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.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is about two strangers meeting in the most unlikely place and under the most unusual of circumstances. Can it be fate?

Clayton left his tour of duty as a SEAL and couldn't face returning home. A family tragedy changed him when he was only a little boy. War has changed him even more.

Abby has been living on the breadline since she was a teenager. She is a mother, sister and friend to her youngest brothers, Caleb and Brice. She works all hours and never complains. As long as her brothers are happy.

Clayton returns home on a family emergency. The emergency turns out to be more than anticipated. His parents have been robbed and deceived in more ways than one. Abby is called to the police station where her brother is being held and has her first encounter with Clayton. She is informed of the gravity of his crime and expects the worse. She is proved wrong when Clayton gives him a second chance with strict conditions. She now feels indebted to him and when the opportunity to help him presents itself, she is only too happy to assist.

They start to look forward to see each other and as they spend time together, something starts to blossom. His past stops him from opening up whilst she has a fear of being abandoned. Will they allow their pasts to get in the way of a promising future?

This novel is mostly about family units. Loving and being loved can make a difference in the most difficult situations. I admire Abby for her love and dedication to her brothers who in turn return that love. Clayton's parents are exemplary. The romance is a gradual build up which ends in a flourish. The Christmas holiday setting is beautifully presented and makes the storyline even more compulsive. It's an engaging and delightful read.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. It had all the elements that I like in a romance novel, alpha hero, western theme, and a bit of suspense thrown in. Similar to a harlequin format this is a sweet romance, by that I mean the love scenes are a bit vanilla, but still get your blood pumping. One of my favorite things in a book is a slow burn between the characters and this had it.
Abby Harper has struggled most of her life and is currently raising her two younger brothers. Clayton East is the prodigal son who has returned home, his family runs a large cattle ranch, and his dad's health as well as some problems a the ranch forced him home. Previously he'd been in the Navy as SEAL and now was working with security contractor when returned home. Our main characters meet when Abby's brother is caught cattle rustling at the East Ranch. Not willing to turn over who he worked for in fear of his family's safety the teen was ready to take whatever punishment was handed out. Clayton, intrigued by Abby gives the kid a second chance, one that will put Abby frequently in his path, and let that slow burn begin.
Abby is afraid to trust anything, she and her brothers, have some serious abandonment issues, and with just cause. Used to forging ahead on her own, it's difficult for her to accept the help that Clayton and his parents offer her on a daily basis. Ben and Justine East are the epitome of good old ranching couples, and still clearly in love with each other after all these years. Very quickly they became enamored with the Harper family.
The cattle rustling plot continues to play through out most of the book, with Clayton and Abby finding little clues to who and where the cattle are until they piece it all together, find the cattle, and work their way to a HEA on Christmas eve.

Clayton East is called by his mother to return home in Texas because his father has suffered an accident and their formerly prosperous ranch is on the verge of bankruptcy.
On his return, Clayton goes hunting for any of the men who took part in stealing the cattle, and he ends up finding a boy, Brice Harper.

Brice is one of Abby's brothers.
She works hard to keep her two younger brothers.
After their father's death, their mother simply decided that she would leave, and left Abby with the responsibility of keeping the family.
Unfortunately Brice has gotten himself into trouble and was now in jail.

She tries to negotiate with the owner of the stolen cattle, Clayton, the price to be able to pay it back, but it would be impossible because only the breeding bull cost $ 100,000.

Clayton sees the possibility of recovering his cattle and, at the same time, helping that boy who needed a male influence in his life.
Besides, he was impressed by Abby's inner strength and wanted to stay close to her.

In this coexistence, both sides end up helping each other.
But more than that, Abby finds in Clayton the support she needed to tackle her day-to-day problems.
Clayton also had his skeletons in the closet to sort out, since he avoided return to the ranch mainly since the death of his two years older brother, Landon.
And with Christmas approaching, the search for stolen cattle and the normal teenage problems, the Harper and East families would have many reasons to celebrate before the bright future that awaited them...

I liked the way the author brought problems up (not about stealing cattle, of course), and how they could help one another.
5 stars

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a tale about two wounded people. Clayton is still suffering from the death of his brother & the years of death & destruction he encountered as a Navy Seal. His brother was supposed to take over the family ranch & Clayton can't face going back there without him. After he left the service, he took a job to prevent him from going home. It worked until his dad had a stroke & he found out the ranch was about bankrupt. He had to face his demons to help his parents.

