The Naughty, The Nice, and The Nanny by Willa Nash (Holiday Brothers #1)

One week with one little girl—an angel, according to my staffing agency. Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash. Until I show up for my first day and face off with a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl wearing a red tutu and matching glitter slippers.

 

Oh, and her father? My temporary boss? Maddox Holiday. The same Maddox Holiday I crushed on in high school. The same Maddox Holiday who didn’t even know I existed. And the same Maddox Holiday who hasn’t set foot in Montana for years because he’s been too busy running his billionaire empire.

 

Enduring seven days is going to feel like scaling the Himalayas in six-inch heels. Toss in the Holiday family’s annual soiree, and Christmas Eve nightmares really do come true. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.

 Series: Holiday Brothers #1  |  Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source:  Kindle Unlimited | Rating: 3 

This was a cute, quick holiday read that’s the first in a series that follows three brothers in the days leading up to Christmas.  While this book wasn’t overly Christmassy, it’s still enough to give you that holiday cheer.

 

Maddox needs a nanny for his troublesome daughter, Violet, so the agency sends Natalie, who happens to be in need of a little extra cash to fix up her vehicle so she’s determined to not to let Violet get the best of her. Although, surprisingly, it’s not Violet that’s causing the problems, Natalie’s still harboring the crush on Maddox she’s had since high school and it appears he’s been harboring one for her as well. The only problem is, she doesn’t date her employers.

 

If there’s a governess/nanny and employer romance I will likely read it thanks to my love of Jane Eyre and this one did not disappoint. I thought that this was a cute novella. Violet was a bit of a brat and I found part of me wanting her father to sit her down and figure out what was going on with her but he’s a little preoccupied with having a house built in his hometown and running his streaming company. Natalie’s able to connect to with Violet because she knows what’s it like to have an absent mother. Maddox and Natalie made a cute couple and they had some fun moments together.

 

This one was a little insta-love and, for a novella, it kind of worked although I would have loved to have more of Maddox and Natalie getting to know each other. While they knew each other in the past, they didn’t have an actual relationship, so I do feel as though a little more relationship building would have been appreciated. While we see their relationship developing off page, there’s a lot bonding between Natalie and Violet and, while that was nice, most of that could have been off the page and summed up in a few paragraphs here and there and the focus put back on Natalie and Maddox.

 

This is the first book in the series and it gives you just enough information about Heath and Tobias Holiday that you want to know their stories. I do recommend picking up the entire series as the books all take place within the same timeframe.

 

Originally, I did pick this series up from Audible Plus then ended up picking them up on Kindle Unlimited.  Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock did a brilliant job narrating this one and I ended up listening to half of this then reading the other half, just because it was quicker. I did speed up the narration a bit but wasn’t a fan of how jumbled it sounded, so switching to the book was the best option.

 

Overall, there’s a little bit of drama, a little bit of Christmas, some childish hijinks, and a bit of romance. I do think that this would have benefited from giving Maddox and Natalie a romantic past or from making this a full-length book. This is still worth a read and I do recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something quick. 

A Timeless Christmas by Alexis Stanton

Megan Turner is in love with the past. As a tour guide at a beautiful historic mansion, she tells visitors about its original owner, Charles Whitley. An inventor and businessman in the early 1900s, he rose from poverty to wealth…only to disappear without a trace.

 

Charles was always intrigued by the future. He just never expected to go there. But when he repairs a mysterious clock he bought on his travels, he’s transported to the twenty-first century, with his home decorated for Christmas and overrun by strangers.

 

Charles is determined to find a way back to his own era, especially when he learns about what happened after he left. But as Megan introduces him to the wonders of smartphones, pizza, and modern holiday traditions, they both feel a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Could it be that, somewhere in time, they belong together?

 Publisher: Hallmark Publishing | Genre: Time Travel Christmas Romance | Source: Publisher | Rating: 3.5 Cups

Challenges Read For:  - 'Tis the Season-a-thon Bingo Prompt: Book with a holiday word in the title  

This was first book by Hallmark Publishing that I’ve read and it really does read like their movies. It’s cute, charming, Christmassy, and a little cheesy but I really enjoyed it.

