Blake is heading to his sister’s ranch to help out, but first he needs to make a stop to meet up with his friend Riley. But Riley is more than just a friend, he is Blake’s lover, and Blake is ready to settle down and wants to settle with Riley. But first he will have to convince Riley that they will be good together as more than just furtive meetings while on the road. He also has to come clean to his sister, Katy, the only family he has left. Can Blake make both Katy and Riley see that their love is all that matters and that they belong together?

Cowboy’s Christmas by Carol McKenzie was a sweet, tender story of how others’ perceptions affect how you live your life and how sometimes you have to live your life for yourself. Blake and Riley are good, strong characters each coming to terms with their individual struggles to be with who they love in a world where their feelings aren’t the norm. Coming from a career where being macho is everything, being gay and admitting it is a bold step. I felt every tension-filled moment of Blake trying to make Riley see how their lives could be if they could just find the strength to be together for more than their previous causal hook-ups. The sensual scenes were well-written and showed the urgency and panic that the men felt as well as the tenderness and love. I look forward to reading more from Carol McKenzie.

Reviewed by: Hayley