Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (Spikes & Spurs, #3)

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Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (Spikes & Spurs #3)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 288 ratings · 34 reviews

The author of the #1 bestselling Christmas romance in 2010 (Honky Tonk Christmas) creates a new installment in her sexy contemporary cowboy romance series that showcases her amazing Southern voice.

Born and raised in a traveling carnival, all Liz Hanson ever wanted for Christmas was a home that didn't have wheels. After she was old enough to date she added one more item:

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Paperback, 378 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (first published October 1st 2011)

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Best Cowboy/Western Romance

114th out of 138 books — 89 voters

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Nov 16, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comtemporary-romance, christmas, cowboys

DARN GOOD COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Carolyn Brown is an exciting,sassy contemporary romance set in present day Texas. It is book #3 in the "Spikes & Spurs" series,but can be read as a stand alone. See "Love Drunk Cowboy" and "Red's Hot Cowboy". "Darn Good Cowboy Christmas" has everything a contmpory romance reader could want. It has romance, witty dialogue,love,holiday magic, sexy cowboy,sweet sensuality,dark-haired,sexy heroine,traveling carnival, passion,and slow kisses under the mistletoe.It is...more

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Dec 17, 2012 P.A. Lupton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Darn Good Cowboy Christmas was chosen for me as part of a reading challenge. I think the biggest compliment I can give the book is it’s not bad. That being said, it’s not especially great either. It’s a fast, light read, but forgettable.

Mostly, I found the book a little too easy. The heroine wants a cowboy and house without wheels for Christmas and they both fall right into her lap. She meets Raylen’s sister, who doesn’t really like her, but then when her best friend shows up and he falls for t...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Joelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-shelf, romance, romantic, series, cowboys, contemporary

Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (Spikes & Spurs #3)
by Carolyn Brown

5 stars

http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...

The author of the #1 bestselling Christmas romance in 2010 (Honky Tonk Christmas) creates a new installment in her sexy contemporary cowboy romance series that showcases her amazing Southern voice.

Born and raised in a traveling carnival, all Liz Hanson ever wanted for Christmas was a home that didn't have wheels. After she was old enough to date she added one more item: a sexy cowbo...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having read the first two novels in this series, I was delighted to dive into this third novel that was also a lovely Christmas story as well. It also continued some of the stories in the two previous novels so the readers can continue to "keep track" of some of their favorite characters. As a "carnie" who always dreamed of settling down, Liz Hanson only asked for two things on her Christmas list: a house that wasn't on wheels and her very own cowboy. This story highlights much of the carnival l...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, holiday, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

A story with a cowboy always hits the target, but add a little Christmas flair and a saucy heroine and you have a winner.

I know when I open a book by Ms. Brown, I’m in for a great time with characters I’ll never forget. This book is hot, humorous and a great time. I love a book where there’s a little bit of misunderstanding and a lot of longing. Ms. Brown delivers.

Saying Raylen is hot is an understatement. He’s smoking hot. He’s got...more

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Mar 22, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: are-top-picks, trs-picks

An ARe Cafe Top Pick for November, 2011.

This is a genuinely nice boy-next-door romance. Lizelle has been raised as a carnie and loved the life but she’s always had a dream to pull the feathers from her wings and put down roots. I like Liz. She’s outspoken, says what she wants, and is willing to work hard. Unlike a lot of cowboy books, Raylen actually spends a lot of time working on his family’s horse ranch but finds time to fit her into his busy life. While they had childhood crushes on each oth...more

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Dec 25, 2011 drey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, romance-contemporary

drey’s thoughts:
If you’ve read Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances, you’ll know that they’re completely addicting. If you haven’t, well, you’ve been warned. This latest Spikes and Spurs installment features a girl who’s loved a boy since she met him forever and a day ago, and a boy who hasn’t forgotten her in all those years. You’d think with this kind of a start, the story would be over and done lickety-split.

But if it was, you’d miss out on the laugh-out-loud humor and the sexy banter Carolyn infu...more

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Mar 07, 2013 t'irla ~The BookSlayer~ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, cowboy-romance, disappointing, misc-authors, misc-romance, owned, sweet-romance, 2-star-read

Love Cowboys, the carny angle is different but ...nothing new here

Description:

Born and raised in a traveling carnival, all Liz Hanson ever wanted for Christmas was a home that didn't have wheels. After she was old enough to date she added one more item: a sexy cowboy.

She's about given up on Santa ever bringing either one when her father dies and leaves her an ugly house and twenty acres in Texas. Then rancher Raylen O'Donnell walks onto her property...

