I loved all three of these historical romance stories. Jodi Thomas was the only author I was familiar with, but the other two were just as good. The three stories are cowboy romances centered around Christmas with a heavy emphasis on love and family.
I'll admit that the story by Jodi Thomas, Father Goose, was my favorite. Trapper takes on the job of returning five little girls to their father with the help of a woman who is running away from the life that she knows she's is going to be trapped in by her father. The five girls definitely steal the story. They are strong and loveable.
The Mistletoe Promise is the second chance at love story by Sharla Lovelace. Josie is on the verge of losing her ranch and Ben comes to her rescue--much to her chagrin. Their past was very, very rocky and him doing anything without asking her is just too much like their past. Can he make her see that he did it out of love?
In Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn, a war weary man hurries home to be with his dying mother. He doesn't find her, but instead a message to go find the woman who took care of her. Is his mother match making from the grave? You'll have to read it to find out what happens!
A very enjoyable Christmas Anthology.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

This was a great collection of three short stories from three great authors. I am Jodi Thomas’ biggest fan and jumped at the chance to get the book from Net Galley for an honest review.
The first story of course was my favorite. Father Goose. Jodi Thomas tells the best stories. I loved the girls and how they helped and grew. Everyone rescued each other.
Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace is a story about two people in love who broke up years ago. The story is heartbreaking with two people who need each other.
Christmas Road by Scarlet Dunn was good. Clint rushes home after receiving a letter from his mother who is sick. He meets up with Amelia who took care of his mother. I enjoyed all the side characters and would like to have a story about them. I plan to read a few more of MS Dunn’s books.

This collection was well written and very enjoyable

I’m not usually someone who reads Historical romance, but I must admit that when you put Christmas and Cowboys together, the period setting is really second to the storyline itself. Three heart-warming and inspirational stories are included in this set, and even if you don’t like them all, there will definitely be something to meet your approval. Easy to follow storylines, enchanting characters and HEA’s, what more could you want? I really enjoyed these books and I’m glad I took a chance on a genre that I usually avoid.

Review of Father Goose by Jodi Thomas:

Trapper Hawkins became a soldier at seventeen, fighting for the south in the Civil War, becoming adept at shooting, tracking, and spying. Now, at twenty four, the war is over, and he has nothing and no prospects. He’s a fair gambler, so he’s able to survive by playing in the occasional card game. In this particular game, the stakes are highly unusual. His opponent has bet his upcoming job, one that will pay the whopping sum of five hundred dollars. Trapper wins, and is now responsible for escorting five young ladies from school to their home near Dallas in time for Christmas.

Emery Adams has been abused and forced to work long hours, with all her pay going to her cruel father. Any attempts at escape will result in a beating. Emery has squirreled away what small amounts of cash she was able to hide from her father, and when an opportunity presents itself, she’s quick to take it. Emery found an abandoned suitcase with some ladies’ clothing inside, and disguises herself as a widow, and takes off to purchase a ticket out of town.

Trapper has met the girls he is responsible for escorting home, but their nurse won’t release them to his custody until they have a chaperone / caretaker. As Emery is passing by, Trapper implores her to pretend to be their hired nanny, but Emery wants to make the deal real. Trapper agrees, and they set off for Dallas -- Trapper, Emery, and the girls, ranging in age from four to thirteen.

Trapper knows this is not going to be an easy journey. There are going to be some rough roads, unpredictable weather, and the threat of attack from thieves, or even kidnappers. This group of travelers somehow forms a strong bond of mutual respect and affection. When the danger comes to pass, Trapper is willing to lay down his life for his charges. But these ladies are no shrinking violets. Having grown up on a ranch, the girls know how to shoot and protect themselves.

FATHER GOOSE is a warm and entertaining story, with Trapper and Emery starting with nothing, yet finding love and hoping for a future. The sisters are truly delightful, unspoiled, and each endearing in their own way. Their journey has moments of tenderness along with the hardships, and is a pleasure to read. Perhaps Christmas will bring a greater gift to Trapper and Emery than they could ever have imagined.

