Member Reviews

A warm witty holiday romance. I adored this thoughtful fun, and creative story. A wonderful read ro get you into the holiday spirit.

Was this review helpful?

In my opinion, Shanna Hatfield is the reigning queen of clean, cowboy romance with her sweet, relatable characters, and romantic, but realistic plotlines.
Lark is strong, independent, and driven to do everything to make her small food truck business succeed. She's also sweet and generous with her time and her amazing food, cooked with all her heart. Troy Gibson is a quintessential cowboy-a man of few words, he loves his small family which counts his grandmother Wendy and his charmer of a cousin Truitt. Troy gave up his rodeo dreams to return to his home ranch when his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away. Troy knows his family needs his help with the all the hard, backbreaking farm work. No wonder quiet and reserved Troy thinks he has absolutely no time for romantic relationships, even if by some luck he managed to find a girl who wouldn't think him lacklustre and boring.
Lark and Troy seem to have been made for each other- they have very similar dispositions and values, but their honesty doesn't allow them get involved with each other as they believe they aren't at the point in their lives where they would be free to pursue a serious romantic relationship!
One of the things that I love so much about Shanna's books is that the protagonists aren't flawless, but they are sincere and decent people. Actually, there only a few negative secondary characters- some are just self-absorbed or misguided, with the only truly despicable one getting his comeuppance in the end.
Apart from the very realistic dilemma at the heart of the book, there's also a lot of realistic detail that makes this book so interesting starting from the team-roping, wheat planting, modelling and finishing with the use of a commercial kitchen. You can tell straightaway a lot of painstaking research has gone into this story.
If you have been following the Rodeo Romance series, you'll be delighted to see the familiar faces and catch up with the protagonists of the previous books. If this is the first Shanna Hatfield book you've picked up, don't worry, it can be read as a standalone.

Sweet, wholesome, and charming!

Was this review helpful?

Loved this Christmas story with a rancher and chef. Those two don't seem like they would be a match. But somehow it works. It's nice to read a Christmas book that doesn't read like a hallmark movie. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy a hallmark movie now and then. But sometimes you want something different.

Was this review helpful?

Savoring Christmas by Shanna Hatfield. The story of Troy and Lark was an amazing story. Both of them were not sure they wanted a relationship. Both Troy and Lark are wonderfully kind and compassionate people. Always putting other people’s needs first. Read the story you will love it.

Was this review helpful?

This is a quick fun read, a cozy romance. The characters are likable and sweet…love and romance…family and friends…a cowboy and a food truck owner…they meet…they like…love happens. This gifted and talented author has written a romance that is entertaining. Get comfortable in a cozy chair with a warm Afghan…a cup of steaming herbal tea…a delicious dessert…spend an afternoon with these characters who come alive on the pages…this book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks also to the publisher and author.

Was this review helpful?

I found this story wholesome, sweet and entertaining, the very heart of what I look for in a good holiday read. That said, I was a bit disappointed that this wasn’t really a Christmas read at all. Instead, there was only really 2 or 3 chapters that mentioned Christmas. This didn’t affect my rating for this book, but just left me a little confused. I loved these characters and thought they were well developed and likable, good people. Overall, I’d rate this book a 4 out of 5 and would definitely recommend to others!

Was this review helpful?

A sweet, easy to read, quick romance. Although set at Christmas, it is not over the top Christmassey.

The story follows Lark, a food truck owner, and Troy, a cowboy, as the universe conspires to bring them together through a series of accidents, coincidental meetings, and the urging of friends.

The characters are likeable enough, but the plot is a tad on the slow side. There is a major focus on everyone's professions, to the point where the romance feels like a secondary plot.

Still, a nice, quick read for the season.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my review.

Was this review helpful?

I just reviewed Savoring Christmas by Shanna Hatfield. #SavoringChristmas #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]Edi
I thought this book was so good. Tje food truck aspect is big right now and I loved reading about it. I was there for all the drama and the romance. I loved it!

Was this review helpful?

Troy meets Lark when she has a food truck at a rodeo he is at. A slow burn love story, told from both points of view.

Was this review helpful?

Troy Lucas gave up his dream of working the rodeo circuit to look after his grandmother and take care of the family ranch. Troy's Grammy raised him and his cousin Truitt since they were both toddlers; his sacrifice is the least he can do for the woman who took care of him. Now he has no desire to leave his small town life.