Here’s what’s going on. Working as a docent for the Whitley-Moran Mansion is a dream come true for Megan. Not only does she love the past, she’s developed a crush on Charles Whitley, the mansions original owner who disappeared mysteriously in 1902. When a man shows up claiming to be Charles Whitley, Megan’s convinced he’s just a method actor until Charles starts revealing information that’s not in the journals.

Charles has always been curious about the future although he never imagined he’d find himself magically transported there. While he’s finding the ‘new inventions’ and ‘modern’ living interesting, he’s eager to get back to his own time and stop his rival from taking over his life. Although the connection he’s developed with Megan is more than just a friendship. Now he must decide if his future is here or in the past.

If you’re looking for a fun, light, clean Christmas romance with a bit time travel, then this is the book for you.

Charles has mysteriously arrived in the future and he’s landed in the middle of the Christmas season. He’s never been much of a Christmas type of person, but Megan’s determined to help him have a fun, modern holiday. As the book progresses, we see different traditions observed and gain a bit more insight into Charles’s reasoning for why he’s not a fan of Christmas. I enjoyed watching the friendship develop between Megan and Charles and you could see feelings were starting to develop between the two of them but Charles was adamant about returning to his own time. I was never really sure if he would stay or go back to his own time until the end, and I enjoyed that aspect was left until the end.

While this book was a bit slow in places, I really enjoyed it. It almost reminded me of the movie, Kate and Leopold, which is one of my favorite movies.

 Overall, a little cheesy but still a solid read. 

A Very Gothic Christmas: Two Novellas

After the Music by Christine Feehan

 

Jessica Fitzpatrick is terrified by mysterious threats. Determined to keep her twin wards safe, she flees to the remote island mansion of their reclusive, widowed father. With Christmas approaching, the spark between him and Jessica might light the future, but there are those whose evil machinations may plunge the family into darkness—unless a Christmas miracle occurs.

 

Lady of the Locket by Melanie George

 

The echoes of history and romance lure Rachel Hudson to Glengarren, the Scottish castle where her parents met many Christmases ago. But it is the portrait of fierce Highlander Duncan MacGregor that sparks a deep desire inside her. On a storm-tossed night, as lightning cracks across the castle’s turrets, Rachel finds herself face-to-face with MacGregor himself, astride a mighty stallion. Now, stepping into Rachel’s time—and her heart—the warrior from the past is pursued by an ancient, evil enemy.

Publisher: Pocket Books |Genre: Gothic Romance | Source: Publisher

After the Music by Christine Feehan Rating: 4 Cups

 

I’m always up for a gothic romance, so when A Very Gothic Christmas showed up for review, I dropped what I was reading and delved in.

 

After the Music had all the gothic romance elements: Fire, ghosts, mysterious happenings, remote island mansion, broody hero, touches of the occult, and a heroine determined to save the hero.

 

This one was the first gothics I’ve read that involved a musician so on top of the gothic atmosphere there’s also that soul of the artist vibe going on adding another layer to the story.

 

The romance between Jessica and Dillion was amazing. There was attraction, chemistry, and this amazing connection yet they both took their time acting on. They’ve both been through some things that’s making them cautious but they know they’re meant to be together.

 

I did figure out the mystery element rather early on and I was okay with that. It was still interesting watching events unfold and watching the characters figure it out.

 

While I absolutely loved this one (seriously, it’s going on my must read Christmas book list), the ghostly encounter at the end was a bit out there. I understand what the author was going for but it could have been handled a bit differently.

 

 

Lady of the Locket by Melanie George Rating: 1.5 Cups

 

 

The echoes of history and romance lure Rachel Hudson to Glengarren, the Scottish castle where her parents met many Christmases ago. But it is the portrait of fierce Highlander Duncan MacGregor that sparks a deep desire inside her. On a storm-tossed night, as lightning cracks across the castle’s turrets, Rachel finds herself face-to-face with MacGregor himself, astride a mighty stallion. Now, stepping into Rachel’s time—and her heart—the warrior from the past is pursued by an ancient, evil enemy.

