Christmas bookbox; four stories set at Christmas. I liked Runaway Christmas the best ( )

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT Fern Michaels; Elizabeth Bass; Rosalind Noonan; Nan Rossiter

4 stories for the price of one, you can't go wrong!

Making Spirits Bright by Ferm Micahels
This is just one story out of 4 in this Christmas book. This tale is of a woman that shuts down her PC during the holidays so you can devote
her whole time to the holidays and friends and fmaily. She cares for the little girls down the street and attends parties that arise suddenly.
She also meets up with her friends brother and they spend several days together, doing everything: skiing, chopping down a real Christmas tree
and traveling for a short holiday. She get antsy about having children and starts the adoption process and wonders if her being single is going
to be a problem. Tragic things happen that lead to a wonderful finish. They would make a prefect fit with one another but there are others to consider.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5, it's easy to follow with a handful of characters. Love the holiday season, the decorations, food, festivities, friends
and family. Like that this is so up todate with events that have made the paper - the octomom was one mention. This is only one out of 4 so I know the
rest will be just as good as this first story.

Runaway Christmas by elizabeth hass
In this story we find Heidi, she runs a bake shop in NY. Her idea for Christmas this year is to not decorate her apartment and watch Avatar. Her niece in Texas feels
left out with a new baby on the way in the family. Heidi gets a free tree, drags it home and there are problems. Up top of everything else she forgets about the cash
box in a plastic bag from the shop. Now the landlady and the nanny upstairs need her. What else can go wrong, oh plenty more. It's called an ice storm and effects everything.
Maybe there won't be a Christmas at all? I rate this story a 5 out of 5, light reading with some intrigue. Easy to follow and in the spirit of the holidays.

Home for Christmas by Rosalind Noonan
Just started this story and am in love with it. set in Woodstock, NH as Jo is heading up the mountain with others there is a talk about
the area, the Old Man in the Mountain is a spot I've recently wanted to see with my spouse. The trip is in the works as we speak as he's never
been there. Jo runs a Christmas shop and has finally made a lot of money selling trees fully decorated. so much money she no longer has to work
at nights at the ski lodge cleaning for them. her spouse was killed on the slopes and she's heading up there to ward off others from going down
the icy terrain. Her daughter is well looked after by a live in cousin as she goes to college for her nursing degree. ah-yeah and wicked=love the
New England slang! this story reminds me of my family-they even have a swear jar. he's just back from the war and is disfigured and doesn't allow
her to even see him til they've met many times. as they begin to care for one another she wants to keep him in the dark about their relationship
and other things that are finally brought out the day before Christmas. Will they be able to get through it or does he leave?

Christmas on Cape Cod by Nan Rossiter
Maddie helps her teacher friend and child for the holidays. They travel to the Cape Cod house where the boy remembers his previous parents and
certain things. Traditions are a must: carrots for the reindeer, cookies and eggnog for Santa, Mass the night before where Noah is given a special
thing to do, makes him feel real special. The surprise Noah gets when he wakes up in the morning has a two fold meaning. What a precious story this
is and the characters are also in another of Nan's books: the gin and chowder club. I rate this book a 5 out of 5, easy to pay attention to what's
going on with the characters, their surroundings and the Christmas traditions. ( )

Just finished the Elizabeth Bass story, liked it pretty well. Just couldn't seem to get into the Fern Michaels story.

The family tree in "Runaway Christmas" took a few pages for me to straighten out. A lot of stepfamilies and ex-stepfamilies going around. A lot more characters than I'm used to in Christmas romance anthologies. Overall it was pretty good though. ( )

Reviewed by Lisa
Review copy provided by Zebra Books - Kensington Publishing
Curl up by the fireplace and escape with four delightful Christmas stories. Finding love, starting a family, second chances and most of all enjoying the holiday season are major themes in each story.

Making Spirits Bright by Fern Michaels

Melanie McLaughlin runs a successful business and lives with her two beloved pets Odie and Clovis. While watching her best friend’s girls, Amanda and Ashley, Melanie starts to feel the pangs of not having a family of her own. After some soul searching, Melanie decides not to wait for Mr. Right and she contacts an adoption agency. Unfortunately, the adoption agency prefers perspective parents to be married. When Bryce Landry comes back to town, Melanie begins to wonder if she might have found the love and the family she has wanted for so long.

Making Spirits Bright is a fast paced story that flows easily. The chemistry between Melanie and Bryce is a bit awkward at the start. As the story progresses, their relationship grows to a slow burn. The relationships between Melanie and her friends are realistic and heart warming. Especially, the heartfelt moments Melanie has with Amanda and Ashley. The story comes to a satisfying end that will not disappoint the reader. Michaels’ captures the magic of Christmas and the importance of always believing in your dreams.

Runaway Christmas by Elizabeth Bass

Heidi Bogue, the owner of the Sweetgum Café, has the perfect Christmas planned. Heidi has been looking forward to spending the day alone in her pajamas watching movies. Erica, Heidi’s thirteen-year-old niece, also has the perfect Christmas planned. Erica concocts a plan to leave Texas and travel to New York to be with Heidi. A snowstorm, a runaway nanny, an adorable toddler and an unexpected guest are not what Heidi planned. Sometimes in life, those random moments of chaos, lead to a lifetime of bliss.

Runaway Christmas is a delightful story that will put a smile on your face. The dialogue is snappy and there are a lot laugh out loud moments. Bass introduces many characters at the beginning of the story. As the plot progresses, the characters and their back stories come together seamlessly. The character of Laura and her issues with pregnancy are quirky and fun. The interaction between Heidi and the secondary characters provide many humorous moments. Heidi’s developing relationship with Patrick is tender. Bass weaves the elements of humanity, compassion and love into delicious story. Relax, unwind and get comfortable in the Sweetgum Café.

Home for Christmas by Rosalind Noonan

Jo Truman is co-owner of Cousins’ Christmas Shop in lovely Woodstock, New Hampshire. Jo, determined to put the past behind her, works hard to support herself and daughter, Ava. Memories of the past begin to rise to the surface after Clarice Diamond visits Cousins’ Christmas Shop. Shortly thereafter, Sam Norwood, an old friend comes back to Woodstock after serving in Afghanistan. As Sam and Jo begin to discover their feelings for each other, Jo must fight for the future of her family and Woodstock.

Rosalind Noonan has crafted a well-written short story with multi-dimensional characters. Determination, forgiveness and family values are at the core of Home for Christmas. Noonan captures the essence of the picturesque small New Hampshire town. The chemistry between Jo and Sam sizzles from the start. As the story develops, their relationship deepens and they both begin to heal. The issues associated with returning to civilian life and dealing with injuries from the war is told in a realistic and honest tone. Home for Christmas is a story that will warm your heart and bring a tear to your eye.

Christmas on Cape Cod by Nan Rossiter

Maddie Carlson leaves town to celebrate Christmas with her best friend, Asa Coleman and his son Noah. This Christmas it the first that Maddie has not spent with her family. As Asa and Maddie take care of a puppy on Christmas Eve, Asa begins to see Maddie as more than a best friend.

Christmas on Cape Cod has elements of new beginnings, gratitude and tradition. Rossiter captures the feeling of Christmas by detailing each character’s family traditions. Maddie’s back-story regarding her family tradition with picking the perfect Christmas tree and making Glug breathes life into the story. Noah’s relationship with his father feels awkward but the addition of Asa’s parents fills the void. Maddie and Asa’s relationship is very slow to start and begins to percolate by the end. Unfortunately, there was not enough tension between Asa and Maddie to make their story come to life. Take a trip out to Cape Cod and you may pick up a new holiday tradition. ( )