Holiday Hearts

Canadays of Montana #3

by Barbara Ankrum

Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie

First published as The Christmas Wish

Event planner Eve Canaday and her secret crush, Dr. Ben Tyler, are unexpectedly drafted to help a little girl fulfill her late mother’s wish—a magical Christmas to create some happy memories. Eve sees this opportunity as a sign; Ben, as a glitch in his plan to leave Marietta behind for good.

As the trio checks off the to-do list of Christmas fun, Ben’s ‘bah-humbug’ opinion of the holiday fades, along with ideas about keeping his distance from Eve. Getting involved is the last thing he wants to do but, alas, there’s no accounting for cosmic interference.

With the season of miracles upon this jewel of a town, will Eve find it’s possible that Christmas wishes aren’t only for little girls?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2016

About the author

Barbara Ankrum grew up in Upstate New York, training to be a ballerina, but secretly dreaming of being an actress. Her first fangirl crush on Haley Mills led her to practice her British accent on unsuspecting store clerks, and she dreamed of co-starring in the remake of THE MOONSPINNERS. Because she was also a compulsive reader, she discovered that the film was based on a book by the fabulous Mary Stewart, which led to Barbara's lifelong obsession with romantic fiction.

Since Haley Mills was, sadly, not in the market for a co-star, Barbara pursued a degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee. And when that degree, predictably, led to unemployment, she pulled up her socks and moved to Hollywood where she built a career as a successful commercial actress while raising two amazing (now grown) children with her sweet husband.

Writing romance came naturally from all that reading and the down time between auditions. Once she sold her first book, she said farewell to Hollywood-Land and never looked back. In between writing novels, she got her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard and optioned a few screenplays. But her first love is, and always will be, romance.

Barbara's emotional, character driven, adventurous historicals (Wild Western Hearts series), her sexy, romantic suspense for Harlequin and her funny, heartwarming contemporaries for Tule Publishing, offer a little something for everyone. Twice nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award, and her contemporary romance, Holiday Hearts, was made into a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Christmas movie! Today, she lives in Texas with her husband and a scruffy, adorable rescue dog.

Please visit her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara.ankr...
Website: www.barbaraankrum.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BarbaraAnkrum

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve Canaday has had a little bit of a crush on her longtime friend Dr. Ben Tyler but nothing had ever come of the crush. When Eve volunteers to drive Ben to the airport for his vacation trip though the pair instead find themselves stuck in a snowbank when a reindeer crosses their path in the road.

Getting a ride back into town Ben finds he has to cancel his vacation and when they stop by the hospital to let them know it seems that fate kept Ben from leaving when he finds a longtime friend had fallen off a ladder hanging Christmas lights. Ben steps into the surgery while Eve takes care of his poor daughter in the waiting room.

After the surgery Ben and Eve find themselves caring for the little girl who had lost her mother the year before and now has her father recovering in the hospital. Finding that the young mother of the girl had set in motion a special Christmas for her daughter and husband in the event that she hadn't survived to be there Ben and Eve step in to make sure the plans are carried out which brings them closer together as the magic of the holiday surrounds them.

The Cowgirl's Christmas Wish is the third book in the Canadays of Montana series taking place in the lovely small town of Marietta, Montana with all of it's usual Christmas charm. As usual with these various series set in this town you get mentions of other characters and events from the town all throughout the book but this can be read as a standalone novel.

I enjoyed the fact that this particular couple had already been friends so with the situation forcing them together at the holidays they are given the chance to become more than just friends in their lives. Another nice addition was having the four year old that this couple is caring for involved as it seemed to bring even more fun Christmasy events into the read as they follow the list to make a perfect Christmas for her.

Overall, another lovely holiday romance taking place in the small town of Marietta, Montana. Yes, I am a fan of this town and all of the lovely couples coming together during the holiday charm.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Book Gannet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came very close to not finishing this book. The reason that I stuck with it to the end is also the reason why this has 2 stars rather than 1 – because everything concerning little Lily and her father Malcolm is plain lovely. The Christmas wish list of her deceased mother is touching and wonderful and when they’re with her, both Ben and Eve are great to read about.

Sadly when it came to the romance, I could barely stand either of them. Their feelings for each other are unbelievably selfish and lead to some pretty childish behaviour.

