It takes a lot to impress a Dalton girl.Family feud or deep, dark secret? Jessamine Dalton is determined to uncover the reason why one branch of the family tree broke off and headed north to Colorado decades ago. Hitting the road to visit their distant relations seems perfect—she’ll get away from her interfering sisters, and making a proper family tree will double as a Christmas gift for the … gift for the entire Dalton clan, right? Trouble is, Jessamine’s expected back in time for the festivities… and well, Colorado winters are unpredictable.
Holidays always depress Jake Strahan. While everybody else on the Blackburn Ranch enjoys Christmas cheer, he’s in the barn with the horses who understand him best. So when his fellow ranch hand Gracie asks a huge favor of him—to travel to Colorado and bring her sister home in time for Christmas Eve—he figures why not? He’s got nothin’ better to do.
Now that Jessamine finds herself trapped in the very tight confines of Jake’s truck, she’s got too much time to study the quiet, rugged man. And Jake knows a spirited filly when he sees one and knows better than to try to break her. But maybe it’s the magical snow falling that has him thinking things that are far too sweet for a rough man like him. And maybe Jessamine isn’t really looking back at him with twinkle lights in her eyes.
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This was a really sweet Christmas read. I liked Jessamine’s character. She was strong, independent, both kind and generous. She loved all of her family. I also liked that she was determined to connect with the Colorado Dalton’s.
I liked that Jake was strong, independent, confident, loyal, and respected. It was a little sad that he had no real connection with his family.
Jake and Jess had great chemistry and a couple of steamy scenes. This book worked to build the sexual tension between the two with their attraction beginning from the first time they met.
I do have to say that this book left me a little disappointed. I loved the holiday backdrop, and the ride from Colorado to Texas. I would have really enjoyed more of Jake and Jess being together in Texas, how they interacted, how they worked together after Jake’s big Dec etc.
I was also a bit letdown by the Dalton family secret. After the buildup, I expected It to be incorporated in the story in a much bigger way.
An easy to read, lighthearted, sexy, romantic holiday book. I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy received from the author via Booksprout.
Jake has been a drifter and works at a local horse ranch as a trainer. Jessamine is the sister of one of the ranch hands. He fell for her the minute he seen her. She takes off to Colorado to meet up with another branch of her family. Her sister Gracie is not ppleased with her leaving during the holiday season and sends Jake to bring her back home for Christmas. Jack heads to Colorado to retrieve her and falls deeper in love with her, and she him. Can she change him? Will he stop drifting and take her heart or will he break her heart. This is a sweet romance with a HEA
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t know whether it was the length of the book (not long enough) or the ending, but I felt vaguely unsatisfied when I finished it, which is not my usual feeling at the end of one of Em Petrova’s books. As a serious introvert, I totally identified with Jessamine’s need to escape for a while, and I loved her Christmas gift idea (stealing it for myself, btw!). Her trip home with Jake, too, was a fabulous read, and it was the highlight of the book for me. Something about the end, though, and Jake’s assimilation in the family and how Jessamine finds him – I don’t know, but I felt as though something was missing. That aside, the characters are, as always, masterfully written, and the chance to see the other Daltons again is always a pleasure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jake Strahan is a cowboy drifter. A ranchhand by profession, he moves from ranch to ranch, staying at each no longer than about 2 years. Once he gets bored or feels the urge for something more, he packs his bags and is off to find the next adventure in his life. When he took a job at Blackburn Ranch, the adventure he never expected to find entailed a black haired, blue eyed beautiful girl by the name of Jessamine Dalton. Mesmerized by her beauty from first sight, could Jake afford to allow himself to dream of staying someplace permanent for the first time in his life?
Jessamine Dalton is restless. While she loves her family, they are driving her nuts. She longs for a bit of adventure. There is a branch of the Dalton Family that lives in Colorado. She would love to get to know them better and understand how their two families came to be estranged. Surely there was some mystery to be unraveled? Taking some much needed time off from her current life, she heads to Colorado for a visit at Christmas time. Friendly relations and snow storms are there to meet her. When her return to Texas is weather delayed and she may not make it home in time for all of the Christmas festivities with her family, Jake heads north to pick her up as a favor to Jessamine’s sister, Gracie. Will these two make it home in time for the holidays? Will they be able to resist the burning chemistry that has slowly been building between them?
