Review: Five sweet Christmas reads to jumpstart your Christmas spirit
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 7, 2013
This anthology just jump started my Christmas spirit! I'll admit it, I've been stressed and rushed and was just not feeling Christmas so far this year. I've only read one of these authors before (Kristen Ashley), and I was was excited to read her story in this anthology. But I was pleasantly surprised and drawn right into each of the other stories as well. Each one was unique, had well developed characters, and a good message. It made me want to read more from these authors So if you want a little "Christmas pick me up" in five short stories that are easy to squeeze in reading any time then grab this book.Dream and Little Dream: Jill Shalvis: Ian is a hot firefighter with a heart of gold. He and Melissa had a "friends with benefits" relationship, but she had so many walls up that she would never give him more. This story takes place six months later. After a traumatic event, Melissa realizes just what she gave up. And makes it her mission to win him back. This was a sweet Christmas story that really made me smile. I have not read this author before, but my blog partner loves her books. I can see why. She has an an engaging writing style and good character development. I did not have to read others in the series to follow this one. But it made me want to. Apparently Ian has a small part in Always on My Mind which is book 8 in her Lucky Harbor seriesEvery year: Kristen Ashley: I love the Dream Man and Chaos series by Kristen Ashley so it was the main reason I really wanted to read this anthology. I was excited to read more with Shy, Tabby, Tack, Ty, Rush, and Landon. This is the first Christmas for Shy and his brother, Landon joining the Allen family and it is bittersweet for them based on their past. But the Allens are a loving, rambunctious family and give them a Christmas worth remembering. I enjoyed seeing the growing boys Rider and Cutter and seeing Christmas through their eyes. And I just love KA's alpha males and their strong women. They always make me laugh. I was immediately back at home with these characters (I just cannot get enough of them) and it made me really want Landon to have his own book soon.Silent Night: Hope Ramsay:This is a companion story to her Last Chance series. Daniel is a man all alone for Christmas back in his old hometown of Last Chance. His past has left him feeling lost, broken, and abandoned. Maryanne and her baby have nowhere else to go so head to Last Chance to family she has not really been close to in years. This is about two people who find each other and manage to help each other not feel so alone. With a backdrop of the nativity, this was a beautiful story of miracles and fate.Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Molly Cannon: Lincoln is a messy, unorganized workaholic. Dinah is a professional organizer hired by his mother to get the house in order for Christmas. Not exactly a match made in Heaven as he is is not exactly receptive to her interference. But he does find it hard to resist her charms. He scrambles her brains, She pulls him together. Who knew cleaning up could bring two totally opposite people together? This one was funny and sweet.A Family for Christmas: Marilyn Poppano: This is a companion to her Tallgrass series which focuses on women that have lost their loves in Afghanistan. This is about Ilena, a young War widow with a baby in Tallgrass, Oklahoma. And Jared, a transplanted New York Doctor not planning on staying permanently. They find passion, love, and acceptance, but also challenges as they try to see if their lives can merge together. It is about finding out what is important and what you really need to be happy.This was a wonderful collection of short, sweet stories that is perfect for curling up with under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate to let the Christmas spirit move you.