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thebritishbibliophile 's review for:
The Cowboy's Christmas Bride
by Deborah Garland
The Cowboy's Christmas Bride is Book 5 in Deborah Garland's 'Wild Texas Hearts' series. Thank you to Grey's Promo for the ARC for me to read and review. I leave this review with full honesty and transparency, without leaving any spoilers.
I know many wouldn't want to dive into something Christmassy so soon, but I was keen as mustard to have my own slice of festive fun, cowboy in tow, with this read which by the blurb alone promised so much. Cowboys and Christmas? It's truly an (early) Christmas miracle! How could I not resist two of my favourite things, combined into one read? Simple answer, I couldn't.
Before reading 'The Cowboy's Christmas Bride', I had yet to dive into this world and into the series, this was my first introduction into the world these characters have been written into and the complexity that is an interwoven series which has already had so many books in the series published. This though, did not prove to be a problem. Deborah carefully laid out exactly who was whom, who was related/tied to whom, and who did what. I wasn't left floundering to make any connections or to try and piece together how each character played their part. I thank Deborah for doing this as by now those who would've read the previous four books, they would already know all of this. For those of us just diving in, this is a great help.
Parker and Grace went way beyond a delight to get to know, as I would often say about reading and getting to know main characters. I'm a sucker for a cowboy and a romance between him and his lady (or man!), and these two roped me right on in. As this was not their first rodeo together, it cut out the awkward getting to know someone stage of a relationship, and instead in its place was buried angst, steam, attraction and chemistry like no other. Additionally, having not one but both of these two main characters harbouring a secret of some kind--you'll have to pick up a copy of this book to find out what they are, wink wink--is a welcome change from the usual one of two main characters. We got to see how both worked around and overcame those secrets buried deep, without it overpowering or cramming the story with too much content to swamp the reader. It was done just right.
Not to mention how funny this read was! Humour helps things at the best--or rather, worst--of times, and injecting bubbles and pockets of humour in moments where things were sometimes very serious or daunting, provided perfect light relief which had me chuckling rather than reaching for that ever-present box of tissues we readers have, just in case of an impromptu sob-fest at those emotional moments. Humour, like one of Deborah's reads, is always welcome.
What also has to be recognised in this book, all thanks to the author, is how again tough subjects are approached and are laid out. More often than not, certain elements like trauma, emotionally tough times in everyday life, or painful memories are mentioned in books without tact or careful consideration to those who have been through similar situations. Deborah, however, does not do this and I was in awe of how she tackled the tricker topics while firstly, explaining how the characters went through them, secondly, how they came out the other side and thirdly, how both experiences the main characters went through were valid and not to be ashamed of. Both Parker and Grace went through very traumatic experiences and were treated--as if they were real--with the respect and were thought about mindfully. Deborah did not use their experiences merely as a tool to craft a book, but highlighted those experiences and did not cast shame, shade or disrespect. That, for me, is always a huge deal and I myself after reading their (Parker & Grace's) stories, was left with a whole new sense of admiration for Deborah for writing it, and for everyone in real life who went through the same or similar.
Perhaps what pleased me most of all about this read, was the happily ever after. I don't pick up reads that don't guarantee a happily ever after, and Deborah gives Parker and Grace such a sublime happily ever after, I wanted to go back to the first page to read how they got there again!
Sometimes curveballs are thrown in at the last minute to put that happily ever after on the back burner but after everything that went down between and for Parker and Grace, I was left contented to read just how they got their happily ever after, and what could possibly be next for them as we get a teaser to the next book in the series.
Although this is my first Deborah Garland read, it most certainly won't be the last.
Parker, Grace & Deborah have well and truly put me in the saddle, ridden me hard and have me won over and cantering towards whatever comes our way next.
Five stars!
I know many wouldn't want to dive into something Christmassy so soon, but I was keen as mustard to have my own slice of festive fun, cowboy in tow, with this read which by the blurb alone promised so much. Cowboys and Christmas? It's truly an (early) Christmas miracle! How could I not resist two of my favourite things, combined into one read? Simple answer, I couldn't.
Before reading 'The Cowboy's Christmas Bride', I had yet to dive into this world and into the series, this was my first introduction into the world these characters have been written into and the complexity that is an interwoven series which has already had so many books in the series published. This though, did not prove to be a problem. Deborah carefully laid out exactly who was whom, who was related/tied to whom, and who did what. I wasn't left floundering to make any connections or to try and piece together how each character played their part. I thank Deborah for doing this as by now those who would've read the previous four books, they would already know all of this. For those of us just diving in, this is a great help.
Parker and Grace went way beyond a delight to get to know, as I would often say about reading and getting to know main characters. I'm a sucker for a cowboy and a romance between him and his lady (or man!), and these two roped me right on in. As this was not their first rodeo together, it cut out the awkward getting to know someone stage of a relationship, and instead in its place was buried angst, steam, attraction and chemistry like no other. Additionally, having not one but both of these two main characters harbouring a secret of some kind--you'll have to pick up a copy of this book to find out what they are, wink wink--is a welcome change from the usual one of two main characters. We got to see how both worked around and overcame those secrets buried deep, without it overpowering or cramming the story with too much content to swamp the reader. It was done just right.
Not to mention how funny this read was! Humour helps things at the best--or rather, worst--of times, and injecting bubbles and pockets of humour in moments where things were sometimes very serious or daunting, provided perfect light relief which had me chuckling rather than reaching for that ever-present box of tissues we readers have, just in case of an impromptu sob-fest at those emotional moments. Humour, like one of Deborah's reads, is always welcome.
What also has to be recognised in this book, all thanks to the author, is how again tough subjects are approached and are laid out. More often than not, certain elements like trauma, emotionally tough times in everyday life, or painful memories are mentioned in books without tact or careful consideration to those who have been through similar situations. Deborah, however, does not do this and I was in awe of how she tackled the tricker topics while firstly, explaining how the characters went through them, secondly, how they came out the other side and thirdly, how both experiences the main characters went through were valid and not to be ashamed of. Both Parker and Grace went through very traumatic experiences and were treated--as if they were real--with the respect and were thought about mindfully. Deborah did not use their experiences merely as a tool to craft a book, but highlighted those experiences and did not cast shame, shade or disrespect. That, for me, is always a huge deal and I myself after reading their (Parker & Grace's) stories, was left with a whole new sense of admiration for Deborah for writing it, and for everyone in real life who went through the same or similar.
Perhaps what pleased me most of all about this read, was the happily ever after. I don't pick up reads that don't guarantee a happily ever after, and Deborah gives Parker and Grace such a sublime happily ever after, I wanted to go back to the first page to read how they got there again!
Sometimes curveballs are thrown in at the last minute to put that happily ever after on the back burner but after everything that went down between and for Parker and Grace, I was left contented to read just how they got their happily ever after, and what could possibly be next for them as we get a teaser to the next book in the series.
Although this is my first Deborah Garland read, it most certainly won't be the last.
Parker, Grace & Deborah have well and truly put me in the saddle, ridden me hard and have me won over and cantering towards whatever comes our way next.
Five stars!