I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I was just in the mood for a something light and thought a Christmas cowboy story was fit the bill. This ended up being read in one sitting book for me. I loved the characters and their relationships with their families. I thought the mystery element was well done and interesting. I loved Clayton and want to be adopted by his parents. I will be looking for book two of this series.

A veces deberían haber estado enfocados en cosas importantes y no dejaban de pensar en el otro. Esos momentos cortaban el ritmo de la historia para mí. Afortunadamente después si se dan tiempo de conocerse y vemos menos de esas situaciones de distracción.

Al final disfruté de la historia que aunque fue un tanto cliché fue tierna y hubo momentos en que el sentimiento me ganó y me hizo derramar un par de lágrimas. Los padres de Clayton y los hermanos de Abby fueron personajes secundarios que dieron profundidad a la historia y la convirtieron en una de esas películas familiares que te dejan sintiendo bien terminarla.

Sweet romance. Decent story and very likeable characters. Definitely a light romantic read. Wholesome comes to mind when thinking about this book. Nothing to heavy, no angst moments just a good solid romantic story.
Gifted read by netgalley.

Donna Grant has done it again. Another well-rounded solid romance.

Clayton East has been a Navy Seal, but now he is protecting African wildlife from poachers. He has not been home to his parents' Texas ranch for years. But, when he gets the call that his Mom and Dad need him, he goes home immediately.
Things have become a nightmare on the ranch. His dad has had a stroke. Their accountant embezzled all available money and someone has rustled one of their prize bulls and 60 cows about to calve. Things are looking bad.
Abby Martin has been raising her two younger brothers for eight years since their mother left in the middle of the night. Now, Brice the oldest of the boys has been arrested for rustling cattle from the East Ranch.
Clayton is basically a good man who was raised by good parents and he does not want to see Brice fall through the cracks. He promises that Brice can work at the ranch to help pay off the debt. Underneath it all, Clayton believes that he can convince Brice to tell who else was involved with the cattle theft. He knows that a teen-aged boy was not the brains behind the rustling.
This is a book about family histories and family love.
Abby loves her brothers and they both love her. Because the three of them have been dependent upon one another for all those years, their love holds them close. The boys realize that they owe their lives and the future to Abby. Abby has given up any kind of personal life to care for Brice and Caleb and give them a sense of family. She never wants them to return to the sense of fear and loss they once had.
Clayton watched his older brother, Landon, die in a terrible accident when he was a young boy. That colored his life and he has never forgiven himself for not being able to save Landon. Those feelings of guilt have kept him away from home and his parents for years.
When Clayton becomes involved with the Martin boys and in lust for Abby, he returns to being the person he once was.
Clayton's parents are kind and giving people who want to share their love with their son and he has been shutting them out for quite sometime. They welcome Abby and her brothers into their home because they are caring and generous people. And because they see Clayton lifting himself from the darkness he has had in his heart.
I liked the story, but at times if felt as though it were a formula. It was not difficult to see the connections from one villain to another. Some of the people responsible were not brought to justice before the end of the book. That was unsettling.
The character development was terrific. We get to know Abby, Clayton and their families quite well. Each person's motivation is explained so that actions are understandable. The relationships in both families are warm and caring and that warmth is able to draw others into their family circles.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

When Clayton East gets word from home that his father has fallen ill, and is not able to do the work needed to keep the family ranch afloat he knows that it is time to return to his roots and take care of what needs done. Once he is back home though he realizes there is more going on than his family let on, someone is stealing their cattle and he intends to catch the thief and put a stop to it, only to soon discover that the one of thieves is only a sixteen year old boy named Brice. Instead of turning Brice into the law he meets with the boys guardian, his gorgeous sister Abby, and works out a deal with her to put the young boy to work so he can "work off" the debt his thieving accrued. But somewhere along the way Clayton starts to fall for Abby, and things between them start to take a very unexpected steamy turn...

Abby Harper is in over her head... between going to college and trying to care for her younger brothers she has very little time to do much of anything else.... which means no love life! It is a daily struggle to keep them and herself on track, and when one her brothers slips off the track and gets busted for rustling cattle she is certain she will go off the deep end... but by sheer luck the cattle owner is willing to give the boy a second chance, and he quickly becomes her hero. She has never met a man quite like Clayton East, and she quite sure men like him are few and far between, he is kind, gorgeous, and stirs the butterflies in her belly like no one ever has...

