Christmas With a Cowboy is the story of cowboy named Maverick and a red-headed Irishwoman, named Bridget. This is book five in the Longhorn Canyon series by Carolyn Brown. Though this novel is part of a series, it reads as a standalone.

Maverick Callahan travels to Ireland with his grandmother, Iris, to visit her friend Virgie because he doesn’t want his Granny to travel that far alone. On his last night there he meets Bridget O’Malley, a beautiful red-headed bartender and spends one magical night with her. Neither Maverick nor Bridget realize that the best friend their Granny is talking about is the other’s Granny.

Bridget O’Malley, red-headed bartender and granddaughter of Maverick’s Granny Iris’, friend Virgie, faces some serious life changing issues and ends up living in Texas. She didn’t come alone though; she brought baby Laela, the goddaughter she is now responsible for, since both Laela’s mother, Deidre, and her father, Jimmy have been killed in a car accident.

Christmas With a Cowboy is full of heartwarming Christmas spirit, but still has enough romance and drama to keep the reader interested throughout. The characters are relatable and likable, in fact they’re probably people you’d like to know.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas, the tale of recent divorcée, Kenna Hart, and established bachelor, Tucker McGrath, is a bonus Sara Richardson novella included with the purchase of Christmas With a Cowboy. It’s a story of love, betrayal and forgiveness with a lot of Christmas spirit and a little Christmas magic.

I completely enjoyed both stories. I give them a 4 out of 5 star rating and recommend them to all lovers of romance, especially romance with a holiday theme.

My thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

I always enjoy this author’s books and Christmas with a Cowboy was no exception. A great addition to the series. Good plot, setting and character development. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is a sweetly thrilling, sexy fun, heartwarming adventure filled with heartwarming second chances, engaging charters and unforgettable passion... was a edge your seat read from beginning to end and I enjoyed every exciting twist and turn of this fun holiday journey.

It’s never too early to start on the holiday reading. And Christmas with a Cowboy did in fact bring those holiday feels.

Maverick and Bridget meet when he’s on vacation in Ireland. They instantly hit it off, and on Maverick’s last night, they spend it together. He returns to Texas, but can’t seem to stop thinking about Bridget or of the connection he has towards her. And one year later, he never expected to see her again, and in Texas no less.

Bridget has been through a lot. She’s lost her best friend—and has now gained guardianship of her baby. She’s also going through the loss of her grandmother. When her grandmother’s best friend offers her a place to stay and make some money, she can’t refuse—even if that means leaving Ireland for a couple of months.

Bridget and Maverick never thought they’d see each other again. And since the night they spent together Bridget’s life has changed drastically. She’s a mom now and her focus is taking care of Laela. She’s not sure if Maverick, the playboy cowboy is up for such responsibility. But Bridget and Maverick get a chance to get to really know each other and Bridget sees that Maverick has changed and that the chemistry between them is still there.

Christmas with a Cowboy is a sweet small town romance with little drama and a lot of heart. A holiday read that brings that feeling of the holiday season.

3.5 Stars
You know that phrase about Vegas...What happens there, stays there...Well, our characters happen to cross paths in Ireland and then years later, they are reunited due to family connections. We have a strong Irish woman who rocked our Cowboy's world. They thought they were never to see each other...

Now they are back in Texas and with the powerful interest and care they have for each other... a Christmas Miracle could happen...

***3.5 Stars***

I've been in the mood to binge on cowboy romances lately. Add a swoony cowboy, an adorable baby girl, a feisty irish woman, and a christmas theme and that's what i call an irresistible read. There was no way I could turn down an arc of Christmas With A Cowboy by Carolyn Brown.

About Christmas With A Cowboy:

All Bridget wants tonight is one night of passion. SO when a sexy cowboy walks into her bar, her mind is instantly made up. She'll do whatever it takes to spend a little more time with this man and let her wild side free for a few hours.

