THE CHRISTMAS KEY is the ninth book in Lori Wilde's Twilight, Texas series. Christmas is the backdrop to this tale of a wounded soldier who embarks on a heartfelt mission and finds his soul mate for him. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Mark Shepherd has PTSD and a bad case of survivor's guilt. Whether he knows it or not, he goes in search of his fallen comrade's family to find forgiveness, but forgiving himself is what he finds most difficult. Lori Wilde succeeds at telling a multilayered, character-driven story with a deeply satisfying and entertaining romance.

Mark blames himself for the death of Clayton Luthor. The death is something he's struggled with and been to therapy for. Finally, at a last visit with his psychiatrist, Mark gets something that sends him on a mission to find the dead soldier's family and give them a key. The directive was from the fallen soldier and delivered by Mark's doctor. Having something to do and a set course gets Mark out of his own head and gets him on the road to recovery. The Luthor family and the town of Twilight end up being a revelation for Mark. Their unexpected trust and kindness throw him for a loop and warm his heart, even as he feels a little guilty for taking advantage of their hospitality, and for letting them harbor the mistaken belief that he is a handyman sent to them. THE CHRISTMAS KEY is a story laden with rich storytelling and well-crafted characters. Although this is a classic contemporary romance, Lori Wilde injects a mystical element by having the legend of the kismet cookies and having this hero and heroine dream of each other before ever meeting in person. The idea of fate and true love adds a wonderfully enchanted quality to the relationship that develops between Mark and Naomi. In addition to the physical chemistry between Mark and Naomi, I like how they are both flawed but help each other with their emotional issues.

THE CHRISTMAS KEY is a moving holiday tale of forgiveness and a romance that is fun, sexy, and sweet. This is perfect for romance readers who enjoy stories about Christmas, small towns, and wounded heroes. These main characters are complex and realistically flawed but easy to like and root for. I look forward to reading Lori Wilde's next book.