At thirty eight, the single parent of a fifteen year old girl, and more than half-estranged from his brothers, all Gray Everett wants is peace--and to never become the bitter and violent man his father was. Then, on the same early November day the three Everett men finally bury their abusive drunkard of a father, Gray sees Abby Douglas for the first time as something more than a neighbor: she could be a dependable wife and a good stepmother to Becca.

At thirty, Abby Douglas is indeed dependable, sensible and single. She has also been in love with Gray for most of her life.

Not that that makes it any easier when the man shows up at her grandmother's house out of the blue one afternoon a few days after the funeral to propose marriage to her.

Beware: alcoholism; domestic violence; abusive father; slut shaming; all mothers are either dead or gone, and if gone, they're all whores and/or gold diggers; body image issues; sex on page; abandonment issues; all-white cast.

Gray grew up in a dysfunctional home with a bitter and violent man who derived twisted pleasure in generally making everyone around him miserable. His mother left when Gray was still a young child, and despite the other women who came and went, it was him who tried to raise his brothers to become good men. When they both left the ranch as soon as they were old enough--Ty to ride broncos, Brady for college and a career in the city--Gray couldn't help but resent them.

Not much later, while in his early twenties, he married a beautiful, flighty young woman, and brought her back to the ranch, to Amos's house, and his poisonous influence. Cristina died in a crash a few years later, leaving Gray with a five year old daughter to raise, and the bitter knowledge that everyone in the valley thought his behavior had driven her to cheat on him.

Not surprisingly, Gray has spent most of his life angry, just as his father before him.

"Gray wasn't given to dramatics, but he could see his future as well as anyone if he didn't change. He didn't have to like it or the way it was mapped out right there in from of him to accept it. Today's grumpy hermit is tomorrow's bitter, old man, he told himself." (Chapter 1)

Since Gray doesn't want to relive Amos's life, and he really doesn't want his own daughter to finish growing up without experiencing normal family life, he doesn't spend a lot of time questioning his impulse to propose to Abby. As far as he's concerned, he knows everything he needs to know about her: despite her own family drama, she is reliable, competent, stable, and as rooted in the valley as he is. Abby will not want more from him than what he can give--not materially and not emotionally.

And that is how the utter jackass proposes to her, listing what he perceives to be her selling points the way one would a second hand car for sale ("reliable, dependable, sturdy, loyal, pillar of the community, salt of the earth").

When she balks, calling him on the absurdity of proposing marriage to someone he barely knows, and going so far as to suggest what he needs is some grief counseling, since his father just died and proposing to someone he barely knows is obviously neither normal nor healthy, Gray finally starts to realize there's more to good old Abby Douglas than her sense.

"You want a wife. Any wife at all. It's a role you need filled. It isn't personal. Is that what you're telling me? ... You have to have more in common than an address on the same dirt road." (Abby to Gray, chapter 3)

Abby spends the next couple of chapters struggling with how to answer Gray's proposal. On the one hand, the only man she's ever loved. On the other, they don't actually know each other beyond the most superficial facts: he's hardworking, she's dependable.

"Do you want to marry him?" Hope asked. "What kind of marriage can you have with someone who doesn't know you from a can of paint?" "That's not what I asked you." "There's a difference between fantasy and reality. ... People want thing sin fantasy that they would never want in real life." "That's an interesting theory. But still not what I asked you." (Hope and Abby, chapter 6)

Eventually, Abby gives in and accepts Gray's proposal, and part of it is because Abby has huge self-esteem issues. This, a marriage of convenience to a man whose eyes have always before passed over her like they would over furniture or wallpaper, is the best she believes she can hope for.

"If he was going to go ahead and marry just anyone, why shouldn't she be that anyone?" (Abby, chapter 6)

It doesn't matter that her grandparents gave her a loving home, or that her two best friends have always seen Abby for who she is--pretty, smart, loving, generous--her own mother's abandonment and cruelty have taken a toll on her; being the fatherless daughter of the town's gold-digging tramp, who shows up then leaves again at her whim, has never been easy.

