:Scheduled to post Oct 26 at 9 am.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas
Donna Grant
St. Martin’s Press, Oct 26, 2021
319 Pages
Holiday Romance, Western Romance, Contemporary Romance
Provided by Pub’s Rep via NetGalley

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The cover shows a ranch at Christmas and a real cowboy carrying a saddle over his shoulder. This could be either Dalton or Dwight. Somehow, I think it’s intended to be Dwight, though this isn’t quite how I pictured him in my head as I read the story. The eyes are wrong. The rest of it would certainly work, though.

The primary story in the book, Home for a Cowboy Christmas, is very good. I don’t know the realities of witness protection or the marshall service, but I would think that if things went to h3ll during the lead up to a trial and a witness was compromised and in danger, this might be what could happen. This one marshall, who can’t be bought, takes off with the witness and keeps her safe. He stashes her someplace that he feels is totally safe. Then he hunts the assassin who’s been sent to kill her. It makes sense to me. My apologies to the marshall service if I have this wrong.

An isolated ranch out in the middle of nowhere Montana owned by a former military, former FBI, and former Homeland Security guy just might be the perfect place to hide. Especially if he has a great body and piercing blue eyes. Toss in a goofy dog who likes to cuddle for good measure and I’m sure it’s the place. Dwight is the protective sort. And Emmy needs to be taken care of after what she’s been through and still has to do. She still has to survive to testify at the mobster’s trial. Two lonely people on an isolated ranch in a tense situation. Both have their fair share of good looks and attractive body parts. Now what could possibly happen on a ranch between two such people? Sure enough, they develop feelings for each other and have hot, steamy sex. Just a note here...this is an old ranch house that has been updated over time. The bathroom in the master bedroom has a huge shower with a rain shower head and two side shower heads. Yes, there is shower sex. I said hot and steamy! It sure beats the chase scene in the blizzard with the assassin. The ending is predictable, but that’s what HEAs are. Recommended.

BONUS Short Story: Wish Upon a Cowboy by Donna Grant
This short story is amazing in its depth considering the brevity of it. Cowboy Zane rescues city girl Cady from a winter blizzard. Trapped in his small cabin for a few short days at Christmas gave rise to a very passionate connection. Two such seemingly mismatched people find common ground. Would love to see this made into a full-length novel. Recommended.

Emmy is in witness protection but the mob has paid off people in local law enforcement and within the US Marshall service. Keeping witnesses alive has been a problem. Dalton has found the perfect place to stash her till the trial starts. She has resigned herself that death will come soon. Dwight Reynolds has come back to the ranch in which he grew on. It is where he finds peace and solace. Dalton is calling in a favor and he plans to honor it. From the moment their eyes meet, a connection is made. With the help of Sam, his dog, she is finding reasons to smile and laugh again. The mob is not letting go. It takes Dalton, Dwight and a couple of ranch hands to save the day. It looks like a Christmas miracle has happened. Yes they do get their HEA.

I enjoyed this book. I like a combination of romance and intrigue. Sam and the horses were a cute addition.

I enjoyed this story very much, loved the romance, suspense and holiday season.
Emmy and Dwight are great together.
Very happy to read this book.

The way this book opened had me glued to the pages. Deputy US Marshal Dalton Silva, on a spur of the moment decision, driving Emmy Garrett to hide her. Emmy was placed under witness protection and it was by sheer luck that Silva had stopped to check on her when he saved her life. His recourse was to take her with him and call in a favor to an old friend, Dwight Reynolds, who is a retired ex-FBI agent and former Homeland Security officer. Now Dwight operates a ranch that has been in his family for generations.

Emmy is set to testify at the beginning of the new year, and the ranch offers her some much-needed safety. Flashbacks leave her shaking and scared, but with the help of Sam, an Australian Cattle dog, who has a knack for knowing when a friend is needed.

As the weeks pass, Emmy starts to feel more at home and even ventures outside to help Dwight with the horses. The two have come to care for one another. Things seem under control until Silva calls Dwight and gives him a message in code. Without telling his employees the reason, he asks them to keep a lookout for anything suspicious.

Dwight has already decided that he will accompany Emmy back to Denver. Although Dwight has told Emmy that he loves her, Emmy fears that she won't make the trial so keeping her emotions to herself, she feels she is protecting her heart and Dwight.

Although they are on their guard, they do not realize how close the threat is.

