Review: heartwarming holiday stories
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 7, 2013
Four novellas in various eras of historical romance. While each has its own heat level, none are erotic and all are well-written enough to please a majority of historical romance fans. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.Letters at Christmas by Amber LinCapt. Hale Martin returns after a three-year absence intent on marrying his childhood sweetheart, Miss Sidony Harbeck. Sidony has waited for him all this time but is too upset by his lack of contact to fall easily into his arms.She doesn’t hesitate when he approaches her sexually, though, and their relationship is very steamy while they wait for Sidony to admit what her heart as always felt.Readers who enjoy sexy historicals will probably love this one. The writing is good, the characters likeable. I did feel there were a few laps into modern phrasing, and didn’t feel the connection between the two when they weren’t in bed, so I didn’t love this story as much as I think others will. This one rates 3.5 stars.Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHughThis story is told over the course of the eight nights on Hanukkah in an army hospital in WWII Belgium. Lt. Ruth Mencher, a nurse, has had her eye on swoon-worthy Capt. Joseph Klein, as has every nurse in their unit. After seeing Capt. Klein at a prayer service, Ruth decides to share her candle-lighting ceremony with him. Joe tries to turn her away believing it’s not wise to flaunt their religion with Nazi soldiers too close for comfort.Their faith, their rank and the war itself provide a good balance of conflict to keep them apart, at the same time pushing them together. I enjoyed the way Ms. McHugh used actual events to keep the history real, and Ruth’s motivation for signing up for duty brought tears to my eyes. My father served in this war so the time is special to me.I loved everything about this story! Ruth is someone I’d like to be friends with, and Joe was suitably uptight for his position and the time. The secondary characters were all believable without overwhelming the story.What I think I liked the most is being made to think about the Jewish-Americans who enlisted in the war whether they had family or not. Their risk of meeting the enemy was even greater than the gentiles. Eight Tiny Flames doesn’t preach about the atrocities, but you can’t help but see them and the way they affect the main characters. I enjoyed having a Hanukkah story mixed in with the other holidays, and recommend this story for everyone! 5 starsErin’s Gift by Nancy FraserA light-hearted 1920s-era story using the boss/employee trope as well as the best friend’s brother trope. Erin O’Mara isn’t the wild adventurer that her best friend, Abby is, and when she follows along with Abby’s plans for the night she ends up losing her job and place to live. Luckily, Abby’s widowed brother Seth Harrison is in need of a live-in nanny for his son, so her problems are solved. But can she fight the attraction of her handsome boss?This was an easy read with likable characters and enough of the slang of the 1920s to draw you into the time. While the early conflict was easily solved, and there was no real conflict after that, I think those who enjoy category romance will love this story. I give it 3.5 stars.An Eternity of You by Sophia GarretReunited lovers and secret baby are the tropes fueling this story set in 1833 with the return of a duke following his father’s death. Andrew Wingrave, Duke of Sharrington, has his work cut out for him restoring the estate and village his father’s estate manager has let fall to ruin. Recently widowed, he brings his daughter back to the duchy and learns his childhood sweetheart has a son.Rebecca Rycroft learned medicine at her father’s side and the locals trust her to take care of them after her father died. Incomes are down all through the area, and Rebecca is struggling to support herself and her son. When Andrew’s daughter breaks her arm, Rebecca is forced to see the man she has come to despise.Miscommunication at the hands of another plays a big part in the conflict here but it’s handled believably and revealed in a plausible way. I especially liked the handling of the secret baby reveal. The chemistry is strong between these two; the relationship between them in the past and how they deepened that relationship are appropriate for the time (which makes me cheer!). I think all historical romance lovers will enjoy this story. 4 stars.*I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley for an honest review*