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Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

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Authors Leigh Greenwood, Roasanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas stories are all tied radiantly to old-time Christmases in this collection called Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.

This is an eclectic collection of Christmas stories that makes you long for a simpler time – a simpler time when getting married was as easy as walking down the street to a church. A simpler time when falling in love came at you so quickly it took your breath away. A simpler time when the acts of kindness were a community effort and decorations were homemade.

Each story in this collection stands on its own and each story is centered around Christmas in the most romantic ways. Reading a collection like this gives you the opportunity to discover new authors and their writing styles. From Greenwood to Bittner to Broday to Brownley to Schmidt to Sandas all their writing is solid, clean, and crisp and reflects the early tones and dialects of the historical eras they write about.

Of course, the one story that stood out the most to me being a dog lover was A Love Letter to Santa. I was crying at the end. Margaret Brownley really knew how to write a story that tugged at my heart. And what made it more endearing is how her story was inspired. Just when you think her story is going to be about a donkey it turns quickly to be about Winston/Cupid.

If you love the old-time magic of Christmas with romance then this collection is an essential read. You’ll not be disappointed. Who knows you might even be inspired.

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This talented team of writers all focused on the holiday theme is a supreme Christmas gift to reading fans and newcomers alike. I couldn’t click fast enough to have all western historical Christmas romancing by all familiar and greatly enjoyed writers onto my device.
Review

Fairytale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
As far as I could tell this is a standalone and takes place on a farm in a Shenandoah Valley small town. Christmas comes for a lonely, worthy woman, Nan, who thinks her chances of love and family have passed her by until she takes in a sick widower, Will Atkins, and his young sweet girl, Clara, who has never had a home Christmas or family togetherness.
Simple country charm, reflective romance.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
#1.5 Paradise Valley
I read Paradise Valley so long ago, but with the built in details of their past in this novella, I was right back in the thick of things in no time. I never expected to get more of Maggie and Sage’s story so this was a real Christmas treat to a fan.

Settling in to their home and ranch life in Paradise Valley, Wyoming, Sage and Maggie must come to terms with their past if they are to have joy for the future. Maggie is secretly fearful that Sage will one day wake up to realize she isn’t the gorgeous, sophisticated woman that his ex-wife was or that he can’t love a woman who was raped and carries another man’s child. And, Sage’s outlaw past, half-Cheyenne race, and abandonment by adoptive parents has him wondering when all this blessing and good fortune will be taken away especially when people come to stir up trouble and there is a drought condition and worry of fire.
They both take some convincing and I enjoyed their Christmas surprise.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
#2.5 Outlaw Mail Order Brides
This novella falls between a few of the larger stories of the series and gives a sweet Christmas story for the whole town paired with the specific romance of side characters Travis the outlaw that a bounty hunter caught up with and Rebel the former saloon gal. It standa alone just fine for those new to the series.

Rebel is moping with Travis gone indefinitely, the two orphans she has adopted struggling with a bully and abandonment issues, and no one thinking of Christmas. So Rebel decides they all need some cheer. She gets her own Christmas surprise even as the whole town feels the wonder of Christmas.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Haywire Brides #2.5
This is easily read as a standalone between books in the series. Holly attempts to whip her grandfather and his friends into a Christmas choir and has plans to bring Christmas cheer to the town and children even after the hard year. Her plans are big and she gets help from the shy, new to town blacksmith, Tom Chandler, with the adorable dog. Her aunt is pushing her toward the prosperous hotel and property owner, but there is something about Tom.

So sweet and I loved the humor laced throughout.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
As far as I know, this is standalone. A second chance romance comes for once drifting cowboy, Collin Foster, and new doctor, Evelyn Prescott. They had quarreled years back when he wanted her to marry him and stay at his side and she wanted to pursue medical school after being recently accepted. Both had a stubborn, independent streak, but now when Collin arrives sick and looking for a doctor and she’s had time to reflect, the feelings are still there on both sides.