So after they marry, Abby spends a lot of time making herself small, trying to take up as little space in "his" house as possible, to adapt to his routine, to meet his needs and be what he needs.

It helps that the sex between them is really good (and it is well written; there's a lot of chemistry well before the first sex scene around the mid point of the book), and that Gray doesn't demand that Abby upend her life entirely the moment they sign on the dotted line, but still, it isn't easy because they don't really know each other.

And things finally come to a head when the whole "decorating for Christmas" thing comes up shortly after their wedding, and Gray (quietly) blows a gasket and lays down the law: he doesn't do Christmas, he hasn't "done" Christmas for years, and he is not going to start now; even Thanksgiving is already a stretch for the Everetts.

"Thanks to Amos usual behavior, Gray was fairly certain he and his brothers suffered from a kind of holiday-onset PTSD that started in late November and held on until well into the new year. ... If Gray had any regrets, it was the fact he's subjected his daughter to Amos in the first place--but he hadn't known how to avoid that." (Chapter 9)

I liked how Abby dealt with this; she is not prone to theatrical displays, but she has a spine and will not let Gray dictate her life. She also realizes that Becca has a lot of unaddressed trauma of her own, between the loss of her mother and sharing a house with Amos for all of her childhood, and tries to help her as much as she can.

For his part, Gray is forced to face his emotions after years of repressing and avoiding even thinking about them. Throughout the book, the issues with his brothers keep coming up until they too are forced to come to terms with each other in a way that felt fairly organic.

I was less convinced that the problems between the two leads would be resolved in a matter of weeks, and the grand gesture at the end didn't feel natural.

My main quibbles with the story, in no particular order:

-Too many mothers abandoning their children (Gray's, Abby's, Hope's, Becca's), and them all being demonized as promiscuous and/or incapable of love and abnegation.

-The repeated disparaging of city life and the elevation of rural life as inherently more worthy.

-Abby (and her grandmother) musing about all the couples in the past who essentially married strangers, and how it must have worked out well, since they produced children who in turn married and produced children. It's all about, "you decide to marry and you remain married", without even a fleeting thought to centuries of women having no choices, regardless of how abusive those strangers may have turned out to be.

-The entire book covers about seven weeks, with Gray going from never having noticed Abby to a declaration of undying love in that time.

On the plus side, the worldbuilding was good; there was a sense of place beyond "anonymous small town U.S.A.", and while Gray has spent most of his life isolated and self-contained, Abby has made a place for herself in the community. Her two best friends aren't as fleshed out as her grandmother, or even Becca, but their closeness comes across very clearly.

The underlying weightier issues are treated seriously, from Abby's body images to Becca's insecurities to Gray's and his brothers' unresolved anger, they are addressed in a way that indicates the characters will continue working on them, rather than a magical resolution by book's end.

I particularly appreciated that in the book Christmas is essentially a secular holiday; beyond a passing sentence about Abby taking her grandmother to mass on Christmas Eve, religion is never brought up. For her, it's about closeness with the people she loves and with the community around her; exchanging small gifts or baked goods as a symbol of the ties between them. No miracles or treacly preaching anywhere; very refreshing.

To my recollection, this is the first book by the author that I've read, and while I have some issues with it, I was engrossed enough to read it in one sitting, and now I'm intrigued to finish the Cold River Ranch trilogy. The writing is fluid, and conveys both setting and the internal life of the characters well for the most part, although the first couple of chapters suffer from excessive repetition as Gray ponders his father's legacy of vitriol and violence, and Abby both her love for him, and her incredulity at his offer.

A True Cowboy Christmas gets an 8.25 out of 10.

A True Cowboy Christmas is a good fit for readers who enjoy stories about personal growth, learning to love, and unconventional relationships that lead to strong family bonds.

This story brought me to tears. The sadness that each family member carries from years of being mentally abused by their parents actually gives everyone a common ground to stand on.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

This is my first book by Caitlin Crews and probably will not be my last. This was a great book to get you in a cozy holiday mood. It is a hard read for anyone going through their own relationship drama so I wouldn’t recommend it if you are. Grey is kinda an ass, though one you want to root for to open up and be kinder again. Abby is an amazing, strong woman to go through everything she deals with.

