Having recently finished the previously published “A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe” by Jessica Clare, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group!

Choosing a romance book to read is usually few and far between for me, but the cover was definitely the reason that I pressed the request button this time.
Jessica Clare’s story was filled with festive small town Christmas spirit and the predictable steamy moments of new found instant love. Time spent in Painted Barrel, Wyoming with Sage and Jason was a nice diversion from real life concerns for a bit.

Few things go together quite like Christmas and cowboys, and I can’t really say why that is! Here we return to Painted Barrel, Wyoming where the holiday season is upon us. Jason Clements suffers from PTSD after his traumatic experiences in the Navy while stationed in Afghanistan. Despite a lack of experience with ranching, he takes a job in Painted Barrel where he meets the beautiful and kind soul of Sage Cooper. Sage offers to teach him about ranching in exchange for Jason escorting her to a special holiday event. Sage is still a virgin who has never even been kissed at the age of 29 years old (why are romance books so obsessed with virgins???), but that may all change now that she has met Jason. The third book in the Wyoming cowboy series, I will say that despite some of my usual giggles at the premise, I did enjoy the depth of the PTSD storyline and how that impacts Jason’s character. This is a cowboy romance to it’s core, full of brooding men, a quaint ranch setting, and a virgin primed for the right man to come along!

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe (The Wyoming Cowboy #3). By Jessica Clare. 2019. Berkley. (ARC eBook).

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is a charming Christmas romance with flawed, sweet, and likable characters that fits right in with The Wyoming Cowboy series by Clare.

It’s time for Christmas in July and this was the first book on my list! I really enjoyed reading A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe. Sage and Jason were such interesting characters. Jason’s back story and struggle with PTSD was particularly well written! It was fun to watch their relationship blossom. Sage was such a loving and supportive character. And Jason was so loving and grateful towards her. Their relationship was sweet. And the steam level was just right. And of course I loved the Christmas touches. I also loved the town in this book. I will have to go back and read the other books in this series!

A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the third book in THE WYOMING COWBOY series. All have been enjoyable reads, but this book started off a little slowly for me. Once we got into the heart of the story, it tended to fly with lots of ranching, small town life, and Christmas festivities. It was nice to return to Price Ranch and the small town of Painted Barrel, Wyoming, and meet up with characters we’ve met before.

Sage has never had a boyfriend because she thinks she’s man-repellent, but she’s always had a crush on loser Greg, who is hard to like. He’s such a needy character. Sage thinks they are at least friends, but it seems to only be when he needs something.

Jason takes a job at Price Ranch, knowing nothing about ranching. He’s ex-Navy and was injured and suffers from PTSD. When they meet at her office unexpectedly, she’s kind to him, knowing he’s suffering from something (given his behavior) though she’s not sure what. As they get to know each other better, there is definite chemistry between them.

I love how they complement each other and how important they become to each other. It’s enjoyable to watch their friendship and relationship grow, even with their few setbacks. The addition of a service-type dog made the story richer, as it explored more of Jason’s depths.

There are several stories going on at the same time but are interwoven seamlessly. The story has nice closure, as well as an epilogue, which takes place two years later and ties up the loose ends. The next book in the series, THE COWBOY MEETS HIS MATCH, isn’t due out until June 2020. I look forward to reading it.

Jessica Clare is a pen name for author Jill Myles, and I’ve enjoyed books she’s written from several different series. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Where are the Cowboys like Jessica writes about in this story. This is about love, friendship that will keep you entertained from the first senates to the very last page..

Another cowboy Christmas romance that I really enjoyed! This one was adorable with just the perfect amount of steam.

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2019/12/11/cowboy-under-the-mistletoe-by-jessica-clare/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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3.5 hearts

I'm finally reading Christmas and holiday stories. <strong>Cowboy under the Mistletoe</strong> has a nice intermix of holiday activities along with its being set at this time of year.  I had not read the two previous books in the series, which is not my usual way, but I still was able to enjoy this story.

The characters of Jason and Sage were well-developed but the others were not as much, particularly Greg seemed to be a cliche douche. I think the other two couples on the ranch Eli and Cass, Dustin and Annie were probably from the first two books.  Yup, just checked and that's it. I liked them and hope to go back and read about them.