Abby was devastated when her father passed away & the knife twisted a bit more when her mother stole away in the middle of the night abandoning her & her brothers. Abby became both sister & mother that night. Now Brice, her brother, is in trouble & has done something illegal. How can she fix this? They've lived paycheck to paycheck & she has no reserves. There is no room in her life for the chemistry she feels when she meets Clayton. She can't risk someone else leaving her.

This is a really good Christmas story full of love, hope, warmth & family. The characters are well developed. The interactions between Abby & her brothers show the love there & the way they can rely on each other. The interactions between Clayton & his parents show how much they all care for each other & need each other. They also show the hurt & pain they have to get through. The plot moves at a steady pace & the mystery of the missing money & stolen cattle add another dimension. I really enjoyed this story & would recommend it to anyone who likes cowboys, romance, steamy scenes & happily ever afters.

As the start of the new series, this is a pretty good one. We are given a typical family that needs help, and a man that will do everything that for the woman he feel in love with. This is actually pretty nice because of the plot and the timing of the story. It fits the holiday to a tee.

What i like about this, are the lines, and how each of the characters blossoms as yo read from start to finish.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

As the first book of a new series, The Christmas Cowboy Hero definitely delivers a fabulous story packed with angst, emotion and a healing love family can provide.

Family issues, theft and dishonour among those most trusted have forced Clayton home from the far reaches of Africa. Not wanting to be there and faced with the theft of a prized bull and 100 head of cattle on top of embezzlement and his father’s poor health, Clayton is not in the best frame of mind to meet a stunning woman and her way ward brother who is privy to who the cattle rustlers are and their whereabouts too.

But Clayton is unable to bring the full force of the law down on a young boys head when he sees genuine remorse and sorry for the pain he has caused his hard-working sister. Clayton is determined to find the good in this boy and hopefully along the way, get to know the woman behind this intriguing, self-sacrificing soul.

I loved the depth of family loyalty and devotion and the ebb and flow of the story, which kept me thoroughly engrossed from the outset. Full of great characters, wonderful world building and storyline that just kept giving; The Christmas Cowboy Hero was an amazing read and will definitely have me coming back for more.

Clayton East has been away from the Texas ranch he grew up on for a long time. As a young boy, he experienced a heartache that forever changed his feelings about home and family. Now as an ex-Navy Seal with more soul searing experiences, Clayton is called to come back and help when his father’s health falters after cattle are stolen from their ranch. Adding to that trauma, money has been embezzled by a trusted family CPA. Abby Harper has her own struggles to deal with while working hard, trying to go school, and raise her teenage brothers after losing one parent and then, at barely eighteen, being abandoned by the other. When one of the boys is caught up in the cattle rustling, she feels crushed. Clay decides to give Abby’s brother a second chance and by doing so, realizes that Abby may just be the woman who can help heal his tattered heart and assuage the haunting memories of his time as a SEAL.

CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is the first book in the new Heart of Texas series. It is a pleasant holiday read with a bit of mystery combined with the romance. I liked the characters for the most part although Abby’s teenaged brothers seemed much more mature than their ages suggest. I realize they had to grow up fast because of their circumstances, but they sounded more like men than teenagers. Clayton and Abby are likeable people who have been battered by life but never given up or felt too sorry for themselves. Their romance and this new setting will likely please Donna Grant’s faithful readers.

Light Read 3.5*
This was a good solid story with little angst and can be read in a couple of hours.
I enjoyed the mystery element of this book and the family interactions but I didn’t feel the emotion; not for the traumatic incidents the H and h had been through nor did I feel the passion between them, in fact I found the sex scenes rather mechanical. Having read other reviews I seem to be in the minority, so maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind when I read this story. I would certainly be prepared to give this author another try.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

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

Sexy SEAL cowboy who loves the woman, loves his family, loves her family, rescues the good guys and sends the bad guys to jail. Whats not to like!

