Cowboy Christmas Homecoming

He’s come home from war, haunted by PTSD and trying to fit in to what has become an alien world so Zach isn’t sure he’s up for a noisy, boisterous Garrett Christmas. Stephanie Gale is a firefighter and EMT, who got her life under control…until she locks eyes with Zach and realizes her heart is in a whole new kind of danger. This holiday romance warms the heart while tugging at every heart string a readers has and there is absolutely no one could not fall far this solider cowboy. The emotional turmoil in this story flows with eager abandon from every page and puts readers though the gauntlet of them all as Stephanie and the Garrett family give Zach back some of what he lost. The characters are strong, compelling, and believable, easily drawing readers into their story while the romance sizzles with lots of chemistry and the holiday makes a perfect backdrop and time for such new beginning for such a wonderful couple. Surprising twist captivates readers while the hero steals readers’ hearts and the fierce heroine fits perfectly with Zach and readers just know that the couple will definitely have a forever ever after. The steady pace along with all the happenings with family and friends, celebrations, adoptions and births adds such wonderful and delightfully warm feelings that readers can’t help but sigh in happiness and envy as the this romance fills them full of holiday spirit.

Cowboy Christmas Homecoming by June Faver Dark Horse Cowboys #4 Zach and Stephanie meet and the rest of the book tells how they end up with their HEA. Zach is back from the war and the ranch he thought would be his was sold by his mother so he is at is uncle’s ranch instead. Stephanie is a firefighter and has her eye on two orphans that need her. There is a bad guy out to do Stephanie wrong but Zach usually shows up in the nick of time to save her. There is a dance. There are some firefighting scenes. The bad guys show up a few times and are thwarted. People from past books I had not read make appearances. A special surprise arrives for Zach. The two eventually end up together and ride off into the sunset...well...maybe after they say their vows. This book seemed formulaic to me. I didn’t feel any real pull between the two main characters and felt the story was rather placid with one plot idea following another without really drawing me in. There wasn’t anything wrong with the characters or their story but there wasn’t anything special about them or their romance either. Did I enjoy this book? Not so much Would I read more in this series? No Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC – This is my honest review. 2-3 Stars

Part of the series, Dark Horse Cowboys of the Garrett brothers, this time we are introduced to the cousin that grew up with them, Zack Garrett. He’s back from serving his country as an Army Ranger, thinking the family ranch would be his to run. But his mother sold it, and Zack is now staying with the Garrett clan. In the midst of dealing with his return to civilian life and working with his uncle Big Jim, he meets Stephanie Gale. She’s an EMT and firefighter who saved a couple of young kids after their mother was killed. She wants to adopt the children but is hope and the man she sent to prison has escaped and is after her. While the story was most of the time engaging, there were times the dialogue was stilled and not really adding to the plot. Zack was a more likable character than Stephanie and the bad guys did bring some action to the story. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Sourcebooks. The opinions expressed are solely my own.