Jason's situation was completely believable and my heart broke for him with the difficulties he had with his PTSD and losing his service dog.  Sage was much less believable, but in a small, insular town, I guess it is possible. She's amazing but well protected, especially when her father was alive. Plus she was stupid for Greg for too long.

The romance between Sage and Jason was totally believable though.  I loved how kind and supportive they were to each other. THIS is what a relationship should be. Plus sexy. I was thrilled for them both.  The addition of dogs to any story makes it better, too.

I've always adored Jessica Clare so when this series came out I jumped at it. I thought what a better combination then Jessica Clare and cowboys.

However, this is my second book in this series and so far I find both a bit lack luster of a series.

This time this story focuses on Jason Clements whom has a wicked case of PTSD and is desperate for this job at this new ranch, even though he lied about his experience to get the job. When Jason goes into town he meets Sage Cooper, whom is the embodiment of this sweet town.

Sage is single and has been pining over her best friend for years. And now her best friend is getting married to someone else. As she once again is putting her life on hold for her best friend until Jason walks into her work. She knows something is wrong with him instantly but doesn't judge him. Instead she just lets him be which is why Jason can let his guard down with her.

I did like Jason and Sage together but I was still wanting a bit more from this story. I did like that the story addressed PTSD as I think mental health issue needs to be addressed more and more.

2.5 stars!

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe was my first Jessica Clare book but it certainly won’t be my last. I love holiday romances and this one did a fantastic job of being both a solid romance and capturing the magic (and possibility for loneliness) around the holidays.

Sage was a great character and I loved her development through the novel. It was wonderful to see her grow from being somewhat of a doormat to having confidence in herself and owning her take-charge personality. Plus the author did a great job of pointing out the toxic aspects of Sage’s relationship with Greg. I also adored her relationship with Jason and how they both grew together.

I can’t speak for how well the PTSD rep was written but I loved that Clare took a lot of care to show that Jason wasn’t broken or damaged. And the bit about support dogs definitely opened my eyes.

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is definitely going to be kept on my shelf of Christmas books. I’m looking forward to reading it again next year (and perhaps trying to bake some of the cookies that Sage did!).

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Navy-veteran with PTSD who is actively mourning the loss of his service dog falls for the girl classically cast as everyone's best friend but never the leading lady. Throw in some cowboy boots, a lot of snow, and hanging mistletoe and you have an instant Christmas romance hit.

Jason Clements, a Navy vet, is down on his luck. He gets one more opportunity to work on a ranch. He has little to no skills with ranch life and he is suffering with PTSD but he is determined to try to make this work. He meets Sage Cooper and forges an immediate friendship with her.

Sage Cooper feels like the town is slowly closing in on her. Everyone takes advantage of her sweet nature. She is lonely and the lack of available men is not helping her situation. She has started to think about selling her land and move away but Jason’s charm is working on her.

I liked how caring towards one another the characters are. Sage feels overly protective of Jason as she knows he has not told everyone of the traumatic events that still causes him pain. She steps in to help him as much as possible. I like how she finally got some courage to set boundaries with the people in town. They drove me nuts, especially a particular guy who was inappropriate.

Jason is very strong and alpha. He steps in to make sure that Sage doesn’t get hurt. I like how he tried to get over some of his past hurt. He started to blend in with his boss and family. Some of my favorite moments were when he bonded with his new “support” dog. It helped bring his issues to light in a different manner for me.

A few things cause some minor tension between the couple and I wanted to knock some sense into Jason. I understand his reason to feel hurt but he should have known better when it came to Sage.

Overall, I was pleased with the story and want to go back to read any other books in the series.

