New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant returns to Texas, where a small-town legend just might find the greatest gift of all. . . ‘Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays–even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t … sure his family doesn’t lose everything.
Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wits’ end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby–and the inescapable longing in his heart–off the hook, however, is a whole ‘nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?
“Off-the-charts chemistry and a breath-stealing plot.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Protector
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Loved this book. Abbie tries so hard to raise her two brothers. It’s not easy. One of her brothers gets himself into a load of trouble, but the owner of the ranch gives him a second chance.
Hoping to gain his trust. He needs his help in order to catch the guys who stole his cattle.
Brice learns a very important lesson.
Highly recommend..
Throughly enjoyed this new book by Donna Grant. Loved the characters and how you could see them grow throughout the book. Can’t wait for more!
Full review appeared on Reader’s Edyn on 10/18/17
Clayton East is the ideal “perfect guy”. He’s a retired Navy SEAL, he’s got mad skills that aid in protecting those he loves; he’s intelligent; he’s gorgeous – Oh! And he’s a cowboy that fills out a pair of Wranglers very nicely. *le sigh* He’s been running from tragedy in childhood and refusing to deal with the loss. Instead, he joins the Navy and then takes on an assignment in Africa. When suspicious activity threatens the livelihood of his family ranch, he is called home to get to the bottom of things. He wasn’t bargaining for the beauty he encounters who has the exact skill set he requires. It isn’t difficult to figure out a way to keep her near, but convincing her to let her guard down will be another thing altogether.
Abby Harper thinks of herself last in all aspects. She’s been taking care of her brothers since their mother ran out on them and her life consists of working and providing for them. She doesn’t have time for anything social – and she doesn’t want it. Love isn’t a great thing. It isn’t unconditional; it doesn’t pay the bills; and it frequently breaks your heart, leaving years of wreckage in its wake. When her brother finds himself in hot water and at the mercy of Clayton East, she assumes the worst. But Clayton is all about second chances – especially if it involves keeping Abby around. As they untangle the web of deceit surrounding the ranch, she comes to care for Clayton a little more each day. But forever isn’t forever and taking a chance on love isn’t worth the risk.
Nothing like getting into the Christmas season early than with some really fun, entertaining reads! I very much enjoyed my time spent with Clayton and Abby. Books in which a character has to grow in order to realize that their only chance might be sitting right in front of them are right up my alley. Clayton accepts his feelings relatively soon, but Abby resists for a while. There is a slight amount of suspense within the book, but not surrounding their relationship. Everything happening around Christmas is a benefit because she and her brothers have never experienced one like this before. I can see where I would have been awe-struck in such a situation myself. It is very easy to like the characters within the book. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and draw you in even more with their own growth. This book is a great reminder of how tragedy shapes us and ultimately how it can lead us to where we are meant to be. I don’t want it to sound too heavy with the tragedy, because it isn’t like that – after all, we are looking for a Christmas-themed HEA. Probably my only complaint is that the word “atop” was used so many times that it became annoying. It is probably mostly personal preference, but I feel like “atop” is more of an older word and that I would read it in a Historical novel versus this contemporary novel.
Overall, this book will get you in the holiday spirit and have you rooting for the main characters in no time. There is some sexual content that is pretty explicit; no dirty explicit, erotic explicit. I’m sure this read will satisfy readers even if they aren’t looking specifically for a holiday read. Ms. Grant did a wonderful job of creating lovable, endearing characters that readers will enjoy getting to know. Get your warm, fuzzy, holiday groove started right with this sexy, sweet read.
Kindle version provided by NetGalley/St Martins Press in exchange for an honest review.
All I want for Christmas is a Christmas Cowboy Hero!
Can I just start this off by saying swoooon? I am not one to love cowboy romances. It is just not my preference. I went in reading this thinking, “Here we go with another smoking hot cowboy who lives on a ranch love story?” And yes, it was that too, but New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant proved this reviewer wrong with The Christmas Cowboy Hero. Well done, missy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The fast paced read with just the right amount of detail left me not wanting to put this book down. I loved it. Clayton was your typical good looking, Wrangler wearing cowboy but with a past that he can’t let go. He has held it in for so long because well he is a guy and that is what guys do. On top of his past that involves his deceased brother, he was ex-Navy Seal. The poor man has experienced death way too many times. That would screw with anybody’s head. Then fate happens. Clayton was called home to take care of his parent’s ranch after his father suffered a mini stroke. However, he wasn’t coming home to an easy peasy setting. A lot has happened since he left home. This is the drama part of the book. This poor family has been through some tough times. A death of one of their sons, the other son running from his feelings to be a trained as a killer, to someone embezzling their money and then some young delinquent teenagers successfully stealing their cattle.
