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Cowboy Country #6
The Cowboy's Baby Blessing
The Rancher's New Family
Rachel Perez needs a handyman to spruce up her in-home day care. So when she "wins" ex-soldier Seth Howell in a bachelor auction, she's glad he can swing a hammer. But when freewheeling Seth suddenly inherits a two-year-old and a sprawling ranch, he's got to grow up fast. Seth admires Rachel's kindness and easy way with kids, so he seeks her help in finding his footing as a father. And single mom Rachel sees how determined Seth is to do right by little Caden. Between his toddler and her teenager, they've got plenty of responsibilities. Finding time for love seems out of the question--but soon they're forging a new family...together.
Rachel Perez needs a handyman to spruce up her in-home day care. So when she "wins" ex-soldier Seth Howell in a bachelor auction, she's glad he can swing a hammer. But when freewheeling Seth suddenly inherits a two-year-old and a sprawling ranch, he's got to grow up fast. Seth admires Rachel's kindness and easy way with kids, so he seeks her help in finding his footing as a father. And single mom Rachel sees how determined Seth is to do right by little Caden. Between his toddler and her teenager, they've got plenty of responsibilities. Finding time for love seems out of the question--but soon they're forging a new family...together.
- GenresLove Inspired
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 20, 2017
About the author
Deb Kastner
110 books149 followersPublishers Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of over 50 novels and two million books in print, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational and sweet western stories set in small communities, often including animals as major secondary characters.
Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, her puppers Gabby and Sadie, and two mischievous bonded brothers, black tuxedo cats Hype and Dab. She recently went through what she terms her midlife crisis and adopted her very first ever real live horse whose name is sweet Moscato.
She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren with #3 on the way. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors and The High Kings are her favs), singing in the church choir and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, her puppers Gabby and Sadie, and two mischievous bonded brothers, black tuxedo cats Hype and Dab. She recently went through what she terms her midlife crisis and adopted her very first ever real live horse whose name is sweet Moscato.
She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren with #3 on the way. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors and The High Kings are her favs), singing in the church choir and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 22, 2017
All Rachel wants is a handy-man to fix up her daycare playground so she could pass her upcoming inspection. She has no romantic intentions when she participates in the annual Bachelors & Baskets auction, but it seems her 16 year old daughter Zooey may have other plans when she wins Seth. When he suddenly becomes sole guardian of his late best friends two-year old little boy & a inherits a ranch along with him, things take an unexpected turn!
I really enjoyed this story! Rachel reaches out to a grieving Seth in friendship and helps him navigate the single parent life. They also work together to learn how to run the ranching business & protect the legacy for two year old Caden. He's a delightful child, adding his energetic little boy charm to the story! Zooey is a typical teenager skating the line between being a child and an adult, but you see her begin to change when she bonds with Caden. I think she also plays match-maker between her mom and Seth with all her antics and ploys to get them together as much as possible! I enjoyed getting to know Seth's extended family, you can see the love & support between them as well as how they embraced both Zooey and Rachel into their circle. All in all, this is delightful story of two people reaching out to each other in a time of need, embracing what life throws at them, and a romance that blossoms out of a strong friendship!
I really enjoyed this story! Rachel reaches out to a grieving Seth in friendship and helps him navigate the single parent life. They also work together to learn how to run the ranching business & protect the legacy for two year old Caden. He's a delightful child, adding his energetic little boy charm to the story! Zooey is a typical teenager skating the line between being a child and an adult, but you see her begin to change when she bonds with Caden. I think she also plays match-maker between her mom and Seth with all her antics and ploys to get them together as much as possible! I enjoyed getting to know Seth's extended family, you can see the love & support between them as well as how they embraced both Zooey and Rachel into their circle. All in all, this is delightful story of two people reaching out to each other in a time of need, embracing what life throws at them, and a romance that blossoms out of a strong friendship!
June 20, 2017
Its a buy book. I can say that while this is no one thing that stands out in this book , all the elements make it a good read! After a long day, I read this book and was engaged in the story line. While it is sometimes a real life scenario it was handled with love and compassion and romance. It made it an absolute joy to read for me. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom
January 5, 2020
This was a beautifully written story, it had an easy flow to it...our main character, Rachel, was really impressive as she sacrificed her own happiness to help everyone else esp. Seth and Zooey...very inspirational...the author was able to display how one person faith can help heal others...highly recommend!
