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A WESTERN
WINTER WONDERLAND
ISBN: 978-0-373-29467-1
Harlequin
Cheryl St. John, Jenna Kernan, Pam Crooks
This
anthology of western romance, set during the holiday season, is sure
to put you in a mood to celebrate. Each of these three heartwarming
stories explores the pain of loss, the healing power of love, the
rewards of family and the western tradition of new beginnings.
Christmas
Day Family by Cheryl St. John begins with lonely,
self-proclaimed spinster, Marvel Henley turning down the proposal of
family friend Henry Morrison, twenty years her senior. Certain true
love is not in her future and nursing a secret, Marvel is unprepared
when the town's new doctor shows up on her doorstep with two
children in tow and no wife in sight. Widowed, Dr. Seth Paxton is
trying to do right by his children by moving them to a small rural
community away from the dangers of Denver. With his house still
being readied, he needs a safe place to board for a few weeks.
Having children, it's not easy to find accommodations, much less
childcare. Both Marvel and Seth are nursing losses-of more than the
obvious. Seth falls in love with the independent, determined woman
whose generosity is bigger than she lets on. He's willing to risk
his heart, but it is Marvel who must find the courage to be true to
her desires and dreams, which have always been just out of
reach-until now.
In
Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan, the accidental shooting of
Abby March by bounty hunter Ford Statler begins a journey of the
heart. Abby has been crushed by the abandonment of her former
husband and family and the challenges of a raising her precious son
alone. Ford has become a shadow of a man after the tragic deaths of
his wife and daughter at the hands of outlaws. With vengeance the
only thing he has to live for, he is committed to killing those
whose evil acts have claimed the lives of others. With both
struggling to survive the wounds from their past, can they find the
courage to love again, trust again, dream again-and make a future
for a little boy who's hoping for a real home?
One
Magic Eve by Pam Crooks demonstrates that a boy's trust is
greater than a community's suspicions where love is concerned. When
little Beau Lattimer shows up at Sonja Kaplan's isolated house
wanting help for a critter he's found, she knows he'll be in big
trouble with his father, rancher and bachelor Chet Lattimer, for
coming so far-to her. Beau was left on Chet's doorstep after his
mother died. Chet claimed his son but he doesn't know how to be a
father. Intrigued by the woman who has captured his son's admiration
even if he is wary due to the gossip surrounding her, he finds
himself falling for the reclusive beauty. But he has to learn what
it is to be a father and how to trust his own heart before he'll be
worthy of the love of either Beau or Sonja.
These
three stories shine with the warm brilliance of cherished holiday
ornaments. Each story drew me in so completely, I had to read each
in a single sitting. These talented authors have combined
challenging circumstances with compelling characters, mixed in a
heaping measure of romance and added a dash of a child's love to
create a special holiday treat. So when you need a break from
holiday preparations or a little inspiration, pull up a chair, get
your favorite beverage and settle in with this book, sure to put you
in the holiday spirit.
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