Sexy small town cowboy romance mixed with a military twist set around Christmas

Christmas Cowboy is a sexy and refreshingly unique cowboy romance that mixes a small town, a former army man and a hard working woman raising her younger siblings with a bit of suspenseful undertone. Despite being slightly angsty and suspenseful, this is a relatively light hearted read that had me completely engrossed from start to finish with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Abby and Clayton, who tell the book through dual perspective, have a sweet chemistry that is nicely built up. Both characters face their own trials and tribulations but each have strengths in different ways but together also find an extra strength to face demons of their pasts. There is a wonderfully warm mix of secondary characters that made the book a really enjoyable, fast paced read.

I would definitely recommend this sweet and sexy Christmas cowboy romance (while this is set around Christmas, it isn’t the sole focus so can be read at any other time too).

A sweet contemporary romance…

This is the first book in the Heart of Texas series.

In Africa protecting animals from poachers former Navy SEAL Clayton East couldn’t return home after the things he’d seen and done, he was no longer the man he once was. A telephone call with news of his father having had a mini-stroke and the family ranch in financial difficulties sent him across the globe to Texas and memories that haunt him of a brother long gone. The situation at home was dire: his father’s unable to run the ranch, a prized bull and cattle due to calf soon were stolen, and a trusted accountant embezzled the family funds. The authorities captured one of the livestock thieves, a teenage boy who refuses to name accomplices and appears afraid to do so. Upon meeting the teen’s guardian, an elder sister, Clayton decides to give the boy a chance to work off the debt incurred to his family and to earn the teen’s trust so he can find the missing animals before they are sold off somewhere. The sister is a breath of fresh air, honest, gorgeous, caring, and protective of the brothers she had to raise. She’s a surprising draw to Clayton and he looks forward to seeing more of her.

When her mother up and left her three children, Abby Harper was barely eighteen and she became the guardian for two younger brothers. It hasn’t been easy, money is always tight; she works from paycheck to paycheck with no benefits, and takes night classes when able to earn her college accounting degree. Having her brother arrested for stealing livestock from the East Ranch was out of her depth to handle. Abby’s grateful to Clayton for giving her brother a second chance working at the ranch instead of serving jail time for his transgressions. She also finds herself attracted to Clayton, a good man who did a good deed for her family but like her brothers she has abandonment issues and doesn’t trust relationships. Wanting to help the East’s herself she uses her accounting skills to audit the ranch books and spots discrepancies but it’s her daytime job that leads to a clue of who the real thieves are.

This was a sweet slow burn contemporary romance occurring around the Christmas season, a story of two people meeting and navigating their emotions and desires with a touch of suspense in the form of a mystery to be solved added in to keep things exciting, we do get to see the SEAL in action. The slow pace of the romance was appropriate for a woman with abandonment issues and a man who needed to find himself again after the realities of military service and the loss of a loved one. Their attraction definitely sizzled whenever they were around each other, they were two lonely souls who found not just healing and completion with each other but also redemption and acceptance. There was a strong theme of family and the tale was reminiscent of Cinderella and her prince.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

Clayton East is the cowboy for me.... He was protective, broken on so many ends, and a lover. Abby was a driven sister/mom willing to do anything for her brothers. Guilt was their anchor but trust, understanding, and a shared end game is what brought this book together for me. The belief in which they had for each other were certifiable #relationshipgoals. The show you attitude is what made Clayton book boyfriend extraordinaire.

I loved this book! A SEAL and a cowboy, oh heck yeah. Donna Grant is an author I just discovered this year and I am so glad I did. Now I find myself anxiously waiting for her next release. I enjoy her writing style very much and her characters are fantastic as evidenced by Clayton and Abby in this book. This is a definite must read. I highly recommend it.

Clayton East never expected to run the family ranch yet now that it's facing hard times he finds himself returning and doing everything he can to save it. After having a large amount of cattle stolen as well as their accountant embezzling a large amount of money the ranch has never been in a worse financial situation. When the investigation turns up the involvement of a young boy Clayton decides he might ultimately get more information from the kid by giving him a second chance rather than pressing charges. This brings the boys protective older sister Abby into Clayton's life and it proves that he's made the best decision of his life!

