Ex-Navy Seal Clayton East had to come home to his family’s ranch after his father’s health declines. Abby Harper has been taking care of her younger brothers since her mother left them. When her brother’s rebellion goes too far, she’s grateful that Clayton believes in second chances. Maybe this bad event is exactly what her family needed.

This was a very sweet book. I loved both of the main characters. They are exactly what the other needs. I loved how he and his parents were able to embrace Abby and her brothers. I highly recommend.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I loved this book! I am not usually someone who reads a lot of Christmas stories. I will read them but I don't really look for them. This book made its way into my hands and something about that cover drew me right in and I wanted to start reading it right away. Once I started, I didn't want to stop and I ended up reading the whole thing from cover to cover in a single day. I really enjoyed every moment I spent reading this wonderful little story.

Clayton is ex-military and has been working overseas until he is called home to the family ranch. The ranch is in trouble and his dad is sick so Clayton must come home to run things and try to save the ranch. Abby has not had it easy. She has been raising her two younger brothers and doing her best to get ahead in life.

Abby and Clayton meet when Abby's brother is caught stealing cattle from the ranch Clayton's family owns. Not the best way to start things. Clayton turns out to be a really nice guy and instead of sending Abby's brother, Brice, to jail he lets him come and work his debt off at the ranch. Clayton also enlists Abby's help with the ranch's books hoping that she can sort out exactly what is going on.

I loved the characters in this book. Abby and Clayton were both amazing. Abby was strong and cared deeply for her two brothers. She was smart and willing to sacrifice her wants for the sake of other people. Clayton was such a good guy. He has had some things to deal with in his personal and military life. I loved this pair together. They had great chemistry from the very beginning and it was really wonderful to watch them fall in love.

The secondary characters were also really well done. Abby's two brothers, Brice and Caleb, played a large role in the story and were really great. Their relationship with their sister really helped illustrate how much she cared for them. Clayton's parents were also key players in the story. I liked how they welcomed Abby and her brothers as if they were family right from the start.

The mystery in the book kept things interesting. I really wanted to see Clayton save the ranch with Abby's help. There were a few scenes where we got to see Clayton, a former SEAL, in action which was pretty exciting. This was really a book more focused on romance than anything else and it did a wonderful job with it. I don't know that there was really anything too surprising in the book but everything was executed perfectly. I couldn't help but get swept away by this romantic tale.

I would highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance. This book had just the right combination of romance, action, and great characters. The story had just the right amount of Christmas adding just a bit to the story. This is the first book by Donna Grant that I have read and I am really looking forward to reading more of her work soon.

I received a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press.

Initial Thoughts
I loved this book! Clayton and Abby were absolutely perfect together. I thought the secondary characters were amazing and the mystery held my interest. This probably falls somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for me so I am rounding up for now.

I loved this book. This is a fun Christmas story for the holiday's. I didn't feel that it overdid the Christmas theme. 

Back home, on the ranch is the last place Clayton, former Navy Seal wanted to be for the Holiday's. But when his mother calls desperate for his help he's obligated to help. 

Abby and her brothers are all that's left of her family, and as the oldest sibling its up to her to take care of her family. When her younger brother is caught steeling cattle she's thrown into Clayton's family. 

It's nothing out of the ordinary for a romance (especially the ending). But its enjoyable, fun and a quick read. I loved the family aspect of this book, especially the siblings. I always want more books with sibling characters.

’Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays―even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything.

Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit’s end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby―and the inescapable longing in his heart―off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?

A holiday mood inspiring story that will capture your heart and send it soaring as this unsuspecting couple finds romance over the Christmas holidays.

Clayton and Abby are well written characters that definitely tug at heartstrings as both are tormented by a past that drives their present lives. This story brings family together and builds a future that looks bright and full for characters that wasn’t so sure what the future would bring which has the relationship being a bit turbulent throughout but interspaced with lots of good feeling romance as the couple overcome the obstacles in their path to happiness.

This well paced story mostly focuses on romance and family, it also has a bit of suspense as bad guys threaten to take away the happiness before it really gets going. Part of the suspense is what actually brings this couple together, so it adds that bit of “good things can begin from something dark” and the mystery of finding out who their enemies really are adds thrills balancing out the romance and emotional aspect of the story making it a well-rounded story that I just had to finish before I could put it down.

Overall you have a wonderful happily ever after holiday romance that has a touch of suspense. Donna Grant always gives reader fantastic stories that I just love to read. They make you feel good and her characters always come to life and make it easy for readers get caught up in their story and as always, when it comes to this author I can’t wait for the next Heart of Texas novel.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is the 1^st book in the Heart of Texas series.

The 2^nd book – Cowboy On My Mind - is scheduled for release in September 2018.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero is available in print & ebook at:

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Donna Grant can be found at:

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The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant is the First book in a new series called "Heart of Texas". This is the story of Clayton East and Abby Harper.
Abby has been taking care of her younger brothers for a long time but had to look after them full time after their mother just up and left them. So while trying to keep up with her brothers she is also trying to put food on the table and finish her college degree.
Clayton feels the lost of his brother very strongly and with that he hasn't wanted to return home to the family ranch. So after leaving the Navy Seals he went about finding other jobs to do..but that has come to an end now. Clayton's father has fallen sick and they need him back at the ranch. There Clayton learns that someone has been taking their cows and that the ranch is in bad shape. Clayton tries to do what is right but he is fighting his feelings each day until he meets Abby.
Abby's brother was caught trying to steal East Ranch cattle and now he is in trouble. Clayton offers to have the boy work of his debit by working at the ranch. Clayton also thinks he can get the boy to talk to find out who is really behind these thefts. Also it will lead him to be closer to Abby who has giving him something to look forward too.
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