This was an amazingly touching story of an ex-Navy SEAL. His last tour had taken its toll on him. So, instead of returning home to Clearview, Texas to help run his families ranch he resigns and hires himself out to protect the wildlife in South Africa.
Clayton East comes from a long line of ranchers. From one of the largest cattle ranches in the state. But it was always meant for his brother to run it.
But when he gets a desperate call from his mother calling him to come home and it was coming from his boss that is not good. He knew it had to be bad then. She tells him the ranch is in a position to be lost for good not to mention someone keeps stealing the cattle but now their prize bull has been stolen now too.
By the time he’s arrived they have arrested someone and he is prepared to have charged to the full extent of the law. That is until he figures out that he is a young man of sixteen, Brice Harper. Clayton is spitting mad and means to press all the charges he can until he meets his guardian, Abby Harper, his older sister, twenty-six, who has been caring for him and their younger brother, Caleb, fourteen, for the last nine years.
He breaks down for her, in dollar and cents, just how much the cattle, bull, and unborn calves are worth if her brother won’t confess and tell them where the cattle are or at the least who is running the operation. She turns green with the number but doesn’t back down. She tells him with a hard edge but fully meaning it that she will find a way to pay it all back to him and his family. Then she stands and asks to see her brother.
She is mutual friends with the sheriff Danny Oldman, she has him take her to her brother because she was missing work which she can’t because missing just one hour mean whether the lights are on or food on the table. After thinking a while Danny was gone, Clayton knew the best way to find his stock was the kid. So, he told Danny he wanted the kid to see the kid.
When he does he won’t tell so he says, “I’ll give you a second chance. You will come to the ranch every day after school to do your homework, you will work until dinner, then I’ll take you home. On the weekends you are at the ranch at six a.m. and there until dinner. You don’t show for one time unless to be sick or dying I will have Danny put you back in jail. Do you understand?”
Brice agrees. He takes him home when he asked why he did he wasn’t too surprised by the answer. Just by the way his sister held herself and Brice jumped at the chance to work it off. So, his sister wouldn’t have to pay. He said, “Because for once he didn’t want his sis to struggle and he wanted her to think of just herself and get something nice for just her. But like she always to them if it’s too easy it might not always be right.”
After he dropped Brice on his way home he sees Abby with her head under the hood of her car trying to work on it. He stops to help. He reacts to her like no other woman ever. She is gorgeous. He knows he rubbed her to wrong way but not being able to bend when it came to her brother when they met earlier. When he looks up she hates the way her body reacts to him. But he is walking sex on legs.
This is a book of a couple who start off on the opposite sides of the game. Things shift when one shows their tin man heart. Out of fear from their past they want, no need to help one another because they know it’s right. Yet, they have allowed their past for so long guide them.
They banter and joke but when she meets his mom when picking up her brother all their lives change. Her wisdom and a mother’s love changes them, softens them, and makes them braver.
The love scenes in this story are so sensually orchestrated they are giving, loving, and powerfully charged with need you feel their thirst for one another. I give this: 5++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com.

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The best stroke of genius was creating one of the sexiest combinations to ever hit the contemporary romance genre - veteran cowboy. *swoon* I love military heroes , combine that with a beautiful ranch setting and you have me hooked! I haven't read many books by Donna Grant before, but what I have read has always been exciting and engaging. This book is no exception! I am thrilled that this is the first book in a series, because that means I get more cowboys. If a few military heroes are thrown into the mix, that won't hurt either!

Clayton East hasn't spoken with his parents in six months when he is forced to take a call from his mother, who has bad news - his father is ill, the ranch is bankrupt, and their prize bull has just been stolen by cattle rustlers. Driven by duty and love for his family, Clayton returns home, where he comes face to face with the sister of one of the culprits. The boy caught with the cattle rustlers is the brother of sexy accountant, Abby Harper, and she is both embarrassed and furious. Clayton makes her brother a deal: work his debt off on the ranch and no charges will be filed. Her brother agrees, and Abby soon finds herself over at the East home, enjoying home cooked meals and helping Clayton get the ranch back on track. Both Abby and Clayton know they have obstacles in their path, but when love enters the equation, neither has the will to keep from falling in love.

As mentioned above, I love the hero. Military veteran with a heart of gold and a love for his family means he's going to be a great one. Abby was sweet and a perfect match for Clayton, especially in her patience and her gentle nature. They both helped the other overcome difficulties from their past, and neither let the other forget they weren't alone. It was a beautiful relationship that developed over time, with enough of a buildup to make it realistic and sensual. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow as a couple.

