|
Reviews
for
Anthology
 
Christmas Wishes
Leanne Burroughs, AnnMarie Bradley, Amber Dawn Bell, Billie Warren Chai, Kimberly Ivey, Patty Howell, Cheryl Alldredge, Shelli Stevens, Gerri Bowen, Kimberly Grant, Rebecca Andrews, DeborahAnne MacGillivray
ISBN: 0974624918
Genre: Christmas Anthology
Publisher: Highland Press
If you were to buy one anthology this year of short Christmas stories to settle in on a cold winters night than you won’t go wrong by picking up this entertaining compilation of an even dozen featuring some bright and fresh new talent. The stories run the gamut of contemporary to historical and even a bit of time travel – but more importantly they’re all magical enough to warm the cockles of your heart!
Christmas At Home / Leanne Burroughs – Prepare to be charmed completely by Burroughs poignant tale as wounded WWII gunner pilot Ryan Burgess discovers that a lovely widow and her precocious daughter Becca are the perfect pair to help him ring in Christmas with hope for the future. *** Have lots of tissues nearby as Burroughs tugs your heartstrings with this one.
The Christmas Store / Anne Marie Bradley – After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman Aine is spending Christmas up north with best friend Holly who takes her to The Christmas Store with a Mr. & Mrs. Claus looking remarkably like the real deal! Who knows what Christmas wishes would come true when she and a cute orphan named Joey write their wishes on golden stars to hang on Santa’s tree! *** Bradley’s sweetly touching tale will make you believe in Santa again!
Love’s Eternal Hope / Amber Dawn Bell – Bell serves up every older (mature) woman’s fantasy with this gem of a story. When Hope Lacey felt all had been lost a magical journey sent her back to her Cherokee roots giving her back not only her self-esteem but a very surprising gift on Christmas Eve. *** Oh, so very satisfying.
Operation Family / Billie Warren Chai – Major Sean Spencer wanted to be in control and wanted a stay at home wife. Ava’s career meant just as much to her as Sean’s so heartbreakingly, they split. Some months later when Sean arrived to bail his crew out of jail he ran into a very pregnant Ava and knew he was going to be a daddy. Sean, a special ops specialist knew changes were called for and put Operation Family into overdrive in order to convince the woman of his dreams that marriage would be the best Christmas gift ever. *** You gotta love take charge guys who know how to make Christmas special!
The Gift of You / Kimberly Ivey – After suffering groping attempts and abuse from her slime ball boss Liliana Brooks quit her job knowing the worse would come later when telling her parents. Little did she know the worst would come sooner than that. Jake Dellatore wasn’t looking to be a hero but after saving Liliana from being raped he felt more alive than he had since losing his wife and child five years before. Perhaps this Christmas would bring Liliana and Jake a gift both had lost all hope of ever receiving. *** Ivie offers up a lovely spun sugar Christmas romance served up sweetly sensual.
The Patient Gift / Patty Howell – Patty Howell delivers a delightful and emotionally moving tale of love when she brings together Lea and Durham during a winter storm. With a little bit of coaching from a very smart canine called Basil they would discover that hearts could be mended with a little bit of help from a furry friend. *** A tissue nearby would not go to waste while reading this beautifully moving and magically inspirational tale.
In Time For Christmas / Cheryl Alldredge – When Beth Markham made a wish upon a very old and ancient box sent to her after being handed down through many generations, she’d never guessed that her wish for a family would bring such a delightful turn of events. *** Alldredge’s time travel will take you back to medieval Norway and one very sexy Norseman. Oh my, the sensuality is sure to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night!
Once Upon a Snowflake / Shelli Stevens – Stevens tells a light hearted tale featuring a young woman and her son who find the perfect home for Christmas – and strong arms to keep her safe and warm all winter long. *** Lovely imagery, very nicely done – sweet!
Joy’s Christmas Wishes / Gerri Bowen – Gerri Bowen will delight you with a blast from the past – Regency style – complete with darling children, friends and relatives as eleven year old Joy makes a couple of Christmas wishes that ultimately come true for Lady Emily and her papa. *** Absolutely darling, the characters and the wish come true theme. Loved it.
Miracles and Mistletoe / Kimberly Grant – Marla wanted more than anything a future with the most thrilling man she’d ever met, Chance Yardley. Would a raging blizzard keep the results of Marla’s latest medical test results keep them from truly enjoying a very special Christmas and life together. *** Ms. Grant packs a terrific punch in this powerfully moving story. Very nice.
The Christmas Wish / Rebecca Andrews – Rebecca Andrews will delight readers with young Kevin’s Christmas Wish to bring him a new mom and someone nice for his dad. Holly St. Nick turned out to be just perfect in all ways, for him and for his dad. *** Sweetly sensual – a delightful treat!
All I Want for Christmas is a HulaHoop…and a Mother / DeborahAnne MacGillivray – Take one precocious five year old angel, a devastatingly handsome dad, a sexy ballet teacher, one fat cat, a pony, and a blizzard – tuck them away in a snug cabin in the country and you’ll have all the ingredients needed to make one magical Christmas where everyone’s wish comes true. *** MacGillivray once again proves whether writing a long Medieval or Contemporary she is entirely up to the challenge of packing a wallop of entertainment into a short story! This is one very talented wordsmith!
~ Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization, The Mystic Castle, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
 
Back to Reviews |
