Christmas in Painted Pony Creek

A single mother on the run finds solace in a handsome cowboy in bestseller Miller’s heartfelt fourth Painted Pony Creek romance (following Country Born). After a rough upbringing as a foster child, Tessa Stafford is determined to protect her five-year-old daughter, Isabel, from her ex’s stepmother’s maniacal obsession with gaining custody. Used to being continually on the move, Tessa and Isabel land in Painted Pony Creek, Mont., after their car dies. There, mother and daughter are welcomed into a supportive community that becomes an unexpected home. As the close-knit town prepares for the holidays, Tessa finally allows herself to relax a bit—and to explore her chemistry with cowboy lawyer Jesse McKettrick, who’s nursing his own heartbreak. As their feelings deepen, Isabel comes to view Jesse as a father figure. But what happens when the wicked stepmother comes to town? Though this archetypal villain feels a little far-fetched, Miller’s protagonists demonstrate her skill for crafting empathetic characters and she puts forth a fast-paced and dramatic plot. The subtly Christmassy backdrop and folksy supporting characters (“These were country people, and they enjoyed holidays and gatherings like this one to the fullest”) up the charm factor. Longtime readers will be thrilled to revisit this small town with a big heart at the most wonderful time of the year. (Oct.)