I think this was a case of "it's not you it's me" I don't think I was in a cowboy romance reading mood. Even though I didn't love this, it was still enjoyable. With likeable characters and a loyal canine companion. A romance filled with shared dinners, cozy nights, a nosey but lovable sister, snow storms, open door intimate scenes, and just a bit of danger.

Donna Grant pretty much had me at "cowboy" in Home for a Cowboy Christmas--I've previously read several of her cowboy Christmas novels, and she seldom disappoints. This novel blended suspense and romance beautifully, and it was kept me reading from start to finish at 4:30 this morning. My only complaint is that I wish it had been a longer read, which is always how I feel when I'm enjoying a novel, and its brevity is my sole reason for giving it 4.5 stars rather than 5 stars.

Emmy Grant, a bookkeeper, made the honest mistake of working for the wrong people--the mob, and when she witnesses a murder and reports it and her willingness to testify, she suddenly becomes a target and is immediately put in the Witness Protection Program, but there's a leak somewhere in U.S. Marshalls program, and her last "safe" house was barely safe for 3 days, before she was rescued seconds before she took an assassins bullet to her head . Her handler, Deputy U.S. Marshall Dalton Silva, decides to place her where no hit man will ever find her, because he's the only person who will know where she is. Taking a 14-hour drive, making sure they're not being followed, changing directions multiple times, and changing vehicles as well, she eventually winds up on the remote, 11-thousand-acre ranch belonging to Dalton's good friend, handsome rancher Dwight Reynolds, hoping that he'll manage to keep her both safe and alive until she's due to testify at the mobster's trial after the first of the year.

To say that Emmy is terrified and suffering from PTSD is putting it mildly. Dwight, who is former military, former FBI and former Homeland Security fully understands the trauma she's suffered, and tries to reassure her that what she's going through is natural for someone in her circumstances. He's strong, honest, gorgeous and protective, and his attraction to Emmy is almost as instantaneous as her attraction to him, but because of her deep-rooted expectation that she'll be found and never live long enough to testify , her fear keeps her inside her own head and inside Dwight's ranch house far too often. She finds some security with Dwight's Australian shepherd dog,, Sam, adding a nice touch to the story. Since Emmy arrived with only the clothes on her back, Dwight's sister is let in on the secret, and happily provides a wardrobe for Emmy, but no one else on the ranch even knows she's there, and Dwight intends to keep it that way.

For a one-sitting novel, this was a much-appreciated, slow building romance based on mutual attraction, and .while I have no problem with sizzling hot romances, this was a nice, warm, and welcome change of pace, set in a beautiful yet isolated location between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, as these two strangers slowly open up to one another and find that they have much in common.. It made for a suspenseful yet heartwarming read, and I'm happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Home for Cowboy Christmas is an engaging read that easily kept my interest as Emmy an accountant from Denver is squirreled away to Montana after her life is put in danger for the fourth time when she enters WITSEC.

And her safety is trusted to sweet, caring, dog and bath loving rancher Dwight an ex-FBI and Homeland Security Agent who from the moment he meets Emmy is determined to do everything he can to keep her safe. And with great pacing, a lovely romance and just the right amount of suspense this was an enjoyable read. That also had a nice touch of the holiday spirit about it.

Would happily recommend.

Another great book by Donna Grant!!!! A cowboy, winter in the mountains, seclusion, suspense, and romance. Could you want anything more???

Emmy and Dwight ❤️🤠

Cowboys, a ranch and the great outdoors.

Emmy is on the run, she's not even safe in witness protection. Enter Dwight an ex security man with a large ranch.

What I liked about this romance was the ease of the couple's friendship which develops into more as time goes on.

There is some drama in the story but not too much and if I'm honest I enjoyed learning a little more about the Joe the baddie!

I think this is my favourite of DG cowboy books, easy read and enjoyable.

I have read a couple of this authors books, and have really become very fond of her stories. Home for a Cowboy Christmas is definitely a suspense romance read, very well written, and a book you can’t put down. Emmy and Dwight are two very likable characters, you fall for them immediately, and the twists and turns in this story definitely keep the heart rate up. Loved the setting, fell in love with Sam, enjoyed that it had a Christmas tone to it, and the ending was perfect. Definitely worth the read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Emmy and Dwight's thrilling story hit all the spots!

Emmy needs something safer than witness protection, so her handler drops her off with the only man he can trust - a retired federal officer who is now a quiet Montana rancher. Dwight owes Dalton his life, so he doesn't hesitate when his friend drops off a woman with little notice and even less explanation. Keep her safe is all he needs to know.

