This anthology consists of six Christmas stories set in the American West in the late 1800's. These have different tropes and levels of romance from sweet to steamy. Each one brings a couple together and sometimes includes children during the season of miracles. I liked a few stories more than the others, but that's only my personal preference. Recommended reading for the holidays.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS anthology brings us funny, charming, dangerous, loving stories from several well-known Western Historical Romance authors. I’ve followed each of these authors and have enjoyed their stories immensely. Getting a second look at some characters lives, returning to a town I’ve visited before and getting to meet new characters during the Christmas season is always a treat for me.

Each story within LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS is full of life during a bygone age when life was far different than we live now. I’ve always loved a look back, and these authors take us right into the heart and soul of the people who lived and loved during those early discovery days of the West. Each story is short, novella style yet each one delivers a story that will touch your heart, make you smile, even laugh and shower you with the Christmas season’s celebrations and love so real you could feel it. I enjoyed each one, can’t really pick a favorite so I’d encourage you to pick up this anthology and simply enjoy yourself.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1492683833 (ISBN13: 9781492683834)
Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB

Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.

Fall in Love with Christmas
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.

My Thoughts

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Schoolteacher and all around kind soul Holly Sanders works hard to find a way for every child in her small Texas town of Haywire, population less than 80, to have a present from Santa under the Christmas tree in the year of 1886.

Gathering help from local merchants for donations appropriate to the childrens wishes she manages to fill her dining room with boxes of all sizes.

Local blacksmith Tom Chandler and his faithful little dog Winston are also convinced to join her in this endeavor, which of course leads to the pair finding more than helping grant Christmas wishes to others when all is said and done.

Local hotel magnate/real estate professional Nelson Parker is a contender for Holly’s affection after being introduced to him by her matchmaking Aunt Daisy who lives with Holly in the family home she inherited from her parents.

The miracle of this Christmas holiday novella is two-fold and gives the children back their belief in Santa and Holly her very own special present as well as Tom getting one for him.

Very sweet as expected.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday
The small Texas Panhandle town of Hope's Crossing is home to Rebel Avery, her daughter Jenny and son Ely.

Rebel is in love with former outlaw Travis Lassiter who had been captured seven months prior to this story by a bounty hunter.

Ely is always at odds with young Billy Truman, whose father is a stagecoach driver and whose overwhelmed mother already has her hands full with Billy’s 9 brothers.

Mrs. Truman is also hugely pregnant with her 11th child and does not have the time or energy to rein young Billy in by herself.

Taking place during the Christmas holidays this tale focuses on the beauty, joy and wonder that is Christmas as well as new beginnings for the towns inhabitants.

Most especially that of Rebel, her children and Travis.

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
Having resigned herself to spending the Christmas holidays lonely Nan Carson gets an early gift when ill Will Atkins and his 5-year-old daughter Clara are brought to her farm.

Now with two people who need her to care for them Nan finds her Christmas spirit rekindled.

A delightful young child to share that joy with and a handsome man who makes her long for the family of her own that so far has not been realized also rekindle dreams Nan had almost given up on.

For all three this particular Christmas does become a season of miracles and one none of them will ever forget!

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Formerly an itinerant cowboy, now foreman for local rancher Tom Madison, Colin Foster makes his way into the town of Sagebrush New Mexico looking for Doc Williams on Christmas Eve.

What he finds is former flame Evelyn Prescott, now the practicing physician instead.

Luckily for the almost deathly ill the lady MD proves to be a good doctor and manages his lung infection and ensuing symptoms with capable hands.

In the years since the two parted ways on somewhat shaky terms to say the least both have found no one else that has touched their heart.

This Christmas miracle novella is a second chance romance with an HEA as it's ending.

Through the Snow by Amy Sandas
Taking place in Chester Springs Wyoming this novella finds Edmund Alistair George Linwood, otherwise known in America’s western territories as Gentleman George, and Lucy Jones as it’s leading characters.

Also taking some billing as characters are the town’s undertaker, Hewett Durand and Tad Perry who owns the Tobacco Shop next to the saloon that this foursome are playing cards in at the time this story starts.

Perry’s friend and crony Joe Turnbull is the fourth player.

Lucy is the half Shoshone daughter of Mountain Man Jones and soon to be the savior of George, returning the favor that he tried to enact on her behalf in town the day they met. Also the day that Miss Jones was forced to fend off the unwanted attention of Perry and Turnbull.