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a heartwarming story that is sure to put you in the holiday mood, and leave your heart overflowing with joy! From the moment I started this one I sensed that I had stumbled onto a real literary treat, Ms. Grants endearing characters pulled me right into their world and made me feel right at home. The story line had a good mix of everything I like in my romance reads, a swoon-worthy male, light humor, a feisty heroine, enthralling plot, and lots of chemistry and heart!! Highly recommend this one, the moment you meet Clayton he will steal your heart and have you swooning!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

What a lovely book. The characters have so much heart and sense of family! Clayton is so complex and yet he would do anything for his family, like leave Africa to return home to help with the ranch. Being a former Seal and with all his military experience, it really helps in finding the stolen herd of cattle. Abby would do anything for her brothers and she is so dedicated to them and the family unit that she is creating.. Abby is so strong and fierce and it is a perfect combination when she meets up with Clayton's family. Once Abby and Clayton get together it is just magical. This is a really great story and it will keep you entertained until the very end. Great cast of characters and events in this book.

Loved this first book in this new series from Donna. This book has an Alpha Male and Bad-Ass Woman who always picks herself up no matter what is thrown at her. Clayton has just come home after being a Navy Seal. He is trying to save his family's farm and meets Abby and sparks fly. Abby is an amazing person who is raising her 2 brothers after her mother left them. I really enjoyed reading about Clayton and Abby. It does make me wonder who will be next in this series as Clayton has no brothers but I know i will enjoy the book wherever it goes.

I love a good book when it centers around Christmas. What makes this one even better is the former SEAL turned cowboy who has a heart of gold. A great holiday romance novel.

Donna Grant writes some of the best cowboys and Texas men that I've ever read. Smoking hot, intelligent, easy to love...and Clayton East is no exception. He meets his match in Abby Harper, also strong, intelligent, and spunky. The plot of this book is smart, mysterious, and super sexy at the right times. Both characters were written well and are ones you'd easily want to befriend or have as neighbors. The writing is seamless, and the Christmas backdrop makes the book much more exciting. I am extra excited about the beginning of this series and am looking forward to the next book from Donna Grant! I highly recommend her romance books and her alpha heroes!

I really enjoyed this book!! I thought that it was a real page turner and have given the book a shiny 5 star rating!! For me this book was a real page turner - the characters were strong and worked really well together and I thought that the story was excellent, they are very likeable and so entertaining!! The attention to detail in the story was spot on, not too much so that you would be tempted to skip a page, just enough to make sure you want to read every work the author had written. I really liked the writing style and am definitely looking forward to more of the same! I have read a few of Donna Grant's books now and this one was great - would highly recommend - 5 stars from me!!

“The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant is book one of her new series, Heart of Texas.

Clayton East is a former SEAL living in South Africa when is he called home to Texas and the family ranch. Not only has his father suffered a mini-stroke, several of their cattle have been stolen. One person is caught as part of the cattle rustling – sixteen-year-old Brice Harper. Clayton decides to give the teen a second chance and work off his debt – and find out who was behind the theft – after he meets Brice’s sister and guardian, Abby. Clayton’s attraction to her is swift and undeniable.
Abby Harper became guardian to her brothers Brice and fourteen-year-old Caleb when their mother abandoned them when Abby was eighteen. She does her best financially and they manage to scrape by, so when Clayton offers to let Brice work for him, she’s okay with it because she is aware how much Brice needs a male in his life. And if she is honest with herself – so does she. Clayton East makes her feel safe and protected.

Ms. Grant shows the vulnerability of Clayton and Abby, which brings a sweetness to the story. There is also sexual tension between the two and once they give in, there’s no stopping them.
While we know early on in the book (about halfway through) how Clayton feels about Abby, it takes Abby longer to accept her feelings. Her mother leaving her and her brothers left Abby with a fear of abandonment. Clayton has to prove he’ll be with her always.

