Review: A Beautiful Christmas Story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 6, 2013
I've only read a few novellas and honestly tend to shy away from them because so many seem to rush the story without giving much background of the characters.  This always makes me feel like I haven't been given the chance to get to know them.  But having read Katy Regnery's first novel in the Heart of Montana series and very much enjoying her writing style, I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to read The Christmas Wish and was definitely not disappointed.Lucas Flynn is a short order cook working in a small town in Montana who has been released on parole.  After paying his debt to society and having served his time, he is trying to move on from his past mistakes to rebuild his life.  Although his intention is to stay focused on work, from the moment he sees Tess, a waitress at the restaurant in which he works, he felt drawn to her.  But realizing she has a past looming over her as well, he is uncertain whether he should get involved or continue to keep his distance.Tess Branson has always been known as "Fast Tessie", the woman who gives her charms away quickly to any man.  Growing up around boys and men who never wanted more than one night from her, Tess lived her life always believing all men were the same and would never want anything more.  That is until Lucas walked into her life, and she began to believe he was interested in more than just one night.  But as Tess starts to spend time with Lucas, she feels an uncertainty of whether he truly wants more from her or if he is just passing through her life like all the others.Although this is a novella, the author has given it enough detail to pull me into the lives of these two characters very quickly making me want to read more about them.  I could feel the connection and chemistry between Tess and Lucas almost immediately and truly enjoyed their story. Katy Regnery is definitely on my list of authors whose novels I will continue to look for in the future.