A Western Winter Wonderland By Cheryl St.John, Jenna Kernan, Pam Crooks

Summary

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John - “Christmas Day Family” is a sweet, stand-alone novella about a doctor and a spinster who find love and create a ready-made family just in time for the holidays. Marvel runs a boarding house in the small Colorado town of Carson Bend. She’s been asked by the town council to house the new doctor who’ll soon be arriving, until the old doctor moves out of his home and office. However, she wasn’t expecting the man to be quite so disarmingly handsome or that he would have two small children in tow. She reluctantly accepts them, knowing it’s the right thing to do, but when their stay gets extended due to extensive repairs that are needed on the old doc’s quarters, Seth and his kids’ presence makes Marvel long for things she’d given up on. Seth is a widower who has sacrificed a great deal in his life, and now all he wants is to make a quiet life for himself and his children. He’s attracted to Marvel from the moment they meet and seeing how she gradually warms up to his kids makes him want her all the more. But Marvel harbors concerns over her age and a secret that makes her feel unworthy of being a wife. However, Seth isn’t easily deterred and is determined to overcome her objections in time to make her his wife for Christmas.

Marvel’s parents thought they were barren, but then she came along unexpectedly when they were in their forties. She lost her mother at a young age, and then her father fell ill with a debilitating condition. Marvel essentially put her own life on hold for years, caring for him, and during that time, when money got tight, she came up with the idea of taking in boarders. It’s something she’s been doing ever since, along with playing seamstress to the ladies of the town. When the town council asked her to house the new doctor until the old one could move out, she agreed, but when he arrives, she’s shocked by his youth and the two small children he has with him. Many years ago, Marvel dreamed of having a husband and family, but she put those dreams on hold to care for her father. Having Seth and his children in her house stirs up those dreams again, but now she believes she’s too old, and a secret she harbors makes her feel unfit to be anyone’s wife. At first I wasn’t sure about Marvel, because she seemed a bit ungracious towards the kids and the family dog, but I came to understand that it was partly because she hadn’t really been around kids or dogs and probably felt a bit intimidated, and partly because it was something of a coping mechanisms to not get too close so that she wouldn’t come to care for them. However, she gradually warms up to both as the story progresses and eventually becomes the missing puzzle piece of their family. Marvel is also concerned about being older than Seth, but he slowly chips away at her reservations.

Seth went back East to get his medical degree, but when his older brother fell ill, he immediately returned to Denver to help his mother and sister-in-law care for him. On his death bed, his brother made Seth promise to take care of his wife, so upon his passing, Seth married her. He cared for her in his own way, but he never truly loved her. So when she died in childbirth, he vowed never to marry again unless it was for love. After getting more than his fair share of late-night calls from unsavory types needing doctoring, Seth decided to move his little family to a smaller town, hoping for a quieter life. He’s immediately attracted to his new landlady, and as they spend evenings together, getting to know each other, he discovers a passionate woman who has put aside her own desires to care for others for far too long. As she warms up to his children, Seth also sees the perfect person to make their little family complete. But he’ll have his work cut out for him overcoming her reservations. Seth is an amazing father and a sweet, kind man who sees a side to Marvel that many others miss because she’s suppressed it for so long. He’s gentle but determined not to let her push him away.

“Christmas Day Family” was a wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Cheryl St. John is very talented at building her characterizations, so that I felt like I really got to know both Seth and Marvel despite the short format of the story. Because of the shorter length, things are perhaps a tad rushed, but the author is also great at drawing out the emotion of the story so that I was convinced they were right for one another in spite of it. She also managed to pack many of my favorite tropes into one short novella, without it feeling crowded. Marvel is sweet, and although reserved at first, she warms up nicely. Her concerns were relatable and made sense for the time period. I’m so glad, though, that she didn’t allow them to prevent her from living the life she’d always wanted. I adored Seth who was more of a beta hero. He’s sweet and kind, always respectful of Marvel and her home, but not afraid to go after what he wants. The tender, passionate kisses they share warm up the pages. Seth’s children and Marvel’s two elderly boarders added just the right extra flavor to the story, too. Overall, this was the perfect, heartwarming Christmas story that didn’t disappoint. Star Rating: 5; Sensuality Rating: 2

Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan – “Fallen Angel” is a sweet, holiday-themed, western romance novella about a bounty hunter and a single mother who find love in time for Christmas. While searching for the perfect Christmas tree for her son, Abby finds herself caught up in a gunfight between the bounty hunter and an outlaw and she’s accidentally shot. Before he could see her and react, Ford had already fired at the outlaw with his bullet hitting a woman instead. He goes to her rescue and takes responsibility for Abby and her young son, Daniel. Over the next several days, he cares for them both and does everything he can to make sure they have a good Christmas. Although he finds himself developing feelings for Abby and Daniel, Ford has experienced a tremendous loss in his life, and if he can’t get over his fear of losing someone he loves again, they may not have a future together.

Abby was raised in a well-to-do family back East, but following her heart left her heartbroken and alone. She married a man she thought she loved, but of whom her family didn’t approve. He turned out to be a gold-digging scoundrel who left her when it became apparent that no money would be forthcoming from her family. Disowned and with nowhere else to go, she took a position as a ladies companion to an older woman who was traveling to San Francisco, but found herself sacked and left to fend for herself in Colorado. She’s been struggling ever since to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads for the sake of her son, Daniel. Although she can’t afford much, she’s determined to give her son a nice Christmas and all he wants is the perfect tree. However, while out searching for that tree, she comes upon a gunman who points his weapon right at Daniel. Trying to save her son, Abby rushes the man, only to be shot herself. She awakens in the care of the bounty hunter who wounded her. At first, she’s afraid of this dangerous man, but as he cares for her tenderly over the next several days, she begins to discover his softer side that makes her fall for him. Abby is a great mother whose biggest priority is her son. She’s also a stubborn, determined woman who won’t let Ford get away easily.

