The Cowboy Cookie Challenge by Lori Wilde (Twilight, Texas #16)

He's sexy, single, and he can bake!

Roan Sullivan is the answer to Jazzy Walker's prayers. The doting single dad is also fresh off his win on a popular cooking show and a whiz at campfire cooking, so who better to help her win this year's annual cookie bake-off? With his help, Jazzy is sure she can finally take first prize right out the grasping hands of Andi Browning, the gal who stole her fiancé right from under her nose.

A widower with a four-year-old daughter, Roan tells himself there's a million reasons not to help Jazzy. She's too kind, too optimistic, and could do so much better than hitching up with a curmudgeon like him. But every time she draws near, he can't help but wonder if he could open his heart and love again.

As the holidays come closer, the magic of Twilight starts to weave its spell...and soon it's not just the competition that's heating up, it's the hot sizzle between Roan and Jazzy.

Series: Twilight Texas # 16 | Publisher: Avon |  Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 4.5 

It’s been a minute since I’ve last visited Twilight, Texas and I forgot how much I loved this series.

Wanting to win the campfire cookie contest and beat her life-long rival, Jazzy persuades Roan to bring his Dutch oven out of retirement and school her on the ways of campfire cooking. While Roan has his reservations—there’s a very good reason he hung up his fireproof gloves— and his hands full with his young daughter, there’s no way he can say no to Jazzy. While working together has its ups and downs, there’s no denying the attraction growing between them but there’s a lot of baggage they both need to unpack before anything can get started.

This was a fun, small town, warm and cozy, cookie baking romance that I devoured. Roan’s a single father, he’s lost his wife (who happened to be his high school sweetheart) and he’s walked away from the campfire cooking aspect of his life. There’s a lot going on with him emotionally and he has a lot on his plate but I loved that he was willing to let Jazzy in his and his daughter’s lives. Jazzy was a bit hard to take at times with her Pollyanna personality. Honestly, it was a bit irritating at times, especially since she let so many people walk all over her. I’m not the doormat type and I don’t always get on with characters who are so it surprised me that I did come to like Jazzy.

What stood out for me in this one was the developing relationship between Roan and Jazzy. While there is an age gap (she’s 22 and he’s 32), I enjoyed the maturity of their conversations regarding their relationship. They weren’t afraid to discuss what they wanted in the moment or sort through the baggage they both had.

This was nearly a 5, it was so close, but there were a few issues. Roan had a tendency to make the age gap a massive deal at times. It was ten years not a lifetime as he made it sound. He also handled things badly towards the end of the book. Then there was Jazzy’s rivalry that was a little over the top and immature at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It’s probably one of my favorite Christmas romances. If you love single father, small town romances with a peppy heroine and slightly broody hero I definitely recommend this one.