When the pair weather a blizzard snowed into Lucy’s cabin they find that a mutual attraction becomes impossible to withstand, and neither really wants to after all is said and done.

Love blooms and the rest is inevitable as well as fraught with excitement as one last effort to exact revenge on the pair results in a change of life for the both.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
The sweet story of Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker is actually a continuation of their earlier relationship giving readers a look into how the pair are embracing the future and life together after a rather hasty marriage.

The sprawling ranch that Sage owns is a beautiful piece of property in Paradise Valley Wyoming.

For Maggie their log home is a true wonder and her husband is also as her life prior could not compare favorably.

For Sage his second wife is a far cry from his first as Maggie embraces both his part Indian heritage and his checkered past as well without any judgement or hesitation on her part.

This is a story of 2 people finding happiness together and weathering all hardships, both manmade and that of nature.

Their Christmas miracle is a time of new life and a stronger, deeper bond than both thought possible.

6 authors I enjoy reading the work of with 6 western romance novellas set at Christmas that uplift the reader with their positive messages and strong leading male/female characters.
[EArc from Netgalley]

Longing For a Cowboy Christmas is an anthology of, well, cowboy Christmas stories set in the late 19th century. Some of these authors were familiar to me; some were new. I thought perhaps it was too early for me to get into the holiday spirit. I started this late yesterday afternoon. I guess it wasn't too early for me - I couldn't put this book down and totally forgot that it was 90 degrees in Southwest Georgia! These stories are perfect for any season.

Leigh Greenwood's A Fairly Tale Christmas featured Nan, who is asked to care for an extremely ill stranger, Will, and his adorable daughter Clara. Rosanne Bittner's Christmas in Paradise brought back her characters Sage and Maggie, newlyweds who are expecting a blessed event. Linda Broday's A Christmas Wedding is a return to Hope's Crossing where Rebel, whose man Travis was taken by a bounty hunter and she has no idea of his fate, tries to bring Christmas cheer to the entire town. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa has school teacher Holly and newly arrived blacksmith Tom joining forces to bring gifts from Santa to the community's children during hard times. Anna Schmidt's One Snowy Christmas Eve is a second chance romance for Colin and Evie, who parted ways when Evie left for medical school. And last but not least, Through the Storm by Amy Sandas gives us George and Lucy, who are trapped in Lucy's cabin after she finds George lost in a snowstorm.

There is not a single dud in this entire collection; I was enchanted by them all. However, there are some standouts. Linda Broday had me absolutely bawling like crazy when Rebel and Travis are reunited, and a devastating hardship occurs. My poor puffy face! Margaret Brownley also had me crying over her sweet story. Seriously, who can resist a Christmas story with a lovable dog? No one, that's who! And Amy Sandas brought the heat with George and Lucy, trapped in their isolated hideaway complete with a fireplace and furs. Treat yourself to this beautiful anthology to prepare you for the Christmas season.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

What a fun, Christmas short story collection of romances. Treat yourself to this one!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is my second year to read the Leigh Greenwood Christmas anthology and it did not disappoint! I received Longing for a Cowboy Christmas as an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review. This beautifully written book contains short stories from two of my all-time favorite HWR writers, Linda Broday and Rosanne Bittner as well as other great authors and a few I hadn't read before. All the stories were great feel good stories for the Holiday season. I don't usually read holiday books in the heat of the Texas summer but I knew this would be a great read because of the authors included within it's beautiful cover. The fact that it could wisk me away from the upper 90° and over 100° temps, dry dead grass, sweating even when inside to a winter wonderland was a huge draw on top of it being an ARC! This book is a great read and I'm blessed to have received it from Netgalley.

This is a wonderful collection of Christmas short stories - each one giving a couple hour dose of a feel-good story to snuggle up with. I totally read this book out of order, going first with the stories I was looking forward to the most and working my way through the rest, and not being disappointed in any of them!