January 18, 2019
When I read the back blurb, I was going to ding the author for having a penchant for bachelor auctions because I had just read another book by her where the couple met through a bachelor auction. Once I started reading the book though, I realized it was the same auction as in the previous book, just with different characters.
Like the other book I read, the female in this book is looking for a handyman to help out with some repairs--although in this case it is for her in-home daycare. Her daughter and friend (a friend who mysteriously goes missing for the rest of the book) bid on Seth for her.
Seth starts out the book as a bachelor who's revisiting his hometown for a short time before he starts college on the GI bill. Seth's best friend, Luke, was killed while the two were serving together, leaving behind a wife and young son.
Shortly after Seth meets Rachel, Luke's wife, Tracy, dies. Luke and Tracy had told Seth they were naming him guardian, but Seth never thought it would come so soon. He turns to Rachel for some of his parenting questions since she's the single mother of a teenager and watches kids at her daycare.
I like Seth's commitment to keep his word. Even though Rachel gives him an out, he still follows through with his service hours she purchased via the auction. He also, after a short adjustment period, commits to keeping the ranch up for Caden (Luke's and Tracy's son) and to raising Caden as his friends had requested. He even comes to see Caden as a blessing. I also admire that once he realized he was in love with Rachel, he didn't find a ton of excuses as to why he couldn't be in love with her.
I do wonder at his proposing when he did. Rachel didn't seem to be giving him much encouragement in the two of them being a couple department. And even if she did say yes in front of everyone at Caden's birthday party, I'm still worried that she's going to analyze it to death and back away again once she doesn't have the public spectacle aspect.
I don't get Rachel's reluctance. I can understand at first--she and her daughter Zooey have been just the two of them for some time. I can understand and admire Rachel for not wanting to parade a bunch of men into Zooey's life only to have them both hurt if the relationship doesn't work out--especially when Zooey was younger and it would have been harder to explain. But Zooey is about 16 now from the sounds of it, certainly able to understand dating and heartbreak. I can also understand that it requires breaking up their routine, which can be a hard thing to do. My best guess with Rachel is that it is still a self-esteem thing.
I do like that Rachel is the one who comes up with the idea to show Trish what she is in for if she wants to have custody of Caden--raising the child, running the ranch, putting out her own money at times since the trust is for Caden's college. I didn't like Trish at first, but she seems like a decent woman once she faces the truth about herself and her life.
Like the other book I read, the female in this book is looking for a handyman to help out with some repairs--although in this case it is for her in-home daycare. Her daughter and friend (a friend who mysteriously goes missing for the rest of the book) bid on Seth for her.
Seth starts out the book as a bachelor who's revisiting his hometown for a short time before he starts college on the GI bill. Seth's best friend, Luke, was killed while the two were serving together, leaving behind a wife and young son.
Shortly after Seth meets Rachel, Luke's wife, Tracy, dies. Luke and Tracy had told Seth they were naming him guardian, but Seth never thought it would come so soon. He turns to Rachel for some of his parenting questions since she's the single mother of a teenager and watches kids at her daycare.
I like Seth's commitment to keep his word. Even though Rachel gives him an out, he still follows through with his service hours she purchased via the auction. He also, after a short adjustment period, commits to keeping the ranch up for Caden (Luke's and Tracy's son) and to raising Caden as his friends had requested. He even comes to see Caden as a blessing. I also admire that once he realized he was in love with Rachel, he didn't find a ton of excuses as to why he couldn't be in love with her.
I do wonder at his proposing when he did. Rachel didn't seem to be giving him much encouragement in the two of them being a couple department. And even if she did say yes in front of everyone at Caden's birthday party, I'm still worried that she's going to analyze it to death and back away again once she doesn't have the public spectacle aspect.
I don't get Rachel's reluctance. I can understand at first--she and her daughter Zooey have been just the two of them for some time. I can understand and admire Rachel for not wanting to parade a bunch of men into Zooey's life only to have them both hurt if the relationship doesn't work out--especially when Zooey was younger and it would have been harder to explain. But Zooey is about 16 now from the sounds of it, certainly able to understand dating and heartbreak. I can also understand that it requires breaking up their routine, which can be a hard thing to do. My best guess with Rachel is that it is still a self-esteem thing.
