A warm holiday welcome to Fresh Fiction Reviewer,
Miranda Owen, who is here to discuss some of her favorite holiday-themed
romances! If this
post doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, we don't know what will. Without
further ado
I love a fun holiday-themed romance. Admittedly, my favorite
holiday-themed romances involve Halloween, but I enjoy Christmas ones too.
Some of my
favorite books by Carolyn Brown and Terry Spear are centered on Christmas
and family. The
Christmas romances I've read this year - by old favorites and new-to-me
authors - have had
dual themes of "family" and "Christmas" with delightful results. The one
story featured here
that's not set during Christmas is a paranormal romance by Cynthia Eden that
opens with a
catastrophic blind date on New Year's Eve, but that story also has a lot to
do with family.
In SOMEONE TO TRUST by Mary Balogh and THE
CHRISTMAS KEY by Lori Wilde, the heroes are
both drawn to women with big hearts and loving families. SOMEONE TO TRUST opens
with an
idyllic Christmas house party with the Westcott family and their assorted
friends and relations.
Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges can't help but be charmed by these people
because what they have differs so
wildly from anything his own family has. His mother dominates the family and
has done more
harm than good in her efforts to preserve her temple to beauty and maintain
her adoring
court. The Westcotts and Radleys are a large, boisterous, opinionated, and
imperfect family,
but they love each other. Since honest affection and good humor is in short
supply around his own family, a few days
of family feasts, snowball fights, and other holiday celebrations seem
sublime. Finding a
woman he is enchanted by, who is everything his mother is not, is the cherry
on Colin's
sundae. Mary Balogh excels at writing character-driven stories and capturing
the complicated
family dynamics - whether they be good or bad - and SOMEONE TO TRUST is a
dazzling
story
about family, love, and Christmas cheer.
In Lori Wilde's contemporary romance, THE
CHRISTMAS KEY, Marine Gunnery Sergeant
Mark Shepherd is scarred by his military experiences and makes his way to a
quaint small
town at Christmas. His mission is to face the family of a fallen comrade.
Mark's survivor's guilt
is almost his undoing. When he finally meets the late soldier's family, Mark
is captivated and
frustrated by the forgiveness and kindness he finds. Lori Wilde also weaves
a mystical element
into this story. When Mark and the heroine, Naomi Luther, first meet they
are
surprised to find
that they appeared to each other in dreams. Naomi is left to act as a mother
to her orphaned
nephew. Naomi is the kind of giving and loving mother that he never had
growing up. His
childhood was lacking in stability or love, but he finds love and a sense of
purpose in the small
town of Twilight.
A
FIREFIGHTER'S CHRISTMAS GIFT by Vivian
Arend and ALL I WANT FOR
CHRISTMAS IS A COWBOY by Jessica Clare are both contemporary romances
with
hardworking, sweet heroes and heroines in various stages of crisis. Brad
in A
FIREFIGHTER'S CHRISTMAS GIFT is a firefighter
who ends up being Hanna's personal hero. When Hanna's home catches fire,
Brad offers his
heart and his home to her and her child. Like the heroes in SOMEONE TO TRUST and THE
CHRISTMAS KEY, Hanna hasn't had a
supportive family when she needed love and support the most. Coldness from
others in her
past makes Hanna reluctant to trust Brad, but he wins her over with his
kindness and
appreciation for family and those he cares about. The gift Brad gives Hanna
for Christmas
shows how much he values her as a person and deeply cares for her.
Like Brad, Eli in ALL I
WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A COWBOY is a
simple and hardworking guy thrown into close quarters with a woman he falls
hard for. Eli has
no family except for the people he works with on the ranch, so he's left
alone at Christmas to run
things with nobody except for the dogs and other animals for company. Cass
is running away
from the city, her self-centered and demanding boss, and her boss' creepy
boyfriend. When
Cass' car crashes, she has amnesia and is left to Eli's tender
ministrations. Her boss'
movie star boyfriend is an entitled creep who hit on her and his unwanted
attentions were wearing on her.