I loved the chemistry between Emmy and Dwight and Sam stole my heart. I found it funny that no matter how Dwight tried to hide his feelings, all those around him read him like a book. Another enjoyable read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Donna Grant is a go to author for me. I’ve devoured her Dragon and Reaper series, however, I’ve had a harder time connecting with her cowboys.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas follows Emmy, a bookkeeper who was getting a little too cozy with one of her clients and witnessed something she should never have. Now she’s on the run after multiple attempts on her life while part of the witness protection program. She’s brought to rural Montana where Dwight, a former FBI and Military man can help keep her safe. They only have a short time together, she just needs to make it to the new year to testify. But feelings develop and Dwight will do anything to help keep her safe.

Aside from the time of year, I really didn’t get a festive, holiday vibe from this book. Also, there were things that just didn’t make sense or get tied up for me. For example, why on the world was Dwight’s sister brought in but he was keeping Emmy a secret from everyone else? What happened to the feds who were dirty? If they were keeping Emmy’s presence a secret, why was she walking around the ranch when he knows his ranch hands are working throughout the day? These all added up to just an ok read for me.

Oh, my - this book is absolutely wonderful. I devoured it quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I usually like Donna Grant’s books, but this one very well may be my favorite. It takes place in Montana (which I love) on a ranch, it has mystery and romance - what else could be so perfect?

Emmy backed acquainted with the Denver mob boss and after seeing him order a murder (and then one of his men shoot the guy in the head), she freaked. She eventually went to the DA and was immediately placed in the witness protection program. But after several mob paid marshals let it slip where she was located, hit men came to kill her - only she was able to escape through the actions of one honest marshal. That marshal took her from Denver to his ex-military buddy’s ranch in Montana - a perfect place for her to hide away until the trial began. But the mob boss had other plans - he wanted her hunted and killed. Can Emmy and Dwight survive this threat? And can they both have found their happily ever after?

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

Dwight retired from the FBI and moved to a ranch in Montana but he's still friends with US Marshal Dalton Silva and he's willing to do him a favor. Emmy, a book keeper who witnessed a murder, needs to be stashed somewhere secure for a few weeks (over Christmas!) and Silva calls on Dwight who is more than happy to oblige, There are bad guys out there, though, that threaten not only Emmy's happiness but both of their lives. You know there's going to be a happy ending but gosh- Grant manages to create some tension. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read and don't miss the bonus story !

Emmy Garrett is on the run. She got involved with the wrong people and witnessed a murder. She informed the DA's office of what she saw and is immediately put into the witness protection program. But there is a leak and her handler takes her to the only person he can trust right now.
Dwight is former military, former FBI and former Homeland Security. He is retired from that life and is living and working his family farm in Montana. He agrees to help his friend out and let Emmy stay there, knowing she needs protection.
I loved Dwight and Emmy. He is the ultimate macho man and she is a tough but yet fragile heroine. I loved that you could see their relationship develop. Yes, there was an instant attraction but they didn't act on it right away. They got to know each other and I loved that.
5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Emmy Garrett should be looking forward to a wonderful holiday season, but doing the right thing has her not only under the protection of a US Marshal, but also on the hit list of a mob boss. A man she befriended through her work as an accountant and one she saw murder a man.
When even Dalton, the US Marshal, is having a hard time keeping her safe, he takes her to his friend’s ranch, former FBI/Homeland Security agent, Dwight Reynolds.
As Dwight and Emmy get to know each other, feelings develop. While Emmy truly believes her days alive are limited, Dwight will do everything in his power to keep her safe.
This is an engaging suspense romance that is at times sweet with likable characters. Another winner from this author.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and St Martin’s Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

This was such a wonderful holiday story. It’s romantic suspense and that was a nice surprise in a holiday book. I loved the characters. The author did such a wonderful job on describing the setting throughout the book that I felt as though I was there. The book flowed easily and I was hooked from the first page. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Romantic novel with all the usual elements. Handsome hero ,troubled heroine and a load of baddies. An enjoyable read.

Emmy was an accountant with a big company. One of her clients is Joe Roma, mob boss. She starts going to parties and dinners with Joe and his inner circle. One night she sees Joe shoot a man in the head. Emmy leaves and calls the DA. They immediately take her in custody and put her in WitSec. They have to keep her alive to testify against Roma. After being found several times and a gun pointed at her head, Dalton, Marshall and her handler, takes her to a buddy of his. Dwight is former Military, FBI, and Homeland Security and lives in Montana on his ranch. When Dalton shows up, he cannot turn away a woman scared to death. Dwight didn’t expect, to fall head over hills in love but when the assassin finds them, in a snow storm, they will do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Great story with likable characters and a storyline that’ll keep you reading late into the night. Emmy is convinced she’ll never make it to trial. Dwight will make sure she does and he’ll be by her side. Little bit of action, suspense, and loving.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

"Home for a Cowboy Christmas" was an enjoyable, fast-paced, sugary-sweet, suspenseful, and thrilling contemporary romance.

