2 in 1 Review: A True Cowboy Christmas & Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: October 2018

Gray Everett has a heart of gold but that doesn't mean he believes in the magic of Christmas. He's got plenty else to worry about this holiday season, what with keeping his cattle ranch in the family and out of the hands of hungry real-estate investors looking to make a down-and-dirty deal. That, plus being a parent to his young and motherless daughter, equals a man who will not rest until he achieves his mission. Now, all Gray needs is the help of his lifelong neighbor. . .who happens to have grown into a lovely, spirited woman.

For Abby Douglas, the chance to join forces with Gray is nothing less than a Christmas miracle. Much as the down-to-earth farmer's daughter has tried to deny it, Abby's been in love with stern, smoking-hot Gray her whole life. So when Gray proposes a marriage of convenience as a way to combine land--and work together toward a common cause—Abby can't refuse. But how can she convince Gray that sometimes life offers a man a second chance for a reason. . .and that their growing trust and mutual passion may be leading to true and lasting love?

A True Cowboy Christmas is the first book in the Cold River Ranch series.  It's a sweet marriage of convenience story that will warm your heart.  This is Gray and Abby's story.  Throughout the story, I kept thinking, "You poor clueless  man" about Gray.  You can't help but love his clueless heart though. It's clear his intentions are pure, if misguided.  I was rooting for Abby to help him see that he could love her and have a happy and real marriage, not just a practical one.  Both Abby and Gray had the most horrible parents on planet earth, it's no wonder they had issues.  I definitely recommend this one.

Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: July 2019

Ty Everett ran off to the rodeo when he turned eighteen and has been riding bulls ever since…until his last fall causes partial amnesia and he must return to Cold River Ranch to figure out what comes next. But how can he pick his next move when he can’t remember how he got here in the first place—much less the beautiful woman who appears at the ranch, claims she knows him, and warms his cold heart for the first time since he woke up in the hospital?

Rodeo Queen Hannah Monroe gave up her crown for Ty Everett, and her innocence. What she wants from Ty now is a divorce. But Ty can’t remember her—or their secret wedding, or even the son she never meant to hide from him—and Hannah is torn. How can she leave the man she can’t forget and still loves despite herself? And even if she’s willing to start over, what will happen when the truth comes out?

Of the two books, this was my least favorite.  I was disappointed that, again, we have a character with bad parents.  Well, Hannah's mother wasn't that bad, but she wasn't exactly a role model for teaching her daughter to trust anyone. However, her father was not in the picture either.  This one is Ty and Hananh's story.  I wasn't a fan of the amnesia trope here.  I predicted what would happen in the end and found my eyes rolling a bit. I've never been a fan of the hidden baby trope either.  I also thought that the writing was a bit repetitive.  I kind of got tired of being reminded how crappy of a father Amos was to Ty and his brothers.  There were a few other examples of this as well.  It's not a bad addition to the story, it was just OK for me.