Despite evidence to the contrary, Eve seems to believe she knows Ben better than he does himself. And everything he does is about her – which justifies her overreacting to every little thing. Ben is leaving because he doesn’t love her enough – except she’s never made any move to tell him how she feels, so he doesn’t even know he’s supposed to be in love with her. He could have asked anyone to help him with Lily, but he chose her which must mean something, right? Well, maybe if she hadn’t been the one to strong arm him into the good deed in the first place. Oh, and she had to beg him to go to the ball with her, which just shows how he can’t possibly care for her as much as she does for him, except she never actually asked him and made it a condition of her helping him with Lily and then overreacted when he didn’t whoop for joy at going to the ball when she already knows how much he hates Christmas.

Oh yes, and that hating Christmas thing clearly shows that he’s running away from his emotions. Just like he’s running away because he wants to leave Marietta and do something good in the world. But that’s so selfish of him because Eve people need him in Marietta – and those isolated people in the jungle don’t. Because it’s all about Eve.

There were times when I just wanted to shake her and tell her to grow up – and don’t even get me started on her massive overreaction to what happens at the ball. No, it didn't look good, but it didn't look completely damning either. Stop pouting.

Not that Ben comes out of this well, because he doesn’t. He knows Eve is the type of woman to want forever, which is why he’s kept his distance. Now that he’s leaving, though, suddenly he thinks starting something is a great idea. No, it’s selfish and the way he accepts Eve’s wild claims about why he’s running away just shows that they deserve each other. I also don’t think much of him for reneging on his commitment right at the end. That was just the cherry on top of the disappointed cake.

So safe to say the romance didn’t work for me. Plus the idea that anyone who ever wants to leave their home town in order to do something good in the world must mean they’re running away from something really annoyed me. Which is a huge shame, because when this book isn’t about Eve and Ben it’s actually really good. The Christmas spirit of Marietta comes through strongly and the delight they bring to Lily is so lovely to read about. Throw in the reindeer and white feather and some parts of this book are actually really special. But sadly it is supposed to be about Eve and Ben, which led to an ending that left me annoyed and disappointed in equal measures. Bah humbug.

(ARC from the publisher via NetGalley)

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a festive friends to lovers romance featuring Eve Canaday, an event planner, and Doctor Ben Taylor, a talented orthopaedic surgeon. His dysfunctional family life has convinced him that love and romance aren't real, instead he has focussed on his career, giving little time for anything else - until a reindeer and a delightful four year old repeatedly interfere with his plans!

A young mother, Patsy, realising she might not live to see her daughter's next Christmas, has left a series of letters for her husband, each giving him things to do with their daughter as Christmas approaches. Unfortunately, whilst attempting the first task, the father is seriously injured, so he asks his friend, Ben, to look after his daughter and Eve and Ben volunteer to carry on following Patsy's instructions..... Doing so helps Ben realise that living your life is more important than any career but he's already planning on leaving to work in Honduras. Is it too late for him and Eve to work a little Christmas magic and find the Miracle of love together.

Emotively written, this is a very moving festive read where things just keep almost working out then something else goes wrong! It links in with event and people from other festive reads by other authors and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them and have no hesitation in highly recommending them to anyone looking for a well written festive romance to escape into.

I was gifted an ARC of this novel via NetGalley with no obligation or requirement to review it. This is my honest review after reading the ARC.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice story, if a bit overly simplified. Small town girl secretly in love with her friend. Ambitious doc on his way out of town. Still, it was a nice escape for a bit, and a bit of Christmas magic in August was lovely.

[Joan]

This was a bit too frothy for me- everything hunky-dory and perfect and a four-year old girl who doesnt seem bothered that her father (who is a widower) is in hospital. There are no tears, no screams, she goes to bed quite happily etc etc etc. The 'Christmas' aspect was also too twee for me and the husband - thinking about dating someone only seven months after the death of his wife??? Nah

I read to the end, but to be honest, I nearly dnf'd after the first sentence which I had to re-read several times in order to work out WHO was talking and who was the real MC in this book. This was not the only incidence of sloppy writing either and some of the dialogue was laboured to say the least.
For a middle-of-the-night-insomnia read it was fine, but I didnt really care about either character and to be honest, Ben needed to grow up.

Not rating

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Eve had kept her feelings for Ben firmly under wraps. Really, they were friends. She might feel more towards him than that but why ruin a perfectly good friendship… even if she was sorely tempted. But this trip she’s making right now proves that she was right to not say anything. Ben was headed out of town, she was his ride to the airport that would be taking him away from Marietta. She didn’t know it at the time, but that trip was supposed to be for much longer than the story Ben had told about a diving vacation.