Thoughts:

Too many holes in the story, the ch...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Pam rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-that-i-didn-t-finish

Lizelle Hanson is a carnie, as she calls herself. She traveled and worked as a fortune teller and belly dancer for most of her life. But what she always wanted was roots; somewhere to call home, a house that has a foundation and not wheels. In fact, that is a Christmas wish that she has; she wants a house and a cowboy. The first part of her wish comes true when her uncle moves out of his house to take care of his father and is going to leave it to her if she still wants to live there after she t...more Lizelle Hanson is a carnie, as she calls herself. She traveled and worked as a fortune teller and belly dancer for most of her life. But what she always wanted was roots; somewhere to call home, a house that has a foundation and not wheels. In fact, that is a Christmas wish that she has; she wants a house and a cowboy. The first part of her wish comes true when her uncle moves out of his house to take care of his father and is going to leave it to her if she still wants to live there after she tries it out for a few months. Liz is ecstatic. She arrives at the house in Texas to find her uncle’s neighbor, Raylen O’Donnell, there. He is the very cowboy that she had a crush on when she used to visit her uncle, and she has been fantasizing about him for years. Could this be the second half of her wish coming true?

My Thoughts:
This is the first book that I haven’t finished since I started reviewing. I definitely gave it a chance though; I read to page 225. Besides just not being interesting, there were a lot of things that bothered me about this book.

First, the shifting of the characters points of view. There was constant shifting with no clear breaks. It gets very confusing, especially if the shift happens within a single paragraph, which it did!

Second, the repeating of thoughts. Liz would think a thought, and then say the thought out loud to someone else. Then she would repeat it later to another character. I get how perhaps the author is trying to show how the third character found out about what she was thinking, but this isn’t the way to do it.

Third, Liz’s character herself. She would ramble a lot, and it just wasn’t attractive to me. Also, everything was handed to her on a silver platter. Where’s the challenge? She wants a house, gets it from her uncle. Wants a job, gets one handed to her right when she moves to town. Wants to decorate her house like the Griswold’s, the neighbors pitch right in to help. It was annoying. I feel like she acted very juvenile too. Here’s Liz talking to Raylen about what kind of Christmas tree she wants.

“I want a real one but Momma reminded me that I’m allergic to cedar and pine trees. Do you think they’ll have one that doesn’t look perfect? I want it to look real even if it’s not.” (p. 181)

I guess I just feel like a grown woman should know what she was allergic to. It wasn’t just that though, it was all things like I listed above.

I can’t imagine the work it takes a write a book, I really can’t. But Darn Good Cowboy Christmas was not worth the read.
(less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Wow. I love those O'Donnell boys, and Raylen was certainly a hot one. I loved the way that Liz settled in to her house so quickly, and began getting to know everyone. She remembered Raylen from her two previous visits, and was really hoping he was still available. Raylen hadn't forgotten her either. I really enjoyed the way he helped her setting things up, and the way that she helped him too. They both had some insecurity issues - he was afraid she'd leave and go back to the carnie way of life,...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that even though I gave it 4 stars it was not my favorite of books by Carolyn Brown.

I did however, love the fact that Raylen was unable to forget Liz whom disappeared from his life when they were so young. I'm just a sap when it comes to the love at first site stuff, which is more or less what this was.

I myself could feel the challenge that Liz was faced with in leaving the only life that she has ever known to settle down.

And loved that Raylen and her new friends came and help to...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Laura Summers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bcc-received, romance, read-in-2012, bcc-reviewed

Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com

DARN GOOD COWBOY CHRISTMAS contains two elements every woman should have in her books at least once a year – cowboys and Christmas! This was just my type of festive treat!

Set in small town, ranching Texas, it’s the third book in Carolyn Brown’s Spikes and Spurs series. I’ve read books two and three, but not the first and I personally didn’t think that it mattered. Brown portrays a fun and cosy community that is easy to sink into whether you’ve met the characters...more Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com

DARN GOOD COWBOY CHRISTMAS contains two elements every woman should have in her books at least once a year – cowboys and Christmas! This was just my type of festive treat!

Set in small town, ranching Texas, it’s the third book in Carolyn Brown’s Spikes and Spurs series. I’ve read books two and three, but not the first and I personally didn’t think that it mattered. Brown portrays a fun and cosy community that is easy to sink into whether you’ve met the characters before or not.

Our heroine is Lizelle (Liz), traveling carnival fortune teller and belly dancer or ‘carnie‘ for short. Fed up of life in a trailer she wants a house and some roots. Happily she is given a house by her uncle, which also happens to be right next door to the cowboy she has the hots for as a teenager, the rather delicious Raylen.

Liz is kooky and funny, I loved her carnival background and her unusual family. She is completely obsessed with Christmas, and I couldn’t help but grin as she determined to decorate her house up like so brightly it would attract people from far and wide.

The story is cute, there aren’t many books you would read where in the first scenes the hero and heroine end up having a ‘fiddle off’. Now, now, don’t let those minds wander! A fiddle off with violins… what else did you think it was?!

Raylen has the whole earthy, sexy, cowboy thing going on. In my mind you can’t really go wrong with a ‘darn good cowboy’ and Raylen doesn’t fail to deliver. The book has lots of stories inter mingled with hints at romances for other characters. I was particularly fond of Blaze’s, Liz’s best friend who is unable to commit to any woman. I do love it when a rogue falls in love!

