A True Cowboy Christmas (Cold River Ranch, #1)
by Caitlin Crews

Superb Superb Superb... buy buy buy buy buy buy buy buy

What a phenomenal read! ... Every layer, every page, every word. Captivated, engrossed and enthralled. I loved it. Heart touching warming read. One that I will not forget and definitely a keeper! IF you need a superb read that will touch your heart and ready you for the next dark moments.... buy this one.. and if you need a read that will bring romance, life, happiness and joy into your feelings for those moments.. definitely buy this one! I am totally awed at this one. It was definitely a unknown read for me that turned into being a superb read. A author that is so talented with this one that it just keeps me looking for more of their writing. I was given the ARC via NetGalley for this book.... ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I can only say....... buy buy buy buy buy and keep... Enjoy the journey. Regards, Anna

This story grabbed me right off and kept my interest right through!
Gray is more than your typical sullen rancher and Abby is so much more than a plain, country girl. It appears at first that the marriage is practical and simple but life is complicated and messes with this budding relationship in a way the reader is not expecting. Throw in a stepdaughter, two surly brothers, an absentee mother, and you get a big dose of major family drama.
The author catches all the little nuances that go with every day family life and deals with it in a slow, steady, and delicate manner.
I received an arc in exchange for my honest review.

A True Cowboy Christmas is the first book in Caitlin Crews’ new Cold Water Ranch series. I was attracted to this book because it has Christmas in its title. It was oh so much more than I ever expected!

The story tells of the coming together of rancher Gray Everette and his neighbor, Abby Douglas. Abby is the product of a very selfish mother and an unknown father. Raised by her dear grandparents and having known their love, Abby is more balanced but still internally aching from the vile her birth mother spews at her on those visits back to the old farmhouse.

Gray Everette is the eldest son of rancher Amos Everette, a wretched and miserable man who seems to thrive on spreading misery to all around him and taking great pleasure in pitting his three sons against one another. When Amos drops dead in the barn on Halloween, Gray’s world is turned upside down. As the only son who remained at the ranch and has taken over the complete operation, Gray feels attacked and defensive against his brothers. On the day of Amos’ funeral, in a split second gazing into Abby’s eyes at a distance, the future becomes clear for Gray. Widowed 10 years ago, single father to 15 year old Becca, and at great odds to brothers Ty and Brady, figuring out what’s next and what to do is weighing greatly on Gray’s shoulders. Forming a bond with his attractive neighbor becomes paramount in his thinking.

Breaking with the betrayal and heartache of his past, Gray makes a logical, practical proposal to Abby. They will marry and bring the ranch and family forward. It would be a marriage of convenience, but with all the marital benefits. What Gray doesn’t know, however, is that Abby has loved him from afar as long as she can remember, so it won’t be a mere contract for her.

The manner in which Ms. Crews’ has woven the interpersonal webs of three people deserted by their mothers in one way or another is nothing if not spectacular. The depth of feeling coupled with the awakening of emotion is so very well done. To call this story a holiday romance sells the story short in so many ways. It is a tale exploring the effects of having a deserting parent and/or an abusive one and how a person can survive, and perhaps thrive, in the face of such a calamity.

This intense tale speaks volumes and is one of the best which addresses such issues I have ever read. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it

This is not really a Christmas story. It’s not even what I would call a romance. It’s a dark sad book about two family’s that have had a very sad life. Abby and Grey decide to get married and you get to see the life and struggles they all go through.

You are going to love Abby Douglas. She has the patience of a saint, is a hard worker and has no self esteem. Gray Everett has decided to change things in his life. He needs a wife and a mother for Becca. Both come from families that are dysfunctional. You will laugh at Gray's brothers Ty and Brady. Grandma Douglas will give you words of wisdom. Everything blows up when Abby wants to celebrate Christmas and Gray says no. Her heart is broken. She loves everything about Christmas and wants her new family to enjoy it with her. Can years of dysfunction be overcome by a miracle? You will love the ending.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and had a little bit of everything a good story needs. Excellent for a Christmas read. Highly recommended.

Loved this book. I fell in love with the characters and the beautiful woven story. It's filled with humor and tenderness, so if you're looking for a Christmas story this book is for you.

I’m not gonna lie: This started slow for me, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to think at first. I thought it was maybe too dark for me, but, OH! KEEP GOING! Don’t stop with the first few pages because what the author does in this novel is really spectacular. She manages to capture the evolution of the relationship and how each characters’ choices build to a create a beautiful tapestry of emotions. These characters are so very real to me now, as if I know them.

Gray is unlike any character I have ever read about, which is what makes him so real to me. He loves the land and his life in a way that makes him relatable. Ally is like many women in that she doesn’t believe in her own beauty. But she is extraordinary in her choices and her proactive approach to life. She doesn’t give up in the face of overwhelming negativity. Her character is inspiring.

