A Christmas to Remember/ Anthology/ 294 pgs

This is a historical romance anthology from four authors:

*Lisa Kleypas-this story is a classic one of the bad boy and the strait-laced spinster. The writing was good but I thought parts of the plot were skimmed over too quickly.

*Lorraine Heath-the hero in this one is trying to woe the woman he loves away from her fiance. Despite how that makes him sound, I really enjoyed this one.

*Megan Frampton-this one's theme is a marriage of convenience between strangers. While the heroine repeated herself too often for my taste, the romance was really sweet and nicely done.

*Vivienne Lorret-I read the first chapter of this one but couldn't read any further. It just wasn't for me. I subtracted this story from the page total since I did not finish it.

The Christmas Wish/ Barbara Ankrum/ 238 pgs

Though short, this was a fun and touching romance. Ben has always hated Christmas and working as a doctor in his Montana hometown--a town noted for its Christmas tourism--has finally driven him to leave. His good friend Eve is driving him to the airport when a runaway reindeer causes them to wreck the car. The story spins from there, with Ben unable to escape for Christmas and forever. Though this is the third book in a series, I didn’t feel I was missing much, and in fact I loved the community surrounding the characters. Ben and Eve’s romance is a sweet one, aided by that mysterious magical reindeer.

The Doctor's Christmas Proposal / Eve Gaddy / 222 pgs

I'll admit it. Romance is not really my thing, although I'll be reading quite a lot of it this month. That said, I can appreciate a good romance when I do read it. This just wasn't one of those good romances. The first paragraph was a big mess and I barely even understood what was going on. It did get going after a while, but some of the typos (bad editing) got in the way. The story is of a woman, Mia, from Denver who goes to the fictional town of Marietta, Montana to be the date of her old friend, Wyatt, who she just happened to have a one night stand with that resulted in a pregnancy and miscarriage some months before. Wyatt never knew Mia was pregnant. The one night stand only occurred because he was so upset by getting jilted by his fiancee. So, now it's Christmas and Wyatt's one brother is about to become a dad, and his other brother is about to get married, and Wyatt does what all other stupid men do, he calls his one gal pal with whom he had a fling to come be his date and comforter. 

Blech.

I'm being generous and giving this book 2 stars instead of only 1, because the writing wasn't terribly bad. Then again, for a book that is supposed to be somewhat erotic, it really didn't get me all steamy. The cover is pretty though, and it doesn't look as slap-dash put together as some of these small publishing company books can be. So, it gets a Meh from me. It's not the worst book I ever read, but I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time.

Dashing Through the Snow (plus a preview of "Mr. Miracle")/Debbie Macomber/244 pgs.

Ashley Davis is desperate to get home to Seattle, Washington, to surprise her widow mother, for Christmas. Dashiell Sutherland is also desperate to get to Seattle, Washington: he has an important job interview, and must be there by Dec. 23rd. They encounter each other, as strangers, at the airline ticket counter. Neither can get a flight out, and their encounter is less than pleasant. When they meet again at the car rental desk, and there is only one car left to rent, they put aside their antagonism towards each other, and decide to share a car ride to Seattle. It's typical Macomber: growing attraction between strangers, unusual circumstances,witty banter, happy ending. It's o.k., but not one of her best efforts.

Home for the Holidays / Leanne Banks, Dixie Browning, Kathie DeNosky 378 p.

Home for the Holidays / Leanne Banks, Dixie Browning, Kathie DeNosky 378 p.

Christmas is in air and so is romance in these three short stories from these popular authors. Three sisters find this Christmas to be a life changer. Each comes back to their home town of Mission Creek Texas only to discover the love of their life.

Mischief and Mistletoe / Mary J Putney and others 402 p.

Mischief and Mistletoe / Mary J Putney and others 402 p.

In a series of short stories Putney and others create romance developing over Christmas.  The stories run the gambit from a spy getting a second chance at love; to vicar's daughter pretending to be a saucy barmaid; to a case of mistaken identify.  All ends well of course.

Wild West Christmas / Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, Vickie McDonough 364 p. 20th century challenge

Wild West Christmas / Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, Vickie McDonough 364 p.

Four single daughters live with their widowed father on a cattle ranch in Horsefly, Texas in the 1800s.  Each are blessed with a talent.  Charlsey, "Charlie", can ride, rope and work the ranch with the best of them.  Accountant Harold Miller III almost blows it when he courts Charlsey and ignores that dusty cow-puncher "Charlie".  Sharp-shooter Lucy brings home the meat for the family.  When she joins Major Paulson's Wild West Show, shades of Annie Oakley, she begins to fall for the Major's evangelist son, Gordon.  Although Sarah is the horse-trainer on the ranch, cattle rustling is a serious crime.  She fights her attraction to Mexican drifter, Carson Romero when he seems to be a prime suspect.  When Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides back into town, he brings back the insecurities and hurts she felt when children chanted the rhyme he coined about Bessie Mae, Bessie Mae, plain as day.  Josef is there to do his job, find the bad guy.  He is drawn to beautiful Bessie Mae, but he escaped Horsefly once and he isn't going to return for good.