I liked how the author brought out both sides, showed that both still harbored feelings and regrets, and they both took ownership for it not working out even while finding themselves in a different place in life when the decision can be different.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas
#3.5 Runaway Brides
A lovely standalone story about side character, outlaw Gentleman George, and a mountain man’s half-Cheyenne daughter in a snowed in romance. I recently discovered this series and loved Gabriel’s story so it was fun coming right back into that world when George and Lucy encounter and then end up stuck together which had surprising and engaging results just in time for Christmas.

So, six wonderful holiday stories that, series or not, easily offered a delicious taste of each author’s talented writing chops in the western historical romance world. I found each story well developed in setting, characters, and romance with a strong holiday element for most. I went in with high anticipation for certain author’s stories, but ended up deeply impressed with each so that I couldn’t choose a favorite if I wanted to. I have no hesitation recommending these to other western historical romance fans.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a collection of stories from multiple authors, and for me it was a mixed bag. There were some winners like the first story about the widower and then others that I did not emotionally connect with. They are all historical western style which is not a genre I am used to reading either, so it was a nice change of pace.

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Travel the 19 & 20th century to see how life is lived and Cowboys fall in love during the holiday season. Cowboys find love and redemption during the holiday season. Whether in the mountains of Virginia to the wilderness of the Wyoming and New Mexico territories these men and the women they fall in love with must over come blizzards, misconceptions, and their own fear of being alone to come together in six stories of love during and holidays and the women Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.

A Fairy Tale Christmas Leigh Greenwood Shenandoah Valley, Virginia 1880
Nan Carson isn't planning on celebrating Christmas until Will and Clara Atkins come to stay with her. Will has gotten sick and is brought to Nan for treatment. His frightened young daughter Clara, immediately draws Nan's attention. Taking longer to heal than he expects Will begins to remember what life was like living in the country. He begins to realize how much he's missed his roots. Clara and Nan become fast friends. Nan and Will begin falling in love with each other but it's going way to fast. He'd been taking his daughter to live with her grandparents while he worked all the time but the idea comes to leave her with Nan, but Will changes his mind. A marriage proposal is made and declined. Nan goes searching for Christmas presents. Being kept together for several days by a blizzard changes their perception of the relationship. Will makes a mysterious trip to town. A sleigh ride to church services, presents exchanged. A marriage proposal and declaration of love and a woman's dream of a family comes true.

Christmas in Paradise Rosanne Bittner Wyoming Territory August 1886
Maggie Lightfoot keeps trying to prove herself to her husband. Married for a short time, she's still not sure of their connection to each other. His perfect first wife has made Maggie feel insecure. Even though Sage keeps reassuring her about how much he loves her and the baby she carries. Sage is returning from catching her wedding present, when he runs into visitors coming to the ranch. He's suspicious of all visitors because of the hired men's and his own pasts as outlaws. Sage finds out what that the visitors so keyed up that Maggie gets him to tell her the reason for the people's visit. Danger, conflict and drought have the Lightfoots fighting for their ranch. Sage is injured and Maggie worries about who's baby she might be carrying. The labor and birth finally solves the mystery of the baby she carries. Celebration for the newest member of the ranch.

A Christmas Wedding Linda Brody Texas Panhandle November 1880
Rebel Avery can't forget the man she loves, even though he's told her to move on. She's trying to find a way to help her adopted son become less angry and quit fighting. Christmas is just a short time away and she comes up with an idea and shares with the town. A town celebration is planned with everyone in town working together. Rebel works on making a new friendship. A missing member of a local family goes missing and Rebel helps to find the child. Travis Lassiter returns to Hope Crossing in time to help celebrate Christmas. Travis helps the missing boys father become more involved with his family. Rebel becomes deathly ill and the doctor holds out little hope she'll live. She's contagious so Travis sends the children to the neighbors and takes care of her himself and won't let anyone help him. Rebel proves everyone wrong and lives just as Travis gives up hope. Travis makes rebel a promise. A miraculous recovery and a Christmas wedding is planned, bringing together a town and family forever.

