Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy

Non-fans of romance novels always complain that the genre has a Pollyanna syndrome. In some ways they are right; but on the other hand, they are way off the mark. A happy ending is always a given in romance novel, but it is how we get there that counts a lot.

Case in point, “Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy” by Megan Crane is not about the sunny side of being in love. It begins with the end of a marriage. Though it is not a dark romance, the hero is not your Prince Charming either. Dare Cooper is more like Heathcliff with his moods and his unhappy past.

His soon to be ex-wife Christina Grey Cooper is not your standard Pollyanna either. She gave up on Dare, choosing to go home to her family.

With all the emotional baggage between them, Dare and Christina have to dig themselves out of the hole first before they can even work on getting their happily ever after.

A nice story about getting a second chance to make a marriage work. When Christina has had it with her closed off husband, she heads home to her family's home for Christmas. Her husband, Dare, knows he has been a jerk and should let her go but he listens to his heart and follows her. Dare comes from an extremely dysfunctional family and thinks Christina could do better than him so he behaves badly to push her away. Normally I hate this plot type but Dare is so conflicted, you can't help but root for him to get his head out of his butt.

The magic of Christmas does its job in this book. I see that it is part of a series which I will have to read because I enjoyed this book.

This book was not what I was expecting. From the blurb and cover I thought it was going to be fluffier, lighter, funnier. I'm glad that I was wrong because it was so much more than the typical romance. It wasn't just a second chance book either. I am not even sure that I would call it a romance, maybe more of women's literature? Whatever you want to call it, Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy was a wonderful read. The pain of both characters was incredibly real. I could feel Christina's pain, when you finally realize a relationship is over. And the lessons and advice on what love and marriage are we're wonderfully thought out and presented. I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone, not just romance readers.

4..5 Stars

COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, COWBOY by Megan Crane is the 5th book in the Montana Born Christmas series. I have really been enjoying these return trips to Marietta, Montana. Each time I get to learn more and more about this wonderful place – the home of hot cowboys and the women who love them.

Christina Grey Cooper has finally accepted that her marriage to her college sweetheart Dare is over. She packs up her things, leaves a note, and heads back home for Marietta, Montana to spend Christmas with her family.

Dare isn’t about to let the love of his life go and he’ll do whatever it takes to win Christina back—even if that means suffering through Christmas with his in-laws. Dare has never really believed in the “magic” of Christmas, but Christmas is magical in Marietta, Montana. If Dare has any hope of convincing Christina to give him one more chance, it’s going to be here…

This is not a light and merry Christmas story. It is emotionally charged and brings forth strong and sometimes gut-wrenching feelings. Dare had a dark childhood and had never known happiness until the met the light of his life in college – Christina. Due to his emotional baggage, Dare has pretty much sucked the life out of his marriage and Christina has finally given up hope. This novella is about healing their relationship, and Dare healing himself. It is also about forgiveness and the power of love. It is heart wrenching. You can feel their pain. The story grabbed me immediately, and didn’t let go until the last page. Maybe there really is magic at Christmas time in Marietta, Montana. Go there with Christina and Dare and find out. You won’t regret it.

*An advance reading copy was generously provided by Tule Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the type of romance story that involved a failing marriage, an unresolved conflict, a lack of communication, and a second chance love.

Christina loved Dare and Dare, despite his emotional hang ups, loved Christina. Neither wanted to let the other go and yet they were certainly headed that way. When a sudden dose of reality hit them both straight in the face, they both realized that what they had was worth fighting for.

This was such an interesting story. I loved the layers that the author uncovered in the lives of her two main characters. I also loved how both protagonists faced their fears. It showed a strength of character.

Rating: 3/5 Recommend: Yes Conflict/Drama: Yes Chemistry/Intensity: Yes HEA: Yes

A complimentary e-copy of this title was made available for review in exchange for an honest critique.

10961952 Pamela's review Nov 20, 14 · edit 4 of 5 stars Read in November, 2014

Come Home For Christmas, Cowboy is a well written and professionally edited romance novella.

Christina has been living in a place she doesn't like, doing a job she dislikes, and being a person that is fake, all to please her husband, Dare. Dare, however, has ignored her for over a year and she is convinced that he is having an affair. So, she packs up her car and leaves him right at Christmas time, but to her surprise he follows her.