I do like that Rachel is the one who comes up with the idea to show Trish what she is in for if she wants to have custody of Caden--raising the child, running the ranch, putting out her own money at times since the trust is for Caden's college. I didn't like Trish at first, but she seems like a decent woman once she faces the truth about herself and her life.
June 20, 2017
The Cowboy's Baby Blessing is a delightfully sweet and thought provoking story about parenting, community, learning to set God in the center of your everyday life, and about romance, about falling in love, and finding that soulmate in unexpected moments of your life.
The challenges, the worries, the trials, and triumphs of being blessed with a child are highlighted and laid out so that it is easy to understand what it can take to be a parent, a single parent in particular. The eye-opening thought of the community rallying around the parent facing that task alone, and supporting them and helping them is a message I wish more people got on their hearts.
Seth Howell has his life planned out after his career in the military. But life does not always go as we plan it, and Seth faces the biggest challenge of his life by being a parent and running a ranch. I loved watching Seth bond with the baby, how fast the deep roots of his feelings towards that little sunshine took hold, and how he was willing to do anything to make him happy, to take care of him, and provide for him.
Rachel Perez is a key person to help Seth to step into the new role in his life as a rancher and father to a toddler. Rachel's faith in God, her willingness to serve the community with kindness and thoughtfulness, and always putting the Lord in the middle of her everyday life catches Seth's attention, as he struggles with his faith in God and God's guidance in his life.
Rachel is a true example of a superwoman. She has brought up a beautiful young lady on her own, she runs her own successful business. She is a kind and considerate person, charming and charismatic.
The connection between Rachel and Seth is immediate and tangible. They got each other, they understand each other, they compliment each other with their abilities and talents. Yet with everything else going on with their lives at the moment, romance is the last thing they could think about. I liked that Seth was a few years younger than Rachel, yet it was not made into a big issue.
A lot of living, loving, and life are fit into the book, the story is enthralling, inspiring, a gentle reminder to always be kind to each other, find forgiveness in your heart, and understanding to your neighbors' demands with life's challenges.
~ Four Spoons
The challenges, the worries, the trials, and triumphs of being blessed with a child are highlighted and laid out so that it is easy to understand what it can take to be a parent, a single parent in particular. The eye-opening thought of the community rallying around the parent facing that task alone, and supporting them and helping them is a message I wish more people got on their hearts.
Seth Howell has his life planned out after his career in the military. But life does not always go as we plan it, and Seth faces the biggest challenge of his life by being a parent and running a ranch. I loved watching Seth bond with the baby, how fast the deep roots of his feelings towards that little sunshine took hold, and how he was willing to do anything to make him happy, to take care of him, and provide for him.
Rachel Perez is a key person to help Seth to step into the new role in his life as a rancher and father to a toddler. Rachel's faith in God, her willingness to serve the community with kindness and thoughtfulness, and always putting the Lord in the middle of her everyday life catches Seth's attention, as he struggles with his faith in God and God's guidance in his life.
Rachel is a true example of a superwoman. She has brought up a beautiful young lady on her own, she runs her own successful business. She is a kind and considerate person, charming and charismatic.
The connection between Rachel and Seth is immediate and tangible. They got each other, they understand each other, they compliment each other with their abilities and talents. Yet with everything else going on with their lives at the moment, romance is the last thing they could think about. I liked that Seth was a few years younger than Rachel, yet it was not made into a big issue.
A lot of living, loving, and life are fit into the book, the story is enthralling, inspiring, a gentle reminder to always be kind to each other, find forgiveness in your heart, and understanding to your neighbors' demands with life's challenges.
~ Four Spoons
May 28, 2018
This book was fun to read.
In a few ways I could relate to Rachael, while in other's I couldn't. I am a divorced mother of three. She is a single mother of one. Her sixteen year old daughter is trying to set up her up with Seth who she won at an auction thanks to her daughter. My two oldest are trying to reset me up with their father. So I was able to relate to this book.
