Reading, and then keeping, holiday books is my favorite part of book hoarding. When I read this story, I was taken aback, at first, because it didn’t start out as a “typical” holiday read. However, as I continued, I loved how the author wove a story about the characters that will not only warm your heart but will make you care about all these characters – you’ll want to “help” them come together, and not just for the holidays.

I’m hoping that there will be more stories about the Everett brothers, however this book is about the oldest brother, Gray. Gray Everett is living in his own past – not opening his eyes to what can be an amazing future. Abby Douglas, someone who has lived next door to Gray (and his family) her entire life, doesn’t believe in herself. She does nothing to change that…until she does. There’s also a tiny matter of her having a life-long crush on Gray but you need to read about that for yourself!

No spoilers from me: Gray has always thought the best of Abby, and after a fashion, it is that “heart” that makes the story. Ms. Crews wrote so much depth in these characters that there was even one I wanted to shake until teeth rattled. Read the book – you’ll find broken heroes and heroines that will make your heart melt. You’ll meet a grandmother that is wise beyond her years. And a teenager that is really an old soul and maybe has a slightly battered heart herself.

Both Gray and Abby had much to overcome personally but when they finally decide to trust in each other, and themselves, to be a united front? Priceless! A True Cowboy Christmas is a wonderful holiday story that will be enjoyed any time of year. I received an early copy of this book through NetGalley and freely offer my opinions.

Abby was in love with Gray her next door neighbor since she was a teenager. She saw him marry and become a father.

It takes the death of Gray’s father and the return of his two younger brothers for him to want to try his hand at marriage again and give his daughter a mother. Also he wants to save the ranch from being sold to developers.

Gray decides Abby will fit his requirements. Abby doesn’t accept his marriage proposal at first but realizes this is what she always dreamed of being with Gray.

I loved how Abby stood by her man and how Gray realized her worth (her loving, kind hearted spirit) and he didn’t want to become like his mean spirited father not knowing love. The ending was amazing.

A Christmas story with a cowboy!, what a cute read for everyone to read at xmas time. I didn't love it, but it was enjoyable to curl up to read.
I love that there is an influx of Christmas stories for all of us to dive into.

3.5 STARS

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love holidays stories and this was my first this year. This author was new to me and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this. I have to admit, the first 10% of the book threw me because of the proposal, but this author took her time peeling the layers of the characters which really made this a thoughtful story.

Gray and Abby are neighbors who suddenly decide to get married. Abby has loved Gray her entire life so the decision to jump in feels right, however, Gray's idea of marriage has nothing to do with love and he sets the expectations early on. Abby has spent her life on the receiving end of insecurities which has set her expectations to accept less than she deserves. As she is living her dream, she discovers that she deserves to have more, including love and wonders if Gray can live up to her fantasy.

This was an enjoyable read, and the banter and dialogue was intelligent and considerate to the characters. The Christmas theme was a perfect way to ascent to a meaningful ending.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

5 Stars.....
Loved this book so much! A very well written novel with great characters.

I knew from the first chapter this book would be a breath of fresh air. And I was not disappointed in my assumption. First I'll say that this was my first book by Caitlin Crews. I really loved everything about her writing style. Her descriptive monologues and scenes brought me right there to those Colorado mountains. I will add that this book is heavy on monologue. I would have like to read more dialogue from our hero and heroine. That said, I still loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. This series has two more brothers to match off. And I can only hope they are matched with Abby's two friends. Unfortunately I was not given any hints as to what is to come and whose story is next so I'll patiently wait and see. But I can assure you this author is on my watch list.

Gray and Abby.....
I won't summarize this book. The blurb gives you great insight as to how this will play out. Marriage of convenience is not a trope I often come across unless it's a historical romance. That's not to say I don't enjoy reading them. I do. Quite a bit, actually. Gray is a bit older than Abby, who is thirty herself. He has a teenage daughter, two alienated brothers and a whole ranch to run. After his father passes away, Gray feels the need for a change in his life. He doesn't want to be lonely. He wants companionship and to find a woman he can work along side without drama. Unfortunately for Abby, Gray does not want "feelings" involved. There is quite a bit of angst. A lot of chemistry. Abby is a wonderful character. Unfortunately while I liked Gray, I didn't love him until the end. But that is okay because otherwise this book would not have been as perfect. Gray had a lot of issues and he needed to come to terms with many aspects of his life. He especially needed to learn that loving Abby and allowing her to love him was currently the best thing that could happen to him. I don't want to spoil anything for you. That said, I will say that this is a book I would like to reread each Christmas. I loved it that much!

This is my honest and unbiased opinion. Thank you for taking the time read it. :)

This is a heartwarming story with poignant moments that made me fall a bit in love with the characters. Sometimes you get everything you wished for, but nothing like you expected. Such is Abby's life when she takes a chance on Gray. Both of them are damaged by their toxic parents, yet Gray is struggling to raise his teenage daughter to be different - but he doesn't even know what that looks like.