~ Samantha

5 reasons why  A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe will lasso your heart:

A Relatable Heroine - I found Sage to be such a relatable heroine in so many ways. Her life is stagnant; she’s stuck in the small town she grew up in, and while she feels like she’s living life in a fishbowl, she also feels overlooked. She’s a good friend to everyone who knows her, but she’s unable to set boundaries, often letting people take advantage of her. In spite of all that, she’s not afraid to put herself out there, and while she could be shy on occasion (like when a sexy new cowboy swaggered into town,) she wasn’t one to hold back. She’s antsy to break away from her small town surroundings to finally get on with life, but not to the point where she’ll make a run for it if something (or in this case, someone) worthwhile comes along. Her heart particularly aches around Christmas because of the loss of her father, and living alone is such a sprawling place.
A Sexy Cowboy Hero - I loved Jason as much as I loved Sage. The events of his life have shaped him, but not in the way I’d think. I would expect him to be somewhat hardened; that’s not who he was at all. It may have taken him just a teensy bit longer, but he was also willing to put himself out there, and he was as patient and kind as Sage was - such a perfect match for her. He was always there to tell her just how special she was, and as an outsider of Painted Barrel, he was able to see the situation for what it was and offer her some ‘sage’ advice. (Har,har.) His PTSD was never pushed to the back burner in this book; it was relevant and prevalent, and his struggle was pretty devastating to watch. I thought this was portrayed very well, and the way it was manifested throughout the book realistic. And one last thing - this soft, sexy cowboy had a mouth on him in the bedroom!
The Emotion - I know I’ve covered it when talking about Sage and Jason, but there really was so much emotion in this book. From Jason not feeling good enough to Sage’s loneliness (and vice versa,) it really was a tangible feeling. But it wasn't all sadness. Sage had a true love for Painted Barrel. She did everything she could to make this town a place it’s residents enjoyed and loved, and she did it so well. It was such a part of who she was, and it almost made everything Sage did for it seem so effortless. Everything she did was done with heart. And Jason made a furry friend that stole his heart, and the way he adored him and treated him was so sweet and heartwarming. 
That ‘Small Town Feel’ - I’ve mentioned this before, but Small Town Romances can be hit or miss for me. It’s easy for the meddling to go overboard, but it didn’t feel that way here. Yes, there was the town gossip, but even Sage said she knew how much the woman loved everyone and just wanted everything to be OK. There were a lot of shop owners, and I loved the camaraderie and support they shared. Even when some of those people didn’t deserve it. (I’m looking at Greg and his real estate business here...grrrr!) Earlier pairs from the series also appear in this book, and I enjoyed meeting them. I can’t wait to go back and read their stories!
All the Holiday Things - The only thing better than a Small Town Romance is one that sports a holiday feeling as well; A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe didn’t skimp on that. From the snowy weather to Sage’s ridiculous Christmas sweaters, and from holiday shopping to town events, you get it all here. It was rife with all things Christmas, and I loved it!

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe was such a wonderful read. It was all heart, and I just love that Sage and Jason found their way together. They really deserved each other. Now I just need to go back and read the previous books in this series so I can get the scoop on some of these other couples!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is not just a romance book following how a couple falls in love. This book demonstrates how a couple gains trust on each other by understanding the troubles and conflicts in their lives. Sage Cooper is at a time of her life were she is done with waiting and is ready for a change. She doesn’t want to be alone and she wants more from life. Jason Clements is ready to make things work. He wants to change and not let his PTSD make him lose another job. So when these two agree to help each other, wonderful things happen!

I loved this book! It showed me a side of PTSD that makes me understand more what a person with it goes through. I liked that Sage thought of ways on how to help Jason and understood his situation. At the same time, Jason took the time to know Sage and how her life had been while growing up in a small town and how she felt about herself.

The book also shows an interesting perspective of how some people can be subtly manipulative. You think people are your friends and they are trying to protect you, but in reality they only want for you to pay attention to them. This drove Sage to think that no one could ever be interested in her as a woman to the point that she wanted to leave her hometown and the people that actually cared for her. Good thing Jason saw what was going on and came to the rescue!

It was also great to read about Eli and Cass, and Dustin and Annie, and how their lives have continued after their own happy endings.

This story is a great example of what a relationship should be like. There needs to be trust and understanding between both of them, something Sage and Jason established well. Jason loves Sage for who she is and sees a wonderful woman in her, while Sage gives Jason the understanding he deserves.