Until a stray perhaps magical reindeer changed their plans. By causing Eve to swerve, crashing her SUV into a snowdrift and put any chance of Ben catching his flight completely impossible. Some might call it an unfortunate accident without injuries – others might see fate calmly stepping in. Let’s play the “What If” game… if that reindeer had not stepped onto the road at that moment, if Ben had indeed made his flight then he wouldn’t have been at the hospital when a friend needed surgery after a nasty fall or to be there to take care of his friend’s sweet daughter while her father was in the hospital… or have discovered that what he was searching for was right here in Marietta all the time. He simply had to pay attention.

The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish is a heartwarming holiday romance. Actually it’s two romances for we also get to experience the special love that Patsy, Malcolm and Lily shared as well. Patsy’s love for her husband and daughter went beyond her death as she had left special instruction letters among her friends to be delivered in order to make this first Christmas without her joyous for her daughter and bearable for her husband. When Mal fell while putting up the house lights, as per Patsy’s instructions, that left a little girl very alone. Ben was asked by his friend to look after Lily while he was away from home… and that sets up Ben and Eve spending time together while making a sweet child’s Christmas enjoyable.

Ben had never left himself open to anything but work. Commitments were not a part of his life goals. Yet, now he had a little girl’s happiness in his hands and perhaps the chance to find his own happiness if only he can truly see why he’s running away all the time. And make a commitment that does not include his profession but his life.

Eve and Ben’s romance and it’s struggles was very believable. I know a few people who are so committed to their profession that they simply forgot about their own personal lives. So this really isn’t that far from unusual, unfortunately. Eve is a lovely character who reacts with anger when warranted and understanding when needed. Ben is living his life based on his parents’ example and is afraid to look for anything beyond that. He gets a wake up call, doesn’t always handle it well, but he’s trying. I liked them individually and as a couple.

If you’re looking for a solid, feel good Christmas romance that is completely believable, with perhaps a magical reindeer’s intervention and feathers dropped from Heaven… then this is a story that you would love. I would definitely recommend this one for anyone looking for Christmas magic and that thing called love.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review written: January 5, 2017
Star Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☼☼☼

An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.

I struggled through The Cowgirl's Christmas Wish. Neither Eve nor Ben were characters I could get into. There wasn't enough about Eve's life to make her particularly compelling. There was plenty about Ben, almost all of it how he wanted emotional distance from everything and everyone. The combination made it hard to keep me interested.

Where this book excelled was in the Christmas feeling and the special events set up for Lily (who Ben and Eve are helping care for). Marietta Christmases are wonderful, full of small town spirit. Sadly, Christmas and Lily could not save this story for me.

I have struggled recently with the Montana Born, Marietta-set books. I think it's more about me, but the books just seem to have lost their small town, tight knit charm.

This review is ©January 2017 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Christmas Wish (The Canadays of Montana Book 3)

The love story of Eve and Ben. Ben is a doctor was great ambition and Eve is a woman look for someone special. Can an ambitious man and lonely woman find happiness. I did not like the story, could not really to the characters.

[Kari Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUTE CUTE CUTE!! Enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would.

[Jeanne Cosmos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging characters. A narrative that connects & is just lovely. The author is truly a wordsmith & and natural storyteller. Kudos on a terrific trad!

[Dixie-Lee Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh !!!

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowgirl's Christmas Wish is a lovely, warm Christmas love story about hope and promises and that wonderful all encompassing love that close families have for each other. This story pits Eve Canaday against Ben Tyler, the caring and competent orthopaedic surgeon and best friend she has loved for almost as long as she's known him. Ben cares for Eve too though he's not keen on jinxing their friendship with a fling, which is all he thinks he can offer her. Ben's upbringing has left him determined to make a meaningful contribution as a doctor, and his plans are to make that contribution n Honduras, about as far from Mariettta Montana as he can go.
A car accident, a reindeer, an angel and a sad little girl force Ben to to reevaluate his priorities in what proves to be a moving story. I really enjoyed spending time with Ben, eve and Lily though I'll warn you tissues might be needed.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful holiday read. Eve Canaday can't believe Ben Tyler is leaving Marietta right before the holidays. She's been crushing on him forever and now he's leaving. Well that had been the plan until there is a little mishap with her car and a reindeer. Now Ben is stuck in Marietta for the holidays and he's been roped into helping a young girl great some magical Christmas memories along with Eve. So much for getting out of here without letting his heart fall for Eve!!