 

So, this one had a strong and steady start but then things just got weird to the point that I spent weeks trying to get through this bloody novella.

 

I liked the start of this one. It had a bit of an Outlander feel—the hunky Highlander was a Jacobite fighting for Prince Charles Stuart and there’s were magical standing stones—and I needed something to fill the void now that I’m going through Droughlander, but it wasn’t this novella.

 

Both Rachel and Duncan were likable but I felt she sort of weakened toward the middle and never really found her footing. Duncan—aye, he was definitely a hunky Highlander—but for someone from the 1740’s he knew an awful lot about the present, including setting up a Christmas tree, decorating it, and the library. Oh, and he also knew what blue jeans and zippers were. There was also that pesky problem about him calling Prince Charles the ‘young pretender’, no Jacobite would ever refer to him as that.

 

While they had some hot moments and chemistry, the chemistry seemed to dwindle as the book progressed and then it just felt odd.

 

And the end, well…let’s just say it would have been so much better if there had been more to the story. It felt like it ended on a plot twist and rather than a ‘to be continued’, it was just ‘the end’.

 

Overall, read this one for After the Music. Seriously, if you like quick Gothic romances, you’ll enjoy this one. And reminded me that I need to get back to reading more from Christine Feehan.

 

 

Are you a fan of Gothic romance?

 

 

   

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.

But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.

 

Series: | Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin | Genre:  Contemporary Romance| Source: Publisher| Rating: 3.5 Cups 

Love, laughter, and Christmas spirit abound in Hope at Christmas.

 

Here’s what’s going on. Recently divorced, Sydney is trying to find her footing in her grandparent’s hometown. It’s not been easy, especially knowing that her young daughter isn’t happy, but she’s making it work. When she reconnects with the owner of the Book Bea, she soon discovers it’s the residents that make this small town special. And one resident. Mac, has caught her eye.

 

Mac’s a single father with a secret. He’s the town Santa. The only problem is, he can’t seem to get his son into the Christmas spirit. Although when Sydney and her daughter enter into their life, both father and son seem to find themselves spreading Christmas cheer.

 

Mac and Sydney have both been hurt. His wife left him and his son several Christmas’s before and Sydney’s husband decided to trade her in for a younger model. They’ve both hurt, they’re both dealing with their children who have been hurt, and they all need a bit of healing.

 

So, the romance was rather slow-burn and I was okay with that. They both were cautious and had some things work through and they both had their children to consider.

 

What I really enjoyed about this one was the small town charm. It was heartwarming to see how Bea welcomed Sydney and her daughter into her store and her life.

 

I did struggle with a few things. Some of the drama felt like it was just added in to cause a bit of action on the page and a few of the actions of the characters felt like they were out of place yet the novel worked as a whole.

 

Overall, this one gave me all the warm and fuzzies that Christmas romances should. I’m eager to read more from Nancy Naigle.

A Wrong Bed Christmas: 2 Novellas in 1 by Kimberly VanMeter & Liz Talley

Ignited by Kimberly Van Meter

 

What do you do when a sexy, naked fireman gets into your bed? If you're Alexis Matheson, you freak out. But now she's snowed in with Layton Davis, and suddenly Alexis's best intentions to behave seem to have disappeared up the chimney. Because a hot 'n' naughty firefighter in her bed might be the best Christmas surprise ever…

 

Where There's Smoke by Liz Talley

 

Emma Rose Brent is sure she's dreaming when Erik Matheson, her bestie's überhot older brother—who she's been crushing on for years—mistakenly slips into her bed, all gloriously naked. But Emma must have been a very good girl this year, because she's been given the best gift of all: the chance to be really, really bad…

 

Title: A Wrong Bed Christmas (2 novella in 1)  | Miniseries: The Wrong Bed | Authors: Kimberly VanMeter & Liz Talley | Publisher: Blaze, an imprint of Harlequin | Genre: Contemporary Romance | Source: MLM Media Relations

Smoking hot firemen naked in your bed? Oh, yes, please! Seriously, how could I refuse this one?