I am excited to read the next book in the series! Another great book by Donna Grant.

This is the first book in a new series by Donna Grant. It's about Clayton East and Abby Harper. Clayton is a former SEAL who has come home to his family ranch because his parents need his help. After something horrible happens to Clayton as a child he doesn't want to be on the ranch but he feels he has no choice now. On top of that he has issues from the things he had to do while he was in the Navy. Abby is the older sister to two teenage brothers. She put everything on hold to take care of them when her mother took off just after she graduated from high school. She struggles not only monetarily but with the decisions she has to make on a daily basis for them. On whether it is the right thing to do and what is best for them. Then her brother gets arrested and refuses to say who hired him to do the things he did. Abby is scared and has no idea what to do, but Clayton makes a decision that changes all of their lives for the better!

I absolutely loved this story! Yes, there are struggles on both sides. But more than that it showed how much love a family can have for each other. How much they can stand up for you and just truly be there for you no matter what. Clayton is such a strong person even with the things that still tear him up. He doesn't think he has anything left to offer to anyone but he finds out wrong. And his parents are always there to help him through it even when he tries to push them away. Abby is scared to trust that people will stay. And when she realizes that it's not anything that her or her brothers did that made their mother take off the way she did? Loved it! Especially when her brother's both (as teenager's mind you) tell her they just want her to be happy. They want to see her smile and not worry or be lonely anymore. This is the perfect Christmas time story of family and love while throwing in some suspense and intrigue along the way. Such a great read! I hope her brother's get stories once they are adults!

The title on this one made it irresistible and it wasn’t far into the story that I found even more reasons to be in love with this first in series.
Review

The Christmas Cowboy Hero tells the story of two broken people beaten down by their past and just getting by until events conspire to bring the pair together so their attraction along with a bit of Christmas magic can bring them romance and bring their families for healing and happiness.

Clayton and Abby, separate and together, were a great hero and heroine. He’s a former SEAL who still hasn’t gotten over the death of his brother along with the struggles to heal after war while she has had the responsibility of her two younger brothers since she was eighteen and it has been a long struggle. Encountering Abby and her brothers was great for Clayton and, though Abby mistrusted the goodness that was Clayton and his parents, it was the best thing that ever happened to her and her brothers, too. Clayton gave them all a second chance with his big generous heart that was bruised, but still there. Loved seeing him interact with all of them with patience and understanding.

The romance was paced so well. It wove between the suspense part of the story and Clayton and Abby’s individual issues easily. The attraction was there from the beginning, but so was their baggage from the past. They both faced their attraction with trepidation, but owned up to their issues so that I could enjoy their sizzling romance progress and cheer them on to happiness.

The holiday element was there, but not overpowering. It was a great denouement after the exciting climax events.

All in all, I was well-pleased with this first installment to the Heart of Texas series and look forward to more wonderful stories along the line of The Christmas Cowboy Hero. This is a great match for those who enjoy a modern western holiday romance.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a fun, sexy read from start to finish.

In this novel, we have the dashing, exotic ex-Navy SEAL Clayton who has returned (not happily) to his family home. He has been trying to avoid returning home ever since the death of his older brother. He doesn’t want the responsibility and the family ranch, you definitely can feel there is quite a bit more to his reasoning then what he lets on. It isn’t until further into the novel that you learn more about the truth behind his brother’s death and why he ran away from his family the first chance he had.

Abby on the other hand has taken over the role of Mother and sister to her younger brothers. She has given up everything for them since the day their own Mother left. She goes without so that they can have the smallest of comforts. She is trying her best to the mental and emotional support they need but it is taking a toll on her. When her brother is caught stealing from Clayton’s family farm, the two are forced together.

Clayton sees something in her brother and wants to give him that second chance that he needs and no one has given him. Abby is beyond grateful – the thought of her brother going to jail is too much for her to bear. They begin to work on his family ranch and sparks quickly fly between the two.

You can feel how much the pair want to let go and trust each other but they are always holding a part of themselves back as both are scared to fully let go. They don’t believe they deserve love and a relationship and this really does hurt both of them and their future. You can see it will take something big for them both to learn that they are in this together, to have faith in each other and their love and to let that guide them.

