This is another great book from Linda Lael Miller. The two main characters are Tessa and Jesse. Tessa and her daughter have come Painted Pony Creek to get away from her daughter’s father’s step-mother. Jesse is in town to setup a western tourist town. They meet at the diner in town. There is an instant attraction. They start dating. They each have issues but they work them out and fall in love.

I received this as an arc from NetGalley. I have read books by Linda Lael Miller, but this one pulls the heart strings. Tessa is a single mom who goes on the run to protect her daughter from her ex's evil stepmom. She is constantly uprooting her daughter, Isabel. Tessa's car breaks down in a Painted Pony Creek and the local police come to her rescue. The officer immediately knows that something has Tessa on the run and takes her to the local diner. The owner talks to Tessa and offers her a job and a place to stay. The town pulls together to protect this mother and daughter. Jesse is in town is helping his brother with his land and is also a lawyer. He soon becomes smitten with Tessa and Isabel. Tessa opens up to Jesse and the local police because she is tired of running. The town comes to their aid when the grandmother shows up and is trying to cause a scene and take Isabel. I couldn't put this book down and now I am going to go back and read the others in the series. We will be getting this book at my library.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and I have to admit my first – but I have every intention of going back and reading earlier installments, as I loved the people of Painted Pony Creek. Their support of Tessa and Isabel is unrivalled, and whilst Tessa feels she may still need to leave, she certainly doesn't want to – and Jesse may be part of the reason!

I really liked that we learn early on about Tessa's past and her unwavering love and commitment to her daughter's well-being. She had no childhood to speak of, so her devotion to working hard to support and protect her daughter is clearly her priority – and she finds the care with which the rest of the town embrace them both wonderful, even if their desire to match her with Jesse is enticing, but not possible.

I really enjoyed the tension due to the attraction between the two of them, how it played out, and how it got me into the right mood for Christmas!

A woman and her little girl on the run break down in Painted Pony Creek for the holidays and find wonder and magic and love. But, a self-centered, determined woman won’t leave them be and running has been their only option until now.

Christmas in Painted Pony Creek was my intro to the widely acclaimed Linda Lael Miller’s writing. Boy howdy, I can see why now. I’m no stranger to the snug and comfy small town holiday romance where a wanderer finds home, but instead of it feeling stale and same-ol’, I settled in from the start and regretted closing the book on the last page. While I could see this was part of an ongoing series and met characters who starred in previous books, I had no trouble reading this out of order as a standalone. The tone was gentle and sweet, but it read swiftly for me. I have future dates with the rest of the Painted Pony Creek series so I can meet all these kind folk who felt like family from the beginning.

As I mentioned, Tessa and her little girl arrive by way of their car giving out and discover a town of people ready to embrace them and their needs. They meet Jesse at the diner. He’s taking a sabbatical from his legal work to work construction and needs to figure out what he wants to do. Their mutual attraction was a lovely layer in the story rather than the only focus and I’m a total sucker for a cowboy and little girl connecting on their own so Jesse fell for both ladies. The western movie references were a fun running joke through the book. I enjoyed meeting all the small town characters and seeing them generously step in to help Tessa and Isabella and wish Jesse well while going about their lovely holiday traditions.

Isabella’s step-grandmother was over the top the way she kept coming after them to get Isabella. Her relentless pursuit gave a pinch of suspenseful spice to an otherwise sweet story full of holiday cheer and magic.

A small town western charmer of a holiday romance hit the spot and left me smiling and satisfied. Drop this bit of holiday cheer into your stocking for a feel-good from Painted Pony Creek.

Christmas in Painted Pony Creek by Linda Lael Miller is book four in the Painted Pony Creek series but can be read as a standalone. I love Linda Lael Miller's contemporary romance books, especially her cowboy/western romances.

This was a sweet small town/cowboy book and exactly what I want in a contemporary romance!

Thanks to HTP Books and Canary Street Press for my copy!

I want to preface this review by saying that this book should have been promoted as a Thanksgiving novella rather than a Christmas one. Most of the story is leading up to Thanksgiving, with only the Epilogue actually taking place at Christmas time. That being said ...

Tessa Stafford has had a difficult life of foster homes, financial struggles, and then a pregnancy that was completely unwanted by the rich boyfriend who treated her like a dirty little secret and immediately signed off on any rights to the child. Unfortunately, his stepmother didn't feel the same. She wanted an heir and was determined to prove Tessa unfit or steal the little girl, if need be. All of this meant Tessa was constantly on the move.

Her running came to a screeching halt when her car breathed its last in a small town in Montana. She and her daughter, Isabel, were immediately welcomed, given a place to stay and a job for Tessa. She could easily see herself settling in such a wonderful place full of supportive people. That delicious Jesse McKettrick, building a western tourist town for his brother, was an added bonus.

With the threat of losing her daughter always looming, how can Tessa possibly stay in one place too long?

Christmas in Painted Pony Creek is a pleasant enough read. As a novella, it's also a very quick one, and it reads beautifully as a standalone despite being fourth in a series. There were a few things, however, that leveled it at three stars for me.