A Love Letter to Santa Margaret Brownley Haywire, Texas 1886
Holly Sanders is determined to give the town a wonderful Christmas. Tom Chandler has recently come to look into his uncle's blacksmith business. Unfortunately, the noise from next door is a problem and is about to get him thrown out of his boarding house. Trying to keep his room he goes next door where Holly and her choir are practicing, which doesn't work. An immediate attraction ensues. Getting kicked out of the boarding house he ends up living at the blacksmith shop. Tom and Holly are at odds because she thinks he doesn't like Christmas. Tom volunteers to help Holly with her Christmas boxes and the letters to Santa. Another beau has Tom thinking he doesn't have a chance with Holly. A Santa letter has them wondering how to help the young man and his mother. Tom and his dog come across the family and sees how selfish he's been by keeping his dog to himself and offers the dog to the boy. The Christmas Pageant, holly organized is a disaster. Tom makes her feel better. They share a kiss. Holly gets a look at the real man behind the beau she's been seeing. She's shocked by seeing the for sale sign on the blacksmith shop. An old friend plays cupid and Tom and Holly make plans.

One Snowy Christmas Eve Anna Schmidt Sagebrush, New Mexico 1903
Colin Foster is wanting to get medicine from the doctor and leave. A sign above the doctor's office has a reads Evelyn Prescott, MD. He realizes the woman he loved 5 years ago has achieved her dream. He doesn't see his old friend the former doctor but sees Evie and hides around the corner. His illness gives him away and she takes him into the office for help. Evie then realizes who Colin is. He doubts her abilities and she's determined to prove him wrong. Colin takes a turn for the worse and Evie feels guilty for falling asleep. Colin tries to go after wood to help replenish the supply because of the storm. They begin discussing their feelings for each other and how they haven't fallen out of love with the other one.
During their discussion they're interrupted by the minister wondering why Evie wasn't at the church service the night before. He shares Christmas lunch with them. Colin and Evie realize that they do still love each other and why wait to get married. They go to the church where the minister arranges come of the town's citizens to come together for a celebration while Colin and Evie head home and start their lives together.

Through the Storm Amy Sands Chester Wyoming December 18, 1883
George Linwood is playing card in the local saloon. He's challenged playing against a man who cheats. When Lucy Jones brings a wagon into town for supplies she draws the attention of the saloon patrons. She's the local mountain man's daughter. He fellow card player who also owns the saloon goes after what he wants and that happens to be Lucy. George comes out to watch and maybe help the woman only she's able to take care of herself, but he ends up giving her some help. Revenge is declared against them. George and Lucy head out separately for home. He gets lost because of the blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him in. She hasn't had any company since her father. They realize that they saw each other in town. Each keeps the feelings they're having to themselves. Lucy and George spend several days together because of the storm. George is about to move on but their intense feelings get in the way. An enemy's revenge destroys Lucy's cabin and kills the enemy. George takes Lucy to the valley he and his friends live in. They reveal their feelings and plan a future in the valley.

Six Christmas historical romance so that true romance is alive and well in the world of a cowboy and the women who fall in love with them. A group of well known authors set the scene for danger love and romance in the early 20th century and the mid to late 19th century as six women are Longing for a Cowboy Christmas.

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Five western Christmas themed novellas that warmed my heart. Each author brings their talent to reward readers with hopes and joys in the history of the west. Very enjoyable.

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I'm continuing my quest to read more cowboy romances. I find that easing myself into a genre is always best when I have an anthology collection to help me. I had read a work by Linda Broday before, but I was eager to dive into the works by other authors as well. What I found in these stories were a collection ranging from the community-oriented, sweet and clean, and even the second chance trope! I have to be honest, I've been all about the second chance tropes lately, so I was very happily surprised to find one in One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt. Christmas in Paradise seemed to go over my head a bit, but that is mostly because it is meant to accompany Roseanne Bittner's other work, Paradise Valley. Either way, I enjoyed her writing and flow! I felt that Leigh Greenwood's story, A Fairy Tale Christmas, could have been a story much longer than a novella - maybe an idea for something else in the future? I haven't read one of Greenwood's books before, but I wouldn't mind diving into that. Broday's A Christmas Wedding was a bit of a palate cleanser as well as a novella in need of a full fledged story because it was not just about a couple and/or one woman really - it was about a community of characters all worthy of more detailed attention. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa really made my heart warm up and it reminded me of all the Christmas stories I love to read and watch as we get closer to Christmas. It was a sweet reading that anyone could enjoy. And finally Amy Sandas' Through the Storm gave me a bit of that rakish character that I'm used to reading in all of my other historical romances! It was welcomed and definitely stood out from the other stories. In fact, that is something I commend this collection for - each story was quite unlike the one before or after it. I never felt like I was reading something repetitive (which can happen in this genre). If anything, this collection made me wish for more of each authors' works. I will make sure to look for them in the future (and the back-list bump)!

