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’m not usually the type to pick up a holiday story, especially one that isn’t connected to a story I’ve already read, but I am happy to have grabbed this one because the story was about so much more than Christmas. I loved the message of A True Cowboy Christmas, that love and marriage take work; it isn’t something you fall into, it’s a decision you make every day and have to care for like a living thing.
The beginnings of Abby and Gray’s relationship were anything but conventional. But often the best love stories aren’t. There is something to be said for how they came to be and how learning about a person, getting to know them outside all the pretenses of dating and social conventions can lead to something solid and lasting. It was great to watch Gray slowly – then fully – realize the relationship he’d chosen for its practicality was so much more and had helped him find the pieces of himself that had been buried under years of mental and emotional torment.
The family dynamics played a huge part in this book, for both Abby and Gray. The mirroring, the contrasting, the understanding Ms. Crews used to demonstrate how very similar and completely different Abby, Gray, and all the other characters in this book were, was fascinating. I was engrossed in how each character was formed by the toxicity of their pasts and how small differences in the people around them during and after those experiences molded them into who they were. Watching them begin to shed the skin of the pains they suffered was beautiful.
A True Cowboy Christmas is the first book in Caitlin Crews’ Cold River Ranch series. I loved this introduction into the world and the characters. I am completely intrigued by the other brothers and by Abby’s friends, and can’t wait to see what Ms. Crews has in store for all of them. A True Cowboy Christmas is written in third-person limited perspective, alternatively following the thoughts of Abby and Gray.
WOW!!! I thoroughly loved reading Gray and Abby’s story in A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crew, book one in her Cold River Ranch series. Gray is a brooding cowboy with alpha tendencies and set in his ways. With the recent death of his father and now having to share the ranch with his two brothers, Gray just wants to work the land, as he always done, and save the ranch from hungry real-estate investors one of his brothers keeps sending his way. Gray has a teenage daughter and would like a wife to help ease his life. He’s not looking for love, just a partnership; someone practical. There’s only one woman who fits the bell, his next door neighbor Abby. Abby has been secretly in love with Gray for as long as she can remember. She’s already seen him marry someone else and although that marriage wasn’t perfect, it and did spiral out of control. It’s been years since Gray lost his wife and out of the blue Gray turns up on her doorstep to ask her to marry him. Abby never imaged this moment in her wildest dreams and has no idea how to respond. He wants a wife and she can’t say no…. not that she’s saying yes. If the man of your dreams asks you to marry him for whatever reason, could you really say no? The dream and the reality are about to come head to head.
This book is set at Christmas, a season Abby loves. She is totally into the Christmas spirit of giving and sharing but Gray doesn’t even want a tree. Abby is all about adjusting to fit into Gray’s life but she’s going to change for him; so she goes ahead and makes the cookies for the people who appreciate them. Marriage is about compromise and acceptance. Abby might not be alpha strong but she definitely makes Gray think.
I loved seeing Abby become more confident as she lived with Gray. Gray started learning to be compassionate and considerate while spending time with Abby after years of verbal abuse from his father. It’s a good match even if there isn’t love, on both sides, as they start married life. It’s interesting how they don’t really know each other as well as they should, having lived next door for years so in a sense, this is essentially an arranged marriage. It might be old-fashioned, but it worked in the past so why can’t it work now.
Ms. Crew wrote a wonderfully emotional and moving story filled with sexual chemistry, fun dialogue, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
“She was everything he wanted. She was so much more than he’d imagined.”
This is not your regular heartwarming Christmas novel. It’s emotional, deep, and sometimes heart wrenching. It’s not about Christmas traditions and all the goodness that comes during the holiday season. It will skim the holiday, but it’s more about two main characters who did not have warm, loving parents. They both were verbally/mentally abused growing up. The emotional scars come alive off the pages. Abby lacks self-esteem, Gray lacks compassion. They end up agreeing to, well basically, an old-fashioned arranged marriage. Gray is the perfect headstrong cowboy and Abby makes a perfect rancher’s wife for him. She’s strong in her own way and doesn’t change for him. Loved the characters and the secondary characters. It does have the Christmas miracle at the end but it was a struggle and a journey for them. I do have to say that what Gray does on Christmas morning makes me his biggest fan. I’m eager to read Gray’s brothers stories, especially Ty, an injured bull rider. I can see Abby playing an important role in helping heal the brothers who have drifted so far apart that they’re strangers. A True Cowboy Christmas is a fabulous cowboy romance.
