Marilyn Pappano
Autor(a) de A Christmas to Remember
About the Author
Romance author Marilyn Pappano has written about forty books and has received numerous awards including the Maggie Award, Romantic Times magazine's Career Achievement Award, and mulitiple Reviewer's Choice Awards. (Bowker Author Biography)
Image credit: via Goodreads
Séries
Obras por Marilyn Pappano
The Sheriff'S Surrender : Heartbreak Canyon (Silhouette Intimate Moments No. 1069) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) (2001) 28 exemplares
Silhouette Christmas Stories 1989 (The Greatest Gift / Voice of the Turtles / A Christmas for Carole / Silent Night) (1989) 26 exemplares
Silhouette Intimate Moments 14 Random Books by various authors — Autor — 1 exemplar
A Family For Christmas (Tallgrass, #1.5) 1 exemplar
Gabriel's Angel (Yours 2 Keep anth) 1 exemplar
Associated Works
The Christmas That Changed Everything (A Pregnant Pause / Holiday Reunion / Christmas Bonus) (2000) — Contribuidor — 41 exemplares
Etiquetado
Conhecimento Comum
- Outros nomes
- Butler, Rachel
- Data de nascimento
- 20th Century
- Sexo
- female
- Locais de residência
- Oklahoma, USA
- Ocupações
- novelist
Membros
Críticas
This is my first read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I was sucked right in. The story was well written and the plot made sense. The heroine was great. She was a stripper who put herself through college and bought a house and was unapologetic about it. He was an undercover cop who was looking into dancers disappearing from strip clubs. She was a very strong character and rates as one of my favorite category romance heroine's ever. He was a very nice guy. I will definitely try more by this author although I don't know if I can read the book with his brother, Robbie, as the hero since he was such an ass in this one that I don't see how he could be redeemed.… (mais)
Getting Lucky is the fifth full-length novel in Marilyn Pappano’s Bethlehem series about a small town in New York where the HEAs are given a little helping hand by the town’s resident guardian angels. In this one, we have Lynda who is business partners with Ross and Tom from two previous books. After Ross recently relocated the entire business to Bethlehem, Lynda bought an old fixer-upper of a house that she adores, but it needs a lot of TLC. Unfortunately with the construction business in the area booming, she hasn’t been able to find a contractor who is willing to take on her much smaller project. Enter Ben who just came to town searching for Alanna, the daughter he’s never met. Afraid that Alanna might not want anything to do with him, he isn’t even certain he wants to meet her, so while he’s biding his time, making up his mind about what to do, he offers to help Lynda. In spite of them being from opposite sides of the track and Lynda being known as a bit of a perfect Mary Sue with a type-A personality, the two start getting acquainted. Lynda has never felt quite so alive with any other man before, and Ben finds that Lynda might be someone worth putting down roots in Bethlehem for. But when Lynda learns about Ben’s past, and how he abandoned the mother of his child, she begins to have second thoughts about pursuing a serious relationship with him. However, a little angelic intervention may prove exactly what they need to get their romance back on track.
Ben was raised by his beloved grandmother, Emmaline, and his parents were never really a part of his life. He was only nineteen when he got involved with Berry who was a little older than him, and when she got pregnant, he ran the other way. He was young and stupid and wrapped up in having a good time, and he thought that since he’d gotten along okay without his own father, that his child would too. Now twelve years later, his grandmother has recently died and left a family heirloom for Alanna, so Ben has decided to track down the daughter he’s never met. He arrives in the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, thinking that he might just give the small treasure to Alanna’s aunt, who is now her legal guardian, and then leave, but a chance meeting with Alanna herself, leaves him undecided. A part of him thinks she’d be better off without him and that she might not want anything to do with him anyway, but the part of him that no longer has any family to call his own wants to get to know her. While making up his mind what to do, he meets Lynda at the local hardware store where she’s looking for someone who might be able to do some repairs on her house. Ben has worked in construction for most of his adult life and decides it would be a good way to pass the time. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Lynda is gorgeous and as they get to know one another better, Ben starts to think that he might just want to stay in Bethlehem permanently. But when he tells Lynda the truth about Alanna and how he skipped out on her mother years ago, Lynda isn’t so sure he’s such a catch after all and Ben will have his work cut out for him convincing her he’s a changed man. Admittedly, given Ben’s history, he isn’t the most admirable hero I’ve ever read, but I could tell that he’s matured and is trying to be a better person. A part of me would have liked him to be a bit more proactive in making up his mind about Alanna, because his passivity ended up causing what I’d characterize as unnecessary drama. Although I didn’t quite fall for him the way I would have preferred, I did generally like him, particularly for the way he makes Lynda feel beautiful and loves her for herself.