Maverick is visiting Ireland with his grandmother, he never in a million years thought stumbling into a bar would lead him straight into a feisty redheads arms but as he looks down on this sleeping angel, he realizes there is nowhere he'd rather be. But morning comes far to soon and the two part ways without exchanging numbers or last names leaving it as two passing strangers in the night seeking comfort in each others arms.....

....A year later... and Maverick still can't get the fiery red head he met in ireland of his mind. So imagine his shock when he comes to help his grandmother in Daisy, Texas and finds Bridget in his grandmother's house... with a baby on her hip. A lot can change in a year and Bridget's a sign of that. She lost her best friend and her grandmother all in the same year, and gained guardianship of her best friends baby. Yep, a whole hell of a lot can happen in one...single....year.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the blurb for Christmas With A Cowboy, I knew I needed this romance in my life for many reasons. First, I am addicted to wild swoony cowboys! There's something extremely sexy about watching these wild men being tamed by first time love. I can't get enough.
Second, I love when babies and children are incorporated into these romances for many reasons. But the main reason being these aspects always melt my heart when a strong willed man falls for the preciousness of a child's love. I love watching these men get attached and take on a father type role. It melts my heart in the best of ways. Third, who seriously doesn't love Feisty woman!!! I knew Bridget was going to be the one to give this hell raising cowboy a run for his money!!!!
And forth... Hello!!! Let's talk about the kickass stubborn Granny! I honestly couldn't get enough of Maverick's grandmother! She's stubborn to boot and I loved her meddling ways and her independence.

I loved this novel, I loved the meddling granny, the swoony cowboy, and the feisty irish red head. But there were a few issues that had me breaking my rating down and dropping it to a 3.5 rating. First off, I felt some scenes were insanely rushed which led to a mixup in character chemistry. I needed a bit of a slow down for some moments to really grasp the connection between Maverick and Bridget.

Second, I hated the personality change Bridget had going on. I know she's a new mother/guardian to a baby girl, but I know tons of single mothers out there that are still as feisty as ever. Just because you have a baby, doesn't mean the personality has to change. And trust me when I say, I completely understand other aspects of her life were in dire need of change, but damn I wanted her to keep the feisty spirit alive!!

I can already see a trend coming when we get closer to the month of December. I can see myself binging on many Christmas books with swoony and brooding cowboys. But because it's the end of September, I'm going to keep the christmas romances on my shelf and save them for December reads. I believe that's another issue I had with the flow of this novel. Even though I loved the christmas theme.... I'm pretty sure I wasn't quite ready for christmas reads yet.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of Christmas With A Cowboy. I was completely swept away by this christmas tale and overall I enjoyed it in the end. The ending to Christmas With A Cowboy was so sweet! I legit couldn't erase the smile from my face. I am in love with love and Bridget and Maverick's story is all about love and fate at it's finest. This book is perfect for those that love cowboys, clean romances, and christmas themes!

Maverick and Bridget had a night of shared confidences and passion the last night of Maverick’s vacation in Ireland, and they parted ways thinking they’d never see each other again. Yet, neither could forget the strong bond forged in just a few hours, and as luck would have it they’re reunited again on Maverick’s Granny’s ranch. This time though, Bridget doesn’t feel she can risk her heart when she’s just inherited guardianship of her goddaughter after a tragic accident leaves baby Laela an orphan. Bridget know a mother by default, must keep her daughter’s needs and future as her focus, not spending time with a carefree cowboy, no matter how sexy he is.

Maverick left Ireland with a sad heart after parting ways with Bridget. Meeting again at his grandma’s ranch is a second chance he doesn’t want to waste, but is he ready to give up his wild cowboy ways permanently? Working together on the ranch as well as on all the Christmas duties Granny Iris assigns them forces them together and it’s as if the match has been struck up again between them. All that attraction burns bright again!