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner
I was so thrilled when I found out we were getting more of Sage and Maggie from Paradise Valley (one of my favorite RB books)! I had faith going in I'd love the follow up to their story, and I wasn't disappointed. Sage is still all protective of Maggie, and patient with her as she's settling into her spot as his wife. He knows he's got a treasure in her and makes sure she knows it deep down. Maggie is still as sweet, determined, and strong, as much as she's vulnerable and struggles with some insecurities. But Sage won't let those fears keep their grip on her. Loved the touch of adventure and drama, and the beauty of their Christmas miracle, both in seeing them settled, and in seeing their happily-ever-after come full circle. Honestly, this just made me want even more of their story, and I'd love to see a sequel novel someday for Sage and Maggie and their family.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday

Christmas in Hope's Crossing, pouring out good on people who deserve all the good they can get! Loved getting to know Rebel even more, watching her big heart dig deep to find joy and spread it around. And then Travis finally getting the new start he needed and finding his way home again to wrap his family up in his protective arms and shower them with love. Add in some breath-catching moments and some giggles along with a few tears, and you get a sweet addition to Linda Broday's Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. So glad that there's more coming for this town and hopefully we'll get to see more of Rebel and Travis in future stories.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas
Through the Storm starts off with a sweet, slow burn that builds to an inferno, keeping you needing more. George is fully captivated by Lucy when he first meets her, and fate helps to bring her back to him. George is an interesting character with his charm and gentleman ways mixed in with outlaw edginess. Lucy is an adorable mix of sweet and capable, the best match for George! Loved watching the embers of their attraction grow into a steady burning flame. This story probably surprised me the most in how much I ended up enjoying it!

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood
This is a super sweet story of a man and a woman who both desperately need something the other can provide, but fears and plans and a touch of stubbornness get in the way. Nan desires a family with everything she has, but isn't willing to settle for less than what she deserves or wants. But she does know how to open her heart and grasp to what she is given. Will has a mapped out plan for his life, even if he's struggling with some of the consequences and hanging onto the past. Luckily, a winter storm, the love of a child, and some words of wisdom combine to grant dreams and love to three people who deserve their family and own special happily ever after.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley
Holly and Tom's story melted my heart with all the joy and goodness that Christmas can bring. Holly brought a smile and cheer to a town that was hurting, and wiggled her way into the heart of a man who was lost. Loved her heart and charm. Tom proved to be a man worthy of his Holly, and had a heart of gold as well. This story left me with a few tears but a heart overflowing with good. Definitely a Christmas story to experience! Also, despite being a short novella story, I felt like I got all the feels for a full length novel!

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt
Evie and Collin's story is one of second chances, letting go of pride, and chasing down your hearts' desires. A little bit of fate stepped in to give them the opportunity needed to reflect on the past, where they're at now, and grasp hold of what they still want now. Toss in a little meddling and a leap of faith and you have a delightful Christmas blessing story! I loved how we got flash backs of their history, giving us a deeper sense of their connection and showing what was worth fighting for.

This is a collection of Christmas shorts not to be missed!!

Leigh Greenwood has an uncanny talent in delivering amazing storylines with epic conclusions. He is sure to lift your spirits into Christmas joy!

Rosanne Bittner’s- Christmas In Paradise.
Christmas In Paradise was such an amazing trip back into Sage Lightfoot and Maggie Tucker’s journey.

Rosanne Bittner never ceases to deliver such wonderful characters and plots that truly capture the essence of the West.

Ms. Bittner weaves her magic from a tragic incident into a beautiful Christmas miracle wrapped in unconditional love and joy.


Linda Broday’s - A Christmas Wedding
“He could draw and shoot in the blink of an eye, but he didn’t know how to live without the woman who’d seen the man he wanted to become.”

“He was her future, her destiny, her one true love for all time.”

Travis and Rebel beat the odds that were stacked against them. Their lives, just like Ely and Jenny’s lives, we’re destined to become a family forever.

What an amazing story of love, devotion, and belonging.
Ms. Linda Broday captures the true meaning of Christmas as Hope’s Crossing embraces the Christmas spirit in A Christmas Wedding.

This outlaw town truly transcends itself into a magical oasis of giving, rejoicing, and finding hope, which most had given up on ever having again and for some, never knew existed.

“Hope’s Crossing, the town of outlaws, was celebrating the birth of Jesus as only they knew how.”

Ms. Broday truly weaves each and every character into your soul, they will grab your heart, and remain with you forever.

Margaret Brownley continues to intrigue me with her storylines and plots.

Anna Schmidt really brings he readers into her culture. She captures the essence of Christmas with this beautiful story.

Any Sandas knocks this one out of the park. I loved the characterization she incorporated with the Christmas season.

