Cover Image: The Christmas Cowboy Hero

The Christmas Cowboy Hero

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Christmas is a time that I believe that all things are possible, and that happens in Clearview with Clayton and Abby.

Meeting under dire circumstances, Clayton feels a pull toward Abby and her wayward brother, Brice. Making Brice work off his mistakes is just one way to keep Abby close until he can figure out what to do about her. What he doesn't expect is to genuinely like her and her brothers.

Abby is at her wit's end. Trying to raise her two brothers after her mom left for greener pastures is harder than it sounds. When Brice is caught, again, doing something he's not supposed to, she just knows that he will end up in jail and all the hard work she's done in the past eight years will be down the drain.

What she doesn't expect is to have a crush on Clayton East. His family is admired in their little town and she's just a nobody, trying to get her college degree and keep her brothers on the right side of the law. She notices Clayton watching her the same way she watches him and everything changes one afternoon.

A sweet Christmas story where the good guy gets the girl and the bad guys get what they deserve.


Dawn – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book, it was such a sweet story with a few twists and turns.

Clayton and Abby meet under quite tense circumstances but they can't deny the pull they have to each other. Clayton wants his cattle back and he thinks the quickest way to do that is through Abby's brother, Brice, who was caught stealing some of the cattle. Once Abby starts to let her guard down, the sparks start flying.

Abby and Clayton help to heal each other without even knowing it.

I really hope there is more to this series as I did enjoy the book, but I want more.

Was this review helpful?

This is sweet, romantic, emotional and charming. Clayton is emotionally closed off, but kind, caring and generous. Abby is emotionally damaged, strong, sweet and insecure. The storyline is captivating, the characters are extremely likable and but the past is very sad. The heartache they all have endured slowly heals them , each in their own way. It belongs on the top of your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

Was this review helpful?

Yet another Donna Grant story I loved. Clayton and Abby were awesome together the ying to the others yang but what I always love in Miss Grants stories are her secondary are always so strong as well and leave a great impression. Caleb was a favorite of mine.

Was this review helpful?

This is Clayton and Abby's story he is a retired Navy Seal who is called back to Texas to the family ranch when his dad is sick.Abby is practically raising her brothers and has been since she was a teen when her brother gets arrested for stealing cattle they are lucky that Clayton believes in second chances.The chemistry between Abby and Clayton is amazing but he really has to work at winning her over a super read I just loved it

Was this review helpful?

Clayton East left the military and instead of going home took a contract job protecting animals at a wild animal preserve. Until he gets a call from his mother because everything is a mess at home. Ready or not he's forced to go home and deal with the issues there and face his personal issues. Abby Harper has raised her two younger brothers since she was 18 years old when her mother abandoned them all. Now one of her brothers is mixed up with some bad people who stole Clayton's families cattle from the their ranch. Clayton takes one look at Abby at the police station and he's done in. I loved this story. Clayton is suffering from PTSD and not really dealing with it. Coming home means dealing with demons there and well meaning family. He doesn't want to go but it turns out it's the best thing he could have ever done. The more he's around Abby and her brothers the better. Not only does having Abby and her brothers help Clayton it helps his parents as well. Abby's dad passed away when she was young and her mom took off one night and left her and her younger brothers. They have this amazing bond made stronger by being around Clayton and his family. Enjoyable read from beginning to end.

Find out more about Donna Grant here www.donnagrant.com

Was this review helpful?

A new series, “Heart Of Texas” from Donna Grant brings us another enticing series of hardworking cowboys, their destined stories of love, redemption and a future of togetherness.

“The Christmas Cowboy Hero”, the prodigal son of Texas and ex-navy Seal, Clayton East returns home to take care of his family’s failing ranch, deal with is father’s illness and give his mother much needed hope of keeping the family business on solid ground and emotional and financial support to his parents. The thought of dealing with theft, a wayward brother of the enticing Abby Harper, and the attraction that flares on sight was not something he had signed up for.

Abby Harper has a hard life since a teenager, the sole guardian of her siblings and working hard to keep food and roof over their heads. Her brother getting into trouble with Clayton she had wished was avoided and the interest that Clayton sparks, she really could do without, not on her agenda and not part of plan.

But fate and destiny don’t listen to anyone, and with Clayton giving her brother a chance to make up for his theft, Abby finds herself spending more time with Clayton on the ranch, and the perfect opportunity to know each other and fall in love.

And so we get another sweet Texas romance from Donna Grant, be it a paranormal or contemporary romance, we can never be disappointed with her stories. With a perfect blend of emotions and romance, chemistry and an interesting plot, “The Christmas Cowboy” is a perfect reading pleasure for the holidays.

Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

<b>4 Second Chances Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Second Chances given by those who also got second chances feel like more...and Clayton East was someone who knows what another chance can mean...With this past experience... It plays an important role in how he handles the teenager who was caught rustling his family's cattle.

Was this review helpful?

