My first Caitlin Crews book. Not a light hearted Christmas story, and darker than my typical reads. And that's the only reason for less than 5 stars. Grey and Abby were both scarred from their pasts, but it takes some serious introspection on both their parts to get their minds in the married for the right reason mindset. I will keep an eye out for the brothers' stories, because I can see there will be some great books there.

Two souls who are damaged due to their parents come together in a marriage of convenience. Its a story of how they face their trials and tribulations and learn to celebrate Christmas

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

I was not sure about the reason that made me chose this book to read, but in the end I understood: it packed so much drama that I was so happy.....I really am a sucker for love stories with a lot of drama in it, and this was full: bad childhood, terrible parents, stepmother to an adolescent, practical marriage and so on, and in the end I enjoyed this reading :)

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

There is nothing better than a Christmas story and to me this is a classic cowboy story! Gray is burying his father (who was a mean old jerk). His (cheating) wife died in an accident and he has a 15 year old daughter. He decides she needs a stable woman in her life and he just wants some normalcy at home so he decides he's going to ask Abby to marry him. Abby has been in love with him since she was a little girl (he doesn't know this). Abby feels like the tall, plain ugly duckling (thanks to her evil mom). Can these 2 get past their pasts and the emotional baggage they have to find love? Caitlin has written such a great story. There is the hot chemistry for sure but it really has a story that pulls at your heart. A few times my heart felt like it was breaking. Caitlin gives me the HEA that I LOVE in the best way possible. I love when Abby wakes up on Christmas morning and the gifts they give each other on New Years! I cannot wait for more from Cold River Ranch. (I LOVE Abby's grandma!!!) I read an ARC for an honest, voluntary review!

This was an interesting romance. Gray Everett has just buried his father - the father who made life hell for himself, his daughter, and his brothers. He looks across the gravesite to see Abby Douglas and decides that he wants to marry her. She a down-to-earth farmer's daughter - much different than the first wife who betrayed him with many lovers and died on the way to see one of them.

Abby has had a crush on Gray since she was a small child. She's never looked at anyone else or given anyone else a chance to engage her heart. Of course, after years of verbal abuse by a mother who drifts in and out of her life at whim, Abby is convinced that no one could possibly be interested in her.

Gray's proposal comes out of the blue for Abby. He just drops by one day and suggests that they get married. Abby certainly has mixed feelings about accepting his proposal. She loves him but knows that he doesn't love her. She believes that she is just the most convenient woman for him to ask.

Abby takes a risk and accepts his proposal. Now they have to build their marriage and get to know each other.

Personally, I felt that all the main characters - Gray, Abby, Gray's daughter Becca, and Gray's brothers Ty and Brady - could have all used some time with a family therapist. All of them were variously abused by people who were supposed to love them. Gray's father was absolutely toxic and it took quite a while for Gray to understand how his life and relationships had been shaped by him. Abby's mother was also a toxic character. Abby realizes that most of her life choices were made so that she could just be the opposite of her mother. Luckily, Abby was raised by her grandmother who did provide her with unconditional love and a strong sense of values. Gray didn't have that sort of role model in his life.

I liked the story, but it certainly wasn't the usual fluffy romance.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how the characters developed throughout the story. Gray is a single father to a 15 year old girl, Becca. His wife was killed a few years ago on her way to meet up with one of her many boyfriends. Gray's dad Amos is known to be a complete jerk & isn't liked by anyone. He passes away & this forces Gray to reexamine his life & how he doesn't want to end up like his dad. His brothers also reenter the picture, Ty staying in the bunkhouse on the ranch & Brady coming back & forth more often between Denver & the ranch. Gray sees Abby at the funeral reception & decides she's reliable & steady & would make a good wife & mother figure for his daughter. He proposes a marriage of convenience to her & since she has loved him from afar forever, she finally agrees. This leads to some surprising discoveries & is well worth the read to find out how it goes. I also wonder if we will get more about Ty & Brady in other books, which would be great.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a terrific book. I like the plot, the longer length and the character interaction. We meet Abby, who describes herself as plain and dependable but secretly in love with Gray since second grade. Gry’s father has just passed away and he decides at the gathering afterward that he needs to get married to someone who can just fit in his existing life. Gray is a widow with a 15 year old daughter. His wife had cheated n him and died while driving to one of her meetings with another man. Gray poses the idea of marriage to Abby who at first acts as if its the strangest idea. We also meet Gray’s 2 younger brothers wh pop up throughout the book and argue over everything. Abby was raised by her grandparents because her mother took off. She returns periodically and is very nasty to Abby. Abby finally decides after much soul searching to marry Gray. She continues to have a lot of low esteem issues. The book details their relationship and the trials and tribulations they face, including Gray’s opinions on the celebration of Christmas. This was very enjoyable and I look forward to any additional bus in the series, perhaps about Grays brothers and/or Abby’s best friends Hope and Rae. 5 stars!