This was honestly one of my top reads of the year. I know that I will need to come back for a reread soon.

A True Cowboy Christmas isn’t one of your typical feel good Christmas reads. Its has a cast filled with emotionally scarred individuals which made for some pretty intense and emotionally jarring situations. Crews fills the pages with words that bring the character’s heart break vividly across to the reader, striking the emotional cord that makes written words jump off the pages and straight into your heart. Don’t get me wrong, the HEA we all love slowly arrives, but holy cow does Crews make us work for it.

I loved A True Cowboy Christmas! Its that simple. The cast is real, the emotion heart felt and the anticipation to see the secondary characters having their day is sitting heavily in my thoughts long after A True Cowboy Christmas concluded.

Now the to the best part, the unconditional love that is shown through every word, act and deed. It was something we all hope and pray that will find in our own lives. The struggle and journey to get there was something to behold and I thrilled I went along for the ride.

I received this ARC copy of A True Cowboy Christmas from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. A True Cowboy Christmas is set for publication October 30, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Caitlin Crews
Series: Cold River Ranch
Publication Date: Book 1
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
ISBN-10: 1250295238
ISBN-13: 978-1250295231
Genre: Western Romance

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This book could have been fun with its premise but unfortunately it was very dark. Far too much of this book is characters dwelling in the past on their rough childhoods. I was expecting the characters to slowly help each other grow into better people but instead it’s very sad and dark. The happy ending won’t materialize until the bitter end of this book. Do not read this expecting a fun lighthearted Christmas read. Christmas is barely mentioned and even then as a bone of contention. Abby is a sweet woman who I wanted better for than what she had for most of this story. Gray was a hard character who was a chore to read. The story bounces between their POV and Gray’s only brought the story down. This book will suck the joy out of your Christmas spirit so I’d strongly recommend you skip it. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read a lot of western/cowboy romance but I'm so glad I picked this book up. I've never read Caitlin before but I'd love to read other books in this series as they come out. Or at least I hope there will be books with some of the other characters!

Gray is such a good man but boy howdy, can he be frustrating. He's a bit cold, pretty clueless about women, and fighting to keep his heart from falling for anyone. Abby is a safe choice for him and you'll love her from the get go. She's practical in life but has been in love with Gray forever so she can't help the stars in her eyes when he proposes. Watching these two figure out how to love one another is very satisfying. My only slight disappointment is that I wish there had been a bigger climax, a little action the last part of the book. But I'm still pleased, regardless.

I was never bored with the story and there are some amazing secondary characters that add some fun and some angst. The writing was solid and I really like the author's level of detail. Enough where I felt like I was in the story but not so much that it became tedious.

Christmas plays a big role as the title suggests so I definitely recommend as a holiday read!

What happens when a dysfunctional family looses the patriarch that has been causing all of the dysfunction? It discovers that even though Dad, Grandpa, the Patriarch is dead the dysfunction lives on. Why is that? Because each of the sons has got their own dysfunction (baggage) to deal with.

Gray Everett, the oldest of the three brothers, has stayed on the ranch and worked it while his younger brothers have fled and got on with their own lives. One is a businessman living in Denver and the other is a Professional Bull Rider on the Rodeo circuit.

But with Dad's death issues rise up. Dad left the ranch to all three brothers, even though only one has been living there for the last 20 years and working it. So, Gray thinks he should have inherited it outright.

But now Brady wants to sell the Ranch, get rid of all the former ugliness and memories and makes some money, i.e. get his fair share. But Gray says "No." That starts some new issues.

But in all of this Gray wants a new start at life and he wants to find a wife who can also be a mother to his 15 year old daughter, whose mother died in a car crash. In steps the girl next door, Abbey. Well, she doesn't know she has stepped in. Gray sees her at the funeral and for the first time notices that she is all grown up and desirable.

So, what does he do? He goes next door (5 miles down the road) and proposes marriage to Abbey, just like that. No warning, no dating, no get to know you, just will you marry me? After the shock wears off she asks why? He explains that it is a transaction. Marriage will fill a need for both of them and fix some issues in his life.

So, a marriage of convenience is what he wants. But Abbey has loved him since she was 5 years old. She has fantasized about him. Is she going to get what she wants? How will it work?

The book is good for the lessons that it explores through the storyline. Those lessons are:
1. How do three brothers overcome an abusive father?
2. How does a girl overcome the lost of her mother?
3. How does another young woman overcome her abusive distant mother?
4. How can love be built between two people who seem a bit different but then again a bit alike?
5. Can love conquer all of the issues that each family member is facing?

I loved the book because it dealt with real family issues. It didn't gloss over the dysfunction. It didn't gloss over the brash behavior of a Cowboy going after what he wants without considering thoroughly the feelings and emotions of the woman he is going after.

The love story is good, but the life lessons are awesome.