 

Ignited by Kimberly Van Meter

Rating: 1. 5

 

I’m cringing even thinking about having read this one. I just didn’t work for me and I had to force myself to finish this one. And the only reason I did finish this one was because it was connected with the next novella.

 

The just of the novella is that Alexis wakes up to a hot, naked guy sleep groping her. The guy, Layton, turns out to be her brother’s best friend and fellow firefighter. She throws items at his head, calls him a pervert, injures her ankle, he agrees to stay with her while her brother accompanies her best friend to her parents, he *tries* to avoid her advances, then gives in and they wind up shagging like bunnies hopped up on ecstasy.

 

This one…*shudders* just wasn’t my cuppa tea. And honestly, the comment that Alexis made about Layton tasting like latex will roam around in my brain for weeks. Weeks, I say. I can handle a lot of odd/kinky things in my books, but some things are best left unsaid.

 

Alexis just didn’t work for me. She was very immature and a bit annoying with the way she was constantly coming on to Layton, who was trying—for a while—to do the decent thing and not shag his best friend’s sister. She’s been hurt by a past relationship so she wants to focus on college and not get into a relationship with anyone but she still wants to sleep with Layton.

 

I liked Layton. He’s had his share of woman and one-night stands but now he wants to focus on finding the right woman, the house with a white picket fence, and a yard full of kids. He’s ready to settle down so, while he finally gives in and sleeps with Alexis, he wants more.

 

I didn’t really see any chemistry between Layton and Alexis. It was basically all about the sex and not really a lot of room for character growth. I don’t think they really work well together, Alexis doesn’t really seem on the same path as Layton. He could have done so much better.

 

 

Where There's Smoke by Liz Talley

Rating: 4

 

I really loved Where There’s Smoke. It has the forced proximity trope plus it has the best friends brother trope and I loved that the two were combined. Honestly, I would have loved to have seen this as a full-length novel because it was so much fun spending time with Emma and Erik.

 

Here’s what’s going on. Emma has been attracted to Erik since she was a kid but she thinks he only sees her as his kid sister’s best friend so she hasn’t acted on it. Although all that changes when Erik, who is a little beaten up by a fire he help put out, climbs naked into his bed and finds Emma there. When he agrees to accompany her to her parents’ house, he can’t get her out of his head and when they crash and seek shelter in abandoned cabin, they will once again share a bed.

 

Oh, this was so yummy. It was sexy, fun, and flirty, and I so wanted to see Emma and Erik together.

 

I liked that they both had feeling for each other. While Emma had been mad about him since she was a kid, it took Erik a little longer to start seeing Emma as an adult. Both characters were mature and ready to start a lasting, meaningful relationship.

 

Because this was a novella with a very small timeframe, this was sort of an instant love type of romance, yet it worked because they both had feelings for each other for years. The chemistry was blinding from the start and continued to grow as the novella progressed. And I loved watching each of them realize their attraction was something more, something they needed to take serious.

 

There was a tad bit of conflict, which could have been avoided if they just would have talked to each other and Emma wouldn’t have withdrawn and shut down.

 

I really enjoyed this one. It was perfect read for a chilly night. Honestly, I think this one would have made for a really cute movie. My only problem with this one was, while it was well-rounded, I wanted more.

 

Overall, if you’re going to buy this book, buy it for Where There’s Smoke. It was truly a feel good Christmas romance that will leave you all warm and tingly. You may like Ignited, but, for me, Alexis was just too immature (she reminded me of an overly annoying NA heroine that needed to be slapped) and it just rubbed me the wrong way.

Excerpt from “Where There’s Smoke” by Liz Talley

The crackle of the lit fire drew her attention and instantly made the space cozy and—she licked her lips—intimate.