After witnessing a murder and nearly being killed while in the witness protection program, Emmy Garrett now finds herself hiding and in the care of ranch owner Dwight Reynolds. On the one hand, someone wants her dead so she can't testify. She isn't trying to get her hopes up that she'll live long enough to do so. Meanwhile, she's also dealing with PTSD symptoms. On the other hand, both Emmy and Dwight find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other.

It's brave of Emmy to want to testify at all despite how turbulent her experience has been so far in the witness protection program. She tries her best to keep calm and carry on, but every once in a while feels intense fear and anxiety. That is strength to admire. Luckily, Emmy is able to find safety and comfort in Dwight and his adorable and intelligent dog, Sam.

Having served in the military, the FBI, and Homeland Security, Dwight knows what he's up against, is very capable of handling whoever after Emmy, and can empathize with the mental trauma she is going through. He's so protective of and smitten with her from the start that I'm surprised with how long it took them to share their first kiss. Although Emmy too struggles not to get too close or attached since staying with Dwight is temporary, his kindness and patience allowed her to process things at her own pace, which was very helpful. I also like how close Dwight is with his sister, Victoria, and his ranch employees.

The story progressed quickly but not much so that it felt like something was missing or incomplete. Every moment counted and connected. There was an abundance of action, humor, and tenderness. The climax was absorbing, oh my goodness! I had no idea what to expect. Things tied up nicely in the end, but I was sad that the story was over.

"Home for a Cowboy Christmas" was a great romance read and just another reason why I love Donna Grant's books.

Loved the journey! Quite unique in the way it all played out. So many emotions involved.
I liked the way the author integrated the the bad guys into the story so there was this air of anticipation, and dread, while reading about Emmy and Dwight, their attraction to each other, her very real fears.
Happening at the holidays, Thanksgiving included, yess! These two made the best of the situation and their feelings for each other.
All the descriptive build up, the crescendo was epic and surprising. A happy ending and I could relax. Recommended read from me.
I received an advanced reader's copy through Netgalley. I am providing my honest opinion freely.
And....there's a bonus novella that's just as good, in the back. Shorter and sweet.

Emmy is in witness protection but she has to go on the run when it becomes clear she cannot trust the Marshals office. Taken by Marshal Dalton the one man she can trust to a friend in Montana Dwight Reynolds ex FBI will give his life to protect her. A great little slow burning romance will have you routing for these characters. It’s a great little story to keep you company on a cold evening.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been a fan of holiday-themed stories, so when I saw that Donna Grant had one, I knew that I had to read it. I was actually quite surprised about the turn that this book took from the get-go. Normally, Christmas stories are slow-paced and charming. However, that’s not really the case with this book.

The heroine, Emmy Garrett, is on the run after witnessing a crime. So I didn’t feel as if this story had the same characteristics as a typical holiday book. It has a much faster pace and focused on a lot of other things other than Christmas. As a result, I didn’t feel like it was as festive as I would like. There are definitely other books that do a better job of conveying the cozy feeling.

Nevertheless, Grant combines suspense and romance together quite nicely in this book. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if it was just a regular story than a Christmas one. But I did still find that this story was still enjoyable and romantic.

On the run from the mob with a hitman on her trail, Emmy doesn’t believe she will see in the new year but that doesn’t stop her falling for the hunky rancher on whose ranch she has been stashed. An enjoyable romantic suspense, though I didn’t like that no precautions were taken to prevent a pregnancy.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story a lot. Emmy needs a safe haven. Dwight is asked to keep her safe. I really liked Dwight and Emmy and it felt natural that they fell in love while living together. I found the book moved at a good pace and kept the pace of the suspense to be good for the story. The ending was extremely satisfying. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This romantic suspense is set in an ideal location to reflect Christmas. It's picturesque and well described. Unfortunately, there is danger lurking.

Dwight lives alone in a remote location. Emmy is in witness protection, and there's been a breach which nearly cost her, her life. Dalton, her handler takes her to Dwight's place without telling anyone. Anyone could have betrayed her and he isn't taking any chances. The guilty party isn't giving up easily. Being powerful and having plenty of money, he can pull all resources before the trial. Can Dwight stop him before the trial?

Emmy is not hopeful at first, but as she gets to know Dwight she becomes more so. He is protective and his feelings for Emmy are very evident. The romance is sweet. There is enough suspense and danger to show the predicament that Emmy is in. It's a well presented romantic suspense with the added bonus of the oncoming Christmas. I really enjoyed this tale.