Cowboys for Christmas

By Liz Talley, Kim Law,  and Terri Osborn

ISBN# 9780698185401

Author’s Websites: http://www.liztalleybooks.com/index.php ; http://www.kimlaw.com ; http://www.terriosburn.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Synopsis:

3 cowboys…2 weeks…1 wedding!

Three all-new stories by Kim Law, Terri Osburn, and Liz Talley

Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn’t be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.

In Love Me, Cowboy by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn’t mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…

Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley.

Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite how perfect he is. And in Marry Me, Cowboy by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be… 

Review:

Okay….this book included a theme I like (Christmas) and HUNKY, swoon worthy men 🙂

“Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn

Claire has a past (albeit very short – one night actually) with Tyler, the younger brother of best friend Mary Catherine. Due to personal issues Claire has / had – she ran away and they never got to explore a complete relationship.  Roll forward in time as Mary Catherine’s wedding approaches.  Of course Claire (a bridesmaid) and Tyler (groomsmen) will have to interact.  The whole story takes place within a two week time period.  Fast paced and engaging. 

At the beginning of the story, Claire seems to be a pushover with not much backbone (with respect to her mother – Sylvia Campbell).  AND she jumps to conclusions way to quickly and without all the facts!  We also learn that Claire has body image issues.   At times I felt distain for Sylvia……these feelings did waiver and I shall let each reader make up their own mind about this character. At one point in time Claire has it out with her mother…. 

“If I marry, it will be on my terms to the man of my choosing.” Claire ignored her mother’s gasp of disapproval.  “And if I have children, they’ll know they’re loved unconditionally no matter their size, their choice of career, or their lack of political aspirations.  I only wish someone had done that much for me.” 

All I have to say is…..way to go Claire!!!!

I loved the way Tyler handled Claire’s body image issue….such a good man!  All in all, Tyler is a swoon worthy hunk of a cowboy.  He was a solid main character.

 “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.

 “Georgia knew cowboys were her personal crack, but she’d been in rehab for the last eight years, living on the East Coast, dating guys who thought western wear was Ralph Lauren.” 

Georgia is a recovering Cowboyaholic (I know….I made up the word….).  So when she returns to Holly Hills for Mary Catherine’s bridal shower and wedding and runs out of gas driving into Holly Hills,  who comes to her rescue but none other than the local vet…Reed McCormick.

She definitely has a chip on her shoulder with respect to Holly Hills – seeing herself as “former white trash”.  She has gone out of her way to show the townsfolk of Holly Hills that she has made it …

“she’d intended on rolling into town in her Beamer, wearing designer clothes, a stylish new pixie cut and sporting a badass attitude.”

One night the gals from the bridal party went to the local watering hole, The Thirsty Cowboy.  The bride to be saw her lost love ‘Jax’…and proceeded to get drunk (even though dress fittings were scheduled for the next day).  At bit later while Georgia is getting a bit of fresh air, Rodney (some cowboy Georgia flirted with for a bit in the bar), follows her outside and basically would not take no for an answer from Georgia.  Out walks Reed….and after words are exchanged Rodney leaves.  At this point in time (and clearly it is no use denying the chemistry between Georgia and Reed), Reed leans in and kisses Georgia. 

“Breaking the kiss, Georgia stepped backward, swiping a hand over her mouth. “Jesus”.  His eyes twinkled.  “Nope. You can call me Reed.”” 

Definitely produced a chuckle from this reader.

To add depth, the reader is lead to traverse the difficulties Georgia is having with the east coast university where she is the coach of the Lady Hawks.   And on top of that she has to deal with a seriously ill Paw Paw.  I love the depth that was written for this character!

Reed is a local vet…a nice guy….NOT Georgia’s type (in her eyes).  But sparks fly between the two….naturally.  And boy do they……I love Reed’s depth…falling for Georgia as she is…warts and all(so to speak).

I would have to say, this is by far the most developed and all-encompassing story of the three with hotness abounding but depth as well.

“Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law

This story starts off with Mary Catherine arriving in town two weeks before her wedding. She is doing exactly what is expected of her, the responsible thing, marrying Dr. Bradley Ray Hampton (rising pediatric surgeon)…the young man (and quarterback of the high school football team) whom she dated from ninth grade until the summer before her senior year.    Mary Catherine always did the responsible thing….except when she didn’t. 🙂

Jax Tipton – Mary Catherine’s permanent crush and possibly soul mate?  As Mary Catharine remembers the best lover she has had as well…even better than her fiancé. 

“Jax Tipton had been it for her. Her Friend. Her love. The man she would have sold her own daddy for.  Brad had been her first, and she’d loved him too. But not like Jax….For a year, they’d grown from nothing to friends to lovers.  They’d even been engaged. Secretly, but still. She’d been planning to marry him.  Until her dad and Marilyn had stopped it.”

So to say there was history would be an understatement.  My question at this point in the book (chapter 2) would be, if Mary Catherine is an intelligent woman, why is she settling?  WHY live her life as someone else dictates?

  I really enjoyed the underlying “artist” persona of Mary Catherine.  It says a lot about the man who loves her and her art……wants to support her dreams and not just have her support him in his dreams.  And even though Jax is portrayed as a bad boy….he does have some hidden underlying surprises.  He is truly a good guy.

Overall Comments – I like all three stories.  Each of the characters had interesting and hidden layers to themselves which I found added significantly to the storylines.  It did not hurt that each of the “cowboys” were hunky 🙂   I quite enjoyed the way that two or three sentences / paragraphs were in each story….thus creating an actual link between the stories – the same events being told from three different perspectives.  If you like quick, easy reads with a few chuckles and descriptions of hunky guys and their good looking gals….then have a read.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*