“Ah,” Erik said, stripping off his gloves and warming his hands in front of the blaze. “Good thing this wood is aged and dry. Instant warmth. Come on over and warm up.”

Emma hesitated for a moment, trying to regain a calm, less amorous demeanor. So they were alone in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with a bottle of wine, chocolate and a single double bed? Big deal. She could handle it. After all, she’d never allowed her attraction for him to show through.

She walked over and crouched beside him, sighing at the warmth. Exploring the cabin had kept her moving, but her fingers and feet were numb.

“Here,” he said, grabbing the nearest chair and dragging it close to the dancing flames. “Sit.”

Seconds later they each sat in matching chairs, thawing out.

“I can’t believe we’re stuck here,” she mused aloud, the warmth making her drowsy. She suppressed a yawn. “This is like a movie I once saw.”

“Misery?” he joked.

Emma laughed. “Are you planning on drugging me, incapacitating me and making me write you a romance story?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “That could be fun. But I could think of better things to do.”

 

I would like to thank Liz Talley for providing me with her recipe for Seduce Me Beef Stew. I can’t wait to try it!

In “Where There’s Smoke” a novella in the Wrong Bed Christmas book, my two characters Emma and Erik are stuck in an abandoned cabin with only a couple of granola bars, a box of expensive chocolates and a very nice bottle of wine. Not the worst to make a meal on, but if I were planning the perfect meal for being stranded with a sexy firefighter in the middle of Colorado, I’d go with something that would give me more energy for the night ahead ;) Here’s the perfect rustic yet filling dish would appeal to any red-blooded American man (who wasn’t a vegetarian):

 

Seduce Me Beef Stew*

1 lb of lean good quality stew meat

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tsp oil

2 onions (sliced into thin rings)

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp tomato paste

2 cups of beef broth

3 cups sliced carrots

2 medium potatoes, sliced

1 cup green beans

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp cold water

 

1.     Coat beef with flour, shaking off excess. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil. Add beef and cook about 5-7 minutes until slightly browned. Remove beef to a separate plate.

2.     Add onions and mushrooms to the pot; saute for 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and saute for a minute or so. Return beef to the pot and stir in tomato paste. Next add broth and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for an hour.

3.     Add carrots, potatoes and green beans. Cover partially and cook for 15-20 minutes.

4.     In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch. Stir into stew and increase heat to a boil. Turn off and let cool slightly. Serve with cornbread or crusty French bread.

 

*Derived from Healthy Meals in Minutes

 

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

 

 

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

 

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a megabestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

 

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

 

Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places.

Carrie Slayton is tired of being a columnist for the society-page. When her editor challenges her to find and write an article on Finn Dalton, the elusive author of the bestselling book, Alone, Carrie accepts the challenge knowing it’s the only way she’ll be able to write serious news stories.

 

While the deal is sweet, Carrie has one problem: No one knows where Finn is. After connecting with Finn’s mother, Carrie finds herself headed for the Alaskan wilderness.

 

Finn Dalton is man who likes his privacy. When he wrote Alone he never realized it would become a best-seller.  Now that it has, everyone is dying to discover his identity.

 

When he discovers Carrie, he immediately knows she’s a reporter. And while he’s determined to not to tell her anything she could use in her article, Finn soon realizes that Carrie’s easy to talk to.

 

Although he’s been content living alone, Carrie has him rethinking his view on women.

 

I’ve seen a few of Debbie Macomber’s movies on Hallmark, although Starry Night is the first book that I’ve read by her and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.

 

I liked that Carrie was focused on what she wanted and determined to get it, but once she realized the price it would cost her, she decided it wasn’t as important as she once thought.

 

Finn Dalton was by far the most interesting hero that I’ve read this year. He’s a man’s man, can live off the land, survive in Antarctica, type of man. He also has mommy issues, which causes him not to trust women. Even more interesting, he gifts the oddest gifts (an antique toaster and an oosik, which happens to be…wait for it…a walrus penis bone. Yep. You’ve read that right…a walrus penis bone! It’s the gift that’s on every woman’s Christmas list.)

