Josie Whitaker never planned to tell Colt Bennett the truth.

Not after he left Bentwood Creek eight years ago to chase rodeo dreams. Not after she’d rebuilt her life, her flower shop, and her heart—on her own terms, with two little boys who look more like their father every day.

When Colt returns to sell the family ranch, he doesn’t plan to stick around. Then he ends up helping Josie renovate her antique shop, and it starts to feel like forever, at least for a little while.

The closer they grow, the harder it is for Josie to keep the secret she’s held since the day he drove away.

Because Colt doesn’t know the twins are his.

Now old wounds reopen, small-town memories surface, and Colt must prove he’s no longer the man who left—before Josie decides her heart is safer without him.

Titles in the Bennetts of Bentwood Creek series include:  The Cowboy’s Accidental Bride ~ The Cowboy’s Christmas Twins ~

This is a no-spice romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved.

Title:  The Cowboy’s Christmas Twins
Series:  Bennetts of Bentwood Creek #2
Author:  Melinda Curtis
Published:  October 15, 2026
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Cowboy’s Christmas Twins is the second title in the Bennetts of Bentwook Creek series; this time, it brings Colt home (temporarily) from the rodeo while an estate is settled, and Josie, who has loved Colt for years, even though he broke a promise to return for her years ago… right before her twin boys were born.  It’s both a “secret baby” and a “second chance” romance, with a lot of emotions (and opinions) involved.  Josie is expanding her flower shop by opening an antique shop next door, and when Colt and his grandmother come across Josie with her boys there, life is about to get interesting for many people.

Josie and Colt’s story is full of emotional moments.  She was basically ousted by her family when they learned of her pregnancy, and she built a new life.  Colt had a troubled childhood and knows only how to escape when things get emotional; the rodeo is his safe place until an injury and settling the estate keep him in town far longer than he intended.  He has no clue how to be a good dad, because his only example was one of the worst fathers around.  Now, after discovering he has twin sons and that the woman he left behind still triggers an emotional response in him, Colt will have to make some hard choices… if Josie even lets him anywhere near her or her boys again.  He’s broken a promise to her before; she won’t let him break the boys’ hearts, too.

The Cowboy’s Christmas Twins is intense at times… and soft and comforting at others.  And there is a Marietta, Montana connection (neighboring town) that I’ll always adore.  It’s the kind of story Melinda Curtis writes, and one of the reasons she is a favorite author of mine.  Sometimes life gets hard, and she never lets either her heroine or her hero ignore that for long.  Their story is well-written, engaging, and so emotional.  I loved watching Colt make the choices that would give him everything he didn’t even know he needed.  Josie’s reluctance is completely understandable, even as walls fall and Colt captures her heart again.  If that sounds like the kind of Modern Western Romance you’d enjoy, then this one is perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. I chose to leave a review sharing my personal opinion of this book.*

Do you love anything (any story) that’s even slightly connected to Marietta, Montana, or simply Montana?  (I include neighboring towns set in Montana in this collection) Yeah, me too.  Be sure to visit our Marietta, Montana pages (this link to where this series is located; there are several pages :)) to catch up on any you might have missed over time.  It’s an amazing, diverse community, with happily-ever-after endings guaranteed.

This title is available on Amazon