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Whether it's a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve...every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.
This was a pretty decent anthology. The stories were kind of hit and miss for me, but overall worth the read.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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Find your Christmas Cowboy in these 6 short stories. The stories revolve around late nineteenth century western environs and the hardy women who ventured to live there. The real cowboys of our fantasy come to life and find love at Christmas. If you are a fan of Western romance grab your coffee or coco and read this anthology you will enjoy it like I did. Lisa

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I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

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Romantic? Check.

Swaggering, strapping cowboys and roguish outlaws? Check.
(And maybe a few bull-headed men who need tending to.)

Strong female characters? Check, check, and check.

I love an anthology, especially when they include beloved authors, so I was happy to get my hands on this collection of romance stories. All are set in western settings, where times are tough, life is both simpler and hard, and the snow is falling because the Christmas holidays are approaching. Some stories are sweetly romantic while others bring a little more heat!

Linda Broday brings back a character with whom I fell in love in one of her previous novels (which you needn’t have read to enjoy this one) and near broke my heart with what she puts poor Rebel through!

Margaret Brownley’s tale of a woman rallying her town to bring Christmas to its children was perhaps my favorite. It was a story of love and sacrifice and warmed my heart.

If you like a little more heat to your romance stories, author Amy Sandas delivers it in droves in her story of a strong, resilient woman who rescues an outlaw in a snowstorm – and what follows as they are snowed together.

Anna Schmidt captures the frustration of a female doctor of the early 1900s in her tale “One Snowy Christmas Eve” as her first love stumbles, sick to death, into her practice. Nursing him back to health opens old wounds and stirs old flames.

Ultimately, all six stories paint pictures of hard times, love enduring and winning in the end – perfect for curling up under a cozy blanket but enduring enough for any time of the year.

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Anytime of the year is a great time for a Christmas story or two (or six) set in the Old West. Each story in this collection presents a strong female character who is fully capable of tackling the harsh frontier, and many of these women reverse the stereotype and 'rescue' the main male character from certain death. How refreshing!

Each story promises a romance that is completely sweet and sometimes steamy enough to cut through a Christmas Eve blizzard.

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood starts this collection off with a beautiful story about a child and her father bringing joy to Nan's heart and brightening a Christmas destined to be lonely and bereft of family and joy.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner shifts into a somewhat different theme as the main female character, Maggie, was brutally mistreated but now finds herself surrounded by love and acceptance and hope for a bright future with Sage Lightfoot, who loves her unconditionally.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is a wonderful vignette from the Outlaw Mail Order Brides series that focuses on one of my favorite characters, Rebel Avery. Rebel's character in this series is interesting and full of opportunity for more development, so having a little story about her and her Christmas wish will definitely be an added bonus for fans of this series.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley has both humorous and serious moments, offering two main characters, Holly and Tom, who get off to a rocky (and noisy) start. Both are goodhearted and magnetically drawn to each other. The way Holly addresses her students' letters (and Tom's discarded letter) to Santa is heartwarming, inspiring, and delightful.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is a unique story because Evelyn is a new doctor in town who faces the uphill battle of being taken seriously as a female physician. This story has another unique feature in that Evelyn has a past history with the man she tirelessly nurses back to health. Evelyn and Colin have obviously been brought back together for a reason, but will they give each other a second chance?

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas ends this collection with a blizzard, an outlaw Scotsman, and a woman living alone in the mountains. When said blizzard traps these two together in a small cabin, the sparks can barely be contained. The dynamics between George and Lucy are both steamy and lovely, and they both discover that it is okay to let someone into your heart and trust them to fill the next chapter of life with love and hope.

As you can see, all of these stories will capture your heart; kindle the spirit of the season, and fill your imagination with romance, second chances, and a Christmas miracle or two.