 

I loved the way Finn and Carrie interacted in the beginning of the book. She was invading his space, he was pushing back, and she gave just as well as got. The dialogue was amazing, although I could have done without Carrie starting off everything with “Oh Finn”.  

 

The flow of the book was great. Before I realized it, I had half the book read. Although I will say, I thought the book was longer than it actually was. The page length of the book is 349 pages, but the length of Starry Night is only 231 pages. The rest of the book is filled with excerpts, interviews, and such. So I was a little disappointed with that.

 

While the book is indeed a Christmas romance, it’s not overly Christmassy and would make a perfect winter read.

 

Overall, Starry Night was a sweet little novel where the hero had to overcome his past. The romance was a little rushed, but I think it had to do with how short this was.

Double Cover Alert

 

Starry Night is also released with this cover. While I loved the cover I purchased, I feel the cabin and the lake set against the snowy landscape represent the book better.

Book Details

Title: Starry Night

Author: Debbie Macomber

Publisher: Ballantine Books

ISBN: 978-0-345-52890-2

Release Date: October 2014

Format I read: Mass Market Paperback

$5.99

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4 Cups

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A Christmas to Remember stories by Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, Hope Ramsay, Molly Cannon, and Marilyn Pappano

Curl up with this heartwarming Christmas collection!

Jill Shalvis, Dream a Little Dream: Melissa has kept every man at a safe distance-especially firefighter Ian, a sexy friend with sexy benefits. But Ian secretly longs for more. Luckily, 'tis the season for giving love a chance . . .

Kristen Ashley, Every Year: Holidays don't come easy for Shy and his brother, Landon. But with the magic of Christmas, along with a little help from Tabby and her family, the Cage brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime . . .

Hope Ramsay, Silent Night: Down on her luck and evicted from her apartment, single mother Maryanne hopes to start over in Last Chance. When the snow begins to fall, it looks like her baby might literally spend Christmas Eve in a manger. And Maryanne might celebrate the holiday with a handsome stranger.

Molly Cannon, Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Lincoln is a bachelor who's set in his ways-until a professional organizer dressed up as Mrs. Claus changes his life, one tip at a time. . .

Marilyn Pappano, A Family for Christmas: War widow Ilena doesn't mind spending Christmas alone. But when a new doctor blows into town with the winter wind, will she get her secret Christmas wish?

Dream A Little Dream by Jill Shalvis Rating: 5 Cups

 

When Ian and Melissa’s friends-with-benefits deal ends because she’s afraid of her feelings toward him, Ian is left wanting more. Although when her apartment catches fire and Ian rescues her, he’s afraid it’s too late to act on his feelings when she slips into a coma. When Ian tells Melissa the dream he had of the life they could have had together, the dream becomes Melissa’s dream. When she wakes up, she intent on making it come true, sexy elf costume included.

 

If ever a short Christmas story left me with the warm and fuzzies it’s Dream A Little Dream.

 

Melissa is afraid to allow herself to feel the feelings she is feeling for Ian, so rather than act on them, she shut him out of her life. Although the dream she had while in a coma made her realize it’s what she wants in her life. I liked that Melissa wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted once she finally realized she wanted Ian. She was bound and determined to make it happen.

 

Ian is in love with Melissa. A blind person could see it. So when he’s doesn’t reach her in time, he’s devastated and due to his sister dying after hitting her head during a skiing accident, he’s not going to leave Melissa’s bedside until she’s awake. He also hasn’t celebrated Christmas with his family since his sister’s death. Ian’s fear of losing Melissa brought this novel to life.

 

While this is only 49 pages, the story is complete and the pacing is brilliant.

 

Overall: It’s a lovely little heartwarming romance combined with a touch of comedy guaranteed to make you fall in love with Melissa and Ian.

 

 

 

Every Year by Kristen Ashley Rating: 3.5 Cups

 

Having not read Kristen Ashely’s work before, I was a little lost but managed to catch up fairly quickly.