Eli is the complete opposite. The longer Cass stays with Eli, he becomes
increasingly attracted
to her but refuses to act on his emotions because he is wary of taking
advantage of her while
she is recovering and might be vulnerable. He doesn't realize that Cass is
also developing an
attraction and unsure about what to do about her growing feelings for Eli.
There are lots of fun
and sweet moments as Cass decorates the ranch house and gives Eli the love
and kind of
Christmas that he never had growing up. Eli is a sensitive cowboy and
a totally swoon-worthy
hero.
A
SHIFTER CHRISTMAS CAROL by Jennifer
Ashley and MIDNIGHT
BITE by
Cynthia Eden
are two thoroughly enjoyable holiday-themed paranormal romances. Jennifer
Ashley takes
familiar and favorite characters from her "Shifters Unbound" series and
gives a classic
Charles
Dickens story a paranormal spin. Just about every book in Ashley's "Shifters
Unbound" series
focuses on family and mate bonds. In A SHIFTER CHRISTMAS CAROL
, Ashley keeps that focus. Dylan Morrisey is a good man but
also a complicated one who makes difficult calls in order to protect his
family. The three
Christmas "ghosts" who appear to him get Dylan to appreciate and concentrate
on what's truly
important when it
comes to his family, and get him to refocus. In MIDNIGHT BITE, Lark
Kinsley
grudgingly
sets out on a New Year's Eve blind date that goes horribly wrong. This is
very different, in
many ways, from Cynthia Eden's other stories. MIDNIGHT BITE is kind
of a fun
"damsel-in-distress" story but with Cynthia Eden's unique spin on it. Lark's
mother could give
the mother in CARRIE a run for her money. Lark's mother was like Buffy the
Vampire
Slayer-"dark", which made for a somewhat hellish childhood for Lark. After
her mother's
death, Lark just
wanted to entirely remove herself from all things paranormal and avoid the
drama. No such
luck. When her blind date turns out to be a vamp and her knight in shining
armor turns out to
be the prince of vampires she doesn't know which way is up. As opposed to
many of the other
stories discussed here, in
MIDNIGHT BITE, family does not give this story a warm fuzzy glow. It's
only in freeing
herself from the
chains of her family that Lark can have the life she wants and find
happiness.
THE
DUKE OF DANBY'S HOLIDAY HIJINX by
Samantha Grace, Ava Stone, and Claudia Dain is an anthology of Christmas-
themed historical
romance. This is just one installment is a series of collections featuring
the Duke of Danby and
his matchmaking ways. Ava Stone's "On the Way to the Castle" opens with
Richard Plantier,
the 3rd
Earl of Glasbury trying to finagle his way to the Duke of Danby's upcoming
holiday party. He is
a man hunting one particular woman to wed in order to thwart a curse.
Inevitably Richard falls
in love with a completely different girl, and they get past all the
obstacles in order to get their
happily ever after. Even though his original plan seemed a bit cold-blooded,
Richard is not a
jerk and Lily is able to see his finer qualities. "On the Way to the Castle"
has just the right
amount of adventure, romance, and merry mix-ups. Like the other heroes in
this anthology,
Gavin MacBride in Samantha Grace's "Three Little Words" is put in a very
difficult situation.
Gavin is supposed to escort heiress Victoria Eastland to her destination.
Unfortunately for
Gavin, Victoria chafes at this imposed escort and yearns for autonomy. Like
some other
women of the time, she finds more freedom by masquerading as a man.
Unexpected family
and a Christmas get-together seem a little unnerving for Victoria. The
teasing and chemistry
between the hero and heroine in "Three Little Words" is perhaps my favorite.
As a devoted fan
of Claudia Dain's "Courtesan Chronicles," I was looking forward to her story
"Suitor by
Surprise." Miss Judith Whitton, youngest niece of the Duke of Danby is, like
many of Claudia
Dain's heroines, an extremely determined young woman. She is determined that
John Copley
is the man for her and not much will dissuade her. Like Richard from "On the
Way to the
Castle", Mr. Alfred FitzHerbert is a good man but he uses deception for what
he believes to be
a good reason. In Alfred's case, it is to get Judith's attention off of the
rake John Copley. This
story has the humor typical of a Claudia Dain story and much of it comes
from everybody
thinking of Alfred as the boring good guy incapable of dazzling any young
lady. The chemistry
between Alfred and Judith is great and make for a charming story.