This book is a smoldering, quick read sure to heat up a cold winter’s night. Definitely another “must read” book to add to author Em Petrova’s already impressive list of titles.
The surprise bonus of this book is that YEEHAW, there’s a new set of Daltons in Colorado! All dark haired, blue eyed, single and ready to find their own HEA. Just when I was bracing myself for the series about a family I have come to adore to end, author Em Petrova has found a way for the adventure and romance to continue! My hope is that cousin AJ is the first to be bitten by love and tumble down the rabbit hole towards finding his forever love.
But first I have Kizziah’s story to look forward to… and I can’t wait!
While each book in the Dalton series could be read as a standalone, do yourself a favor if you already haven’t. Read the series from beginning to end. Just be prepared to be swept up in emotion by a family that can at time be small on talk but are always BIG on love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I had lots of fun reading this story. The characters are well developed and engaging and plenty of chemistry from beginning to the end. Storyline flowed smoothly.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 stars *****. She is attracted to him and he is attracted to her. What a conundrum! We are back to the usual problem of communication and getting out of your own way. She wants more out of life besides a job and only family life. She wants a partner to share with. After meeting her, he is rethinking continuing on as a drifter like he has for the last 10 years. He wants more, too and he wants it with her. It is a well flowing story, no dead spots and no horrible drama, just the usual run of the mill stuff. Em’s books are always a pleasure to read and the characters have good development. Another win!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
Loved it! I absolutely adored Cowgirl Miracle! Jessamine Dalton and Jake Strahan are such uniquely matched it makes them perfect. The banter and sassyness makes this a must read. Taking a chance and finding love thus is a definite one click book that you need to read. Em Petrova has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
A Wonderful Christmas Romance .
I really enjoyed reading this story .
It’s wonderfully written and has outstanding characters . Jessamine Dalton and Jake Strahan have been attracted to each other for sometime but neither have acted on it . When Jessamine goes to visit and get some information from her Colorado relatives , a few weeks before Christmas her family worries she will get stuck there due to the weather . Jessamine’s sister convinces Jake to go to Colorado to bring her home in time for Christmas Jake makes the trip and soon they head home but the weather slows them down . Some might call it devine intervention . This is a delightful and romantic story . I highly recommend reading .
This is a sweet holiday romance with strong characters in Jake and Jessamine. It’s both an emotional and sexy story that captured me from beginning to end. Sit back and watch the sparks fly with the hot chemistry and steamy scenes and enjoy the ride. Highly recommend reading!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Delightfully charming cowboy Christmas romance!
Drifting from ranch to ranch, never staying anywhere too long, has been the perfect life for Jake. He’s made a name for himself with his horse skills, and he’s free to pack up and hit the road any time the mood strikes. But when co-worker Gracie asks him to head to Colorado to help her sister get home for Christmas, Jake is surprised to find that his itchy feet are itching to put down roots.
Jessamine’s curiosity about her family’s history takes her to Colorado just in time for a snowstorm to trap her there with her cousins, with no available flights home. Jake sure is a tall drink of water, but that doesn’t mean their sizzling attraction can lead to anything permanent. Especially when he works so far from her home, and freely admits to liking his drifter lifestyle.
This was a wonderfully sweet romance, complicated by honesty and life-changing decisions. Jake’s taciturn approach was frustrating for Jess and the reader as well, which only drove home the inner conflict he was struggling with. The solution, and how it all came down, perfectly showcased the love and dreams in Jake’s heart as well as the feisty determination in Jess’s.
I love these Dalton books, and I especially love the cover on this one. It’s exactly how I pictured Jake and Jess throughout the story. I hope the author never runs out of single Daltons to write about. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This was a great story. It was well written and fast paced. The chemistry between the characters was sizzling hot. This book has everything you need to keep you turning pages hot sexy men, steamy scenes and some conflict thrown in. I cannot wait for what this author writes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.