If you think Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then this is the book for you. Christmas, but make it a stressful page turner! This was a nice change of pace from the typical Christmas book!

Tis the season—for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She’s on the run after witnessing a crime. But when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will think to look–Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she’s stuck with a handsome cowboy as her bodyguard…and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe.

Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it’s still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there’s something about Emmy he can’t resist. She stokes his passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to keep her safe.

A great book full of everything you could want. It’s got romance and suspense wrapped around well developed characters and an engaging plot that was hard to put down. I really enjoy books with strong females in a bit of trouble…or in this case a lot of trouble, having witnessed a murder by a mob boss. Put in the witness protection program until the trial, Emmy’s cover is blown and Dalton, her US Marshall, whisks her away to a ranch in Montana owned by his friend Dwight. Of course romance ensues between Emmy and Dwight, ultimately leading us to our HEA. However, on that path, we have a marvelous build of the suspense involved in being chased by, and protected from the bad guys out to get Emmy. As well as a vivid descriptions of the trauma and stress she’s endured being confronted with almost dying, then being on the run for days. I liked that the story behind the murder was a slow reveal, as was the development of the romance. The story flowed well, and kept me, as a reader, wanting more at every turn. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my freely given, honest review.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant
Subgenre: contemporary western romance
Release date: 26 Oct 2021
Publisher: St Martin’s
Format: ebook and print
Length: 319 pages
RRP: $8.91 (ebook); $21.18 (print)

Emmy Garrett needs a place to hide. A mob figure is searching for her before she can testify in his trial. She had been discovered and was in the motel room with a gun to her head when US Marshal Silva had a feeling something wasn’t right and returned to check on her. She is then on the run.

Marshal Silva takes her to his most trusted friend Dwight Reynolds. A rancher and former military man. Dwight knows he needs to protect this woman with his life. He is not told much about why Emmy is there, but as she slowly opens up, he understands more about her circumstances. That doesn’t stop the need for her. He moves slowly, and Emmy wants him too but is conscious of the upcoming trial and that she might put him in danger. They start to do couple things together in the house like putting up the Christmas tree. It really is quite sweet, even with the threat hanging over Emmy.

They eventually decide to do the relationship thing even with the trial hanging over them. And of course, despite being very careful, the hitman finds Emmy. Naturally there is the possibility of death, but the pair make it through another attempt on her life.

In this romantic suspense, the reader knows that our hero and heroine start their relationship under severe threat of evil. They have to prepare for the eventual and possible deadly outcome, but the need for each other is more. This relationship is a slow burn, but action moves fairly quickly when it happens. The reader is told the reasons and we also hear a little from Joe and the hitman and find out their fate. Dwight and Emmy are well suited for each other and are a good support for those stressful times.

Reviewed by Heather

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

I have always loved a good cowboy story and Ms Grant sure knows how to deliver, this is not just any romance it is action packed with lots of drama, I found it hard to put down it was that good.

Emmy Garrett is running for her life with a U.S. Marshall. There is a leak in the department that needs to be plugged. Dwight Reynolds is a retired FBI agent living on his family ranch. When his friend calls and asks a favor neither Emmy nor Dwight thought it would change their lives. As they get to know each other, and the attraction gets stronger they’ll face danger and that just may bring love into the mix. A city girl who comes to love the ranch and possibly the cowboy who owns it will be Home for a Cowboy Christmas.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas is a stand along story by Donna Grant that brings opposites together. A city girl finds that she loves the solitude of the country. A man with from the country that is looking to move on from his past. Together they’ll face attraction that to them can’t go anywhere because of the danger she’s in. He’ll find out that his contentment could become more. Donna Grant’s Home for a Cowboy Christmas has danger, suspense and love. These two characters are strangers who come together and begin to realize that what they had isn’t what they want. Lives are put in danger with the weather, and enemy stalking her. Two people meet under unique circumstances and just may find what they were missing in their lives. A wonderful holiday story of love and attraction and a fight for the person you love. Home for a Cowboy Christmas is a story that will melt the reader’s heart and keep them on the edge of their seat waiting for the satisfying conclusion to a well written story filled with all the suspense and intrigue in a Donna Grant book.

I love Donna Grant’s books and this one was another five star read for me. It’s short and sweet and will get you in the holiday mood. I love a bit aloha make slow burn story and if you add in some suspense well that’s a winner combination .

This was a good Christmas Romance Suspense book, that I would definitely recommend trying!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I have been provided with a review copy of Home for a Cowboy Christmas from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

I have mentioned this in other posts, but Donna Grant is one of my absolute favorite authors to read. I have read nearly all of her Dark Kings, Reapers, and Heart of Texas series. I say that because there are a few books that I haven’t read in each series. I also want to read all of her other series (there are so many: click here to take a look). So when I saw that she had another series starting, I knew that I needed to read it.