I love Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances and Christmas With a Cowboy brought out the warm and fuzzies. I really enjoyed Bridget and Maverick’s journey to a HEA, which seemed to be helped along by their grannies. As usual, Ms. Brown brings sage advice, and some laughs with more mature secondary cast, in this case Maverick’s Granny Iris. I just loved how sweet Maverick was with baby Laela and for much of the book they were like a ready-made perfect family. There were a few bumps in the road, but no more than you’d expect real people to encounter with this type of situation.

There were hints at the next romance to come with Alana and Paxton. I can’t wait!

This was a sweet story, but..... I had a really hard time connecting with it.

Maverick and Bridget have an interesting meet cute that goes no where because of travel plans. Fast forward a year and fate (or matchmaking grannies) bring them back together.

While I liked both characters (and the supporting cast) it didn’t feel like there was a ton of character development. We know a little about each of their histories, but more about who they are now.

One of the things I struggled with was the pacing of the story. There were several places where everyone seemed to be inert. Yes, they were doing things and going places, but nothing else really changed.

This was a book I enjoyed reading, but I had no problems putting it down to do other things. If you are looking for sweet Christmas read, this would be a good one. If you need something more fast paced, I would save this for another day.

Even though I think it is was a little early to start reading all the Christmas books right now this book was calling me because it sounded good.

I am so happy I read it because I loved this book. This story is sweet and such an easy read that just kept me reading because the story just sucked me in.

I do highly recommend this.

I give this 5 out of 5.

Christmas with a Cowboy will rope you in for the holidays! If the gorgeous cover doesn't lure you in, I guarantee you'll be hooked before the second chapter. This wonderful tale of second chances is what a true holiday romance should be about. Bridget and Maverick never thought they'd see each other again, so when fate intervenes, they're not about to pass up the chance, even though circumstances have changed since then. I adored this story, even thought it moved a little slow, it still left me with a huge smile on my face!

Book Info
Paperback, 448 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by Forever
ISBN 1538748746 (ISBN13: 9781538748749)
Series Longhorn Canyon-Canyon #5
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB

A rugged Texas cowboy gets into the Christmas spirit to prove himself to the woman he loves in this heartwarming fifth novel of the USA Today bestselling series.

Maverick Callahan lives up to his reputation as a freewheeling cowboy. But a year ago he fell head-over-heels for an extraordinary woman he met while on vacation, a woman he was convinced he'd never see again. So when she appears on his doorstep like a Christmas miracle, Maverick is determined not to waste his lucky break.

Bridget O'Malley's world has flipped upside down. As the new guardian of her best friend's baby, she hasn't had a moment to think about the Texas rancher who broke her heart. He's just as sexy as ever, but she knows better than anyone that he's not the settling-down type. As the trees are trimmed and mistletoe hung, will some holiday magic help Bridget trust this carefree cowboy with her heart and her future?

Includes a bonus novella, "Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas" by Sara Richardson!

My Thoughts


Christmas With A Cowboy- Longhorn Canyon Canyon #5 by Carolyn Brown

A matchmaking grandmother named Iris, a beautiful setting outside the small town of Daisy Texas and a set of circumstances that totally fit into a lead up to a romantic dance between a man and woman who thought their initial meeting the year before would be a once in a lifetime experience together.

I sometimes think that if life was really like a romance novel it would be even more complicated for some people or really simplified for others, especially when emotions manage to overrule logic when logic should be used instead.

For Bridget and Maverick at times things were very simple but then at others not so much, pretty typical of real life situations as it should be.

However as the two learn more about each other over the course of Christmas decorating, Sunday school teaching, choir practice with their 8 small charges and a few other one on one activities outside the bedroom life together seems more and more in the realm of a definite possibility.

Possibilities for their future that neither one expected come at an even faster rate when Granny Iris reveals her own plans for the Callahan Ranch and those plans ease the way for the couple even faster.

You will fall in love with the handsome dark haired tall drink of Texas cowboy Maverick Callahan, his granny Iris, red haired Irish beauty Bridget O'Malley, her very adorable 7-month-old daughter Laela, a dog named Ducky and a cat named Dolly as their own love story unfolds.