Lynda came from the opposite upbringing of Ben, having a happy, well-adjusted childhood, where she was pretty much a Mary Sue. She has a workaholic, type-A personality that has served her well in business, earning her a fortune, but it’s caused her personal life to suffer. She broke up with her fiance because they were both so married to their work, they barely had time for each other. Now she keeps telling herself that she’s content and doesn’t need a man in her life, but a part of her sees how happy her two business partners are in their marriages and wants what they have. It doesn’t help, though, that Lynda is six feet tall and rather socially awkward, which tends to turn off a lot of men, or that some men only want her for her money. Then she meets the handsome Ben who tops her lofty height by a couple of inches, doesn’t seem to mind her quirks, and isn’t really interested in her wealth. The two gradually hit if off and grow closer, but when Ben tells Lynda about his past, she starts to have reservations about a future with him, wondering if he might abandon her, too. I like that Lynda is a powerful businesswoman, which is something we don’t often see in a romance heroine. She may be a bad-ass in the boardroom, but she has vulnerabilities in her personal life. I could relate pretty well to her body image issues and social anxieties. I think deep down she just wants someone to love her for herself, and she finds that in Ben. Even though they have great chemistry, I understood her reservations about Ben’s past. But with a little help from her mom, best friend, and the guardian angels who are looking out for them, she might just be able to get past her doubts to give Ben the second chance he needs to prove himself.
Bethlehem is a fairly long series and being set in a small town, we get to see many past and future characters in supporting roles. Emilie and Nathan (Season for Miracles) are primary players given that they’re now guardians for Alanna, as well as her sister and brother by different fathers. Of course, they’re looking out for the well-being of their kids. Alanna has some of her own POV scenes as she meets Ben, but still doesn’t know he’s her dad. I was somewhat surprised that her part of the story isn’t resolved by the end—in fact it’s kind of a cliffhanger—and looks like it will continue into the next book, even though that one will be about a completely different couple who have no ties to her. Ross (Some Enchanted Season) is kind of Lynda’s boss and the primary owner of the company she works for. We see him and his wife, Maggie, a few times. Ben agrees to see child psychologist, Dr. J. D. (Father to Be) to vet his stability to meet Alanna, and we see J. D.’s wife, Kelsey at least once I think, as well as his son, Caleb, who is good friends with, and sweet on, Alanna. Lynda’s other business partner, Tom (First Kiss), and his new wife, Holly, show up as well. Then we have long-time supporting characters Ms. Agatha and Ms. Corinna, the elderly sisters who babysit for Alanna and her siblings. Ms. Agatha is planning her wedding to Dr. J. D.’s father. Bethlehem’s resident guardian angels, the absent-minded Gloria, and her sidekick, Sophy, help push Ben and Lynda in the right direction. Lynda’s best friend, Melina, a private investigator, comes to visit her a few times, and on one of her visits, she hooks up with single father, Sebastian. Unfortunately things don’t go well between them, but they get the chance to reconcile in the next book of the series, Heaven on Earth.
