From USA Today bestselling author Caitlin Crews comes A True Cowboy Christmas, the first in a sensational series debut about a cowboy, a farm girl, and the greatest gift of all. . . Gray Everett has a heart of gold but that doesn’t mean he believes in the magic of Christmas. He’s got plenty else to worry about this holiday season, what with keeping his cattle ranch in the family and out of the … in the family and out of the hands of hungry real-estate investors looking to make a down-and-dirty deal. That, plus being a parent to his young and motherless daughter, equals a man who will not rest until he achieves his mission. Now, all Gray needs is the help of his lifelong neighbor. . .who happens to have grown into a lovely, spirited woman.
For Abby Douglas, the chance to join forces with Gray is nothing less than a Christmas miracle. Much as the down-to-earth farmer’s daughter has tried to deny it, Abby’s been in love with stern, smoking-hot Gray her whole life. So when Gray proposes a marriage of convenience as a way to combine land–and work together toward a common cause–Abby can’t refuse. But how can she convince Gray that sometimes life offers a man a second chance for a reason. . .and that their growing trust and mutual passion may be leading to true and lasting love?
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I adored Caitlin Crews’s latest A True Cowboy Christmas book from the first page. Crews drew me into the story with her easy prose and kept me quickly turning pages. Abby and Gray were both well-rounded characters that brought out the best in each other. The conflict is more about Gray letting go of his past than with Abby, but it works. I fell in love with the ranch and the small town Crews created.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
This unconventional Christmas novel deserves so much more than a 5-star rating because it’s an emotionally charged coming-of-age story that brings two unlikely people together and teaches them both that who they are is much more important than who they came from. Gray is a modern day rancher pushing 40 with a deep love and commitment to the land that has been in his family for generations. He’s just buried his father, a man who made his life a living nightmare, leaving his absent brothers co-owners of the ranch they never set foot on, and no matter what the old man’s will says he’s not going to lose his legacy. Abby is a lonely young woman who was raised by her grandparents on a neighboring farm after her mother dropped her on their doorstep and took off for parts unknown. She loves her grandmother, her neighbors and her town but she’s given up on marriage and motherhood because if nothing else, she’s pragmatic about her lack of prospects. When Gray shows up on her doorstep proposing marriage Abby is shell shocked but she can’t walk away from her one chance to be a wife and mother, especially since she’s had a crush on Gray since she was a child. But there’s no way Abby is prepared for the bitterness that Gray feels in his heart as he privately fears he’s exactly like his father. Gray is too miserable to see the telltale signs of abandonment his teenage daughter suffers from, but Abby knows them all too well because she hears her spiteful mother’s words in her head every minute of every day. What touched me the most about this book was the hopelessness that malicious words can leave on our hearts and just how devastating our own inner dialogue can be when it drowns out the joy to be found in life. I cried buckets of tears over these characters as Gray and Abby finally come to realize how profoundly love can heal even the most shattered hearts. I read a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
I think Abby is one of my favorite heroines. Her mom is a horrible person but thanks to her grandparents she managed to turn out to be amazingly genuine and has a huge heart. She’s been in love with Gray for practically her entire life but when he asks her to marry him, she doesn’t jump at the chance. Part of it is that she doesn’t believe that Gray is thinking clearly and doesn’t actually want to marry her (she has a little bit of a self-confidence issue thanks to her horrid mom). She’s also afraid of what the rest of the town will say about their nuptials but she does eventually agree, throwing herself into the relationship with dignity & courage.
Gray’s home-life wasn’t all that good. He had an combatant alcoholic for a father and all feminine fixtures in the house would only put up with so much before leaving. And unfortunately that included his own wife. With the death of his father, Gray doesn’t want to take the chance he’ll end up like him and decides that a marriage based on logic is better than one based on emotion. To him, Abby is the perfect candidate – sensible, steady, and will provide a little softness to his hard life & for his daughter . . . but what is he going to do when those pesky emotions enter into things? He’s not the best with feelings under normal conditions and definitely not when he’s not expecting them.
A man with some pretty thick walls and a woman who questions her own appeal find themselves at the mercy of love’s power and the goodness of a caring heart in this beauty of a Christmas story. A wonderful journey of healing and self-discovery, A True Cowboy Christmas will give you those all over warm & gooeys that you crave at this time of year.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
This is my first read by this author as Caitlin Crews, I have read Megan Crane books though and enjoyed them. This was an engaging read. Abby having been in love with Gray her entire life and agrees to a marriage even though they don’t know each other. The family situation of both Abby and Gray were similar in that they both had parents who were lacking on so many levels. Gray’s daughter Becca had mother issues. It was touching how Abby and Becca connected. A lot happened in this book in a matter of about two months. Looking forward to the next book in this series!