***
Other Christmas-themed romances:
WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS by Victoria
Alexander
MACKENZIE FAMILY CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Ashley
A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS WEDDING by Pamela
Britton
CHRISTMAS IN THE DUKE'S ARMS by Shana Galen, Miranda
Neville, Carolyn Jewel, and Grace Burrowes
LADY SOPHIE'S CHRISTMAS WISH by Grace
Burrowes
HOLIDAY ON ICE by Jaci Burton
A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS by Robyn Carr
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A VAMPIRE by Kerrelyn
Sparks
THAT HOLIDAY FEELING by Debbie Macomber
MUST LOVE MISTLETOE by Christie Ridgway
KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Bella Andre
HUNK FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Katie Lane
A BAD BOY FOR CHRISTMAS by Jessica Lemmon
A SILVER WOLF CHRISTMAS by Terry Spear
A HIGHLAND WOLF CHRISTMAS by Terry Spear
MERRY COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Carolyn Brown
A LASS FOR CHRISTMAS by Jane Charles
A VAMPIRE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL by Cynthia Eden
CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY by Ann Lawrence
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE by Susan Mallery
NAUGHTY OR NICE by Alexa Riley
CHRISTMAS VOWS by Alexa Riley
THIS WICKED GIFT by Courtney Milan
SNOWFALL by Mary Ann Rivers
A HOLIDAY BY GASLIGHT by Mimi Matthews
A CHRISTMAS GONE PERFECTLY WRONG by Cecilia
Grant
HOW THE DUKES STOLE CHRISTMAS by Tessa Dare, Sarah
MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe
A WALLFLOWER CHRISTMAS by Lisa Kleypas
HIS CHRISTMAS COUNTESS by Louise Allen
THE HOLIDAY PRESENT by Johanna Lindsey
BY WINTER'S LIGHT by Stephanie Laurens
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS EVE by Elizabeth Hoyt
THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Christine
Feehan
O'CONNOR FAMILY SERIES COLLECTION by Katie
Reus
HER CHRISTMAS EARL by Anna Campbell
TIS THE SEASON TO BE SINFUL by Adrienne Basso
HAPPY PLACE by L.P. Maxa
A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS by Mary Balogh
CHASING CHRISTMAS EVE by Jill Shalvis
***
Thanks Miranda! Our TBRs thank you, too. Happy Holidays and happy
reading
everyone!
***
TITLES FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE:
Westcott #5
During a rare white Christmas at Brambledean Court, the widow Elizabeth,
Lady Overfield,
defies convention by falling in love with a younger man in the latest novel
in the Westcott
series.After her husband's passing, Elizabeth Overfield decides that she must enter
into another
suitable marriage. That, however, is the last thing on her mind when she
meets Colin Handrich,
Lord Hodges, at the Westcott Christmas house party. She simply enjoys his
company as they
listen to carolers on Christmas Eve, walk home from church together on
Christmas morning,
and engage in a spirited snowball fight in the afternoon. Both are surprised
when their sled
topples them into a snowbank and they end up sharing an unexpected kiss.
They know there
is no question of any relationship between them, for she is nine years older
than he.
They return to London the following Season, both committed to finding other,
more suitable
matches. Still they agree to share one waltz at each ball they attend. This
innocuous
agreement proves to be one that will topple their worlds, as each dance
steadily ensnares
them in a romance that forces the two to question what they are willing to
sacrifice for love. . .
.
Romance Historical | Romance Holiday [Berkley, On Sale:
November 27, 2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780399586101 /
eISBN:
9780399586118]
Superlative
storytelling, with charismatic characters, and an enchanting love story!
Twilight,
Texas
Therefs a legend in Twilight, Texas. If you sleep with a kismet cookie
under your pillow
on
Christmas Eve, you will dream of your one true love.She saw him in her dreams . . .
