New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant returns to Texas, where a small-town legend just might find the greatest gift of all. . . ‘Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays–even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t … sure his family doesn’t lose everything.
Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wits’ end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby–and the inescapable longing in his heart–off the hook, however, is a whole ‘nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?
“Off-the-charts chemistry and a breath-stealing plot.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Protector
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Yes, Yes, Yes I recommend this book. The Christmas Cowboy Hero is the first book in Donna Grant’s Heart of Texas series. We learn how Clayton meets Abby. We get introduced to her brothers Brice and Caleb. The storyline is action packed. The characters feel real with interesting personalities. And we’re transported to Texas. I’ve lived in the North all of my life. It was nice to read of Southern Hospitality, of cowboys and ranches, of cattle rustling and of course the best happily ever after.
a complicated story that came together for a happy ending
I’ve read the 5 books they have out. Now I’m waiting for #6, Jace’s story, coming out in April of 2021. I have really enjoyed this set of books.
Ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East is heads home to find his family ranch in dire straights. While trying to turn his family farm around he is also dealing with his sick father, and his attraction to Abby Harper. Abby has been taking care of her brothers for years now but things don’t always go as planned. When her brother gets in trouble with the law she thinks everything is over for them. Instead the Harper family find passion for life again and help Clayton save his ranch.
I love Donna Grant’s writing but so far I have not picked up any of her contemporary books. They have been on my TBR since she started writing them but I have yet to actually read them. I regret not reading these when they came out. I rarely read westerns but I usually enjoy them. This one was really good and I wish I had the rest of the series so I could continue reading it.
“She made the ghosts that haunted him vanish. She made him feel whole again.”
Abby and Clayton were a cute couple. Their relationship was a slower one but I did quite enjoy it. Abby was smart, strong, and very caring. She has been taking care of her two brothers since she turned 18 and her mother left them. She is struggling to make ends meet but always provides for her brothers. I loved how strong the Harper family bond was. They have been through so much that they had to band together to survive. Clayton was the perfect male for this family. He is the perfect role model for the boys without overstepping his role. He was supportive and never pushed the boys, or Abby, to talk or do anything they weren’t ready for. Clayton and Abby had great chemistry from the beginning and I just knew they were going to be a great couple.
This book also had wonderful and supportive side characters that you just couldn’t help but love. The brothers were so cute and supportive of their sister that I really want to see them grow up and be happy. I really want to read the rest of this series in the near future.
I LOVED this story. I’m trying to figure out why it had to end! I could have kept on reading and reading this wonderful story.
This is the first book of this series. I just adored Abby Harper and how she took over the parental role after her mother abandoned her and her two younger brothers. Money is extremely tight and Brice is arrested for cattle rustling. Abby meets Clayton East at the police station. Brice, Abby’s oldest younger brother, was the only one that was caught stealing cattle from the East Ranch. Clayton, left the SEAL program a year ago but went to South Africa as the war changed him and he didn’t feel ready to come home. Receiving a call from his mother that his father suffered a small stroke, cattle had been stolen and money is missing, Clayton is forced to come home.
The road to a HEA for Clayton and Abby, is one that is filled with intrigue and mystery. It is also filled with cowboys (oh yeah!!) The story is very well written. The plot was so nicely done, that I had a hard time putting this down.
I adored the story being written in my favorite dual POV format. Seeing how these two overcome their past and work together to overcome adversity was a truly inspirational story. I have already read the third story of this series and had to start at the beginning.
There were a few sexy scenes that make for a recommended reading for someone over the age of 18. If you love cowboys (and who is also an ex-Navy SEAL) that is a strong, protective alpha who falls for a kind-hearted but protective sister, then this is the story for you! I highly recommend this story to someone over the age of 18.
Love this series! Being from Texas having grown up going to rodeos and spending time on a ranch, this book was a piece of home.
Ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East comes home for the holidays but there’s not much joy around. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. So it’s up to Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything. Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. To add to her burdens one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wits’ end. Clayton East believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas.
Cowboy stories aren’t my favourite trope but this had everything for a lovely holiday read, Clayton an ex SEAL now a cowboy, he’s also got a heart of gold. Abby a woman at her wit’s end, OH they were destined to be together. A really good read & I’ll certainly be reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This fabulous book is first in the Heart of Texas series and it features ex-Navy seal Clayton East and CPA in-training Abby Harper. She’s raising her two teenage brothers by herself. One of the boys gets caught stealing cattle from Clayton‘s family ranch and Clayton decides to give him a second chance by letting him work off his debt on the ranch. Clayton’s dealing with PTSD from his SEAL days and is struggling being back home before he was ready. At least that was until Abby came into his life. It’s so beautiful to watch Clayton go through all the phases of falling in love because he loves with all that he is. Abby is extremely gun shy because of her past but she couldn’t help but fall, worry and hope. It was very emotional watching her brothers have so much hope with the East’s.
This is a beautiful story full of hope, family, second chances and love. I know this fabulous book is about Abby and Clayton falling in love but I feel that this trio of brothers and sister, the Harpers, wouldn’t be completely whole without the unconditional love from Justine and Ben, the parents they never really had. So emotional at times I had tears in my eyes. I adore this series already.
This holiday romance had everything you could ask for, a hot former SEAL turned cowboy with a heart of gold, memorable characters and an enjoyable story line. Clayton East might have thought he no longer belonged at home on the family ranch but really he just needed a reason to believe again. And that reason was Abby, a young woman who had take on way more responsibility than she should have needed to all in the name of family. Overall a great romance to get you in the holiday mood.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Oddly enough, I read this story right on the heels of another book that was eerily similar. I mean, they were two books where there was a “wounded” cowboy recently returned to the home ranch. There there was the heroine who is taking care of her younger brother (as in legal guardian). And said cowboy steps in as a role model to the troubled young man. OK.. that’s where the similarities end. But I have to admit that I kept comparing the two books as I read. In the end, The Christmas Cowboy Hero did come out the “winner” as it was a more well-rounded story with a little suspense and it tugged at my heartstrings.
