Zusatztext "Those who love their heroes quietly strong and more than capable will melt like warm marshmallows for cowboy Caleb. Series fans will be eager for the next installment. " Library Journal (starred review) Readers will be captivated by these wonderfully complex characters Clare's latest is equal parts naughty and nice, and ought to be on every romance fan's list. Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Santa gets steamy in this sexy, funny, and charming small-town romance filled with Christmas cheer." Booklist "One of those holiday books that was just such a joy to read, and a great way to usher in the season." Fresh Fiction "The premise is captivating and delightful; the romance is tender yet spicy and seductive; the characters are dynamic and charismatic. "The Reading Cafe "This is a heartwarming romance that really brings out romance and the Christmas spirit." Romance Junkies Informationen zum Autor New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jessica Clare writes under three pen names. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romances, including the Billionaire Boys Club novels and the Hitman novels with Jen Frederick. As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals, and as Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to fairy tales gone wrong. Klappentext From New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare comes a Christmas Western filled with holiday cheer. Caleb Watson has been crushing on elementary school teacher Amy Mckinney ever since he saw her. She's oblivious to his feelings--probably because he's never said a word to her. But when he learns Amy's going to be Mrs. Claus in the local Christmas celebration, he volunteers to be Santa so he'll finally have the chance to introduce himself. Even more than that, he'll use this opportunity to shower her with presents. Amy's been receiving all kinds of Secret Santa gifts at work -- and she has no idea who her secret admirer is. She wishes he'd make himself known so they can go on a date, though, because being a newcomer in close-knit Painted Barrel, Wyoming, is pretty lonely. When her flaky landlord claims he's the gift giverit's not quite the bachelor Amy had in mind. However, she's doubly shocked when gruff newcomer Caleb Watson crashes her date and insists he's really the one leaving her presents. Amy's not sure what to think. Caleb's never indicated that he likes her, much less wants to date. Can he prove to Amy he's not just the perfect Santa to her Mrs. Claus, but the man of her dreams? Leseprobe Chapter One Caleb Watson had skills. Or so he told himself. He could rope a runaway heifer from horseback. He could keep even the most ornery herd of cattle together. He could ease a breech calf out of its mother without blinking an eye. He could saddle a horse faster than anyone he knew. And that was just ranching skills. Back when he lived in Alaska, he could track anything, fix a snowmobile out in the field, survive on his own for weeks. Heck, he could even build a log cabin and have it fully functioning within a short time frame. He was strong. Capable. Self-sufficient. He stared at the front doors to the elementary school and wished he could stop sweating. Because Caleb had to acknowledge that when it came to skills in the field or in ranching? He could handle himself with the best. When it came to talking to people? He was the worst. The absolute worst. His younger brother, Jack, was smooth. He could talk the pants off anyone and always managed to get his way with a smile and a wink. His older brother, Hank, wasn't much of a talker, but he was still better than Caleb. </...

Autorentext

*New York Times *and *USA Today *bestselling author Jessica Clare writes under three pen names. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romances, including the Billionaire Boys Club novels and the Hitman novels with Jen Frederick. As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals, and as Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to fairy tales gone wrong.

Klappentext

From New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare comes a Christmas Western filled with holiday cheer.

Caleb Watson has been crushing on elementary school teacher Amy Mckinney ever since he saw her. She's oblivious to his feelings--probably because he's never said a word to her. But when he learns Amy's going to be Mrs. Claus in the local Christmas celebration, he volunteers to be Santa so he'll finally have the chance to introduce himself. Even more than that, he'll use this opportunity to shower her with presents.

Amy's been receiving all kinds of Secret Santa gifts at work -- and she has no idea who her secret admirer is. She wishes he'd make himself known so they can go on a date, though, because being a newcomer in close-knit Painted Barrel, Wyoming, is pretty lonely. When her flaky landlord claims he's the gift giver…it's not quite the bachelor Amy had in mind. However, she's doubly shocked when gruff newcomer Caleb Watson crashes her date and insists he's really the one leaving her presents.

Amy's not sure what to think. Caleb's never indicated that he likes her, much less wants to date. Can he prove to Amy he's not just the perfect Santa to her Mrs. Claus, but the man of her dreams?

Leseprobe

Chapter One

Caleb Watson had skills. Or so he told himself. He could rope a runaway heifer from horseback. He could keep even the most ornery herd of cattle together. He could ease a breech calf out of its mother without blinking an eye. He could saddle a horse faster than anyone he knew.

And that was just ranching skills. Back when he lived in Alaska, he could track anything, fix a snowmobile out in the field, survive on his own for weeks. Heck, he could even build a log cabin and have it fully functioning within a short time frame.

He was strong. Capable. Self-sufficient.

He stared at the front doors to the elementary school and wished he could stop sweating.

Because Caleb had to acknowledge that when it came to skills in the field or in ranching? He could handle himself with the best.

When it came to talking to people?

He was the worst.

The absolute worst.

His younger brother, Jack, was smooth. He could talk the pants off anyone and always managed to get his way with a smile and a wink. His older brother, Hank, wasn't much of a talker, but he was still better than Caleb.

It wasn't just that Caleb clammed up around people. His mind went blank and nothing would come forward. It was like the moment he was required to give a response, he forgot what words were.

Most of the time he didn't care. He was a cowboy; the cattle didn't mind if he was silent. His brothers didn't mind if he wasn't chatty.

But around women, it was a problem.

Caleb had never had a girlfriend, which was fine when you were a kid, or when you lived in the remote wilds of interior Alaska and you might not see a single woman for months on end. Here in the town of Painted Barrel, Wyoming, though, he felt his lack of social skills acutely.

Very, very acutely.

Because Caleb was in love.

Just thinking about love made him reach into his pocket and pull out his bandanna, then mop the sweat on his brow. Love was difficult even in the best of times, but when you had trouble speaking to women, it was pure torture. Every time he got up the nerve to talk to a woman, it ended up badly.

There was that time he had a crush on a cute bar waitress back in Alaska, who he'd blushed and stammered over until she thought he was mentally disabled.

There was a girl who had worked at her uncle's game-processing shop one summer. He'd gone there often all summer, just to try to speak to her. He'd paid other hunters through the nose …