This book hit all my buttons, a holiday romance, past tragedy, a Navy Seal Cowboy!!! Whew. I picked it up and didn't put it down. I loved both Clay and Abby and how sweet they were together. Add in the mixture of both families and sigh, it was great story!

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant is the First book in a new series called "Heart of Texas". This is the story of Clayton East and Abby Harper.
Abby has been taking care of her younger brothers for a long time but had to look after them full time after their mother just up and left them. So while trying to keep up with her brothers she is also trying to put food on the table and finish her college degree.
Clayton feels the lost of his brother very strongly and with that he hasn't wanted to return home to the family ranch. So after leaving the Navy Seals he went about finding other jobs to do..but that has come to an end now. Clayton's father has fallen sick and they need him back at the ranch. There Clayton learns that someone has been taking their cows and that the ranch is in bad shape. Clayton tries to do what is right but he is fighting his feelings each day until he meets Abby.
Abby's brother was caught trying to steal East Ranch cattle and now he is in trouble. Clayton offers to have the boy work of his debit by working at the ranch. Clayton also thinks he can get the boy to talk to find out who is really behind these thefts. Also it will lead him to be closer to Abby who has giving him something to look forward too.
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookReview
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordpress.com/
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebookreviewforyoublog

Who doesn't love an ex-seal cowboy? Clayton has it all, looks, charisma, sexiness. Only problem is he is not where he wants to be. The family ranch is the last place he wanted to go back to. But when his father became ill, he did the right thing. The first book in a brand new series, I think it is going to be a hit.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero, by Donna Grant is a contemporary holiday romance, and it's the first book in the Heart of Texas series.

Clayton East, a former Navy SEAL, returns home to his family ranch to discover their ranch is suffering from theft and financial issues, and his father is recovering from a stroke. Clayton meets Abby Harper, when she shows up to bail her younger brother out of jail. Clayton and Abby's lives become closely interconnected and their attraction is evident.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is geared towards those who enjoy reading contemporary holiday romance with some suspense interlaced throughout the story.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The family ranch is the last place Clayton wants to be at. Still haunted by his brothers death and all the things he’s seen and done as an ex-seal has kept him from coming home. The choice is taken away when he finds out that his father suffered an illness after having cattle stolen.

The police was only able to catch a young teenager from the group of men taking the cattle. That young teenager is at the heart of things just a good kid with a tough home life. Clayton recognizes the good in Brice and decides to have him work off the stolen cattle on the family ranch when he finds out that his older sister is the legal guardian to him and his little brother.

Abby is barely scraping by trying to take care of her brothers after their mom left them when she turned 18. Years later and she’s still working at getting her degree while also trying to keep food on the table. Life is hard and when Clayton swoops in to help, she can’t help but think it’s too good to be true.

The attraction is instant for Clayton after just one look at Abby. Because of her, he is no longer counting down the days before he can leave again. He now feels like he’s finally come home.

This had that Hallmark Christmas feel to it. It’s a family friendly, low angst, feel good kind of story that is full of sugary sweetness.

I’ve read several other Donna Grant books in the past, and they haven’t always worked for me. However, the Heart of Texas series just may turn me into a Donna Grant fan yet!

Clayton East has returned home to his family ranch. He’s spent the past 12 or so years away from home - first as a Navy SEAL, and then the past six months as a guard for a South African animal reserve. But a call from home by his mother has him heading back to Texas. Once he gets there, he finds out the ranch is in dire financial straits, and most of the cattle has been stolen.

Ally Harper has her hands full. She works as much as she can to make ends meet, supporting herself and her two teenage brothers who were left with her when their mom disappeared eight years ago. Now the 16 year-old has been arrested for stealing cattle from the East Ranch, and she’s at a loss for what to do.