Emmy and Dwight are so sweet together, so perfectly in tune with each other. It was an easy road to romance, except for the threat hanging over their heads. Learning to live in the moment was the only strategy they had. I adored the way their friendship blossomed into more, and I loved the inclusion of his sister and, when he needed them, his impromptu team.

The author brilliantly included a few chapters told from the villains' POV, just enough to keep the story on edge and remind us of the reason she's in Montana to begin with. Even with this foreshadowing, the suspense is thick and the final showdown was a true nail-biter before Dwight and Emmy get a very satisfying, triumphant HEA.

If you swoon for modern-day cowboys and old-fashioned chivalry, this book was written for you. There's even a short but sweet bonus story about a city girl and the cowboy who rescues her that will warm you right up on even the coldest night. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Home For a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant is a fast-paced romance with lots of love and suspense. A sexy cowboy Christmas romance that is sure to get you in the hometown holiday mood. Home For a Cowboy Christmas has the perfect amount of heat, suspense, slow-build romance with the hot alpha cowboy that is just so perfect! Once I started reading, I could not put this one down! Home For a Cowboy Christmas is full of holiday spirit, suspense, and romance that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Really good mix of cowboy romance with suspense that you need to read!

Bookkeeper Emmy Garrett is protective custody so she can testify at a mob trial but now she is on the run with the US Marshal trying to keep her alive long enough to testify. US Marshal Dalton Silva knows the only way to protect her is to take her to Dwight Reynolds’ ranch so he could plug the leak of information. Dwight Reynolds left the FBI and Homeland Security to run the family ranch, so he knew how to protect Emmy with a little help from his dog Sam.

I grew up on a ranch, so cowboy romances are comfort reads to me but when you mix in a massive snowstorm at Christmas with the suspense of the story but it’s worth reading Home For a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant because it’s so good!

This book was absolutely wonderful! It features a slow burn charming romance, fascinating intrigue and suspense, and two main characters that are easy to love and admire. Emmy is beyond brave to stand up and tell her story in order to get a mob boss indicted. Even after she is nearly killed by a hit man the mob boss sent to take her out, she is determined to testify against him. Dwight is a protector through and through. Former military and FBI, he is more than capable of protecting her, but his compassionate, steadfast and kind manner help her to cope with her PTSD, uncertainties and fear. They are fiercely attracted to each other, but Dwight won’t act on it while she is so vulnerable. It takes her a while, but Emmy decides to be brave again and make the first move…..a move Dwight is more than happy to take her up on. Passion and something deeper flares between them, but their time together is limited and she is still be stalked with deadly intent. Both wish for a future together, but is it even possible?

I couldn’t put this book book down after I started to read it. I just had to keep reading to see how it ended! Emmy and Dwight are realistic and admirable characters, and it is impossible not to become immersed in their story. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Emma is in the witness protection program but there has been a leak. The agent in charge of her knows of only one place to keep her safe. His old buddy Dwight's ranch. Dwight will do everything to keep her safe even risk his own life. Action packed romance.

"Home For a Cowboy Christmas" by Donna Grant
a SNOWY Steamy Suspense Romance
I skipped the steamy parts and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of this story. The publisher's description should tell you if this story is for you. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas definitely got me in the holiday mood early this year! This romance that is also filled with plenty of suspense was another great one from Donna Grant.

Emmy Garrett is in a difficult spot. She's the star witness for an upcoming trial and she's not on the run for her life. The US Marshal she's working with has decided to take her to a friend of his who owns a ranch in Montana. It's not a place people would look, so he feels she'll be safe there.

Dwight Reynolds knows how to take care of himself. He's former military, FBI and Homeland Security. He now runs the ranch that has been in his family for generations and he couldn't be happier. When he gets the call from his former college friend and colleague, he's all in to help Dalton and the woman who needs to be kept safe.

As Emmy deals with the trauma she's been through due to her circumstances, she and Dwight begin to grow closer. It gets to the point where it is too difficult for either one of them to deny what is growing between them. Will they be able to keep her alive in order to testify or will the bad guys win in the end?

I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. The romance felt organic to me and the suspense that was part of the storyline was well done and didn't feel forced. This was a book I read very quickly as I just had to know how it was going to end!

