Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates
Tropes/Themes: tortured hero • it’s always been you • cowboy romance • protective MMC • just once / with benefits • trauma & healing • grumpy/grumpy
POV: Dual, 3rd person
Triggers: mentions of CA
Series: Four Corners Ranch #12
Release Date: Oct 28, 2025
Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates
Can we take a moment for that cover? Wow. 😍
This one gives you small-town grit with a wintry twist—forced proximity, lingering guilt, and enough sexual tension to melt a snowstorm. Sheena and Denver are both a little broken, a little guarded, and trying to rebuild—literally, since they’re working together to get her axe-throwing bar open by Christmas.
What I loved:
- The snarky, push-pull banter between Sheena and Denver.
- Grumpy + grumpy energy that actually works.
- The caretaking moments (he takes care of her 🥹).
- That slow burn payoff—sizzling but still emotional.
Where it didn’t quite land for me:
- This was marketed as a Christmas romance, but the holiday vibe doesn’t really appear until the last quarter.
- I went in expecting more cowboy/ranch life, but it’s more introspective and emotional than action-driven.
- The “we don’t want kids… until we do” ending isn’t my favorite trope.
- Single narrator for dual POV made the audio tricky.
Maisey Yates always shines when she digs into emotional wounds and complicated family legacies, and this one definitely does that. It’s heavy on inner growth, lighter on plot. Think more emotional healing in flannel than festive cowboy Christmas.
Even with my nitpicks, I still really liked it and absolutely see why readers love this series. Denver is the definition of a protective, tortured hero, and Sheena finally getting to put herself first was satisfying to watch.
If you love small-town angst, second chances, and heroes who fix things with their hands (and hearts), this one’s worth a spot on your winter TBR.