For my Christian readers, please be aware that this is a Romance novel that delves into the sexual aspect of a new marriage. If you don't want the steam pages, just skip over them. They usually run about 5 to 7 pages. Skipping them will not detract from the story. BUT, they are not written in such a graphic way as to cause trouble for the reader. So, you decide.

I really enjoyed the novel and hope that Caitlin Crews writes two follow-up stories to tell us what happens with brothers Ty and Brady.

Enjoy.

No review will be published publicly for this book as I didn't finish it. I found it far too slow moving and the more I read the less I liked a majority of the main characters, which is a shame as this is the first book I have read by this author and I had high hopes for it.

Sadly, the blurb promised more that the portion of the book I read actually delivered.

There’s nothing better than a cowboy and his love of the land. But emotions are high and Gray creates a plan for his future...

Great writing and a sense of belonging held me captive to this book. The characters are flawed and their problems are real.

A fantastic read.

My first Caitlin Crews book. Not a light hearted Christmas story, and darker than my typical reads. And that's the only reason for less than 5 stars. Grey and Abby were both scarred from their pasts, but it takes some serious introspection on both their parts to get their minds in the married for the right reason mindset. I will keep an eye out for the brothers' stories, because I can see there will be some great books there.

Two souls who are damaged due to their parents come together in a marriage of convenience. Its a story of how they face their trials and tribulations and learn to celebrate Christmas

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

I was not sure about the reason that made me chose this book to read, but in the end I understood: it packed so much drama that I was so happy.....I really am a sucker for love stories with a lot of drama in it, and this was full: bad childhood, terrible parents, stepmother to an adolescent, practical marriage and so on, and in the end I enjoyed this reading :)

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

There is nothing better than a Christmas story and to me this is a classic cowboy story! Gray is burying his father (who was a mean old jerk). His (cheating) wife died in an accident and he has a 15 year old daughter. He decides she needs a stable woman in her life and he just wants some normalcy at home so he decides he's going to ask Abby to marry him. Abby has been in love with him since she was a little girl (he doesn't know this). Abby feels like the tall, plain ugly duckling (thanks to her evil mom). Can these 2 get past their pasts and the emotional baggage they have to find love? Caitlin has written such a great story. There is the hot chemistry for sure but it really has a story that pulls at your heart. A few times my heart felt like it was breaking. Caitlin gives me the HEA that I LOVE in the best way possible. I love when Abby wakes up on Christmas morning and the gifts they give each other on New Years! I cannot wait for more from Cold River Ranch. (I LOVE Abby's grandma!!!) I read an ARC for an honest, voluntary review!

This was an interesting romance. Gray Everett has just buried his father - the father who made life hell for himself, his daughter, and his brothers. He looks across the gravesite to see Abby Douglas and decides that he wants to marry her. She a down-to-earth farmer's daughter - much different than the first wife who betrayed him with many lovers and died on the way to see one of them.

Abby has had a crush on Gray since she was a small child. She's never looked at anyone else or given anyone else a chance to engage her heart. Of course, after years of verbal abuse by a mother who drifts in and out of her life at whim, Abby is convinced that no one could possibly be interested in her.

Gray's proposal comes out of the blue for Abby. He just drops by one day and suggests that they get married. Abby certainly has mixed feelings about accepting his proposal. She loves him but knows that he doesn't love her. She believes that she is just the most convenient woman for him to ask.

Abby takes a risk and accepts his proposal. Now they have to build their marriage and get to know each other.

Personally, I felt that all the main characters - Gray, Abby, Gray's daughter Becca, and Gray's brothers Ty and Brady - could have all used some time with a family therapist. All of them were variously abused by people who were supposed to love them. Gray's father was absolutely toxic and it took quite a while for Gray to understand how his life and relationships had been shaped by him. Abby's mother was also a toxic character. Abby realizes that most of her life choices were made so that she could just be the opposite of her mother. Luckily, Abby was raised by her grandmother who did provide her with unconditional love and a strong sense of values. Gray didn't have that sort of role model in his life.

I liked the story, but it certainly wasn't the usual fluffy romance.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how the characters developed throughout the story. Gray is a single father to a 15 year old girl, Becca. His wife was killed a few years ago on her way to meet up with one of her many boyfriends. Gray's dad Amos is known to be a complete jerk & isn't liked by anyone. He passes away & this forces Gray to reexamine his life & how he doesn't want to end up like his dad. His brothers also reenter the picture, Ty staying in the bunkhouse on the ranch & Brady coming back & forth more often between Denver & the ranch. Gray sees Abby at the funeral reception & decides she's reliable & steady & would make a good wife & mother figure for his daughter. He proposes a marriage of convenience to her & since she has loved him from afar forever, she finally agrees. This leads to some surprising discoveries & is well worth the read to find out how it goes. I also wonder if we will get more about Ty & Brady in other books, which would be great.