Second chances and new beginnings for all and a bright future outlook as well make this a very sweet Christmastime tale.

BOOK BLURB

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Sara Richardson-Rocky Mountain Riders #4.5

A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS WISH
When bullfighter Tucker McGrath's mom suffers a minor heart attack just before Christmas, he decides it's time to redeem himself from the Ghost of Christmas Failures Past. Knowing how much his mom loves the town's annual Christmas pageant, he agrees to take her place as director even though he has zero experience wrangling kids. That's not the only complication with taking on the pageant, either. There's also the tempting but off limits local music teacher Kenna Hart.

A year after her husband's scandalous betrayal and their divorce, Kenna is doing her best to move forward and give her two boys a magical Christmas. When she volunteers to help with the pageant, she doesn't expect to reconnect with her old high school heartthrob. Tucker McGrath has always been Mr. No-Strings-Attached, so he's definitely not one to fall for...or is he? The more time she spends with him, the more Kenna realizes Tucker has changed. And now he might just be the cowboy who can make all of her Christmas wishes come true.
My Thoughts


Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas-Rocky Mountain Riders #4.5 by Sara Richardson

Christmas is a time for reflection for many people as a New Year looms on the horizon with it’s promise of things to come.

For Tucker McGrath this Christmas is one that brings more than just reflection but also a chance to prove his ability to learn new things and help make things easier for his beloved Mother.

For Kenna Hart her first Christmas as a single mother with two young sons, 7-year-old Jack and 4-year-old Benny, to raise alone may be a second chance at love as well as the best Christmas she could think of for her children.

For both Kenna and Tucker this second chance also involves taking chances with their hearts in ways that neither planned nor wanted to but such plans are made to be broken, especially during the magic known as Christmas!

That is not to say their relationship did not start off easily nor did it run quite smoothly but even with road bumps the end reward was well worth their trouble.

New to me author Sara Richardson touched my heart and proved that people deserve the best life can offer even when they find it in unexpected ways at unexpected times with unexpected people.

Christmas, Cowboys, Love, New beginnings, Romance and Second Chances are an unbeatable combination!

[EArc from Netgalley]

Sweet story.
Maverick and Bridget had what was a one night stand. But fate had other ideas as they meet again with a change in circumstance.

Maverick and Bridget have a one-night stand in Ireland during a vacation with his grandmother’s to visit her old friend. They never thought they’d see each other again but have stayed in each other’s thoughts.

But fate has other plans…

Bridget is invited by her grandmother’s best friend to Texas with a small baby in tow. A baby she was given guardianship over when her best friend died. Then her grandmother dies, leaving Bridget with a baby and no job. She takes the offer of help from Iris only to find out that her one night stand, Maverick, is Iris’ grandson.

Christmas with A Cowboy is written with the true magic of a Christmas romances in mind. Heartwarming, easy and endearing with a bit of predictability, Christmas with a Cowboy will surely touch the heart of all who read it and help put you in the Christmas spirit.

I received this ARC copy of Christmas with a Cowboy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was a sweet and unassuming romance with some Christmas spirit thrown in. If you want a romantic country Christmas story, this one fits the bill.

A cowboy from Texas in Ireland can't beat that. Maverick is in Ireland with his granny when he meets Bridget O'Malley. Chemistry draws them together. Sadly, he has to go home the next day. They decide on a one night stand. Fate has other plans Bridget shows up in Texas working for his granny. A sweet story and great secondary cast of characters and

What do you want for Christmas?

Bridget O’Malley would like some peace. After the past year of deaths and new responsibilities, she’s ready for some stability. But every time she thinks it’s close the rug us pulled out from under her feet.

Christmas with a Cowboy is a sweet romance that pulls you along through the fun of matchmaking grannies, friends who know best, and Christmas craziness. You won’t want to miss watching Bridget and Maverick try to decide if it’s time to grow up or just keep havin’ fun.