When Clayton sees Ally at the police station, then learns about the Harper’s family situation, he decides to give Brice a chance to “work off” the amount lost to the cattle theft. Of course, Clayton and Ally then get to know each other better, and they fall in love, all while figuring out who has the stolen cattle.

So, the story may have been a tad predictable, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to read. The characters were likeable, the dialogue was good, and the plot moved at a quick pace. And the main characters, despite having somewhat dysfunctional pasts (Ally more so than Clayton), were relatively well adjusted anyway - as if they were aware of their hang-ups, but decided to behave in a way so as to overcome those obstacles. It was so refreshing!

I would have liked a little more time for Clayton and Ally to develop their relationship. Not being a huge fan of the insta-love thing, I wanted this story to cover more than a three week time period. But that’s really my only “complaint” about this book - the rest of it was a well-written, completely enjoyable read.

I’m not sure who else the rest of the books in this series may be about, but I’m definitely looking forward to reading them. Hopefully they’ll be just as good as The Christmas Cowboy Hero!

(review will be posted at www.straightshootinbookreviews.com closer to release date)

A cowboy SEAL in a tight Wrangler package. Far different from her Sons of Texas series, a serious action adventure (my fave), this offers more heart. I got emotional many times for Abby's past and for her brothers, as a mom that was tough. Clayton lost men in and out of war, a brother as a teen, and almost his family. Many magical moments made my heart sing, a truly special book. But, watch out as Clayton does use his SEAL training. This book is going to be another favorite from Grant. I wrote my unbiased review after reading an early copy from Netgalley.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is book one in the brand new series Heart of Texas by Donna Grant. This book gets all the stars. Five most definitely isn’t enough. It’s only October but I think I have already found my favorite Christmas book for the year. I’ve only read one book by Donna in the past, one of her paranormal romances in the Dark Kings series. So I jumped at the chance to start with this brand new series on my favorite topic, cowboys. And who could resist that cover. Not me!

Clayton East is an ex Navy Seal and now is working in Africa protecting game from poachers. He hasn’t returned to his home, The East Ranch, in Clearview, Texas for a reason. It just brings back too much pain. It’s three weeks before Christmas when he got the call. His dad was sick, and the ranch was in trouble. They needed him. It was time for Clayton to go home.

Abby Harper was eighteen years old when her mother left handing over guardianship for her two little brothers. Now, eight years later, her brothers, Caleb and Brice, are fourteen and sixteen years old. Abby is going to school part time to get her accounting degree and is working at an accounting firm but only being paid an hourly wage. She is doing the best she can, barely scraping by, but trying her best to provide for her brothers. Brice was a good boy but had been running with some not so great friends. But he’d never been in real trouble. Then Abby got the call, Brice had been arrested for rustling cattle.

When Clayton got home, everything was a mess. Their current accountant had fled town with most of the ranch’s money, and someone had stolen one hundred head of their cattle. They caught one of the rustlers, a sixteen year old kid. When Clay went to the police station to talk to him, he met his sister, Abby. Brice wouldn’t talk and it was apparent that he was scared of something. Clay believed in second chances and he hoped that if he gave Brice the opportunity to work off his debt on his ranch, that he would gain his trust and get him to talk to him. It would also give Clay a chance to see his sister again. When he first saw her at the police station, it was like a punch to the stomach. He’d never reacted that way to anyone before.

“He knew lust well, and this wasn’t it. Need, yes. Desire, definitely. But the hunger within him was raw, visceral. Primal. How could he experience such a thing with someone he just met?”

Let me just stop here and talk about these two families. The East family was everything. They accepted Brice into their family with no bad feelings what so ever. Just wait until you meet Clayton’s mom. She was like everything good in every mother all rolled into one. And Clayton! That man! He was perfection. He made me sigh so much I thought I might hyperventilate. And lots of swooning. Oh yes, lots! He was everything you dream a cowboy should be. Plus, add in all the Navy Seal stuff and oh my gosh. Need I say more?!

