For Owen Cross, the only thing that matters more than family is farming. As the oldest Cross brother, the land is his legacy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Cross Creek a success—including hiring local widow Cate McAllister to manage the bookkeeping tasks that are growing in his office like weeds. Cate’s as pragmatic as she is pretty, and she rattles his hard-fought composure at every … turn.
Cate had known a lot of things about her husband before he died three years ago in a car accident, but how much debt he’d gotten them into wasn’t one of them. She needs her job at Cross Creek, even if her boss is both gruff and gorgeous. But Owen’s a family man, through and through, and the last thing Cate is interested in is anything—or anyone—with strings attached.
As Owen and Cate join forces to right the farm, they discover there’s more to the other than the surfaces shows, and that passion can be found in unexpected places. Can Cate heal from the loss of one family to gain the love of her life? Or will the past prove too much for the promise of the future?
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Crossing Promises is the third book in the Cross Creek series revolving around 3 very different brothers and their father who operate a family owned farm. Owen is the oldest brother who feels the burden of the family legacy.
Cate McAllister is trying to put her life back together after the death of her husband and child 3 years ago. He left her with massive debts, massive guilt and very low self-esteem. She is working diligently to pay off those debts. When her stress becomes overwhelming, she copes by baking, which she does very well. Owen is dedicated to running the family farm and is very hands on, except for the office work. Cate offers to help with the bookkeeping and he jumps at her offer. Once they are working closely together, they discover a mutual attraction that is off the charts. Owen soon discovers he wants more than just working on the farm, he wants Cate. Cate is also attracted to Owen, but is not looking for anything permanent. Owen is so very patient with Cate and her personal issues. He encourages her to do more with her baking skills and helps her open up and see that she is worth so much more. They encourage each other to be more and support each other to be more. I love how Owen and Cate danced around each other before accepting that they belong to each other. They do have some hurdles to jump, but ultimately they reach their happily ever after.
This was the perfect addition to this series. We do get see Marley and the brothers interaction as a family. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading them all to get the full effect of the family bond. Ms. Kincaid is an auto-buy for me. She also writes romantic suspense books as well. I highly recommend this book.
Oh my goodness! This one was packed full of feels, had me shedding tears from the beginning, then laughing out loud, then more tears and smiling all the way through. To see Owen come out of his tough shell and find someone worthy of him made my heart soar. His whole life has been the farm, family and farm was instilled in him from an early age and he has kept that close and when Cate hears him talking about needing someone to help with the books she steps out of her comfort zone to hire on. There were sparks between them early on and when you add on baked goods and sarcasm what could be better. Did you really think I was going to tell you about this book? No way! This one you have to read! It can be read as a standalone and you will not be lost even though the whole family is brought back together but really this entire series is great.
I have loved the Cross Creek Series since book 1 and Crossing Promises by Kimberly Kincaid is a wonderful addition to this amazing series.. There have been twists and turns along with way for the Cross family, but what a ride they have been on. If you have not read the other books in the series, that is ok, each book can be read stand alone, but i would suggest reading the books in order so that you understand the dynamic of the famiy. This is the story of Cate and Owen.
Owen Cross is the oldest of the Cross brother, the one who will carry on the family legacy of farm and family. He loves nothing more that to farm, raise cattle, and work in the greenhouse. Farm and family are everything to Owen, and he would not trade that in for anything. The one thing that he struggles with is the bookkeeping, he needs to hire someone and fast. When Cate McAllister offers to help him out, he jumps at the chance. But being so close the sexy, widow might be his downfall.
Cate McAllister lost her husband and daughter in a car accident more than 3 years ago. Left with a mountain of debit and mountain of guilt, Cate is tired of being looked at with pity and sadness. She wants to be treated like a normal person. When she jumps at the chance to work for Owen Cross, she is surprised that he takes her up on the offer. The problem, she has the hots for him, and that could make that relationship phobic Cate run for the hills.
As Cate and Owen give into the attraction that is sparking around them, what starts as a no strings thing turns into something far more. But when Owen pushes for everything from Cate, and Cate drops a bombshell confession, Owen will need to decide for himself, what he really wants, and in his head and heart, what farm and family really mean to him.
I love how Owen and Cate open up to each other. I love that Owen is patient with Cate, allowing her to voice her fears and open up about her past. I love how Cate sees Owen for who is really is. I love that Owen and Cate encourage and support each other, and in the end, they get the greatest gift of all, a love that will sustain them through the years ahead. An amazing addition to this amazing series.
Since meeting him in the first book of the Cross Creek series, I’ve been anxiously waiting for Owen’s story. Happily it’s here and I have to say the wait was well worth it.
