Review: The Santa Strike by Shana Hammaker

 Genre: Speculative Fiction/Christmas

Description:

“While home in Midland, Texas on a weekend visit with the eccentric uncle who raised him, Marion (‘Mary’) Waclawski discovers a long-forgotten letter Uncle Joe wrote to Santa Claus. Mary keeps it to share with his girlfriend Lindsay and best friend Tommy. At first they consider the letter to be nothing more than a silly lark—what kind of grown man would write a letter to Santa? But soon Mary and Lindsay find themselves caught up in a much larger mystery, concerning many, many more letters to Santa, all surrounding the crisis of gun violence in America.

It’s a problem bigger than Texas, and a mystery bigger than Mary and Lindsay can solve on their own. Thankfully they discover they have willing and eager partners at the North Pole: Sandra and Kris Kringle, better known around the world as Mr. and Mrs. Claus! But can the Texans and the Clauses solve a mystery and a crisis no one else seems able to?”

Author:

After growing up in California Shana Hammaker bounced around the country a bit before landing in Austin, Texas where she now lives with her husband. Shana is the author of several books including memoirs, a novel, and several shorter works.

Appraisal:

Imagine that the neighbor kid who told you when you were ten that Santa wasn’t real didn’t know what he was talking about. That’s right, Santa is real. Now imagine the kids in the US who are scared by the stories of all the mass shootings they hear about and the active shooter drills they go through at school deciding to take action in the only way they an imagine making their dreams come true, by asking Santa to do something about gun violence in America for their Christmas present. If enough kids ask for this same thing, Santa will have to do something, right?

Exactly what was going on and how it was going to shake out kept me guessing and intrigued through the entire book. Along with an engaging story is plenty of background to give perspective and get the reader thinking about the issue of gun violence in the US. Ideally, we would be able to make some progress in improving things in that area without having to enlist Santa’s help, but just in case I know what I’m asking Santa do for me this Christmas. Give this a read and see if you agree.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

This review is based on a preliminary reviewer’s copy of the book, so I can’t judge the final product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: An Unacceptable Christmas by Bruce Edwards

 

Genre: Young Adult/Coming of Age/Christmas

Description:

“All 6-year-old Michael wants for Christmas is to welcome home his missing father. Stating his wish in a letter to Santa would be the norm for one so young, only the cheerless boy has never heard of the jolly old elf. Federal courts have ruled, once and for all, that Santa Claus does not exist. Lawmakers have thereby banned displaying Santa’s likeness and singing songs that mention his name. Outraged, Michael's teenage sister launches a spirited campaign to force Congress to repeal the ban, insisting that believing in Santa Claus is every child's right.”

Author:

“Bruce Edwards writes young-adult fiction that explores relevant subjects. Topics range from the trappings of modern technology, to the wickedness of corporate greed, to the absurdity of Washington politics. Case in point is his award-winning The Age of Amy series and An Unacceptable Christmas.

Through fantasy and imagination, Bruce's compelling stories promote an optimistic worldview. States the author: ‘Kids today see a troubled world and simply ask, Is this the best you can do? His books encourage young folks to explore alternatives to the status quo.’”

More may be viewed at Mr. Edwards’ website, or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Sixteen-year-old Holly Jenkins takes her younger brother, Michael, to the mall to check out the Christmas decorations and activity booths offered its customers. While there a rogue Santa asks Michael if he has been a good boy this year. Adults freak-out, mall security is called, then the police arrest Santa, and news crews show up to speak to eye witnesses. It’s been ten years since the Santa ban has been signed into law making it a federal offense to display, sing about, or tell stories that include Santa. Christmas has survived the ban with little impact. Holly remembers this time well, but Michael, at six-years-old, has no idea who the man in the red suit is or what he did wrong. Holly gives Michael a bare bones explanation. If she had just left out the part about how children used to write Santa Claus letters with their Christmas wishes.

Holly’s father is a skilled physician who volunteered his services to a war torn area overseas. When Nora, Holly and Michael’s mother, gets a phone call from the State Department which informs her that her husband is missing, Michael over hears. In his effort to help he pens, well crayons, a letter to Santa for help to find his father. He doesn’t want gifts all he wants is for his father to come home. Then hands the letter to Holly to mail to Santa for him. He doesn’t realize this is a federal offence that could land his sister in jail. 

Now Holly is on a mission to get the Santa ban revoked by suing the Federal Government. She contends the Santa ban infringes on people’s rights and is therefore unconstitutional. She starts at the city council meeting and speaking to talk show hosts. Each new challenge she has to up her game. There are several twists and some devastating blows where Holly has to battle her conscience and remind herself that Santa invokes hope, good will, and joy. And that is worth the fight she is faced with.