Home For a Cowboy Christmas had a pretty straightforward plotline. Emmy is on the run. She is the star witness in a murder trial that will unmask a local businessman as a Mafioso. Being in witness protection hasn’t helped her because of a leak within the Denver marshalls. That leak caused her almost to be killed, but she was saved just in time by another marshall, Dalton Silva. He takes her to his friend in Montana. Dwight is an ex-military/FBI/Homeland Security who is now a rancher, and he agrees to keep Emmy safe as a favor. But, he wasn’t prepared for the feelings that Emmy stirred up in him. But danger has made its way to Montana, and it is a matter of time before Emmy’s past catches up with her. Will Dwight be able to keep Emmy safe until the trial? And will they act on the sparks between them?

Home For a Cowboy Christmas was a fast-paced book. This book started fast and kept the pace up for the entire book. I had a small amount of anxiety reading it because I didn’t know when or where Orso would show up. I loved it!!!

I liked Emmy and thought that her reactions to everything that she went through were perfect. When the entire backstory (how she witnessed the murder) was revealed, I felt awful for her. She was lonely, and when Joe (the mob boss) extended an invitation to one of his intimate dinners, she jumped at it. The horror of witnessing the execution and her bravery in going to the DA gripped me. I connected with her on so many levels.

I loved Dwight. He was the real deal. He also understood what Emmy was going through and offered her his support. His backstory was very similar to Emmy’s, except his trauma came from missions in the FBI/Homeland Security/the military. I loved his outlook on life and how he dealt with his trauma. He was the right person to protect Emmy.

Let’s talk about Dwight and Emmy’s romance. I am not going to sugarcoat it, but there was Instalove. Dwight was head over heels for Emmy the minute they met. But Emmy, well, she was attracted to Dwight, but she was also dealing with PTSD and a hitman, so telling Dwight that she loved him wasn’t a priority. She had to get through all that stuff first, and I loved that the author wrote it that way. Dwight respected that and gave her space, which made me internally cheer. He wasn’t pushy or demanding a return “I love you.” It was one of the best romances that I have read to date.

The bad guys (Tony, Joe, and Orso plus the dirty marshalls) were genuinely evil incarnate. I did like that the author showed Joe as a human being, though. He had marriage problems (wife was in and out of rehab, infertility issues) and was trying to build his Mafia presence back up in Denver. But don’t let my liking that he was shown as human fool you. He was evil, as were the other three. While their plotline was resolved, I am curious about what happened to the dirty marshalls and who the leak was. Nothing was mentioned about it, except there was an investigation.

The end of Home For a Cowboy Christmas was action-packed and full of surprises. I was a little mad at how Orso found Emmy. I wanted to reach through, shake the chatty woman, and tell her to shut up. But, in the end, everyone got what they deserved.

There is a short story in the same universe/area that Home For a Cowboy Christmas. It is Cady and Zane’s love story. Not going to get into it, but it was a cute story. Cady was a firecracker, and Zane, well, he needed to get that chip off his shoulder. But everything ended well.

I would recommend Home For a Cowboy Christmas to anyone over the age of 21. There is sex, violence, and language.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant delivers a Montana Christmas filled with snow, suspense, and a handsome cowboy and his dog. Grab a cup of hot cocoa before snuggling up with this feel good romance.

I always enjoy Grant’s holiday reads and Home for A Cowboy Christmas delivered with its suspense angle, setting and slow-burning to sizzle romance.

Emmy Garrett is in the witness protection program after witnessing a murder. Only the criminal has reach within the department and she is almost executed. The US Marshal in charge of her welfare calls in a favor with his buddy, Dwight Reynolds, former military and retired FBI agent.

The tale that unfolds brings all the charm of the holidays nestled on a ranch in Montana. I could hear the logs in the fireplace crackling and loved seeing Emmy and Dwight get to know each other. Mix in a dog who understands PTSD and a sister who loves to shop and I was pulled right in. From meals shared to talks about what Emmy is going through, the characters came to life as did the countryside and all the trappings of ranch life.

The romance started slow as Dwight honored his role of protector, but the chemistry was electric and I loved the buildup to that first kiss and romantic encounter. They clicked and their feelings and actioned felt genuine.

We avoided any conflict or drama thanks to the suspenseful angle Grant wove into the story. Imagine having a mob boss looking for you. The suspense built up to a dangerous confrontation that had me reading into the wee hours. The author also included scenes with the mob boss and his people allowing the reader to be privy to the danger building.