This is a delightful holiday romance. Who doesn’t love a brooding cowboy who just needs the right woman to show him he can love? A True Cowboy Christmas is just the ticket for a light holiday read - beautiful setting, sexy cowboy, and likable characters.

What a powerful read! I was an emotional mess. I felt everything Abby felt. I fell in love with Abby and Gray. The array of emotions I felt for them and the other characters involved was unmatched. This book made me feel! You could have plunked me right there in Gray’s house, because I felt like I was living in the story. I have never read this author, and I look forward to more.

Oh these two made me cry - I cried for them, I cried with them, my heart hurt for the situations they ended up in, and I was rooting for them so hard, that when it finally all came together, I cried some more!

Gray and Abby haven't had the easiest of lives. They both have buried some things deep down, and it has become a natural part of their psyche. They don't even realize it is there, guiding them everyday in all they do. They are practical, and Gray is a master at tamping down his emotions, but Abby finds it increasingly harder and starts to let hers loose. There aren't fireworks with these two, but slow burns, and some flashes of lightning. They are perfect together, and while they know it, it takes a while for them to figure out why. The journey wasn't smooth, but then again, that is how their lives have always been, so they aren't shocked. What does shock them is the depth and ease that they rely on, and fit with, each other

A wonderful read that brings you there with the characters and makes you want to stay!

Abby Douglas is getting old! Thirty years old and never been on a date, Abby has always been secretly in love with her hunky neighbor, Gray Everett. Gray needs a wife and a mother for his teenage daughter so when he sees Abby one day, he decides that she is perfect! Christmas season is coming up and that time of the year should be full of love and happiness, right? Great story with lots of emotion and tenderness, A True Cowboy Christmas is perfect for romantic, holiday reading fun.

A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews will be available October 30, 2018 from St. Martin's Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin's Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Gray Everett has just buried his abusive, alcoholic dad. His long lost brothers have returned home and keep driving him crazy. He is raising his 15 year old daughter alone and, decides it's time for him to marry again. This time for convenience.. His next door neighbor Abby, has loved Gray from afar her whole life. Gray thinks she is perfect for him because she won't want to leave like his first wife and brothers.
Abby is floored and insulted when Gray discusses this with her. She is devastated that he wants her for convenience when she is petrified that he'll tire of her soon and throw her out.
Both of them have many issues from their childhoods that make it hard for them to trust anyone, much less each other but, they finally decide to give it a try.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. A woman with no self esteem and a man who doesn't even believe he knows what love is.
Perfect book to read in front of the fire with a cup of cocoa!

The Everett brothers had a very intense upbringing and Gray is the only brother who stayed and worked the land and raised his daughter Becca. It wasn't the best but all he could figure to work for them. Then Abby living as their neighbor with her grandmother a very loving person. Both raised with issues and problems to work out but a realistic read.

Gray and his two brothers inherited farm after their father passed away. He decided to get married and he knows who will be his wife and stepmother to his daughter. Abby, she is dependable, loves to work. When Gray explain to Abby why they should get married, she doesn't know what to think... her dreams are coming to be true. Will this marriage survive time, few lies and brothers who wants to sell farm ?

If you dig through the emotional wasteland and the horrendous memories shared by these characters, you will find a hidden gem about discovering that special Christmas spirit wrapped in love and family and the promise of a wonderful future!

A TRUE COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Caitlin Crews has some pretty brittle edges that must be worn down, but sometimes the most unlikely of relationships become exactly the healing medicine someone needs. What better time for a miracle-of-the-heart than Christmas?

Abby has dreamed of being with Gray since she was a child, but it was just that, a dream. The plain young woman never imagined the quiet and brooding rancher would ask for her hand in marriage, strictly a common sense arrangement, at least for Gray. Can he remain impassive about their marriage when seeing the sweet strength of Abby, whose past is every bit as dark as his?

I admit it, I spent a good deal of this book not sure if I really liked Gray, but knowing I just adored Abby! I really hoped she knew what she was doing...

Not your “regular” Holiday romance, this one still rings true in the season of miracles as one cowboy Scrooge doesn’t stand a chance against the power of love!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Paperbacks!

Series: Cold River Ranch - Book 1
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 30, 2018)
Genre: Holiday Cowboy Romance
Page Count: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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3.5 stars

When I got the invitation to review A True Cowboy Christmas, I laughed. Seeing that my invite was back in July, I wasn’t even thinking of Christmas yet. Christmas wasn’t even on my radar. But, when I read the blurb on Goodreads, I knew that I had to read this book. Why? It was a western for one. They have become one of my favorite romance genre’s to read. The other reason was that it was a Christmas romance. Those are always good books to read. So I figured, mixing those two books would be fantastic. And I was right.