Seth signed up for the auction to help raise money for the Senior's Center. Rachael was there looking to bid on someone who could help build a play set for her in-home daycare that was up to code. But then her friend and her daughter Zooey start mentioning match-making and Rachael decides not to bid on Seth. However, that's not going to stop Zooey from making sure her mom gets what she needs. Even if she had to dig in to her allowance to do it.
But when the time came to meet up with Seth to talk about designs and working on the play set for the daycare, Seth is missing. But he shows up finally but he isn't alone. He shows up with Caden a little two year old who his best friend had named him Godfather for. Little Caden's mother died suddenly without warning leaving Seth to take up the role of father to him, a ranch to run and no clue how to do either one. Zooey is struggling with being a teenager and figuring out who she is as a person.
Seth turns to Rachael for help. She gives him advice and helps him out in many different ways of learning to be a single parent. But they both grow closer as he depends on her for so much. But when Caden's Aunt comes to town all isn't as it seems. What does she really want? Can he actually manage to hang on to Caden? On top of that Rachael is wanting to pull away before anyone can get hurt?
In a few ways I could relate to Rachael, while in other's I couldn't. I am a divorced mother of three. She is a single mother of one. Her sixteen year old daughter is trying to set up her up with Seth who she won at an auction thanks to her daughter. My two oldest are trying to reset me up with their father. So I was able to relate to this book.
Seth signed up for the auction to help raise money for the Senior's Center. Rachael was there looking to bid on someone who could help build a play set for her in-home daycare that was up to code. But then her friend and her daughter Zooey start mentioning match-making and Rachael decides not to bid on Seth. However, that's not going to stop Zooey from making sure her mom gets what she needs. Even if she had to dig in to her allowance to do it.
But when the time came to meet up with Seth to talk about designs and working on the play set for the daycare, Seth is missing. But he shows up finally but he isn't alone. He shows up with Caden a little two year old who his best friend had named him Godfather for. Little Caden's mother died suddenly without warning leaving Seth to take up the role of father to him, a ranch to run and no clue how to do either one. Zooey is struggling with being a teenager and figuring out who she is as a person.
Seth turns to Rachael for help. She gives him advice and helps him out in many different ways of learning to be a single parent. But they both grow closer as he depends on her for so much. But when Caden's Aunt comes to town all isn't as it seems. What does she really want? Can he actually manage to hang on to Caden? On top of that Rachael is wanting to pull away before anyone can get hurt?
June 20, 2017
Rachel works a daycare and inspection time is coming up and shes in need of a new play set for the children. Thankfully her town hosted a "bachelor" auction for a good cause where rather then auctioning for dates they get the person as a handyman. No thanks to her daughter Rachel got Seth as a helper. In comes Seth shocked to find out the death of a friend leaving him with a baby. Unsure of what to do goes to Rachel for advice. Things get more complicated the more time they spend with eachother but they both got more then a lot of their plates then to make things harder by forming a relationship.
This book is one of those guilty pleasures that I find in most harlequin romance books but I can't get enough of it. This book was pretty predictable, had a christian element going on, it was a clean romance which I can appreciate. I loved the sense of community and how others helped on another. I enjoyed seeing the characters and knowing their backstories and how they are handling the present. Even if this book was predictable it was still enjoyable enough for me to get hooked to the point I had a hard time putting it down, it was a pretty good book.
This book is one of those guilty pleasures that I find in most harlequin romance books but I can't get enough of it. This book was pretty predictable, had a christian element going on, it was a clean romance which I can appreciate. I loved the sense of community and how others helped on another. I enjoyed seeing the characters and knowing their backstories and how they are handling the present. Even if this book was predictable it was still enjoyable enough for me to get hooked to the point I had a hard time putting it down, it was a pretty good book.
July 15, 2017
The Cowboy's Baby Blessing by Deb Kastner is a Cowboy Country series. Rachel Perez runs a in home day care. Her place is coming up for inspection. She needs a new playground in her back yard. Rachel has a 16 year old daughter. Rachel bids on ex-soldier Seth Howell at a bachelor auction to build the playground since he is known for building things like playground equipment. Seth shows off while ladies are bidding on him by doing "Parkour". Seth's best friend died while in the service, a couple years ago. His friends wife died a day ago. They left their two year old son to Seth to be his guardian, the their ranch. Seth knows nothing around raising a child an running a ranch. This is a funny story. A great read.