The story has a great, feel good, festive vibe. At its root, it’s a simple, first love story finally being requited. But the setting, the supporting characters and the great chemistry between the two leads make it a thoroughly enjoyable book.

My one little disappointment with the book is the ending, oh don’t worry it’s all rosy and happy… of course! But, I felt like there was one big part I would have like to have actually seen rather than heard about. You know that whole narrative, epilogue style where you see the characters after the event has happened, well that.

VERDICT:

A perfect little Christmas stocking filler. Hunky cowboys, lots of crazy Christmas decorations, cute characters and a cosy happy ending. I do enjoy Ms Brown’s funny, light writing style.

RATING: 3.5/5(less)

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Nov 29, 2011 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: westernromance

3,50-3,75
Recommended with a grin

There is one thing I have come to connect with Brown's books, and that is that they always makes me smile. I usually sit there with a grin on my face, because they are sweet and fun.

This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. You will feel at home at once. The books are inviting and the town is a place I would like to visit, and the people there, I would love to have them as friends.

In this one we have Liz, a former carnie, who wants to sett...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-reads, own

I really liked Raylen but found written to be a bit more flat that I thought he could be. I liked learning more about the O'Donnell siblings and catching up with some previous characters, but I guess I missed the town folk flair from the first two books.

Also, to be a cowboy you apparently must have perfectly stacked legs on your jeans and if you die, you will be graveyard dead, every time. Maybe it's because I have read the first three back to back but the redundancy is getting to me.

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Jun 03, 2012 Carrie Felton rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like this author a lot... and I really like the whole family... and I like the other books in this series...
I even liked the side relationships... but the main one in the novel just didn't suit me... they never got really mad at each other enough to fight... and she was so ready to please him that whenever they DID fight, it kinda just fizzled out... it was good and there were some amazing scenes but i dont think I would read the whole thing again...

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Jan 01, 2013 Arlee Bird rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance fans

Recommended to Arlee by: Sent to me for review

For me this was kind of silly, but for fans of the romance genre I think it would be decent caliber reading. The book is very well written with a well-constructed story and nicely formulated characters. The book is a pleasant enough read that makes a nice escapist diversion for holiday reading (or any time you're in the mood for a good cowboy fantasy romance). I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys the romance genre.

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Dec 14, 2011 farmwifetwo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: carolyn-brown

The sex scenes are no more than "grope and go"... Romance... wasn't any just "gotta have sex".

The colt in the house... OMG... as someone who's been bottle feeding a calf for a couple of months.... the stench, the mess, the..... definately someone who had no idea what she was talking about.

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Dec 03, 2012 Tarina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ebook, romance

All Lizelle Hanson wanted for Christmas her whole life was a house with out wheels and a cowboy.

I was not able to put it down till I read it all to see if Lizelle would loose her traveling wing and trade them in for roots.

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Jan 30, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall it was a good book. I liked both of the families and Raylen and Blaze were probably my two most favorite characters. The emotion in the book was lacking some, mostly when it came to Raylen and Liz's "fights." They didn't feel like fights and Liz always ran (well drove) to his house and everythings okay. It was lacking intenseness.

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Oct 25, 2011 Eva added it

My complete review can be found on my blog.
http://vampirekiss1967.blogspot.com/2...
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Oct 22, 2011 Ann (Noumena12) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: permanent-collection

I’ve loved Brown’s series of contemporary Cowboy romances. The O’Donnell family has been one of my favorites…and I’m looking forward to more.

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May 10, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Typical chit lit romance. Nice story and characters. Once you read it pretty much out of your head, not one you really remember, but a nice read.

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Sep 09, 2012 Mom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-during-2012, the-best-my-favorites

Fun -- Liz grrew up in a carney environment and wants a home without wheels and a cowboy for Christmas. It was good.

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Mar 13, 2013 Lost intheFlood rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really good, enjoyable read.

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Feb 11, 2013 Sharould rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great read .

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Jul 30, 2012 Christine Woods rated it 5 of 5 stars

loved it

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Oct 20, 2011 Wminbc rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboys, christmas-holiday

Loving it so far...Raylen has always been one of my favorites...the youngest brother to Rye and the most secretive/aloof!

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!!!! Review to come...

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Jan 03, 2013 Marla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013

I love these books

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Mar 06, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-series, contemporary-series

Yee-haw. Pity I didn't get it til now because it's a christmassy book, but whatevs. Loved Liz and Raylen.

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Nov 15, 2012 Rachel- Goodbye Borders rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

I enjoy this series for it's light humor. Glad that Colleen gets her HEA in this one too. A favorite quote: "graveyard dead." An annoyance: calling lunch dinner. ie: "I meant to run up to the cafe for dinner..." (it closes at 2pm). Book takes place in Texas, southern thing?

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About Carolyn Brown

Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my be...more Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!

Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.

I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.

I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.

Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!

I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.

Happy reading!(less)

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Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (Spikes & Spurs #3)

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