Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

I love a good anthology book. Reading one allows me to revisit authors I love (hello Linda Broday!) and fall in love with new authors (hello Amy Sandas!) This time around, we have 6 historical novels featuring cowboys, so there is even more for me to love!

Let’s look at each story:

A Fairy Tale Christmas by Leigh Greenwood: The writing in this story is very descriptive. For example:

She felt like a pumpkin dusted with November Frost.
In this story, we find Nan Carson in a not very Christmas-y spirit til the arrival of Will Atkins and his daughter Clara. Nothing like a child to bring in the Christmas spirit in a romance story. I think this story did suffer from the downside of anthologies. The romance between Nan and Will moved very quickly. Honestly, I think Nan’s love for Clara is more authentic than her affection for Will. In this instance, I would have preferred more back-story on the characters and the opportunity to see their love grow over time.

Christmas in Paradise by Rosanne Bittner: This story makes a lot more sense after reading the Author’s Note that followed. We meet Maggie and Sage Lightfoot in Christmas in Paradise after the actions of Ms. Bittner’s novel Paradise Valley. I haven’t read Paradise Valley, but after reading this short story, I’ve added it to my TBR! I enjoyed meeting Maggie and Sage. Their story is very touching. Sage is clearly a great protector and husband.

A Christmas Wedding by Linda Broday: This is a great, but short, visit back to Hope’s Crossing. I’ve loved my other visits to this town of characters. (See my reviews here and here.) For this visit, we meet up with Rebel and Travis. It was great to reacquaint myself with these two characters and to see how their love overcomes some serious adversities. What I enjoyed most about this story, though, is it shows how the community of Hope’s Crossing bands together to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

A Love Letter to Santa by Margaret Brownley: A sweet and touching story with a hint of humor. Holly Sanders is the small-town teacher determined to give every child their Christmas wish. Tom Chandler is the new to town blacksmith who volunteers to help. Plus, cute dog alert! Like A Christmas Wedding by Ms. Broday, the townspeople shine here, donating time and gifts for the children.

One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt: Plucky heroine alert! And old loves reunited! Two of my favorite tropes. Evelyn Prescot is a doctor in 1903 New Mexico. Colin Foster is the one who walked away from their relationship years ago. Colin may be delirious with fever, but he knows Evie will make everything better. I enjoyed this rekindled romance. But I especially admire Evie and her can do attitude.

Through the Storm by Amy Sandas: This one by far is my favorite in the anthology. It blew me away. It’s a great final story to the whole book. Witty banter and super sexy times between Lucy and Gentleman Jack while they are stuck together during a blizzard. The two characters are well developed for a short novel. I appreciate how independent Lucy is and I’m a bit in love with Jack myself. After all, ginger Scots are my weakness! 😉 Especially so when they read poetry and make breakfast. I’ll certainly be checking out more of Ms. Sandas’s novels to see if there are more flirty conversations between the main characters!

I utterly enjoyed this anthology, visited some old friends and made some new ones. Each story is unique, but tied together with Christmas ribbons. And maybe some twinkly lights, as those are my favorite. I’ll certainly be checking out more books by these authors.