by Carolyn Brown
Series: Cowboys & Brides #2
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
'Tis the season for...
A pistol-totin' woman who's no angel
A tough rancher who doesn't believe in miracles
Love that warms the coldest nights
After a year in Kuwait, Lucas Allen can't wait to get back to his ranch for Christmas and meet his gorgeous Internet pal in person.When he pulls in, there's Natalie Clark right in his front yard with a pink pistol in her hand and a dead coyote at her feet. Lucas is unfazed. But wait...is that a BABY in her arms?
Early this year I read and enjoyed the first book in the Cowboys & Bride series, Billion Dollar Cowboy, by Carolyn Brown. I was excited to see the release of The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby. This time she brings us a yummy rancher who has just finished a tour in Kuwait, and the sassy woman he has been chatting with for the past eleven months. Filled with memorable characters, a friendship to lover’s romance and the joy of the season. Mini review: sweet, humorous and romantic.
Lucas Allen is excited to be returning home to his ranch, and family. It’s been a year and he is anxious to celebrate the holiday season getting to know Natalie Clark. She is the woman he has been chatting with online for the past eleven months. He has visions of scooping her up in his arms and kissing her silly when she arrives. Imagine his surprise when he returns home to find Natalie surrounded by puppies, holding a pink pistol and a baby in her arms. The tale that unfolds was sweet, sexy and filled with hilarious moments that made me giggle aloud.
Lucas and Natalie have both lost someone special to them, and it has forever changed them. Lucas is sweet and smexy. At times, he could be a stubborn, Neanderthal but you cannot help falling for him. He has a soft spot for family members and even in anger he is tender. He is fairly fleshed out, and I felt his emotions. Natalie is tough, loves sports and ranch life. She is living with the consequences of too much tequila with her best friend and suffering from his loss. Lucus has been her rock, and those night spent chatting online her salvation. This is a friendship to lover’s trope and Brown did a good job of filling in the details, allowing the characters to grow and making the relationship feel real. The secondary characters especially the “three wise men” and the housekeeper really added humor and tender moments to this tale.
The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby was one I easily slipped into. The characters came to life, and I felt like I was right there on the ranch. Brown did a lovely job of creating a rancher’s life, and bringing it to the reader. I liked how Brown used the Angus Association of Ranchers to tie Lucas to the characters in Billion Dollar Cowboy. The tale was well paced, with twists, and turns while not over doing the drama and obstacles. There were lessons, and magical moment s and laughter all around. The romance developed slowly, and while the tale was completely predictable I was happy chasing my HEA. There was a scene where the couple bickered, and I think it should have been handled differently, it put me off Lucas for a New York minute, but we quickly got back on track and I ended up adoring him. The baby who did nothing more than coo, had a unique role in the tale, and I adored every moment and scene he was in.
Looking for a feel good cowboy romance to enjoy by the fire? Then cuddle up with The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby. The next book in this series is The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride, and I look forward to its release in February 2014.
Three and half cups of coffee out of five
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Sharon - Obsession with Books
I love the friendship to lover’s trope, this sounds like a wonderful holiday read.
A great review Kimba!
kimbacaffeinate
This was fun and the secondary characters made the tale fascinating 🙂
Berls
I love the friend-to-lover trope – I love seeing the evolution of the relationship. And I do like the sounds of the characters in general. It sounds like it could be read out of order – what do you think, could I start with this one?
kimbacaffeinate
totally work as standaone 🙂
Pamela D
This does sound like the perfect book to read in front of a fireplace. I need to read more romances with cowboys in it. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Cowboys are yummy 🙂
Christy
My brain is confused … I don’t know if I feel cold because of the setting or hot because of that gorgeous very. I hope he doesn’t get hypothermia being out in the snow with his shirt open like that. 😀
Christy
**gorgeous man.
lol – see, I’m so mixed up that my sentence went haywire.
kimbacaffeinate
ha, well he is distracted eye candy..he’d make a good tops of Tuesday!
kimbacaffeinate
hehehe
Heidi
I read this for HO Ho HO and I had fun with it as well. I always love Carolyn’s characters especially Hazel. I just got my character interview back from Carolyn/Hazel this morning :0
kimbacaffeinate
Oh have fun, Carolyn is so wonderful 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
This sounds adorbs!! I’m not one for cowboy theme books, but you, Blodeuedd, and Felicia are making me slowly want to read them. This is one I could get and I know who I would pass it on to as well! 🙂 Brilly review!
kimbacaffeinate
haha we will make a cowboy loving groupie out of you yet. Did I mention he is military?
