Cover Image: A Real Cowboy for the Holidays

A Real Cowboy for the Holidays

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Such a wonderful book! I haven't read any of this series, but am going to have to go back and read every one.

Loved Emma, her son Ethan, Quentin, the broken man who managed to bring everyone together. I giggled a few times, and I cried a few times. HEA books don't get much better than this!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review what may possibly be one of my favorite romances of all time!

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Another holiday romance to warm the heart during the coldest times of the year! Set in the wilds of Wyoming this story revolves around a family of crazy guys that have had a really tough time in their youth but have miraculously grown into strong, honorable men. I confess I haven’t read any of the other stories in this series, but all in all I enjoyed this one all on its own so if you aren’t inclined to grab the rest of the series, don’t worry you’ll still enjoy this one. Quintin Stockton has had a really bad few months, severely injured while smokejumping he is stuck back in his hometown as he recovers and tries to get back to his physical peak in order to return to the only job he loves, but it’s not looking great for him. Emma Rollins has finally decided to return home to her family’s tree farm in order to get away from the craziness of New York City, bringing with her the love of her life, her special needs son Ethan. When Quintin and Emma are reunited they are both surprised by the sparks, but asking Quintin to help on her family’s farm seem safe enough for this relationship-shy woman. But soon the two of them are falling deeper and deeper as they spend the holidays together. Quintin and Emma are both keeping dark secrets and dealing with pasts that are bound to rip them apart, unless they trust in one another and the love that has developed between them in order to fight for the future they both want and need so badly. I have to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story once I got a few chapters in; I expected it to be the typical simple holiday story but there were some very deep and dark moments that challenged this couple and had me in tears as I wondered how they would overcome their issues to get their HEA. Emma was a woman that has had the deck stacked against her for years, but has never given up the fight. She was sweet, strong, loving, and sassy by turns and I enjoyed watching her as she blossomed with Quintin’s attention and affection. She is a great mother, doing whatever it takes, often to her own determent, in order to give her son everything he needs to be happy. Quintin could have come off as a shallow ass, even being an alpha hero, but luckily Rowe gives him a depth and compassion that keeps him from going that route. He obviously has a lot of issues to work through, but once he meets Emma again he puts all of his energy into showing her affection and teaching her to smile again, not to mention how sweet he is to her son, showing him that he isn’t defective in any way because of his disability. I truly enjoyed watching him learn the importance of love and settling down, accepting that his dreams could change and that being with Emma and Ethan was more important than his ego. The passion between these two is secondary to the friendship and love that they slowly build together, but it’s definitely hot once they unleash it on one another. I kind of wish I had read the previous novels in this series and might go back someday, but as long as my TBR list is it sadly may never happen. The holidays definitely are hot enough to start a wild fire as Emma and Quintin find their way together to an HEA.

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4.25 stars—A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS is the ninth instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult WYOMING REBELS romance series-a cross over with the author’s HART FAMILY BILLIONAIRES. This is firejumper Quintin Stockton, and former NYC ad executive/single mother Emma Rollins’ story line. A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.


Told from dual third person perspectives A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS follows in the wake of a potential career ending injury for Quintin Stockton. Six months earlier a jump when all to h*ll leaving Quintin struggling with pain and a the possibility of never jumping again. Returning home to brother’s Wyoming ranch for the Christmas holidays, Quintin would come face to face with Emma Rollins, his childhood friend, whose own life was no longer under her control but as Quintin reconsidered his future as a Smokejumper, Emma begins to suspect not all was right with her parents at home. As Quintin calls in some help from the Stockton and Hart families, Emma reveals the truth about her past, a past that continues to control her life. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Quintin and Emma, and the potential fall-out as Emma and Quintin’s time together comes to a close, as Emma is unable to move forward without harming her son in the process.


