A Cowboy for Christmas: A Jubilee, Texas Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Lori Wilde (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 30, 2012 | Series: Jubilee, Texas

If you’re looking for love, look no further than Jubilee, Texas! This small Western town with the big heart is the creation of New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde—and now she’s giving fans of Susan Wiggs, Susan Mallery, and Sherryl Woods, and contemporary romance readers everywhere the perfect holiday gift: A Cowboy for Christmas! Wilde’s third visit to Jubilee is a totally charming, utterly captivating holiday treat that combines all the elements that  romance lovers love—passion, emotion, wit, warmth, family…and cowboys—as a lonely young widow raising her young son alone experiences a true Christmas miracle when a rugged, handsome stranger enters her life. Put A Cowboy for Christmas on your holiday wish list!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Full of colorful characters...as satisfying as a glass of lemonade on a hot day.” (Publishers Weekly on The First Love Cookie Club )

“Lori Wilde has created a rich and wonderful story about the charm of small town life combined with the power and passion of first love. Delicious!” (Robyn Carr )

From the Back Cover

It's Christmastime in Jubilee, Texas, but Lissette Moncrief is having a hard time celebrating . . .

Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones's pick-up truck. Yes, he's a whole lot of handsome—from the tips of his boots to the top of his Stetson. But he's no Christmas present. Lissy's not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words . . . only to watch him drive away in the end.

But what Lissy doesn't know is Rafferty's in town just to meet her—and to give her a share in a windfall that doesn't rightly belong to him. At first, he just wants to do his good deed and get out. But one look at this green-eyed beauty has him deciding to turn this into a Christmas to remember . . . making promises he's determined to keep—whether she believes in them or not.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (October 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062047809
• ISBN-13: 978-0062047809
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BIO

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde has sold sixty-nine novels to four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensics. She volunteers as a sexual assault first responder for Freedom House, a shelter for battered women. She has also served as the RWA National conference workshop chair and PAN retreat chair. In 2007 she was honored by her local college as alumna of the year.

Lori is a two-time RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. She's won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill, The Laurel Wreath and The BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.

Her books have been translated into 25 languages and featured in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman, All You, Time and Quick and Simple magazines. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Cowboy for Christmas November 1, 2012

By K. Branfield

Format:Kindle Edition

A Cowboy for Christmas, the final book in Lori Wilde's Jubilee, Texas trilogy, is a poignant yet heartwarming romance between a widow and her newfound brother-in-law.

Following her husband's death in Afghanistan, Lissette Moncrief is stunned when she learns Jake named his half-brother, Rafferty Jones, as the beneficiary of his military life insurance and death benefits. The discovery that her son, Kyle, is slowly going deaf turns her world upside down and sends her into panic mode. Determined to find financial security and stand on her own two feet, she creatively comes up with a plan to expand her bakery business. But when Rafferty arrives in Jubilee to give Lissettte the money that rightfully belongs to her and Kyle, will Lissette forgo her independence and accept the charming cowboy's offer of help?

Lissette's marriage to Jake was over long before his death, so while she is saddened by his loss, she has quickly picked up the pieces of her life. Now realizing how much of herself she gave up in order to keep the peace with her troubled husband, Lissette is struggling to change from the passive, people pleasing person she has become. Lissette carefully weighs her options and does not rush into making decisions which often leads to her giving in to other people's demands rather than rock the boat by expressing her own opinions.

Rafferty has a weakness for helping people in need. Caring for his mentally unstable mother and younger siblings forced him to grow up way too fast. His strong sense of responsibility will not allow him to walk away from Lissette and Kyle so he cleverly devises a plan that will keep him in Jubilee where he can help Lissette without wounding her pride.

Rafferty and Lissette are attracted to one another from their very first meeting, but neither of them is ready for a serious relationship. Rafferty is sensitive to Lissette's need to stand on her own and he is careful not to push her in a direction she is not ready to go. He is supportive without being overbearing and he provides her with some much needed self-confidence. Lissette's transformation from meek and mild to more assertive is a slow but realistic process. It is not easy to change lifelong habits, but with Rafferty's assistance, Lissette stands her ground and emerges from a few skirmishes a much stronger woman.

A secondary storyline involving Lissette's mother-in-law, Claudia provides added conflict. Claudia's devastation over Jake's death is compounded by Rafferty's arrival in Jubilee. Deeply ashamed by her past actions, Claudia is terrified her secret will be revealed and she strikes out at Lissette in fear.

A Cowboy for Christmas is more serious than the other books in the Jubilee, Texas series. Lori Wilde deftly handles some difficult subjects with sensitivity and without angst. The romance between Lissette and Rafferty is sweet and while they fall in love over a short period of time, it never feels forced or rushed.

A Cowboy for Christmas is delightful novel with appealing characters and a sensational storyline that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Endearing Escape that also has Heat November 9, 2012

By Tia Bach

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Lissette has been through more than her fair share of heartache recently, she's lost her husband and found out her young son is slowly becoming deaf. Even worse, she's broke because her husband decided to name his never-mentioned half brother as his beneficiary.

Determined to figure it out all by herself, Lissette is shaken when the half brother shows up on her doorstep. Rafferty has only just found out about his inheritance and his brother's family, and he feels compelled to meet them. He is immediately drawn to both Lissette and her son. Unfortantely, some people aren't happy about him being in town, especially Lissette's mother-in-law. In the past, she did everything she could to make sure Rafferty was not a part of her family's life.

Lissette and Rafferty initially fight their mutual attraction, but it is too much for them. Still, is it enough to make a future? Or will they just have a few hot memories?

A Cowboy for Christmas doesn't cover new ground in the romance genre, but the characters are endearing and the heat is on high. Plus, the side story about Lissette's son and his medical condition tugs at your heart. In the beginning, I found myself full of questions . . . Why would Lissette's huband leave his family out in the cold? How did Rafferty not figure out who Lissette was the first time he met her?

But, guess what? When I started getting into the story, I only cared about these two people getting together and finding a way to heal--to finally find love and start a new life. Sometimes it's all about the escape. And A Cowboy for Christmas is just that. It's an enjoyable and endearing journey!

One note for fans of Christmastime . . . it is strangely absent from a book with the holiday in the title, only appearing in the end pages. I didn't want readers to be disappointed that the characters don't fall in love under mistletoe while sipping egg nog and unwrapping presents. But for those who have ever wished of receiving a cowboy for Christmas, you won't be disappointed.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Christmas Romance November 3, 2012

By D. Chapman

Format:Mass Market Paperback

You know a book is going to be good when you are not done reading the first chapter and there are tears streaming down your face. If an author can make you feel something so deep with just a few words, then you are reading one amazing and touching story.

This story is about two people from two very different backgrounds and who have both endured very rough trials in their life. Lisette is a widow still trying to overcome her husband's death when their son is diagnosed as being deaf. Rafferty has come to Jubilee, TX to give Lisette the death benefits that his half brother, Lisette's husband, left him.

The romance between Lisette and Rafferty is sweet and feels real. Both of them have to overcome their own past and be willing to create a future together. I have to say that I like how Lisette handles the death of her first husband. It was very realistic and yet emotional.

A Cowboy for Christmas is #3 in the Jubilee series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I do recommend that you read the first books in this series because they are so very good!