Then there are the Harpers. Abby and her brothers only knew hardship. There was so much love between those three. Abby worked so hard to try to provide for her brothers, to be sister, mother and father all rolled into one. And they all had some serious abandonment issues. But they had so much love.

When the East’s took the Harpers into their folds, the boys flourished. With a role model like Clay, they saw what a man should be, could be. The changes were immediate. And Clay showed Abby something as well. He showed her that she didn’t have to be alone, that she didn’t have to do everything. That she could share her burden with someone else. But could she really trust that he too wouldn’t just wake up one morning and be tired of them and leave? Could she risk her heart and the boys’ hearts?

“Never had Abby felt so…included. For the first time, she wasn’t just watching families interact, she was a part of it. It was an amazing feeling. And a reminder of everything her brothers didn’t have.”

This book was just fantastic. I couldn’t stop reading. There were so many sweet moments, some sexy times, some suspenseful times, and lots of Christmas love. Clayton is my new book boyfriend. But I don’t mind sharing him. So I hope you’ll read this book and love him and Abby and their families as much as I have. I don’t know what’s next in this series but I can’t wait to find out. Thank you so much, Donna Grant, for sweeping me away to Clearview, Texas and The East Ranch in this amazing book.

“Her hero. Her cowboy.”

This book has all kinds of excitement and action in it. There is embezzlement, modern day cattle wresting and bad guys galore. But the good guys ride in to save the day led by good guy and hero of this story Clayton East. Abby Harper doesn't have a chance of escaping Clayton's love once he sets eyes on her. Abby's mother abandoned her and her two brothers Brice and Caleb when she was eighteen. As demonstrated in this story as you read about Abby it takes a strong and loving woman to take up the reins and raise two young boys and make a family. In this case Abby does a wonderful job but lets her personal life go since her brothers are her priority. It takes Brice's big mistake and Clayton's belief in second chances to change everything for the better for Abby.

This is not your typical Christmas story but it still is all about what everyone thinks about at Christmas, love of family, sharing and caring. I really enjoyed this book and I believe everyone who picks it up will enjoy it too!

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant
Heart of Texas #1

Called home to “fix things” on the family ranch but not ready to face the demons at home or the ones that have tagged on for the ride after years as a Navy SEAL Clayton East does what he must and heads home to find out where the money and the rustled cattle have disappeared to. One of the first people he encounters while dealing with the rustler issue is Abby Harper. Why Abby? Her brother is the only one of the rustlers caught in the act and she has come in to the jail to plead his case. Abby has been the sole custodian of her 14 and 16 year old brothers for eight years and is not willing to let them fall by the wayside or end up with a criminal record – not if there is anything she can do to prevent it. Well, as a meet-cute this was one that poleaxed both Clayton and Abby and started the two on the way to their HEA!

After Clayton talks to Abby, her brother Brice and the police he decides to give Brice a helping hand and second chance. Karma can be a b*tch or can bring blessings and that is just what happens for all involved as Brice finds he loves ranching (and so does his brother Caleb), Abby finds herself in her element searching through ledgers to find out where the East Ranch money disappeared to, Clayton and Abby find a safe harbor (and more) together, Clayton’s parents enjoy having a full house again and the b*tch side of karma comes to roost on the bad guys as they are caught and dealt with.

This book has all the elements necessary to warm your heart whether you read it during the holidays or some other time of year. I can hardly wait to find out who will be featured in the next book of this series and am eager to read it when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGaley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East has come home for the holidays to look after his ill father and the financially troubled family ran.

Abby Harper is doing all she can to take care of her brothers when one of them has been arrested for stealing cattle from Clay's family ranch. Clay decides to give her brother a second chance. Being around Abby has Clay longing for what he never thought possible.