Three stories in one. Overall rating 5 Star.
Father Goose by Jodi Thomas is a 5 Star rating. I am such a fan of Jodi Thomas. The author creates unique and endearing characters. Who wouldn't fall in love with Trapper and 5 extremely savvy little girls who prove to be more than capable adversaries. I commend the author's strong female lead in Emory. She walked away from abuse and never looked back. Jodi used the perfect balance between describing the abuse of Emory's father and Emory's strength, courage and plan for a better life without turning the story dark.
The Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace-4 Star rating. The storyline was good but some of the slightly graphic descriptions were totally unnecessary to get the point across. Jodi Thomas received top billing on this anthology (as she should) but she would never use that terminology in one of her books so I was taken by surprise it was used by Ms. Lovelace.
Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn is a 5 Star rating. This author is new to me but I really like her writing style. I can see why she was paired with Jodi Thomas. Their writing styles are very similar. Even though the setting is another era, the story of a pandemic is relevant today. A unique and creatively crafted storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas-Three stories: Father Goose by Jodi Thomas; The Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace; and Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn. All three were unique in their own way; each a romance. The first and third taking place shortly after the Civil War, the middle, taking place in 1904. Each of the three had its own plot and characters; they were unrelated stories. All three take place at Christmas. It is hard to write a review on this kind of book since really three reviews are necessary.
Father Goose is a lovely story about a young man, Trapper, who is seriously displaced after the war. He hadn't had a great home life and went to war early. He finds himself in a card game in Jefferson, Texas, where he wins a job, a job worth $500. All he has to do is retrieve five girls from the paddleboat and deliver them to their father in Dallas. It was a journey of many days, but he thought he could handle it. As he was preparing to get the girls, he met a young widow who would be the perfect person to deal with the girls and he dealt with the journey. Off they went. There were some challenges, which, interestingly enough he dealt with help from the six females with whom he traveled. It was a challenging but successful trip, in many ways. It was also a fun story of the old west and of women stepping out it their place in the world. Trapper learned to love and to trust. The trip turned his life around. It was well written and an excellent storyline. It held my interest and I would love to hear more.
The Mistletoe Promise is the story of a young woman, Josie, thwarted in love and about to lose the family ranch after the death of her father. He man who had been her lover, Ben, had lied to her and embarrassed her in the most heinous way and despite asking her to marry him, had married another and had a child. This was a terrific plot, as usual, based on miscommunication. Josie is a stubborn and prideful character, as well as independent.

Ben never meant to hurt her, but circumstances were against him. His character is not at fleshed out as Josie. She is the protagonist. The plot is good and the pacing is perfect. I recommend you read this story. You will love it.
Christmas Road is another story of a soldier after the war. He is on his way home and his trip is hastened when he receives a letter from his mother letting him know that his father and his brothers have died of Yellow Fever and she is in bed with it now. He hurries to arrive at his parents' house only to discover it empty and four graves in the family plot. He joins a man and his two sons who are mining for gold where he meets the woman who had tended his mother and her two daughters. There's more to the story. It's a charming story of love and where a good heart will take a person. Clint Mitchum is a good man and a terrific character. The story is uplifting and definitely full of the Christmas spirit. Leave it to say, it all ends well.

This was a terrific trilogy of novellas. One I highly recommend for readers of cowboy romance. I was invited to read a free ARC of The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thecowboywhosavedchristmas

Four and a half stars

A lovely Christmas collection of western romances, with love and family and community to spare!

FATHER GOOSE by Jodi Thomas

Trapper Hawkins survived fighting for Tennessee in the Civil War and became a man as he worked as a dispatcher, spy, cook, what have you. After the war, he heads west, passing through Jefferson, Texas, where he picks up a job transporting a colonel's five daughters home for Christmas. Emery Adams opts to escape her abusive father by slipping into the role of a widowed chaperone for this family of girls, figuring she will make herself a new start once they arrive safely in Dallas.

Trapper and Emery make an excellent team with the five girls they nickname numerically, and Jodi Thomas's story is charming and heartwarming. A delightful Christmas read.


THE MISTLETOE PROMISE by Sharla Lovelace

Josephine Bancroft is a rancher's daughter through and through. Benjamin Mason is a ranch hand. And they fall hard and fast for each other. But Ben isn't just a ranch hand. And that lie of omission ends up breaking their hearts.

Sharla Lovelace's second-chance story, told in alternating first-person perspective, is full of passion and heart and heat.