Overall, I enjoyed Getting Lucky although it didn’t end up being one of my favorites in the series. The romance between Lynda and Ben is definitely a slow-burn one that was appropriate for their characters, but at times, the story seemed a little too slow-paced. I generally liked both Ben and Lynda as characters and thought they fit well together. Even though they’re opposites in many ways, I think that worked to an advantage. Lynda helps inspire Ben to be a better man and Ben helps Lynda to let her hair down a little, get out of her stuffy office, and realize there's more to life than business. I have mixed feelings about the Ben and Alanna part of the story, though. I thought we’d get to see them meet as father and daughter, but I was left surprised and feeling a little unsatisfied when that didn’t happen. I guess their storyline will probably be resolved in the next book. Maybe I’ll feel differently after reading it, but right now I can’t help feeling like it should have been included in this book. All I can say is, we’ll see. Otherwise, I thought it was a good story. I’ve kind of unintentionally left this series to simmer on the back burner, spreading out my reading of the books. However, the way Melina and Sebastian’s part ended left me somewhat intrigued to find out more about them and what went wrong in their romance, so between that and wanting to see what happens next with Alanna, I’ll have to make sure I get to their book sooner than I have been with the others in this series.… (mais)
Ben was raised by his beloved grandmother, Emmaline, and his parents were never really a part of his life. He was only nineteen when he got involved with Berry who was a little older than him, and when she got pregnant, he ran the other way. He was young and stupid and wrapped up in having a good time, and he thought that since he’d gotten along okay without his own father, that his child would too. Now twelve years later, his grandmother has recently died and left a family heirloom for Alanna, so Ben has decided to track down the daughter he’s never met. He arrives in the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, thinking that he might just give the small treasure to Alanna’s aunt, who is now her legal guardian, and then leave, but a chance meeting with Alanna herself, leaves him undecided. A part of him thinks she’d be better off without him and that she might not want anything to do with him anyway, but the part of him that no longer has any family to call his own wants to get to know her. While making up his mind what to do, he meets Lynda at the local hardware store where she’s looking for someone who might be able to do some repairs on her house. Ben has worked in construction for most of his adult life and decides it would be a good way to pass the time. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Lynda is gorgeous and as they get to know one another better, Ben starts to think that he might just want to stay in Bethlehem permanently. But when he tells Lynda the truth about Alanna and how he skipped out on her mother years ago, Lynda isn’t so sure he’s such a catch after all and Ben will have his work cut out for him convincing her he’s a changed man. Admittedly, given Ben’s history, he isn’t the most admirable hero I’ve ever read, but I could tell that he’s matured and is trying to be a better person. A part of me would have liked him to be a bit more proactive in making up his mind about Alanna, because his passivity ended up causing what I’d characterize as unnecessary drama. Although I didn’t quite fall for him the way I would have preferred, I did generally like him, particularly for the way he makes Lynda feel beautiful and loves her for herself.
Lynda came from the opposite upbringing of Ben, having a happy, well-adjusted childhood, where she was pretty much a Mary Sue. She has a workaholic, type-A personality that has served her well in business, earning her a fortune, but it’s caused her personal life to suffer. She broke up with her fiance because they were both so married to their work, they barely had time for each other. Now she keeps telling herself that she’s content and doesn’t need a man in her life, but a part of her sees how happy her two business partners are in their marriages and wants what they have. It doesn’t help, though, that Lynda is six feet tall and rather socially awkward, which tends to turn off a lot of men, or that some men only want her for her money. Then she meets the handsome Ben who tops her lofty height by a couple of inches, doesn’t seem to mind her quirks, and isn’t really interested in her wealth. The two gradually hit if off and grow closer, but when Ben tells Lynda about his past, she starts to have reservations about a future with him, wondering if he might abandon her, too. I like that Lynda is a powerful businesswoman, which is something we don’t often see in a romance heroine. She may be a bad-ass in the boardroom, but she has vulnerabilities in her personal life. I could relate pretty well to her body image issues and social anxieties. I think deep down she just wants someone to love her for herself, and she finds that in Ben. Even though they have great chemistry, I understood her reservations about Ben’s past. But with a little help from her mom, best friend, and the guardian angels who are looking out for them, she might just be able to get past her doubts to give Ben the second chance he needs to prove himself.
Bethlehem is a fairly long series and being set in a small town, we get to see many past and future characters in supporting roles. Emilie and Nathan (Season for Miracles) are primary players given that they’re now guardians for Alanna, as well as her sister and brother by different fathers. Of course, they’re looking out for the well-being of their kids. Alanna has some of her own POV scenes as she meets Ben, but still doesn’t know he’s her dad. I was somewhat surprised that her part of the story isn’t resolved by the end—in fact it’s kind of a cliffhanger—and looks like it will continue into the next book, even though that one will be about a completely different couple who have no ties to her. Ross (Some Enchanted Season) is kind of Lynda’s boss and the primary owner of the company she works for. We see him and his wife, Maggie, a few times. Ben agrees to see child psychologist, Dr. J. D. (Father to Be) to vet his stability to meet Alanna, and we see J. D.’s wife, Kelsey at least once I think, as well as his son, Caleb, who is good friends with, and sweet on, Alanna. Lynda’s other business partner, Tom (First Kiss), and his new wife, Holly, show up as well. Then we have long-time supporting characters Ms. Agatha and Ms. Corinna, the elderly sisters who babysit for Alanna and her siblings. Ms. Agatha is planning her wedding to Dr. J. D.’s father. Bethlehem’s resident guardian angels, the absent-minded Gloria, and her sidekick, Sophy, help push Ben and Lynda in the right direction. Lynda’s best friend, Melina, a private investigator, comes to visit her a few times, and on one of her visits, she hooks up with single father, Sebastian. Unfortunately things don’t go well between them, but they get the chance to reconcile in the next book of the series, Heaven on Earth.
