There’s nothing like a firefighting cowboy to keep you toasty warm this Christmas…Christmas is coming up, and single mom Sydney Steele is determined to make this a holiday to remember for Wildcat Bluff County. She still has to get those pesky, reluctant—and deliciously attractive—firefighting cowboys to pose for her charity calendar. They claim they’re too busy pursuing an unknown arsonist to … pursuing an unknown arsonist to take a break.
Dune Barrett has been flirting with Sydney for months, so he jumps at the chance to give her a hand. And when he agrees to pose as Mr. December, she couldn’t be happier. But to really win her over, Dune will have to convince eleven other guys from his crew to exploit their good looks for charity…a task much easier said than done.
Smokin’ Hot Cowboys:
A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas (Book 1)
Blazing Hot Cowboy (Book 2)
A Very Cowboy Christmas (Book 3)
What People Are Saying About A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas:
“This tale will melt even the iciest heart.”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
“A whole new type of holiday read. A little mystery and a lot of heat.”—Night Owl Reviews
“Redford’s novel is a fun, sexy read, one that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season.” —RT Book Reviews
”A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas will keep you warm and toasty and entertained in a big—and I mean Texas big—way.”—USA Today Happily Ever After
more
WHY RIDE A HORSE OR A COWBOY WHEN YOU CAN DRIVE A FLASHY 1959 PINK CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE NAMED CELESTE!!! lol…
Title: A Very Cowboy Christmas
Series: Smokin’ Hot Cowboys
Author: Kim Redford
Designation: Book 3 of Series, Full-Length Novel (Approx 375 pages), Standalone Contemporary Romance, NO Cliffhanger #cowboyfirefighter #cowgirlfirefighter #smallwesterntownsaga #coworkers #grievingwidow #singlemother #brokenlovableroguishhero
My Rating: Five Sexy Stars*****
OH MY! I loved, loved, loved A Very Cowboy Christmas, the third smokin’ hot release in the Smokin’ Hot Cowboys Series by Kim Redford! lol… Yeah, I realize that statement is a little redundant but I just couldn’t resist making a little pun. A few weeks ago, I found Kim Redford through a free promotion for the first book of this series, A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas, and fell in love with her sultry style, passionate prose, and endearing characters, so much so that I raced back to Amazon and purchased the other two ebooks currently available in the series. Best decision ever! That alone is quite a recommendation because I’m very selective about what I read and review. But I may as well be totally honest, folks, Redford had me at smokin’ hot cowboys and firefighter. Just kidding! (Totally not kidding!) lol… I’m so in love with the town/county of Wildcat Bluff and its entire community along with the two protagonists of this story, swoony retired rodeo cowboy and current ranch hand at Cougar Ranch, Dune Barrett, and beautiful, spunky cowgirl Sydney Steele. There was so much I truly enjoyed about this story, especially the real-life history of Wildcat Bluff Texas and its former Comanche residents that Redford skillfully wove into the storyline. In A Very Cowboy Christmas, Redford expands her Wildcat Bluff world and takes readers to Sure-Shot, another small town in Wildcat Bluff County, which was apparently named in honor of Little Miss Sure Shot, Annie Oakley. But my favorite component of this heartwarming love story was the large cast of endearing and completely relatable characters. I was immediately smitten with handsome, roguish, rolling-stone, former rodeo cowboy Dune Barrett, currently working as a ranch hand at Cougar Ranch and volunteer cowboy firefighter. Dune Barrett rolled into Wildcat Bluff 6 months ago, asking his friend Kent Duval for a job and a place to lick his wounds after a life-altering tragedy. Dune was just the cat’s meow and made all the ladies swoon, including me! Unfortunately, Dune wasn’t interested in ever settling down with one woman again (oops, slight spoiler), but he was very interested in a roll in the hay with one particular Wildcat Bluff cowgirl – beautiful, feisty fellow volunteer firefighter Sydney Steele. But the independent, hardworking, widowed Sydney Steele wasn’t interested in a quick fling with the gorgeous, sexy Dune Barrett! Or any other man, for that matter. She lost the love of her life two years ago when he was killed in the Middle East while serving his country. Her 8-year-old daughter, Storm, came first in her life and always would. Nope, she didn’t need a man in her life. Sydney, her mother, grandmother, daughter, and brother Slade were doing just fine working their family ranch, Steele Trap, and running their family business, The Chuckwagon Cafe. Dune Barrett may make her heart flutter uncontrollably and she might be slightly attracted to him (okay, a lot attracted), but she would never dishonor her deceased husband’s memory by allowing anyone else in her bed or her heart. But you know what they say – never say never. The heart wants what the heart wants, no matter what our head tells us. Sydney was so smart, sassy, spunky, hard-working, selfless, and determined, but my heart broke for her. And Dune…his story just gutted me. Dune’s flirty manner was covering a world of hurt.
