Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen _ Book Review

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A family crisis brings him home…Just in time for ChristmasCattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time. Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?

[I received a copy from @harlequinpublictyteam for an honest review]

Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen is the first book in the Coldwater Texas series. It was a good start to a new series introducing us to a cast of characters I look forward to seeing more of.

Callen Laramie drove away from Coldwater Texas and didn’t look back. He had a horrible childhood and even though his foster father Buck saved him and his brothers from the nightmare he needed to distance himself from the past. He has built himself a successful career as a cattle broker but his relationship with the only family he has is seriously lacking. When his foster father’s health takes a turn he has to return to Coldwater Texas and face his brothers and his past.

Shelby McCall’s father Buck has fostered a lot of children in his long life and none of them ever affected her as much as Callen. She can tell there’s something wrong with her dad so when he makes it known he wants Callen at his wedding she does what she needs to in order to get him there. Even boldly offer him a french kiss, and she’s more than surprised when he agrees to both.

Callen and Shelby lean on each other when things get rough with Buck. While she claims she’s using him as a distraction and nothing more, Callen is finding the thought of walking away again harder and harder with the more time they spend together. Callen finds a peace being back in Coldwater not just with Shelby but with his brothers too.

Overall, Lone Star Christmas is a great heart-warming feel good read. The characters were great! Shelby was strong and independent and Callen was charming and dreamy. The brothers were all wonderful in their own ways from grumpy Judd to flirty Nico. I am excited to see them each get their own happily ever afters.

“My brain tells me it’s not a good idea to kiss you, that it could lead to sex. And other things. Things you might not be ready for.”

“Oh man. It was good. The kind of good that could get him in trouble very, very fast. He didn’t remember that he was standing out in the open with their mouths fused together and their tongues playing around. Hell, he didn’t remember his own name.”