A Marvell Country Christmas
5
By 777sails
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I so enjoyed reading this story. I love the Marvell brothers. They are strong men who love fiercely. Cody is the middle brother who normally keeps the peace. He has always tried to be the good guy and come to the aid of others. He has enjoyed short-term relationships and it isn't until his younger brother Shane gets together with Ella (The Cowboy's Last Rodeo) that Cody realizes that he is missing and wants that special connection with someone. He is left home alone at the ranch this year. On his way back home from Marietta he sees tracks going into the neighboring ranch's drive. He knows the ranch is vacant with the death of rancher and the daughter, Murphy, lives else where. Fearing squatters or something more nefarious, he turns in. There he sees Murphy who has been gone for over 10 years.
Murphy is home for Christmas. She is going to put the ranch up for sale following the death of her father. She and Creelay (her father) didn't have a good relationship as she grew up. It wasn't until after his stroke and therapy sessions, that she discovers that he did love her but wasn't good at showing his feelings. The ranch isn't a place for happy memories as money was short, her mother left her father for another man when Murphy was four (the mother dies when Murphy is six and returned to live with her father at the ranch). Her father sold her beloved mare, Lady, to Cody right after she left for college. She believed the Marvells to have everything that she didn't. Plus in school, Cody flirted with every girl but her. Also he would drive by her on his way to school and not stop to ask her for a ride. Now he bought her beloved mare. Murphy had a major crush of Cody but there are hard feelings as well with his purchase of Lady.
Through a series of unfortunate events, Murphy is forced to abandon the ranch and stay with Cody for Christmas. This story shows how these two wonderful people work through the past and come together. I adored both of these characters. Having this book written in a dual POV format really helped me to be able to connect with Murphy. I was able to understand her actions and speech so much better. Being able to see into the character's mindset helps me to identify with them.
I highly recommend this story to anyone. Well this story really can be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend to start with The Cowboy's Last Rodeo though. Not because you have too but Ms. Watt writes wonderful stories.