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews
Cold River Ranch #1
Story telling is an art and this author is a talented wordsmith. Her characters have depth with backstories that illuminate. The plotting is tight and flows easily. I smiled and cared and wanted Abby or her grandmother to be my friend. I was able to understand why Gray and his brothers were as they were even though I wished I could have smacked some sense into Gray a time or two and I also understood the insecurities of Abby and her understanding of Gray’s daughter, Becca. I hated the people I was meant to hate and wished them the karma they so justly deserved. I smiled and cared and enjoyed this story even when it was painful. And, I can’t wait to read book two in the series no matter who is going to star in it.
This book includes: marriage of convenience, unrequited love (till it is), dysfunctional families, small town romance, drama, friendship, awakenings and a whole lot more. I have enjoyed other books by this author but this is my first contemporary romance by her and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
You can never go wrong with a single dad story, add in the holidays and a marriage of convenience and you get A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews. Gray Everett is working hard to save his family’s cattle ranch and be the best father he can be for his daughter.
Abby Douglas has been in love with her neighbor as long as she can remember. So, when he proposes a marriage of convenience that would be beneficial to both, she cannot refuse. But can she make him see all they can be if he would only open his mind and heart to her?
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews was such a sweet read. Gray was a bit brooding, but he loved his daughter and took his responsibilities seriously. Abby was sweet and caring, but also strong. Though Gray’s idea of this marriage is different than what Abby wants, could she show him love can be real and strong?
~ Liz
With a perfect combination of deep, raw emotion, realistic sounding rugged cowboy life, family drama, and tragedy, a touch of humor, joie de vivre, small town living… this tale of a marriage of convenience went directly to my heart and kept me up late to the night. An absolutely unputdownable tale that I loved so much so that it went to my Top Ten all-time favorite romance stories I have read.
A True Cowboy Christmas is so much more than a cowboy romance or a Christmas romance, it is a story of two people making the tough decisions in life, doing their best to survive while healing from the deep emotional wounds their parents and past left in them.
What would you do when something you have dreamed about all your life suddenly comes to be your reality, but it is nothing like you thought it would be? Abby Douglas has loved Gray Everett all her life from the afar. He has been her ultimate dream, the goal in life, while unreachable all the same.
Abby grew up with her grandparents since her mother’s inability to care for her. Each time her mother swept through town, she focused her energy and effort to break Abby’s spirits, to take her down a notch. The emotional abuse has left Abby to believe she is unattractive, unlovable, undesirable. Yet she has a big giving heart, kindness, and sincerity. She is a hard-working, resilient, sweetheart of a person. She was so easy to like and relate to, cheer for her to succeed. I wanted to protect her from all the possible hurt, gossip, and especially from her mother’s attitude.
Gray’s life has not been easy. As the oldest son of the alcoholic, abusive rancher, he has taken his share of physical and emotional abuse. His mother left the family, his late wife cheated on him, yet he manages to be a loving, caring father to his teenage daughter. He is not interested in romantic love, he has no need, desire, or time and energy to deal with emotions, he has been there, and done with it. But he does want a companion, a sensible wife, who can share the life’s burdens and joys, who he can trust, rely on.
I loved absolutely every word of the story, the dialog is witty, drizzled with humor to lighten up the often heavy and difficult conversations that had to be had. The tangible chemistry between Gray and Abby, the way they stumble and fall while trying to find their tune with each other, it is adorable, touching, filled with a wide spectrum of feelings, engaging my emotions as well.
This story is like a red velvet cupcake with a double dose of cream cheese icing; it is lovely, delicious and delectable, while smoothly flowing with tender, fragile emotions and the rough life of the rural country. It filled my heart and my mind as I smiled, chuckled, and teared up. I hurt for them, I felt their pain, disappointments in life, their passion, slowly building trust, and the wish for something more, that tiny silver lining of hope that bubbles up from the deepest corners of their hearts and souls until it fills up their minds.
A fantastic, amazing, must-read story that I know I will be re-reading countless times… And it is just the book one in the series – can’t wait for more!
~ Five Spoons!!
4 Stars
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is outstanding. Once you get into the book it really takes hold and does not let go.This book is full of so many emotions that will have you laughing at one moment and crying in another.
Gray and Abby have known each other all their lives. Abby has also been in love with Gray since Elementary school. When Gray decides he needs to re-marry, the first person that comes to his mind is Abby. Abby has sat by for years watching Gray as he married his wife, had a child, and suffered at the hands of an emotionally abusive father.
Gray decides that he needs to give his daughter a step-mother but he does not want dates, romance, or love. He has been burned too badly in the past and refuses to get hurt again. So Abby, he thinks, is perfect for the role.
Both Gray and Abby have had a tough life, making my heart break. When Abby throws caution to the wind and decides to marry Gray, things get interesting. They have great chemistry and I don’t know how they thought no feelings would be involved.
