A family crisis brings him home… Just in time for Christmas Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time. Shelby McCall is as …
Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?
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LONE STAR CHRISTMAS (A Coldwater Texas Novel #1) by Delores Fossen is a holiday contemporary romance that has the perfect blend of laughter, tears, family and romance. This is the start of a new series featuring the Laramie brothers and the small town of Coldwater, Texas.
Buck McCall has taken in difficult to place foster kids onto his ranch with the help of his housekeeper, Rosy for decades. They are going to finally marry and Buck wants nothing more than to have Callen return home for the wedding because he needs help because of secret he is keeping.
Callen Laramie left Coldwater at the age of eighteen and never looked back. Even though Buck gave him and his brothers a good home, he had too many bad memories he wanted to leave behind. He is now a rich cattleman in Dallas. He has no intention of going back to Coldwater, even for the wedding until Buck’s daughter, the one who was always off limits, shows up in his Dallas office personally asking him to come home because she is worried about Buck.
Shelby McCall has grown into a beautiful spitfire who trains and rehabs horses. She is excited for her father and Rosy’s wedding, but she also feels that her father is keeping a secret about his health. She wants Callen home, not only for her father, but for herself. She wants what she could not have when she was too young. Even if Callen will not stay, she plans on having, even if only for Christmas, the one who left her behind.
Callen and Shelby were wonderful main characters to start this series off. His dark and hurt to her light and love. Callen had so much to deal with, Buck’s secrets, reuniting with his brothers and dealing with the past. Shelby was always there and helping him even as it broke her own heart. The secondary characters in this book could have easily overshadowed the main romance, but Ms. Fossen did a great job of making them quirky and interesting without overshadowing Callen and Shelby’s story. This book has small town characters that made me laugh out loud and a swoon worthy HEA. There are well written sex scenes that have as much heart and laughter as heat. I am looking forward to the rest of the Laramie brothers’ stories. This is a wonderful Christmas romance that I can highly recommend!
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
Very entertaining with fresh new characters!
As usual, there were several laughs as I read this contemporary holiday romance. Ms. Fossen fills her HQNs with quirky characters and uniquew situations. This one, I felt, had more touching moments, as well. At the core of the story is the impact of good parenting. Buck, the elder statesman of this story, is the true hero, imo. Besides his daughter Shelby (the heroine), he has opened his ranch and his heart to many foster children over the years. Now that he is in trouble with his health, those foster kids–now grown up–come back to help him. The heroes of the Coldwater, Texas series are the Laramie brothers: Callen, Nico, Kace and Judd–4 brothers whom Buck took in when they needed a safe place. Horrendously scarred by their past, these boys have grown into strong, sexy men. They’ll do whatever is necessary to take care of the people they love, especially Buck and his bride-to-be, Rosy. Falling in love along the way and healing themselves is an added bonus.
I teared up twice reading this book–once in the wedding scene, and again at the end when Callen and Shelby exchange Christmas gifts. But I won’t give away any spoilers.
Loved meeting the Laramie brothers! Can’t wait for Judd’s book.
Terrific start to the new series, with a steamy romance, fun characters, and a quirky small town. There are secrets to deal with, a wedding to attend, and memories to face. Callen hasn’t been back in Coldwater since he left at the age of eighteen. There were too many bad memories, and he was determined to leave them as far behind as he could. He has no intention of ever going back to Coldwater, even when he gets the invitation to his foster father’s wedding. It doesn’t matter that there is a note attached that Buck needs to see him. Then Buck’s daughter Shelby shows up at Callen’s Dallas office to personally ask Callen to come because she’s worried about her father. Callen had had a huge crush on Shelby as a teen, but Buck’s threat to castrate any of his foster sons who even looked at her funny kept his feelings well hidden.
Shelby is excited about her father and Rosy’s wedding, but she has a bad feeling that there is something seriously wrong with her father. If he wants Callen home for the wedding, she will do whatever it takes to get him there. She also had had a huge crush on Callen when they were younger and looked on this as a chance to have what had been forbidden to her before.
Callen only intended to make a quick visit to see Buck and find out what was on his mind. What he found instead was a man with a big problem and that he was the only one Buck trusted to take care of it. Callen isn’t happy about the secrets Buck wants him to keep, but he packs up his office and his assistant and moves to Coldwater temporarily to help Buck out. Seeing Shelby again is a bonus, especially after Buck removes the threat of castration.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Callen and Shelby. The chemistry between them was explosive every time they were near each other. Shelby is well aware of the fact that Callen will not stay in Coldwater for long, but she’s willing to take what she can get. Callen is up for a fling but also suffers some pangs of guilt because he’s afraid of hurting her. The attraction between them leaped off the pages as they could not keep their hands off each other, but it was also clear that what they had was more than just physical. I loved seeing how tuned they were to each other and the protectiveness it brought out in both of them. There were some terrific scenes of Callen being there for Shelby when she most needs him. There were also a few times when Shelby showed how well she understood Callen and what drives him. There was a fantastic scene near the end where she supports him in a totally unexpected way. I ached for Shelby as her “no strings” promise looked like it would lead to another broken heart for her. I was a little worried about Callen and his plans, but he came through in a big way. I loved his Christmas present to her at the end. It was sweet, romantic, and symbolic of everything he had been fighting against.
