A three-for-one book, with mature love, new love, and second chance love. Oldest brother Griffin and his wife are away from the ranch, visiting her sick father. He's left his two brothers, Elliott and Cooper in charge.

The book opens as Cooper is preparing to leave in a hurry, killing two birds with one stone. He needs to head into the hills and check on the wild mustangs before winter sets in. The local vet is supposed to meet him up there. He is also desperate to get away before his sister-in-law's cousins arrive. He's encountered them before and doesn't want to deal with the giggly, party animals again. Cooper gets quite a surprise when he arrives at the cabin and finds a nine-year-old runaway boy named Tatum. Cooper is too soft-hearted to immediately turn the boy into social services, which turns out to be a good thing when Cooper is badly injured in a fall. It's Tatum who finds help in the form of Hayley, veterinarian, and granddaughter of the vet Cooper was expecting.

We also meet Elliott, the middle brother, and ranch business manager. For the most part, Elliott would prefer to work with the books than the cows, but he can do both. Elliott had left college early when his father died, returning to the ranch to help run it. He left behind his fiancée, Jessica, who refused to come with him, telling him he was a fool to give up his education. He's never forgotten her and hasn't gotten involved with anyone since then. He has a lot on his plate with both Cooper and Griffin away, the cousins visiting, and the end-of-year paperwork for the ranch. Griffin hired an accountant to come to the ranch and help with the books. To say that Elliott was surprised to find Jessica sitting at the desk in the study would be putting it mildly.

Then there's the new ranch hand, Tye. He's older, a former rodeo rider and a magician with horses. At his previous job, he was contacted by a Texas Ranger who delivered Tye's "inheritance" from his grandfather, who died in prison. Tye was puzzled by his grandfather's old journal and sketchbook, which talked about a "gift" for Tye, but never comes right out and says where or what it is. He eventually figures out that it's somewhere around Crossroads, Texas, and takes a job at the ranch while he tries to decipher the journal. There he meets the ranch cook, Danielle, a plain-speaking, big-hearted woman that he's immediately drawn to.

I loved the way that the three stories were intertwined throughout the book. Each chapter alternated among the various couples, giving a chance to see the relationship develop as the days progressed. I think Cooper changed the most, from the charming, commitment-free cowboy to a man who was looking for something more. I loved his relationship with Tatum, taking the boy home with him and giving him the kind of attention he needed. I also enjoyed watching his relationship with Hayley grow. Both of them are independent, neither one taking well to being bossed. It was fun to see a little bit of protectiveness come out, though Cooper was smart enough not to push it. There's a great scene at the end between Cooper and the ex-boyfriend who doesn't realize he's an ex. I enjoyed their interactions, as Hayley has just as fun a sense of humor as Cooper does.

Elliott had spent years remembering the way that he and Jess split, still hurt and angry over the way she refused to give even a little when he had to leave school. He remembers her as the one with all the plans, each step of the future all mapped out. When she shows up at the ranch, it's clear that she stuck to those plans and is precisely where she wanted to be. I have to say that Jessica irritated me a bit at first with the way she went on and on about her place in her father's firm and her coworker fiancé. She was cold to Elliott and barely polite to anyone else. But the longer she stayed, the more she loosened up, especially once she and Elliott cleared the air over their breakup. It also became evident that the sparks between Jessica and Elliott were still there. The question was, would Jessica see that sticking to her plan wasn't making her happy? I liked her "aha" moment and seeing her go after the future she wanted.

Tye and Danielle's story was the sweetest. Tye's life has been a transient one with no desire to settle down. He won't even commit to staying long at the ranch, never sure when the urge to leave will hit. But the moment he met Dani, something changed. Dani is the single mother of two adult sons. Her marriage hadn't been a good one and she has no desire ever to marry again. Her boys are not the brightest bulbs in the box, and she took the job as a cook at the ranch to get away from enabling their dependency on her. Dani is surprised to discover that when Tye looks at her, he actually sees her and who she is. She has been used to blending into the background most of her life. I loved watching her bloom under his attention and see herself as a desirable woman. I also liked the way that Dani's attention gave Tye the feeling he could put down roots. Some interesting moments between Tye and Dani's sons created some problems, but peace was restored thanks to a little unexpected interference. I liked the way that Dani helped Tye with his search and loved the surprise that was waiting for him at the end of it.

