True-Blue Cowboy Christmas
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4.6 • 24 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
"A delightfully intriguing and enticing story."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
BIG SKY CHRISTMAS
Thack Lane has his hands full. For the past seven years, he’s been struggling to move on from his wife’s tragic death and raise a daughter all by his lonesome. He doesn’t have time for himself, much less a cheerful new neighbor with a smile that can light up the ranch.
Christmas spirit? Bah, humbug.
With Christmas right around the corner, Summer Shaw is searching for somewhere to belong. When her neighbor’s young daughter takes a shine to her, she is thrilled. But Thack is something else altogether. He’s got walls around his heart that no amount of holiday wishes can scale. Yet as joy comes creeping back to the lonely homestead, Summer and Thack may just find their happily ever after before the last of the Christmas miracles are through…
Big Sky Cowboys Series:
Rebel Cowboy (Book 1)
Outlaw Cowboy (Book 2)
True-Blue Cowboy Christmas (Book 3)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this tender Christmas-themed contemporary western, third in the Big Sky Cowboys series (after Outlaw Cowboy), a little girl inadvertently matchmakes two reluctant lovers. Summer Shaw is 23 and living at her father's Montana ranch again after a period of estrangement from her family. One day seven-year-old Kate Lane shows up at her door, followed soon after by her protective and ruggedly handsome rancher father, 28-year-old Thackery Lane. Though Summer and Thack feel immediate disdain for each other, they also feel a growing attraction. The two are brought together repeatedly by adorable Kate's antics, her admiration for Summer, and the magic of Christmas. Helm's credible dialogue and deft, deliberate pacing effectively develop the plot, the characters, and their relationship. The building romantic aspect of this story would be alluring enough on its own, but Helm adds bonus elements of mystery and suspense as Summer reveals why she left and returned to Montana, making for a delightfully intriguing and enticing story.
Customer Reviews
A sweet holiday romance!
With her latest in the Big Sky Cowboys series, Nicole Helm brings us a story filled with past heartache, new dreams and an adorable lil' princess bringing the two together! Great characters keep you hoping for a happily ever after to give them the future they deserve.
Summer Shaw is spending the time right before the holidays trying to find a place to fit in with her family. She's has a happy-go-lucky, people pleasing attitude, and wants to be needed. When a precious little girl wanders up to her and thinks she's a fairy princess, she just melts!
Thack Lane lost his wife years ago now, but he hasn't moved on with his life. He spends all of his time simply taking care of all his responsibilities and doesn't even want more. With the heartache he's been through, he just expects that to be the life that he's going to lead. When his young daughter takes a shine to the quirky neighbor, he begrudgingly agrees to let them spend time together. As Summer gives his daughter the bubbly atmosphere she's been missing, Thack can't help but admire the beautiful woman she is. Will these two find the start of their happily ever after before the holidays even get here?
Christmas Excitement
This was a really cute Christmas romance with a contemporary western feel. There was just enough holiday in the story without going too overboard with the Christmas cheer - which is what I really like. There was a good chunk of backstory that missed having not read the previous books in the series, so I felt like I was missing something important (turns out I was). I'm not sure if I would recommend this as a true stand-alone. All the missing pieces come out in the end, but I think it had too much of an impact without knowing more of the backstory.
Thack was a grump, a really big grump. His over-protective stance to his little girl was a bit much, but it made sense given his history. Here's where backstory would have been nice. Summer really over-reacts to this and jumps to a lot of conclusions. But this somehow manages to bring them together.
The middle part of the story seems to be a series of misunderstandings and stepping on toes, but there were some really cute parts that I really enjoyed, especially the ones that revolved around getting ready for the holidays. Summer and the little girl are quite the pair and I loved seeing them together.
The ending went quite a bit overboard. It lost me while at the same time explained a lot about Summer's reaction to things. But a little too over the top with the suspenseful part for me to get completely on board with.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*