Well, after that rather dramatic magical book (The Magician of Hoad) it is time to return to a different sort of magic – the magic of love and faith. All wrapped up with a Christmas bow. The Cowboy’s Christmas Courtship by Brenda Minton (6th book in the Cooper Creek series) is a wonderful tale of redemption and release. The knowledge of when to let someone in and when to stand strong and independent is also examined.

Faith is a strong theme in this story. The faith of a woman tested time and time again with the death of her parents leaving her to raise her younger brother. The lost faith of a bull riding cowboy, sent home after a bad injury who has yet to forgive himself for past actions and accept that he can be more than his past. 

Layla Silver has been standing along for a long time. With time running out on bills and her brother what is she to do when ex flame, ex friend Gage returns post bull riding injury? I love that while their past was not pleasant the book really begins with Gage attempting to make reparations for using Layla to get to her best friend (in high school no less) that is not really where it ends. There is so much more going on. 

Again this is a book where faith in God is at the very core of it all. There are some discussions about abuse in the past and a teenager out of control, but in Christmas there are miracles. If you just have faith and are open to change and love. All in all a great seasonal read. 

What in the world is up with my random picks? Cowboy after cowboy, though Phoebe’s Groom was more small town over cowboy (even though the cover of that one said A Cowboy for Every Mood). Well, Jillian Hart did another wonderful job with Montana Cowboy. In fact, my favourite aspect of this story was the idea of the right person at  the wrong time. And how what seems to be the wrong time can BECOME the right one…

Again we are back with the internet as a facilitator for love. This time through a chat group that is a book club called Good Reads. Honor is a teacher without a long term job and a self proclaimed California girl. She has travelled to Montana to get away from a bad break up and a family who simply does not understand her long term life goals or deep faith. This move has her temporarily only 2 hours away from a good friend on Good Reads, also single and very Christian Luke McKaslin from the McKaslin clan (a family author Jillian Hart returns to from time to time). Her timing is perfect to drive the two hours and make it in time for a McKaslin wedding and the beginnings of an even deeper friendship with Luke and his extended family. 

There is lots of travelling with these two, and lots of deep introspection as to where they want to be in their love life and literal physical location. I really enjoyed the careful consideration these two took as they transformed their friendship into something more AS WELL AS the fact that they actually knew each other on some level before they met in person and this romance began. A back story that was not a second chance relationship… love it!

I have to say… Phoebe’s Groom (the title) feels a bit like a spoiler, does it not? Well, it is from the Love Inspired series so… yah… not so much a spoiler as a rather expected progression. Anyway, Phoebe’s Groom by Deb Kastner brings us back to the small town Serendipity. Specifically a part of her series – Email Order Brides, though there was not much of emailing in this book. (my previous review based on this town HERE)

My first, not complaint, but moment of questioning comes from the beginning of each chapter where the main character, pastry chef Phoebe Yates posts a status update (I assume to something like Facebook). Usually there is a corresponding post from her temporary boss in Serendipity and owner of the local cafe, “Auntie” Jo. My question is… do the other main characters (broken hearted widower Chance Hawkins and teenage daughter Lucy) not have accounts as well? Some of her posts are rather obviously about them and if they WERE on the internet too would lead them to quicker conclusions… just a niggle in the back of my brain. 

Now I did find the family interesting. (and yes there is a play on Sadie Hawkins dance and their last name in the book!), having lost wife/mother in a car accident Chance and Lucy are definitely broken spirited individuals. Chance is so traumatized he can’t face getting into a vehicle and Lucy is acting out as she tries to find her way into becoming a teenager. 

Phoebe is at a crossroads, her previous relationship ending because she simply did not feel she was truly in love, a job awaiting her at a rather elite restaurant in New York. But what Phoebe truly wants is to follow her faith and find a love that is sustaining. 

Phoebe and Chance spend a lot of time figuring out where their heads are, where their hearts are and in Chance’s case returning to God and faith. 

This story is actually rather plausible, a death due to a drunk driver leaving a family fractured, a woman on the search for herself takes a temporary position in a small town before her next long term job opens up, the moment of emergency is even something that could happen. (I won’t share and spoil the book) Love and faith and forgiveness, all wrapped up with a wonderful woman whose positive outlook on life is just what Serendipity needs. Do check out this wonderful lighthearted romance.