When I see Mayor Marsha mentioned in a Susan Mallery Fool's Gold story I immediately think "witchy woman." The Mayor seems to know quite a bit about anyone who lives in her town of Fool's Gold including any newcomers. She makes creative and intelligent choices and you can't help wondering if she just has great instincts. So when Mayor Marsha teams Bailey Voss with Kenny Scott in YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS you just know she has something up her sleeves and you will be totally delighted with her decision.

The town of Fool's Gold is fully enmeshed in holiday spirit, first Thanksgiving and then Christmas. The young girls group called the Sprouts has been charged with their project - a toy drive and the two adult leaders have been called away on business so the Sprouts are in need of temporary leaders.

Bailey and Kenny are to be the substitutes. Kenny admittedly can't see himself saying no to the Mayor even though he has misgivings about spending so much time with Bailey and her daughter Chloe. He doesn't trust himself to keep his distance from this beautiful woman and adorable child. Kenny is a big strong ex-football player who is candidly afraid of these two. He can't afford to put himself in a position where he could develop feelings and then possibly have them blow up in his face -- once again. Been there. Done that.

Bailey is equally determined to protect herself and most importantly Chloe after the loss of her husband. Chloe had a rough go of it and is just now starting to behave like a normal and happy seven year old. Bailey can't let Chloe get too close to Kenny and lose him too.

Best intentions lead them to set down rules and sort of shake hands on the mutually beneficial agreement to just be friends. I can already see you smiling. But Kenny isn't doing too good a job maintaining healthy friendship boundaries. Candidly that's the fun part of the story. Big football player turned bodyguard keeps caving under the pressure to keep his heart out of play in this game.

For the game of life and love everyone in town is rooting for a big win. Their Fool's Gold friends are betting on Bailey and Kenny realizing that although best friends are great -- they should be brave and open their hearts and minds to so much more.

Susan Mallery packed quite a story into the smaller format of this eBook novella. YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS is short and very sweet -- a welcome addition to an amazing series set in a magically warm embracing town. There are a couple of loose ends to this book and this is notably not usual for Susan Mallery. But as a fan I am willing to overlook these random oversights.