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This is a collection of six great cowboy stories from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas. I love how we get to read about six different types woman all set around Christmas in the late 1800s that are passionate, heroic, strong, independent and mostly loving. Let’s see how many Christmas miracles can happen?

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Nan Carson though she was going to be alone this Christmas but when there is a knock on the door bring more than one surprise for Nan. Can Dreams really come true or has Nan missed the boat of having a family of her own?


Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I found this story so emotional and loving. It was love at first sight for these two even when one was at the lowest point of their life. The other turned out to be the most caring and loving person you would have never guess they would be. This story is about a recently married couple who live in Paradise Valley Wyoming, it about when you are in love but you still do not know each other complete.
This is a short story that following on after the Novel of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker “Paradise Valley” but don’t worry you want to need to have read it to enjoy this great story as the author fills in all the backstory you will need to know about.


A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
Rebel Avery lives in a very small town of Hope's Crossing in Texas a town that has given her a new start in life. She is now a mother of two orphaned children Ely and Jenny and no longer a Saloon girl. But she is a single mother in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter that has not returned to town in many months.


A love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - Not finished yet


One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - Not finished yet


Though the Storm by Amy Sandas - Not finished yet

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I love a good anthology book. Reading one allows me to revisit authors I love (hello Linda Broday!) and fall in love with new authors (hello Amy Sandas!) This time around, we have 6 historical novels featuring cowboys, so there is even more for me to love!

Let’s look at each story:

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood: The writing in this story is very descriptive. For example:

She felt like a pumpkin dusted with November Frost.

In this story, we find Nan Carson in a not very Christmas-y spirit til the arrival of Will Atkins and his daughter Clara. Nothing like a child to bring in the Christmas spirit in a romance story. I think this story did suffer from the downside of anthologies. The romance between Nan and Will moved very quickly. Honestly, I think Nan’s love for Clara is more authentic than her affection for Will. In this instance, I would have preferred more back-story on the characters and the opportunity to see their love grow over time.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner: This story makes a lot more sense after reading the Author’s Note that followed. We meet Maggie and Sage Lightfoot in Christmas in Paradise after the actions of Ms. Bittner’s novel Paradise Valley. I haven’t read Paradise Valley, but after reading this short story, I’ve added it to my TBR! I enjoyed meeting Maggie and Sage. Their story is very touching. Sage is clearly a great protector and husband.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday: This is a great, but short, visit back to Hope’s Crossing. I’ve loved my other visits to this town of characters. For this visit, we meet up with Rebel and Travis. It was great to reacquaint myself with these two characters and to see how their love overcomes some serious adversities. What I enjoyed most about this story, though, is it shows how the community of Hope’s Crossing bands together to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley: A sweet and touching story with a hint of humor. Holly Sanders is the small-town teacher determined to give every child their Christmas wish. Tom Chandler is the new to town blacksmith who volunteers to help. Plus, cute dog alert! Like A Christmas Wedding by Ms. Broday, the townspeople shine here, donating time and gifts for the children.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt: Plucky heroine alert! And old loves reunited! Two of my favorite tropes. Evelyn Prescot is a doctor in 1903 New Mexico. Colin Foster is the one who walked away from their relationship years ago. Colin may be delirious with fever, but he knows Evie will make everything better. I enjoyed this rekindled romance. But I especially admire Evie and her can do attitude.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas: This one by far is my favorite in the anthology. It blew me away. It’s a great final story to the whole book. Witty banter and super sexy times between Lucy and Gentleman Jack while they are stuck together during a blizzard. The two characters are well developed for a short novel. I appreciate how independent Lucy is and I’m a bit in love with Jack myself. After all, ginger Scots are my weakness! 😉 Especially so when they read poetry and make breakfast. I’ll certainly be checking out more of Ms. Sandas’s novels to see if there are more flirty conversations between the main characters!

I utterly enjoyed this anthology, visited some old friends and made some new ones. Each story is unique, but tied together with Christmas ribbons. And maybe some twinkly lights, as those are my favorite. I’ll certainly be checking out more books by these authors.