This is a sweet, short, feel good read; just perfect for a cold weekend day. There is a satisfying HEA ending.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Christmas is the perfect time for second chances. So a second chance at love story seemed like a perfect fit for a Christmas story. And it was.

This story starts out with Christina's massive disappointing birthday. Her 30th, just three short days before Christmas. The birthday her husband forgot about. The birthday that opened her eyes to how bad things had become and how tired she was of trying to pretend that she could fix them all by herself. The birthday she decides to finally leave the husband she strongly suspects is cheating on her. So she heads home to Montana and her family for Christmas.

Dare, as it turns out, hasn't forgotten anything. He was deliberately trying to push his wife away. He feels that he isn't good enough for her and that she deserves someone better. Until she actually leaves. Suddenly getting what he thought he wanted has changed his mind. Now he has to try and decide if he can win her back before she cuts him loose for good.

What I really liked about this story is that eventually both characters took ownership of their part in the break down of their marriage. This shows exactly how a break down in communication can destroy a relationship. I liked that her family had some real everyday issues, but that love of each other kept them coming back, year after year together for Christmas.

I requested this book from Netgalley after reading another Montana Born Christmas book and quite enjoying it. The books in the series don't seem to be connected by anything more than Christmas and Montana, so each one can be read out of order or standalone. This was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3 stars.

I loved this incredibly beautiful story! Christina returns to Marietta, her marriage in shambles, she just needs to be home. When her husband Dare follows her she is shocked. He's that one that has been withdrawn and cold for more than a year but he wasn't willing to let her go. As the season goes on, the dark truths and concerns Dare holds come out but to save his marriage he will have to learn to deal with them and let them go. I highly recommend this one! It's a great read.

4.5 Stars! Oh, my heart. It would so easy to hate Dare in this book, especially at the beginning when he’s working so hard to push Christina away, then is incapable of letting her go. He’s so seriously messed up, though, and he loves Christina so deeply that I somehow still sympathised with him, despite how badly he treats her. Christina is the complete opposite of Dare – sunny where he’s dark, loving where he’s reserved, open where he’s secretive. They balance each other out so well, or at least they used to.

I love how steadily this story takes their relationship. Considering that this is only a novella, it never felt rushed and there are no quick fixes. It’s a measured tale of a broken relationship and rediscovering not just the love that they shared, but the will to fight to keep everything they’ve created. Dare has some serious and deep issues, and he’s torn between wanting to give Christina everything she wants (him, mostly) and protecting her (from him, mostly). Christina also has a few of her own truths to face and her own blame to share for the breakdown in their relationship.

Taking a long look at dysfunctional families and the bonds that tie people together – particularly at Christmas – this is not a feel-good romance with a warm story and a happy ending. Instead it’s a tale of love and heartbreak and troubled relationships, and the fight to keep things working. It might make your heart hurt in places, but it’ll heal it again by the end.

This story was so much more than I expected.
What powerful, deep, raw emotions Christina and Dare have to go through, while fighting for their marriage to survive, fighting for their life.
When all the smoke and mirrors comes down, and they are faced with the honest reality, and they have to admit, they both are at fault to arrive at this place in their life, it is compelling.
When Dare is fighting with the demons of his childhood, it is poignant and moving. How much they love and adore each other is so touching. The love, devotion, and support from Christina's family is sweet. The whole story is full of sensitive, rough emotions. With a powerful message of how love can truly heal the old wounds.

This book just took hold of my heart and did not let go. I felt every pain in Christina's heart and the anguish Dare has suffered though out his life!. The author kept me glued to the pages, I wasn't sure how this would end if there was any hope for this couple. This book has everything! A book full of heartache and an HEA!

Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy by: Megan Crane Dare and Christina are the great love of each others lives-BUT they have stopped communicating and nurturing their relationship. For that reason the routine becomes to much to bare. Christina decides to leave because she is unhappy. That is where the story begins. Dare realizes almost too late he does not want to lose his wife. Beautiful story of what can happen if you take something or someone for granted. Have read Megan Crane before, would do so again.

