Thank you to NetGalley and our author for this ARC!

I was looking forward to reading this book. I love a Christmas feel good story. I love cowboys and country romances. I was so excited for a lighthearted book.

I was really surprised by the immediate dark tone the book had. A book can go over trauma and still maintain a lighthearted feel. This didn't do that.

This book really hammered in that dark tone. In fact, the book was repetitive. The first 75% of the book felt like a repeat of the same few topics:
- dark parental trauma
- sex
- I can't date him/her

Rinse and repeat.

This book would benefit from a rework. The pacing needs adjustments to be more consistent. The characters need more opportunities to develop organically. The side characters didn't get a ton of opportunities to interact with our main characters.

This books needs a lot of work before it would earn a 5 star rating from me.

Such a fun read for the holiday season! It was everything I look for in a romance. I could not put it down!

I picked this up because I was in the mood for something festive and a little dramatic, and the premise definitely promised that. Small town, snowy ranch, old debts, bad girl meets bad boy—that kind of setup is always fun. And I did enjoy the holiday setting and the little sparks between Sheena and Denver. There’s something cozy about reading a Christmas romance where the characters are a bit rough around the edges.

That said, I never felt super swept away by their romance. The chemistry was there in moments, but overall it felt a little surface-level and predictable. I also struggled to really connect with the characters the way I wanted to. The story moved along fine, but it didn’t leave much of an impression once I finished.

If you’re in the mood for a seasonal cowboy romance with some snow, tension, and a little bit of redemption, this will scratch the itch.

This book was a big miss for me. I couldn't get into the writing at all and both Denver and Sheena had nothing to offer.

OK this book went in a completely different direction than I expected. I thought this was going to be a Christmas romance but there was not a lot of mention of the Christmas season in the book. It also was kind of dark. Both main characters talk about their traumas a lot. I almost felt like it was the biggest part of the book to be honest. I was intrigued by the uniqueness of this book. I will say, I did not know this was part of a series so maybe my disconnect with it is because I didn't read the other books. I am interested enough to wanna read book 1 and possibly start the series and see how I feel. I did enjoy this. The cover is very appealing.

I absolutely loved the story of Sheena and Denver: Denver “owes” a debt to Sheena and her family and when she comes to cash in her chips, literally and figuratively, the sparks fly between these two alphas who fight for dominance as they embark on a business venture together. While Yates’ banter is top notch, it is the portrayal of vulnerabilities by these two individuals who have never been able to let their guard down that pulls at my heartstrings and makes me fall in love with the characters and the story.

And for fans of the Four Corners Ranch series — the epilogue is so very satisfying!!!!!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publications and @Netgalley for ARC for this phenomenal finale to a great series. The opinions are all my own.

This was a great book. This book give me an enemies to lovers story. The characters worked through their issues. The only problem was that the ending felt rushed

Two people who have spent their adult lives atoning for the sins of their parents are finally able to receive the love they truly deserve.
_____
Summary
Denver King is the lone man left in his sprawling band of acquaintances, family, and friends. This self-professed bad guy has spent years trying to make up for the hurt his drug dealing father caused, and what he sees as his role in those days.

Sheena Patrick is the last hold out in the community to cash in on Denver’s making amends tour, so Denver is both happy she’s finally given him the opportunity to close the books for good and extremely nervous. The prickly but hotter than hell bartender isn’t just a simple debt for Denver to settle - he believes he’s the reason Sheena had to give up her dreams as a young woman and raise her young sisters.

They’ll work together to start a business which benefits them and the community - provided those pesky feelings don’t get in the way…
_____
Thoughts
Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside has what I’m looking for in Contemporary Romance. We have complex, imperfect characters who make decisions, both smart and stupid, that feel true to who they are. The slow-rolling emotional connection is so well-established between Denver and Sheena that the sex and love scenes effectively move the story forward, aside from being just plain hot.

Both main characters are in their early 30s, but *feel* much older, for good reason. They’re basically empty nesters, having taken time to raise the siblings that were collateral damage from bad parenting.

There’s a very interesting exploration in here about people who make sacrifices and choices out of necessity and shame and how that can alter the way they feel about themselves after their obligations are over.

