REVIEW: Cowboy Boots for Christmas by Carolyn Brown

Cowboy Boots for Christmas: (Cowboy Not Included) (Burnt Boot, Texas #1) by Carolyn Brown is the first book in her brand new series Burnt Boot, Texas and let me tell you if this book is any indication of what the rest of the series is like, we are looking at one HECK of a great series.

Retired Army sniper, Finn O’Donnell has left the army, puts on a cowboy hat bought a ranch in Burnt Boot, Texas where he wants to do nothing by start a new life and forget the horrors of war that cause him nightmares or keep him awake at night. Since moving to the Salt Draw Ranch with his dog, Shotgun, the FBI and CIA would like nothing better than to recruit Finn back into the fold, but Finn keeps turning them down. When a few very government looking vehicles appear on his ranch, Finn is prepared to tell them to take a hike until he sees a sight for sore eyes, his best friend and spotter , Callie Brewster.

Callie Brewster appears on Finn’s ranch with her nephew, Martin, asking for refuge Finn to let them stay with him instead of going into the witness protection program because Martin witnesses a murder and they are both in danger. Finn could never turn Callie away, so they come to an agreement where she will to take care of the house, and help Finn around the farm.

But now that they aren’t in the military anymore, the “Don’t Get Involved” rule seems to go right out the window. Both Finn and Callie have had secret crushes on each other, and now there is nothing standing in their way. When the old owner of Salt Draw returns looking to stay, and 3 orphan children need a home for the Holidays, Finn’s quiet existence seems to be filled with kids, animals and thoughts of Happy Holidays to come. But there is trouble brewing and feuding families might just put a kink in the Christmas plans.

Ok, Cowboy Boots for Christmas by Carolyn Brown was laugh out loud funny. Joe the parrot with his dirty beak, the dogs, the kids and Verna all add to the joy of this story. I even enjoyed the two feuding families that try at every turn to sink their hooks in the Hot and Hunky Finn. Callie and Finn’s relationship is a true love story born of a friendship and trust that has been built through shared experiences and the horrors of war. I fell in love with them and I was cheering and crying at the end of this book because I was sad to see it end.

If you have read and enjoyed Carolyn Browns other books, than this is another series that you don’t want to miss, if you have not read her books yet, than I would highly recommend that you check this one out, because this is truly a hit.

Book Info:

Published October 7th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca | (Cowboy Not Included) (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)

Callie Brewster didn’t figure she’d ever see Finn O’Donnell again when they parted company in Afghanistan. But when her little brother witnesses a killing, everything changes. The government says they’ll put him in witness protection, but Callie doesn’t trust anyone to protect her brother—except for Finn O’Donnell.

All Finn wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet on his newly purchased ranch. But he owes Callie Brewster his life, and he always repays a debt. Now there’s a woman in the house who joined the army to get away from ranching, a boy who is scared of his shadow, and a feud going on amongst the other ranchers. Yet in the midst of all the chaos, Finn is happier and more at peace than he’s ever been before…