This book comes with a bonus short story: Wish Upon a Cowboy by Donna Grant. Cowboy Zane rescues city girl Cady, when her car goes off the road during a blizzard. Despite how short it was, Grant gave us a sweet, snowed in romance that puled me in and held me captive. It was the perfect treat.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

What an action packed thriller with some romance in the mix! Emmy is being hidden for her protection but the mob boss that she is going to testify against, is sending an assassin to silence her.

She is hidden by Dalton at his friend. Dwight's ranch as he does not trust anyone after an attempt on Emmy's life. Dwight takes his job to protect Emmy very seriously and tamps down his attraction to her as it is more important to keep her alive.

After weeks, they grow closer and come to care for each other. Unfortunately, the assassin is getting closer to finding Emmy and Dwight finds men to help protect Emmy.

Lots of action makes this book hard to put down, and they had such a great chemistry that it is fun to watch them as they give in to their attraction.

Cops and robbers, the feds, witness protection, and a good ol cowboy to protect what needs protecting… except when the damsel in distress has her own ideas about how to kick some criminal butt! Donna Grant took me on a fun, exciting adventure with love hanging over the hero and heroine the entire time.

Testifying against a mob boss has put a woman’s life in danger and the only place she is safe is in the distant Montana mountains on a ranch with a former law-man. Donna Grant blends country charm with tension-wrought romantic suspense so well that I didn’t hesitate to grab up this latest set during the holidays.

Home For a Cowboy Christmas standalone and offers a bonus holiday novella, as well, both set in ranch country during the holiday season.

Emmy is sick with terror, but she trusts Dalton, the US Marshal who interrupted an assassin from killing her, to keep the mob off her trail long enough to find a place to hide her for the weeks until the trial. Dalton brings her to Dwight’s remote Montana ranch and for the first time in days she feels a measure of safety. Dwight is trained military and law enforcement, but left it behind to come home. He knows what he’s doing and he understands her PTSD like no one else can. His dog is intuitive about her need for comfort, too. Her days might be numbered, but Emmy is determined to enjoy this last holiday season with Dwight on his beautiful family ranch.

Dwight left behind all that life and death stuff, but one look at Emmy and he is prepared to go back in protector mode. No mob assassin will get past him and he wants a lifetime and not just a few weeks.

The suspense is palpable through the whole story and the reader can feel Emmy’s terror and struggles to hold it together. And, then there are the brief scenes with the mob boss and his associates that keep the danger ever present in the mind.
But, there is also a heartwarming glimpse at a wonderful working ranch in a gorgeous Montana mountain setting, a ruggedly handsome cowboy ex-lawman, a scene-stealing herding dog, and a tender, rapid romance to offset the suspense.
There is a superb climax scene and denouement to wrap up the story. It all read easily and quickly. I was well-satisfied with this holiday romantic suspense and hope that some of the others, especially Dalton, might eventually get their stories.

The extra novella was a snowed in city-girl country-boy situation that was a sexy and fun follow-up story worth the read, as well.

All in all, another great reading experience with a favorite cowboy romantic suspense author. The holidays were well-repped and the romance was more spicy than sweet. Those who want a cowboy romance paired with some suspense should definitely give this one or any of her other contemporaries a go.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas was a fantastic read featuring a romance between a woman in witness protection and the man who protects her.

Ever since she witnessed a murder, Emmy Garrett has been on the run and when it becomes clear her location is compromised, the U.S. Marshal in charge of her takes her to somewhere no one will look for her. Montana. Upon arriving on a ranch she is left under the protection of Dwight Reynolds, a former military man who used to work for the FBI and Homeland Security. Emmy and Dwight try to keep their distance from each other, but their tentative friendship turns into something more. And when the people looking for Emmy discover where she is, Dwight will risk everything to save her.

Emmy worked as an accountant in Denver where she eventually acquired a client that was actually a front for the mob. After Emmy accidentally witnesses the man in charge kill someone, she turns over evidence to the District Attorney's office and is placed into witness protection. After an attempt on her life, the marshal watching her decides to hide her off the books which is how she ends up on the ranch. I admired Emmy's courage and how she wanted to do the right thing despite the danger. Emmy has a lot of trauma after what happened to her which she slowly starts to work through during her stay at the ranch.

Dwight knew Emmy's handler back before he left the federal government and agrees to help out his old friend by hiding Emmy. I liked how Dwight didn't hesitate to help despite the potential for danger if whoever was after Emmy finds her. Dwight is an interesting character as his two sides, ex-military/fed and cowboy, actually blend together fairly well. His past is obvious in how he carries himself while his present day actions show him to be a man dedicated to running his family's ranch.

