4 Wine Glass #Review of A Cowboy Christmas Miracle by Carolyn Brown

Title: A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Series: Burnt Boot #4
Author: Carolyn Brown
Format: Kindle, 352 Pages
Published: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 6, 2016)
ISBN: ASIN: B01HN3X3CI
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Opposites might attract...

The Brennans and the Gallaghers put aside their one-hundred-year feud every Tuesday for their weekly poker game. This week, the stakes are sky-high. Goaded to recklessness, Declan Brennan bets one thousand dollars that he can woo the next woman to walk into the saloon. A minute later, fiery-haired Betsy Gallagher pushes through the doors. If Declan can tame this wild Gallagher, he'll have earned every penny.

If they don't kill each other first...

Betsy can outshoot anybody in Burnt Boot and loves ranching more than anything-until she falls for Declan. He's fallen for her too. But when she discovers what sparked their courtship, Declan will need a Christmas miracle to save his hide-and his heart.

Linda's Thoughts:
"I hear it was the fact that the Brennans had a hellfireanddamnation preacher runnin' their family back in Prohibition days and you Gallaghers were runnin' moonshine to get by and got caught. Your family blamed the Brennans for rattin' you out, and that started a feud," Rosalie said.

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE by Carolyn Brown is the fourth and final witty installment in her rambunctious Burnt Boot series. This is the crazy fun and mighty satisfying conclusion of the series. The bittersweet hoopla takes place in Burnt Boot, Texas where the feuding Brennans and the Gallaghers make the old Hatfield/McCoys antics seem tame in comparison. I am sad to see the series end, but Carolyn sure knows how to kick up the strife and hanky-panky before tying that pretty closing bow.

This is the story of star-crossed lovers, Declan Brennan and Betsy Gallagher. They can be thought of as akin to a contemporary Romeo and Juliet but with a zany western twist. Declan and Betsy had both been attracted to each other as young children. As they matured and were given responsibilities in each of their clans, any relationship between them became nigh to impossible.

As the story opens, while playing poker in Rosalie's bar, Declan makes a bet that he can't seduce the next woman to walk through the door. It just so happens that woman is fiery, headstrong, redheaded cowgirl Betsy Gallagher – finally giving Declan an excuse to pursue his childhood crush.

Betsy is in a tight spot. She's promised, against her own granny's edict, that she will make the annual Christmas play happen. She needs a cohort in crime, so she solicits Declan's help to help her make it happen. It works out perfect for Declan as it gives him an excuse to see Betsy without her being suspicious. Can a secret joint effort by Declan and Betsy spread Christmas magic to the families of Burnt Boot? So many things can go wrong. What will happen when Betsy finds out about the bet? And, most importantly, what will happen when their respective families find out the two have fallen in love?

Both Declan and Betsy are sick to death of the ongoing fighting between their families. The younger generation wants to let go of the past, but the two grandmothers, Mavis and Naomi, are always looking for ways to one-up the other. I found it easy to connect with Declan and Betsy. Their chemistry was off-the-charts. Declan was the sweetest suitor ever. When he shared the mementos he’d kept over the years with Betsy, I wanted to happy-cry. They may have been small, seemingly inconsequential physical things, but they demonstrated, without a doubt, the depth of his long-standing affection for her.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from this read:

Reality was that no matter how well he filled out those creased jeans, he truly was forbidden fruit.
---

One kiss came close to sending the movie theater up in blazes. Sex would burn down the state.
---

"Please go home with me and stay forever. I will hide you in my closet and take you out at night, and I promise to be gentle," he said between kisses.

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE also includes a bonus preview of Carolyn's next book, LUCK OF THE DRAW, coming soon from Sourcebooks Casablanca. I'm looking forward to meeting new madcap friends therein!

This holiday romp hit all the right spots: sexy cowboys, laugh-out-loud humor, family tribulations and a long-simmering forbidden attraction culminating in a delightful holiday romance. This has been a fun series from the first book through to the last. If you enjoy rollicking holiday-themed romances populated with certifiably crazy quirky characters, set your sights on the liveliness of A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE, and read how Declan and Betsy save Christmas!



Suggested Reading Order: 
COWBOY BOOTS FOR CHRISTMAS: COWBOY NOT INCLUDED (Book #1)
THE TROUBLE WITH TEXAS COWBOYS (Book #2)
ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY (Book #3)
A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE (Book #4 & the finale)