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This a book of short Christmas stories revolving around women and cowboys. Each couple has a different situation. The women are all capable women and stand on their own if necessary. The men are not looking for love or companionship but it finds them. I enjoyed reading about the couples as they found each other and some of the challenges they went through to be together. These stories showed how people have to bend, give in to emotion, sacrifice for each other and let go of the past and move forward. All of these couples were lucky enough to find love for Christmas. Great read.

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Longing for a Cowboy Christmas 3.5 stars
This is a cute compilation of Christmas short stories by six great authors; all are standalone, no cheating, happily ever after, historical romances with some heat.
If you are a fan of any of these authors, well versed in their genre, you can see their writing style shining through each of the stories. I would give the book 3.5 stars just because I like a little longer read, this rounds to 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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This was my very first Advance Review Copy from Netgalley. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book for a fair review. I have recently been more into Western HR. I requested this book specifically because I have really enjoyed Amy Sandas' previous westerns. Long for a Cowboy Christmas is a collection of six novellas by six different authors, and I had previously only read two of them. I appreciated the introduction to some new to me authors.

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood - 4 stars
This was one of the four authors I had not read before. It was a very sweet story about a widower with a young daughter who worked very hard to make money for his daughter's future. However, this left very little time. While traveling to his in-laws, he became very ill and was nursed back to health by a very attractive spinster. Clara, the daughter, was a well-written child character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. My only complaint was that it ended too abruptly, but it is difficult to fully wrap-up a story in a novella length. I definitely plan to read more by Leigh Greenwood.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner - 3 stars
I had not ready anything by this author before either. i really thought she bit off more than she could chew for a novella. i was about to rate it 2 stars and explain how much happened before the story that I could only get a glimpse of. Then, I read the note from the author at the end. This is a novella sequel to a full length story that I had not read. If you read and enjoyed Paradise Valley, I am sure you will appreciate this Christmas follow-up. For those you have not, it was okay.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday - 3.5 stars
This was the least romantic novella of the six for me, but I enjoyed the story. The town of Hope's Crossing was populated by people needing a second chance at life. The heroine Rebel came up with the idea for the ladies to have a town-wide advent for the children. It was a tremendous success; and through the story, most of the town was introduced. There were perhaps too many characters for a novella, but it felt like a glimpse into the town. I have no idea if she has other stories set in Hope's Crossing, but I would definitely give them a chance if so.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley - 4 stars
This was my first book by this author and second favorite of the six novellas. It was a sweet, clean read about a teacher who decided to be "santa" for all the children of the town. She was also choir director of her grandfather's tone deaf elderly choir. Their "singing" disturbed the hero's dog, which was how they met. Through some other chance meetings, he offered to assist at santa's workshop. Their work paid off with the children's happiness as well as their own. I will definitely read more by this author. In fact, I have downloaded another story already.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt - 3.5 stars
This was the fourth new to me author. It was a second chance story, not one of my favorite tropes; but it was well done. Evelyn and Colin split up because he wanted to get married immediately, and she didn't want to lose her accepted spot in med school. Five years later, they were both lonely. Evelyn became a doctor with no patients, and Colin was sick. They were forced together of necessity. Fortunately, they did not waste the opportunity.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas - 4.5 stars
Finally, the last story was the one I was looking forward to; and it did not disappoint. Gentleman George was a rake and an outlaw who originated from Scotland. Lucy was a self-sufficient half Native American loner. The weather forced them together if she was to save his life. Everything else developed naturally. I plan to read everything written by Amy Sandas.

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A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Set in 1880, spinster Nan is the owner of a nice farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Just a few days before Christmas, businessman Will Atkins and his daughter Clara wind up on her doorstep when Will falls sick and there’s nobody else available to take him in. On his way to leave Clara with her maternal grandparents because he’s unable to look after her, Nan could be the answer to this lonely pair’s prayers.
Two things struck me about this one; first of all, no cowboys? Which seems kind of odd in an anthology with a cowboy theme? Setting that one aside, this felt way more like a marriage of convenience story which could eventually turn into a love story than two people falling deeply in love in the space of a week, probably because it WAS just so very convenient for both of them to do so. Will securing his future in the valley without actually sharing his plans with Nan beforehand and asking for her input and opinion was just the icing on the don’t-like-this cake for me. Two stars.