Overall, I enjoyed Getting Lucky although it didn’t end up being one of my favorites in the series. The romance between Lynda and Ben is definitely a slow-burn one that was appropriate for their characters, but at times, the story seemed a little too slow-paced. I generally liked both Ben and Lynda as characters and thought they fit well together. Even though they’re opposites in many ways, I think that worked to an advantage. Lynda helps inspire Ben to be a better man and Ben helps Lynda to let her hair down a little, get out of her stuffy office, and realize there's more to life than business. I have mixed feelings about the Ben and Alanna part of the story, though. I thought we’d get to see them meet as father and daughter, but I was left surprised and feeling a little unsatisfied when that didn’t happen. I guess their storyline will probably be resolved in the next book. Maybe I’ll feel differently after reading it, but right now I can’t help feeling like it should have been included in this book. All I can say is, we’ll see. Otherwise, I thought it was a good story. I’ve kind of unintentionally left this series to simmer on the back burner, spreading out my reading of the books. However, the way Melina and Sebastian’s part ended left me somewhat intrigued to find out more about them and what went wrong in their romance, so between that and wanting to see what happens next with Alanna, I’ll have to make sure I get to their book sooner than I have been with the others in this series.… (mais)
'He was tired of living in the dark. He wanted to light up the world, if for no other reason than to see those holiday lights shining in Maryanne's eyes.'
A Christmas to Remember is a collection of short Romance stories with a festive theme. Each story is from a different Author and starts with a foreword from the Author about a particular Christmas that they remember well. I liked these sections, as I could often see a link between the Author's Christmas experience, and the events in their stories.
Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis
Plot
Melissa has always kept men at a safe distance, and never got too involved. This is especially true when it comes to Ian, her sexy firefighter friend with benefits. Until one night, when she realises that life is too short not to act on the feelings that she's been trying to hide.
My Thoughts
This story from Jill Shalvis was short and sweet. Ian and Melissa were friends with benefits before this story, and Ian is finding it hard to adjust to not having her around. Melissa is trying to kid herself into believing that she doesn't need a man, especially not Ian, but deep down she misses him and wishes she hadn't pushed him away. Fate intervenes and presents them with a second chance at Christmas, and this time Melissa is determined that she won't make a mess of things.
I liked the concept of this quick read. Because the characters already have a history together this story works as a short. We get a brief idea of their backstory, which was enough to set up this story nicely. I enjoyed reading this but not as much as some of the other stories so I'll give it three stars.
Every Year by Kristen Ashley
Plot
The Holiday season doesn't come easily for brothers Shy and Landon Cage, since their difficult childhood. But with a little help from Tabitha Allen and family, and a bit of Christmas magic, these brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime.
My Thoughts
This is one of my favourite stories from this collection, although that's mostly because I was already familiar with some of the characters. This is a novella from the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley, and although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I was introduced to Tabitha Allen and her father Tack Allen in Motorcycle Man. For this reason, I found it easy to get myself into this story, as it was more like revisiting Motorcycle Man, rather than trying to get into a new story.
This story is based around Shy Cage, Tabby's boyfriend, and his brother Landon. After losing their parents and being sent to live with their resentful Aunt when they were children, the brothers haven't had a happy Christmas. However, they're spending this Christmas with the Allens and it could be just what they needed.
This story was full of Christmas joy and I loved it. The Allens are a loud, boisterous, but happy and loving family who love nothing more than to spend time together. The two young children, Ride and Cut, really made this story for me,as they were just like I was at that age; up far too early and excited for Christmas. Four stars for this one.
Silent Night by Hope Ramsay
Plot
Single mother Maryanne has been down on her luck lately and is hoping to find a new start in the small town of Last Chance. When the snow starts to fall, it looks like her baby boy Joshua might spend his Christmas Eve in a Manger; and Maryanne might spend her Christmas with a handsome stranger.
