2.5 STARS

Holly Dawson waitresses in the small Wyoming town of Painted Barrel. It is about the only job she can get since Holly dropped out of school some years before to take care of her younger sister after their parents tragically passed. Holly’s sister, Polly, goes to an expensive college that takes just about every penny big sister can scrape together. Holly has put her own dreams on hold of having the resources to open a bakery as cooking, especially making desserts, is her passion. Living on tips and taking odd jobs, Holly does not appreciate one of the local cowboys, Adam Calhoun, who has taken a dislike to her usually just leaving a measly tip of one dollar showing just what kind of jerk he is.

Holly is offered a job cooking and cleaning at the Flat C ranch where Adam works for one month during the holidays while the owners are away. Pretty much from the beginning, Holly and Adam behave like immature children taking cheap shots at each other and pulling pranks. Unfortunately, Adam does something so mean and really ruinously evil behind Holly’s back leaving her devastated and blaming herself for an epic baking fail. Adam is not man enough to admit what he did even after realizing what his childish behavior has done though he had an opportunity to confess before it was too late.

As Holly and Adam work closely together in forced proximity, they turn from enemies to lovers. Holly is still reeling from the unknown dirty trick that caused her to be embarrassed in front of the whole town and lose confidence in her baking. When’s Adam’s perfidy comes to light, it is not hard to imagine how Holly feels about the betrayal.

I generally enjoy the enemies to loves trope; however, Adam’s initial treatment of Holly as well as his seriously immature behavior makes it hard to have any warm feelings about him. For a man who is supposed to be a war veteran, he does not make the cut as a hero. Holly is totally likeable and admirable for giving up her own dreams so Polly can follow hers and have a better life. Even after she gets pulled into Adam’s spitefulness, Holly’s small efforts pale in comparison to his initial attitude and subsequent meanness making it difficult for this reader to forgive such bad boy behavior even after he tries to make things right. The book can be read as a standalone, but is number seven of The Wyoming Cowboy series.

Enemies to lovers either works for me or it does NOT. This did not. Adam was a total stinker and I just can't deal with an MC who is being stubborn for no good reason. Thanks for letting me try. Cowboys and Christmas are usually a winner for me.

This is the first book that I picked up this holiday season, so I was really excited about starting HOLLY JOLLY COWBOY. If you’re a fan of hot cowboys stories with a holiday theme to it, then you’re going to love this one.

It’s actually been quite a long time since I’ve read a Jessica Clare book, so returning to Painted Barrel was a nice treat. Holly Dawson is experiencing some financial trouble as she tries to pay for her sister’s college tuition. So she already has her hands full when Adam Calhoun enters the picture. As an arrogant war veteran, they don’t really hit it off well in the beginning. But slowly, they both begin to melt for each other. HOLLY JOLLY COWBOY is an easy, festive read. It’s perfect to get you into the holiday spirit!

Holly Jolly Cowboy is a steamy friends to lovers Christmas story! Are you kidding me? LOVE! Two people who hate each other forced to work together over the holidays! SWOOONNNN! I couldn't get enough of this story! I was so invested! Holly was sweet, hard working and adorable. I loved how hard she worked to take care of her sister. Adam was a stubborn, sexy ranch hand. These two had so much chemistry it was insane!! Between Holly and Adam's chemistry and the Christmas setting this book is just evyerthing you would want in a holiday romance!

Holly Dawson always cringed when Adam Calhoun, Mr. $1 Tipper, walked into Wade's Saloon where she worked as a waitress. That Adam is just such a jerk! I really enjoyed reading along as Holly and Adam moved on from how they felt about each other in chapter one to their Happily Ever After. This is a super enemies to lovers romance story. I love author Jessica Clare's writing style and have really enjoyed this series, The Wyoming Cowboys. Holly Jolly Cowboy is a great addition to this series.

I received an ARC and am happy to provide a honest review.

A small town girl, Holly,struggles to make ends meet after her parents pass away and she makes the choice to drop out of high school and get a job so her sister will not be separated from her. Years later, she is still struggling to put her sister through college with her waitress tips, never able to focus on her own ambitions. She is an amazing baker but cannot get any of the local businesses to work with her so she keeps working for tips from the regulars at Wade's restaurant. One customer in particular rubs her the wrong way and always only tips her $1. In an attempt to earn additional money during the holidays, she takes a job cooking for the local Mayor's ranch hands. One of which happens to be the poor tipper! Will this be forever the sum of her existence? Scraping by to support others while her dreams go by the wayside? Will her needs ever come first? This is a sweet Christmas story that will warm your heart with a little extra spice added in. In my opinion one or two 4-letter sex terms were unnecessary, but to each his/her own. A story of believing in yourself and true love.❤ Great quick read around the holidays!

Quick read, and follows similar feel to others in the series. Can be read as stand alone. Having read the other books in the series you are able to catch the references to other supporting characters. Not a have to but nice to round out book.
Liked the lead characters but there were a few times I feel the time lines were off on days and events. Maybe just the draft I read and final product will be different but the last part of the book when the big reveal was made and days that followed seemed to be off. One felt like weeks were said then next day said it had just been one day. Maybe it was me but flow was lost on that part.

3.5 stars -- I'm so torn on this one because I absolutely loved our heroine, Holly. She's determined, hard-working, loyal, and doing her best to give her sister the life she never had. She's passionate about baking and doing everything within. her limited means to make that a career. But our hero, Adam... I just don't know. He does a pretty good grovel by the end, but he violates 2 of my biggest markers on how I judge people: how he treats service staff and how he treats animals. Still, I did really enjoy this book as a whole, so my ambivalence about him didn't keep me from having a good time

I really enjoy the series but this was a rough, painful read. The characters, especially Adam were mean and hurtful. I understand taking care of a family member but Holly took it to an entire new level. She was a pushover and her sister took even when Holly had no more to give. I was ready to place this on my dnf shelf but I persevered and continued until the end.
Holly and Adam eventually work it out but the struggles were really. Adam does redeem himself but it was a little to late.

I really disliked this book so much I could not get passed chapter seven. Even if he got down on his knees to apologize I have no respect for him