OMG Christmas Tree: a country boy-city girl Christmas romance

OMG Christmas Tree is the first book in the Holidays in Crystal Cove series by Stephanie J. Scott. Three nights before Christmas, Megan reluctantly comes home to their small town of Crystal Cove to spend the holidays with her mom and her new husband. On her way in, her mom asked Megan to pick up a Christmas tree and she did. Nick Bennington heads to the Christmas tree farm to pick up the tree on hold for the charity event at the mayor’s historical mansion. However, he learns that the tree was sold to someone else. He is determined to get the tree back and luck may be on his side as he helps Megan out of a snowy ditch. As they fight over the tree, what Megan and Nick don’t account for is their instant attraction. Can the city girl and the country boy find love during the magic of the Christmas season? 

OMG Christmas Tree is described as a “sweet, slow burn, holiday romantic comedy.” However, I did not find it sweet, romantic or comedic. However, as a novella, there is no time for a full development of the characters or a slow burn story. From the very beginning I did not like Megan. She does not know what she wants in life, which is fine as many struggle with future decisions, and has an attitude about it when others talk about her choices. Then suddenly, at the end, she knows exactly what she wants. I also did not like Nick as he constantly degrades Megan because she knows how to live life in the country. And then, suddenly, he decides she is everything he didn’t know he needed. I could see this story as a Hallmark Christmas movie; however, it is one I would not watch. I do not recommend OMG Christmas Tree.  

OMG Christmas Tree is available in paperback and eBook

 

Cowboys and Starlight: a sweet city girl meets country boy romance

Cowboys and Starlight by Jacqueline Winters is the first book in the Starlight Cowboys series. Colten Livingston swore he would never fall in love with another city girl. Not after his ex-wife broke his heart. Now that his mother is selling the family home, nothing is keeping him from his dream job at the Glacier National Park. Enter Veronica “Ronnie” Ross. An interior decorator down on her luck, she arrives in town for a much needed vacation to visit her brother in Starlight, Wyoming, when she lands the job renovating the Livingston home. Colten finds her intriguing, beautiful and off limits as she is his best friend’s little sister. He knows he needs to walk away as Ronnie doesn’t plan on staying; however, they are drawn together and discover a reason to stay. 

The Starlight Cowboys series is described as a sweet contemporary small town western romance with happily ever afters. From the opening chapter, the story and the characters drew me in and I could not put it down. I immediately loved the sassiness of Ronnie and the cool demeanor of Colten and I knew the sparks were going to fly. The story was sweet, sassy and heartwarming as both Colten and Ronnie deal with their own heartbreak and issues and discover new dreams. The supporting characters were great and I also enjoyed a hint at future relationships for the rest of the series. Overall, I enjoyed Cowboys and Starlight and look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy cowboy romances with happily ever afters, I highly recommend Cowboy and Starlight. 

Cowboys and Starlight is available in paperback and eBook

Love at Rosecrown Ranch: home is where the heart is, but where is home?

Love at Rosecrown Ranch is the first book in the Rosecrown Ranch series by Ruth Pendleton. It is the story of Jenny Stratton, fresh off a devastating break up, needs a break and Hank Miner, ranch hand on her grandmother’s ranch, wants nothing to do with Jenny. Hank doesn’t trust the city girl despite her beauty and bravery. But soon they are forced to work together and the lines quickly become blurred as their attraction becomes a distraction they both are trying to avoid. Jenny must decide between the life she left behind and the life she has discovered on the ranch with Hank. Home is where the heart is, Jenny needs to decide if it’s in the city she left behind or on the ranch and Hank in front of her. 

Love at Rosecrown Ranch is a sweet romance with deeper issues of grief, heartbreak and finding a way to move forward and love again. I enjoyed Jenny and Hank as people with deep wounds from heartbreaks, both reluctant to open their hearts again but can’t help being drawn to each other. My one complaint is Jenny’s “friends” who constantly berate her for still being weeping over her breakup. Is anyone really over a devastating breakup in 3 weeks? Especially when Jenny was anticipating a very different outcome? I feel they were being too harsh with her. Overall, I enjoyed this story. It is the type of romance that leaves you with a smile and sigh of happiness. I recommend Love at Rosecrown Ranch and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Love at Rosecrown Ranch is available in paperback and eBook