Owen Cross, the oldest of the Cross brothers, has always known what his life path would be. Family and farm are what he holds dear and all he needs to be happy. The Cate McAllister enters his life and the joy he feels being with makes everything feel just right. Cate has suffered loss in her life though and giving her heart is hard for her to do. Will this hold her back from the loving future she could have with Owen or will she be willing to grab on and hold on tight?
I’ve loved all the books in this series and this is a perfect addition. These characters are fantastic and their story will win your heart. Put this on the must read list. I highly recommend it.
WOW!! I’m having a book hangover! Eli and Cate’s story is real with real life troubles. Beautiful and heartbreaking all in one! I laughed, I cried, I fell in love!
Awwww, Owen!
Kimberly Kincaid can re-write the phone book and have a best seller!
I love this third installment of the Cross Creek Series and I know that Ms. Kincaid will continue to give us more to tease us with and keep us intrigued. CROSSING PROMISES does not disappoint!
Owen is a hard man to like, even harder to love given his single status. He is a workaholic, a loner and gorgeous. He is also a stickler for promptness, a determined perfectionist and brilliant at what he loves, farming. Cate is smart, beautiful and loves to bake, she is also a widow that lives with a tremendous amount of survivor’s guilt, suffers from loneliness and is broke. She needs a job and Owen needs a bookkeeper.
I love how this story develops with Owen’s family dynamics and being entrenched in the “Family and Farm” mantra. This is Owen. I learned to love Owen when you were allowed to get deep inside his heart and learn the “why” of his obsession. It makes you feel raw emotion and understand his drive. A heartwarming journey about keeping the family farm legacy alive and prospering with the love of the land and community. I love the sense of family and the “simple” life of hard work making the farm viable each day that is throughout this story.
Then there is the relationship journey between Cate and Owen. Cate has suffered a personal tragedy and will forever mourn that time of her life. However, this story shows how Cate becomes a stronger person, learning to live her life again. I loved this part of the story the most. There are subtle lessons learned within this story that the reader will always remember. A wonderful, strong, emotional love story! I loved it! Excellent job!
Do you agree with every choice your family or friends make? Of course not. Does it make you think? Of course. That’s the basis of this story. Owen is the oldest & is working to reimagine the farm & make it the success his mother dreamed of before she died.
“Family and Farm, Owen. Never forget how important they both are. Never forget…”
The work is hard & never ending but he loves it. He’s taking the farm in new ways but he has one large hang up – paperwork. None of them like to do it but aren’t sure what to do about it.
Enter Cate McAllister. Cate is in debt up to her eyeballs through no fault of her own. The marriage everyone thought was perfect was a sham. After her husband & daughter were killed, Cate found out how deep of a hole her husband had put them in. Now, 2 years later, the town still looks upon her as “poor Cate” but they have no idea how poor she is. After she had a conversation with Owen at the dinner, she convinced him to hire her to be his bookkeeper.
Kimberly Kincaid has written a story with two exceptionally strong characters that know what they want in life & pursue it. The chemistry between Cate & Owen is intense & all consuming. The sex is hot & uncompromising. The supporting characters are all well defined from the heart of gold busybody Clementine to the snarky sarcastic half sister of Owen’s, Marley. The plot allows the reader to learn everything Owen & Cate hold dear at a decent speed except one secret. This book is not for the person who dislikes sex in the open (definitely not behind closed doors!) or dirty language. However, I personally really enjoyed it. I hope Marley gets her own book. There’s a story there begging to be told!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Crossing Promises by Kimberly Kincaid, the third book in her Cross Creek series and I really struggled to put it down. I’m not sure how she did it, but this book is even better than the last two, which I didn’t think was possible.
Owen Cross, the eldest brother, is quiet, brooding, socially awkward, and lonely. His brothers have found their soul mates and he wondered if he would ever find someone. Owen lived by the mantra of “Farm and Family” that his mother would always tell him prior to her death. Cate McAllister agreed to manage the bookkeeping tasks that Owen neglected, not having enough hours in the day to get to them. After losing her husband in a car accident and Cate learned how much debt he had gotten them into which is why she needs this job at Cross Creek. She knows her gorgeous but grumpy boss is a family man but Cate is not interested in getting involved with anyone where there are strings attached. However, as Owen and Cate work together they discover so much more about each other and that passion can found in unexpected places.
I loved how encouraging Owen was to Cate exploring her dream of opening a bakery. I admired the strength Cate had to move on after losing her family and her willingness to explore a relationship with Owen, even though she was not looking for one.