Definitely a recommended read.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Canaday has had a crush on her best friend Dr. Ben Tyler for most of the year that she has known him. Unfortunately, Ben is married to his job. When a mutual friend is injured in a fall the two must join together to temporarily care for the widower's 4 year old daughter. It isn't long before true feelings come to the surface for both of them. But Ben's past and a sudden life changing choice will leave Eve floundering with her feelings of unrequited love for the man.

Ben knows he is no good for any woman, especially his sweetest, most kind hearted friend Eve. When they are thrown together unexpectedly, spending countless hours together caring for young Lily, he finally realizes that his cold heart has cracked open just enough to feel the pain his leaving will cause. But will Ben be able to open his heart all the way to love before it's too late?

This is such a sweet, sexy, wonderful Christmastime novel. Wonderful characters drag you in to amazing small town Marietta, Montana, where every neighbor is a friend and every stranger is a friend you have yet to meet. I loved it!

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some cute and heartwarming moments in this book, however there were parts of the story that frustrated me and I was disappointed. Although Hero Ben wanted to go abroad to do some medical work (in his mind perhaps for the wrong reasons to emotionally escape), Heroine Eve did not know his motivations and gave him major grief about 'leaving her'.

They never discussed where he was going or why like adults, so it was all his fault and his mistake, etc. He was the bad guy! But if he had been going on this type of mission to Honduras because he felt a calling, because he wanted to give back to those less fortunate and in great need, this might have been a noble choice for him. She felt self-centered and he caved and it just felt manipulative to me. Eve seemed to have no compassion for those that Ben might have helped and I almost got the impression that she was elitist or prejudiced that Ben's medical skills were more valuable in the USA than those who were worse off in other parts of the world - it just left a bad taste in my mouth when reading. While there were parts of the story that were very uplifting, this part of this story was disappointing and I deducted 2 stars.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Canaday
Ben Tyler

Eve is a Professional Stager and Ben is an Orthopedic Surgeon. Eve and Ben have been friends for over a year and Eve wants it to be more or she needs to say goodbye, or as her sister said, fish or cut bait. When Eve is taking Ben to the airport a reindeer runs out in front of Eve and she runs into a snow bank. They end up in the hospital, for minor injuries,
where Ben works and he finds out his friend Malcom has been hurt and the Surgeon on duty is already in Surgery so Ben does the operation but at the same time Malcom asks him to watch his little girl until he gets out of the hospital. Ben immediately gets Eve to help as she knows Malcom and Lily’s mom who has passed away, all of them having grown up together. This is a very good book that reads fast. I liked Eve and Ben’s characters. Lily is a very good secondary character. A good clean romance with family relationships and Christmas magic.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first half better than the second half. The characters had their big argument around the 60% mark, I think, and it was an argument I can only see happening in fiction! One where the woman was in the right about everything and had words to express herself clearly and the man listened to her and didn’t get angry or hurt or defensive, and (as mentioned before) apparently didn’t have a side of things to defend. I found it hard to believe. I thought he had more of a side than he did. I thought she was overreacting to an extreme, though (since he gave her so much space to make her point) she did eventually explain where she was coming from better. I also thought she bore some responsibility for never having told him of her feelings before but that never got mentioned by either of them.

Aside from that I enjoyed the story. It was light and fluffy and just what I was looking for.

[Virginia Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this book, the characters were very good, the story line great, the little girl was sweet. The love story was going just fine, until there was page after page of descriptive sex thrown in. Why? I am not a prude, but I find it very distasteful to have a play by play of the act of sex which is suppose to be something personal and private between two people.

I skipped over those pages and read the rest of it, and it was a happy ending, but the story was spoiled for me.

If i wanted to read that type of book I’d be buying erotic books. I don’t watch porn, and I sure don’t want to read about it either.