The story has a nice pace and the events pull you into the story. Holly is wise beyond her years. She has been raised to confront problems in a logical way, and won’t give up a fight for a good cause. I loved watching her grow in character and challenge authorities. An Unacceptable Christmas is a uniquely inspiring tale that is told creatively and with heart. The secondary characters add depth and help carry the story to a satisfying conclusion. 

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

None, zero, zilch.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Reprise Review: A Titan for Christmas by Aria Kane

Genre: Romance/Sci-Fi/Christmas

Description:

“When Jenna’s job as an engineer causes her to miss the last scheduled passenger flight home from the mining colony on Titan, she has to become creative to get home to Earth before Christmas. She learns that sometimes private cargo pilots will take on passengers, for the right price.

There is one small cargo ship, piloted by Grayson, that is getting ready to make the three day trip, but he doesn’t want any passengers. Jenna convinces Grayson to allow her aboard his ship so she can be home with her sisters on Christmas. When she learns what he is transporting is extremely dangerous and illegal she must decide whether to help him or turn him in to the authorities.”

Author:

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. She lives in sunny Florida with her fifty pound mutt who thinks he is a Chihuahua. This is her first book. Check out her website for a little bit of insight into this new Indie author, this made me laugh. “I’m a romance author, but this blog is about my life as a sex-positive, slightly-geeky, gender-role-despising, equal-rights-defending, independent city girl.”

Appraisal:

This novelette is a quick, light, enjoyable read. Jenna is a problem solver and I liked her character as well as Grayson’s. Her biggest problem at first is being on such a small cargo ship with a gorgeous pilot. Heat rises quickly and is sated nicely. Grayson is a nice guy who is stuck between a rock and a hard spot. As we learn his story, it is easy to sympathize with his moral dilemma. The story is told with plenty of dialogue; the plot is tight and flows well. Most of the story takes place on the cargo ship between the two main characters and neither is afraid to get their hands dirty in one way or another. I enjoyed the escape into their lives and I found the ending extremely satisfying.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This book contains adult situations that may not be suitable of young adults.

Added for Reprise Review: A Titan for Christmas by Aria Kane was a nominee in the Romance category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran November 23, 2012.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 10-15,000 words

Reprise Review: Broken Christmas by David Henderson

Genre: Short Story Collection

Description:

This is a collection of three short Christmas stories.

Fourth Wish

A homeless man finds himself leading a trio of privileged but neglected youths on Christmas Eve journey to fulfill their Christmas wishes.

Best Christmas Ever

An eight year-olds remembrance of a Christmas Eve his parents would rather forget.

Broken Christmas

A soldier leaves the frozen battlefield behind and goes home for Christmas via his dreams.

Author:

There is very little information about David Henderson! Except this on Goodreads, and it says nothing. ~sigh~ However, he has website you can check out now.

Appraisal:

The Fourth Wish

Conrad seems to fit the typical homeless man at the beginning of this story. Until three eleven year-old boys spending their Christmas at a boarding school find him drunk and passed out on the snowy steps of their school. They manage to drag him into the school and down the hall to the showers. The only clothes they have for him to put on is a Santa suit, which they had been playing dress-up with to entertain themselves on Christmas Eve. Once Conrad dons the suit, the magic of Christmas takes over. Somehow Conrad finds it in himself to try and fulfill the three boys Christmas wishes. It is amazing what can be accomplished with a little ingenuity. The journey that Conrad takes the boys on is a well-told story that will make you smile. I loved this story.

Best Christmas Ever

The events of this Christmas Eve through the eyes of eight year-old Jimmy is hysterical. Nothing about this Christmas Eve is typical or what you would expect. The memorable day flowed seamlessly as they escalated and I laughed out  loud. This is the best story ever!

Broken Christmas

You can tell after reading the first two stories, this author knows what he is doing. I knew from the title of the story this one was going to be heart wrenching, but that still didn’t prepare me for what was coming.

David Henderson has given us a sampling of his range in these three short stories. I found his stories easy to get drawn into and I cared about the characters. I think all the stories had a nice pacing and flowed well. I look forward to reading more from this author.

