Making Spirits Bright:
Title: Making Spirits Bright Anthology
Author: Anthology
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 433 pages
Publisher: Zebra
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Source: Contest Win
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 2
Reviewed by: Jasmyn
Secret wishes, sweet surprises, and gifts straight from the heart. Delight in this season's most joyous presents with these four sparkling tales...
Making Spirits Bright by Fern Michaels
Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt two orphaned siblings and give them a real home for Christmas. A just-for-the-holiday marriage to Bryce Landry fits her plan perfectly...until unexpected sparks have Melanie dreaming of forever by his side...
Runaway Christmas by Elizabeth Bass
A glass of wine, lounging in pajamas, ans catching up on movies - that's Heidi Bogue's idea of a perfect Christmas. Until her thirteen-year-old niece makes a surprise visit - and a snowstorm turns Heidi's cafe into a community refuge. Now one handsome cop is giving Heidi plenty more reasons to celebrate...
Home For Christmas by Rosalind Noonan
Jo Truman needs a replacement Santa for her gift shop's Christmas Eve party. She'll do whatever it takes to convince lonely soldier Sam Norwood that he's perfect for the part...and that the season for love is always...
Christmas on Cape Cod by Nan Rossiter
Maddie Carlson would do anything for her best friend. And helping Asa Coleman babysit a rambunctious puppy Christmas Eve night is her one chance to help the troubled teacher put his past to rest...and give the sweetest gift of all.
This was a very cute story, but I wish she had done more research on the cat, it just wasn't very realistic at times. But while the animals were cute, they weren't part of the actual romance. Melanie really steals the show in this one in her quest to adopt a child. Her determination was amazing and was something she wanted with all her heart. Bryce was a great guy. He was fun and all, but a bit too much of "whatever you want I want". There really wasn't a conflict there. I don't need much, but a little would have been nice.
Runaway Christmas:
This was my favorite of the bunch! Heidi's world is really turned upside down this Christmas as everything seems to go wrong! Even the weather has it in for her and her dreams of a quiet, peaceful Christmas by herself are shattered. Her niece was just the right touch, but I'm not entirely sure how necessary she was to the story. It's almost as if she was added just to give another potential complication. There's a couple romances, and both are really sweet.
Home for Christmas:
This one had a back story and a lot going on for a novella. Very well layered, with a great small town versus big corporation running through it as well. Sam is a great hero - with lots of depth and a lot of development as we move along. Jo was a tad too sweet for my taste. Just a little to goodie.
Christmas on Cape Cod:
This one was my least favorite. A very sugary couple with a very sugary Christmas story. It just wasn't my style at all.
Overall, this was a great mix of Christmas tales. Some were better than others, but it was a great addition to my Christmas reading for the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment
This is an award free blog. Thank you for all of your comments.