Title:  If Santa Were A Cowboy
Series:  One and Only Texas #2.5
Author:  Melissa Cutler
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  October 25, 2016
Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press
My Rating:  3.5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

This Christmas, Santa wears a Stetson.

Paul Savage loves Christmas at Briscoe Ranch Resort, when he gets to take a break from being a back country guide to play Santa in the resort’s lobby and talk to kids about toys. The last thing he expects is his high school crush to come waltzing in as his new assistant photographer, wheeling a suitcase that’s more naughty than nice.

Kelly Walker is a disaster. All she’d wanted was spice up her life by saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity, which is when the universe started pelting her with ‘no’s. So when she comes across a job listing for a holiday photographer working with the sweet, scrawny boy whose advances she’d laughed off in high school, she jumps on the chance to turn her bad Karma around by giving Paul a second chance.

Trouble is, Paul’s anything but scrawny anymore, and his cowboy swagger throws her grand plans for a loop—especially when he tempts her with a red hot proposition of his own. Kelly’s in way over her head, but as she gets swept up in the magic of Briscoe Ranch’s holiday charms—and Paul’s—could Kelly’s year of ‘no’s be leading up to the ‘yes’ of a lifetime?

Titles in this series include:  The Mistletoe Effect – One Hot Summer – One More Taste – If Santa Were A Cowboy – One Wild Night (March 2017)

While there was a lot to enjoy about If Santa Were A Cowboy, I’m afraid for me the personality and actions of the heroine overshadowed the good parts that made this an enjoyable read, if I ignored the heroine entirely, maybe.  And that’s unfortunate.  The writing is enjoyable and flows naturally, the location is beautiful and full of that special Christmas feel – so the setting should have worked for me.  Paul is everything that any child or parent would want in a Santa – kind, understanding, patient with the right touch for each child.  Paul is an amazing, sexy character… and he deserved so much better than Kelly who could give the original Mean Girls lessons.

If you’ve followed the One and Only Texas series, then this story is one you’ll want to be sure to read – but I couldn’t find hide nor hair of any past couples in this short novella Christmas story.

As I mentioned, I liked Paul, I found him sexy and strong.  Adored Sadie, that silly pup.  But Kelly I could not find a reason to overlook anything she’s done in the past or in the present.  I wish I could have because this is a second chance kind of story.  I didn’t see where she did any changing that mattered.   You may feel differently, but I couldn’t buy them as a happy ever after kind of couple.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

Available for the Kindle