I loved Gray and Abby's story and how they try to fit their broken parts together to create something new and whole. Their tale was at times sweet and others painful, yet that is what made it feel real. By the time I finished this book, I felt as though I had lived in their world for a bit.

When I picked up this novel, I expected a light romance. Instead, I got a romance filled with heart and depth that made me fall a bit in love with Gray. Fans of the genre will love this book. While its the first novel I've read by this author, it won't be the last. I'm already looking forward to her next book.

Beautiful love story, I would definitely recommend this amazing book. Fast, sweet, happy read.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book via Netgalley

A True Cowboy Christmas was not as lighthearted as I expected, but it was a wonderful story nonetheless. Normally I wait to read Christmas books until closer to the holiday, but I simply couldn't resist this one. I am so glad I dove into it because no matter how tough the journey was for the characters, it made me smile to see them come together in the end. I am so excited to read the next book in the series when it releases!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I have mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand we have too damaged individuals trying to come together and hopefully fill a void that has been lacking in their respective lives. Both with plenty of baggage so the idea of a feel good Christmas romance is certainly appealing. However, at times I found the book to be slightly repetitive as the characters kept rehashing situations in their own head, multiple times. But then the end seemed rushed once Gray and Abbey finally made peace with their respective demons. Although I have to say sometimes despite the seriousness of the issues being discussed, there were some very entertaining moments, such as the whole idea of the practical marriage proposal. Abbey's issues however do make her an endearing character and one that you truly hope can get her HEA. Overall, it's tough to go wrong with a cowboy romance especially one set with a Christmas backdrop.

“She was everything he wanted. She was so much more than he’d imagined.”

This is not your regular heartwarming Christmas novel. It’s emotional, deep, and sometimes heartwrenching. It’s not about Christmas traditions and all the goodness that comes during the holiday season. It will skim the holiday, but it’s more about two main characters who did not have warm, loving parents. They both were verbally/mentally abused growing up. The emotional scars come alive off the pages. Abby lacks self-esteem, Gray lacks compassion. They end up agreeing to, well basically, an old-fashioned arranged marriage. Gray is the perfect headstrong cowboy and Abby makes a perfect rancher’s wife for him. She’s strong in her own way and doesn’t change for him. Loved the characters and the secondary characters. It does have the Christmas miracle at the end but it was a struggle and a journey for them. I do have to say that what Gray does on Christmas morning makes me his biggest fan. I’m eager to read Gray’s brothers stories, especially Ty, an injured bull rider. I can see Abby playing an important role in helping heal the brothers who have drifted so far apart that they’re strangers. A True Cowboy Christmas is a fabulous cowboy romance.

The unlikely story of a happily ever after. This book was a fairly classic concept of girl loves boy and boy comes to realize he loves her to until big things happen. I wasnt too sure about the excuse of practicality for marriage, it felt like there could have been a bit more development on this story, but overall I found it enjoyable. Quick read!

Overall, this was an okay read but it was just not for me. This is the first book I have read by this author but I could not quite adjust myself to her writing style. The story itself was a good concept and there were some very entertaining parts but I could not really get past the over descriptiveness of thoughts and scenes and the repetitive sentences on almost every page. It was extremely distracting for me and I had a rough time reading the book. I ended up skimming a great deal of the story but was still able to keep up with the overall plot. All the characters were deeply flawed and had serious family issues. They thought they were destined to be their parents because of how they were raised with negative, hateful thoughts and no real concept of parental love, support or guidance. Gray and his three brothers were not close at all; they were always at each other’s throats, even as children. They could not have a hint of conversation that did not involve hurtful words and thoughts of violence; mostly from Gray, who was gruff, bitter and had no compassion. It was his way or no way, only his opinion and way mattered. He did not want to listen to anyone else or compromise on anything. Abby was sweet and had a loving nature but she was naive and a real pushover in some ways. And poor Becca, Grays daughter, was just caught somewhere in the middle of all the tension and strife holding in all her emotions and feelings and trying to go with the flow. For me, this book just had more bitter parts that kept me feeling tense than a smooth flowing, romantic story. I was actually relieved when I finished the read. Sadly, I do not think I will not be reading any more books by this author. Her writing style is just not for me. *Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

The emotional baggage this couple has could take a family on vacation. It made my heart ache watching them work through it to find their happily ever after. Caitlin writes a beautiful love story in this one. Gray and Abby were perfect for each other and Gray was the hot, brooding cowboy ever girl dreams of.

Caitlin Crew's writing is my new obsession! What a sweet, complicated story about family, love and forgiveness. You can't resist falling for sweet Abby and stern Gray. The secondary characters are perfect and we are given enough of each to want more and more. The next book can't come soon enough.