A True Cowboy Christmas is about Abby and Gray’s romance. Abby had been in love with Gray her entire life. She never thought that he would notice her. She also never imagined that she would be married to him. Gray has known Abby his entire life. But, at his father’s funeral, Gray notices her. Deciding that he can now remarry, Gray approaches Abby and she agrees. What they both weren’t expecting was a red-hot passion to spring up between them. They also didn’t expect Abby’s venomous mother and the ghost of Gray’s father to get in the way of the marriage. Can they overcome everything? Or will Abby leave Gray like every other woman in his life?

Having the main characters be engaged within the first two chapters of the book put me off a bit. I couldn’t understand why Gray decided that he needed to be married and it had to be to Abby. He barely knew her. Barely noticed her. I will admit that I eyerolled hardcore during those scenes. I also, prematurely, called for this book to be a fluff piece. A book where there is little to no drama and the main characters get along famously after they get married. Yeah, shouldn’t have done that.

I was surprised at the layers that the characters had. I wasn’t expecting Abby to have such a screwed up childhood or a mother that hated her. I also thought that her grandmother, who raised her, would step in and stop the verbal abuse. She didn’t. I also wasn’t expecting Gray to have as many layers as he did. His childhood was worse than Abby’s. I didn’t understand until he started telling Abby why Christmas wasn’t celebrated in the house. My heart broke for him. Even the secondary characters had layers. It was insane!!

I loathed Lilly. She was a despicable human being. I didn’t want to believe that she could be as nasty as she was to her own daughter. I was even more shocked when Abby’s grandmother stood up for Lilly. I wanted to scream “Why are you letting her talk to Abby that way? WHY” No wonder Abby had self-esteem issues. I will say that I cheered when Gray put Lilly in her place at Thanksgiving. And I fist pumped when Abby finally did. And yes, I get too vested in these books…lol.

I liked Abby but I also felt bad for her. Her self-esteem was at a zero. She was pining away for a man who didn’t even notice her. If I were in her shoes, I would have acted the same way when Gray put everything on the table. I also understood why she wanted nothing to do with Lilly. I mean, the way that woman treated her awful and she didn’t want anything to do with her. I did think her love of Christmas was infectious. She started getting me in the Christmas mood while reading the book.

I had a harder time connecting to Gray. He was too even-keeled for my taste. It took me a while to realize that he was as damaged as Abby was. Maybe even more. Then I started feeling bad for him when he started opening up to Abby about his childhood and why he didn’t celebrate Christmas. What I didn’t get was why he thought his father would have changed with a grandchild. It seemed that his father did as much damage to Becca as he did to his own sons.

The secondary characters made this book. Gray’s brothers added an interesting element to the story. I also liked Abby’s best friends. As for Abby’s grandmother, I didn’t care for her. She didn’t know how to put her foot down with her daughter and make her stop saying those things to Abby. Becca was a sweetheart but she had her issues too. Mainly from her grandfather. But such a sweet girl and one of the few people who stood up for Abby.

I didn’t care for the sex scenes. While they were well written, they didn’t do anything for me. For someone who lived like a monk, Gray had amazing stamina. And Abby didn’t feel any discomfort when her virginity was taken. It didn’t feel true to me. I did get the passion and love, though. But I didn’t connect with the sex scenes.

The end of the book was amazing. Talk about a Christmas miracle. What Gray did was amazing and brought tears to my eyes. And the news that Abby had for him, was amazing. I am hoping that there will be another book in the series. I would love to see one about Ty or Brady. Or one of Abby’s friends!!

What I liked about A True Cowboy Christmas:

Characters had layers
Could connect to the main characters
The end of the book
What I disliked about A True Cowboy Christmas:

Abby and Gray being engaged without knowing each other.
Lilly. I loathed her.
The sex scenes. Didn’t do it for me.
I gave A True Cowboy Christmas a 3.5-star rating. I loved that this book took place around Christmas. I was surprised at how layered the characters were. I liked that I could connect to the characters on a personal level. And I loved the end of the book. But there were things that I disliked. I didn’t like Abby and Gray being engaged right off the bat. I didn’t like the sex scenes. And I loathed Lilly.

I would give A True Cowboy Christmas an Adult rating. There is sex but it is not explicit. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would recommend A True Cowboy Christmas to family and friends. I would also reread this book.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review A True Cowboy Christmas.