Denver is not only struggling with intense guilt for being a part of his father’s criminal enterprise as a teen, but also how that directly led to the cause of Sheena’s pain. He had a special set of skills that allow him to make money easily, but he feels great shame about that too even though it’s all above board. He sees himself as such damaged and dirty goods that Sheena deserves far better than him.

Sheena is unapologetic about her feelings on sex or her past with men. (Cheers for that!) However, true intimacy and trust is something she never grants to men and for very good reason. We know through the sisters she raised that she was a good parental figure. But she’s also dealing with loneliness and loss while trying to not be selfish. It’s clearly been difficult for her to learn to receive, not just give until her fingers bleed. This extends to receiving things which aren’t necessities from Denver, including being vulnerable when she is sick.

There’s two scenes which tie into the holiday theme that tugged the ol’ heartstrings. We see Denver’s first big piece of personal growth when he finds a gift for Sheena that is not driven by pure penance. And Sheena decides that she can crack open the door a bit and trust Denver would receive her own version of a gift with a grateful heart. (He does, good man.)

The way these two scenes are handled shows the pair still has a lot of work to do before getting it right. But within those moments are the proof they aren’t too far off the mark and the deep emotional connection is there.

The Happily Ever After comes after a moment where the couple backslides - but they feel effectively fire-tested going into the ever after part.

For readers of this whole series, the Epilogue is a full wrap up for all the characters a decade down the line. This was a very satisfying conclusion to a lovely and heartfelt holiday romance and a large series.
———
Harlequin Trade / Canary Street Press

Standalone/Series: Four Corners Ranch #12, can easily be read as a standalone, but also is the series finale

Genre/Subgenre: Contemporary Romance, Cowboy, Western, Holiday

Themes/Tropes: characters who were forced to be adults as children, raising siblings as a guardian, players afraid of commitment & being hurt, tough on the outside + soft on the inside, holiday feels, the emotional aspect of gift giving, care giving for a sick partner

Steam/Spice Level: open door, in the room/bed, on page hot & spicy scenes, but also very emotional ones tied to character development, definitely worked for the story

Setting: rural Oregon
BIPOC Characters: N/A
LGBTQ+ Characters: N/A
Religion: N/A
POV: third person, past tense, dual POV
Character Ages: FMC is 31, MMC is slightly older I think

Cops/LEO: the MMC’s brother is a local cop, there isn’t an LEO corruption related element, although there is a lot of discussion about the MMC’s family’s criminal enterprise and his involvement

Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? only a brief discussion of the loss of a pet from childhood
__________
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing & Canary Street for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date: Oct 28, 2025

will be rereading this for christmas YUP. i loved it so much, it was so funny and scenic and a perfect small town holiday read

🪓🎯 Business Partners
💫Forced Proximity
🌇Small Town
💋Witty Banter
🔥Slow Burn
🌶️Spice
4.5⭐ (Rounded Up To 5)

There is something about a Holiday Romance that just pulls me right into a story, pair that with a grumpy Cowboy and strong female lead and you'll have my attention fully hooked.

I really enjoyed "Cowboy It's Cold Outside", it was a quick and cozy read while still being able to provide plenty of character depth and growth for Denver and Sheena the leading characters. Their connection was probably my favorite part of the story you couldn't deny their tension and chemistry.

I've read most of this author's books and can't wait to read more in the future. I'd definitely add this one to your Holiday TBR!

Thank you Maisey Yates , Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

First of all… that cover. Absolutely stunning. Cowboys and Christmas? Two of my absolute favorite things, so before I even opened Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside, it was already a 10 stars situation for me.
The story is just as cozy and romantic as the cover promises. Sheena is a strong, resilient heroine finally ready to put herself first, and Denver is the broody, protective cowboy with a past that ties him to her in a complicated way. Watching them work together to get her axe-throwing bar ready for Christmas, while the snow falls and the chemistry simmers, was pure small-town romance perfection. Maisey Yates delivers all the warmth, longing, and festive charm I was hoping for.
If you love holiday romances with heart, a rugged cowboy hero, and a heroine who can hold her own, this one’s a winner.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for the chance to read this book in advance.

