About the Author

Everyone says wear the hat, ride the cowboy, but no one ever says anything about divorcing him.

When I return to my favorite little cabin in Silverwood, Montana, for Christmas, I refuse to let anything ruin my five days of solitude or my plan to get my life back on track.

What I didn’t plan for was finding myself shacked up and snowed in with a grumpy cowboy.

But that’s exactly what happens when I run into my ex-husband, Hank Blue.

I’ve been dead set on forgetting the man whose heart I broke three years ago. Being stuck together means we’re forced to face the past and what tore our marriage apart in the first place. Even worse, I’m forced to remember everything about the man I loved. That rugged, handsome cowboy with a heart of gold. Those sweet kisses under the mistletoe. The yearning look in his sapphire eyes every time we touch. Soon, the only thing hotter than the fire in the hearth of our old cabin is the heat between us.

I’m falling for my ex-husband. Again.

And as Christmas approaches and my time in Silverwood ends, it’s clear that Hank still wants forever.

But I’m not sure if all the old feelings we stirred up can make up for the heartbreak of our past.

Is he just a cowboy I used to know?

Or is this a second chance wrapped up in a shiny red bow?

Review

The success of a second-chance novella depends on authors being able to convince readers that these two characters should get back together. Admittedly, I think that Ava Hunter does a decent job and builds a strong, believable emotional foundation rooted in shared history, grief, and lingering affection. The chemistry between Bellamy and Hank feels authentic, and several moments throughout the novella highlight why they should be together despite being apart for 3 years.

The story centers on Bellamy and Hank. Two characters who were once married and inseparable; however, grief changed the course of their relationship, leading them to divorce. Three years after their divorce, Bellamy decides to spend Christmas at the cabin after her painting career has stalled. She believes that returning to the Christmas tree farm will give her motivation to finish something. Bellamy assumes she will be left alone; however, upon arrival, she is face-to-face with her ex-husband. Hank never left the farm, nor has he ever stopped loving her. He’s been emotionally stuck, and now that she is back, he isn’t willing to let her go. Their reunion is inevitable despite both having their guards up and fearing getting their hearts broken again. Although I wasn’t particularly attached to the characters, I appreciated that they found their way back together.

That being said, the novella’s biggest weakness lies in the treatment of Bellamy. There seemed to be an imbalance. It seemed like Bellamy was the one who made the biggest sacrifices. She moved from the city to be with him. Lost her dog when they separated. The farm. Additionally, she again had to make another sacrifice to save the farm. It would have strengthened the story to see Hank risk more or truly give something up to earn their second chance.

Final Thoughts

'Tis the Season for a Cowboy succeeds in delivering a warm, emotionally grounded second-chance romance. While the treatment of Bellamy felt frustrating, it is a satisfying journey to see Bellamy and Hank back together.

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