Review: The Magic of Christmas Still Exists!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 16, 2013
I received a copy of this Anthology from a contributing author in exchange for an honest review.These four stories from four different authors all had one strong common theme, the magic  of the Christmas season. In these stories this magic brings people together, helps them to find their place in this crazy, mixed-up world and softens the hardest hearts to let healing begin. As well, three of these stories contained my favorite kind of people - animals!Christmas Wishes by Danica Winters: This first story was sweet and nice and overflowing with "the magic of Christmas". It wasn't over‑the‑top or saccharine-y but it did come close to trying to do too much at once. In fact, when I first read it that was one of the remarks I made concerning this story. Later on, as I continued to read rest of the book I began to realize that the sentiment in the first story was appropriate as I began to remember the magic of the season. This story was truly lovely and the author showed a genuine love for Christmas, especially family Christmas' .Central Bark at Christmas by Jennifer Conner: This second story was a stray animal's dream! A stray dog gets found by two lonely animal‑lovers who meet at the dog park courtesy of their dogs. While the romance in this book was slow‑moving, due to the fact that Tennyson feels like she can't trust her heart anymore, the friendship and the intertwining of these two people's lives was delightful to read. This story shows us that the more we love, the more we are loved. That opening your heart may be scary and sometimes painful but the magic of the holiday season can heal and bring a greater love than ever imagined. All due to a stray dog making the right friends at the dog park.Halo's Wish by Sharon Kleve: This third story has a career‑focused woman who is somehow able to resist a hunky Vet attentions as he tries to get to know her better every time he runs - accidentally and intentionally - into her. Halo is supposed to be determined to get her career as a pet detective established and then focus on what she really wants her forever to look like. But hard as she tries, especially as Christmas approaches, she can't seem to banish Rich from her head or her heart. And when she realizes he is what she needs will he be there? Will she actually get what she wants and needs from the people she loves this Christmas?This is the perfect combination in my opinion! As a rescue veterinarian he saves the animals that are brought in hurting and as a pet detective she then tracks down the bad guys who hurt them in the first place. WIN-WIN! A Christmas miracle that brings love for all who deserve it.As I mentioned in my ongoing updates while reading - the "second and third stories were about animals and how they bring people together. So sweet!" And I hadn't read the fourth story yet which, in an off-hand way, is about animals bringing people together as well. They say animals are a quick and accurate judge of character so we should all listen to our pets with our ears and our hearts the next time we meet someone new.Christmas Hope by Casey Dawes: Is the fourth and final story. This story actually combines all the elements of the first three stories. It is about two people who have suffered losses during the Christmas season and how it changes them. We have a woman who needs to be career‑focused but keeps thinking about a man who wants nothing to do with her and her ideas, especially as they are about bringing other people into his private spaces with her into his heart and life and strangers in his business - literally! Again, the magic of the season and the wisdom of the people around them opens up their hearts and brings down the road blocks that are keeping these two apart."For most, Christmas is a time for family, love, life, dreams, and wishes." This is from the blurb for Christmas Wishes and I think it applies to all the stories here. Each person in these stories is trying to find the components they need to create their idea of the perfect family Christmas. As each couple is different so are their ideas, but they mesh together well. And due to the magic of the season they are able to find what they want but more importantly, what they need.I genuinely enjoyed each story in this book. They have helped me to feel more of the "joy of the season" as it snows outside and everyday we get closer to Christmas.