Wait for it, this is where that crazy thing called fate happens, Abby! A sister turned mother at the young age of eighteen. Her mother left her to raise her two younger brothers, Brice and Caleb. Despite how hard she has worked to provide for her brothers, they have their issues. Brice was one of the teenagers who stole Clayton’s family cattle. When Clayton and Abby met at the police station, there was an instant fire between the two of them. Clayton being a good ol’ boy, gave Abby’s brother a second chance to work off his debt on the ranch. Abby was grateful for this. Brice was going to have to put in the work to make up for his wrong doing.
As the story unfolds, the connection between Clayton and Abby grows stronger and stronger in a short amount of time. I should mention that this story is told in both Clayton and Abby’s point of view. I am super picky with male point of views because when you are a female writer it can be hard to adapt. At times, Clayton would say things that I wouldn’t think a guy would say but it worked for this story. I just loved how he described the beauty that was Abby. Her heart and her love for her brothers made her even more beautiful and he acknowledges it many times.
I know this review sounds like I am all about Clayton, but I am really about both main characters and the supporting characters. I loved Abby. She too has been through some tough times and just watching her let down her guard for Clayton was remarkable. I loved her. All the characters in this story made this one of my favorite reads of the year. Yes, a cowboy romance made my top list. This is hard to do.
There wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this book. It truly was a well written book. I had only two quirks. The male point of view was a little feminine, it worked though. Second, her brothers talked like they were older than their age. These are just things that bothered me, but it didn’t affect how I felt about this book.
With that, Donna Grant you deserve more than a five-star rating but that is the highest I can give you. I look forward to reading more from you. Thank you for allowing this reviewer to like a book outside her preference. FIVE Steal My Heart Stars.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is a wonderful new adventure and an amazing new series by Donna Grant. It departs a bit from her usual writings but is every bit as good! I read this last week and it’s still with me. It’s such a beautiful, heartwarming story.
The characters are just fantastic. You can feel the chemistry between all the characters, not only with Abby and Clayton but ALL of them. I love how they’re all so connected.
If you are looking for a fantastically written, feel good to your core, romantic Christmas story… look no further. It will not disappoint.
I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is the first instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult HEART OF TEXAS romance series. This is Navy SEAL Clayton East, and accounting clerk Abby Harper’s story line.
Told from several third person perspectives including Abby and Clayton THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO follows Clayton as he returns home, a few weeks before the Christmas holidays, to take over the family’s struggling ranch in the face of his father’s recent stroke, cattle rustlers, and a significant amount of missing money from the family’s business coffers. With the arrest of a local juvenile, Clayton East will come face to face with his future in Abby Harper-the woman with whom he will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Abby and Clayton, and the potential fall out as the investigation into the missing money and the theft of the cattle places Abby and her family in the line of fire. Clayton’s Navy SEAL training will be called into action as the take down of the people responsible requires more than one or two good men.
Abby Harper is the legal guardian to her two younger brothers, Caleb and Brice, and struggles to make ends meet including feeding two hungry and growing teens but her sixteen year old brother Brice is caught in a war not of his making that will target everyone he knows and loves. Clayton East’s memories of home are saddened by the long ago death of his older brother, and our hero never intended to return to Texas or take over the ranch. Meeting Abby Harper helps to lighten Clayton’s soul but uncovering the people responsible for the near destruction of the family ranch is secondary to keeping Abby and her younger brothers safe. Clayton offers Abby and Brice a second chance thus allowing our hero to get up close and personal with our story line heroine.
The relationship between Abby and Clayton is one of immediate attraction but Clayton battles his need to protect and care for the woman he will come to know as she struggles with two adolescent boys, and everything it entails. Physical and personal threats against Abby and her brothers push Clayton forward in his plans for a happily ever after, inviting the Harper’s to live at the family’s ranch. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and seductive.
We are introduced to Abby’s younger brothers Caleb and Brice, as well as Clayton’s parents Ben and Justine East, ranch manager Shane, and local sheriff Danny Oldman. The requisite evil has many faces including some familiar faces to our story line couple.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is a story of family, friendship, romance and love; betrayal and jealousy. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are colorful, charismatic and real; the romance is provocative and energetic. THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is a romantic tale of two people fated to fall in love; of two families connected by circumstance; of one couple’s happily ever after.