Lark Gibson is known as a 'Potato Princess'. Her family owns a very lucrative, very successful potato farm but Lark doesn't act like she comes from money. Lark has always wanted to be a chef. She went to culinary school and even had an opportunity to travel to France and study under some great chefs. Due to unforeseen circumstances Lark has returned home and hopes to raise enough money working her her food truck to start up her own restaurant in Portland.

Lark and Troy have both had difficult relationships in the past and neither is looking for anything serious. Since their chance encounter they have both been happy just being friends. Both work hard at their jobs and barely have time to spend with one another but fate seems to keep drawing them together. 'Savoring Christmas' is a wholesome romance with a sweet main female character and a good looking, physically fit cowboy. This is my first Shanna Hatfield story and the interactions with some of the other characters leads me to believe this story to be a spin off from her other series. Both main characters are truly likable with little to no character flaws. Troy has had struggles his entire life and contrary to what Lark claims she has had a pretty easy, carefree upbringing. It was a fairly easy read with tremendous sexual tension between the two characters throughout the book. With a name called 'Savoring Christmas' I expected a holiday story. Christmas didn't really make an appearance until the very end, a bit disappointing.

Reviews Posted:
Blog: Heather's Book Nook - https://heathersreadingnook.blogspot.com/2022/11/savoring-christmas-rodeo-romance-book.html

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2874408740?source=link_share

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5102451050

Was this review helpful?

Troy is a man who has always put his family first as evidenced by his withdrawing from the rodeo circuit so that he could manage the ranch his family owns. While participating in a local fair he meets Lark when he comes to her rescue and despite all his responsibilities, he knew that she was special.

Lark has plans for her future which include leaving town and pursuing her dream of owning a restaurant despite all the challenges she has overcome so far. Until that can become a reality, she works tirelessly on her food truck, but meeting Troy was a surprise she didn’t see coming.

This is a heartwarming story between two captivating characters. Despite the fact that they weren’t looking for love or a relationship they are about to realize that the best things in life happen when you least expect it.

Was this review helpful?

Savoring Christmas is book 10 of the Rodeo Romance series and this was the first book I've read from Shanna Hatfield. I enjoyed the writing style and how the characters were built up within the story. Troy Lucas and Lark Gibson may think they want different things, but that's all about to change as their relationship grows. A good book for those who like the romantic Hallmark movies with a little cowboy rodeo flair.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Wholesome Hearts Publishing for sending this ARC for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first book by the author and I loved every moment of it. The book follows Lark and Troy who meet when an adventurous heifer breaks free and runs Lark over . Sparks fly when they meet and of course Troy enjoys food from the food truck It's a slow burn romance featuring a cowboy and food truck owner. Highly recommend! The book has everything including yummy food, dashing cowboys , cows and of course romance.

Was this review helpful?

This book was Magical! From the very beginning I was loving these characters and this setting!
Troy and Lark are honestly such a wholesome, sweet, amazing couple and I adore them!

Lark is a food truck owner who makes homemade tatter tots from her family potato farm at her food truck, Bud's Spud's. She is working hard to save money from her food truck earnings to be able to move to Portland and open up her own restaurant. She has had some awful things happen to her in the past and she is determined to heal and move on from them.

Lark then quit literally "runs into" Troy, when a loose steer at the fair almost runs her over and he helps rope it in. Troy is an ex-pro rodeo roper who now ropes at local fairs with his cousin. They also have a family ranch that they run with their grandmother. Troy is very much the definition of a perfect cowboy gentleman. Honestly, he could not have been any sweeter.

This was such a heartfelt, light read that I could not put down. I was smiling will reading almost every page. When Troy started calling Lark Songbird, I almost fell out of my chair I was swooning for hard. Like how more wholesome and adorable can this man be.

The way this was written, I felt like I was in these small towns and at the ranch with them. All of the characters felt like my friends and family too and I was along for the ride!

I really enjoyed reading about all of the amazing food Lark makes (there is even a recipe at the end of the book for her spuddy bites), and everything at the rodeo and the ranch. I know nothing about any of these things, so reading about them was so fun for me!

This was for sure a slow burn romance (that we never really got to see actually burn). Every time they would get close I would think "Okay, this is the time they are finally going to actually kiss!" and they would somehow end up not doing it. I was so wanting them to just admit they love each other already!