A True Cowboy Christmas, is about two people trying to overcome their demons and family issues while trying to find happiness in each other.
A wonderful read with emotionally scarred characters that somehow find their happy ever after through a marriage of convenience.
I really loved the beginning of this book, and even though I felt sad for both Gray and Abby at their circumstances, their exchanges did have me laughing. Gray has determined he needs to find a “practical woman” to give his daughter the kind of family she deserves and maybe even help him fill his house with more children, and his practicality has him turning his sites to his neighbor Abby. He thinks he’s come up with a sure thing of a plan, he’ll just ask Abby to marry him – she’s practical, she’ll get it, no problem…
The truth is that both Gray and Abby carry some deep emotional wounds that have shaped their lives and brought them to this moment – a moment that has the potential to begin the healing process for not just the two of them, but for Gray’s daughter Becca as well. As the story unfolds and more of the past is brought to light as well as the fact that Abby has been in love with Gray since she was younger, it’s clear that both Abby and Gray need to come to terms with their issues before they can find true happiness with each other. Between Abby’s mother and Gray’s father, it wasn’t hard to understand the why’s, and it was heartbreaking at times to see the damage that was caused by the abuse that was doled out by these two characters. And even when things were going good, the undercurrent of those issues was always present.
I loved that Abby wasn’t a pushover; she really seemed to balance her compassion and willingness to help with enough backbone to not get pushed around. She was not afraid to call Gray out when she didn’t agree with him, but she also didn’t hold a grudge and let that rule her day. She truly was exactly what Gray was looking for in a wife when it came to all the practical things and, even better, their chemistry helped them form a bond that set the foundation for something more than practical.
There was quite a bit of angst as Gray deals with his issues, especially once Abby opens her heart to Gray and lets him know how she feels. Normally I’m not a big fan of all the angst but knowing how deep these scars were and how Gray not only needed to reconcile his past with his father but also his relationship with his brothers, I didn’t mind all the conflict. And having Abby be there for Becca as all this unfolded was wonderful.
This is my first book by Caitlin Crews and I really enjoyed the emotional story she crafted. It was easy to get lost in Gray and Abby’s story and feel exactly what they were going through. I look forward to reading more from her and can’t wait to see what stories unfold for Gray’s brothers.
I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley which I voluntarily reviewed.
Caitlin Crews is a new to me author but I have read books she has written under her other pen name, Megan Crane, and really enjoyed them so when I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book I jumped on it…and I am glad I did. This story had my emotions all over the place, and honestly the tears were flowing quite a bit.
Gray was a tortured soul, raising his daughter the best he could especially after the way he was raised…boy I give him props because he did a good job even if Becca has a couple of issues, but hey she’s a teenager and what teenager doesn’t.
Abby is sweet and caring, and everything her good for nothing mother isn’t….can you feel the love there? There is a reason Abby was in love with Gray for most of her life and I think it’s because their souls belonged together, soulmates if you will, they are what each needs to heal from the abuse they suffered from their parents growing up.
A True Cowboy Christmas takes us on a ride of self discovery as well as acceptance and forgiveness. I really enjoyed this read and I look forward to the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good cowboy romance, or if you like the tropes fake-marriage/Marriage of Convenience, Girl Next Door, or Ugly Duckling, I’d give this book a try you won’t be disappointed. Happy Reading!!!
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book**
Well written romance taking reader through highs, lows and emotional roller coasters! When raised with pain and degradation can there be hope? Gray was raised in a house where love had been stomped out. He and his two brothers competed for their bitter/spiteful father’s approval, which never came. Abbey was raised by loving grandparents and a selfish/viscous mom. Liked both Gray & his brothers, Abbey, her grandma and Abbey’s friends. (Along with other characters.) Took more than needed time for Gray & Abbey to separate from their emotional doubts. Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.
This is my first book by this author and I really liked it! This is Gray and Abby’s story. Abby has loved Gray since forever and she has seen him get married and have a child and has quietly kept her love for him hidden. Gray along with his brothers had been hurt by his father, then further disillusioned by his ex. Needless to say, it was going to be a tough hurdle for these two to jump and keep going forward. The setting is Christmas which happens to be one of my favorite holidays and I loved that Abby was sweet and endearing. For me it took a while to warm up to Gray, but I knew he would redeem himself in the end. All in all a great read! 3.5 stars!!