This is a story about love and forgiveness. Dare comes from a damaged home and as a result is pushing his wife Christina away. They were college sweethearts. Christina has finally had enough and heads home for Christmas. Dare follows her home because he truly doesn't want to lose her. They pretend to be happily married while staying with Christina's parents for Christmas. Will Christina forgive him and can Dare overcome his damaged past?

Christina and Dare are two interesting characters.. Dare knows he is not the man Christian thinks he is and to save her he runs her off. Then he does something really crazy. He goes after her. The story evolves from there. Christian will not go back to what their marriage had become and Dare has to accept that he needs to change. A nice story of Christmas. Not to long and not too short. It is just right.

Come Home For Christmas Cowboy is not your average glittery happy Christmas tale though it does have a happy ending. Dare is deeply scarred thanks to an appalling childhood which has left him cynical about his ability to be the sort of husband Cristina needs. As for her, well she doesn't understand why Dare has been ignoring her. When she finally gives up on their marriage and leaves the last thing either of them expects is for Dare to follow her. The confrontation over what has gone wrong in their marriage and the healing journey makes for interesting reading. I couldn't put this book down until the last page. I loved it!

Christina and Dare have a seriously dysfunctional marriage. College sweethearts who have been together for 10 years, they no longer talk, barely interact, and generally have nothing left. It's Christmas when Christina finally decides to call it quits. After a year and a half of getting worse than nothing from Dare, no matter how much she loves him, it's time. Dare is grateful and horrified when he discovers Christina has left him. So, he goes after her.

Christmas in Marietta is as varied as the families who live there. There is very little interaction with other Marietta families in this book (I'm assuming because other authors are writing other families' stories and interaction would mess up time lines). Among the Grey family, one of the more overtly dysfunctional families in Marietta, Christmas is both magical and a struggle. Family rifts are papered over, Christmas is celebrated, people pop in and out.

Among the chaos, Dare is confronted by what family and love really mean. Because Dare's family is all about abuse and the traumas of that have never been dealt with.

This is a sweet second chances story that happens to occur at Christmas. It was lovely to see Christina and Dare work through their issues, struggle together, and ultimately win.

With Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy, Megan Crane reminds us that Christmas is a time for second chances and new beginnings. Christina Grey Cooper has finally given up on her marriage to her college sweetheart, Dare and packed up and gone to her family in Montana. To her shock, her husband immediately comes after her.

Dare Cooper is a very damaged and hurting man, the product of an abusive and alcoholic home and believes that his bad genetic makeup will bring his wife a lifetime of pain. He is willing to let her go rather than bring her pain, so he pushes her away. When she finally leaves him, he realizes that she is the light to his darkness and that he is nothing without her. He will do everything within his power to keep his wife from walking away for good.

When I picked up this book, I expected a fun, lighthearted read about Christmas, but I got an emotional and moving story that highlights the importance of communication in a relationship.

Book Description:

"This Christmas season, Christina Grey Cooper has finally accepted that her marriage to her college sweetheart Dare is over.

So she packs up her things, leaves a note, and heads back home for Marietta, Montana in the hope that a Christmas with her family will help piece her head—if not her heart—back together.

Dare isn’t about to let the love of his life go, and who cares if that’s what he thought he wanted? He’ll do what it takes to win Christina back—even if that means suffering through Christmas with his in-laws, pretending to still be happily married for the sake of family harmony, and trying not to get caught up in all that holiday nonsense he’s never believed in…

But Christmas is magical, especially in Montana.

And if Dare has any hope of convincing Christina to give him one more chance, it’s going to be here…"

Title: Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy By: Megan Crane Publisher: Montana Born Books, Tule Publisher Series: Montana Born Christmas Book 5 Reviewed By: Arlena Dean Rating: 4 Review:

Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy By: Megan Crane

What I like about this novel:

This story was one of second chances. We find that after a year and a half Christina packs up after her thirtieth birthday and ten years of marriage and heads back to her home to her parents in Mariette Montana to spend the Christmas holiday. Christina believes her ten year of marriage is over. But unknowing to her Dare(her husband) will follow her and try to win her back during this Christmas holiday. Will there be magic for this couple during this Christmas time? Will this happen for this couple who have had so many highs and lows in their dysfunctional marriage. It seems like these two are opposites of each other. I liked how this author brings this all out for the reader showing how Christina and Dare's POV through confrontations they had with each other. What was so good was seeing them in this healing process at the end. I will say this isn't just a romance with a happy ending but one of a healing with forgiveness and much love. Will this Christmas miracle happen for this couple? This is were I will say you will have to pick up the good read to see for yourself how well this author brings it all out. I would recommend this novel to you as a good read.