CHRISTMAS ROAD by Scarlett Dunn

Clint Mitchum rushes home when he hears his mother has contracted yellow fever and may not survive. His mother leaves him a note to look for her caregiver, Amelia Wakeland. Clint's search leads him not only to Amelia but a whole community of friends.

Scarlett Dunn's story is a sweet and satisfying one full of Christmas spirit.

A trio of western Christmas stories to give you a start to your holiday reading. Lighthearted and easy to read by 3 famous authors. Enjoy, I did!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

My first Christmas book of the season! I so enjoyed all three sweet stories. What's not to love about Christmas Eve, children, second chances, and wishes fulfilled!

All of these stories are novella length, historical, and very quick reads. The authors may not have written a full-size novel for each couple, but they succeeded in telling their stories and making them real in the pages they were allotted. I can't say that any were my favorite, I loved them all.

Just what I needed as we head into the holiday season in this crazy year. Looking back at the tragedies that happened in the past, we need to thank our lucky starts we're here now! A great anthology!

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas is an anthology by Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, and Scarlett Dunn. Since this is an anthology each story is novella in length. Yet the authors did a great job pulling the reader into their stories with enough background and character development to keep the stories flowing and interesting.

Father Goose by Jodi Thomas is such a fun read. Trapper Morgan’s heart doesn’t stand a chance against those five little girls, not to mention their nanny, Carolina.

The Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace has one woman who knows how to hold a grudge and one neighbor who is at the heart of it.

Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn is my favorite of the three. This story of a Texas town with a Yellow Fever epidemic. The hardships, the losses and still the ability to find love. A sweet Christmas story.

Each historical romance novella is different, showcasing the author’s writing style and the ability to take the reader back to Texas a few years after the US Civil War.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Three little Western historical romances to make you feel good. Numbers 1 & 3 feature cowboys jaded by war who turn out to really love kids and their down-on-their-luck lady traveling mate. While the 2nd was set in Galveston, I pictured Poldark the whole time and it fit perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this title.

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas is an anthology of wonderful, heartfelt Christmas Romances set around the time after the Civil War’s ending. Each story delivers an emotional tale, some for different reasons than the obvious, yet all will capture the heart and spirit of the Christmas season of long ago.

FATHER GOOSE by Jodi Thomas – Trapper gets a lot more than he bargained for when he took on the job of getting five little girls home for Christmas. It sure sounded like easy money – the reality was far, far different. One woman, Carolina, hired to watch over the children may change Trapper’s thoughts on settling down but first, he has to get them all to safety and that’s not going to be easy. A fun Christmas story full of laughter, sass, and danger. I loved how five little girls could change this hardened man’s heart, and that the woman he never expected to find in his life simply completes it in a complicated manner.

THE MISTLETOE PROMISE by Sharla Lovelace – Ben and Josie were once a couple, right up until he broke her heart on Christmas Eve no less. Now Josie’s ranch is in trouble, Ben has seen the error of his ways but he is also the last man on earth that Josie will accept help from. He might be her neighbor, he is also the one man she just cannot forgive. Josie holds a grudge like a champion and it’s going to take some serious troubles to even hear Ben out. Watching them banter and argue often put a smile on my face because it was evident that beneath the anger… love still lived.

CHRISTMAS ROAD by Scarlett Dunn – Considering the pandemic right now in 2020, the reality of Clint and Amelia’s situation hit a bit extra hard for me. Yellow Fever has struck Clint’s home town and after receiving a letter from his mother stating that family members have passed away and that she is ill, too, Clint races home. His mother had asked him to watch over the woman who took care of her upon his return home. Clint has some surprises awaiting him at home, perhaps the greatest is a woman who will come to mean everything to him once his search for her is finally fulfilled. An intense yet completely enjoyable Christmas story that was perhaps more emotional for me given the situation for those I love in my real life.

I enjoyed myself completely with The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas. Each author gives us a different look at the events and the times… and a lovely Christmas Romance to enjoy. If you can read a Christmas story any time of the year then you’ll want to add this one to your need to read this Christmas season.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books 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.*

It’s beginning to look a lot like…well, Halloween, but on bookstore shelves and in supermarket check-out lines, it’s time for Christmas!  Kensington’s The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas is an anthology of historical western romances set during the winter months.  Though one is a bit dicey, the other two authors manage to hit the spot.