Emma Rollins knows betrayal and loss, and struggles in the years since her marriage and divorce but Emma never thought she would again fall in love, something that would threaten the future of her son. Falling for Quintin was never under consideration, but the heart wants the man with whom she had fallen in love. Quintin Stockton and his siblings’ earlier years were fraught with neglect and abuse, and in this, Quintin never did relationship, and refused to fall in love but rekindling his friendship with his childhood friend gave Quintin thoughts for a future, a future that may or may not include his fire jumping career.


The relationship between Quintin and Emma is a friends to lovers, one in which our couple had not seen one another for close to ten years. Life went on, as Quintin watched his siblings fall in love, but Quintin knew that love would never be in his future because of the ghosts of his past. Emma Rollins was only in town for the Christmas holidays but falling for Quintin meant facing another heart break when they were forced to go their separate ways. The $ex scenes are limited and mostly implied.


There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most of Quintin’s siblings, their significant others, and growing families-the love and camaraderie between the siblings is emotional and touching. We are introduced to Emma’s mother and father, a couple who are struggling with their own future plans.


A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a story of second chances, of betrayal and control, of love, loss and moving forward. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are charismatic but battling between head and heart for a direction in life.





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I love the Wyoming Rebels series and I really loved this installment. Quintin Stockton and Emma Rollins are both broken and healing. Emma's divorce is final but the pain in ongoing thanks to her nasty ex. Quintin is coming closer and closer to admitting what he doesn't want to, that his injuries are going to permanently sideline him from smoke jumping. The only career he cares about having. Unbeknownst to the pair they each had a crush on the other during school. They never knew the other cared so never pursued anything.

Quintin is dead set against settling back in Wyoming with the rest of his brothers. He quickly decides he can't even stay for Christmas but his injury and the still intriguing Emma have him .deciding to hang out. Working at Emma's parent's Christmas tree farm gave him purpose in school and calms him now so he starts helping out. Then his nephews convince him to bring them to meet Santa and the two are spending more and more time together. That Quintin, his family and especially the kids are so wiling to accept Emma's son is amazing. Soon the pluses of falling for this hot cowboy begin to outweigh all the negatives.

The perfect holiday story of redemption, moving on and finding your destined love, A Real Cowboy For the Holidays was a great, heartwarming read. This just might be my favorite of the entire series.

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Although part of a series this book can be read as a standalone story. Emma and her son Ethan arrive back at her family's tree farm in Wyoming for the Christmas holuday. She's hoping the trip will help bolster her son's life and give him back some confidence.

Quintin suffered a career ending injury and is home visiting family for Christmas. He never expects the visit with his nephews to see Santa will reunite him with a teenage friend.

Sparks fly when Emma and Quintin are reunited but can each move beyond their pasts to find a path to a future together. A story of love, family, and second chances.

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

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“He smiled. “I’m not kind. I’m aloof, socially stunted, with a hero complex, a thousand emotional issues, and a bum leg,”” (Quote from ARC)

3.5 stars.
A wonderful story about family, love, and overcoming trauma, “A Real Cowboy for the Holidays”, by Stephanie Rowe, features a tortured hero who finally finds peace and a strong heroine who’s been dealing with too much alone for too long.
I loved the intensity of these characters, particularly the hero, Quintin, who is the quintessential brave alpha male – he’s a smokejumper – yet also shows a sweetness and tenderness that make him a very attractive character.
I liked that Quintin and Emma, who were teenage friends, are now adults behaving accordingly and attracted to each other. I also appreciated seeing them explore their shared past and try to deal with their troubles, insecurities, conflicted feelings and fears, all in a believable way.
The interaction between Quintin and Emma’s son, little boy Ethan, is adorable.
I thought there was a bit too much family interactions and talk about family and feelings, which is understandable in a way because of the hero and his siblings’ traumatic childhood.

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I'm new to this series and am used to the paranormal books written by the author. This book is perfect for a holiday feel good read. The characters are given a second chance at connecting and although they may feel defeated at points, they are embraced and lifted up by their families and community. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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