Christmas at the Ranch, by Anita Hughes

 

Publication Sept. 27, 2022

I'm a sucker for Christmas, lovely snowy scenes, books, and horses. That's what lead me to "Christmas at the Ranch" although I wondered if reading it during a warm, Alaskan summer day would dim my Christmas spirit. Nope. In fact, I found it one of the better, uh,  Hallmark moments I've had with Christmas books. Although the dialogue tended to be a bit contrived at times, I like the setting, Samantha and Drew, and her mom through her virtual connections with her. And, oh, yeah, the horses, cared for by Bruno, who seems to be a bit of a jack-of-all-trades at Drew's family ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Samantha is a mess as the book opens. Although the successful author a book series featuring a feisty, danger loving heroine, Samantha is anything but brave. She's scared of, well, everything. Her imagination weaves even the most common happening, such an elevator or taxi ride or turbulence on a plane, into a probable disaster. The good thing about that particular fear is that it leads her to meeting and opening up to Drew. He keeps her secret, that she isn't some female dare-devil, from his father, who turns out to be her publisher, and the story begins.

I won't detail the plot as much of it depends on the surprise, such as the mystery of Drew's mother. But, because of not just the need to keep up the pretense of being brave but her attraction and trust in Drew, Samantha finds herself doing things way, way out of her comfort level, not to mention showing real bravery when needed. Of course, there are complications in the relationship, traditional Hallmark Christmas movie stuff, but despite her initial fears, she seems able to make friends easily and fit into the setting. Her love of horses was one of the big draws for me, being a horse crazed girl from way back. Toss in mentions of "Black Beauty" and "My Friend Flicka" and, well, it sent me back to memory lane. Both were used in constructive ways, btw, not just toss away mentions. 

Oh, and then there is the diary but, no, not telling. You need to read the book. I found it an easy, enjoyable read that moved right along. As Drew's father, Arthur, mentions at one point, life sometimes gets in the way and you lose touch with what you have, so here you have a delightful romance all tied up in Christmas ribbons with horses and books and  snowy vistas throughout. Enjoy!

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for inviting me to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to meet Samantha and Drew. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the chance to pet a few horses.