Father Goose by Jodi Thomas

Grade: B-

Civil War vet Trapper Morgan has long been disillusioned with both society and life itself after an abusive childhood and service in the Confederate army.  He’s lost his three brothers, and for him, Christmas is just another day.  Thus, he agrees to take five young sisters, the rich daughters of a Texas land-baron, from Jefferson to Dallas, Texas, in time for Christmas, conditional upon first finding a nursemaid for them.  He will not be paid until they make it to Dallas, and those girls had better be unscathed.

Emery – Em - Adams has been watching Trapper from afar. The daughter of an abusive barman, she spends her days cooking and doing maid work.  She’s been scraping together what little money she can make in tips for years so she can escape the abuse like one of her younger sisters did, and one day heads out to a paddleboat posing as a widow, hoping to escape and become a Harvey Girl.

A little sympathy from the ‘widow’ Adams toward the girls and soon Em has a gig as their companion for the long road trip.  Love for Morgan and Em springs, naturally, from that.  But when danger stalks Em and the girls, they must all team up to defend Morgan.

I can’t deny the charm inherent in a gruff young soldier and a semi-crusty barmaid falling in love while taking care of a group of young girls.  All of Thomas’ characters are engaging enough, and the romance – between two virgins who have never so much as seen another person naked – is sweet.   But this story was littered with awkward moments – like the girls gigglingly referring to Morgan’s “pee gun”.  Some readers also won’t be willing to give this one a shot just because the hero’s an ex-Confederate soldier.  Consider it a quick and charming tale with some flies in its ointment.

The Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace

Grade: A-

This story focuses in on tough Josephine – Josie - Bancroft, who’s been struggling against long and hard odds to work her father’s ranch after his death.  She’ll be damned if she’ll sell out to neighbor Benjamin Mason, with whom she had a passionate but affair which came to an abrupt halt when her father died suddenly and Mason’s apparently dirty dealings to secure the land were revealed. Mason has since married another woman, who died giving birth to his treasured daughter Abigail.  It’s been years and Josie has continued to nurse her grudge against Mason – but will all of the secrets lying between them surface to ruin their love story?

I liked Josie’s toughness – bright, independent and determined, she’s  a fascinating character to follow.  The romance itself is fun, and Abigail is a unique and amusingly precocious child.  The Mistletoe Promise is well-told and angsty enough to make me want to look up Lovelace’s other work.

Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn

Grade: B

The majority of Clint Mitchum’s family has died in a Yellow Fever epidemic, and when he receives a letter from his mother declaring that she might be close to death, he rides toward the old homestead.  By the time he gets back, he finds only a recently-filled grave and letter from his mother Ingrid requesting one last thing – that he find Amelia Wakeland, the neighbor who had nursed her through the illness so he can offer her his assistance should she ever be in trouble.  When he arrives at Amelia’s and informs her of his mother’s death, she explains that she didn’t witness it and that she might, in fact, be alive and nursing the local doctor, who has succumbed to the same illness.  Clint and Amelia soon team up, and the two of them go in search of Ingrid.

I really liked the way Amelia and Clint’s relationship builds, and Ingrid is quite a memorable character. Overall, the timeframe of the story feels severely compressed, but it’s still strong enough to merit a recommendation.

If you like westerns, cowboys, romance and a little bit of family bonding, this anthology will keep you well entertained.

Buy it at: Amazon or shop at your local independent bookstore
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The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This book contains three stories that revolve around Christmas and the cowboys who saved it.

Father Goose by Jodi Thomas
3 stars
I liked this sweet romance, but I feel that the 5 girls stole the show. I enjoyed each of their personalities but it took a little away from the romance between Trapper and Emery.

The Mistletoe Promise by Sharla Lovelace
4 stars
This was a second chance romance. There was so much pain and passion between Josephine and Ben. Most of the story they spent it upset at each other. The angst between them was very heartbreaking. I'm glad Ben was finally able to bring some joy to Josephine's live.

