g new holiday novel from the legendary author of dozens of treasured romances! This Christmas, visit the small town of Branding Iron, Texas, where it's time for the Cowboy Christmas Ball and one irritable sheriff is about to get in the spirit of the season...and find love along the way.

Sheriff Sam Delaney is shouldering a lot as the lone lawman in the small Texas town of Branding Iron--and the widowed single father of six-year-old Maggie. Especially since Maggie's determined that what her daddy needs this holiday season is a girlfriend. Suddenly Sam is hustled off to a meeting with Maggie's schoolteacher--and surprised to discover the demure Grace Chapman is unexpectedly alluring. Then he's roped into playing Santa at the annual Christmas ball, with the pretty Miss Grace by his side. It's enough to make Sam even grumpier than usual--if not for the feelings sweet Grace stirs up inside...

Grace only wants to heal after her broken engagement. So why is she so charmed by the slow smile--and the surprising tenderness--of the town's sheriff? Maybe because Grace is discovering that beneath Sam's gruff exterior lies a heart as big as Texas, especially when it comes to the women in his life--like little Maggie. And now her... Which only has Grace hoping she'll be Santa's sweetheart for many seasons to come...