I have loved Maisey Yates work in the past, unfortunately this just seemed like a miss to me. Which is such a bummer because cowboys & Christmas had my attention to say the least. It struggled with pacing throughout most of the book. And was very repetitive. I did not find myself connecting with Sheena and Denver. Going into this I expected a good Christmas feeling, especially with the cover being so Christmas themed. It lacked the Christmas charm and feeling I was hoping for. The cover is adorable but I wanted more Christmas!! I did enjoy the character development and the fact that real life struggles were talked about. If you like small towns and slow burns this will be right up your alley. Unfortunately for me it fell short, I was over it by the end of the story and just wanted it to be over. It felt like a very rushed ending for a book that was slow paced throughout. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'm sorry but I just could not get into this book. I made it halfway, and I had to give up. The story line was just too slow for me, there was like mild chemistry between the two. It just was not holding my interest at all, and I love a cowboy story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

x Business Partners
x Bartender x Cowboy
x 3rd person POV
x Close Proximity

Sheena Patrick is the forgotten older sister, after 12 years of raising her sisters, it’s her turn to do something just for her. After her father was killed in an altercation gone wrong, at just 18, she put her life on hold to make sure her sisters had a great life. It’s time to cash in a favor from a long-time acquaintance, Denver King.
Denver King, the man whose father is responsible for her fathers death, has owed her a favor for a long time. The financial compensation he kept giving her was great, but it’s time for something more. She wants to open a new business, and the financial backing isn’t going to find itself. He’s the only one in town who remotely understands her situation and the things she gave up to raise her sisters.
Her idea for an axe throwing bar is going to be the perfect addition to the Four Corner’s Ranch. Denver is willing to financially back her, though he has no idea how much being in close proximity to her is going to drive him crazy.
Check out Cowboy It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates coming 10/28/2025
#netgalley #maiseyyates

Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates is a warm, slow-burn holiday romance brimming with heart and second chances. Sheena Patrick has carried the weight of her family’s past for years, but now that her sisters have grown, she’s ready to focus on her own dreams if only she can call in the favor Denver King owes her. Denver, who’s quietly protected Sheena from the shadows of their fathers’ tangled histories, steps up to help her open an axe-throwing bar in time for Christmas. As winter settles over Pyrite Falls, their shared past and undeniable chemistry spark a connection neither expected, proving that sometimes the people you least expect can become exactly what you need. Yates crafts a tender, hopeful story about healing, trust, and finding your place in the world, together.

I read this without having read any if the other books in the series, and it made no difference, since they’re all stand-alones. I had no difficulty understanding the plot or getting familiar with the town, although there were a lot of names to keep track of! I loved the way Denver and Sheena were what the other needed to grow and heal their childhood wounds, too. At one point, Sheena is talking to another character about how they’re so different from their partners, but the other person responds that underneath it all they’re the same. Just two lonely souls. That part really resonated with me.

I think overall this was more heavily character based than plot based—which is not a bad thing, just an observation. I had a great time reading it, and would definitely recommend! I now have to add the other books in this series to my TBR!

Was really looking forward to this book but unfortunately it wasn’t for me!

I couldn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters, and so the story just fell so flat for me.

Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside is a well-written holiday romance with relatable characters and a charming small-town setting. The main characters have genuine chemistry, and their relationship unfolds naturally. The holiday atmosphere adds a nice cozy touch without feeling overdone. It’s an enjoyable and easy read. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes low-key romances with a seasonal vibe.

Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an advanced copy!

Cowboy It’s Cold Outside 🎄❄️
Maisy Yates
RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Expected publishing date: 10/28/2025

When a bad girl meets a badder boy, Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen. Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father's death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they're grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King. Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father's illegal activities caused the death of her father. So when she rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, he can't say no. He'll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

This is such a sweet, small town romance! The beginning is a little slow, and it is a slow burn romance, but it is perfect. I absolutely loved it! If you are looking for a Christmas cowboy romance, add this to your TBR!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and author Maisey Yates for this sweet E-ARC!

This was very steamy and fun!!! Perfect cozy snow day read. It’s hot, great banter, wonderful plot! I really enjoyed the main characters and their relationship.