The secondary characters and stories were wonderful. I loved Buck and Rosy. Buck’s devotion to giving homes to those who most needed it was heartwarming. It was clear just how much he meant to those kids when the responses to the wedding invitations came rolling in. Buck was also stubborn and protective, which is what led to his attempts to keep the truth from Rosy and Shelby. Rosy was a riot. She had a huge heart and a sweet disposition. She was also a wee bit eccentric, as shown by her wedding plans. It was fun to anticipate just what she was going to come up with next, especially when it came to Billy, the stuffed armadillo. I loved Lucy and Mateo. The parallels between them and Callen and his brothers were heartbreaking. They were terrific kids, and I loved the way they looked out for each other, and how much they cared for Buck and Rosy. I was happy for them with the way things worked out at the end.
I also loved Callen’s brothers. In spite of the way he had cut them out of his life when he fled Coldwater, they were still there for each other when needed. I ached for them all as the stories of their pasts were revealed. There was a fantastic scene at the end where they confronted a part of their past together, and I couldn’t help but laugh as they did it. It was great to see Callen reconnect with them. I am looking forward to reading their stories.
There were plenty of other quirky characters in the small town. There was Gavin, Shelby’s ex-fiancé, who had a hard time letting go, and his sister who had issues with Callen. The town flasher was a bit of a scene-stealer. Then there was Ted, the owner of the local junk shop, who ended up having quite an effect of Callen. I loved the scene of Callen in his shop as Callen did his Christmas shopping.
“Lone Star Christmas” by Delores Fossen is book one of her Coldwater Texas series.
Callen Laramie is asked by his foster father, Buck, to come home for a wedding and for Christmas. Callen left Coldwater years ago without looking back. Now he is tasked to keep secrets, face his painful past, and see his childhood crush.
Shelby McCall is Buck’s daughter and she wants Callen to find out what is going on with her dad. She knows Callen isn’t going to stay past Christmas, so she needs to make the most of their time together until then. Their “time” is both passionate and funny.
“Lone Star Christmas” will bring tears, laughter, and, most of all, it will tug at your heart.
Ms. Fossen has created a band of brothers and a surrounding family you will definitely care about.
Lone Star Christmas shot right into my heart. What a delightfully ardent, heartbreakingly tragic, and cheerfully Christmassy story with laugh out loud humor drizzled into the mix to give it spice and cheer, delivering that all- around good feeling you get during the holidays.
Yes, I might have mentioned it many times that this series is my favorite cowboy series and this title just confirmed that top spot in my mind. From laughter to tears to smiles and to sighs to swooning, this story brought up, front, and center all the feels.
I absolutely adored Callen Laramie and Shelby McCall, as well all the other secondary cast and crew, especially the Laramie brothers – those brothers have that hot, complex hero thing going for them so strong and vivid, I can’t wait to read their stories and destinies.
Callen and Shelby have had the hots for each other ever since the teenage years. The threat of castration and to save himself from his tragic past, Callen leaves the town at the age of 18, without looking in the rearview mirror. Now, years later, Callen and Shelby have the chance to live true those old (and not so old) fantasies, and oh boy, do they heat up the sheets and pages… Through those wildly passionate encounters, it comes tangible how the feelings between them start to grow, how ‘no strings attached’ comes to something much more, and how they count on each other to be there when the trouble comes knocking at the door.
I loved the story, from the very start Callen found his way to my heart with his conflicted family drama, and I found the book impossible to put down, keeping me up late into the night.
A marvelous Christmas romance novel, a fantastic family saga, and a deliciously desirous addition to the beloved series!
~ Five Spoons
Favorite Quotes:
It was Gopher Tate, and he threw open his heavily lined raincoat to flash her. He had a blue bow tied around his wrinkly junk that was covered by a pair of whities that weren’t so tight. They were at least three sizes too big, and the elastic in the waist was shot… Shelby gave him a glare that was colder than the sleet pelting his thinly covered privates. “Close your coat, Gopher, before you have to explain to the ER folks why you got frostbite on your wanger.”
She was reasonably sure that had she been wearing toenail polish, it would have melted, too.
Seems a shame to let the pizza go cold after you slaved over the phone to order it…
The cat was there, sitting by a nearly empty food and water dish and glaring at Callen as if he were responsible for multiple crimes against felines and humanity.