I really enjoyed reading this book as Ms. Kincaid drew me in and did not let me go until I reluctantly read the last page. Ms. Kincaid kept this reader mesmerized with wanting to see how things would work out between Owen and Cate. I highly recommend this book to other readers and I for one look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Crossing Promises by Kimberly Kincaid
Cross Creek #3
Three brothers raised on Cross Creek Farm do their best to continue the family legacy. Not having read the first two books I did catch on to the fact that Eli met Scarlett and the two took off to work together as journalists but will return to work the farm in the future AND that Hunter and Emerson had a book telling their love story and will marry before the end of this book.
This is the story of Owen, the eldest brother. He is committed to the farm, runs it in most ways and has a vision for the farm that he is working hard to implement. His brother Hunter and he work hard with their father to get everything done even when the list of things to do is endless. Owen, with two brothers in committed relationships, begins to feel a bit jealous BUT doesn’t want to settle for just anyone so…he waits.
Cate McAllister was widowed three years before the story begins. She is holding down two part time jobs and when restless she bakes. The more troubled she becomes the more difficult the recipe is that she tackles. Baking is her release and acts to calm and settle her soul as it also inspires her. She has always dreamed of owning her own bakery but life happened and it never has come to pass. With her finances and life in turmoil after the loss of her husband and daughter she is working hard and on the lookout for a third job when she overhears Owen talking to a friend about needing a book keeper. And, she finds herself offering to tackle the job.
Owen is taciturn, curmudgeonly and has a tongue that seems to twist in ways that makes what he wants to say come out a bit harsh. Cate is all for honesty although I have to say that her omission of something big kind of left me questioning her honesty a bit. The two work together well, find they play together well and manage to enhance one another’s lives. That said…there is a could-be deal breaker once Cate tells Owen something she has not shared earlier in their growing relationship…in spite of how well they communicate and get along together previously. I have known some people who have felt like Cate and made the choice she did in this book but I was a bit surprised at how easily Owen fell in line with Cate’s wishes.
This is a story of family and just what family is and is not and suggests the idea that not all families are a husband, wife and 2.5 children. It is also about supporting rather than pulling down, communication, honesty, changing family dynamics, determining what is truly important…and so much more.
Thank you to the author who bequeathed me a copy of this book through NetGalley – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
ARC – I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
Cate was left w/ a ton of debts after her husband’s death.
She really needed the job at the “Cross Creek” farm.
Owen only hired Cate because he was falling behind on the papework.
Although, it was really a good decision.
I loved the storytelling + the characters
The storytelling + the character’s build were awesome!
This story belongs to Owen Cross, the oldest of the Cross brothers and the one who has put his body and soul into making Cross Creek , the family farm, a successful enterprise . He follows his heart and his mother’s words prior to her death. Those words being that farm and family and their legacy were the most important things in life.
While waitressing at the cafe, widow Cate McAllister hears he needs a bookkeeper and she offers her services. Her home is close to being foreclosed and the debts left by her husband are closing down on her so this job might be her salvation.
As the story progresses , we find out more about Cate’s child and husband , killed in an accident, as well as her outlet, baking.
Owen and Cate had a shaky beginning, but as they forge a friendship, a deeper relationship also develops.
I found that Owen was instrumental in helping Cate deal with her insecurities and talents.
Aside from the basic plot, the author reminds us that family, in whatever shape or form we get it, is important.
That the definition of family is different for everyone and that their are times that even the definition we had given to family, might not be the one we will want in the end.
All that said, for me, Cate was ok, but not my favorite character. In her constant quest for always being honest, she never divulged a crucial part of herself. But such is life .
Ms Kincaid gives us an engaging plot, complex characters, heartbreaking as well as heartwarming moments, and of course , romance.
Wonder if Marley will have a story in the future or if this will be the end of the series. Only time will tell.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Crossing Promises is about building a legacy when the odds are stacked against success. What begins as a means to an end becomes a complication that Owen and Cate never counted on. His life is the land that he nurtures and the family that keeps him sane. Her priorities are moving past grief and debt to find happiness again. Simple is what they both want, but the heart has a way of shaking things up in the most surprising of ways. Kimberly Kincaid is a master at creating a reason to smile. Her stories proved that as long as there’s faith, the heart will help a lost soul find it’s way home.
Such a fantastic addition to a phenomenal series!! Cate and Owen have a slow build chemistry that is combustible. Cate is Sassy (yes, capital S). She is honest with everyone, especially herself. Owen, my grumpy farmer, is direct, to the point of being rude. The things that come out of this man’s mouth! These two have you rooting for them from the first chapter! I loved everything about this book, especially it’s surprising conclusion. And we get to catch up with Hunter, Emerson, Eli, and Scarlett. This book can totally be read as a stand-a-lone but read the whole series!! It’s so good!