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley and I freely give my honest review.*
I thought this was going to be a bit boring but it was not at all boring, yes there are some dwelling in to the characters thoughts that was repeated but all in all this was a good book.
* The storyline in good with a slow build up and a ending that’s glorious
* Characters are well described and the way the author describes how they grow as humans is very good and clear written. I love a book that shows people in a bad place can grow and become a better person.
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* Dialogues is lacking but the internal dialogues is plenty.
* The love is there from the start for Abby even if it takes Gray some time to realise or admit it for himself.
I liked this book very much. 4 stars enjoyment
Wow, I absolutely loved this book. Gray and Abby are both wonderful characters They are both emotionally damaged. Him by his father and her by her mother. This is the story of two people coming together for practical reasons. What they found was understanding, friendship, home and a true and lasting love. This is an amazing story with wonderful, endearing characters and I would definitely recommend it.
4 The Holidays Really Do Bring Magic Stars!!!
What’s better than a first book in a new series by a new to me author that has cowboys and the holidays in it??? Nothing I tell you!! I absolutely fell hook, line and sinker for Gray and Abby and Ms. Crews writing!!
I loved the buildup in this story and the slow burn totally worked for this book and this couple. They’ve known each other for forever, although Abby has had feelings for Gray for most her life so when he suggests they work together to save their land, it’s a no brainer for her…. Even if Gray wasn’t in love with her… a girl can definitely hope and wish that the man she’s always loved, will finally notice her in “that way.”
Along the way, Gray, a man that in my heart I knew wanted to find love so he wouldn’t be like his father, he just thought it wouldn’t happen given his first go-round with love and marriage…hence his daughter Becca. But leave it to Abby to worm her way into his heart and soul. She’s a woman that is good to the highest level. She’s sweet, loves hard and completely and would literally do anything for those that she loves. She steps in as Becca’s step-mom at a time when Becca really needed this woman’s touch and influence. Their relationship was equally as beautiful as watching Gray fall in love with the girl next door!
Their union which started as a business deal turns into so much more and Ms. Crews has given us a story that is captivating drawing us in with her story that really does show that love can conquer all! The characters in this story are so well developed I fell in love with all of them. There’s so much more to come with this series and I’ll be first in line to one-click!!
Wow. Just wow. This book gutted me. Especially Abby, but Gray and his daughter Becca contributed to the gutting also. I don’t think there are 3 people who need a hug more than these three.
Abby is quite a few years younger than Gray, so when she first got hearts in her eyes over him she was a 5-year-old, and this 13-year-old young man who helped her seemed a super hero…and out of reach. Gray always seemed out of reach, but that didn’t stop Abby from pining over him. Not in an obvious way. Those closest to her knew her feelings, but it wasn’t common knowledge to the rest of the town. The fact that Abby has a terrible mother who did nothing but squash young Abby’s confidence all through her life, it was no wonder she kept her feeling to herself and never took a chance on getting Gray to notice her.
Turns out, Abby didn’t have to do anything to earn Gray’s notice. It may have taken many years of being casual acquaintances, but once Gray became aware of her that awareness just grew and grew. I can’t blame the guy for taking so long. Abby was still young when Gray entered into his first marriage and had Becca. Unfortunately for them all, that was a terrible marriage and his wife was not a good person. Add to that growing up in the house of an alcoholic jerk and being threatened and belittled his whole life, and it’s no wonder Gray kept to himself and wasn’t too attentive to anything going on outside his ranch and family. He may have been oblivious to Abby, but he was really oblivious to everyone but his daughter and his land.
The way Gray approaches a relationship with Abby is unconventional, to say the least. The man really has no game. He’s blunt and to the point on what he wants and needs, not realizing that you can catch more bees with honey. But, since he does happen to be Abby’s unrequited love, it eventually works. And once the two of them give into what they have decided will be their lives, sparks fly.
I really didn’t expect this story to be so emotional from the description. I thought it would be a fun fake-marriage romp. Boy, was I wrong. There is so much going on in this book, on so many different levels. I can only assume there will be more stories and we’ll learn more about Gray’s brothers because those men ALL have issues. Not to mention that I’d really like to see Abby’s BFFs get their HEAs.
I cannot recommend this story enough. It wasn’t all serious. It had pain and heartache, yes. But it also had joy and chemistry and enlightenment.