This was such an amazing book! Paced exactly right, sensual but not all sex, a nice mystery...Clayton was super swoon worth as the former SEAL turned cowboy Hero and Abby was strong and tough, yet lonely and sad at the same time. Her brothers were great side characters. All in all the book was a 5 star read from the first word to the last.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant is a beautifully written, heartwarming contemporary romance.

I loved Abby and Clayton, they were strong, passionate people who warmed my heart watching them fall in love.
What a great start to the Heart of Texas Series.

PRE-ORDER NOW:
✦Amazon→ http://amzn.to/2mJAL52
✦Amazon AU→ http://amzn.to/2pjzuqn
✦Amazon CA→ http://amzn.to/2mXCN2K
✦Amazon UK→ http://amzn.to/2mXzc4E
✦BAM→ http://bit.ly/2nopBpX
✦BN→ http://bit.ly/2mhCFho
✦Indiebound→ http://bit.ly/2mFI8tN
✦Powells→ http://bit.ly/2or3MU3
✦Kindle→ http://amzn.to/2oqQS8C
✦Nook→ http://bit.ly/2oZPE7k
✦Kobo→ http://bit.ly/2pHrUDb
✦iBooks→ http://apple.co/2p018bf
✦Tantor→ http://bit.ly/2xB5E0w (audio)

✦Get the Playlist→ http://spoti.fi/2krKjFq
✦Read the Excerpt→ http://bit.ly/ChristmasCowboy

Was this review helpful?

This was a lovely story about a young woman who, along with her two younger brothers is abandoned by their mother. She makes a life for her brothers, takes care of them, sees that they go to school and have as much as she can provide until one of her brothers gets into trouble and she has to bail him out of jail. The Sheriff who takes an interest in her (sexual) and her brothers (helpful/paternal) changes all of their lives forever. The story is really nice. My own problem with it is that it's too pat and completely unrealistic. But it has a happy ending and is definitely a page-turner so its worth a read.

Was this review helpful?

The Christmas Cowboy Hero was a good read. From this starting point in a new series I'm looking forward to seeing what's next from Donna Grant in the Heart of Texas books.

With the leading couple coming from different family experiences, this book had a real element of belonging and being and feeling wanted to it along with some action, suspense and intrigue. Clayton has returned home when all he wanted to do, for a few reasons, was stay away and live his life, he's not looking for a relationship or anyone to love and he's not sure he's gonna be staying at his folks ranch for long.
Abby has been sister and mom to her two younger brothers since their mother bailed and left them to raise themselves. She's brave, working hard to provide for her siblings while studying and trying to keep her brothers in school, keep them out of trouble and focusing on a better future for them all. She doesn't have time or thought about starting seeing anyone as her sole focus is her little family and their happiness and security.

The initial meeting between the pair wasn't the best as Abby's younger brother has been arrested for stealing cattle from Clayton's family ranch. Things begin to change for them both when their pre-conceived ideas and notions about the other are knocked for six once they spend time together and start to get to know each other.

I loved Clayton's folks and their reaction to and reception of Abby and her brothers. Watching the pair fall and begin to care for each other made for good reading and I was rooting for them to find their HEA.

A good read. 4*

Was this review helpful?

Love Donna Grant. Her writing is flawless and epic. The Christmas Cowboy Hero is one to capture your heart. It's truly an amazing read.

Was this review helpful?

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant hooked me from the beginning from Retired Navy SEAL Clayton East to young Abby Harper raising two brothers on her own. If your looking for a holiday read filled with family, humor, a dash of suspense and brimming with curl your toes romance and feel good moments than the Christmas Cowboy Hero is sure to deliver!  Full review to come.

Was this review helpful?

After leaving the Navy SEALs, Clayton just couldn’t come home and face his family with all of the horrors he saw during his time of service. But when his mom got in touch with him and said his father was sick and the ranch was failing Clayton was on the first plane out of there. Coming back to his family‘s ranch it took some time for Clayton to get settled in, but once he got back on a horse it was like he had never left. It comes to the attention that Clayton‘s family ranch was the victim of their accountant embezzling money and to top it all off they have 100 cattle missing that are about to give birth. At least the sheriff caught one of the cattle rustlers, a teenager by the name of Brice.

Abby Harper was just trying to make ends meet. She was abandoned by her mother at eighteen and given guardianship of her younger brothers Brice and Caleb. She has been going to night school to get her accounting to agree and working long hours at an accounting firm. Her brother is given a second chance by Clayton, he has to work on the ranch every day after school and work from sunup to sundown on the weekends to “payback” Clayton and his family. He loves working on the East ranch and Abby and Caleb join him. Clayton has a proposition for Abby that she just can’t refuse- be his family’s accountant. With Christmas fast approaching and Abby at her wits end accepts the position. But will she get more than she bargained for?

I just can’t get enough of Ms. Grant’s writing. I can’t wait to see where she takes the series.

Was this review helpful?

THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is exactly what I needed to read after a long day and I completely fell in love with Clayton and Abby as their story unfolded in front of my eyes.