Netgalley supplied me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

• Provided by NetGalley •

I wanted to read this because of Amy, Rosanne, Linda and Leigh because I love their work and I didn’t know about the other authors in this anthology so I thought why not try them and have a good session of light-fun reading.

SO. WORTH. IT. ALL. 5. STORIES!!!

Christmas anthologies are a hit or miss for me because I always end up getting bored by them but not with this one, miraculously. ♥️

This book was so fun! The stories were different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

What a delightful Anthology. I've always loved anthologies because you get a bunch of short stories by authors you most likely have never heard of before. In my case, Longing for a Cowboy Christmas had six stories by authors I had never had the pleasure of reading.

In this Anthology it's all about Christmas, second chances & finding love. Some stories made me laugh, some made me cry, but in the end, I enjoyed them all.

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood was about Nan, who is going to be all alone this Christmas. Well, right up until Will and his Daughter Clara show up at her door. Will is sick and he needs someone to look after him. Nan takes up the task of making him well again and in the process she can't help but fall in love with him and his sweet daughter.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner is a short story about two characters from the book Paradise Valley. In this story it's a small continuation of Sage & Maggie's love story. They have been married only for 5 months and Maggie is expecting. Without spoiling the story, I can tell you that the author provides enough back story that you won't need to read Paradise Valley to enjoy this.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday is about a woman names Rebel who is taking care of 2 small children that were rescued from an Asylum. Travis, the man she is in love with was taken by a Bounty Hunter and she has not heard from him since. Between her and the children, they are missing him like crazy and with Christmas coming it seems everything is going wrong. Trying to bring up everyone's spirits, Rebel comes up with a way for the whole town to come together and bring joy to everyone in Hope's Crossing.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley was my favorite of them all. In the little town of Haywire things have been pretty rough for the residents due to the bad economy. Holly, a school teacher has a plan though. She is going to have all her students write a letter to Santa. As a matter of fact, all the towns children are writing Santa letters and Holly is bound and determined that each child will get his or her wish. Tom has just come to Haywire after the passing of his uncle. He is undetermined if he will stay as he has not been very impressed by the town or the people. Until he meets Holly that is. Once these two get a chance to know each other, they cannot help but fall in love.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt is about Colin & Evie. Two people who 5 years ago were madly in love. Things didn't work out the way either of them thought they would when Colin proposed marriage. When Evie wanted to go off and become a doctor instead of a housewife, Colin walked away. Regretted it everyday too. Now, Colin is sick and finds himself outside the Doctors office where Evie is working. Evie loved Colin. Still loves him and hopes this time they can get things right.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas is about George and Lucy. George was just playing some cards in town when Lucy shows up. Standing outside by her horse, she is accosted by a man who thinks he can just have her now that her father has passed away. George was not about to let her get attacked by this guy and steps in. After she leaves, George decides to head back home but gets caught in a blizzard. Lucy finds him and takes him into her home. These two had some explosive chemistry and being stuck together during a snowstorm... Things are about to heat up. literally.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for short & sweet Christmas stories.

- ARC provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley -

What a great collection of Christmas tales featuring cowboys. I found each selection to be well written and entertaining. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher. This is my unbiased review.

A compilation of short stories by six different authors who proffer their versions of a cowboy Christmas. The stories revolve around late nineteenth century western environs and the hardy women who ventured to live there. Also, the strong, rigged cowboy wno showcases all the characteristics men back then were expected to exude. I love these stories because the life was hard, but yet appealing with justice very defined and the lines of right and wrong clear. My favorite was by Bittner. She conjures cowboys that are swoon worthy.

This sweet anthology of romantic stories set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were written by six well-known authors of the genre. Set during the Christmas season, all help the heroes and heroines of the story find love during the holiday season. Each of the reads are quick, yet satisfying!

A wonderful group of authors come together to give us some fabulous cowboy short stories. All set at Christmas time. Mostly second chance romance. Good quick read

This is 6 Christmas stories.
My favorite was A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley. 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved this wonderful story. It was filled with love, hope and the magic of the season. A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟was my second favorite. It was a wonderful, inspirational story about hope and love. A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood 4🌟🌟🌟🌟 Nan nursed Will when he was sick and took care of his daughter at Christmastime. Together they formed a bound and became a family. One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 A short sweet story about a second chance at love. Through the Snow by Amy Sandas 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was sweet story. Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner 3 🌟🌟🌟 It was a sweet story.