The few things that I was not a huge fan of for this were that I wish there would be at least one scene where they did something more than just kiss, and the title is a little misleading. You would think this is set mainly during Christmas time, but it is not. The first 80% of the book is during the summer and there actually is not even a scene during Christmas, they skip right over it. I went into this thinking it was a Holiday book, and it is not. If this would have been marketed a different way, this book very well could have been five stars for me!

This is book 10 in a series and I definitely plan on going back and reading the other books about some of these other characters!

Was this review helpful?

Troy and Lark are two people who made decisions for themselves. Troy gave up his career when his grandfather died, to help run the family ranch. Lark, instead of staying at the family potato business, decided to strike out on her own, selling her food creations from a food truck. The two met at the fair, where Troy was helping the young 4H children get ready to show their animals.
The story continues, with them getting to know each other, and the book goes with their pace. Their journey together, is what life brings into their lives. Sometimes, I laughed at some of the things that were happening.
This is their journey with uncertainty, afraid to take a chance, misunderstanding things that were happening, learning about each other, and following their journey to see where it takes them.
I received an ARC from Wholesome Hearts Publishing through NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

A new author for me and I enjoyed this holiday romance. Troy and Lark meet when a heifer breaks free from a barn to travel the rodeo grounds. In the process it runs by Lark, a food truck owner, preparing to start her day. Her hands are full and the heifer knocks the breath out of her landing her on her back. Troy captures the heifer then goes back to help the girl and their worlds collide.

It's a slow moving love story, which I enjoy. They take the time to get to know each other and become friends. The characters come alive and you can picture the rodeo, their homes, the ranch Troy works with his cousin Tru and the grandmother that raised them, and the food truck.

I was thrilled to find out the rest of the books in the series can be read for free in KU. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable sweet romance.
It didn't feel christmassy to me. Only the very last little bit was Christmas.
The ending felt a little fast given their courtship but I still enjoyed the story overall.
Cowboy plus food truck owner both trying to find their way in the world. Lots of detail with her job and the food which make me hungry. Lots of detail about each of his jobs.
Overall 4 stars

Was this review helpful?

This book feels like a good cosy Christmas movie should. The tenth in its series, it focuses on cowboy/rancher Troy Lucas and chef/food truck owner Lark Gibson.

After literally crashing into each other’s lives thanks to a runaway cow, it’s clear these two are meant to be. Everyone else in this delightful universe can see it, even if they can’t (at least initially). From rodeo to rodeo, hot air balloon festival to Las Vegas, with plenty of loveable side characters thrown in, it’s a very sweet story that makes for a perfect Christmas, but not too Christmassey, read.

If I could give this four and a half stars, I would. The only thing that keeps it from being five for me is the rushed happily ever after; I’d have been happier to see the big conclusion in an epilogue set in the not to far away future.

Was this review helpful?

Savoring Christmas is Book 10 in the Rodeo Romance series by Shanna Hatfield. This was such an enjoyable sweet story and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Troy Lucas runs the family ranch after the death of his grandfather. A former rodeo competitor, Troy is now focused on running the ranch, his farrier business, and competing in some team roping for fun along with his cousin Truitt. He certainly doesn’t need or have time for a relationship.

Chef Lark Gibson has only one goal on her mind and that is to open a restaurant in Portland. Until she can save enough money Lark will take her food truck to as many events as possible. She has no intention of letting anything or anyone stand in her way of reaching her dream. What she doesn’t expect is be knocked off her feet by a cow or a certain blue eyed cowboy.

This was such a charming story that I read it straight through. I loved Lark and Troy and there were some great side characters. I’m hoping Truitt’s story is next. If you love rodeo excitement, animals, great food descriptions, banter, and clean romance you’ll adore this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wholesome Hearts Publishing for the eARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion. A delightful story I highly recommend.

My review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon closer to the release date.

5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Lark, a rich girl trying to make it on her own, operates a food truck, working at rodeos where she meets Troy. He's a cowboy, but primarily a farmer, living with his cousin on his grandmother's farm. Lark and Troy work incredibly hard, and they increasingly help each other as they grow closer. They're both likable people, but the dramatic tension rises primarily from wondering when Troy would get the courage to kiss her seriously. There's almost too much about the work (rodeo, farming, horseshoeing, running a commercial food operation, modeling and developing a clothing line) and not enough about the couple. But a nice romance.

Was this review helpful?