I have to mention that I have noticed that a lot of my very favorite authors follow and retweet and comment on tweets from an M Crane/C Crews aka Megan Crane a lot. Turns out, she’s Caitlin Crews. So while I was always thinking I had to check out her library some day since I trust the taste of these authors, I read one of her stories without even realizing it at first. Which also means there is a lot out there by this amazing writer that I haven’t read yet. I can’t wait!
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/a-true-cowboy-christmas-book-review/
A True Cowboy Christmas is book one in the Cold River Ranch series by Caitlin Crews. This is my very first book by Caitlin. I have such a weakness for cowboy heroes and combine that with Christmas and I’m in. Plus there is this cover to consider. I could gaze at it all day.
Gray Everett is thirty eight years old and is the oldest of three brothers who were born and raised on the Cold River Ranch by a father that poisoned them with his drunken ravings and terrible temper. Gray is the single parent of a fifteen year old daughter, Becca. Gray just put his father in the ground. His biggest fear is that he could turn out like his father, alone, angry and mean. He tried marriage for love once and it didn’t work out. When he looks at his neighbor, a woman he has known his entire life, it’s like he is seeing her for the first time. It’s then that the perfect idea comes to him. A marriage of convenience. A marriage based on a mutual love of the land and their lives. No emotion, no love, just easy compatibility. Plus, a mother for his daughter. It’s the perfect solution to everything.
“Today’s grumpy hermit is tomorrow’s bitter, old man, he told himself.”
Abby Douglas is thirty years old and has worked in the town coffee shop since she was in high school. She lives with her grandmother in the ranch adjacent to Gray’s. She has known the Everett family since she was born. Even though she and Gray have barely exchanged two dozen words their entire lives, she has loved him for as long as she can remember. It went from a silly school girl crush to love over the years. She loved him from afar through all that he went through. He just never knew it. So, when out of the blue, Gray proposed to her, she couldn’t have been more shocked. She was plain, unattractive, if she were to believe her mother’s words over her entire life. Why would someone like Gray really want her? Did he pity her? Gray doesn’t love her and doesn’t know that she loves him. He sees her as stable, salt of the earth. Could this be her wish coming true, marrying the man she has always loved? Could she love him enough for the two of them?
“She was everything he wanted. She was so much more that he’d imagined.”
First, I’d like to say that I believe Abby is, if not the strongest and most wonderful, than at least one of the most strongest and most wonderful female characters I have ever read. She took to being Becca’s step mother with the utmost of grace and love. She had so much dignity. And even though she was throwing herself into a brand new life of which she had no idea how to maneuver, she bravely found her way.
The host of secondary characters also all stole my heart. There are Gray’s brothers, each with issues of their own, Ty and Brady. Becca, Gray’s daughter was the sweetest. Abby’s grandmother was so wise. And then there are Abby’s two best friends who I also fell in love with, Rae and Hope. There is also a character who might be one of my most unliked characters of all time, Abby’s mother.
This was such a beautifully told story of the power of love, specifically the power of Abby’s love. She has so much to give and she gives it freely. I have to admit that I struggled a bit with Gray. I wondered if anyone could break through the walls he had built up.
This is one of those books that will just kind of linger in my heart. I don’t think I’ll soon forget Abby. I assume the future books in this series will revolve around Gray’s two brothers. I don’t know who it focuses on but the next book will be called Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy. I’ve already put it on my list and I can’t wait to see who it will be about.
A TRUE COWBOY CHRISTMAS By Caitlin Crews
I had not ever read a book by Caitlin Crews, but this will not be my last. I very much enjoy Cowboy Heroes and their drama. This is the story of Gray Everett, a 38 year old widower and father of a teenage daughter and Abby Douglas, a 30 year old neighbor who has had a secret crush on Gray since she was 15.
We meet Gray when he and his 2 brothers are burying their contankerous, bitter, mean old father. The old man leaves the ranch to all 3 sons but Gray is the only one interested in working the ranch. They want to sell for development. Looking to change things and get a mother for his daughter, Gray asks Abby to marry him. I liked the way they got to know each other. Abby did not give in to everything, she held her ground when it was important to her.
This was a very well written story, with very fleshed out characters. Since this is book 1, I am looking to get book 2 when it’s available.