After losing his wife and daughter and feeling responsible for their deaths, Ford took up bounty hunting as a way to avenge them. He knew that it was a risky proposition, especially given that he usually goes after the most hardened criminals. However, a part of him doesn’t care if he lives or dies, until the day he accidentally shoots a woman who reminds him of an angel. Feeling terrible about what he’s done, Ford pays for Abby’s care as well as a room for her and Daniel at the hotel. There, he keeps watch over them both and does everything in his power to give them a good Christmas. Although he develops feelings for Abby along the way, Ford fears what it might do to him if he lost her and Daniel, too. It will take some determination on her part to get him to see reason and fully let them into his life and heart. Ford is a man who’s lost everything that meant anything to him, which has caused him to more or less check out on life, but Abby and Daniel bring him back to a place where he can open his heart again.

Overall, “Fallen Angel” was a good read that I enjoyed. I liked both Abby and Ford, and little Daniel is a sweet boy who’s been raised well. Their romance was perhaps a bit rushed. It takes place over, I think, less than a week’s time, which is maybe a bit too quickly to fully believe that they could fall in love that fast. But the story was heartwarming enough to help make up for that and I did feel a connection between them. I enjoyed the little twist at the end. What Abby did to get Ford back was cute. So, overall, I had a good time reading this story. “Fallen Angel” is the first novella in Jenna Kernan’s Winter Wild West Weddings series, but since there were few supporting characters in the story, I’m not entirely sure how it connects to the others. I look forward to continuing the series, though, to find out. Star Rating: 4; Sensuality Rating: 2

One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks - “One Magic Eve” is a short stand-alone novella about two lonely people who are brought together on Christmas Eve by a little boy who has a special place in both their hearts. Sonja has been unfairly dubbed The Bird Lady by town gossips who don’t know about or understand her work with carrier pigeons for the U. S. army. They also think she’s the town hussy because she receives frequent visits from soldiers. She’s been attracted to local rancher Chet from afar for a while and when Chet’s young son brings an injured fox to her for treatment two days before Christmas, it gives her the opportunity she’s been longing for to get to know him better. Chet only recently found out he was the father of six-year-old Beau and doesn’t know the first thing about giving him a nice Christmas, but if he can get past his preconceived notions about Sonja, he just might discover that she can help. Some unexpected snow and a fall into the river end in these three spending the Christmas holiday together, and with a touch of holiday magic, all their wishes might come true.

Sonja was a mail-order bride for a man twenty years her senior who was a former soldier training carrier pigeons for the army. Before they could be married, he was killed by a marauding Indian, but he taught her the trade that she’s carried on ever since. However, the nature of her work is secretive, so the townspeople only know that she keeps a lot of birds and has frequent visits from soldiers, leading them to gossip about her and think she’s a crazy, loose woman. In reality, she’s just a sweet, lonely person, who longs for a husband and children. She’s been crushing on Chet from afar, and hoping that one day he’ll see her as more than what the gossip mongers say about her. When Chet’s son, Beau, brings the injured fox to her, it starts to open the door for that to happen, but it’s not until the three go on an excursion to return the fox to the wild that ends with Beau falling into the river and snow driving them to take shelter at her home over the Christmas holiday that the magic of blooming love really begins. Sonja is a great heroine, who doesn’t care much what the town gossips say about her. She’s proud of her work and just wants someone to share her life with, and Chet and Beau are just what she wished for.

Chet only recently found out he was a father when a man brought Beau to his door, saying that the child was the product of a brief affair he’d had years ago. He’s done his best to adjust to being an instant father, but he’s never really celebrated Christmas and doesn’t know how to make it special for a little boy. He’s been attracted to Sonja, but fears what the town gossips say about her might be true. When he finds Beau at her house, he’s isn’t very nice to her at first, but then he begins to realize that she’d only shown kindness to Beau and didn’t deserve his moodiness. He and Beau return on Christmas Eve to help release the fox, and a dip in the freezing river and the unexpected snowfall necessitate them spending the night at Sonja’s house. It turns into a magical evening, during which Chet realizes that Sonja is the prefect person to complete his little family. Chet was a good guy to take on the role of instant fatherhood and has done a respectable job. He may not know how to make Christmas special for Beau, but he knows where to turn for help. He may have been a little hard on Sonja at first, but he came around pretty quickly, and was properly apologetic when he found out what she’d really been doing.

“One Magic Eve” was a sweet story about found family and the love and joy of the holiday season. I liked both Sonja and Chet and thought they made a good couple. Beau is really cute and behaved like a six-year-old does. I enjoyed the touch of Christmas magic in the rosette cookies Sonja makes and her traditional Swedish decorations. She’s the prefect mother figure for little Beau, making Christmas special with very little. My one small complaint would be that I felt the emotional connection between Sonja and Chet could have been a bit stronger. They come to the realization that they’re in love over just a couple of days which is a little fast, but I think the real issue is that I picked up on a fair bit of telling rather than showing. However, the heartwarming nature of the story kept me engaged and helped to mitigate that deficiency to some extent. So overall, I enjoyed it. Star Rating: 4; Sensuality Rating: 2
Review provided by The Hope Chest Reviews