I recommend picking this one up!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Home For a Cowboy Christmas, unfortunately, did not do it for me. From the insta-love to the uneven pacing that only picks up right at the end, I almost DNFed it. Most of the book was intensely boring, the romance was not well-crafted and the action/suspense part of it, while somewhat interesting, did not have a lot of time to become what it could have been.

1 star.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas is one of those reads you will not be able to put down. Just hold on and enjoy the ride. Emmy is running for her life as she awaits to testify against a mobster. Dwight is a ranch owner who is more then he seems. Emmy even through everything she has been through while on the run is so sweet and you will just love her. Dwight is so level headed and protective of Emmy will have you swooning and wishing for a cowboy like him. I love how he is so gentle and understanding of everything Emmy goes through. There is this beautiful connection between Emmy and Dwight that will give you so many heart squeezes. I really loved this one so much and could not put it down. Emmy and Dwight are fantastic together and you need to meet them.

This is the story of Dwight, a Montana rancher, and Emmy, a woman in hiding, trying to stay ahead of the Denver mob she is slated to testify against. When Emmy is dropped off at Dwight's ranch, she knows her days are numbered. Whether she survives to appear in court is now up to Dwight.
This is a romantic suspense with great characters and some open door bedroom scenes; however, those scenes do not drive the plot forward. Instead, the writing is superb with entertaining descriptions of Montana ranch life. With a satisfying conclusion and HEA ending, this novel delivers romance and suspense in spades.
5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Christmas stories are my weakness especially love stories filled with the magic of the holidays. Definitely two thumbs up on this one

:Scheduled to post Oct 26 at 9 am.

Home for a Cowboy Christmas
Donna Grant
St. Martin’s Press, Oct 26, 2021
319 Pages
Holiday Romance, Western Romance, Contemporary Romance
Provided by Pub’s Rep via NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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The cover shows a ranch at Christmas and a real cowboy carrying a saddle over his shoulder. This could be either Dalton or Dwight. Somehow, I think it’s intended to be Dwight, though this isn’t quite how I pictured him in my head as I read the story. The eyes are wrong. The rest of it would certainly work, though.

The primary story in the book, Home for a Cowboy Christmas, is very good. I don’t know the realities of witness protection or the marshall service, but I would think that if things went to h3ll during the lead up to a trial and a witness was compromised and in danger, this might be what could happen. This one marshall, who can’t be bought, takes off with the witness and keeps her safe. He stashes her someplace that he feels is totally safe. Then he hunts the assassin who’s been sent to kill her. It makes sense to me. My apologies to the marshall service if I have this wrong.

An isolated ranch out in the middle of nowhere Montana owned by a former military, former FBI, and former Homeland Security guy just might be the perfect place to hide. Especially if he has a great body and piercing blue eyes. Toss in a goofy dog who likes to cuddle for good measure and I’m sure it’s the place. Dwight is the protective sort. And Emmy needs to be taken care of after what she’s been through and still has to do. She still has to survive to testify at the mobster’s trial. Two lonely people on an isolated ranch in a tense situation. Both have their fair share of good looks and attractive body parts. Now what could possibly happen on a ranch between two such people? Sure enough, they develop feelings for each other and have hot, steamy sex. Just a note here...this is an old ranch house that has been updated over time. The bathroom in the master bedroom has a huge shower with a rain shower head and two side shower heads. Yes, there is shower sex. I said hot and steamy! It sure beats the chase scene in the blizzard with the assassin. The ending is predictable, but that’s what HEAs are. Recommended.

BONUS Short Story: Wish Upon a Cowboy by Donna Grant
This short story is amazing in its depth considering the brevity of it. Cowboy Zane rescues city girl Cady from a winter blizzard. Trapped in his small cabin for a few short days at Christmas gave rise to a very passionate connection. Two such seemingly mismatched people find common ground. Would love to see this made into a full-length novel. Recommended.

Emmy is in witness protection but the mob has paid off people in local law enforcement and within the US Marshall service. Keeping witnesses alive has been a problem. Dalton has found the perfect place to stash her till the trial starts. She has resigned herself that death will come soon. Dwight Reynolds has come back to the ranch in which he grew on. It is where he finds peace and solace. Dalton is calling in a favor and he plans to honor it. From the moment their eyes meet, a connection is made. With the help of Sam, his dog, she is finding reasons to smile and laugh again. The mob is not letting go. It takes Dalton, Dwight and a couple of ranch hands to save the day. It looks like a Christmas miracle has happened. Yes they do get their HEA.

I enjoyed this book. I like a combination of romance and intrigue. Sam and the horses were a cute addition.