About the Book
It's been nine years since Jake
Hamilton broke Allison Buchanon's heart and left town. But she's never
been able to forget the high school boy she secretly loved. Now Jake's
come home to care for his ailing grandmother, and Allison's family will
do anything to prevent a rekindled romance. Unfortunately, the
connection between Allison and the green-eyed cowboy is undeniable. She
believes that forgiveness is possible, especially at Christmas. But Jake
cares too deeply about Allison to take her away from the close-knit
Buchanon clan. Will Allison have to choose between a loving family and
the love of her life?
This book was released in November 2014
This was a well loved library book that was reviewed
My Review
“Cowboy Under the Mistletoe” by
Linda Goodnight is the first book of her new series 'The Buchanons'
and woo doggie it is a dozy of a first book filled with stubbornness
and more heartache than a Christmas story should have.
I have to say that at times the book
seemed to move pretty slowly but I almost think that maybe this book
is setting up for some pretty big stories to come in the series.
With that thought in mind I continued on with the story even though
it did seem too slow at times. When I finished the book, I was in
tears, both sorrow and happiness, to where now I can't wait for the
future books. So if anyone reading the book wonders if it is worth
it, I would say in my personal opinion it most certainly is worth the
time it takes to read it until the end.
We are introduced to the Buchanon
family here and what they do for a living plus a little of the pain
that has happened in the past, now that is a story that I can't wait
for it to come out with the other party. So there is Charity, Quinn,
Sawyer, Dawson, Brady, Jayla and Allison, with Charity the only
married sibling so I am hoping that we get to see all the rest of
them with their stories as the series progresses, or if we don't see
each story, we get to watch them fall in love through their siblings
eyes.
Allison is compared to Pollyanna
several times in the book but I don’t think that is all that great
of a comparison for to me it seemed like she saw the good in
everything and trusted God to take care of everything else.
Pollyanna would have been open about all the things that Allison
wasn't completely open about, but I completely understand Allison as
to why she kept things to herself. Here her heart is so easy to see,
not just because we see her point of view, but there is just
something about her that makes it easy to see that her heart is huge,
but she is not a push over either. She has spunk and a bit of a
cowardice within her, but then again don't we all.
Jake is a man who is completely
different than the teenager that he was, for life has changed him in
numerous ways. There is a bit of a struggle that Jake is going
through with some new changes in his life, but finally things become
clear for him with one of those struggles, while another is something
he doesn't see how to do anything about it except for one thing that
he really doesn't want to do. Jake is a man who puts other peoples
feelings ahead of his own, with the feeling that it is what he
deserves. Jake shows how responsible he is and where his priorities
are as well.
Though Christmas Day is not the main
focus of this story, the season plays a big part in a subtle way.
The message of forgiveness is such a big part of the season, and this
is a great book that shows how people are affected when it is
withheld and given freely. Planks were removed from eyes, olive
branches extended and over all joy was there at the end of the book,
as it should.
This really is a wonderful book to read
for the holidays, but man is it going to be tough waiting for the
next book that is for sure. I hope that all who read this book
enjoys it like I did.
