked up with her ex Clark. Her grandfather had left her with a trust but she has to share it fifty fifty with her husband. She divorced Clark and yet a judge ruled to let him stay as fifty percent controlled partner in her trust. The only way to get away from him having control is to marry someone else. Who better to ask then her childhood friend Daryl. He can’t believe the words coming out of her mouth when she suggests they get fake married but it would help her and it would also help him safe his family farm from foreclosure. Funny thing about being fake married is it start to feel real and feelings start to develop. I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deal is struck but what will the outcome really be?

Cowboy's Christmas Wife is the fourth book in the Windy Creek Romances series. This fake marriage story is a sweet, romantic, has all the feels and delivers some major snow melting heated sexy passion. Daryl is about to lose the ranch his parents left him and his brother and sister because they are behind in the mortgage payments. Laura has moved back to Windy Creek with her young daughter Lily to start over after a divorce. She had been brought up by her rich grandfather after her parents were killed. She has a trust fund but there is one small issue....her grandfather has made it so both she and "her husband" would have access to it. So when she finds out that her cheating ex still have access to half of it she needs to do something. That is when Daryl and Laura bump into each other and things start to click. They had been friends when they were younger and now Laura sees the perfect opportunity to help each other out. One fake marriage later and Daryl will have the money he needs and Laura will have her ex out of her life forever. But as we all know things are never going to be that easy as the attraction between these two is sparking and then add in sweet little Lily and one alpha cowboy wanting to protect the woman he is falling in love with.

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inheritance
Daryl and Laura are childhood friends and he is about to lose in his family ranch. Daryl is a single sexy alpha cowboy rancher. Laura is now a single mom to her daughter Lily and is getting out of an abusive relationship with her ex-husband Clark who cheated on her. Laura and Daryl need each other’s help. Laura is set to receive an inheritance from her late grandfather and he seems to have put an unusual request in before she can receive any money. Laura needs her husband’s signature on paper work but she is no longer married making it difficult to receive her inheritance. Clark Laura’s ex-husband finds out about her inheritance and contests the will. Daryl mortgaged the family ranch for his leather workshop and is in need finances. Laura comes up with a plan that will help both her and Daryl out by getting married. Daryl and Laura have been given 8 weeks by Judge Morrison to ascertain whether their marriage is a marriage of convenience or the real thing.

Can Laura and Daryl pull off their plan to help each other out of their dilemma, with the 8 weeks that Judge Morrison has given them will the judge be convinced and Laura receive her inheritance, will Daryl and Laura’s fake marriage turn real?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Linda Whitacre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet second-chance fake romance. Laura Jo divorced her no-good cheating husband. The only thing he ever did for her is to give her an at-the-last-minute baby. Laura wanted to raise her baby girl Lily at her family home in the small town of Windy Creek. BUT her dream is not going to be easy. Her ex shares control of her inheritance so until that is rectified she’s penniless. It seems the butthead wants her to return to him as his wife.
Daryl shares ownership of the family ranch with his brother Kyle and sister Georgina. Windy Creek Ranch is in financial peril, in fact, it’s about to be put in foreclosure. Daryl just ran into a blast from the past, Laura Jo. They went to school and played together as youngsters before she and her family moved away. He had the biggest crush on her and it feels like that crush is still active.
Daryl and Laura Jo could use each other’s help to make life better, to solve both of their problems. What starts out fake isn’t going to end that way. This is a sweet story, with nice characters and a very happy ending. I received a free advanced copy of this story from Booksprout. I am leaving my honest opinion of this story because I review everything. Linda

[Just Read and Imagine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daryl Rivers mortgaged his ranch when he opened his leatherworking shop. Only problem was he didn’t know his way around the financial side of the business and found himself in hot water with the bank.
Laura was married to Clark Longbottom for several years before coming home early and finding him in the shower with another woman. So she took their daughter Lily and divorced him. According to the inheritance left by her grandfather, her husband had to approve the withdrawal of funds. For now the courts consider Clark to be that person even though they are no longer married.
Childhood friends Daryl and Laura make a deal to get married in name only. She agreed to pay his mortgage and he agreed to help her repair the neglected childhood home she inherited. Only problem is Clark is contesting both being removed as her husband and her marriage to Daryl. They have eight weeks to satisfy Judge Morrison that they are truly married or he will annul the marriage. Once they satisfy the judge that they are truly ‘married’, now they need to decide if they truly want to remain that way.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in each other’s lives once again and making the most of it
Cowboy’s Christmas Wife: Windy Creek Romances Book 4 by Mary Sue Jackson is a sweet romance with a slow build to the steam for this book couple and their fake marriage that develops all too real feelings.
Over many years, these two have been in and out of each other’s lives, but this time it seems like it’s for good. Each has something the other needs to set things right in their individual lives and agree to marry with an end date.
The plot takes this couple on an emotional journey in which the love they have always had for one another is finally let loose and neither really knows what to do about it. Their “deal”, Laura Jo’s divorce baggage and Daryl’s family ranch seem to weigh them down and creat obstacles to grabbing onto what they really want; each other.
Overall, with the help of Daryl’s siblings and emotional growth, these two throw the deal out and throw themselves into marriage and family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange of an honest review. This book is about a marriage of convenience between two childhood friends who had crushes on each other. Laura needs to access her trust fund for her new life with her daughter but her abusive and cheating ex doesn’t want to let her go. Daryl is in need of money to save his family’s ranch. Together both of them concoct this marriage. You would think that it would be easy for them to be together but honestly it’s not. There are certain issues for both of them to get through. God Laura made me a bit annoyed but I get where she’s coming from though. Honestly this book is pretty cute but I just don’t think there’s a wow factor in it. It’s okay but not remarkable if you get what I mean. Other than that, I found out this book is actually fourth in a series but I think you can read it as a standalone. That’s what I did and I didn’t feel lost while reading. One thing I’m mad about is that THERES NO EPILOGUE. Would have given this a 4 if there was one.

