Review by Veronica

“Are you freaking out and pacing around this room because you think it is a date?” Gran challenged. 

J.R. sat down in one of two cowhide armchairs in the room. “Maybe” 

They all laughed at the ridiculousness of it. She was a thirty-five-year-old woman who shouldn’t be fretting like a teenager over a bonfire date. 

Gran’s smile was warm and not at all judgemental. 

“There’s nothing to worry about. Like your mom said, you got this.”

A Cowgirl’s Thanksgiving Kiss is perfect for any bookworm who loves Hallmark movies. 

Turkey, pumpkin pie…

And unexpected love!

Working in a man’s world of Texas bull breeding, stressed-out single mom J.R. Blackwell can’t help being annoyed by her handsome coworker, Hunter Robbins. So when their boss pits them against each other for a big promotion, J.R. is ready to step up and grab the prize. But Hunter’s offer of a place to stay after a tree crushes her home, and his easy connection with her daughter, melts her reserve. Despite J.R. doing everything she can to ignore the feeling—and Hunter’s baby goat winning her daughter’s heart!—will the charming former bull rider be her true prize this Thanksgiving? 

There is always that moment when this bookworm just needs to curl up with a cozy, charming romance. Normally, my charming romances take place across the pond in England or Scotland. But I decided to stay on this side of the world and spend some time at an unforgettable ranch. Now, if you aren’t a fan of Hallmark movies, then I would say give this book a pass because you probably won’t enjoy it. Overall, I really loved this book. It was sweet and funny, had some pretty entertaining twists and the romance was heartwarming. 

One of my favourite things about this book was the family dynamics that exist in J.R. and Hunter’s families. They are all firecrackers. Hunter’s brothers have that fun brotherly banter. J.R.’s family is chaos in its purest form and it’s so much fun to be a part of. I loved that variety of family relationships. Hunter is very close to all of his family, and they all love and support each other. J.R. has a very different relationship with her family. They are distant, have a lot of work, and there are some past hurts that have put a strain on their relationships. Spending time with all these family members was a lot of fun. I loved watching as all these different characters interacted with each other. 

J.R. and Hunter have this reverse grumpy sunshine co-worker thing going on. J.R. likes to say that her life is a big old hot mess. I wouldn’t say it is. She is a busy single mom who has a lot on her plate. She does her best, and I think she is pretty amazing. Her past relationships, both romantic and with her family, have made her develop this defence that often makes her come across as being prickly. She is independent and doesn’t like to accept help, especially from Hunter. Over the course of the book, J.R. begins to learn that it’s okay to let others help her and that Hunter might actually be a genuine good guy. Hunter is that perfect cinnamon roll cowboy hero. He is charming, sweet, and knows just what to say to put a smile on someone’s face. He is a good guy through and through and is smitten with J.R. The only problem is that J.R. doesn’t necessarily trust all that cowboy charm. But he is willing to keep showing up when she needs him and prove his feelings are real. 

I liked the romance. It’s sweet and feels real. Sometimes, those Hallmark-type books create a romance that doesn’t feel realistic, but that’s not the case in this book. J.R. and Hunter both have their own struggles, and things don’t magically fall into place for them. They have to work on trusting and opening up to each other before they can really dive into that romantic relationship. Things progressed believably. 

A Cowgirl’s Thanksgiving Kiss is a heartwarming romance that is sure to sweep you off your feet. 

Thank you, Harlequin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review