Ex-Seal Clayton East knows death and destruction first-hand but when he leaves the Navy he does not return to his home as the ranch where he grew up, holds too many memories that cut too deeply since that tragic accident all those years ago. But when he receives a phone call telling him his father is ill and they are about to lose everything, Clayton knows that he must return home and sort things out for the people who care about him the most, no matter how difficult it may be.

Abby Harper is strong and determined. She had to be ever since the day her mother walked out and left her to raise her two younger brothers, Brice and Caleb. Working all the hours she can while trying to study for her degree still doesn't make ends meet though and there are times where Abby doesn't know how they will survive. But they have each other and that is all that matters. They may not be able to trust anyone else but Abby knows that she will never abandon them.
But when she discovers that her brother was involved in a serious crime involving the East ranch, Abby is terrified at what will happen. Meeting Clayton East will change all of the Harper's lives forever, and the closer Abby gets to Clayton the more she craves this kind-hearted man with sorrow in his eyes. But can two broken-hearted souls find a way to heal their pain together? And who is really behind the trouble at the ranch and would use Abby's younger brother in the process?

Gripping, sexy, with a dash of danger thrown in for good measure, and THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is the perfect cocktail for a wonderful novel. The characters are so engaging and relatable, and I really wanted Abby to find the strength to trust again as she had been through so much taking care of everyone but herself. Clayton is a dynamic and refreshing character who does whatever it takes to protect the people he cares for and I really felt for him when he opened up about what happened all those years ago. There is plenty of stunning scenery described in this novel, and the pace never lets this story down.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is a thrilling, passionate, and heartwarming story of family, love, and strength and I could not put this book down.

Was this review helpful?

Did not request, not interested.

Was this review helpful?

THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is an outstanding read. It might have a Christmas theme but it can be read year round for the sweet romance and the interesting family life that is the Harper's and the East's. Author Donna Grant has a way of world-building that has you sitting right in the middle of the action. The dialogue, as well as the wisdom offered by the parents, will give you a good look at life be it with laughter, tears or maybe both. In no time at all, we have a good feel for these people, this town and this couple and are quickly turning pages to see what happens next. Between Clayton giving the boy the second chance, asking Abby for help with finding out where the money that was siphoned from their accounts could possibly be, her boss wanting the East Ranch account, the rustlers who want to keep her brother quiet ... there is a lot happening all done in a way that doesn't let readers down.

I will have to say that as smart as Clayton seemed to be about people, he didn't seem to realize that he had Abby hanging toward the end of the action, while he made plans. Sometimes men are a little dense, but his mother set him straight and the happy ending was saved.

If you love Christmas, sweet romance, family life, ranch life and just a really feel good read, then THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO will fill the bill very nicely.

~Annetta Sweetko reviewing for Fresh Fiction.

The complete review may be read at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=64070

Was this review helpful?

Forget the knight in shining armour - Clayton East is a knight in Wrangler jeans! He's the reluctant cowboy back home on the ranch, and hooeee did he make me want to be a cowgirl!

I love the way Ms Grant has created a Cinderella-ish feel with the way Clayton and his family envelop Abby and her brothers into the fold.

It hits you in all the feels, you can't help but fall in love with everyone (well nearly everyone, gotta have someone to hate!)

Ms Grant has wrtten with such beautiful imagery, I could feel myself looking out over the ranch, staring up at the big skies, feel the dirt and grit on my face).

Beautifully written, the story flowed and the mystery throughout the story had me turning the pages to find out more.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a wonderful start to the Heart Of Texas series, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Was this review helpful?

Sportochick's Musings ~ For me the strongest point made by this book is that mistakes shape one's character making them someone to admire.

I love stories involving the holidays especially when they involve two lost people finding one another. This is a heartfelt story about a sister who loves her brothers and raises them against all odds. This story spoke to me in an intense manner as I helped raise my siblings so I connected very strongly with Abby's trials and tribulations in growing up too fast and giving up dreams. I also got how much she loved them and wouldn't change anything.

This is well written and contains a lot of life lessons for every character in the story as well as the reader. What impressed me about this book was how the author presented consequences from actions taken with original good intent and how it snowballs as time goes on causing great harm. Also how others grow from these mistakes made by others showing the reader that sometimes mistakes can bring about great change, forgiveness and a life you will love. For me the strongest point made by this book is that mistakes shape one's character making them someone to admire.

I give this book 4.5 STARS for the impact it makes on both the families involved.

Was this review helpful?

Clayton is called home after his father becomes ill to find their ranch a mess. The account ran off and the stock was stolen all at the same time. He know has to solve all these mysteries and he decides to get the kid who was busted stealing the stock and take him under his wing.
Abby has been taking care of her brothers for years and this is the last straw. She can't believe the stunt her brother pulled this time and doesn't know how she is going to help him out of this one.
Clayton's family pulls Andi and her brothers in and his family excepts them for what they are. Her brothers help on the ranch and she discovers the accounting errors.
Together they make a good team and have to let their pasts go in order to move on.


**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Was this review helpful?