If you’re still not reading The Wyoming Cowboy series, you need to start ASAP. You don’t have to read them in order, just know that A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe will leave you hooked.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the third instalment in Jessica Clare’s contemporary, adult THE WYOMING COWBOY erotic romance series set in the town of Painted Barrel, Wyoming. This is former Navy master at arms Jason Clements, and twenty-nine year old, municipal clerk Sage Cooper’s storyline. A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Jason and Sage A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE follows the building romance and relationship between former Navy master at arms Jason Clements, and twenty-nine year old, municipal clerk Sage Cooper. Jason Clements is struggling with severe PTSD and finds himself lying in an effort to work as a cowboy at the Price Ranch in Wyoming but Jason doesn’t know the first thing about ranching, and the anxiety is beginning to add to the ongoing battles with PTSD. Meeting Sage Cooper proves to be the balm to his angst, balm that is about to ask for a favor in return. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jason and Sage, and the potential fall-out when Jason believes Sage had betrayed his confidence.

Sage Cooper is a twenty-nine year old virgin who has pined after her childhood best friend Greg for as long as she can remember but with Greg’s wedding to someone else, just around the corner, Sage is looking for a plus-one to prove she is worthy of happiness and love. Meeting Jason Clements, a wanna-be cowboy who is struggling with day to day living gives Sage an opportunity to prove she is capable of finding someone to love.

The slow burn relationship between Sage and Jason begins as kindred spirits; a ‘fake’ boyfriend/girlfriend relationship meant to convince her best friend that she isn’t destroyed by the impending nuptials. Jason is willing to take their fake relationship to the next level but discovers that he is hoping to make Sage his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Wyoming rancher Eli Pickett, and his wife Cassandra Horn(All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy #1), Dustin Worthington, and professional dog trainer Annie Grissom (The Cowboy and His baby #2), as well as Achilles the dog, and Sage’s childhood friend Greg Wallace.

A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a story of family, friendship, struggles and love. The premise is heart warming and entertaining; the characters are colorful, energetic and real; the romance is captivating and intense. Jessica Clare pulls the reader into a love affair between two people who have waited a life-time to fall in love.

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A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the third book in Jessica Clare’s contemporary “Wyoming Cowboy” series. This book is one of my favorite stories in this series and an instant re- read for me. Jason Clements is a little bit desperate when he comes to the Price Ranch in Wyoming for work. He’s a soldier and not a cowboy, but his PTSD has made finding a job that fits and keeping it difficult. Jason needs a Christmas miracle in order to hold onto this new job and Sage Cooper embodies the spirit of Christmas better than most people.

I love stories in which two lonely people find each other and get to experience an attraction that is magical and fall in love. A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE has that magic. When Jason first meets Sage, she’s preparing to sell the family homestead and move out of town. Growing up in a small town, when your longtime crush is preparing for his upcoming wedding is kind of a drag. Helping Jason to help himself gives Sage a purpose and an outlet for her positivity and inherent kindness. This story is told from alternating perspectives, so readers get an up-close look at how this couple falls in love and the reasons why. Jason and Sage are such sweethearts and it’s so much fun watching their relationship develop from friendship and a fake romance to something deeper with a chemistry that can’t be denied. Jessica Clare does a wonderful job of telling an interesting and character-driven story while balancing the sexy and the sweet. A by-product of this romance is Sage’s journey of self-discovery. Knowing Jason, Sage begins to see herself the way he does and realizes everything she’s capable of. This is such a healthy relationship and these two characters support each other and act as a positive influence.

A COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE is crazy good with mistletoe kisses and a winter wonderland small town magic. Sage’s ex- crush Greg is the resident boy next door-turned-bumbling oaf, but he moves the story and the characters in a positive direction. I like how Sage had compassion for the character Becca and I hope to read more about her in a future story. I eagerly await Jessica Clare’s next book.

Jason, an ex-navy guy hasn’t had the best luck with jobs since his PTSD has him struggling with panic attacks that are even worse now that he lost his support dog. At his ends, he takes a job as a ranch hand even though he has zero experience. Thankfully, he runs into Sage, and she offers him a trade: she’ll give him a crash course in ranching if he’ll be her date at her friend Greg’s rehearsal dinner and wedding. Sage is tired of being known as Greg’s mooning sidekick but finding a date in the small town of Painted Barrel has so far been an impossible task! Jason is tall, dark, and handsome, but more than that he’s a sweet, hard working man and Sage’s heart aches for all the struggles he’s had to endure.