Mr. Miracle/Debbie Macomber/255 pgs

Harry Mills is an angel sent to earth to help  24 year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track. He is sent as a junior college professor of literature--the class Addie needs in order to complete her GED. There are other interesting characters in Addie's class, plus her next door neighbor, Erich, with whom she had issues growing up. There is the typical Macomber misunderstandings and resulting romance--not one of her best efforts.

Upon a Midnight Clear / Jude Deveraux, Linda Howard, Margaret Allison, Stef Ann Holm, Mariah Stewart 489 p.

Upon a Midnight Clear / Jude Deveraux, Linda Howard, Margaret Allison, Stef Ann Holm, Mariah Stewart 489 p.

Christmas is coming.  Each author weaves her magic around Christmas and romance.

The teacher / Jude Deveraux -- Christmas magic / Margaret Allison -- Jolly holly / Stef Ann Holm -- If only in my dreams / Mariah Stewart -- White out / Linda Howard.

Under the Mistletoe / Mary Balogh 249 p.

Under the Mistletoe / Mary Balogh 249 p.

Regency Christmas is the theme for these short stories.   What a treat to read of romance, changes of heart, healed marriages, and a babe born at an inn on Christmas eve.  Love abounds as does generosity, peace and joy.   This is a keeper to reread each Christmas.

Santa Honey/ Kate Angell, Joy Nash, Sandra Hill/ 322 pages/ December Challenge

Santa Honey is a collection of three Christmas stories written by Kate Angell, Joy Nash and Sandra Hill.

Ho Humbug Ho  by Kate Angell tells the story of a well know baseball player stuck in a small town when he caught speeding.  Can community service as Santa Claus give him a new outlook on Christmas and small towns?

Naughty or Nice by Sandra Hill introduces us to a gun toting Santa, a bodyguard and a group of young misfits who spend Christmas together.

Christmas Unplugged by Joy Nash takes us to a Christmas lodge will all sorts of romantic amenities, but no electricity.  Can a techie really have a Merry Christmas with out gadgets?

These would be good stories for someone with the need for Christmas Spirit, but without much time.

For more information and some read a likes check out the SCCCLD website


Below are some recommended Christmas stories for children

The Night After Christmas by James Stevenson  For more information click here

Forever Christmas/ Christine Lynxwiler/ 288 pages/ December Challenge

Forever Christmas, written by Christine Lynxwiler would appeal to anyone who likes small towns, romance or Christmas.  Kristianna has returned to the small town of her youth to run her Grandmother's store.  Jingle Bells is a town where Christmas rules, but the declining economy could mean a name change for Jingle Bells.  Kristianna faces an uphill battle in preserving the heritage of Jingle Bells.  Will a little romance help or hurt her battle?
See the full SCCCLD record for more details and read-a-likes.

Here are some Children's Christmas books that make for fun reading.

Christmas Cookies: Bite size holiday lessons, Amy Krouse Rosenthal
More info about this book

Melrose and Croc: A Christmas to Remember, Emma Chichester Clark
More info about this book

Christmas Wombat, Jackie French
More info about this book

Christmas Stories / Curtiss Matlock, Marianne Willman, Victoria Pade 379 p. Dec. Challenge 5 gold rings

Christmas time romance is the theme for each of three short stories.

Rancher Monroe Locket has to deal with a mail-order bride of his now deceased partner.

Ellen Shepard is bound for Jamaica to find her brother when she enters the luxury world of the aristocracy, posing as a royal herself.  And then robbery's occur and all passengers are suspect.

Linnie Rhode loved the rogue Drew Dunlap.  But he left her years and years ago.  And not a word since. When he comes back, ready to court her, she is not bursting with Christmas cheer.

Mr. Miracle/Debbie Macomber/ pp 272 (October 7,2014)

Harry Mills is given his first assignment as a guardian angel. He is supremely confident that he can help 24 year old Addie Folsom get her life straightened out. She has returned home in time for the holidays. Her plan is to sign up of classes at the community college and avoid her childhood nemesis and next door neighbor, Erich Simmons.

This is the latest Debbie Macomber Christmas romance so we know that her plans won't work out in the way she envisions. It is a sweet book that will not disappoint fans who have read the other Christmas angel books. Harry, the newest angel, is a fun character who learns as much as his charge.

Holiday of Love / Judith McNaught 354 p.

Holiday of Love / Judith McNaught 354 p.

It's holiday time.  And romance is in the air when Judith McNaught, June Deveraux, Arnette Lamb, and Jill Barnett practice their craft and gives us Christmas time romances.