A Cowboy for Christmas

Richardson (Colorado Cowboy) wraps up her charming Rocky Mountain Riders series with this emotionally charged romance. Ten years after Darla Michaels’s husband died of brain cancer, she’s still avoiding relationships, save for the occasional hookup with bull rider Ty Forrester. When Topaz Falls, the beloved local café, burns to the ground, Darla suggests a “Cowboy Christmas Festival” to raise funds for its rebuilding and asks Ty to convince Rhett, his obnoxious NFL-star brother, to come to town to take part in a bachelor auction. Ty’s whole family believes Ty to be engaged, as he told them he was spending Christmas with his fiancée to avoid joining his parents for the holidays. Darla agrees to play the role to spare Ty the embarrassment of coming clean and to ensure the café gets the extra money Rhett will bring in at the auction. But the more time she spends pretending to love Ty, the more her real feelings grow. Tight plotting and a sweet surprise ending make for a delightful Christmas treat. Readers will be sad to see the series end. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Nov.)