I've read all the prior books in the series, but something about this one didn't sit as well with me. I mean, I mostly enjoyed it, but not as the same level as the prior books. I think for me it was just too "dark" for a Christmas book. The characters just had so many issues to get though in order to find their happily ever after, I was just didn't feel the Christmasy feels I wanted. It has also been a couple years since I read the prior books and they're all tied pretty closely, so it was almost like jumping into the middle of the series at this point. I was a little lost at how all the folks connected... and there were a lot of people.

Mistletoe in Texas was a middle of the road read for me.

I had enjoyed this author in the past and was looking forward to this book until the author treated another reviewer poorly and basically sent her fans to attack this reviewer. After her behavior, I didn’t finish the book.

In Kari Lynn Dell's Mistletoe in Texas, the 5th installment in the Texas Rodeo contemporary western romance series, this warm-hearted tale would enlighten you for the holidays. For Grace McKenna, she had loved Hank Brookman ever since she was a child. She had also lived in her father's shadow as a domineering priest in Earnest, Texas. But when Hank had a tragic misstep during a rodeo match, she had kept a hidden secret from him and her family after their one-night encounter. And when he'd stormed out to head to Montana, she carried the burden alone. She later gave up her daughter for adoption. Now fast forward to three years later, when Grace worked as an athletic trainer at her former high school's basketball team, she had learned that Hank returned for the holidays. As for Hank, he had always loved Grace and had a troubled relationship with his father and with his own sister Melanie. After he had learned about his accident, he returned home to help pitch in to help out with the ranch. Then he ran into Grace. During the holiday season, they both dealt with the past and tried to make things right when they had fallen for each other. They also mended hearts and their relationships with their family to have a fresh new start. But when things get serious between them, they had to reevaluate their feelings to make the most of it in the future.

I couldn't even with this book. Ohmigosh, it was awful! The writing put me in mind of a hummingbird on crack and the characters were absolutely unlikable *and* unbelievable--their personalities and interaction were completely phony. DNF

First let me say that after reading this book I did not have a problem with the female character. One being adopted myself I was grateful that my birth mother did not have an abortion, for she was young and that would have been an option for her. Two my parents paid for me as a private adoption it is done more than people think I am sure my parents did not spend that much money since we are talking the 60’s but it does happen legally all the time. I could also find fault with both characters if I wanted too it seem as though that by reading some of the reviews more people are finding fault with the female character and giving the male character a pass for being gone for seven years. He is also the one who pursed her and then yea embarrassed her really in order to get rid of her. But all of that is okay. The real problem is that she felt that she had nowhere to turn to and she felt she could not talk to her parents for help. I actually enjoyed this book for it was a story and not an autobiography, and both characters are flawed and maybe that was what the author was trying to point out. I don’t know? What I do know is that I will read her book again and that I was and am glad that my birth mother had me and gave me up for adoption!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order if you can. I have recently read a couple and it did help get all the prior issues and relationships in order. This is a big all-encompassing series, in which I really am invested. It gives weight to many cowboy competitions and recognises the women's circuit as well as the men's, which gives it far more interesting characters and dynamics. Well worth reading, that's for sure.

This was one of those long-time coming stories, which a faithful reader would be expecting to be a massive train-wreck. And at times, it did seem like the hurdles were insurmountable; however, a little faith in Dell was all that was needed to give Grace and Hank the future they deserved. I loved that Hank's father Johnny and Bing also got their story told alongside. It made for a more fun and light-hearted romance when Hank and Grace were both struggling.

It is a good, satisfying read, which pulled together many storylines and got us caught up with previous couples – I really enjoyed it, thank you, Kari Lynn Dell.

This was a good addition to the series and is the fifth book and they are better read in order. I have enjoyed this series and this book did not disappoint. In the previous books, I have to admit that Hank was not my favorite characters so I was not sure I would enjoy his book as much as the others but I really warmed to him and saw a completely different side to him when he heads back to Texas and Grace. This was a good second chance romance thee two were super characters and very real and likable.

<i>Is it possible to love someone with your whole heart and still have room to love yourself?</i>

Hank was riding high on life until he hit a brick wall named Grace his curly red head girl. Now after leaving Hank returns home to settle and fix what he left broken in his life, if possible.
Hank’s relationship with his family member’s is a part of his healing as well as his relationship with the woman who matters the most…Grace. Can Hank heal the layers of hurt inside himself? Will they see him for not what he was, but who his is now?

Grace is a preacher’s daughter; the middle child of seven who is a huge disappointment to her father. Grace lost her heart to her best friend Hank, she was his shadow had tagged along everywhere he went and soon their bond was formed. Then that incredible night happened.

Grace holds a secret that not only crush her life, but the lives of others who are involved.
Hank and Grace went from friends, to one-night stand and that does not make a relationship.
After one fight, one secret, one return trip home these two find themselves with a lot of unanswered questions. Hank was a little jerky at first, but his character redeemed himself. Grace confused me when her secret was out, but as her story come forth I now it was not so much as how Hank took the secret as how she was feeling about her role in the secret. Can the heal what is torn?