My Thoughts
You could say that this story was fairly cheesy, with a desperate mother seeking refuge in a barn on a cold winter's night. But for me, Christmas is all about cheesy love stories so I didn't let this bother me. There's even a few similarities with names, since the mother is called Maryanne, her baby is called Joshua and when she was young, she dreamed up a friend for herself called Joe.
Put all of that aside however, and what you have is a short and sweet story about a Christmas miracle when it's needed the most. It's not just Maryanne that needs a miracle though, because Daniel needs somebody to bring happiness into his life. Three stars.
Have yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon
Plot
Lincoln is a bachelor who is set in his own ways until a pretty woman in a Mrs. Claus outfit arrives at his door, ready to re-organize his home, and his life.
My Thoughts
This was one of my favourite stories from this collection. It was also one of the shortest, but it got the point quickly and didn't leave me disappointed. It even had room for a unexpected twist at the end. Lincoln is very reluctant to have Dinah Mason, a professional organizer, rummaging through his disorganized home. He has things exactly how he wants them, both in terms of his clutter, and his love life. But he soon comes to enjoy her company, and dreads the quiet loneliness that greets him when she leaves.
I loved the concept of this story because I hadn't read anything like it before and if the story was longer it would make a great Christmas film. I loved the twist at the end, as I wasn't expecting it at all. Four stars.
A Family for Christmas by Marilyn Pappano
Plot
War Widow Ilena Gomez doesn't mind spending this Christmas alone with her baby John. But when a handsome new Doctor arrives in town, will Ilena's wish of finding love again come true?
My Thoughts
This was the last story in the collection and I thought it was a great one to end with. For me it really summed up what a Christmas story should be, as it was about overcoming tragedy and finding new love and happiness. I loved how Ilena managed to stay positive after losing her husband, and found a way to carry on with the support of other military wives. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and certainly deserves another chance at happiness.
She definitely isn't the type of woman that Doctor Jared Connors though he would ever fall for, and his snooty parents wouldn't approve either. But there's something about her that draws him in, and I loved watching their love blossom in this lovely short story. Five stars.
Overall, I enjoyed each of these lovely short stories, some more so than others. Each one was different and full of Christmas joy. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a nice collection of festive love stories in the build up to Christmas.… (mais)
A Christmas to Remember is a collection of short Romance stories with a festive theme. Each story is from a different Author and starts with a foreword from the Author about a particular Christmas that they remember well. I liked these sections, as I could often see a link between the Author's Christmas experience, and the events in their stories.
Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis
Melissa has always kept men at a safe distance, and never got too involved. This is especially true when it comes to Ian, her sexy firefighter friend with benefits. Until one night, when she realises that life is too short not to act on the feelings that she's been trying to hide.
My Thoughts
This story from Jill Shalvis was short and sweet. Ian and Melissa were friends with benefits before this story, and Ian is finding it hard to adjust to not having her around. Melissa is trying to kid herself into believing that she doesn't need a man, especially not Ian, but deep down she misses him and wishes she hadn't pushed him away. Fate intervenes and presents them with a second chance at Christmas, and this time Melissa is determined that she won't make a mess of things.
I liked the concept of this quick read. Because the characters already have a history together this story works as a short. We get a brief idea of their backstory, which was enough to set up this story nicely. I enjoyed reading this but not as much as some of the other stories so I'll give it three stars.
Every Year by Kristen Ashley
The Holiday season doesn't come easily for brothers Shy and Landon Cage, since their difficult childhood. But with a little help from Tabitha Allen and family, and a bit of Christmas magic, these brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime.
My Thoughts
This is one of my favourite stories from this collection, although that's mostly because I was already familiar with some of the characters. This is a novella from the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley, and although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I was introduced to Tabitha Allen and her father Tack Allen in Motorcycle Man. For this reason, I found it easy to get myself into this story, as it was more like revisiting Motorcycle Man, rather than trying to get into a new story.
This story is based around Shy Cage, Tabby's boyfriend, and his brother Landon. After losing their parents and being sent to live with their resentful Aunt when they were children, the brothers haven't had a happy Christmas. However, they're spending this Christmas with the Allens and it could be just what they needed.
This story was full of Christmas joy and I loved it. The Allens are a loud, boisterous, but happy and loving family who love nothing more than to spend time together. The two young children, Ride and Cut, really made this story for me,as they were just like I was at that age; up far too early and excited for Christmas. Four stars for this one.