If you find yourself needing to escape for a few minutes during the Christmas rush this book would be a good choice.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Broken Christmas by David Henderson was a nominee in the Short Story Collections and Anthologies category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran November 8, 2012.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words

Reprise Review: Frosty the Snowman by Mimi Barbour

Genre: Romance/Adventure/Novella/Christmas

Description:

“Strangers, Hali and Terry, and a cute but mischievous Samoyed puppy are stranded in the Alaskan bush. Due to a freak snowstorm, Terry is forced him to land his small Cessna on a frozen lake. From the beginning, Hali’s never known a man so independent and rigid in his need to have things done his way. And Terry’s never known a woman so willing to help, stepping on his pride in such a lovable way that he can’t take offense. The frigid temperatures are brutal and when Terry falls through the ice to save a puppy, the stakes for survival become enormous. Can their blossoming mutual attraction withstand their multiple challenges?”

Author:

Mimi Barbour is a “New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. She says, “My husband is supportive and drags me out to feed me and plans occasional forays into the outside world… Gardening lights my inner fires, and I need no urging to get out into the yard when the weather dictates. I do have many hobbies such as quilting, crocheting, but alas – no time.”

Visit Ms. Barbour’s website to find out about her many books and series or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

This story is book four in Ms. Barbour’s Holiday Heartwarmer Series. When a small Cessna has to make a forced landing during a freak snowstorm in northern Alaska wilderness, Terry Carlton, the pilot, and Hali Gibson, reluctant passenger, have to go into survival mode.

Hali is on a mission to deliver her cousin’s ten week-old Samoyed puppy to his new owner in Juneau, Alaska. Having yearned to visit this area of the country she sees this as the perfect opportunity to spend Christmas closer to Mother Nature in the far north. After getting bumped off the final leg of her trip she is able to find passage on a private aircraft into Juneau.

Terry is a confirmed bachelor and an introvert who purposely lives miles from town to enjoy his privacy. After barely being able to land the plane on a small frozen lake he must now find a way for them to survive the blizzard. Will he be able to count on this red-headed woman from the big city to listen to him and follow his orders? Is this even a challenge he is up to with a raging infected wound on his arm? He is about to find out.

Frosty the Snowman is an adorable story that stole my heart. Not only are Hali and Terry pushed to their limits trying to survive but they have to deal with a bundle of energy covered in white fur. It doesn’t take too long for Hali to whittle away Terry’s macho-man attitude with her can do spirit and fortitude. The surprise twist at the end was priceless and totally caught me off guard. This story will leave a smile in your heart and on your face.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran October 17, 2016.  **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Reprise Review: Let It Snow by Stephanie Queen

Genre: Romance/Suspense/Christmas/Novella

Description:

“Beachcomber Investigations novella

An old friend sends a stranger to visit Dane to help wrestle him from his soul-crushing despair. His life of righting horrific wrongs has cost him a very high price, and worse, it cost someone he loved her life. But how can a stranger help when even Shana, his partner and lover, has failed. Can the stranger use a Christmas Eve snow storm to create the ultimate test for Dane & Shana?”

Author:

Stephanie Queen “A romantic at heart and a writer by nature, Stephanie Queen has the enthusiastic soul of a cheerleader. So of course she loves creating stories where the good guys always win. Although she's lost count of all the jobs she had before she settled on being a Novelist, her favorite was selling cookies as a Keebler Elf. She is a graduate of UConn (go Huskies!) and Harvard U and lives in New Hampshire with her family, her cat, Kitty, and her (real or imagined?) chauffeur, Myren.”

Learn more about Ms. Queen at her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Dane Blaze is fighting a soul-wracking depression he can’t pull himself out of. It’s to the point where he thinks he deserves this misery. Shana, his business partner with benefits, can’t seem to pull him through this funk either. Alternating perspectives through point-of-view shifts gave credence to emotions and rounded out the characters well.

On Christmas Eve, Captain Colin Lynch, a friend and co-worker, shows up with a mysterious stranger in tow. Father Pedro is a friend of a friend, from South America, who says he has come to help Dane. Shana suddenly decides perhaps she and Dane need a break from each other and packs her bags to leave. As she is walking out the door, Father Pedro decides he should go with Shana.

Things get worrisome when a huge snowstorm moves into Martha’s Vineyard and the ferry crossing becomes hazardous because of a sudden squall. Dane abruptly senses ‘his girl’ is in danger and is spurred to find a way to reach her.

This precipitous turn of dangerous events is tension filled as communications become sketchy and neither the sea nor the storm are behaving normally. I was a freaking nervous wreck reading what I thought was going to be a sweet romance, but I couldn’t put the book down until I knew things were going to be okay. And I am here to tell you the author still tried to leave a question at the end. However, I want to think I know the answer to that question. I suggest saving Let It Snow for when you are in the mood for a romantic suspense story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran October 24, 2016. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant proofing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words

Reprise Review: Last Christmas by Joan Reeves

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Novella/Christmas

Description:

“A year ago, Annabelle fell in love at first sight with a mysterious stranger. After a week of unforgettable passion, he walked out of her life. A year of heartache, accompanied by the dirty tricks life can serve up, finds Annabelle back in her hometown, determined to forget the man who still haunts her dreams.