I will never buy anymore books by Barbara Antrum nor will I recommend her.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feather From an Angel Wing

Eve has a great friend in Ben. Ben has a great friend in Eve. Is that all it can be? For Eve the friendship isn't enough. She wants Ben to notice her as a desirable woman. For Ben, he can only focus on medicine, on his career. As Christmas approaches, they take care of Lily, a 4 yr old daughter of Malcolm. Malcolm was injured trying to hang Christmas lights. Malcolm is a widower, just trying to keep going as a single dad. They will all have help from Patsy, who wrote letters before her death, to help Malcolm show Lily the true meaning of Christmas.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve and Ben are just friends. His first love is medicine, and it seems like nothing can compete with that, not even Eve. A chance encounter with a reindeer while Eve is driving him to the airport is the beginning of a chain of unlikely events that will change both their lives. This light-hearted romance has some serious issues that bring Ben up short. Taking to heart some unsolicited advice, he makes the most important decision of his life. This lovely Christmas story is much more than a rom-com, and illustrates what is really important. Well written with likable characters, it’s a perfect story for Christmas.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book, read in one day. The magic of Christmas has hit Eve and Ben with the help of a little girl, Lily and letters from Lily's deceased mother. The letters were meant for Lily's dad but he he is recovering in the hospital, so he has asked his friends Eve and Ben to help with Lily during the holiday season. Eve and Ben have been friends forever, Eve wants more but Ben is leaving Marietta forever to work in the jungle as a doctor. Can a few letters, a little girl and the magic of Christmas change his plans? Loved the reindeer!! I highly recommend this book this holiday season!!

[Wendy Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve has had a crush on her bestfriend Ben
Ben was seeing some who was pregnant with as he was told his baby, which later he found out that it was not his child but someone else and she wanted the other guy to merry her
Ben was very hurt about it and ran to his best friend Eve house and talked and drank some and they ending up sleeping together and the day Eve found out that she was pregnant Ben came over and told her that he is moving back to where his family was so Eve did not tell him the news
Want to know what happens later ? then read this book I love it

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this Christmas story. Eve is working on an event at The Graff hotel. When her friend Ben asks for her help she is there, waiting for him to notice her. As she is about to give up on him, a Christmas miracle, a wish and a reindeer all help in this light heart-warming story. The cover fits so well with the story and I liked the ending.

I received an advanced copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional holiday story to read. Ben and Eve have been friends for a long time, but nothing more. Then a reindeer (with help from an angel?) triggers a series of events that alters both of their lives over Christmas.
I loved how Ben and Eve came together to help out Malcom with Lily when he was hurt. They are such wonderful people who really care about others, even if they (mostly Ben) can't understand that they deserve happiness too.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends

Eve has had a crush on Ben for over a year but has never done anything about it. Their friends and she doesn't want him to laugh at her. She is decorating the Graff for the holiday ball. She is taking Ben to the airport when they have an accident. When they get to the hospital, where he works, to get his car they find out their has been injured and Ben is going to do the surgery, Eve takes care of their friend's little girl. This throws them together.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cowgirl's Christmas Wish by Barbara Ankrum.
A truly beautiful Christmas story, that's exciting,interesting and very well written. A strong plot with great chemistry between the main characters .
You are drawn into the story from the beginning and hooked from the start, not wanting it to end.
As you read each page you feel you are there too.
Fantastic read,I totally loved this spell binding romance and I highly recommend. 5*+
This has now been made into a film Holiday Hearts xxxxx

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but...

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. However, I felt like I made a mistake by trying contradict as a stand alone. The story was quite good, but every now and then throughout the book I felt I was introduced to characters I should have already known, and I had a bit of trouble catching on to the different relationships/connections. The story was good, but may have been better if read in order as part if the series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in The Canadays of Montana series a well written Christmas story that kept me turning pages. This time it is event planner Eve Canaday and her secret crush, Dr. Ben Tyler's story. A man that is afraid to love and because of his Dad thinks he has to live up to his standards. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. This is a new Author to me, I want to read the rest of the books in this series.

[Suzen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made into a Hallmark movie. Eve canaday is hoping for the love like her sisters have from Dr, Ben Tyler. He is leaving Marietta for a dive trip to Roatan. However, on the snow drive to the airport a reindeer leaps in front of their car, ruining his trip. Meanwhile, widowed Malcolm falls off his roof, ending up in the hospital. His daughter becomes Ben's ward. Eve helps and they really wind up falling in love- Ben rather begrudgingly. True love prevails.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story that combines angels and the miracle of Christmas. Eve and Ben help out a friend who gets hurt. It is Christmas time and her dead mom has left letters all over town so that her daughter will enjoy Christmas. But with a little magic of Christmas it may end up being a good Christmas for all!