I'm super excited to be reading The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant, I will have to say I was enchanted by the synopsis, and it stuck with me, until I managed to get my greedy little hands on it! And it didn't disappoint.

Retired Navy SEAL Clayton East had to come home, not out of choice, but to save his parents ranch, after his father had a mini stroke, their CPA had embezzled money, and if that wasn't stressful enough, someone had stolen his cattle!!!

Abby Harper had taken on a lot in her young life, she was the legal guardian to her two young brothers, Brice and Caleb, after her mother had abandoned them, raising them, keeping a roof over their heads, was sometimes all she could handle. But when she got a call from the sheriff's office, Abby felt like her world was falling about her, especially when she has to deal with Clayton East! The man who's cattle her brother stole.

I'm am not going to go any further with that, as I don't want to give away the story. But I will say that The Christmas Cowboy Hero was even better than I imagined, and I will be following this series from now on.

I loved all the character's in this book, Clayton's uncertainty, Abby's determination, but Brice and Caleb stole my heart! I'm hoping Shane gets his own story, he is defiantly someone who deserves it.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is a well written Christmas romance, than you will read again and again, despite the time of year! And in my humble opinion, it's definitely Hallmark Christmas movie worthy!!

I give The Christmas Cowboy Hero 5 stars!

Former Navy-SEAL Clayton East returns home to help save his family’s ranch from financial ruin. He searches for the culprits responsible for stealing the ranch’s prize bull and several pregnant heifers. When he apprehends a teenage cattle-rustler, he decides to give the boy a second-chance after meeting his sister. Abby Harper’s calm presence helps silence the demons of his past. With her aid, Clayton learns the identity of the cattle thieves. Can Clayton’s SEAL abilities keep Abby and her teenage brothers safe? Will he be able to convince Abby that they have a future together?
Abby Harper works a thankless job to provide for her two teenage brothers. When one lands in jail for cattle-theft, she struggles to find a solution. When Clayton East gives her brother a second-chance, Abby feels grateful. She likes the positive influence Clayton and the ranch has on her brothers. The irresistible cowboy convinces her to look over the East Ranch’s financial books. Abby discovers a clue to the identity of the cattle-rustlers. Will Abby move past her abandonment issues to let Clayton in?
Clayton is such an easy hero to like. He is a man tormented by his brother’s death and the service he dedicated to his country. I admire how Clayton returns home despite his reservations to help his parents when they needed him most. He finds a fellow kindred spirit in Abby. I like how Clayton finds respite from his mental demons in Abby’s presence. But what I love the most about Clayton is his willingness to help the Harpers rather than giving them hand-outs. He is the first person to acknowledge Abby and her abilities.
Abby is such an awe-inspiring heroine. I admire her selflessness by stepping forward and raising her younger brothers after their mother left. Everything Abby does is for her siblings’ sake. But what I really like about Abby is her integrity. She may be down-on-her-luck financially; however, she remains steadfast in paying a good deed back with another good deed. She finds honest ways to obtain what she and her brothers need than resort to underhanded means.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is book one in Donna Grant’s brand new romantic suspense series, HEART OF TEXAS. I at first thought this story belonged to the author’s other romantic suspense story, or it could be a spin-off from it. I may not be into the cowboy theme, but I like the author’s cowboy-SEAL combination.
THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO is a sweet yet evocative story of two wounded souls finally letting the ghosts of their past go to be happy. I like the fact the Christmas element is more of a back-drop than the main focus in the story. I cannot wait for more books in this heart-warming series.

I really loved this book. It was one of those books where you need the hankies for the good parts and not because something bad happened (even though a lot of that happens as well). This is about the spirit of Christmas, about getting together, about helping each other, about belonging together and about love. And it is also about second chances, about moving on from heartbreak and bad choices and the people at your side who are there for you and who help you to get there.
2
What I really loved about it, is the combination of a story where lots of feelings are involved and people have to deal with their issues and get stronger by fighting them and a brilliant story with lots of action and several twists and turns that just keep you glued to your reader.

Wonderful, warm characters that I'd love to have around and spend time with, a Seal, albeit a former one, on a mission and two families that are still struggling to overcome a past filled with loss and grief that help each other heal and become whole again.

A beautiful story about everything Christmas is really about with a wonderful love story and a lot of action.

An enjoyable introduction into Donna Grants writing. All in all a lovely story.