Love at first sight doesn't usually happen but that's what happened when Clayton first sees Abby. Their first meeting wasn't the best, when Abby's brother is arrested for cattle rustling & they were Clayton's family's cattle. Ex-seal Clayton comes home to help his parents reclaim their ranch & the missing cattle. Abby has been raising her 2younger brothers since their mother walked away yrs ago & struggling to keep them afloat. The growth of all the characters in this story was well done with the focus not just on Clayton & Abby but her brothers & his parents. They've all suffered somehow in their own ways was & their different tales were told beautifullly. The drama of the cattle rustling & the other problems was very suspenseful. Enjoyed greatly. Definitely recommend.

4.5 - "Christmas has come early..." Stars!

Donna Grant writing a Christmas Romantic Suspense, with an ex-SEAL cowboy…

SIGN. ME. UP!

IMAGE.

Clayton East was truly a Prince Charming with a Stetson, and I loved the Cinderella aspect with the way Donna built Abby and her brother’s story around them and the East family accepting them into the fold, in general.

"It seems like our families are intertwined…"

The suspense comes in the form of some good ole’ cattle rustling, and the romance between this pair fell a little into the ‘insta’ category, but I loved it anyway. So much so I gave myself a headache by finishing the book in pretty much one sitting.

"You’ve been doing things for everyone but yourself. When are you going to let someone do something for you..?"

Really, really enjoyable read. The authors forays away from the PNR genre into Contemporary Romantic Suspense in the past year or two have really gotten better and better with each new release. The Heart of Texas series looks like its going to be another stellar addition to her bibliography.

"Wouldn’t you rather see where it takes you than to always wonder..?"

If the reader expected another cowboy story, they’d be wrong. Loved this heartwarming story that oftentimes put tears in my eyes. How a former SEAL and a woman who was busy keeping her head above water while raising her two brothers find a real love is magical. This book is a great indicator of what other books in the series will hold for readers.

Those Cowboys sure know how to ride…

When I was a little girl, I wanted a horse…until I rode one…and fell off. That’s a bloody long way down. And, if you’re not used to it, that is some serious butt sore you have to suffer through. So, my dream of becoming a Cowgirl never came to pass. To be honest, I’m not great with animals, so it was probably for the best.

There’s a little part of me, that always dreamed that I’d be a Cowgirl to my very own Cowboy. Hubby may not be a cowboy, but he did grow up on acreage. He used to ride his pony from house to house (in the neighbourhood) so they could all take advantage of the horse’s grass eating skills. You may scoff but this is about as close as I’ll get to marrying a Cowboy.

I guess I’ll have to stick to Cowboys in my reads….

Anyways…I really enjoyed The Christmas Cowboy Hero. It was sweet and a little cheesy, but in this case, I loved it. Most likely, the fact that it was offset by a sexy, tough and virile Ex-Navy SEAL, helped. So, he’s got the bada$$ down pat, add the jeans, boots and cowboy hat AND knows how to RIDE…HUBBA HUBBA!

Yes, the Cowboy had all the right moves and says all the right things. I think I like him. Now, add in that he’s fighting demons from his past, well, who doesn’t love a wounded hero?

As you may have guessed, it’s all about the hero for me in this one. Sure, I actually liked the heroine. She’s strong, resilient and loving as she brings up her two younger brothers. But, for me, her job was just to give the hero something else to make him shine.

There is an actual storyline besides the love story and it kept me enthralled from start to finish. Money laundering, cattle theft and protecting loved ones were the main focus of the story. Christmas is in the title, but only in a small way. Plenty of sweet and sexy times to show the connection between the hero and heroine. Another part that made this a great read for me, the angst is outside the couple and they fight together. Sure, they had their doubts, but it wasn’t drawn out and no one went running for the hills for 6 months (thank goodness).

If you’re looking for a light read with a great love story, a little suspense and a sexy Cowboy, I definitely recommend you try The Christmas Cowboy Hero.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

Navy Seal Clayton East is heading home to head off a financial crisis. The cattle ranch has been robbed by rustler and their cows and prize bull are missing. Abby has lived next door to the East family for a long time and is trying to raise her two teen brothers, one who has been arrested for cattle theft. A little Christmas magic helps these families get their lives straightened out. A feel good Christmas story.