Emmy and Dwight's relationship is initially slow going despite the obvious attraction on both sides. Emmy is clearly still dealing with the trauma of what happened to her which Dwight has experience with, so he doesn't push her. I liked the friendship the pair develop over the first few weeks Emmy is there and how at ease they become around each other. Eventually the pair give in to their attraction and I enjoyed the steamy scenes between them. Overall I enjoyed the romance and I liked how much time was dedicated to building it up. The suspense aspect of the story mostly comes into play near the end of the book after Emmy's location is discovered by one of the men looking for her. I enjoyed how that storyline played out, particularly Emmy's role in the ending.

Overall Home for a Cowboy Christmas was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for fans of the author's Heart of Texas series.

So cowboy books aren’t usually my thing and I don’t do a lot of romantic suspense, but I do like a story where the h&H are stuck in close proximity and I like a Christmas romance so I requested this. And it was a page turning read. I liked the hero, even though Dwight is not a sexy name and Emmy was an interesting heroine - competent and with a sense of justice. The ranch and ranch life were fun - but it all wrapped up very quickly at the end which was a bit of a surprise - I hadn’t realise the last 30% was going to be a short story. Which was a bonus I wasn’t expecting because I really liked it - it's a forced proximity stranded in the snow at Christmas novella with a high powered lawyer who is reeling from a break up and a cowboy who is wary after being burnt by city girls in the past. Fun and sweet with no real peril. I liked it.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

Great romantic suspense story. Terrific characters, all fighting demons of some sort trying to survive. Emmy is on the run after having witnessed a terrible crime. So far there is no where what is safe. Her witness protection handler needs to hide her somewhere safe to find the leak in his department. He enlists the help of Dwight, a friend who lives far from to help keep her alive. And so begins the slow burn to trust, stating safe, avoiding the ones bent on killing her, love and so much more. It’s another fabulous book from this author.

So much more than a holiday romance, this book drew me in and I felt invested in the characters. This book had it all…. Family, friendship, love,, and murder. I enjoyed the writing style and will be looking for more books by Donna Grant.

It's a spellbinding ride from start to finish, interspersed with moments of quiet intimacy.

Emmy is a very important witness to a crime and her life is in danger as a result. The intrepid US Marshall Dalton Silva is going above and beyond to keep her safe and make sure she can testify. He takes her to his good friend Dwight Reynold's farm for safe-keeping.

I don't have a long review here, it's not necessary. It was gripping, nail-biting, and intense. Dwight was unbelievably patient and gentle with Emmy and she blossomed under his care and attention. The writing kept me engaged from beginning to end. I can definitely recommend this for anybody interested in romantic suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Being in the witness protection program is supposed to provide a measure of safety and security. And I guess in many cases it does work out that way. But when you are one person standing in the way of another’s freedom that feeling of being alone can definitely be frightening. What happens when there is a breach of that promised security. The arm of the criminal can be long. And when that criminal is a mob boss, well the web is vast and invasive.

Emmy is under Dalton’s protection. In several weeks she is star witness against her old boss who just happens to be a mob boss. Emmy was the bookkeeper and never really looked into her boss’s life. Large and impressive circle of friends and acquaintances. Emmy had enjoyed that part of her relationship with her boss. Who wouldn’t enjoy hobnobbing with the rich and famous.

Emmy witnessed the other side of her boss and was candidly shocked. But instead of turning her back she went to the authorities with what she had witnessed.

A lot can happen in a matter of weeks or months. Emmy’s life is threatened, and someone gets close enough to kill her. So now Agent Dalton must turn outside the agency for protection for Emmy.
Dwight has known Dalton for a while. Dwight’s military background, along with National Security makes him the perfect person to watch Emmy. The fact that he lives in a remote area of Montana also helps.
Emmy senses almost immediately, a feeling of safety with Dwight and his amazing dog Sam. Is it enough to let her relax her own sense of doom, well only time will tell. In the meantime Emmy and Dwight develop an easy relationship, a friendship that allows each of them to enjoy each other’s company.

Donna Grant does an excellent job of developing two strong, independent, caring characters that remain true to their innate self. Emmy embodies a self-confident woman even in the face of eminent danger. Dwight remains a true gentleman with his eye on the goal of keeping his charge safe. Their attraction is palatable, but their future is clouded with doubt. There are no guarantees with being under the protection of the witness program. Both Emmy and Dwight are realists.

Even on a remote ranch there are difficulties remaining hidden. It is just a matter of time before even Dwight’s best intentions are breached. And when danger rears its ugly head, it is going to challenge them all.

Donna Grant paints a vivid picture of just how devious criminals can be. Even amidst vast lands filled with glorious beauty it can be invaded by darkness. The danger is insidious, and Donna Grant brings the terror to life on the pages of HOME FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS. HOME FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS is a page turner of a crime novel pitting the good against evil. Once again Donna Grant creates unforgettable characters.