Who should walk into her grandmother’s Christmas party? Why the man who seduced her, lied to her, and betrayed her! He has a new name and a new identity, but his effect on her is as old as time.

Rick Lassiter wants to woo Annabelle back to him. Unfortunately, he has two big problems: he can't explain the past and the sweet-tempered, passionate woman he fell in love with has a will as strong as his and a desire to make him pay for breaking her heart.”

Author:

“Joan Reeves is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. She began her career with New York traditional publishers. When the Amazon Kindle came along, she happily embraced a new career path as an independent author/publisher.

Joan lives her happily ever after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. They have four kids who think they are adults and a ghost dog--all the ingredients for a life full of love and warmed by laughter. She lives the philosophy that is the premise of all of her romance novels: ‘It's never too late to live happily ever after.’"

For more visit Ms. Reeves' website or Facebook page.

Appraisal:

Last year at a friend’s Christmas party in Houston, Annabelle Cooper thought she had met the love of her life, but then he disappeared without a word. Tired of grieving the lost relationship, she’s decides to move on and never let a man hurt her like that again. Now back home in her grandmother’s house, she has the job she has always wanted since she was a child: managing editor of her grandparent’s newspaper in the Texas panhandle.

During the New Estacado Gazette’s annual Christmas open house, in walks in the man who broke her heart. The mayor introduces him as the town’s new police chief: Rick Lassiter. Not the same name he was using in Houston last year. Annabelle tries to keep her composure and pretends to trip, tossing her champagne in his face, and grinding her four-inch heel into his foot. His gasp of pain is gratifying until he wraps his arms around her, crushing her breasts to his rock-hard chest as he crashes against a wall behind him. Big mistake on Annabelle’s part, because all those feelings from last Christmas come flooding back.

Annabelle quickly devises a plan to get Rick to leave his position and get out of town. It all horribly backfires on her and she falls for him again. The passion between Annabelle and Rick is hot and genuine. All she wants now are answers and he won’t or can’t give them to her. I loved the way the plot moved along. As the town’s residents embrace Rick, Annabelle becomes willing to accept the mystery surrounding Rick as well. The alternating points-of-view helps develop both main characters well. However, Ms. Reeves maintains most of Rick’s mysterious air until the end, which keeps the intrigue level high. When Rick’s past catches up with him, tension rises and all bets are off. Last Christmas is a captivating story I enjoyed all the way through.

I just have one nitpick about a character name, Eddie became Eddy once during the story. Honestly, I see no excuse for that to ever happen. However, Eddie is a minor character brought in to fill out Rick’s backstory and despite this error I am only willing to take away half a star, because I loved the story. Since neither BigAl nor Amazon accepts half stars, I guess we all know that leaves me at a five-star rating.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran November 21, 2016. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Format/Typo Issues:

Just one significant issue, which I mentioned in the body of my review. My other issue was small, a sentence with extra words.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: The Night Before Krampus by Peter Johnson

Genre: Folk Tale/Middle Grade/YA/Fantasy/Christmas

Description:

“It’s two days before Christmas and a quiet Rhode Island town is about to be visited by a number of unexpected guests—including a pair of very different Krampuses. Are they there to protect the innocent, or to exact revenge for a long-forgotten tragedy? Some curses fade over time, while others grow stronger. In this homage to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, a young boy named Christoph and his friends must find some way to atone for a wrong committed a generation before they were born.”

Author:

“Peter Johnson is the critically acclaimed author of several collections of poetry, short stories, and YA and middle grade novels… Johnson is the recipient of two creative writing awards from Rhode Council on the Arts and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is a Professor Emeritus at Providence College where he still teaches, and he lives in Barrington, RI with his family and his black pug, Winnie.”

To learn more please check out his website.

Appraisal:

The Night Before Krampus is a deliciously twisted novella about a curse, which has taken a generation to come to fruition. It takes place in a small Rhode Island town where two wealthy, bigoted, mean-spirited men decide to run a small destitute family out of town. Despite some well-meaning citizens’ compassion, they succeed. All to protect the town’s economic standing.

The story is told through an omniscient narrator with multiple points-of-view that centers mostly on a small group of middle schoolers. Christoph, Clarisse, Bullet, a recent new comer, and Studs, the school bully. The town has also attracted some strange new citizens recently. Like the new disabled and kindhearted baker, Mr. Engle, who is delightful. Ms. Bright who is the new drama teacher directing the school Christmas play, The Night Before Krampus. And Adrian Hasty, the creature posing as Bullet’s father.

