A Western Family Christmas
In this heartwarming trilogy of Christmas-themed novellas by  some of Harlequin's favorite historical authors, small towns in  Colorado and Kansas and a Texas ranch provide the wintery  backdrops and plenty of Old West ambience. Likable, spirited  characters, many of whom have past issues with Christmas,  enliven the appealing stories that, while not always  predictable, are overflowing with family, love, and all the  expected holiday festivities. A blizzard, a stranded, unwelcome  stranger, and a baby on the doorstep disrupt the quiet life of  an independent, Christmas-avoiding spinster with ultimately  romantic results in Criswell's "Christmas Eve"; a fiery,  "haunted" storekeeper rescues a tormented doctor turned gambler  from a bounty hunter and ends up finding love and freeing them  both from the past in Mary McBride's memorable "Season of  Bounty"; and a mail-order fiance, three unwanted orphans, and  the children's grouchy, resentful rancher uncle put their pasts  behind them and form a family in Liz Ireland's especially  well-done "Cowboy Scrooge." For readers who like their holiday  historicals with a Western touch.Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.