July 11, 2026
Stand by Your Man
After terrible circumstances, Seth finds himself as the legal guardian of a two year old boy. Rachel, needing someone to build new playground equipment for her Day Care Center, won the bid on Seth at a fundraiser auction. After being gone for a few weeks Seth comes to Rachel's house with Caden, his "charge." Seth is in dire need of Rachel's help as much as she us for his help. This is a well written story with interesting characters. It not a smooth ride for Seth in caring for Caden, hoping one day he will be able to adopt Caden. I hope you read this story full of bumps and love.
MG
After terrible circumstances, Seth finds himself as the legal guardian of a two year old boy. Rachel, needing someone to build new playground equipment for her Day Care Center, won the bid on Seth at a fundraiser auction. After being gone for a few weeks Seth comes to Rachel's house with Caden, his "charge." Seth is in dire need of Rachel's help as much as she us for his help. This is a well written story with interesting characters. It not a smooth ride for Seth in caring for Caden, hoping one day he will be able to adopt Caden. I hope you read this story full of bumps and love.
MG
July 7, 2017
Seth is Godfather to his best friend Luke's son. Luke is killed in the war and Seth doesn't re-up. He comes home to figure out what's next. Then Tracy dies and the Godfather is now legal guardian of Caden and manager of the ranch that is Caden's inheritance. Single mother and Day care operator Rachel, becomes his friend and helps him adjust to his changed circumstances. Eventually love overcomes fear and resistance for a Happy Ending.
September 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.
Seth is suddenly a father and Rachel owns a day care that needs a little help. They decide to help each other and Rachel's teenage daughter thinks they belong together.
This is a fast easy, clean, read It is like a breath of fresh air to read a book that isn't just about the chemistry.
Thank you netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book for an honest review
Seth is suddenly a father and Rachel owns a day care that needs a little help. They decide to help each other and Rachel's teenage daughter thinks they belong together.
This is a fast easy, clean, read It is like a breath of fresh air to read a book that isn't just about the chemistry.
Thank you netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book for an honest review
October 18, 2017
A wonderful Mom meets a younger man and buys him to repair the play set at her daycare. Yes, buys him. But days later he is the new guardian of a two year old boy and he needs not only a daycare but also advice if he wants to suceed at his new life as a father. These two are a great couple and their faith is a stepping stone to a new life.
July 21, 2023
This book felt like a speedrun of an actual novel. Compelling romance that grows over time as the characters communicate and work through struggles? Nope. Intriguing plot? Nope. Character growth? Nope. Seth goes from 'God has given me too much to handle' to 'I'm so down to be a father' in 7.5 pages flat, and that's the longest anyone is conflicted within the whole novel.
August 21, 2017
I love love books!
February 9, 2018
Good 👍Read
This one will have you laughing until there are tears in your eyes.It's a really good read.There's suspense and thrills,with a good love interest.
This one will have you laughing until there are tears in your eyes.It's a really good read.There's suspense and thrills,with a good love interest.
October 6, 2018
This is a great story about how an unexpected life event -- although painful -- works out better than what you'd planned for yourself.
June 2, 2019
Cute story
Nice to see someone who had such a difficult time be able to make lemonade from the lemons she was given.
Nice to see someone who had such a difficult time be able to make lemonade from the lemons she was given.
October 28, 2019
I love the way the author wrote the book
May 27, 2024
I truly enjoyed The Cowboy's Baby Blessing by Deb Kastner. A cozy romance, it kept me turning the pages. What stood out to me in this novel was how the author set up the hero and heroine ~ Rachel owns a daycare center and Seth becomes a dad overnight when his godchild's only parent suddenly passes away. I found the characters to be three-dimensional and very likable. Though their problems weren't earth-shattering, to them they were ~ and that's all that truly matters.
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July 28, 2017received 4 stars @ harlequin.com (as of 7/28/17). To view reviews, go HERE> https://www.harlequin.com/shop/minise...
Miniseries: Cowboy Country
Miniseries: Cowboy Country
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July 28, 2017received 4 stars @ harlequin.com (as of 7/28/17). To view reviews, go HERE> https://www.harlequin.com/shop/minise...
Miniseries: Cowboy Country
Miniseries: Cowboy Country
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews