Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas

This thin second chance romance, the third in Lane’s River Ranch series (after All Night with the Cowboy), fails to deliver on a promising premise. When wealthy Cody Ford returns home to Texas for the holidays to visit his dying father, he’s surprised to learn that his first love works for his family as a live-in nurse. Alexandra “Lexi” Murphy, now a divorced single mom, is still hurt over Cody leaving her without a goodbye 15 years earlier, but his father has become important to her, and she agrees to bury the hatchet so their bickering doesn’t ruin Christmas. The attraction between Lexi and Cody remains undeniable, and they agree to one night together with no strings attached. But when old feelings flare, the pair must learn to compromise and forgive past hurt if they want to move forward. Readers hoping for a heartwarming reconciliation will be disappointed that Cody and Lexi’s relationship is carried more by physical than emotional connection. Series fans will enjoy checking in with the extended Ford family but will struggle to root for the main couple. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (Nov.)