Silent Night by Hope Ramsay
Single mother Maryanne has been down on her luck lately and is hoping to find a new start in the small town of Last Chance. When the snow starts to fall, it looks like her baby boy Joshua might spend his Christmas Eve in a Manger; and Maryanne might spend her Christmas with a handsome stranger.
My Thoughts
You could say that this story was fairly cheesy, with a desperate mother seeking refuge in a barn on a cold winter's night. But for me, Christmas is all about cheesy love stories so I didn't let this bother me. There's even a few similarities with names, since the mother is called Maryanne, her baby is called Joshua and when she was young, she dreamed up a friend for herself called Joe.
Put all of that aside however, and what you have is a short and sweet story about a Christmas miracle when it's needed the most. It's not just Maryanne that needs a miracle though, because Daniel needs somebody to bring happiness into his life. Three stars.
Have yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon
Lincoln is a bachelor who is set in his own ways until a pretty woman in a Mrs. Claus outfit arrives at his door, ready to re-organize his home, and his life.
My Thoughts
This was one of my favourite stories from this collection. It was also one of the shortest, but it got the point quickly and didn't leave me disappointed. It even had room for a unexpected twist at the end. Lincoln is very reluctant to have Dinah Mason, a professional organizer, rummaging through his disorganized home. He has things exactly how he wants them, both in terms of his clutter, and his love life. But he soon comes to enjoy her company, and dreads the quiet loneliness that greets him when she leaves.
I loved the concept of this story because I hadn't read anything like it before and if the story was longer it would make a great Christmas film. I loved the twist at the end, as I wasn't expecting it at all. Four stars.
A Family for Christmas by Marilyn Pappano
War Widow Ilena Gomez doesn't mind spending this Christmas alone with her baby John. But when a handsome new Doctor arrives in town, will Ilena's wish of finding love again come true?
My Thoughts
This was the last story in the collection and I thought it was a great one to end with. For me it really summed up what a Christmas story should be, as it was about overcoming tragedy and finding new love and happiness. I loved how Ilena managed to stay positive after losing her husband, and found a way to carry on with the support of other military wives. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and certainly deserves another chance at happiness.
She definitely isn't the type of woman that Doctor Jared Connors though he would ever fall for, and his snooty parents wouldn't approve either. But there's something about her that draws him in, and I loved watching their love blossom in this lovely short story. Five stars.
Overall, I enjoyed each of these lovely short stories, some more so than others. Each one was different and full of Christmas joy. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a nice collection of festive love stories in the build up to Christmas.… (mais)
Prémios
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Estatísticas
- Obras
- 112
- Also by
- 4
- Membros
- 2,145
- Popularidade
- #11,995
- Avaliação
- 3.7
- Críticas
- 81
- ISBN
- 283
- Línguas
- 4
- Marcado como favorito
- 3
Source: Netgalley/Library
Dates Read: 12/1/23 - 12/21/23
Average Stars: 3.5
Dream a Little Dream - Lucky Harbor, Book 8.5 - Jill Shalvis - 4 Stars - Ian O’Malley, Melissa Mann - This is super cute and super steamy at one point. Starts off a little scary with Melissa caught in a building fire but I think you can guess she gets her HEA in the end.
Every Year - Chaos, Book 2.5 - Kristen Ashley - 2.5 Stars - Shy Cage, Tabby, Landon Cage, all of Tabby’s family - This was okay. Probably would have been more impactful if I knew the characters better. I did skip the last sex scene, not in the mood. I was also annoyed by Tabby always calling Shy “my man”. Glad she cut that out about halfway through.
Silent Night - Last Chance, Book 6.5 - Hope Ramsey - 4 Stars - Daniel Jessup, Maryanne Carpenter, Joshua Carpenter -Very sweet. I’d actually love to see more of how their relationship builds as neither character is really ready for romantic entanglements as this ends. It was also nice to have a small cast. A lot of Christmas stories are these big coming together of many parts of a family, which I love, but I also appreciated this small quiet time with just a few characters. Oh, and they better adopt that cat.
Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas - Everson, Texas, Book .5 - Molly Cannon - 4 Stars - Lincoln Jones, Dinah Mason - Very instalovey but also cute.
A Family for Christmas - Tallgrass, Book 1.5 - Marilyn Pappano - Did Not Read - Character Names - I ran out of steam and didn’t read this one. My moody little heart could not stand to meet any more new people. I’m sorry Ms. Pappano.… (mais)