Mr. Johnson weaves this contemporary tale of old world creatures, ghosts, magic, and humor into a captivating and entertaining Christmas story. Compassion rises in the most unlikely places as the story unfolds. The theme is a classic good struggling to overcome evil, with the possibility of redemption. Which is why no two Krampus stories will ever be the same. I am glad I picked up this novella, it was a frightfully fun read with heart.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some scenes could be distressing to readers.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Reprise Review: White Christmas by Rebecca York

Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Novella/Christmas

Description:

“The snow is coming down so fast, Amelia Parsons doesn't see the speedingcar until it's too late. One moment she's crossing an ice-rutted street in St. Stephens, Maryland. In the next, she's flying into the air, and the world goes black. She wakes, confused, in what appears to be Santa's workshop during the holiday rush. If that's not strange enough, a hunky FBI agent named Daniel is there, demanding to know why she's involved in a plot to ruin Christmas. Can she convince him she's not the villain and then work with him to find the real saboteur?”

Author:

Rebecca York: “A master of paranormal romantic suspense, Rebecca York is the author of over 150 books. A New York Times and USA Today best-seller, she has written paranormal romantic thrillers for Berkley and romantic thrillers for Harlequin Intrigue.”

To learn more about Ms. York please visit her website.

Appraisal:

This story is right up my alley. I dearly love fantasy and this tale includes a mystery with a little magic as well. Under more than the usual Christmas stress, Amelia is distracted while crossing the street and gets hit by an oncoming car. Was it an accident or something more nefarious?

When Amelia awakens, she is in a mountainous snow-covered forest she doesn’t recognize. Making her way towards lights in the distance, she is rescued from a sudden avalanche by a handsome stranger. Daniel suspects she may be a spy, since he is head of security in this remote township where unexplained accidents have been happening.

Nick, Daniel’s boss, and his wife, Wendy, are sure Amelia has shown up for a special reason. No one ever accidentally finds themselves around their humble abode for no reason. I loved being swept away in this charming story where my imagination could run free. I found the characters well-rounded and the plot moves at a nice pace. I loved every minute of White Christmas and appreciated the promise of a budding relationship between Daniel and Amelia.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK        

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran November 14, 2016. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words

Reprise Review: Grown Up Christmas List by Donna Fasano

Genre: Romance/Novella

Description:

“Book 5 of the Ocean City Boardwalk Series, where life isn’t just fun in the sun—there’s love waiting on those sandy shores!

Dina Griffin flees a dangerous situation and ends up in Ocean City, Maryland where she hopes to spend the holidays in hiding. Trusting no one, she wants only one thing this Christmas—to feel safe. Then Officer Gav Thomas threatens to arrest her for shoplifting. Shoplifting?

Gav is certain there’s something Dina isn’t telling him about her visit to his seaside town, so he devises a means to stick close to the vulnerable beauty. An unexpected attraction sparks, fierce enough to heat up the salt-tinged, wintry nights.

But the trouble Dina had hoped to escape arrives at her doorstep, bringing with it stark-raving fear and the realization that she must place her trust in someone.

Is Gav really just a local cop… or is he Dina’s guardian angel?”

Author:

Donna Fasano is a multi-award winning author whose accolades include “a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl's Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her novels have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #1.”

You can visit her at her website, and Facebook.

Appraisal:

This story is set in Ocean City, Maryland and part of Ms. Fasano’s An Ocean City Boardwalk Series, though indirectly connected by location only. When we first meet Dina Griffin the reader is given the impression she is homeless. This is not the case. However she is in hiding. I love the way Ms. Fasano lays out her stories to draw the reader in. The story arc is realistic with an air of mystery. The dialogue between the characters is rational and engaging. Dina tries to be as honest as she can without revealing too much about herself for her own protection. She has good reason to be leery of Officer Gav Thomas and, handsome as he may be, he is still an officer of the law.

The plot unwinds at a nice pace as Gav helps Dina get a job at The Sunshine Café and engages Dina in a project he has at work gathering donations for the annual holiday toy drive. Even as Dina grows more comfortable with Gav, she’s reluctant to share her secret. With Gav’s patience and persistence he’s able to slowly get past some of Dina’s walls. Unfortunately, Gav happens to be out of town when the plot takes a nasty turn on Christmas Eve and Dina considers running again.

I think everyone will find this Christmas addition to An Ocean City Boardwalk Series heartfelt with some humorous delights.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

             

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran October 17, 2016.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: File Size: 298 KB

Print Length: 167 pages