[Lindarhc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl Rivers has an appointment with the bank manager to get an extension on the loan. He is turned down and given until Christmas to pay the outstanding amount. When he is coming out he bumps into someone and when he goes to apologise he realises it’s his old crush Laura Jo and she’s carrying a baby. To help each other out they agree to get married so Laura Jo can get her money away from her ex husband and she can help Daryl pay his loan. Her ex was supposed to be looking after her family home and renting it out but he wasn’t talking care of it. Daryl tells her to pack up and they are moving to the ranch. After the marriage there is a hearing with her ex for the judge to say the trust should be in Daryl and Laura Jo’s name as her ex is no longer her husband. All the trust says it is her husband and Laura Jo who can draw on it. There is more up and down in this story but love is there through out. This is a good story. I received an ARC for an honest review which I have given

[Narci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is of siblings pushing forward after the tragedy of their parents, keeping their family farm afloat is harder than they thought. Daryl runs into the girl that got away when they were young eight-year Olds whose back in Windy Creek after a bad divorce. Laura yearns to take control of her life and be the independent woman her daughter will be proud of, her only issue is that her controlling ex-husband still controls her inheritance. When Laura runs into her old friend from her childhood, Daryl suddenly her plan takes flight. Daryl is not expecting Laura's proposal, but he could never say no to her. Laura must learn that to be free and independent don't mean she has to give up her friendship, her freedom, dreams or control, she must learn to embrace her future and let go of her past. Daryl must learn to listen to both his head and heart and find a balance that will make him happy and steer him to a future he longs for. This is a cute, emotional, dramatic story of two people who always find their way back to the other because they are meant to be.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good second-chance love story. It’s a business deal, nothing more. But things get complicated when business mixes with pleasure. “I could so fall in love with you, she thought, almost mournfully.” “He’d agreed to this arrangement, but it would be so easy to fall in love with her.”

Daryl is about to lose it all. His family ranch, his business, everything he’s worked so hard for. Then he runs into Laura and things change. When Laura Jo shows up at his house and asks him to marry her, he's stunned. What she said made no sense at all. And then she explained what was going on. She needed to get remarried.

Laura moved back to her home town with her daughter. The only way out of this mess is to get remarried. She needs a husband. She’ll help Daryl out financially, and he’ll help her get the money that her ex now partially controls. She and Daryl grew up together. They could make this work.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth installment of the Windy Creek Romances, and although part of a series, you can certainly read it as a standalone. Laura takes her daughter and leaves an abusive marriage and a cheating husband and returns to her hometown. While there, she reconnects with her childhood friend Daryl. He is struggling to keep his ranch going, and Laura has an inheritance which can help him out. Only, there is a stipulation where her husband needs to sign off on any withdrawal of funds. Laura comes up with the idea for her and Daryl to get married so she can give him the money to keep his ranch afloat. The fun begins from there and the sparks fly high and strong. Loved seeing the relationship between these two grower stronger. Another well-written and entertaining story and a great addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Tc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Windy Creek Romances series and can be read as a standalone. This is Laura and Daryl's story. She discovered her cheating ex in the shower with another woman so she packed up, divorced him and left with her beautiful daughter. She returns back home to start a new life and runs into Daryl. He's struggling to keep his ranch afloat and she has an large inheritance from her grandfather. There is a stipulation in the will that states any withdrawal of funds must be approved by her husband! As she needs a husband, he needs funds they come up with a scheme for her and Daryl to get married. But the best laid plans can go awry. Will theirs? Will the cheating ex try anything? Will they get their HEA?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chances are the best! This is about Laura Jo and Daryl. They have known each other since kids, but after her parents passed away in a car accident, she moved away. Years have passed and Laura Jo married her college boyfriend and had a child with him, but now she is back home divorced as she caught him in their bedroom with another woman! Daryl is now having his own issues as the family home may be foreclosed as he didn’t handle the finances as well as he should. Lucky for him, he bumps into Laura Jo and little Lily, her daughter. They hear each other out and she comes up with the plan to marry him in order to get her ex off of her trust fund that her grandfather left her with. The story is great as they rekindle a lot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura and Daryl were close friends early on in school but went different ways in college. Families mean a lot to them, but they have had tragic starts in life. She married and during the divorce found out she was pregnant. Back in her home town, she and Daryl collide into each other and realize a mutual fake marriage would help both of them out of some of their problems. Loved the characters, their backstories and intense feelings. The storyline follows as they try to show everyone that they are in love and it is not fake.... and soon definitely is not fake. Plenty of drama, hidden agendas, revelations, steam, tight family, twists, caring and trust, plus much more. Totally enjoyed the story and was happy to cheer them on throughout the book. Great ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.