Lexxie
I love contemporary romances featuring sexy cowboys! I can’t believe I haven’t read any of Carolyn Brown’s books yet – I am adding Cowboy’s Christmas Baby and the first book in the series to my TBR as I type.
Thanks for the great review 🙂 I love feel-good romances with strong characters.
kimbacaffeinate
Her books are fun, with wonderful characters. I hope you enjoy them Lexxie 🙂
brandileigh2003
I think Lucas would make me feel good 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
that he would Brandi 🙂 this was a wonderful, clean fun romance
Candace
I do like books that take place on ranches, and this one sounds good. I like that there’s a baby involved, it gives it a unique flavor, I think.
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo and the baby was so delightful.
Felicia S. (
Oh I have this one and enjoyed the Christmas one last year. I am hoping to get to this one over Thanksgiving!
kimbacaffeinate
This will be perfect for the long weekend, enjoy Felicia 🙂
Michele
Well, this line in the summary got my attention: “‘Tis the season for…A pistol-totin’ woman” and then your fab review sealed the deal! Off to add it to my reading list. Thanks for sharing 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
and a pink pistol at that!
Lily B
Cowboy romance! oh swoon. I love them! I think it started for me with B.J Daniels and I was hooked. Lucas sounds wonderful heh. your review made me giggle! definitely something I need to read!
kimbacaffeinate
I am glad I made you giggle, this was a fun romp!
Ellen
I would totally love this. I have a soft spot for anything with cowboys. You’ve convinced me to read this for sure.
kimbacaffeinate
hehehe..me too and it’s a Christmas love story!
Jenny
I have never read a cowboy romance Kim! I haven’t read a holiday themed romance either, so I’m thinking I could check two “nevers” off my list with this one book and that is an all-around win I think! Glad that despite his neanderthal moments, Lucas is still totally sexy and easy to fall for. This is an author I really hope to try in the near future!
kimbacaffeinate
He was sexy and sweet but military men seem to get that way from time to time..LOL I hope you try it 🙂
Jenea
Lucas and Natalie sounds fantastic and perfect for each other. And Lucas is a sexy cowboy, that definitely works for me. 😉 Wonderful review.
kimbacaffeinate
cowboys are yummy, thanks Jenea 🙂
Michelle
I am in the mood for some good holiday books. I have been ever since I was kicking myself for missing out on your holiday read event. I have snowed over by angie stanton coming up for review so maybe that will get the ball rolling on my winter reads.
I like that you were able to immerse yourself in this ranchers life easily.
Great review Kimba!
kimbacaffeinate
This was a good one Michelle and I hope you get to try it 🙂
Debbie Haupt
OOh Thanks Kimba, these holiday tales are getting me in the spirit 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
This will one will make you laugh, feel the magic of the season and maybe crave a cowboy..hehehe
kindlemom1
It has been awhile since I snuggled up with a good cowboy read I think I am about due for one. 😉
kimbacaffeinate
This one was good and will leave you will a smile 🙂
Tanja
You really like cowboy boys 🙂 I haven’t read anything with them in a while so I guess I should. I haven’t heard of this one and I like the sound of the characters. Great review, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Yes Tanja..cowboys, military men, bad boys, alphas, rogues, rakes and sometimes sweet misunderstood ones. Hmm, I think I just like boys in general..LOL
Mary
My favorite types of romances are the fun ones. Some are so darned serious, with lots of navel-gazing and deep, soulful looks. I like loud, boisterous and giggle-worthy. It can have some sad/deep moments (like the losses these two suffered) but let’s keep up the witty banter, eh?
kimbacaffeinate
This was sweet, and I laughed so much which was delightful 🙂
Silvia
I’ve never read a cowboy romance, but I’ve always been curious since I have a thing for cowboys… As if no one has, huh? ;P And personally, I find Neanderthal to be the most fascinating type in books. Those are always the ones who end up capturing my heart the most…
Great review, Kimberly! I noted the book down 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
He is military, so they tend to have those neanderthal thoughts and yep I like them too.
Naomi
This sounds like a sweet read Kimberly. It’s nice to have two great characters like that. And a sexy cowboy like that… yumm!! Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes a sexy cowboy is yummy any day of the week Yiha 🙂
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
Sweet, humorous and romantic sounds like a perfect holiday read! I’ll admit that the title made me laugh just a little bit, but I do love these types of stories.
kimbacaffeinate
It made me laugh too but it is an actually baby and not a woman..LOL
blodeuedd
Hm..I think I have have missing posts. Thanks a lot blogger (my side)
kimbacaffeinate
Uh-oh 🙁