The perfect combination: Cowboys and Christmas. And romance. I loved this book and read through it in one sitting. I will definitely read more from this author.

A True Cowboy Christmas is the first book in the Cold River Ranch series. It's a sweet marriage of convenience story that will warm your heart. This is Gray and Abby's story. Throughout the story, I kept thinking, "You poor clueless man" about Gray. You can't help but love his clueless heart though. It's clear his intentions are pure, if misguided. I was rooting for Abby to help him see that he could love her and have a happy and real marriage, not just a practical one. Both Abby and Gray had the most horrible parents on planet earth, it's no wonder they had issues. I definitely recommend this one.

This is my first read by Ms. Crews and it won't be my last. I went straight from this one to book 2 in the series and then the review copy of book 3. I truly enjoyed the whole series and reading all of them together worked well for me. The Everett boys are chock full of emotional baggage and it took every bit of all 3 books to unload it all.

A tough and brooding and grumpy cowboy and the practical and younger neighbor who has been in love with him forever. Add in a teenage girl who just wants everything to be perfect and what do you get? A pretty uncomplicated book but a good one. I thought Gray was going to choke on his grumpiness at times but once he figures out he doesn't want to turn into his dead father he redeems himself. The ending was perfect. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This is the first book of the series. Gray Everett is the older brother of the three boys. He is also a father to a fifteen year old girl. His first wife died on her way to meet her lover many years ago. He is the only son to stay on the ranch and work it. His father is vitriol and wants to only make people miserable. Upon the death of the Everett patriarch, a sigh of relief could be heard around the valley. Gray decides that he doesn't want to end up like his father. He needs a wife to help guide his daughter. He chooses his nearest neighbor, Abby Douglas, as she is a good woman, a salt of the community. Abby is thirty and has loved Gray since she was a young girl. Even though it is a dream come true for Gray to propose marriage, it is his reasons that throw her for a loop.

The road to a HEA for these two is really a long tough, rocky one. Gray is a very complex character to understand. Having the book written in a dual POV really helped to understand a little bit of Gray's battle. Getting a glimpse into his thoughts was a conflicted one. First I really felt for him, then I despised him a little. But the things that have shaped him are dark. He has a hard battle to overcome. Abby is the perfect warm, loving female protagonist. She has a heart of gold but the back-bone of steel.

This is a sexy read. There are a few bedroom scenes but they take place after the marriage and are not highly descriptive in nature. I would recommend this only to some one over the age of 18 and the person really needs to be open to Gray not being the perfect male protagonist. In my opinion, that made him oh so much more human.

A TRUE COWBOY CHRISTMAS - Caitlin Crews

#1 in the Cold River Ranch romance series

GREAT CHARACTERS! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - After the death of his ornery father, Gray realizes he's missing something and decides he needs a wife. He seemingly almost randomly chooses Abby, much to her confusion since she has always had a crush on him. The story follows their marriage and the romance that develops as they grow to know each other.

Writing - 4.5 stars - I was caught up in the story right from the first page. I thought the plot was interesting, showed a different side of the romance, meaning the aftermath and subsequent growth together rather than the initial meeting and explosion of feelings. The characters were built well, with nicely aligned back stories that explained why they had such an affinity.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story really shone for me. Gray is a true rancher, loving the isolation, working hard, and keeping his family's legacy alive. He's grown up in a dysfunctional home with his miserable father and unhappy brothers, so he's developed a hard shell. Abby is the "salt of the earth" who has lived with her grandmother when her mother turned out to be flighty and unable to be counted on. She's also built walls to protect herself. Gray and Abby soon discover that they have chemistry and might actually be able to make their marriage work. They are both strong, independent, and hard-working people with strong ethics. I loved their strength, and it was great to see them learn to share. Secondary characters of Ty and Brady (Gray's brothers) and Rae and Hope (Abby's friends) were great and added even more dimension to an already-enjoyable story.

