I can never resist anything written by the talented and prolific author Linda Lael Miller. And so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review her latest CHRISTMAS IN PAINTED PONY CREEK. The mantra of Painted Pony Creek seemed to be, "we like to look out for one another here." And luckily for Tessa and her five-year-old daughter Isabel, that is where they wound up. Quite accidentally. But at that point, there was nothing planned or scheduled for these two apparent nomads. Tessa just kept moving one foot ahead of the other to keep the two of them off the crossfire of her mother-in-law Marjory.

Marjory had the assets, connections, and means to make life difficult for Tessa. And most importantly she might find a way to get her hands on her only grandchild Isabel.

For most of Isabel’s life, the two of them had lived a sort of vagabond life. Keeping her head barely above water Tessa went from place to place, often free shelters. With Marjory on their tail. There seemed to be many motives for Marjory to continue chasing Tessa. Not the least being that Isabel’s biological father Brent was an only child, the sole beneficiary of a rather large inheritance. Isabel was to be Brent’s only child. Lots on the line for Marjory's insistent battle for grandparent custody, notice the complete absence of love or nurturing.

CHRISTMAS IN PAINTED PONY CREEK is a new addition to a series of books starring some of my favorite characters. In this, we have Jesse McKettrick. Fans of Linda Lael Miller are already smiling. Jess absolutely gets hooked not only by Tessa but her amazing daughter Isabel. Starting from the very first moment it is as if Jesse knew these two needed protection, the problem was trying to find out who they were very apparently running from without causing any more problems.

Painted Pony Creek is a wondrous small town that fits the idea that it takes a community to raise a child. In this case, this extraordinary town gathers around their newcomers with a cloak of safety making Tessa feel as if she and Isabel have finally found a place to settle. Since Isabel was born the two have never had that luxury. CHRISTMAS IN PAINTED PONY CREEK is a study of just what a determined woman can accomplish, but it never hurts to have some folks at your back. Trust is a significant factor for both Tessa and Jesse. But in true Linda Lael Miller fashion, the town becomes an important character in the story. Country references abound in this at times angst-filled tale. Charismatic characters are this author’s forte and in CHRISTMAS IN PAINTED PONY CREEK you meet a whole town worth of down-to-earth folk. Linda Lael Miller at her best.