Sage had such a big heart, loneliness making her a bit naïve in the past when it came to Greg. That guy was a complete idiot, and I’m happy Sage didn’t let him walk all over her once she got a clue.

Jason can’t believe that Sage, both beautiful and sweet, has struggled to find a date, and has been at the beck-and-call of a douchebag like Greg. Jason doesn’t feel like he deserves her either when his PTSD easily sends him into a panic, but if Sage feels he’s worthy he’s not fool enough to pass up a chance to be with her. I was so happy Jason didn’t deprive them of love because of feeling unworthy at times. Their relationship was slow and steady at first, but boy did it build up into a wickedly hot romance!

I just loved A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe! It was such a delightful wintery/holiday read: small town, snowy nights, ugly Christmas sweaters, homemade cookies, gift giving, ranching, and a sweet rescue dog! Jason and Sage brought out the best in each other, providing support and inspiring confidence where lacking. Also, they brought so much passion and joy to each other I was filled with happiness that they met!

I can’t wait for Becca’s story next!

If you follow me you know how much I love reading Christmas themed books. I'm not a fan of how early I have to read them but do enjoy sharing the ones I liked with you guys so that you'll have some ideas on what to buy to read for the season.

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe started out slightly slowly for me. I was a little lost and I don't know why. I'm thinking it was just how the author started it. When he met Sage is about the time it started getting good.

After that I found the story to move at a very fast pace and I was able to get into and enjoy the story.

I really liked both Sage and Jason. I don't know if I could have been like him taking a job at something I had no clue about doing. I'd be scared to death. I loved that he asked her to help him. It showed he wasn't one of those guys who though only another man could help him.

Sage character is a 'more than meets the eye' type. You think of her in one way and shortly learn she so much more.

These two just needed someone to be there for them in a way no one else could or would. I think throughout the book that they each not only learn about each other but about themselves too. This makes it a very enjoyable story. Nothing to complex just a sweet Christmas story.

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is a charming first-love romance between a former Navy master-at-arms and the sweetest woman in town. Jason Clements headed to the town of Painted Barrel and met Sage Cooper where she helped him learn the basics of being a cowboy in one weekend. Jessica Clare did an amazing job of showcasing the innocence and passion that is unique to first love.

Jason Clements was a former military man who is looking for a job. He has PTSD which has made it hard for him to hold down a job. His cousin gets him a job at a ranch in the town of Painted Barrel. He is both excited and nervous. He is looking for a fresh start and a place to belong but worried that his nerves will get the best of him.

Sage Cooper is the queen of wearing ugly Christmas sweaters. She wears them because they make her smile and to pay tribute to her late father. Her father's death is hard to bear so she looks into selling his ranch. Maybe she will find a new path somewhere else.

Sage and Jason come into each other's lives at the perfect moment. They are both struggling and vulnerable. Jason is new to the cowboy lifestyle so he needs to learn the basics ASAP. He meets Sage and she is more than willing to help. One weekend changes everything. Not only does Jason learn more about how to ride a horse but he learns how giving, compassionate, and selfless Sage is. And the feeling is mutual. Sage is starting to see a man who is kind and protective. She doesn't see him as a weirdo with PTSD.

I love their story of finding love and be a catalyst for each other in their healing processes. I adored Jason and Sage but appreciated Jessica Clare's ability to write amazing supporting characters.

Overall, I give A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe 4.5 stars. It was a delightful holiday romance that reminds of us all of the beauty and power of love!

What an absolutely delightful holiday romance!

I loved A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe for many reasons, not the least of which was the immensely likable characters—Sage and Jason. They were both charming and a little damaged by life (Jason certainly more so), but also both trying their best to find the best of life. Add in dogs—always a winner in my book—and appearances from previously loved characters, and this book is a total winner.

Highly recommend for those who love light-hearted, fun, holiday-themed romance!