So when I started prepping my review of this latest release from Donna Grant, I kept thinking it was a novella. Then I looked and realized this book is over 300 pages in length. So one of the big things I can say about this story is that it moves quickly and it’s definitely a story that sucks the reader in. When I started it, I felt like I was halfway through in no time at all. For me, I love stories that flow this well.
Our story starts out with Clayton East avoiding calls from his mother, back in Texas. Clayton is an ex-Navy SEAL and is working in South Africa, protecting animals from poachers. (Yeah, I was swooning in the first chapter). Then he finally takes the call from his mother, where he learns the East Ranch is in major trouble.
We then meet Abby Harper, where she’s running to the police station because her brother, Brice, has been arrested. The crime? Stealing cattle from the East Ranch. Abby is devastated since she’s been raising her brothers since she was 18. With a mother who ran out on them, Abby and her brothers only have each other. Clayton and Abby immediately have an attraction to each other. Clayton decides to extend a second-chance to Brice, by allowing him to work off his major debt to the ranch, instead of pressing charges against him.
While this is happening, Clayton and his family are also dealing with the realization that their CPA embezzled a significant amount of money from them. Abby works for a different CPA in town as an assistant and starts helping Clayton look through the financial records for the ranch.
“No, Abby Harper, I’m going to pay you what you should’ve been earning all this time. You’re worth it.”
This quote really stuck with me while reading. Several times in the story, Clayton lets Abby know that she’s worth it, and someone else’s loss is his gain. Abby’s brothers realize the sacrifices she’s made for them, even though Abby never mentions it, never complains. So to see Clayton see these things in her, and make her feel valued and appreciated, it was like Abby was able to blossom when she was around the East family. This was especially heartwarming to see because as the reader goes along, you realize how much Abby really has done for her family.
This story might be one of my favorite Christmas stories. You get all of the Christmas activity, but then we see forgiveness, fresh starts, love, and even suspense. This is a Christmas novel that any reader could enjoy because there is a little bit of something for everyone.
This book has all kinds of excitement and action in it. There is embezzlement, modern day cattle wresting and bad guys galore. But the good guys ride in to save the day led by good guy and hero of this story Clayton East. Abby Harper doesn’t have a chance of escaping Clayton’s love once he sets eyes on her. Abby’s mother abandoned her and her two brothers Brice and Caleb when she was eighteen. As demonstrated in this story as you read about Abby it takes a strong and loving woman to take up the reins and raise two young boys and make a family. In this case Abby does a wonderful job but lets her personal life go since her brothers are her priority. It takes Brice’s big mistake and Clayton’s belief in second chances to change everything for the better for Abby.
This is not your typical Christmas story but it still is all about what everyone thinks about at Christmas, love of family, sharing and caring. I really enjoyed this book and I believe everyone who picks it up will enjoy it too!
When Clayton East gets word from home that his father has fallen ill, and is not able to do the work needed to keep the family ranch afloat he knows that it is time to return to his roots and take care of what needs done. Once he is back home though he realizes there is more going on than his family let on, someone is stealing their cattle and he intends to catch the thief and put a stop to it, only to soon discover that the one of thieves is only a sixteen year old boy named Brice. Instead of turning Brice into the law he meets with the boys guardian, his gorgeous sister Abby, and works out a deal with her to put the young boy to work so he can “work off” the debt his thieving accrued. But somewhere along the way Clayton starts to fall for Abby, and things between them start to take a very unexpected steamy turn…
Abby Harper is in over her head… between going to college and trying to care for her younger brothers she has very little time to do much of anything else…. which means no love life! It is a daily struggle to keep them and herself on track, and when one her brothers slips off the track and gets busted for rustling cattle she is certain she will go off the deep end… but by sheer luck the cattle owner is willing to give the boy a second chance, and he quickly becomes her hero. She has never met a man quite like Clayton East, and she quite sure men like him are few and far between, he is kind, gorgeous, and stirs the butterflies in her belly like no one ever has…
The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a heartwarming story that is sure to put you in the holiday mood, and leave your heart overflowing with joy! From the moment I started this one I sensed that I had stumbled onto a real literary treat, Ms. Grants endearing characters pulled me right into their world and made me feel right at home. The story line had a good mix of everything I like in my romance reads, a swoon-worthy male, light humor, a feisty heroine, enthralling plot, and lots of chemistry and heart!! Highly recommend this one, the moment you meet Clayton he will steal your heart and have you swooning!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant
Heart of Texas #1
Called home to “fix things” on the family ranch but not ready to face the demons at home or the ones that have tagged on for the ride after years as a Navy SEAL Clayton East does what he must and heads home to find out where the money and the rustled cattle have disappeared to. One of the first people he encounters while dealing with the rustler issue is Abby Harper. Why Abby? Her brother is the only one of the rustlers caught in the act and she has come in to the jail to plead his case. Abby has been the sole custodian of her 14 and 16 year old brothers for eight years and is not willing to let them fall by the wayside or end up with a criminal record – not if there is anything she can do to prevent it. Well, as a meet-cute this was one that poleaxed both Clayton and Abby and started the two on the way to their HEA!
