Review: Like a Tin of Christmas Cookie Goodness
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 3, 2013
4.5 stars. This collection of small-town Christmas romances is like that gift box of assorted holiday cookies. There might be one or two we feel iffy about - but they taste SO good when we try them. Plus old favorites we KNOW we like.I received a free copy of this anthology via Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review."Dream A Little Dream" by Jill ShalvisSet in Lucky Harbor, Washington coast, Melissa Mann had broken off her FWB relationship with hot firefighter Ian O'Mallery, rather than take it to the next level. But once she changes her mind, decides to risk it, it seems he's DONE. Can she win him back? There's smoke, fire, plenty of steam, and a barking pantry. I am a big Jill Shalvis fan and this story does not disappoint."Every Year" by Kristen AshleyColorado suburbs, outside Denver, Chaos motorcycle club, big blended family of Tabby, her brother Rush, their father, their stepmother and two young half-brothers, Tabby's b-f of six months, Shy, and HIS brother Landon. I found it a little confusing at first, as it's a substantial cast of characters, and it seemed like everyone had (at least) two names: Tyra and Ty-Ty being the stepmother, for example. These are badass biker types and there IS profanity which may be jarring to some readers. There is also lots of love, a tire swing hanging project, and a floor spread with wall-to-wall presents."Silent Night" by Hope RamsayRetelling of the Nativity story, somewhat, set in Last Chance, South Carolina. Broke single mom Maryanne is out of gas, out of money, and almost out of hope when she takes refuge with her baby in what she THINKS is her cousin's barn. Lonely Daniel Jessup, visiting from Atlanta is determined to cook a last Christmas dinner in the old family homestead if he can, if he can figure out canned ham and instant mashed potatoes. He even picks up a baby toy, on impulse, intending to drop it into the church donation box. Is it magic that puts these two people in the same place at the same time? I loved former foster child Maryanne's grit and determination to keep her baby against the wishes of all the do-gooders trying to take him away from her."Have Yourself A Messy Little Christmas" by Molly CannonAccountant Lincoln Jones is unprepared for an elf at his door - even if Dinah Mason makes an awfully sexy elf. Lincoln's mother - owner of the house he's living in - is determined to come home for a clean, well-decorated Christmas, and has hired Dinah as professional organizer/decorator, so Lincoln doesn't have to. I was a little triggered at the beginning of this; between the messes as described, and Lincoln's overreaction to having his stuff touched, I was thinking, uh-oh, hoarder. Having had a friend who DIED in large part because her b-f was a hoarder, I was afraid this story would sugarcoat hoarding disorders as easy to cure, but as it turned out, Lincoln was NOT far-enough gone to be a hoarder, just messy. AND paranoid about spiders (but then, who isn't?). Set in Everson, (I think) Texas. Lincoln turned out to be flexible enough, and Dinah had the right mix of charm and push to get him involved and happy about the cleanup, and about each other. I was not thrilled, however, that there was consummation without condoms. :-( The sex scene was hot and well-done, but I lose respect for contemporary characters who don't either use condoms reflexively, for a first consummation, or at least DISCUSS condoms, STI's and pregnancy, before jumping into bed for the first time, especially characters who are (theoretically) mature and confident."A Family for Christmas" by Marilyn PappanoJared Connors has been "guided" by his elite doctor parents his whole life, and though he did enter the medical profession, he also opted to become a pediatrician. AND to go into a small practice in Tallgrass, Oklahoma, located near a military base. The second elf in a row in these stories, Ilena Gomez is a war widow with a six-month old son. She and the jingling bells in her hat sweep him off his feet. The author creates a really nice mix of depth in Ilena; she's mourning her husband, but enjoying her son, and practical about the need to find another partner if she wants the size family she thinks she does. Even so, Jared automatically uses condoms for their first consummation. (Yeah!)I have to say, I am SUPER-impressed with this marketing strategy. Each author segment features: 1) A warm short intro letter to readers, 2) A Christmas short story, 3) The first chapter of a full-length novel set in the same "world" as the Christmas story. With five widely different "worlds" and styles, fans of contemporary romance are quite likely to discover at least one new author we really like. So we're GOING to be adding that author and her novels to our TBR/wish list/auto-buy list. (I know I have!) IMO this very reasonably-priced collection is a great stocking stuffer for ourselves.