Scout Harlowe inherited the farm she helped run with her grandpa, and his passing leaves her somewhat vulnerable. Luckily, her llamas guard the goat flock well, and they manage to get the better of Hudson Concord, who wakes up in an awkward position. He’s not seriously concerned because he’s a hitman. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A HITMAN is a fantastic, fun title and storyline.     I think I’d have been recommending a working dog to a lady isolated in the open country. The llamas with their tall necks and good hearing are suspicious of intruders and coyotes alike. Scout doesn’t know what to make of the strange man with pistols and cash in his bag, but he says he’s just looking for work. That being the case, maybe he can help for a few weeks ahead of a winter festival.   Candy Cane, Florida, is a small town and friendly to most, but Zack Willman runs the bigger ranch next door, and he’s looking to expand. It might be a coincidence that vandalism has been occurring on Scout’s land. Her ex, Oliver Michaels, now works for the Willmans, and he warns her that the men might want her farm. The quiet, hard- working hitman, keeping to his cover story, listens and watches because he’s developed a protective streak that he never knew he had.     This lively Christmas tale is something like the classic western Shane, in which a passing stranger helps a family out of trouble. Here, the family consists of Scout and llamas Lucy, Patricia and Clover. The loose clan of hitmen and hit women comes across as more of a supportive family structure. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine so many people being able to drop their commitments and come to help out at a farm festival. They bring not just willing hands but security gadgets. The clan feature in other books of this series, Holiday With A Hitman, and we see they have principles, and they don’t just take any contract.     ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A HITMAN is a cheeky title you won’t forget in a hurry. The holiday theme is not overdone, as Florida is mild, so the brooding menace never subsides. This short novel is an adult romance by prolific romantic suspense author Katie Reus. I will definitely be reading more by this writer.