After Clayton talks to Abby, her brother Brice and the police he decides to give Brice a helping hand and second chance. Karma can be a b*tch or can bring blessings and that is just what happens for all involved as Brice finds he loves ranching (and so does his brother Caleb), Abby finds herself in her element searching through ledgers to find out where the East Ranch money disappeared to, Clayton and Abby find a safe harbor (and more) together, Clayton’s parents enjoy having a full house again and the b*tch side of karma comes to roost on the bad guys as they are caught and dealt with.
This book has all the elements necessary to warm your heart whether you read it during the holidays or some other time of year. I can hardly wait to find out who will be featured in the next book of this series and am eager to read it when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGaley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
A holiday mood inspiring story that will capture your heart and send it soaring as this unsuspecting couple finds romance over the Christmas holidays.
Clayton and Abby are well written characters that definitely tug at heartstrings as both are tormented by a past that drives their present lives. This story brings family together and builds a future that looks bright and full for characters that wasn’t so sure what the future would bring which has the relationship being a bit turbulent throughout but interspaced with lots of good feeling romance as the couple overcome the obstacles in their path to happiness.
This well paced story mostly focuses on romance and family, it also has a bit of suspense as bad guys threaten to take away the happiness before it really gets going. Part of the suspense is what actually brings this couple together, so it adds that bit of “good things can begin from something dark” and the mystery of finding out who their enemies really are adds thrills balancing out the romance and emotional aspect of the story making it a well-rounded story that I just had to finish before I could put it down.
Overall you have a wonderful happily ever after holiday romance that has a touch of suspense. Donna Grant always gives reader fantastic stories that I just love to read. They make you feel good and her characters always come to life and make it easy for readers get caught up in their story and as always, when it comes to this author I can’t wait for the next Heart of Texas novel.
The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a tale about two wounded people. Clayton is still suffering from the death of his brother & the years of death & destruction he encountered as a Navy Seal. His brother was supposed to take over the family ranch & Clayton can’t face going back there without him. After he left the service, he took a job to prevent him from going home. It worked until his dad had a stroke & he found out the ranch was about bankrupt. He had to face his demons to help his parents.
Abby was devastated when her father passed away & the knife twisted a bit more when her mother stole away in the middle of the night abandoning her & her brothers. Abby became both sister & mother that night. Now Brice, her brother, is in trouble & has done something illegal. How can she fix this? They’ve lived paycheck to paycheck & she has no reserves. There is no room in her life for the chemistry she feels when she meets Clayton. She can’t risk someone else leaving her.
This is a really good Christmas story full of love, hope, warmth & family. The characters are well developed. The interactions between Abby & her brothers show the love there & the way they can rely on each other. The interactions between Clayton & his parents show how much they all care for each other & need each other. They also show the hurt & pain they have to get through. The plot moves at a steady pace & the mystery of the missing money & stolen cattle add another dimension. I really enjoyed this story & would recommend it to anyone who likes cowboys, romance, steamy scenes & happily ever afters.
Responsibility comes naturally to Abby Harper and Clayton East. She’s devoted her life to look after her brothers by example and with love. He’s a man used to sacrifice but not big on family. When devoted sister Abby crosses paths with infuriating Clayton, their lives are transformed and their emotions quickly become intertwined. Between a hell raising brother, a failing ranch and a barn full of family drama, can this rule making cowboy convince the woman of his dreams to break a few rules with him? Donna Grant is a new and welcome edition to my bookshelf. The Christmas Cowboy Hero is full of all of the frustration of family and the butterflies of falling in love.