Along with Clayton and Abby finding their way to love, we learn who is behind the cattle rustling and see inside the life Clayton grew up around with key scenes with his parents. Ms. Grant also writes two heroes-in-the-making – Brice and Caleb – and shows how they flourish at the East Ranch.

“The Christmas Cowboy Hero” gives us two things readers love – a military cowboy and a Christmas romance.

This was a cute contemporary read. I love both cowboys and seals so for me this was awesome. I loved the dynamic between Abby and Clayton. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good Christmas contemporary read.

The way that Clayton instantly bonded with Abby's brothers, stole my heart. It easily set the book up for me. I knew from then on that I was going to love this book.

Loved this book! This is the beginning to a series that I can't wait to read more of (although this is a stand alone novel). Clayton is a burned out Navy SEAL who hasn't returned home because the ghosts from his time in the military. He's a perfect hero - a true hero who's a bit tarnished by time and doesn't feel worthy of his home or enjoying life. He's called home to help his parents when circumstances put Abby in his orbit. Abby is an intelligent woman doing everything she can to take care of her brothers and advance in her career. Because she's been raising her two brothers since she was 18, she hasn't had time to date, but she is smitten with Clayton.

What follows in a wonderful romantic suspense that fans of the genre will love. I gave this novel 4.5 stars because part of the ending was just a bit hokey. This novel is set at Christmas time and is a perfect read for the season, but you'll enjoy it just as much anytime of the year. The author is on my must read authors' list.

** I received a copy of The Christmas Cowboy Hero from St. Martins Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant is the first book of her Heart of Texas series. I have read all of Ms. Grant's Sons of Texas series and I hope that there will be many more in this new series as this book was just WOW. I loved it from the first page to the last one.

Clayton East is coming home to his parents ranch after being a Navy SEAL for years but he's stayed away because of a tragedy with his older brother when he was a child. Now he's needed because his father has had a stroke and they have had their money and cows stolen by thieves. When he finds out who was part of the rustlers he doesn't expect to meet a 13 year old boy who won't say who was the ringleader and his very proud sister, Abby Harper. Little does he know that he will fall for the headstrong Abby but that he'd grow to love the two brothers whom she's been raising alone for 8 years.

Abby Harper has been raising her two brothers and making sure that they have what they need while going without herself. But when she's called into the sheriff's office she doesn't expect Clayton willing to give Brice a second chance to work off the debt from the cows he helped steal. But when paperwork comes across her desk at work that may give a clue to who the ringleader is, she helps Clayton and his family with the missing money and cows while falling hard for the handsome cowboy.

I Loved this book and highly recommend reading it.

This is the first book I have read by Donna Grant and it will NOT be my last. I am IMPRESSED with this one. It has all the feels that I want in a romance and characters that made me SWOON. SQUEE!! I think I found a new author to hold on to because I am eagerly waiting to read another glorious book by her!

Pick up this book. It is one of my favorite Christmas themed novels that I have read in a very long time!!!

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.

Clayton East has to come home after avoiding it for years after his brother passed away. The family is in trouble after their accountant embezzled their funds and many of their pregnant cattle along with a very expensive bull were stolen.
Clayton goes to the sheriff's office to see if he can get info from the one rustler caught and is dumbstruck when he sees Abby Harper...and as much as she is drawn to him, he is to her, but he needs to find out who is behind the rustling.
When Clay is told some of Abby's story by Deputy Oldman, he decides he might get the information easier if he gives Brice better options.
Brice goes to work on the ranch and falls in love with ranching and Abby's background in accounting gives her the opportunity to help the Easts trace the theft of their money.
Abby, Brice and Caleb find the Easts to be paradise, the loving family they all had wished for and never had. Spending some time together brings healing to all of them, Mr. and Mrs.East, Clayton and the Harper siblings.
When Abby is shot, clarity comes to Clay and Brice and everyone works to recover the East's loss and make them all a strong family unit.
I requested an ARC from NetGalley and expected a good tale...but this story went way beyond my expectations. Kudos to Ms. Grant for writing such a heartwarming tale.

An entertaining read. A cowboy romance: a change for me. Having said that, always interesting to read a book set elsewhere in the world that reflects the fact that friendships and romance are basically the same the world over. A good storyline.