Love this story! So many stories written today are not written with the depth and detail in this book. This book didn't end with the wedding, it followed through to a conclusion. It satisfied my idea of romance. Thank you Caitlin Crews for an awesome book.

The book was good, teetering on okay some moments, and teetering on great in others. But there was so much dysfunction with so many characters, it was hard to keep up. I did like how the author showed the impact a parent can have on a child, without even realizing it. But unrequited love in a marriage and marriage for convenience and ease just seemed a little far fetched. Maybe Becca helped Gray see the light about his life, but it was a little to neatly wrapped up in the last 5-10 pages. And Lilly needs to get punched in the face.

I know it's early to be reading Christmas romances, and I wasn't trying to get in the spirit or anything, but this book was beautiful.

Gray is the perfect cowboy. I love when authors get a character just right and he's everything I expected. Gray is a brooding alpha male who is set in his ways. His father has just died and left the ranch to his 3 sons. Gray is the only one interested in working the land. It's what he has always done. He has a daughter and would like a wife to help with life. He isn't looking for love. He wants a partnership. Someone practical and only one woman fits the bell.

Abby lives next door to Gray. She's secretly been in love with him for as long as she can remember. She's younger than him and has already seen him marry someone else. His marriage wasn't perfect and Abby watched it spiral out of control. It's now years later. Out of the blue Gray turns up on her doorstep and ask her to marry him. Abby never imaged this moment in her wildest dreams.

He wants a wife and she can't say no.... not that she's saying yes. If the man of your dreams asks you to marry him for whatever reason, could you really say no? The dream and the reality are about to come head to head.

Caitlin Crews is very good at descriptive writing and the emotion in this book is beautiful. Both characters have difficult families. Abby lacks confidence and Gray lacks compassion. These two don't need love in their life but find a great match with each other. They don't know each other too well but have lived next door for years. It's essentially an arranged marriage. It's old-fashioned, but it worked in the past so why can't it work now.

A true cowboy Christmas is great. It's the start of a new series and I want more! It's the first book I've read by this author and I would definitely read more. This book is sweet and entertaining. If you like headstrong brooding cowboys then you'll fall in love with this.

This book is set at Christmas. Abby is kind and loves the Christmas spirit of giving and sharing but Gray doesn't even want a tree. Abby is all about adjusting to fit into Grays life but that doesn't mean she's going to change for him. She can make the cookies for the people who appreciate them. Marriage is about compromise and acceptance. Abby isn't alpha strong but she will make Gray think. So leave your trinkets in the cupboard and your trees in the forest. December isn't the month for festive songs and twinkling lights. Not yet anyway.

Aimed at the 18+ audience. This book has sexual content.

5 out of 5. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

**I received a copy of A True Cowboy Christmas from St. Martin's Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews is what I hope a new series by Ms. Crews. This author is new for me and I thought the story was awesome so after reading this book, I have every faith that any additions to the series will all be as good as this way.

Abby Douglas has always felt plain and boring partly due to her mother's hurtful words whenever she decides to show up at her parents farm but from her friends and customers at the coffee house she works in town as well she's has a beautiful soul. So imagine her surprise when at Amos Everett's funeral Gray whom she's loved all her life asks her to marry him. Will she say yes and have a happy ever after or will his lack of wanting to be loved hurt them both?Can she teach a stubborn and very handsome cowboy about love also?

Gray Everett loves the land and while still reeling from his father's passing knows that he is only part owner of the ranch. When he realizes that his daughter, Becca, is needing a mother figure (as hers died in her way to meet a lover) he decides to ask the girl next door that he's known forever. His proposal lacks what Abby would love to hear plus its just an arrangement to Gray no full of his love to she'd love to have. But he also needs to mend fences with both his brothers and part owners Ty and Brady who know that he's in danger of becoming his bitter and mean father. Can Gray figure out what's more important than the ranch and that he loves her before it's too late?

While this has a lot of dark moments as both Gray and Abby had parents who berates them and quite a lot of angst, they will both have to learn to forgive themselves before moving forward to their lives together. I'm looking forward to reading Ty's story of what happened at the rodeo and who'll be his love interest.

I was provided a copy of this novel by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review. Thank you to both of them!

I thought this would just be a typical, fun read to get me in the holiday spirit...a Christmas in July sort of book. I was completely wrong! I was immediately drawn in by the characters, their motivations and the beautifully described setting in which they lived.

Gray Everett was a bitter man, raising a daughter on his own. He's had a difficult life with an unpredictable, angry father and no mother. Abby Douglas is a sweet, unmarried woman whose mother flickered in and out of her life, leaving a legacy of hateful remarks which severely impacted Abby's self image, as did being in her 30s with no prospects for marriage. Her childhood crush on Gray Everett didn't help either, as he had never looked at her.

Which makes Gray's suggestion after his father's funeral that much more interesting...

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was disappointed to see it end. I hope there will be a sequel!