All opinions stated in this review of A True Cowboy Christmas are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

*Disclaimer: I will not be listing this review on my blog for reasons I will indicate below*

A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Caitlin Crews offers her readers a wonderful story of love, forgiveness, accepting yourself and finding a place to belong that only errs with the unnecessary drawn out sex scenes that make the book uncomfortable to read.

I love stories about real Cowboys who make their living and their homes from the raising of cattle and the management of rolling acres. And a Christmas based story that also involves two hurting people finding love and acceptance they've looked for all their lives just makes it one I just have to read. I truly did enjoy the story and the development of the characters in the pages of this story. To see each of them grow and reach out in a way that they previously wouldn't have dared was great to see and is a rarity in these types of books. Abby has loved Gray from afar her entire life and never dreamed he would look at her twice. He is her ideal man and she has never been able to let anyone else fill that role. So when he offers her a proposal of marriage because he believes they will "do well together", she is stunned. But as much as her heart wants to shout "YES!" she cannot wrap her mind around the fact that he wants to marry her. She has always seen herself as homely, too tall and lacking real curves and for a very attractive man like Gray she isn't even in his universe. But Gray isn't looking for a stunning beauty that everyone will flock to, he wants someone who will put down roots and help him create the family he's always wanted. Finally agreeing to marry Gray doesn't take away all the problems, though, as there are many hurtful wounds that are festering inside the darkly handsome man. As they work together to learn what a real family is like, both Gray and Abby will have to sort through their past hurts to find a way to live together with respect and maybe, just find themselves in love. But while I loved the story and the characters, I just wasn't okay with the very descriptive sex scenes that were also included in the story. I'm not one to read books with this included so it was sad to see that so much page time was allowed for it. I had to skip two entire chapters and several pages in others to keep from reading what is not for others eyes to see. I was glad to see that it was all inside the context of marriage but I view the marriage bed as a sacred space that is not for others to be brought into. How creepy is it that readers are spying on this couple as they are in the most intimate moments of their lives? It would have been much better to have left this out and simply talked about everything in more vague terms so that while sex is intimated there is no exploitation of that personal time. For this reason and for the unnecessary crude language included I could not give this book the 5 stars I would have loved to give it. I will also not be posting this to my blog as this is not the kind of book I would like to promote others to read. Perhaps Ms Crews could edit her books a bit more and make them more focused on the characters and leave out the sex scenes - this would ensure that more people would read and share her books with others. If she did this I would love to promote her books on my blog and share them with my friends and family with no reservations. Excellent writing otherwise and a wonderful story that had many good lessons to be shared.

I received this E-book free of charge from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

It is such a joy to find a new author to add to your must have shelf and Caitlin Crews is mine! I was totally invested in Gray and Abby--sure I loved the brokenness of both characters because we all need our hearts wrenched occasionally, but they were special because they didn't need each other to be strong. They had already learned to live with their demons. However, they needed each other to be happy and that made reading late into the night a must! I loved the dry wit between them and especially the fact that Abby could joke all through the surreal proposal. I will never think of being "the salt of the earth" quite the same. LOL! I loved learning that the secret to staying married is not to get divorced--wow does the world need that message! The characters struggle with real love--"Is having a part of someone better than having nothing at all?" And look at Martha Douglass-- loving a daughter that is unlovable-- can't get any more real than that. But the best is "happiness isn't a penny you've found"; it's a choice and you keep choosing it! Like I said, Caitlin Crews, you are exactly what I need! So give me Ty's and Brady's and Rea's and Hope's and Becca's stories so I can keep choosing happiness!

A good cowboy romance if you like a lot of emotion and drama. the characters are interesting and likable. The drama is all about dysfunctional families and good friendships.

Rarely do I come across a new author and a story that is one I’ll remember for a long time. In this case , I have found both.
The story centers around Gray Everett and Abby Douglas. Gray is a rancher with a teenage daughter, whose bitter father has recently died and has left the ranch to his three sons. Gray being the only one who wants to keep it. Abby has been his neighbor most of her life, having been left with her grandparents by a less than loving mother.
Upon his father’s death, Gray knows he needs someone by his side that will help him not only with the ranch, but also with his daughter. So he proposes a marriage of convenience to Abby. Little does he know she has been in love with him since she was 10 years old.
Gray doesn’t know how to love and fears being hurt, while Abby only knows how to love him.
It was a lovely story about trust, which at times was heartbreaking but also heartwarming. A story about how the experiences of our childhood and how we are treated by those who are suppose to love and care for us, do affect us as adults and how we perceive ourselves.
But it also a story about hope, the miracle of Christmas and the power of love.
Can’t wait to see what else this talented author has in store for us.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and St Martin’s Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.