"cyber-dating has it's problems"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted November 25, 2013
Romance
If you know and love cowboys then you must already be a
Carolyn Brown fan -- short and simple. Not at all what I expected. That would be an understatement
if I've ever heard one, but then again with internet dating
just what can a person really expect. Photos can be photo-
shopped to perfection and even live streaming, all you
really see is someone speaking with you and you know what
they say about a pretty face. Well it can certainly hide a
lot and in this case -- well you get the picture pardon the
pun. In the Cowboy's Christmas Baby Carolyn Brown gives us a
glimpse into the world of cyber-dating. Well dating is
stretching it a bit -- more like a meet and greet with
someone's likeness on the screen in front of your eyes. Of
course you know their voice and can probably pick up
mannerisms but for the most part you are becoming familiar
with the bust of that person -- your cyber-date. Hearts and flowers it wasn't for their first meeting, well
it certainly left something to be desired. Natalie was a
good looking woman, the picture of her hadn't lied even
though some rather important points weren't that obvious --
case in point the face that she was pregnant.
Lucas's early return from Kuwait left his household totally
unprepared for his homecoming. Based on Lucas' lack of welcome Natalie is facing a
possibility she never thought of -- turning tail and leaving
what she had hoped was the answer for her future and the
future of her baby Joshua. Natalie was without a doubt a
resourceful person but how could she counter all the
negativity Lucas was projecting. Lucas had some reality checks of his own to face.
There's something addictive with computers and Natalie's
linchpin for all this time after Drew's death had been
Lucas. The pain associated with the loss of her best friend
had been debilitating. The one bright part of everyday was
Natalie's on line talks with Lucas. Perhaps that is why she continued to keep Joshua's birth a
big secret even if she knew that it could kill her
relationship with Lucas before it even had a chance.
Natalie was perfect for Lucas and life on his ranch. The
attraction that had started on line was even stronger in
person. But even so it wasn't looking too good for Natalie
and Lucas. Joshua's birth was driving quite a wedge between
them. They needed a little divine intervention. What they
had were Lucas' grandfather and father. With Christmas just
around the corner could the old guys work some magic and
conjure up a miracle. Love is definitely in the air on this
family ranch. All it needs is a little push in the right
direction. Stubbornness meets its match in this latest foray into
cowboys and their women by Carolyn Brown. THE COWBOY'S
CHRISTMAS BABY is a delightful story that adds just enough
whimsy to capture your heart. The theme of this book is
the heart knows what it wants. I know what I want. I can't
wait for the next book in this series that has definitely
captured my heart.
SUMMARY
New York Times bestselling author Carolyn
Brown's new holiday title is as sweet as it is
steamy Carolyn Brown is a NYT and
USA Today bestelling author with over 275,000
copies sold of her contemporary cowboy romances featuring
sexy cowboys, feisty heroines and down home Texas twang...
Lucas Allen and Natalie Clark have been
cyber-dating. Then she appears on his ranch doorstep in a
winter storm with a pink pistol in one hand, a dead coyote
at her feet, three whimpering puppies behind her and a baby
in her arms. He could handle it all. Except the
baby. Natalie has baggage, but then so does Lucas.
Will they be willing to help each other unpack by Christmas?
ExcerptThere she stood with a dead coyote at her feet, a pink
pistol in her right hand, three bluetick hound pups cowering
behind her, and cradling a baby in her left arm.
"Natalie?" He raised an eyebrow and blinked sleet from
his eyelashes. Yesterday he had awakened to overbearing heat
in Kuwait, and today Texas was colder than a
mother–in–law's kiss on the North Pole. Maybe he
was seeing things due to the abrupt change in weather. She
looked like the woman he'd been talking to via the Internet
for the past eleven months, but he hadn't expected her to be
so tall, and he damn sure had not expected her to be holding
a baby or a pistol.
She whipped around and raised the gun until it was aimed
straight at his chest. "Who the hell... oh, my God... you
are early, Lucas. Surprise!" she said.
"Yes, ma'am," he drawled. "I guess I am, but you aren't
supposed to be here for two more days."
"We were working on a big surprise for your homecoming.
Hazel was going to make your favorite foods and we had a
banner made and I heard a noise and the coyote had the
puppies cornered and..." She stopped and stared at him as if
she expected him to disappear.
She caught her breath and went on. "Why in the hell
didn't you tell us you were coming home early? You've ruined
everything."
"It's my ranch. It's my house and I can come home when I
damn well please," he said.
He looked from the baby to the dead coyote, to the
puppies, finally meeting Natalie's big blue eyes staring at
him across the six feet separating them. There'd been more
warmth in her face when there were oceans and deserts
separating them than he felt with only six feet between them.
The whole scenario he'd played out in his mind was shot
to hell and back. She wouldn't take two steps forward, hug
him, and then share an intimate, passionate kiss that said
that yes, they had become more than Internet friends.
A whimper came from the blue bundle and she looked down
at it. "I know you are hungry, son. We'll go inside in just
a second."
Dammit!
He'd thought he'd found the right woman. Hell, he'd even
entertained notions that she was the one. He'd been right
all along: people were crazy to believe what they saw on the
Net or to trust anyone they met on there, either.
"Joshua is hungry. Can you put these pups back in the
pen? Sorry little critters dug out from under the fence and
the coyote cornered them up by the porch," she said.
She damn sure looked different in real life with curves
and legs that went from earth all the way to heaven. She was
stunning in those snug–fitting jeans, red flannel
shirt, and thick brown hair floating in gentle waves down
past her shoulders. How could he have not known she was
pregnant?
Because you only saw her from the waist up and in
pictures that she posted. Man, you got duped real good this
time. Sucker!
"Well?" She shoved the pistol into the waistband of her
jeans, shifted the baby to a more comfortable position, and
headed toward the porch.
He dropped his canvas duffel on the icy ground. "I'll
take care of the coyote and the pups. Then we've got some
serious talking to do. Where are Grady and Gramps and Dad?"
"Grady took Henry home after supper. You hungry?"
Yes, he was hungry. He'd foregone supper until he got
home because he couldn't wait to have Hazel's
home–cooked food. But the way his stomach was churning
around he wouldn't be able to swallow. A baby boy, for God's
sake! And she never mentioned him one time.
"Hazel in the house?" he asked stiffly.
She stopped and turned. "No, she is not. I've got to get
Joshua inside, though. He's cold. Just take care of those pups."
"Don't boss me, Natalie," he barked.
"I'm going inside. You can stay out here and freeze to
death if you want, Lucas. The way you are acting, I don't
reckon it'll be much warmer in the house when you get there
anyway," she said.
He folded his arms across his chest. "And that is
supposed to mean what?"
"Figure it out for yourself."
"Shit!" he mumbled under his breath.
He gathered up three wiggling bluetick hound pups and
stomped toward the dog pens. What in the hell did she
expect—a big old passionate kiss with a pistol and a
baby between them?
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