This set of three short novels set in a Virginia winter combines crime investigation with Christmas romance.

CHRISTMAS KISSES introduces Noah Briscoe a Virginia Police Sergeant, at the scene of a suspected arson. A historic mansion has burnt down and Noah helps unearth clues as to the cause. Traces of a hot fire started by an accelerant are found and the sergeant has to seek an arsonist. Noah takes a man dressed as Santa Claus in for questioning and the public defender is an attractive single lawyer named Alana O'Hara. Alana advises the Santa Claus suspect and later, realising that Noah will be spending Christmas Day working, she calls around to his home with a box of decorations. The mistletoe proves too tempting and the pair exchange kisses, but they are conscious of being on opposite sides of a case. Lori Wilde has given us a cheerful tale liberally sprinkled with festive goodies. The investigative detail was convincing and the counterpoint of seasonal cheer was refreshing compared to many crime books.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: EMT Eric Marshall is called to the scene of the historic mansion fire in Virginia. A woman is found unconscious in the ashes and wreckage, saved by having had debris fall across her body. Eric takes her to hospital and waits until she awakens. However she has suffered a head injury and cannot remember anything. The fire experts rule her out as a suspect in the arson. Next day the woman wakens again to her amnesia and bruised but curvy body. A wedding ring had been on her left hand, so Eric has to presume she is married. Which is a pity, because they shared a sweet, thrilling night together at the age of sixteen. He doesn't mention this, or the fact that he's held a torch for her ever since. Chloe Skidmore was not only the plump girl in town at that age, she was from the wrong side of the tracks and peer pressure just proved too much for them to handle. This is a light, sexy tale full of Christmas themes and resounding with the potential for happiness. Triumphing over the bullies in later years is an important personal victory to the heroine. Read for a dose of winter cheer and look out for more from Kathleen O'Reilly.

ON A HOT DECEMBER NIGHT. Here we meet Assistant Fire Chief Jason Turner who sees the house go up in flames. Jason dislikes Christmas because of the rash of fires from faulty lighting, decorations hung too close to fires, and the wrecking of family lives that can occur. Kristen Lovejoy is a corporate party planner who is left with the task of reorganising the Firemen's Charity Ball on Christmas Eve as the mansion venue has been reduced to rubble. Jason can't resist asking her out to dinner. But an alarm call from a fire in the neighbourhood drags Jason out the door. He can't wait for backup but rushes into a burning house and rescues a mother and child, getting lightly burned himself, to Kirsten's distress. She sleeps with Jason but next day the memory of losing her soldier father to the Gulf War haunts her and she is reluctant to lose her heart to a man who gets into danger. Another pleasant Christmas tale, not too heavy on the trappings of the festival but more concerned with the people who make Christmas work for everyone else. Candace Havens is inviting us to enjoy the season and to help others enjoy it too.