Title - 4 stars - Nothing ambiguous about this title. It says what it's focusing on (a cowboy hero) and gives us the time of year (Christmas).

Cover - 4.5 stars - Nothing wrong with looking at a gorgeous cowboy. The fact that he's not naked to the waist makes sense since it's supposed to be a holiday story, so I'm glad that was done right.

Overall - 5 stars - This story really hit the spot for me. I loved the characters--their strength, their independence, and the fact that they were both struggling to find their sense of self after being verbally abused for so many years. Their practicality appealed to me, and I liked that they were willing to talk about their problems and share their feelings, even if they didn't really want to. This book was a little different since the wedding was early, so it focused more on the marriage and how they were trying to make it work, despite their different thoughts about how it would play out. This emphasized how hard it is to make a lasting commitment and grow and compromise, but that it's worth it in the end. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to continuing with this series.

I actually liked this book. There is a "fake" marriage, abuse, fighting, low self-esteem, and yet it all comes together. I would read another book by this author.

Copy kindly received via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Not really feeling this one, so putting it down. Seems to be dragging already and without much feeling from me towards the characters.

***I received an ebook copy from the author at no charge***

From the get go, Crews sets this pair up for chaos in the most entertaining of ways.

Gray has a daughter he's raising and family land that he's taking care of. After his father passes, his brothers are determined to sell the family land and move on, but not if Gray has anything to say about it. In a desperate attempt to keep things going, he proposes to his neighbor Abby, with the understanding that it's just a marriage of convenience and not the real deal.

Sounds like a great idea? More like a recipe for disaster!

These characters are both flawed and it's beautiful. Abby has all sorts of internal issues that come from crap she endured in her childhood. Gray had an awful marriage before, which left him emotionally scarred. It was wonderful to see these two come together because they heal each other in a way, and I thought that was a beautiful part of the story.

This story has all kinds of romance along with angsty moments and some scenes that will make you giggle. The characters are complex and the secondary ones play just as important of a role in the book as the main ones do.

If you like cowboys and moments that tug at your heartstrings, A True Cowboy Christmas is the book for you!

Four stars to this novel!

This was just delightfully deep and a pleasure to read. Modern-day marriages of convenience are so much fun--and I thought this handled the "I've loved you for years" trope so well, without turning the heroine into a doormat, which is always a risk. A really nice, thoughtful book.

A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is a holiday story but could be read at any time of the year and the reader would not feel they should wait for the holidays. I loved this book, I was hooked from the very beginning. Abby and Gray's love story was a long time coming and so worth the wait. I felt the family situations were realistic and handled quite well. I also liked how Becca's story was presented, I feel her reactions and realizations were handled perfectly in the story. Since this is the first in a series, I am really hoping there will be books for Gray's brothers, Ty and Brady.

This is the second book that I've read that was supposed to be a Christmas story, that was way off base. This story is pretty depressing and hard to get into. I wanted so bad to like Gray, but he never redeems himself in my eyes. He kept thinking that he didn't want to be like his dad, but he was exactly that. He was rude and mean to everyone except his daughter. Abby was a sweet and forgiving woman, and I felt bad for her that she kept putting up with the way Gray treated her. It's like the last 10-20 pages when Gray suddenly realizes what a jerk he's been, and decides he needs to change and let the past go. That was too little too late for me.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

This was an interesting story, one that was hard to put down; however, I wouldn't have put up with as much as the heroine, Abby, did especially from her new husband. However, she had the patience of the proverbial saint. The characters were compelling and the ending hea. It does have some bedroom scenes so if you don't prefer risque; but they were tastefully done and not vulgar. I do think it worth getting the rest of the series; however, this one could stand alone.

A contemporary romance that left my romantic heart completely satisfied. So freaking good, it’s unputdownable and I would absolutely recommend to all book lovers out there.

A marriage of modern day convenience, a man devoted to his family ranch and a woman who is salt of the earth good who agrees to the marriage because she has loved him for years. Set during the holiday season, you are rooting for things to work out for the good but until the very end you don't know how it is going to play out.