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The Official Blurb
“When Daisy asks Wade to teach her in the ways of love, it could mean trouble or everything he’s ever wanted…
It’s Christmas, and this cowboy could use a miracle. Wounded rodeo cowboy Wade Cruz is back home to restore his run-down family ranch. The local biddies are convinced he’d be the perfect candidate for their future reality dating show, but Wade isn’t interested. Then his best friend’s sister, Daisy Carver, suggests a fake dating relationship between the two of them to throw the contest off his back.
In return, she asks Wade to teach her in the ways of love…”
Spoiler Alerts
Rodeo stars, reality shows, and one very persistent nickname.
Let me paint you a picture: It’s Christmas in small-town Texas, there’s a cowboy nursing a busted arm and an even more busted heart, and a sassy mechanic with a long-standing crush has just proposed fake dating. You in? Because I sure was.
My book for Season 2 Episode 14, Uff da! It’s Christmas in July, is Cowboy, It’s Christmas by Heatherly Bell. Published in 2021, this novel is part of Bell’s Men of Stone Ridge series set in the fictitious town of Stone Ridge, Texas.
The Main Characters
Let’s start with our leads:
- Daisy Carver: 26, auto mechanic, baby of the Carver family, and a certified badass. She’s got grease under her nails and unresolved feelings in her heart thanks to one steamy kiss with her older brother’s best friend back when she was 18.
- Wade Cruz: 33, ex-rodeo star, owner of a very broken arm and a possibly more broken bank account. Now back home trying to revive the family ranch and dodge the women of Stone Ridge who want to turn him into the town’s very first reality TV cowboy bachelor.
Enter: Fake dating. Because nothing says “this is going to end well” like pretending to date your childhood crush to sabotage a cowboy version of The Bachelor.
Real Injuries, Real Emotions
Wade’s injury — a nasty open compound fracture — felt very real to me. As someone who once broke her elbow (and sobbed through my recovery while wondering if my cosmetology career was over), I felt the portrayal of Wade’s pain and post-rodeo identity crisis in my bones. Literally. (I’ve still got the screws and metal plates to prove it.)
But while Wade is nursing his arm and his past, Daisy is scheming. Her plan? Pretend to date him so he’s off-limits to the reality show and maybe — just maybe — he’ll realize she’s no longer the “little Carver girl,” but a full-grown woman with torque wrenches and zero time for his emotional evasions.
The Drama? Stirred, Not Shaken
Here’s where things get juicy:
- Wade is Broke: Wade’s father gambled away his rodeo earnings and his mother’s cancer bills drained the rest. Now the only financial Hail Mary is … yep, that ridiculous Mr. Cowboy show.
- A Daddy Bombshell: Rumors swirl Daisy might not be Hank Carver’s biological daughter. Cue Rusty— the alleged rodeo-dad — rolling back into town and dying (no less), wanting to leave her an inheritance. Which would be generous if it weren’t also existentially messy.
Oh, and Lincoln (Daisy’s older brother, Wade’s BFF, and a returning character from Lucky Cowboy) knew about Rusty all along and kept it from her. Someone cue the dramatic music.
My Spiciness Ranking
Mild with a Dash of Confusion
Let’s talk about heat. If Lucky Cowboy was a spicy jalapeño, Cowboy, It’s Christmas is more of a poblano — mellow and mild. And a bit vague.
Sure, there’s sex and steamy-ish moments, but we’re working in the realm of “orgasmed under his skillful ministrations” … and I’m still not sure what those ministrations were. Oral? Fingering? Mood lighting and interpretive dance? Your guess is as good as mine.
What I Loved About the Book
- Heatherly Bell’s writing is always smooth and bingeable. I read this one over the course of two days — coffee in hand, during errands, and a few chapters before bed.
- I love the continuation from Lucky Cowboy. It’s like catching up with old friends in boots. (Yet this book can also be a stand alone.)
- Realistic dialogue and grounded emotional arcs. These people feel like they live just down the dirt road.
- The series is easy to jump into. You don’t need to have read the previous books, but if you did, you’ll enjoy the extra Easter eggs.
What Challenged Me About the Book
- The DNA Dance: Daisy takes a DNA test but lies to her entire family about it. I get the drama, but lying to people who love you? Hard pass for me. Honesty isn’t just the best policy — it’s the foundation of every relationship.
- The Nickname Debacle: Wade keeps calling Daisy “Peanut.” Even after she tells him she hates it. Even after they talk about finding a new pet name. Sir, this woman is a full-fledged adult woman, fixing the vintage truck your dad left you, and flashing you her red satin bra — please stop calling her Peanut like she’s six and you’re her uncle.
Note: These are MY personal issues and no reflection of Bell as a writer (who I greatly admire as an extremely talented author and genuinely nice person) or the overall quality of the book.
Final Thoughts
Cowboy, It’s Christmas is a charming, cozy, emotionally grounded romance with a healthy side of cowboy angst and just a whisper of spice. While I personally wanted the heat cranked up to Lucky Cowboy levels, this one still warmed my heart like a campfire on a snowy Texas night.
If you like …
- Fake dating with real feelings
- Rodeo stars with wounded hearts
- Small-town family drama with emotional payoff
- Cowboys (always cowboys)
… then saddle up. This book belongs on your summer beach list or your holiday reading list.
If you want to hear more of my thoughts on the book, you can listen to the podcast episode on your favorite podcast streaming service. Or click here for our in-house podcast player. I share my Romantic Reminder gleaned from the book. You can also find out if I won the episode Boobie Prize. Want to read the book for yourself? You can get it from The Ripped Bodice here or from Amazon here.
And, if you do decide to read Cowboy, It’s Christmas, may I suggest the following pairings?
🍸 Book & Booze Pairing: Saddle Up with a Sip
Book: Cowboy, It’s Christmas by Heatherly Bell
Vibe: Small-town charm, second-chance sparks, and one stubborn cowboy
Best Served With: A Cowboy Cocktail — bold, sweet, and smooth with a little kick
🤠 Cowboy Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Ginger ale (to top)
- Ice
- Lemon slice or maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add bourbon, peach schnapps, and lemon juice. Shake until well chilled (think: brisk Texas wind).
- Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
- Top with ginger ale and garnish with a lemon slice or cherry.
- Sip slowly while silently judging fictional cowboys who can’t find a better nickname than “Peanut.”
Optional Pairing Bonus:
Light a woodsy-scented candle, throw on a country playlist, and imagine Wade finally coming to his senses while Daisy replaces a carburetor like a queen.
For the podcast episode, I went with a Cowboy Coffee as a nod to Daisy’s love of coffee. But I seriously considered going with the Cowboy Cocktail.
Share Your Thoughts!
Have you read Cowboy, It’s Christmas? Will you be adding it to your reading list? What cocktail would you pair with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Related Podcast Episodes & Blog Posts
Our Author Spotlight & Interview with Heatherly Bell
Season 2 Episode 8: Slow Burnin’ Love (Our Podcast Episode Featuring Two of Heatherly Bell’s Books)