Clayton is a recently retired Navy SEAL who was avoiding home due to a childhood tragedy. But his parents need him on the ranch and so he returns home to help out. He never really dealt with the tragedy and now he has some PTSD issues from his time with the military. To top it off, he’s home dealing with financial troubles and cattle rustling.
And then there’s Abby. She’s been taking care of her younger brothers since their mother abandoned the family when Abby was 18. They’re barely making ends meet. Throw in the fact that Abby’s younger brother gets arrested for being part of the cattle rustling at Clayton’s family ranch. And this is how these two are brought together.
There were two plot lines in this story. First was the romance between Abby and Clayton. The second had to do with the trouble plaguing the ranch. Obviously the two are intertwined. Both were developed well enough that I kept turning the pages… in fact reading the book in one sitting. I could have used a little more discord or perhaps some external force that threatened the romance. It just seemed… too easy. The ranch plot line wasn’t terribly complicated, but this book isn’t marketed as romantic suspense, so it didn’t need to be. It was at the right level of suspense and action to keep it interesting. It might have been a little too easy of a solve and there was no way the reader could solve the mystery… but again, it wasn’t meant to be.
Really, this book was all about relationships. Whether it was Clayton and Abby or Clayton and his parents. Or Abby and her brothers or even the boys and Clayton… These strangers became a family. I laughed and I even shed a couple tears as these people found each other and surrendered to the magic of Christmas.
This is the first of Ms Grant’s books that I’ve read outside of her Druid Glen series, which were written about 10 years ago. I’m glad that I found this author again and I am interested to see where this series is going to go.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book
It is a popcorn book. Easy to read, not much thought needed and a quick read for a boring afternoon. I liked the characters and the story was nice.
I’m really enjoying this series about three siblings, emotionally damaged in different ways when their mother left them.
Good read, strong characters, romance, and action, the perfect blend
I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more from this series. I definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author.
Definitely a feel good book!
Donna Grant gives us an amazing story that exemplifies the true meaning of Christmas. This is a story of loss and of struggle. It’s a story of the strength and power of forgiveness and of promise. It’s also a story of sharing and giving and love and family and it was absolutely beautiful!
This is a long way from the Highlands of Scotland and Ms. Grant’s Dark books, but I find I’m really enjoying her foray into the contemporary genre with her Sons of Texas series and this book, the first in a new series called Heart of Texas!
While Ms. Grant has changed locations, she hasn’t changed the way she puts together an exciting and engaging story and we definitely don’t have a shortage of strong, stubborn heroes!
Abby is an absolute hero in this book as well. Her mother up and left her to care for her two younger brothers when Abby was barely 18 years old. It’s been a struggle, but she’s been able to handle things—barely—so far. Well, until her oldest brother gets in trouble for stealing.
Clayton is a wonderful hero dealing with his own personal demons but he’s obligated to help the family ranch after a series of very unfortunate events. He crosses paths with Abby and her brothers and his well-made plans of one day leaving Texas fly out the window.
This is so much more than just a love story. It’s well-written and crafted beautifully. There’s so much depth and emotion and character growth. And I really enjoyed reading it!
If you need a Christmas romance, look no further! THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is exactly what you need!
***I voluntarily read a copy of the book in November 2017 in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***
really loved this book. a change from dragons to cowboys, but still a warrior.
What an awesome read! This was just a delightful story filled with honest to goodness people and love. In this story we find Clayton an ex-SEAL, returning home to take care of some problems that had occurred at his family’s ranch. Abby is in charge of her 2 younger brothers, after her mother split leaving her as the sole guardian to her brothers, which she has done the best by, raising them on her own. One of her brothers gets involved with stealing the cattle from the East Ranch and Clayton decides not to press charges and has him work off the debt to the ranch. Abby and Clayton meet and there is an undeniable attraction. I loved the heartfelt commitment that Clayton made to Brice, the deep abiding love that grew for Abby and Caleb and their parents goodness throughout the whole story. I honestly cannot even think of one thing that was even remotely bad. It was that great of a story from beginning to end. Loved It! 5 stars!!!
*****ARC provided thru St. Martin’s Press by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*****
Who needs Santa when Donna Grant delivers The Christmas Cowboy Hero?!
Abby is mothering her two teenager brothers and Clayton has returned home to help the family ranch through a rough patch; neither expected to find danger, love, and a happily ever after. Grant did a wonderful job of balancing the emotion, mystery, and sexy chemistry while also creating a family that I can’t wait to read more about!
I really loved this book. I’ve heard of Donna Grant before, but I had never picked up one of her books. If they are all as good as this one, I’m kicking myself right now!
So I’m not into the whole country scene in real life, I hate country music, it’s just not for me. While I love to look at nature, the thought of living more than 10 minutes away from a store gives me hives. And southern accents just don’t do it for me. I only picked this up because I received an ARC of the second book and an hate just jumping into a series. I thought I would enjoy it at best, at worst I thought all of the cowboy things would get on my nerves. So the fact that I loved it completely floored me. The writing is superb. Clayton and Abby were extremely well developed characters that I connected with immediately. The supporting cast were also great characters, and that just added to the story. There was a great balance of emotion, sex, and suspense. I truly can’t wait to read the next book in the series.