A true-blue Texas cowboy, a talented Colorado cook with a story to tell, and the romance of Christmas are a surefire recipe for surprises of the heart in this sweetly sexy tale set against the rugged, majestic landscape of New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer'Colorado Country . . .

Estelle "Essa" Grancy loves her job as cook at small-town Benton's homey, local hotel, especially during the holidays. She loves the people she works with, too—all the more since, at 23, she's alone in the world. Still, as an aspiring mystery novelist, Essa wants more out of life. And when a gruff—exasperatingly handsome—Texan lands at the hotel, she just might find it . . .

Duke Marsten is on the trail of a crime suspect, but when he tracks down his precocious young daughter in Essa's kitchen, he finds something far more mysterious: outspoken, clever, undeniably intriguing Essa. They clash immediately, and yet. . . . Love is a puzzle, even for a PI—but together, they just might be able to put the pieces together and write their very own love story, for many Christmases to come . . .