Longhorn Canyon Ranch #5, Maverick Callahan hasn't been the same since he got back from his Ireland vacation with his Grammy Iris. Since then he has been helping his cousins set up their ranch but when Grammy falls out the pear tree and has to have her hip replaced and her foreman goes off to visit family she needs help around the ranch. She already has a housekeeper, the granddaughter of her best friend whom she invited over to spend the holidays.

Bridget O'Malley lost her best friend, gained guardianship of a new born baby, Laela, and lost her grandmother all in a couple months of each other. So when her grandmother's best friend, Iris, calls and offers her a place to stay and spend the holiday while making some money she jumps at the chance, even if that means leaving Ireland for a couple of months.

Bridget and Maverick met in Ireland on his last night there and spent the night together, since that night neither has been able to stop thinking about he other but they didn't exchange number or even get each other's last names. When Bridget gets to Texas she never expected to find her cowboy is none other than Iris's grandson. But she's not he same girl she was a year ago she's a mother now and just can't fall into bed with a good looking cowboy. Maverick knows as soon as he sees Bridget again it was fate. He wants her to stay but he just a cowboy with nothing to his name, he has nothing to offer her except his love. Bridget is torn between her love for Maverick and her love of Ireland, she worried that things aren't going to last, that her homesickness will make her miserable, she worries about a lot of things but her love for Maverick isn't one.

Overall, it's a real sweet romance, things get hot and heavy between Mav and Bridget but in the typical Carolyn Brown fashion (she mainly leaves it up to your imagination). I loved Laela, and how quickly Mav bonded with her and Iris is a hoot. I love all the characters and it was such a nice easy read.

What a sweet Christmas story! Bridget and Maverick meet by chance just as he is leaving Ireland. They have a strong connection but don't take the steps to keep in touch. The world works strangely sometimes and they meet up a year later when Bridget is staying with his Grandmother. Their connection is just as strong.

The story is really a sweet story reminding us that there are many things not in our control as well as a great second chance story.

I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read. It is a great story for the holidays!

I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was the story of Maverick and Bridget. They meet while Maverick is visiting Ireland with his grandmother. There's an instant connection there but they go separate ways.
A year later, they meet again when Bridget comes to Texas. The chemistry is still there. But her circumstances have changed. Can they come together and build a relationship?
This was a feel good, heartwarming Christmas story.
It wasn't anything riveting. At times it was a little bit boring. But I enjoyed it.

Maverick and Bridget had one night together in Ireland and then he left back home to Texas and they both haven't been quite able to get each other off their mind. Imagine Maverick surprise when he finds that the women who is helping take care of his grand mother while shes down is non other then Bridget herself with a baby in tow. Bridget is only going to be around until the grand mother who is a friend of her late grand mother is good to go after her injury. The two have big shoes to fill while they take on the grandmothers role of helping with a Christmas show, church classes for children, and running the ranch. There is also the lingering attraction and with will happen after everything is done, will she and the baby go back to Ireland or will Maverick give her a reason to stay.

My goodness its way to early to be reading a christmasy book but I've been following along with this series and wanted to know what was in store for these two characters. I will tell you know while its plenty better to read along with the series this book does just fine as a stand alone. You don't have to worry about missing a thing! I really enjoyed getting to know Maverick and Bridget's character. I loved that being that Bridget was a parent her child didn't some how disappear after it showing that she had a child for some reason children disappear in books and not sure what happens with them so it was cute getting to hear about them interact with the child. Then there was the romance which I enjoyed reading about, there are a couple steamy scene but not where its overwhelming. I loved seeing how the story played out. When it comes to how christmasy it is, where some books practically shout how christmasy it is I wouldn't say this book was that. Its clearly set around Christmas and there are a bit of christmasy thing but I wouldn't say it got me into the holiday spirit although it did make me want this holiday season to come on already. Overall this was a really great book I really enjoyed it.