The supporting characters were delightful as ever. I adore Bing and Miz Iris they both hold a great mother role for Hank in his time of need. It was nice to see everyone even though I felt for Hank as he discovers everyone's role in the aftermath. I do wish and hope to see the meeting between Hank, Grace and a very special little gift.
The <i>Texas Rodeo Series</i> is just so yummy from the beginning of the series too <i>Mistletoe in Texas</i> the plots are always filled with characters that are hard press to forget, a strong dose of drama, joy and love. You felt what Hank and Grace was feeling on every level and step of their journey.

Even if I knew about Grace’s secret in the previous book; I enjoyed this telling story of their beginning and if there was an ending that tip my heart over to mush. I know that it is said that this can be a standalone book, but I suggest strong that you read the first in the <i>Texas Rodeo Series</i> to get the supporting characters stories to know why they are important to Hank and Grace.

<center><b>Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb ! </b></center>

Very good story. Well plotted story. I do feel that it's missing a bit of details. This is my first book by this author, and I don't know if I've missed a book before this, but it's not clear on some characters, storyline. I do love these characters and the outcome. I loved the depth of emotions in showed between these two people. I will look for more from this author.

Heartwarming, sexy, emotional, fun and exciting second chance romance filled with lots of small-town backwoods country homeyness...... was yummy from beginning to end.

Hank Brookman is a sexy, strong rodeo bullfighter that was injured and is now back home trying to rebuild his life and reconnect with loved ones he left behind all those years ago...... Grace McKenna is the sweet, charming, smart and sexy woman that captured his heart years ago and never let go.

Mistletoe in Texas left me feeling decidedly un-Christmas like. While Christmas is traditionally a time for forgiveness, this book left me feeling unsettled about much of the plot. Hank's had some bad luck, mostly of his own making, up to this point in the series and he's treated Grace poorly. It's been years since they've seen each other, but now that he's back in town he's decided that he wants another chance with her. I don't want to be spoilery, but if you've read the previous books in the series than you already know that Grace and Hank had a brief affair resulting in a baby. This is where things took a turn for me in the story. While I am not opposed to adoption, I am vehemently opposed to the idea that this child's existence and subsequent adoption were kept from the father, not just by the child's mother but also by his friend's and family. The guise is that it was done so because he couldn't handle the issue at the time because he was recovering from the fallout of his bad decisions. Additionally, the references to meddling grandparents that attempted to buy the baby left me feeling very uncomfortable. I realize this may often be a reality, but it's just not something I'd have chosen to read in a book that had been sold as a holiday romance.
Hank's character and his relationships with friends and family are what saved this book for me. I thought he showed great emotional development as the story progressed and I was rooting for him to get the happy family he deserved. I don't care much for Grace, who came across as cold to me. Sadly, I also didn't feel much of an emotional connection between the couple and wonder if their HEA is more of a HFN (happy for now).

While this book is not my favorite in the series, I do think the author is a fantastic storyteller and I appreciate the attention to detail that is evident in every book. I'm curious to see what she has in store for us next.

I really enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me and I will seek her other books out to read! I love stories with strong characters!

This book drags in the beginning for me. This is a series that has overlapping storylines. If you read the previous book, you know Grace’s secret.

Hank and Grace were best friends from fourth grade on. He was the star athlete, she the pretty, quiet, smart daughter of a strict Bible thumping dad.

Hank became a bull fighter and was rising up quickly through the ranks. During one event, Hank wasn’t able to prevent a rider from getting injured and then gets seriously injured himself. Reeling from both events, he disappears, leaving his family desperately searching for him. Just before incurring his injuries, he sleeps with Grace and then humiliates her in front of their small town.

Grace. Where to start with why I disliked her. She made a major, life altering decision without talking to Hank first. Then she drags some of his family and friends into keeping her secret, driving an even bigger wedge between him and them. IMO, she was very egocentric. It was all about how everything affected her and the life she created for herself and didn’t want disrupted.

Hank was seriously trying to get his life back together and be a better man. When Grace reveals her secret and following actions, he too easily and quickly (IMO) lets it roll off him and runs back to her.
I just never got the two of them together. Hank spent his early years looking at Grace as his best friend and biggest supporter. Then with what felt like a flip of the switch, realizes he’s always been crazy about her but stuffed it to the back of his mind because of who her father was? Just didn’t work for me.

Bing is supposed to be a mental health counselor. She violated HIPPA laws so many times. Not just violated, stomped all over them. Even if she wasn’t “officially” his counselor, as his supposed best friend, she spoke much too freely about Hank’s issues without his consent or knowledge. And the whole Bing/Hank’s dad storyline? Didn’t get it. Felt like it was just used as a means to get Bing to move to Texas to keep her close to Hank.

I did enjoy watching Hank and his dad work out their relationship.

