A Texas Cowboy's Christmas by Cathy Gillen Thancker and recipe for Pumpkin Pie

Molly Griffith is ambitious and only wants to give her little boy the opportunities she never had. Which means moving to Dallas, no matter what Chance Lockhart says! Though being with the handsome rancher does make the idea of small-town life more tempting…

 

Molly has always gotten under Chance's skin, and now that he's bonded with her little tyke, he can't imagine Bullhaven Ranch without them. But the single mom is so focused on her big-city fairy tale, she could miss Chance's offer of the most important gift of all—the love and support of a real family.

 

Series: Texas Legacies: The Lockharts | Publisher: Harlequin Western Romance| Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: MLM Media| Rating:4 Cups

This was such a cute and heartfelt little romance that should be on everyone’s Christmas reading list.

 

So, here’s what’s going on. Molly and Chance know how to get under each other’s skin. They drive each other insane and Molly has decided that she’s had enough when Chance tells her three-year-old son Braden that he can ask Santa for an entire family of bulls. Although confronting Chance only leads to Chance spending more time with Molly and her son and that’s causing problems because Molly’s intent on moving to Dallas. But Chance will do anything to convince them to stay.

 

This one gave me the warm and fuzzies that all good Christmas romances should.

 

Chance was amazing. He’s determined, hardworking, kind, loyal, and protective of those he loves. And I absolutely melted watching him take care of Braden. He came from money but he’s determined to make his own way. Molly’s a bit hard to like at first. Everything she does and every move she makes is about gaining one-step up the social ladder. She so determined to be a social climber that she sort of misses what’s going on around her. Although the book progresses, Molly’s reason being doing this is explained and, while I wasn’t head over heels for her, I started to like and understand her a bit more.

 

Chance and Molly were great together. Of course, they wanted to murder each other a few dozen, but that only added to their chemistry. Their relationship was a little rocky at times but I was really rooting for them.

 

Overall, I really liked this book and I’m eager to check out more in the series. Molly won’t be on my top ten—or even twenty—favorite heroines list, but Chance definitely made it to my favorite heroes list.

   

I’m always looking for a new pie recipe to try so I would like to thank Cathy Gillen Thacker for providing us with her Pumpkin Pie recipe.

 

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

A 15 oz. can pure pumpkin

A 12 oz.  can evaporated milk

1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell  (deep dish)

 

 

Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg in small bowl.  Beat eggs in large bowl, and mix in pumpkin, evaporated milk, and sugar-spice mixture.

 

Pour into pie shell.

 

Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake another 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.  Cool for 2 hours.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.  Top with whipped cream before serving.

 

Serves 8, so if you have a big crowd, you may want to double or triple the recipe.