My Review:
Delores Fossen has gifted us with the early Christmas present of a new series, and she has started it off with her own special blend of damaged yet sexy and lovable heroes, clever wry humor, heart squeezing storylines, colorful and quirky small-town characters, and a sweet romance with delectably steamy bits. I always look forward to meeting her amusing and uniquely peculiar characters and she didn’t disappoint with the introduction of Rosy – the armadillo obsessed geriatric bride-to-be with a taxidermy shop called Much Ado About Stuffing; and Gopher – the pervy elderly flasher who was well known yet never actually naked under his raincoat. The storylines were engaging, entertaining, and well-paced. I’m already primed for the next installment.
This wonderful book starts an all new series. This charm filled small town romance is a very welcome gift to readers this holiday season. The book is smartly crafted and offers an engaging storyline and likable characters. With lots of sweetness, humor, drama, and powerful emotions, you will quickly be thoroughly sucked into Callen and Shelby’s world and find yourself rooting for them ever step of the way. This is my completely voluntary, honest review.
The Laramie brothers have arrived! Delores Fossen is taking us to the small Texas town of Coldwater where there is no shortage of memorable characters. From laugh out loud moments of “Dookie Head” being shouted from car windows to unconventional wedding plans of a pink tulle loving taxidermist, you simply cannot miss out on this ride!
Callen Laramie ran from this town, his tormented past, and his family the day he turned 18. Head ‘em up, move ‘em out. In Dallas, Callen had built Laramie Cattle on that motto. When Callen receives an unforgettable wedding invitation (because who could ever forget a stuffed armadillo draped with gold tinsel, a bridal veil, holding poinsettias?) with a special message attached, he’s forced to return home for this Christmas Eve event. The circumstances presented to him by his foster father, Buck, have him temporarily setting up office at the Inn in Coldwater. After all, how can he not be there for the man that saved him and his brothers when he asks for help? Seeing Buck’s daughter, Shelby, again after 14 years away is a definitely a perk to this trip down memory lane.
Shelby McCall is the girl we all want in our lives, as a sister or as a friend. She is strong, independent, and loves her father more than anything. Well, ok, Callen Laramie has been a close second since she was a mere 13 year old girl. She was 16 when he left, hurt that he never thought to look in his rear view mirror to see what he was leaving behind. She was well aware of her father’s open threat for castration to any of his foster son’s if they even looked at her funny but Callen was different. She and Callen had chemistry, something they could never pursue. Until now. I won’t spill the beans but trust me when I say, there is no doubt the chemistry still exist for these two people!
Lone Star Christmas is a wonderful combination of heart, humor, real life obstacles, and a romance full of unexpected strings! ENJOY!
Who in their right mind sends a wedding invitation for a Christmas Eve wedding decorated with a stuffed armadillo wearing a bridal veil, draped in gold tinsel and carrying a bouquet of poinsettias? Callen Laramie isn’t surprised to see the wedding invitation was sent by Rosy Muldoon inviting him to her wedding to Buck McCall, Callen’s foster father, but the wedding is take place in Coldwater, Texas. “No way” is Callen’s first thought. He left Coldwater eighteen years ago and has no intention of ever returning. Too many bad memories that still overshadow all the good Buck McCall had done for him and his brothers. Callen notices a hand-written note on the bottom of the invitation which says, “Please come. Buck needs to talk to you. Rosy” That made it really tough for him to decline but decline he does. That decision sticks until he gets a surprise visit from his childhood sweetheart Shelby McCall, Buck’s daughter. Shelby decides to “take the bull by the horns” and go to Dallas where Callen runs Laramie Cattle to appeal to him in person. There’s something wrong with Buck. She just knows it – an x-ray, something showed up, nothing to worry about according to Buck. Wrong. She is plenty worried, worried enough to pull out all stops to get Callen back to Coldwater if that’s what her dad wants. But a French kiss?
Shelby does convince Callen to return to Coldwater. Thus begins a fun, laugh-out-loud book. There are super puffy pink wedding dresses with sequins galore, nunchucks as a Christmas gift, replicas of Billy the armadillo everywhere and lots more fun. Everyone knows everyone else’s business in this small town. Poor Shelby can’t even have a run-in with her ex-fiance in the town bake shop without all the townsfolk inside and outside the shop stopping to stare and try to listen. Local citizen Hattie Dapplemore is even using binoculars in the parking lot of the diner to watch to see what might happen.
Author Delores Fossen has managed to hit all the highlights of an excellent book. She has very likeable characters, a great storyline and tons of humor in this story. She also manages to convey the Christmas spirit with a touch of humor. Delores Fossen conveys the emotions and feelings of the tragedies of her characters very well so the reader feels included in the good times as well as the bad times. This book is the first installment in the author’s newest series, Coldwater, Texas. Lone Star Christmas is a delightful read – a book not to be passed up!