I struggled with the whole book. After loving the 2 books in this series I have read, I felt tremendously let down by this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

I was under the impression that this was a stand a lone in a series of books, but I felt completely overwhelmed with all the names and places thrown at me in the beginning of the book. It was hard to make heads or tails of the situations (at least to me). I'm not sure that I liked Hank and Grace together either. Hank was a jerk to Grace, and for some reason Grace still loves him. The thing that gets me about that though, is they were never really together. They were intimate one time, but other than that, they were just friends. I never really felt a romantic connection between them. Friendship, yes, but not romance. The writing itself wasn't bad, and I would be willing to give this author another read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

This one had a lot going on, too much at times, but the basic story was very good. Grace isn't really a favorite character of mine but I could sympathize with the situation she found herself facing. I would have preferred if she had been forthcoming with her secret sooner and maybe with a bit more compassion. Hank I enjoyed. He's a guy who has gone through some bad times but he's facing things head on and trying to make amends to those he hurt. I thought parts of the story were unnecessarily drawn out but in the end I did enjoy the book so I would recommend.

Mistletoe In Texas

I’m not gonna lie, Hank was not my favorite character in previous books. After a rodeo accident he believes is his fault and a series of unfortunate happenings, Hank pushes everyone away and becomes more of a tortured hero. Now that I can get behind.

Grace was my kind of heroine; strong. I loved her. So there’s a secret baby, family drama, Christmas feels, and an additional romance between Bing (Hanks friend) and Hanks dad, who was a jerk too but redeemed himself by the end.

I liked this book hard. A nice story of redemption at Christmas time. Always a fab favorite.

I love second chance romances! But Hank sure had to work for this one. Not that Grace was going to cut him any slack. She was hurt and left behind. This injured rodeo star is going to have give it everything he has if he wants to change the past and rope in his future.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Who doesn’t love a fantastic Christmas story and this one sure delivers one. I loved everything about this book, the main characters, secondary one, the story, the chemistry and romance throughout the book but mostly the christmas setting which was just magical and I loved it. Well done Kari Lynn Dell. Can’t wait to read more from this fabulous author. You have to pick up this book especially with christmas around the corner.

Hank is a good guy with a big heart, but he’s pretty damaged, more than a little broken, and has left a path of destruction through all of his family and friends. Eventually though, he’s done hiding out in Montana and returns to Texas to face his past and make amends. To face Grace, the one girl who has always been there for him, a true friend, and one he treated terribly. But there's a lot that happened in the three years he was gone, and just when it looks like they could be friends again, and maybe more, Grace reveals a secret that leaves Hank torn.

“it’s complicated" is simple compared to the way things are between Hank and Grace. There are so many regrets, fears, judgments and expectations all layered together with the love, longing, pain and desires that it’s a wonder things can ever get sorted between them. Dell has a way of creating flawed, realistic, endearing characters so that their story so is heartfelt, hypnotizing and compelling that the reader hangs on every word. If you like a romance with a little heat and sexy cowboys, and one full of redemption, heart, hope and second chances, you'll love Hank and Grace's story!

I realllllllly dislike stories that feature the heroine who has a baby and doesn't tell the father that he has a child in the world. I didn't know this book featured this as a main theme or I would have skipped it, so understand that while reading my review. I tried to push that aside to share my thoughts on the rest of the book.

Hank was a well known bull fighter in his small Texas town, until his life took a sharp turn for the worse. He makes some bad decisions, turns to alcohol and his life unravels. He ends up hurting the one girl he really liked. He becomes estranged from his family and moves far, far away where he finds people who help him turn his life around.

Grace has loved Hank forever - and when things finally turn romantic, she accidentally gets pregnant. She comes from an extremely religious/strict family, and is shipped off to have the baby in secret. She doesn't tell Hank or hardly anyone about this. She gives the baby up for adoption.

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<p>Years pass, and now Hank is back in town, ready to work hard, and make some apologies to those he hurt. I did like Hank's road to recovery. He takes responsibility for  his past mistakes and also knows that not everyone is going to forgive him - and he is okay with that  too. He starts to very slowly mend his relationship with his father - and that was a highlight in the book for me. I like how their relationship unfolds

<p>I feel like Grace didn't have as much depth as Hank. She is an athletic trainer, but that didn't feel super realistic as her profession. I found the ranching and horse stuff much more realistic and well done in this one. I like that Grace is independent and has moved out of her father's strict rule. She tells Hank that he is a father not too far into the book - and again, I have a hard time with this scenario, so it just all pissed me off so I won't go into detail about it.

At first I was glad the romance was more of a slow burn because they had a lot of past issues to work through - but after awhile I wanted more emphasis on the romance and less on everyone else. There are a lot of supporting characters, and I got tired of all of them getting page time and less attention on the courtship between Hank and Grace. That disappointed me a bit.

This is the first I've read of this series and while you could tell the supporting characters had some back story in other books, it read pretty well as a stand alone.