Mistletoe & Marriage: Snowbound Cowboy

Mistletoe & Marriage: Snowbound Cowboy
Patricia Thayer

DONNA ALWARD

Snowbound Cowboy Patricia ThayerLone wolf Boone Gifford has spent years standing on the outside. Now he’s looking at Christmas – through the window of beautiful Amelia Hughes’ home. As the snow falls harder, and the stranded family needs help, it’s time for Boone to step inside.A Bride For Rocking H Ranch Donna Alward Kelley Hughes is rancher, housekeeper, doting sister to Amelia, granddaughter and aunt – and the stress of preparing the perfect Christmas at Rocking H Ranch is getting to her. But distraction soon arrives in the form of delectable chef Mack Dennison…

Patricia Thayer welcomes you to Rocking H Ranch

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. I grew up in the Midwest, and as a child one of my first wishes for the holidays was to have snow. Another was for a giant tree that smelled of evergreen and reached all the way to the ceiling in our big old house.

I have a large family—four sisters and three brothers—and though my parents never had a lot, they managed to fill up the bottom of the tree with gifts from Santa. It was years until I realised how truly blessed I was because I had family around to share it with.

As I got older my hopes and dreams changed. Now that I have grandkids, I’ve discovered that the best presents aren’t always wrapped up with a pretty bow. The best are part of everyday life. Like seeing my grandsons’ smiles as they run through the waves at the beach, or point up at the moon in wonder. How they grip your hand with complete confidence that you’ll keep them safe. How our oldest grandson, who has autism, smiles so brightly when you read his favourite story or sing his favourite song. And how every word he speaks is like a precious gift. No, you can’t buy that in any store.

This is my first Christmas story, and I was lucky enough to share it with talented writer Donna Alward. Together we came up with a ranch in Montana, the Rocking H, with two sisters, Kelley and Amelia Hughes.

In my story I created characters who needed to find some holiday joy. When this idea came to me, I kept seeing a five-year-old boy making a Christmas wish. All Jesse Hughes wants is a dad. He even writes it down on a list, and every day he believes that his dad will arrive by Christmas morning. It takes a Montana snow blizzard and my hero and heroine getting stranded together just two weeks before Christmas.

Amelia, a single mother, is afraid to trust another man again. Boone Gifford carries a burden with him that makes him think he doesn’t deserve a family. Somehow these two began to believe in a Montana Christmas miracle and never have to unwrap one gift.

In Donna’s story, Kelley enlists the help of chef Mack Dennison to help her create the perfect Hughes family Christmas. Somehow they both start to realise that the most perfect gift could very well be each other…if they’re willing to open their hearts.

My hope for all of you is to receive the kind of gift that isn’t always found under the tree. Just look around and count your blessings.

Happy Holidays

Patricia Thayer

Mistletoe& Marriage

Snowbound Cowboy

BY

Patricia Thayer

And

A Bride for Rocking H Ranch

BY

Donna Alward

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/)

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#ud0c40410-ae55-53fa-a376-1f8d4197e428)

Author’s Note (#ub26013ed-176d-5350-9462-30b9c9973851)

Title Page (#ue8c97451-fc78-57f7-8770-e68b345af215)

Snowbound Cowboy (#uf933e696-fd93-599e-9c61-b610b710bb90)

Chapter One (#uac39a6e5-31ff-5ac9-97cb-3574483e780c)

Chapter Two (#ubb293484-3869-5b94-ba34-016e4900b1f1)

Chapter Three (#u46d62232-1e0f-5188-8f67-1465a55a8d09)

Chapter Four (#u2f4acaf0-e245-5d8e-b870-f7572deed159)

Chapter Five (#u377bc017-df82-54bf-befe-b9f2f4d19d4d)

Chapter Six (#ua5362792-5f37-55d5-8b70-4d2b32260b99)

Chapter Seven (#ude1b763a-5e89-5978-8eb1-fca9cd4222f2)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Preview (#litres_trial_promo)

A Bride for Rocking H Ranch (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)