Christmas Road by Scarlett Dunn
5 stars
This was my favorite of the three and even though it was a short story it felt very complete. Each character was very well developed. Amelie and Clint were survivors and gave some much to those they cared about. I thought it was sweet how it was his mother who worked a little matchmaking between them. Their romance was very sweet and I liked how Clint saved Christmas for all of those he holds dear.

These three stories combine love, loss, and HEAT. Add all that together and you get a fantastic story. You are guaranteed to love each one as they all are completely different, set in a historical landscape. Grab this one up and enjoy. You won’t want to put it down!

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas

Three authors ~ Three Historical Heartwarming Holiday Romances ~

FATHER GOOSE by Jodi Thomas
The first time I read a book with a similar plot might have been one written by Neville Shute and it took place in Europe during a war. I have read a few since then and each on was memorable in its own way. I do love this storyline and this author’s historical romances have never let me down. I loved Trapper, Emery and all five girls. Absolutely loved this story and would love to know how all of the characters are doing in the future!
THE MISTLETOE PROMISE by Sharla Lovelace
Second chances do happen sometimes, and this story gives Josie and Benjamin a second chance to get it right. I felt deeply for both main characters and really hoped they would manage to get their HEA by the end of the story. They were well matched and deserved to be together. Another great story by one of my favorite authors.
CHRISTMAS ROAD by Scarlett Dunn
This was a new author to me, and I did enjoy her story. Epidemics could decimate communities and this story dealt with the aftermath of Yellow Fever. This was a story of family, loss, community, caring and finding happy endings for children and adults.

All three provided adventure, romance, wonderful characters, and a healthy dose of Christmas magic.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by these authors? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I originally requested this book because I am a big fan of Scarlett Dunn and will happily and excitedly read anything she writes! I had assumed these three stories were connected, so completing the first and starting the second took me a moment to understand that they were not. Nonetheless, each story stands solidly on its own, compelling and engaging. I finished the book in a weekend, and absolutely wanted more. I appreciated reading about adventure, danger, disappointment, heartache, rescue, crisis, loyalty, passion, love, and oh-so-much-more, while keeping the details at a ‘G’ and soft ‘PG’ rating. I can heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in a good romance (actually three!) where the reading is clean, but the writing can still make you swoon.

Three stories set in Texas in the 1800's during the Christmas season. I enjoyed these stories specially the first one by Jodi Thomas.

These Jodi Thomas shorts are sweet. They really are. But I’m always struck by how much better these novellas would be as full novels. I’m not sure why she doesn’t write them anymore (is it a lack of interest or a lack of publishers? 🤷🏻‍♀️). I find myself buying these anthologies (our in this case, getting from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review) and in always left disappointed.

Because the story is good. But it would be so much better as a novel. Everything feels a bit rushed. But again, it was a really good story.

The second story in the anthology? Ehhh, not so much. It’s centered around my least favorite romance plot line of all time: lovers torn apart with a Misunderstanding. 🙄 The little girl was cute though!

The third novella was a delightful surprise. Like many people I’m sure, I picked up the book for the Jodi Thomas name. Scarlett Dunn is an Author I’d not read before, but plan to in the future. Her story was the true gem amongst the others. She managed to create a large group of minor characters that you grow to love as much as the MCs, all without making the story seem rushed or confusing. I was truly impressed. 4 stars to Ms Dunn!

This book was provided for me by Netgalley for review purposes but I am always 100% honest.

Three stories in one! This is often a little harder to assign stars, as readers often prefer or are more familiar with one or two of the authors. Five stars to Jodi Thomas and Father Goose. This was a fun book to read. I loved the nicknames assigned to the five girls and how using them was helpful in capturing the outlaws. I also enjoyed the different personalities of the girls and how each fit into the story. Trapper was such a tough softie, and Emery won me over when she walked away from the abuse. Overall a charming, heartwarming story. I also really enjoyed Christmas Road. The lengths Clint went to in order to find his mother created quite a story, and learning a little about the yellow fever epidemic was really interesting. It made me do a little more research into that epidemic, especially as we are now dealing with the current pandemic. People didn’t have the science to help them understand what was happening in 1867. My least favorite and a four star story was The Mistletoe Promise. While it was an entertaining read, I simply didn’t enjoy it as much as the others—but other readers may. Overall a great book being published at a time when it is needed.