Itfs impossible! Naomi Luther was standing face-to-face with the man
shefd dreamed about
over a year ago. Was it the magic of kismet Christmas cookies that brought
him to her? Or is
there an even greater force at work? All Naomi knows is she is falling, hard
and fast, for the
one man all good sense says she should not have.
She was his buddy's sister . . .
Rebellious Mark Shepherd found order in the Marines but chaos on the
battlefield. In a mission
gone wrong, Mark is injured and one of his fellow soldiers loses his life.
Haunted by guilt, he
arrives in Twilight to keep a solemn promise. But when the Luthers mistake
him for their
handyman, hefs swept up in playing Santa to his buddyfs orphan son . . .
and falling hard for
Naomi's irresistible bright spirit and sweet, sexy smile. But what
will
happen when she learns
the truth?
Holiday |
Romance [Avon,
On Sale: October 23, 2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book,
ISBN: 9780062468277 / eISBN: 9780062468284]
Holidays in Heart Falls #1
This firefighter has the perfect gift for a single mom and her little
girl – if they�'ll take
him. A
holiday story from New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.All Bradley Ford wants this holiday season is a date or three with sweet
Hanna Lane. He's the
new fire chief, recently returned to Heart Falls to help his father after an
accident. And while
he wasn't expecting to find someone like Hanna so soon,
Brad's certain
that Hanna and her
adorable daughter, Crissy are perfect for him and his plans to settle down.
Hanna's been taking care of herself since she became a single mom at
sixteen. The only pure,
honest love she trusts is her little girl's, but for the first time
in
eight years, her libido flares to
life. Something about Brad draws her like a moth to a flame; which is always
a bad idea for
the moth.
When a fire leaves Hanna and Crissy homeless, Brad offers them shelter at
his family's
homestead. Crissy insists theyfve moved in with Santa. Hanna's not sure how
she keeps
ending up under the mistletoe with Brad. And Brad? Hefs hoping for the best
Christmas gift of
all...
Romance Contemporary | Romance Holiday | Romance Erotica Sensual [Self Published, On
Sale: September 11, 2018, e-Book, ISBN: 9781981986057 / eISBN:
9781941456293]
Christmas arrives early when a fateful encounter leads two strangers to
unexpected love
in this holiday romance from New York Times bestselling author
Jessica Clare.
Christmas may be coming, but it's just another day at the ranch as far as
Eli Pickett is
concerned. Someone has to take care of the herd and that means no holiday
vacation for him.
But that's just the way he likes it--itfs not like he has a woman to spend
time with anyways.
Most women don't want the ranch life, or the surly, silent cowboy that comes
with it. Fine with
him. He'd rather have the quiet of a roaring fire and the company of his
dogs.
Cassandra Horn is trying to make it to her parents' winter cabin in Wyoming
before the
blizzard hits. She desperately needs a vacation from the chaos of
Manhattan...and her boss'
boyfriend, who is making her life miserable. But Cass never makes it to the
cabin.
A raging snowstorm causes her car to crash, where she's found unconscious by
Eli. When
Cass wakes, she has no memories of who she is. Eli takes one look at Cass's
big blue eyes and
dark curls, and like a Christmas miracle, falls head over heels in love. But
while the attraction
is mutual, can she give her heart to this cowboy if shefs not sure itfs
hers to give?
Romance Western | Romance Holiday | Holiday [Berkley, On Sale: November 6,
2018, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781984802187 / eISBN:
9780399587788]
Shifters
Unbound
Dylan Morrissey forgoes the Shifters�' traditional Yule celebration,
to his
family�'s dismay.
Instead, he joins Ben at the haunted house in New Orleans, planning to meet
with potential, if
dangerous, allies in the Shifters' constant struggle for freedom.
But the sentient house has other ideas. Dylan wakes up, or rather doesn't,
unable to move or
speak, and is taken on a journey to the past, present, and future.
Ben, Zander, and Tiger are his guides, but is what they are showing him
truth?
Return to Shiftertown for a Shifters Unbound take on a classic Christmas
tale!