This was a quick Christmas read that warmed your heart. It made you realize that not everything is about yourself all the time and that sometimes you have to give people a second chance and see things from their perspective. I love the way that Dare did not let Christina go as easily as she at first thought he would. Dare may have sent confusing messages to Christina about what he wanted in their marriage, but in his mind he knew all along what he wanted and what Christina meant to him. He just had to find a way to express it despite his past. I love that Christina's family was one that celebrated a big Christmas and had the warm family atmosphere that you think of when you think about a family Christmas. This story ended with a HEA despite the beginning of the book taking you in the opposite direction. It was so nice to see a couple work out their difference and realize what they had in each other before it was too late. Thanks for a great Christmas read Megan Crane!!

I just love all the stories that take place in Marietta, Montana and this is no exception. Looking good on Facebook and having a distant marriage in real life is what many people can relate to. Finding the magic of Christmas & love that a real marriage is built on makes this a romance in every sense of the word.

An amazing story with a twist. A must read!

This is not your typical romance. We start out with a marriage coming to an end. Christina has given Dare chance after chance, but has finally come to the realization that it just isn't worth it anymore, and she leaves.

Much to my surprise and delight, Dare goes after his wife. Even after he reunites with her at her parent's home during the holidays, he still has to find his way back to her. - but is that what he wants???

Christina is a truly believable character, not wanting to give up on her marriage - but enough is enough already. I had my ups and downs with Dare - one minute I was rooting for him, the next, I just wanted him to more on. The author gave us a romantic tale that kept us wanting to come back to it. It was not your typical predictable romance.

This was not what I had expected from a Christmas romance, but it was a great story about a couple finding their way back to each other.

In Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy we meet college sweethearts, Dare and Christina, who are facing the end of the 10-year marriage.

Dare didn’t have a wonderful childhood and carries deep scares because of it. By doing so, he pushed Christina away because he doesn’t feel that he is worthy of her love and happiness.

Christina is tired of being pushed away by her husband, so she packs up and goes home to visit her parents in Montana for Christmas.

Dare doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas but is willing to do whatever is necessary to win Christina back. Will he learn what true happiness is? Will the magic of Christmas help him win his wife back?

**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review**

This is the story of love gone wrong. Despite meeting, falling in lust, falling in love and getting married, Christina and Dare barely see each other now, let alone talk! She's convinced he's having an affair and, after supposedly going out to celebrate her thirtieth birthday together - and still not talking - his disappearance before she wakes up the next day is the final straw. She's had enough. She packs up and goes back to her parents' home, leaving him a note, not expecting to hear from him for ages as he'll be too busy carrying out his research . . . . Boy is she wrong!

To her amazement, he follows. It's almost Christmas. Can the season work its magic? Will they rekindle their love or end their marriage? Can love find a way to heal traumatic wounds from the past?

Initially I was wary this would be erotica and I'm very pleased to say it is more about second chance love. With strong characters, well written and twists and turns showing life can sometimes seem more to prove that truth can be stranger than fiction. The past influences us all and how people cope with dramatic events in their lives can have severe impacts on relationships at the time and in the future. This story shows that, with love and understanding on both sides, relationships can become even stronger when lines of communication are fully utilised by all concerned and love is kept at the heart of everything. I really enjoyed this book!

Thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley, too for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

Read in January, 2015

3.5/5 stars. This holiday romance has:
❄Focus on a Winter Holiday
❄Friend/Family Reunion
❄Second Chances
❄Need a Holiday Date/Spouse

Provided by publisher.

I don't know what to feel after reading this novel. Sure, it's a lovely Christmas story, but what really struck me was how realistic & painful it is to read about someone struggling to put up with the present because of a miserable past. I had a heavy heart reading Dare Cooper's history & how he thought he could never be a man worth fighting for. How he thought he could never be the husband that Christina deserved. How he repeatedly told himself that he inherited the "virus" or the abominable gene that his family have had, resulting to his ghosts of the past.