Christmas In Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
Apparently this is something of an extended epilogue to another book by the author, so if you read that book and fell in love with the two main characters, you might absolutely love this. I hadn’t read it and didn’t feel like I really got to know Sage and Maggie here. What I did learn was that they’d been through a lot of Drama and Sage was a thoroughly decent sort of man, since Maggie had been not only married before but also violently gang-raped just before they met, and was carrying a child of that abuse which Sage vowed to raise as his own. Part-Cheyenne, it’s also nice to see a hero of color in a Western historical romance. I’ll give this one four stars.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
If you’ve read any of Linda Broday’s books about the people of Hope’s Crossing, a town of former outlaws trying to ‘go straight’, you’ll recognize Rebel, the former saloon girl who dreams of a respectable life, the two children she adopted after they were freed from an asylum, and Travis, the young outlaw who loves her. This charming novella follows Rebel and Travis being reunited at Christmastime and Rebel’s determined efforts to make a place for herself in the community of Hope’s Crossing. There’s lots of found-family sweetness, but readers familiar with Broday’s work should be aware she doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of life in the Old West. The only thing which disappointed me here was that Travis’ release from jail was very much skimmed over in passing, after having been made much of it being a major problem for Rebel. Four stars.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
An absolutely adorable tale set in 1886 in Haywire, Texas, this is the story of schoolmarm Holly who desperately wants to make sure all the town’s children have something to smile about on Christmas morning. Though she’s being courted by the richest man in town, it’s the new blacksmith Tom and his idiotic dog Winston who tug at her heartstrings. Full of delightful plot moppets and with the spirit of Christmas imbuing every page, this is sweeter than a candy cane. Five stars.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
This is a second chance romance and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why Evie would even consider taking Colin back. He treated her like a possession when he asked her to marry him the first time around, completely disregarding her wishes and goals for her life, and now that she’s achieved her dream and become a doctor, he’s no better. He doesn’t even want her to treat him when he’s literally dying of pneumonia because ‘if the fellas back at the ranch found out he’d gone to see a female doctor, he’d never hear the end of it’. Riiight. Sounds like someone really secure in his masculinity, huh? A man who’d love and support his well-educated wife in her career? NOT. I wanted so much better for Evie, and honestly when she made the decision to accept Colin without even talking about how the future might look for them, I wanted to scream. Two stars.

Through The Storm by Amy Sandas
I have to admit I love Trapped Together In A Snowstorm as a trope, and this is done really well, with George and Lucy having just one brief encounter before they end up snowed in together at Lucy’s cabin. George chivalrously steps in when a creep is hassling Lucy - although she doesn’t need his help, and he recognises that - and then she actually saves his life when he’s lost in the blizzard. They get to spend enough time together to really fall for each other, and I absolutely believed in the romance between them. Five stars.

Overall, this was a collection which I found wildly variable in terms of quality. There were a couple of stories I really loved and a couple I might well have DNF’ed if they’d been full length rather than short novellas I could get through quickly. Of the authors I hadn’t read before, I’ll definitely be looking to check out more of Amy Sandas’ and Margaret Brownley’s work. As a whole, I’ll give the collection four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

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I really enjoyed each of these stories. They were all quick reads and enjoyable during the festive holiday season. Some of the stories were part of a series and one could even be considered a long epilogue to a previous story the author wrote.

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Can you ever go wrong with a cowboy, Hero (but is it the cowboy or the women that love them?) , and Christmas? Not in my book! Loved the shorter stories and life can get busy around this time of the year. I could read a story and come back and read another or as I found in my case .. keep reading and not feeling like I had to focus on who is doing what at all times. This was a fabulous book ! I felt like each story told the entire story and I was not wanting more etc. I loved my little breath of Christmas air and cowboy! All the authors are my favorites but I have to agree with others Bittner knows how to make a cowboy that you want to jump off the page or you on in the page. Her come hither cowboys hold it all and can make this old lady's heart careen out of control for a moment of two ... Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy for an honest review .

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This was a really great anthology about Christmas in the West. Each author had a unique take on it and I loved this book. I would definitely purchase it for a friend.

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