 

Shy and his brother Landon haven’t had the best of lives after the death of their parents, so when they spend Christmas with Tabby (Shy’s girlfriend) and her family they see what a real family Christmas is like and gain the gift of belonging.

 

Every Year was one heck of a hot holiday romance. It was so hot it could melt the snow on the ground. Why haven’t I read Kristen Ashley before? I must remedy this and soon. {I know what I’m doing with those Amazon gift cards I received as gifts!}

 

Shy and Landon seem like troubled men and I do love me some troubled heroes (again, why haven’t I read Kristen Ashley?). When they spend Christmas with Tabby and her family, they finally feel that they are part of a family.

 

While I was a little lost on some aspects and was a little annoyed with the fact that Tabby’s stepmother’s nickname is Ty-Ty (I’m a bit anti nicknames that sounds like baby talk) Every Year intrigued me and now I must read more.

 

Silent Night by Hope Ramsay, Rating: 2.5 Cups

 

Let me start by saying that while I loved this short story, it was way too short. I felt like it ended right when I was just getting to know the characters. And characters as complex as Maryanne and Daniel really deserved a full-length book of their own.

 

Daniel is spending Christmas alone at his father’s farmhouse in Last Chance. It’s the first Christmas he’s spent there since his father’s death and he’s struggling with being alone.

 

Maryanne is a single mother who is homeless. She’s returning to the only place she ever thought of as home in hopes of that her cousin will take her in. Although when her car breaks down, she has no choice but to bundle her little boy up and walk the distance to what she believes is her grandparents’ home.

 

Finding no one home, she has no choice but to seek shelter in the barn where Daniel, the owner of the house, discovers her and her son.

 

Daniel is broken man. He’s suffered terrible loss and he understands what Maryanne is going through. Although Maryanne, having been through the foster system, doesn’t trust ‘do-gooders’ so when she discovers that Daniel is a lawyer, she’s not sure if she can trust him either.

 

WAY. TOO. SHORT. I loved the concept of Silent Night, but it felt as though it barely scratched the surface of these complex characters. And although the they seemed to be forming a relationship, a very fast relationship seeing as this story takes place during one night, it felt more like a Happy For Now ending rather than a HEA ending.

 

Overall, great concept, not long enough to properly develop it.

 

 

Molly Cannon, Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Lincoln is a bachelor who's set in his ways-until a professional organizer dressed up as Mrs. Claus changes his life, one tip at a time. . .

 

Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon Rating: 4.5 Cups

 

Lincoln never expected to open his door three days after Thanksgiving to find a woman dressed up like Santa’s elf. Dinah, the professional organizer Lincoln’s mother hired never expected to be working for a Grinch. Although as the two grow closer, they start to realize things are always what they seem.

 

This was a really cute Christmas romance. It was light and fluffy like a festive little marshmallow. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the way that Lincoln and Dinah interacted. Neither was afraid push the other to their limits.

 

Overall, you just can’t go wrong with a Molly Cannon romance.

 

A Family for Christmas by Marilyn Pappano, Rating: 4 Cups

 

Marilyn Pappano is a new to me author and I was pleasantly pleased with how much I enjoyed her writing.

 

Dr. Jared Connors moved to Tallgrass and accepted the open position to more or less stick it to his parents. Although Tallgrass doesn’t feel like home and it’s not the place he’s used to, Ilena, ambassador elf for the Prairie Elf Fundation and her infant son make start making the holiday’s brighter for Jared.

 

I liked A Family for Christmas. Jared wants to be away from his family but he’s also homesick. Ilena’s husband died in the war and she’s a bit hesitant but she knows it the right time to move on.

 

It was a really sweet little romance and I look forward to reading more from this author.

 

Book Details

Title: A Christmas To Remeber

Authors: Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, Hope Ramsay, Molly Cannon, and Marilyn Pappano

Publisher: Forever

ISBN: 978-1-4555-2993-3

Format: Mass Market Paperback

$7.99

How I Read It: Mass Market Paperback from Publisher

Rating: Each story is rated individually

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