Christina, on the other hand, finally stopped being a martyr and stood up her ground. She no longer wanted to be treated like nothing, or like an invisible air. She finally left Dare in Denver, in the hopes to find the future she had always wanted. She finally went home to find solace in the arms of her Montana family.

But these two people had to endure each other for the sake of Christmas and family. Oh gosh, it was not the kind of holiday I wanted to experience in my family. I could feel the pain reeling on Dare's mind, and the pretense that Christina had to put up.

However, I have to commend Author Megan Crane for a warm, heartfelt story that's fit not just for Christmas but for the whole year round. There are certainly some lessons one can learn about families, forgiveness, love and hope. I might have shed a tear or two in this story, but those tears are worth it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I landed up loving it. It's very introspective and incredibly thought provoking. We get to see both sides of a marriage on the brink of failure: where they went wrong, if and how they can fix it, but mostly how our pasts really form us and our self-image and what that means within a relationship. At moments painful to read and in others you celebrate in their joy. The christmas spirit really shines through and we're left with what it means to be family, experience christmas, and cherish our loved ones.

Christina and Dare have been married for 10 years. College sweethearts, Christina moved from Montana to Denver with Dare, as he completed his graduate work. Unfortunately, things have not gone well, and no matter how hard she tries to make everything perfect, on her birthday, right before Christmas, she realizes it is over. So she packs her car and heads home to Marietta.
Dare loved Christina from the start, but given his background, he has never felt good enough and worries that each day will be the day he turns into his father. So he has done the only thing he can think of for Christina: he has pushed her away and let her believe he doesn't care. When he arrives home and realizes he finally succeeded, he can't let go and follows her to Marrietta.
In the process of "pretending" to be happy for one more family Christmas, these two get back on the path to each other. The biggest question is whether Dare can get beyond his past and realize he is not his father and history does not have to repeat itself.
This was an unexpected holiday story. Dare's past is horrible, and he has a hard time moving past it. These two still love each other they just need to remember that and work toward the future together.
This was a quick read, not as lighthearted as other holiday reads, but full of characters you know and love, as well as second chances and redemption.

Reading Progress 01/02 marked as: to-read
01/11 marked as: currently-reading
03/03 marked as: read

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This is not the kind of story I was expecting for a Christmas story. However, if there is ever a time for second chances, it is at Christmas time. This story is highly emotional; the reader can practically feel the emotions of the characters radiating off the pages.

Christina and Dare were college sweethearts and have been married for a long time. The last few years, they had drifted apart and Christina finally accepts that her marriage is over. Even though she still is deeply in love with Dare, she can’t keep allowing him to push her away and ignoring her, sometimes not even coming home at night. She decides right before Christmas that she is done, so she packs up her bags and drives to Montana, where her family lives. Dare does not want her to leave, he still loves her but he can’t trust himself. He rather push her away than hurt her. His whole life his has been surrounded with an abusive family, even though he got out, he is scared that it is in his blood to do the same. Not knowing what he is doing, besides that he wants Christina in his life, he drives after her to Montana. Can they work it out? Or is it too late? Can Dare get over his fears and trust in himself? And can Christina trust that he is going to change?

I thought this was a refreshing stance on second chances. Most second chance stories seem so easy to fall back into each other’s arms. However, that is not the case in this story. You can feel the emotion and the challenge that they both have to go through to trust in their love of one another. Is love enough? I would definitely recommend this story to others.

This book will grab you right from the beginning and not let you go. You will keep turning the pages until the end wanting more. Christina and Dare have been married for ten years, but Christina realizes that it is over and returns home to spend the holidays with her family. Dare follows her there because he doesn't want to let her go. Will they be able to reconcile and learn to forgive? This has a powerful meaning of learning to forgive, love and healing from the pain. I definitely recommend this to everyone.

I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic book by Megan Crane. It showed what true love should look like and i can't wait to read more by her.

I have to say I expected more from this book considering Megan Cranes others were great. I mean I felt for Christinas yet Dare seemed like he was short changed in this book. There was a lot more of him that just wasn`t explained in this book which would have been better for me. I loved that it seemed more like it was Christina`s point of view than as a couple. Have to say I did love the whole family was there just didn`t feel enough storyline with Dare. Hopefully the next one by Megan Crane would be better.