Wonderful and unexpected cowboy romance. Gray loves working the ranch, connecting to the land that his family has worked for generations. As a single father, he realizes that he wants to have a larger family on the ranch and decides his neighbor, Abby, is the practical answer. Now Abby has loved Gray from afar for years. When he suddenly shows up and proposes marriage, well, she doesn’t know what to think because this is her heart’s desire. Yet, Gray hasn’t really spoken to her much over the years and they don’t really know each other. This was a crazy way for this couple to come together. Knowing Abby has always loved Gray, I felt that something good would ultimately happen for these two. But Gray, well, he was a tough one to crack. He fears becoming angry and ornery like his father which pushed him to build walls to protect himself. Will Abby be able to break through so that they both will find happiness and love? This was a perfect escape that surprised me along the way. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This new series has started off with a heart tugging and heartwarming holiday story full of strong, compelling characters that easily draw readers into their story. Gray Everett decides he’s a needs a wife and Abby Douglas would be the perfect, most practical choice. Abby Douglas has been in love with Gray her whole life, so his proposal is nothing less than a Christmas miracle so she can’t really refuse. The romance throughout this story is full of lots of emotional turmoil that tugs at heartstrings and keeps this couple’s relationship on rocky ground but the sizzling chemistry and Abby’s determination to convince Gray that their growing trust and mutual passion may be leading to true and lasting love.
The plot is steady paced and flows smoothly throughout and keeps the suspense building throughout the story as readers wonder whether this couple ever achieve their happily ever after or will stubbornness and a irritable legacy keep them apart. The author brings her story to life with wonderful characters full of depth that makes it easy for readers to connect to the characters as they make life changing decisions during the holiday season which of course adds that hopeful and special ambiance to the story that only the holidays can add. The Everett brothers capture readers’ attention and ensures that readers will want to visit the Cold River Ranch again and again.
The Everett brothers had a very intense upbringing and Gray is the only brother who stayed and worked the land and raised his daughter Becca. It wasn’t the best but all he could figure to work for them. Then Abby living as their neighbor with her grandmother a very loving person. Both raised with issues and problems to work out but a realistic read.
Rarely do I come across a new author and a story that is one I’ll remember for a long time. In this case , I have found both.
The story centers around Gray Everett and Abby Douglas. Gray is a rancher with a teenage daughter, whose bitter father has recently died and has left the ranch to his three sons. Gray being the only one who wants to keep it. Abby has been his neighbor most of her life, having been left with her grandparents by a less than loving mother.
Upon his father’s death, Gray knows he needs someone by his side that will help him not only with the ranch, but also with his daughter. So he proposes a marriage of convenience to Abby. Little does he know she has been in love with him since she was 10 years old.
Gray doesn’t know how to love and fears being hurt, while Abby only knows how to love him.
It was a lovely story about trust, which at times was heartbreaking but also heartwarming. A story about how the experiences of our childhood and how we are treated by those who are suppose to love and care for us, do affect us as adults and how we perceive ourselves.
But it also a story about hope, the miracle of Christmas and the power of love.
Can’t wait to see what else this talented author has in store for us.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and St Martin’s Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
A True Cowboy Christmas has it all. The unexpected death of their father sets three sons against each other. Of course, Amos Everett set them against each other when he was alive too. The oldest, Gray is a single father, has been working the land & putting up with his father the longest. He’s the one that stayed home. Brady appears to want to sell the land & get out from under it. It isn’t clear which way Ty leans. Gray decides a marriage of convenience with the neighbor’s daughter will help his position. Why did he suddenly look at her differently? Where’d this chemistry come from?
Abby Douglas has worshipped Gray from the next farm for years. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, she jumps at the chance to be there for him & a mother for Becca, his daughter. She want prepared for the chemistry that blew up in front of them & deepened her feelings. What’s she do now?
This was an enjoyable story about a marriage of convenience that doesn’t work out as expected. All three boys are damaged from their relationships with their father & with each other. None of them realize the damage their father did to Becca & her feelings. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Abby & Gray develop. The interactions between the characters are well written & added dimension, conflict & passion to the story. Being set around Christmas just adds more color to the story.
Abby Douglas has had a thing for her next door neighbor Gray for sometime now, so when waltzes up to her proposing marriage she darn near passes out, it’s a dream come true… or is it? See Gray is completely oblivious to the aforementioned crush, he is just at a juncture in his life when having a partner would be ideal, he’s not looking for that partner to bring love to the table, just help out with his young daughter, and around the ranch. He tried marriage once, and it didn’t stick, and his heart is still feeling the ache from his last trip down the aisle, so he figures this time he’ll keep it simple, no feelings to mess with, just a cut and dry partnership.
