Christmas with My Cowboy

This Christmas western anthology brings three sets of former lovers the promise of second chances. In Palmer’s awkward Colorado story, cattleman Dal Blake has been fighting his attraction to his neighbor’s daughter, Meadow, since she was a teen girl, hiding it behind insults that lead to enmity between them. Eight years later, Meadow and Dal forge a truce as they bond over their mutual love of animals. The uneven pacing and stilted interactions between the cardboard characters doom this tepid romance. In contrast, McKenna’s Wyoming romance is both tender and sweet. Former Marine Travis Grant is struggling to adjust to civilian life, but begins to hope that a happy future with high school sweetheart Kassie Murphy is possible, as compassionate Kassie knows how to accommodate military veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder. Way goes Down Under for her cowboy: Darcey MacArthur returns to the Australian Outback to spend Christmas with her former mother-in-law. Darcey is still reeling from her ex-husband’s betrayal, which led to their acrimonious divorce two years ago, but with maturity, she sees her own mistakes. Darcey’s emotions are raw and heartfelt as she and her ex work past the bitterness to reach forgiveness, making a satisfying conclusion to this anthology. For Meadow, Kassie, and Darcey, grief over losing their mothers has shaped how they view love and how they find the strength to try again. (Oct.)