Abby Douglas has always held a special place in her heart for the neighbor, Gray Everett. He’s had a rough go in life and needs help raising his daughter, along with trying to save his ranch, so a marriage of convenience is the most sensible solution. There were times I wanted to shake Abby and tell her she deserves better, but Gray finds a way of worming into the readers heart. This was a heart-warming tale of second chances. A definite must-read, even when it’s not the holiday season.
irst things first, yes it has Christmas in the title and you do get to it but not without a whole lot of emotional situations. Our main stars Gray and Abby +1 his teenage daughter with deep rooted scars. They need to work through all this baggage if they want to make their arrangement work. This was the perfect start to the series that was far from hearts and roses. There were many bumps in the road. That made this HEA one worth fighting for. We also had a wide variety of secondary characters that contributed to this story. I wholeheartedly enjoyed every bit of this book and can’t wait to see where it goes from here. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This is actually 4 1/2 stars for me. I enjoyed the story, but the emotional ending brought it up the 1/2 star more. Abby and Gray have their secrets and their pasts that threaten their relationship. I loved the fact that Abby and Gray are not in their 20’s. This gave them more of a past to have to work through. The darkness in Gray was a bit daunting and held me back from liking him at the start. With Abby trying to make him see the truth brought him around, and that’s when the tears begin. I recommend this story.
I received an ARC of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.
I love Christmas and Christmas stories so I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have to say the Christmas aspect is not overly done, and actually takes a back seat to the story.
Gray decides he didn’t want to die alone and bitter (like the father he just buried) so he comes to the comclusion that a marriage of convenience with his next door neighbor is the best and most practical solution. Abby (his neighbor) is stunned but does agree to the marriage (unbeknownst to Gray, Abby has been in love with him for a while).
Can a marriage based on practical reasons last? Will Gray be able to overcome his haunted and abusive past? Will Abby be able to put up with Gray?
Once you get past the angst and the heaviness, I thought this was an ok book. I have to admit to liking Abby more than Gray but he does seem to be trying.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias. 3.75 STARS
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is a truly lovely book. Upon several rereads it has revealed itself to be realistic, gritty, loving, and representative of an actual relationship with ups and downs; lovers finding their way. Gray’s father has just died and been buried, miserable cuss that he was. As Gray is returning home he sees his neighbor Abby Douglas opening his back door to him and wonders why he’s never noticed her in the past. Before you know it, Gray is sitting in Abby’s grandmother’s parlor asking her to marry him. Abby thinks he’s lost his mind: they don’t even know one another, have never been on a date, but before the meeting is over, he kisses her, and she is considering his proposal. She has been in love with him for twenty years, after all. The next day he has entered the coffee shop where she works for the first time…ever, stunning her and most of Cold Creek, the town in which she lives. He appears to be serious.
Readers know how romances end: that is why we read them. Crew has drawn some interesting characters with some twists and turns that the read doesn’t really contemplate until we’re in the middle. So much about their marriage is so good, but here are problems, too. She loves him; her has never even contemplated loving her. Both come from dysfunctional parents. Gray has a teenaged daughter and two brothers who can’t decide if they want to be on his ranch or not. Abby has a mother that comes and goes and doesn’t seem to particularly care for her daughter, and is not closed-mouthed about it and her disapproval of all things Abby. Abby has a grandmother and two good friends who love her, but this relationship is something she needs to deal with on her own.
This is a fabulous read. Pulls on the reader’s heart while reiterating the evils of game playing and holding on to old hurts. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a heart-warming story of true love.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #atruecowboychristmas
Heartwarming holiday, sweetly sexy and emotionally thrilling romance filled with family, beautiful country and slow burning passion….. Loved it!
Gray Everett is the oldest of three brothers that just lost their father and he is looking to save the family ranch from greedy developers… Solution the next door neighbor Abby Douglas, raised on the land they agree to a marriage of convenience based on a mutual love of the land. (what could go wrong) except Abby has loved Gray for as long as she can remember… Highly entertaining page turner of a holiday romance.
Cowboys and Christmas, a yummy combination. This first book in the Cold River Ranch series features Gray and Abby, and is full of romance, family, and of course, plenty of angst. Abby has loved Gray for a lifetime, but it might not be enough to tear down Gray’s walls. The story does have its dark side, but it’s also full of wonderful characters and despite their differences, this pair is perfectly suited. The writing style and wonderfully vivid scenes keep the pages turning for a hard to put down story. I would’ve liked to have seen more holiday in the book, especially with Christmas in the title, but all in all, A True Cowboy Christmas is a great start to the series.
3.5 stars
Not really a Christmas story, more a somewhat dark story of two people who have been deeply scarred by those who should have been nurturing them but instead caused them to have a distorted view of themselves and the world around them.
In some respects, this story reads as if it was set in a different time – not modern day. The premise of their marriage sounds like an arrangement and, although Abby claims to have been in love with Gray her whole life, it doesn’t feel that way…more like a little girl hero worship from afar. Sadly, Abby’s character comes across as being a doormat to Gray – almost as though any morsel of attention is better than none (again, an understandable consequence of her upbringing but still disappointing that she’s unable to overcome this). And Gray just oozes too much bitterness – especially between his brothers, a lifelong issue.
The ending did not really feel like a HEA which fit, in a way, with the overall darkness to this story. Just not my cuppa…..