I loved the wrap-up of the story at Christmas. The family meeting among the three brothers produced a surprise for Tatum and an especially heartwarming moment for Cooper. I loved seeing each couple face the future in their unique styles. None of the women are slackers in making their desires known, and their men are smart enough to follow through. ( )

Christmas in Winter Valley by Jodi Thomas
Starts out with Ty and there's a mystery that arrives at the ranch when he shows up. A folder from his grandfather that's been passed down to him. He needs to find out what it's all about. I'm thinking past marriages and he could be one of the sons....
Female cook for the ranch and her two boys who help out at the ranch with chores and other personal things. She's fallen for the new ranch hand. Steamy sex scenes.
Elliott is trying to hold the whole ranch together when his ex fiance shows up to do the accounting work... She's engaged to another now but do they still have a thing for one another?
Cooper hightails it off the ranch to go find the wild mustangs cuz the female cousins are due in and he wants no part of them partying and loads of fashion showing up at the ranch.
He discovers a boy who's run away from everybody. Doc also has an appearance in this book-the docs young new vet of a daughter-he's off retiring.
Lots of romance and how the ranch is run is interesting.
What I like about this book is the location, descriptions, so many people involved with each having their own and different age groups.
Overheard conversations and one wonders if the ranch is losing all their funds illegally....
So fun of a read, so much to it, action, adventure, mysteries, Christmas and get aways to pristine views.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). ( )

The books in this series have been hit or miss for me. In this case, sadly, it was a miss. There were too many characters that I became overwhelmed and frustrated. Frustrated trying to keep all of the different storylines and characters straight.

Although, there were two that I really liked a lot. It involved Cooper and Tatum. In addition, there was Tye and Dani. It is nice to read about a relationship where the woman is more mature in her forties. She may not have been like the "models" that were staying at the ranch but I thought Dani was prettier than all of them. I know I was not the only one as Tye found Dani intriguing.

In regards to Cooper and Tatum, it goes back to children are cute. I find them to be a winner in stories; especially the adorable ones. Cooper was so kind towards Tatum. I instantly was engaged in this storyline.

While, I may not have liked this book as much; you can't go wrong with spending the holidays on a ranch in Ransom Canyon. ( )

Christmas in Winter Valley is a 2019 HQN Books publication.

It may be cold and snowy in Ransom Canyon, but the holiday spirit is warm, filled with second chances and new beginnings!

Griff Holloway has left his brothers, Elliott and Cooper, in charge of running the family ranch while he and his wife, Sunlan, are away from home. However, Elliott is left holding the bag, when Cooper hears that a group of Sunlan’s cousins are coming for a visit and hightails it out of there to spend some alone time at a remote cabin in Winter Valley.

However, Cooper finds his secluded cabin is occupied by an orphaned boy named, Tatum, while Elliott is unexpectedly forced to face his painful past.

Meanwhile, a new hire at the ranch and a former rodeo star, Tye, is looking to discover something about his heritage, but soon finds himself attracted to Dani, the ranch’s down to earth cook.

This book features a group of heartwarming stories, which bring people together just in time for the Christmas holidays. Each romance is touching and sweet, and of course, Tatum’s story certainly pulls on the old heartstrings.

While I enjoyed getting to know all the couples, I must confess I enjoyed Tye and Dani’s story the most. I really appreciate the mature characters who prove it’s never too late to find true love.

By using alternating chapters, instead of individual vignettes, the author allows the reader more time to connect with the characters and gives each story equal strength. Thankfully, the holiday theme is not overdone, but one can still feel the spirit of the season, which will make this book a nice addition to your holiday reading- or a nice gift for someone on your Christmas list.

Overall, this a lovely, clean holiday themed novel, with a little something for all contemporary romance lovers! ( )

In "Christmas in Winter Valley", wonderful writer Jodi Thomas treats readers to holidays with the Holloways! In a return to her awesome "Ransom Canyon Series", with Book #8, the author has loner Cooper Holloway hightailing it to an isolated cabin in Winter Valley to escape incoming relatives and keep company with a herd of wild mustangs. Fate has its own ideas for Cooper, however, and an accident, a beautiful young veterinarian named Hayley Westland, and a small boy named Tatum will not only change Coop's plans, they will change his life forever. Meanwhile, back at the Maverick Ranch, family folks and old friends are finding the spirit of the season in their own ways, and it looks like a memorable yuletide for all. Jodi Thomas is one of my all-time favorite authors, and she never fails to make each new book a true reader's delight. She always draws me deeply into the story line and then takes me completely by surprise when she pulls an Ace or two from her sleeve. I highly recommend the works of Jodi Thomas, and her "Ransom Canyon Series" is sure to thrill lovers of contemporary western romance with touches of humor, a good dose of adventure, and a heaping helping of Terrific Texans.

Book Copy Gratis Harlequin Books ( )