But the woman he has picked to be his partner, has a completely different idea of how marriage should be, yes they can be partners, but she wants passion, love, and the whole feeling thing he wants nothing to do with. So getting her to say yes to his proposal maybe a lot harder than he anticipated, especially since he isn’t so sure he can give her all the things she wants. But sometimes in order to form a partnership there needs to be a few compromises, question is can this stubborn cowboy give a little to get the girl?
A True Cowboy Christmas comes bearing a story with many heartwarming gifts, with it’s emotionally rich story line, you will be rewarded with many moments that will touch your heart, bring on smiles, and of stir up a few swoons too! Between the pages of this one you will find a story of two wounded souls in great need of saving, and a marriage proposal that promises to give them that and more, if only they can find a way to compromise, and overcome their hurtful pasts. This was an impressive first read, it had an emotional depth to it that surprised me, and the writing was well paced, descriptive, and had a palpable feel to it. If you are looking for a seasonal read, loaded with feels, I highly suggest you take a chance on this one, you won’t be disappointed with what you find!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Overall, this was an okay read but it was just not for me. This is the first book I have read by this author but I could not quite adjust myself to her writing style. The story itself was a good concept and there were some very entertaining parts but I could not really get past the over descriptiveness of thoughts and scenes and the repetitive sentences on almost every page. It was extremely distracting to me and I had a rough time reading the book. I ended up skimming a great deal of the story but was still able to keep up with the overall plot. All the characters were deeply flawed and had serious family issues. They thought they were destined to be their parents because of how they were raised with negative, hateful thoughts and no real concept of parental love, support or guidance. Gray and his three brothers were not close at all; they were always at each other’s throats, even as children. They could not have a hint of conversation that did not involve hurtful words and thoughts of violence; mostly from Gray, who was gruff, bitter and had no compassion. It was his way or no way, only his opinion and way mattered. He did not want to listen to anyone else or compromise on anything. Abby was sweet and had a loving nature but she was naive and a real pushover in some ways. And poor Becca, Grays daughter, was just caught somewhere in the middle of all the tension and strife holding in all her emotions and feelings and trying to go with the flow. For me, this book just had more bitter parts that kept me feeling tense than a smooth flowing, romantic story. I was actually relieved when I finished the read. Sadly, I do not think I will not be reading any more books by this author. Her writing style is just not for me. *Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
**I received a copy of A True Cowboy Christmas from St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is what I hope a new series by Ms. Crews. This author is new for me and I thought the story was awesome so after reading this book, I have every faith that any additions to the series will all be as good as this way.
Abby Douglas has always felt plain and boring partly due to her mother’s hurtful words whenever she decides to show up at her parents farm but from her friends and customers at the coffee house she works in town as well she’s has a beautiful soul. So imagine her surprise when at Amos Everett’s funeral Gray whom she’s loved all her life asks her to marry him. Will she say yes and have a happy ever after or will his lack of wanting to be loved hurt them both?Can she teach a stubborn and very handsome cowboy about love also?
Gray Everett loves the land and while still reeling from his father’s passing knows that he is only part owner of the ranch. When he realizes that his daughter, Becca, is needing a mother figure (as hers died in her way to meet a lover) he decides to ask the girl next door that he’s known forever. His proposal lacks what Abby would love to hear plus its just an arrangement to Gray no full of his love to she’d love to have. But he also needs to mend fences with both his brothers and part owners Ty and Brady who know that he’s in danger of becoming his bitter and mean father. Can Gray figure out what’s more important than the ranch and that he loves her before it’s too late?
While this has a lot of dark moments as both Gray and Abby had parents who berates them and quite a lot of angst, they will both have to learn to forgive themselves before moving forward to their lives together. I’m looking forward to reading Ty’s story of what happened at the rodeo and who’ll be his love interest.
A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is a fabulous western romance. Ms. Crews has delivered a well-written book. The characters in this book are outstanding. Kudos to Ms. Crews for this fabulous cast of characters. Gray has worked his father’s ranch for years while his brothers went off into different professions. Abby is Gray’s closest neighbor and has been in love with him since childhood. Gray and Abby’s story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle and conflict. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and look forward to reading more from Caitlin Crews in the future. A True Cowboy Christmas is book 1 of the Cold River Ranch Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.