Dune and Sydney both were still reeling from broken hearts, but when Dune volunteers to help Sydney with the volunteer firefighter calendar fundraiser and the new Sure-Shot Christmas celebration, sparks fly – literally! Dune and Sydney find themselves working long hours together to make Christmas at the Sure-Shot Drive-In a success, and soon discover they have much more in common than they ever dreamed. Their chemistry was off the charts hot and their interaction with each other was sexy, entertaining, and so much fun. I loved the scenes at the newly restored Sure-Shot Drive-In snack shack (aka ‘The Passion Pit’-lol) with the jukebox and them dancing to the oldies. Unchained Melody has always been one of my favorite songs! Sigh… I could feel the sparks flying between Dune and Sydney, and it was heartwrenching to witness their inner turmoil and emotional tug of war. And Sydney’s daughter, Storm, was just adorable! And the cherry on top of this perfect love story was Celeste, a 1959 pink Cadillac convertible in mint condition with cowboy bullhorn hood ornaments! This story was just so sweet, so sexy, and soooo heartwarming! No spoilers from me but I will say this… Sexy, handsome, charismatic, and very lonely cowboy firefighter reeling from a tragic loss and seemingly content with his rolling stone lifestyle, but suddenly finds himself wanting to put down roots-check! Beautiful, independent, kindhearted, and hardworking widowed cowgirl determined to make a good life for her daughter-check! A super cool 1959 pink Cadillac Convertible named Celeste-check! A wonderful close-knit community of colorful, engaging, and endearing characters-check! Another wonderful Christmas celebration and parade-check! A dangerous, mysterious firebug wreaking havoc throughout the community-check! A little mystery, a dash of suspense, a splash of humor, a generous pinch of angst, and a whole lot of steamy romance- you bet! That and a whole lot more!
Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! There was so much I adored about this story. The narrative was beautifully written in the third person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue was smart, snappy, natural, well executed, and flowed effortlessly. But my absolute favorite component was the large cast of well-developed characters who literally exploded from the pages,, demanded your undivided attention, captured your heart, and held you prisoner from beginning to end. I found them to be realistic, engaging, and endearing, and I’m quite sure we’ll be seeing many of them in future books. I loved the fictional world/community of Wildcat Bluff County that Redford created for this series. Although the town and characters of the story may be fictional, I discovered that Wildcat Bluff is a real place and the rich history of the area shared in this book is actually true! And Redford did a fabulous job of weaving it into her story. I particularly enjoyed Redford’s writing style. Her vividly detailed descriptions of the town, its residents, and the surrounding countryside were masterfully written. I found myself immediately immersed in the story and compelled to keep turning each page. Although the storyline does include an underlying interconnected plot element (the firebug) that continues throughout the series, each book can easily be read as a standalone with its very own happy-ever-after, but for maximum enjoyment, I highly recommend reading the books sequentially. As I stated earlier, there is a little mystery and suspense, but it’s not the main element. The primary focus is the romantic journey of two lonely people finding love and the obstacles they must overcome to secure their happy ending. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! In fact, after finishing the first book, I raced back and purchased the next two of the series. Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but for adult readers. There’s no profanity, but it is steamy and does contain several tastefully written sex scenes. Redford’s writing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine. I prefer a book I can settle in with, sink my teeth into, and really get to know the characters, and that’s exactly what this author delivered. Redford’s books are not for people who want to devour a book in a couple of hours but rather for those folks who enjoy savoring the words. You don’t gulp fine whiskey; you sip it, swirl it, relish it, and appreciate the taste. I’m almost 70 years young and have been an avid reader for 65 of those years. It takes something truly extraordinary to impress me and I’m truly impressed by Redford’s work. And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I giggled, snickered, snorted, sniffled, and sighed through the entire story but by the end, I was happy, satisfied, and well entertained. Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
**Side note for anyone following this series: We do learn the identity of the mysterious firebug in this book, but more importantly, we discover whether Hedy will finally agree to see Bert’s Bluebird of Happiness Collection! Thank you, Kim Redford! lol… No spoilers from me! You’ll just have to read the book!
Kim Redford chases the chill away with her cuddle worthy firefighters. A Very Cowboy Christmas is better than any fiery chestnuts, sweeter than a barrel full of cocoa and warmer than the heaviest quilt. Dune and Sydney are a seductive combination of flirty and flashy that quickly morphs into brash and sassy. From the inside out this group of hot men give new meaning to toasty.