Romance Holiday | Romance Paranormal [Self Published, On Sale:
December 11, 2018, e-Book, ISBN: 9781946455611 / eISBN: 9781946455611]
A perfect tale of
Christmas ghosts and Shifter heart!
A kiss on New Year's Eve is supposed to be lucky...but a vampire bite?
That's not exactly
something a woman dreams of getting. And when Lark Kinsley gets bit, all
bets are off. She
stakes her date, runs into the night, and tries to put the whole nightmare
behind her.
Only she can't.
Because she immediately runs in to trouble - trouble in the form of a tall,
dark, and deadly
sexy
vampire prince named Devereaux. He claims that he's there to help her, but
she's not buying
his story. The guy is no Prince Charming. After all, Prince Charming isn't
supposed to come
with fangs and an appetite for blood. But Devereaux says that he's been
waiting centuries for
her. That she is meant to rule with him. Obviously, he's wrong. And possibly
insane. She's not
meant to be the queen of the vamps. No matter what Devereaux says.
But he's not the only one after her. Paranormal monsters are coming out of
the woodwork. And
the bite that she got? It's making her feel strange. Hungry. Her self-
control is shredding, and
Lark knows she's changing. She just doesn't know what she'll become.
The new year won't go out with a bang...it will end with a bite.
Romance Paranormal | Romance Erotica Sensual | Romance Holiday [Self Published, On Sale:
December 18, 2018, e-Book, ISBN: 9781942840 / eISBN: 9781942840510]
It's Christmas 1817 and the Duke of Danby is matchmaking again!
Spend the holidays in Yorkshire with freshly fallen snow, Yuletide balls and
mistletoe kisses.
AVA STONE's ON THE WAY TO THE CASTLE...
Identical twins, Ladies Lily and Amelia Woodward may look the same, but
theyfre as different
as night and day. Ever-dutiful Lily is resigned to whatever destiny their
great-uncle the Duke of
Danby has in store for her, while free-spirited Amelia is determined to
fight His Grace every
step of the way. With Christmas upon them, the Woodwards set out for Danby
Castle and
stumble across an overturned coach and a pair of handsome gentlemen in
peril. Will this
fateful encounter alter the future for both sisters and the likely plans the
duke had in store for
all of them?
SAMANTHA GRACE's THREE LITTLE WORDS...
Disheartened but not defeated, Gavin MacBride temporarily abandonfs plans
for restoring the
family coffers to escort his sister-in-lawfs long-lost relative to
Yorkshire for a reunion. Gavin
might have failed to secure funds to ensure his familyfs future prosperity,
but surely, he can
deliver a young woman to Danby Castle in one piece. * Heiress Victoria
Eastland isnft making
his job easy, though, especially when she sets off for Yorkshire alone. With
no carriages for
hire at the local coaching inn, Gavin is resigned to give chase on horseback
in inclement
weather, but a Good Samaritan takes pity on Gavin and invites him to share
his coach. Soon,
the newfound friends are led on a merry chase that ends with a bold rescue
and an
unexpected discovery. The outspoken, foolishly brave Miss Eastland has been
under Gavin's
nose the whole time - and a little too close when one is unprepared to lose
his heart.
CLAUDIA DAIN's SUITOR BY SURPRISE...
Miss Judith Whitton, youngest niece of the Duke of Danby, is not yet
married. Having met
John Copley one year ago at her first Christmas in Yorkshire, she is puzzled
that John has not
yet offered for her, especially after the intimacies they shared. * Mr.
Alfred FitzHerbert knows
why Copley has not offered for Judith: Copley is a scoundrel. If Alfred can
distract Judith from
her fatal infatuation with Copley successfully, Danby will fund his bridge
project. Distract, not
wed. No one looking at Alfie could ever imagine him being any girl's fatal
attraction, an insult
no true Englishman can be expected to ignore, not even one nicknamed 'the
archbishop.'
Romance Historical | Romance Holiday [Self Published, On Sale:
October 23, 2018, e-Book, / eISBN: 9780463096055]
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