Personally, I don't like the trope of two people practically wanting to eat each other at first sight. That's not romantic, and I don't like it in what could otherwise be a sweet holiday romance. Also, I had a couple of moments where I questioned Tessa's mothering skills myself. Staying with Jesse as protection was one thing, but sleeping in his room with your young daughter right there is another altogether. I wouldn't normally pick at this one too much, but it went against all of the side comments showing steps Tessa made to be a good mom. Worse was walking into a place knowing she's about to have a heated altercation with the evil stepmother and hauling her daughter in with her? Uhm...no. Someone takes her into another room, so she isn't traumatized by it. Lastly, while it's quite common for the main characters to have tragic pasts in these books, it seemed like everyone did here right down to one of the villains whose tale was tossed in so randomly it felt like even the character found it awkward.

Christmas (Thanksgiving) in Painted Pony Creek by Linda Lael Miller is a nice, average read. I did enjoy it, but I won't be seeking out the other books in the series.

I was provided with an egalley of this book and have chosen to leave this objective review.

Tessa Stafford and her daughter Isabel have been on the run from Isabel’s grandmother, but their journey is halted in Painted Pony Creek when their car breaks down. The townspeople rally behind them and welcome them by offering shelter, warm meals and a job for Tessa. She feels like she belongs for the first time in a long time and admits that she’s tired of always being on the run.

Jesse McKettrick arrives to tow Tessa’s car, and she wonders about the cowboy/lawyer. Tessa can’t afford to let her guard down, because she’s afraid that if she does, she’ll be found. Jesse can’t help being drawn in by both Tessa and Isabel and wonders what it would be like to have a family of his own. The ghosts of Tessa’s past threaten to steal her future, but Jesse is determined to be there for her every step of the way.

This was a feel-good romance where everything you hope will happen comes true in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #ChristmasinPaintedPonyCreek

If you are looking for a Christmas time story this is not the book. Maybe the last 2 pages was set during Christmas. Marketing ploy! The story itself is fine.

A nice easy, slow, sweet romance. Tessa is a single mom on the run with her daughter from a nightmare gorgon.
She lands in the perfect place in Montana and things come together.
My interest was focused in Jesse immediately and his back story.
It’s a nice holiday story full of caring people and small town charm. It also has hunky Montana men!
I was eager to read the preview for Liam’s story because he deserves happiness as well.

Tessa Stafford is being harassed and hunted by the stepmother of the man who fathered her child. One rainy night, Tessa and Isabel (a delightful child who adds so much innocence and charm to this story) have lost any hope of their car making it another mile. Chief of Police Melba Summers finds them stranded on the side of the road. Melba takes them to the local diner where Tessa and Isabel are offered not only a hot meal, but the hope of security and safety that they need. They find that the strangers in Painted Pony Creek quickly become friends, and that Tessa and Isabel could make this their home. Handsome and kind, Jesse McKettrick offers his assistance in securing Tessa's car and later his services as a lawyer. Sparks fly between Tessa and Jesse as the reader waits to see if these two will stay in Painted Pony Creek, while hoping that our two sweet lovebirds find happiness together.

Christmas in Painted Pony Creek is delightful, charming and hard to put down. It has it all: the tension of hiding from the woman determined to grab Isabel, the sadness of past relationships for both Jesse and Tessa, the innocence of a child's wonder, and the warmth of Christmas and of a town that offers kindness and safety.

I will be recommending this book.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Linda Lael Miller and NetGalley for this ARC.

Christmas in Painted Pony Creek by Linda Lael Miller is about finding shelter and connection. Tessa, the heroine, is a single mom who was raised in the child welfare system in various foster homes. This has left her with minimal resources and little or no family support. She has been on the run to protect her young daughter from the wealthy step-mom of the baby daddy, who wants custody of the child. Tessa finds the people in Painted Pony Creek are willing to help and shelter her. She meets Jesse McKettrick, a lawyer, who becomes the helpful love interest. Some of the good characters from previous books in this series appear in this one and the inclusion of a Mckettrick is intriguing. This is a great read. Strongly recommended.

I was able to read Christmas at Painted Pony Creek thanks to NetGalley. This is a continuation of the Painted Pony Creek series. Many characters appear in this book from the previous books. Tessa is a single mom stranded in the town. She gains a job at Bailey’s as a waitress. Her daughter Isabella is 5 years old. She meets Jesse Mckettrick at the restaurant. Jesse is working in construction taking a break from being a full time lawyer. The chemistry is instant. Jesse wants to be a part of Tessa’s life, but she is running from her past. I loved this book no am so glad to see a new generation of Mckettrick books.

Linda Lael Miller brings us the story of Tessa and her daughter Isabel when their car breaks down in Painted Pony Creek. Immediately, the community comes to their aid by giving them shelter, food, and even a job so they can stay. With the kindness of strangers, this place starts to become a home for these two who have been on the road stopping in towns along the way until it is time to move again. When they first arrive, Jesse is struck by them and starts hoping for that future. When the past threatens to disrupt and halt their lives and what could be, will Tessa feel the need to run once more? Will what she built in Painted Pony Creek with the people and with Jesse be enough for her to stay and fight, or will her fears get the best of her?

Linda Lael Miller brings us the story of finding a community that feels like family. She brings us into the lives of those who live in this community and how they look out for each other. You want to keep turning the page to see what happens with Tessa and Jesse and if there is a future for them after all. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press for this privilege.

This is a quick fun read about likable characters. The story moves quickly. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author.