Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Mistletoe Cottage
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Mazzuca, Debbie
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.authordebbiemason.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://debbiemazzuca.com/ * http://www.authordebbiemason.com/meet-debbie.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2013137966
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2013137966
HEADING: Mason, Debbie (Novelist)
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100 1_ |a Mason, Debbie |c (Novelist)
370 __ |a Ottawa (Ont.)
374 __ |a Novelists |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
500 1_ |w r |i Alternate identity |a Mazzuca, Debbie.
670 __ |a Mason, Debbie (Novelist). The trouble with Christmas, 2013: |b title page (Debbie Mason) page 3 of cover (debut book, Lord of the Isles, published in 2010, was written under the name Debbie Mazzuca; author’s website, www.authordebbiemason.com)
670 __ |a King of the Isles, 2012: |b t.p. (Debbie Mazzuca ; lives in Ottawa, Ontario)
670 __ |a Author’s website, www.authordebbiemason.com, December 10, 2013: |b (Visit www.debbiemazzuca.com for Debbie’s Scottish romances)
LC control no.: no2012002717
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2012002717
HEADING: Mazzuca, Debbie
000 00863cz a2200193n 450
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035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca09080413
040 __ |a OCo |b eng |e rda |c OCo |d IlMpPL
100 1_ |a Mazzuca, Debbie
370 __ |a Ottawa (Ont.)
374 __ |a Novelists |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
500 1_ |w r |i Alternate identity |a Mason, Debbie |c (Novelist)
670 __ |a King of the Isles, 2012: |b t.p. (Debbie Mazzuca ; lives in Ottawa, Ontario)
670 __ |a Mason, Debbie (Novelist). The trouble with Christmas, 2013: |b title page (Debbie Mason) page 3 of cover (debut book, Lord of the Isles, published in 2010, was written under the name Debbie Mazzuca)
670 __ |a Author’s website, www.authordebbiemason.com, December 10, 2013: |b (Visit www.debbiemazzuca.com for Debbie’s Scottish romances)
PERSONAL
Married; children: three.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Debbie Mason is a writer based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is the author of the “Christmas, Colorado” and “Harmony Harbor“ romance series. She has also written books in the “MacLeod” paranormal series under the pseudonym Debbie Mazzuca.
"Christmas, Colorado" Series
The Trouble with Christmas is the first volume in the “Christmas, Colorado” series. The protagonist of this novel is a developer named Madison Lane. She is affiliated with plans for a proposed resort in the town. Madison runs the numbers and finds that the resort would actually hurt the town and would not be a good investment for its owners, so plans for it are scrapped. The townspeople in Christmas are furious with Madison. She leaves for a time, and when she returns, she is mobbed by angry locals, but she falls for Christmas’s sheriff, Gage McBride.
A critic in Publishers Weekly offered a favorable review of The Trouble with Christmas. The critic asserted: “Mason will please fans of zippy small-town stories crowded with allegedly humorous incidents.”
"Harmony Harbor" Series
Mason’s “Harmony Harbor” series begins with Mistletoe Cottage, which was released in 2016. When the book’s protagonist, Sophie DiRossi, left her hometown of Harmony Harbor eight years ago, she swore she would never come back. Sophie was eighteen years old at the time and was secretly pregnant. She settled in Los Angeles, California, and began raising her daughter there. However, Sophie has had some bad luck, so she must return home. Her home has burned down, leaving her and her daughter with no place to live. Her daughter, Mia, also becomes mute as a result of the trauma she experienced during the fire. When they move back to Harmony Harbor, Sophie is forced to face the problems she ran from. She also becomes reacquainted with family and old friends, including her high school crush, Liam Gallagher. Liam’s brother Michael is Mia’s father, but Sophie hopes to keep that information from the powerful Gallagher family. However, Colleen Gallagher wants to protect Sophie and puts her in charge of Greystone Manor, a crumbling hotel owned by the Gallagher family. The hotel has creepy permanent guests, including a ghost and a black cat. Over time, Sophie and Liam become romantically involved. Liam, like Mia, also suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder due to an incident that occurred while he was working as a firefighter in Boston. He and Mia develop a special connection. The Boston incident occurred when Liam was assigned to a rescue mission, during which one of his fellow firefighters was killed and Liam himself was shot. He has begun easing back into firefighting in Harmony Harbor. His father is the local fire chief and has been sending him on some of the station’s simpler cases. On Halloween, Mia becomes lost in smoke from a smoke machine and is rescued by Liam. As Christmas approaches, an older female head of a local family dies. It is revealed that she has written a memoir. Worried about what secrets she might have discussed in the memoir, citizens of Harmony Harbor race to find it.
A reviewer on the Good, the Bad, and the Unread Web site offered a favorable assessment of Mistletoe Cottage, stating: “Not one page is a disappointment. It was hard to put down because there are great spots on nearly every page.” The same reviewer added: “Ms. Mason has well-developed characters—not only her hero and heroine, but the secondary characters as well. Sometimes it’s so hard to tell which ones are secondary.” A Publishers Weekly writer noted: “A surprising twist involving Mia’s conception serves the plot.” Kristin Ramsdell, a critic for Library Journal, remarked: “This touching, often funny story tweaks the classic ‘secret baby’ plot in a surprising way.”
Primrose Lane focuses on a different set of Harmony Harbor townspeople, including Dr. Finn Gallagher, another relative of Liam’s. Colleen Gallagher, who appeared in the first volume in the series, returns. She has been dead for some time, but her ghost returns. The ghost tells Jasper, her former servant, to read the memoir she left behind. Finn finds himself attracted to a local event planner named Olivia Davenport, though he and other townspeople suspect Olivia of abusing pills and drinking too heavily. Olivia is mourning the death of her son and is still recovering from her relationship with her former husband, who is also dead. Her husband was a bigamist and had another wife, who has disappeared, leaving behind their young daughter. Olivia is pressured to look after the girl and discovers that she is becoming very fond of her. Her former husband’s family wants custody of the daughter, so they hire a private eye to uncover Olivia’s secrets. Among the things she is hiding is that she is the heiress to a large fortune. A contributor to Publishers Weekly described Primrose Lane as “unnecessarily confusing.” The same contributor commented: “There are many questions, and few reasons to seek the answers.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Library Journal, October 15, 2016, Kristin Ramsdell, “Romance,” review of Mistletoe Cottage, p. 66.
Publishers Weekly, September 2, 2013, “Christmas Comes but Once a Year,” review of The Trouble with Christmas, p. 38; September 12, 2016, review of Mistletoe Cottage, p. 41; May 15, 2017, review of Primrose Lane, p. 44.
ONLINE
Debbie Mason Home Page, http://www.authordebbiemason.com/ (July 14, 2017)
Good, The Bad, and The Unread, http://goodbadandunread.com/ (November 25, 2016), review of Mistletoe Cottage.*
Debbie Mason is the USA Today bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and Harmony Harbor series. Her books have been praised for their "likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots" (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. When she isn't writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, three wonderful children and son-in-law, two adorable grandbabies, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.
QUOTED: "This touching, often funny story tweaks the classic 'secret baby' plot in a surprising way."
Romance
Kristin Ramsdell
Library Journal.
141.17 (Oct. 15, 2016): p66.
COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS.... Although as of this writing the days are still warm, the leaves are just starting to
turn, and it's not especially Christmassy outside, the romances crossing my desk tell another story. Family-centered charmers; modern romps;
cozy, community narratives; and tales with a dusting of magic or a paranormal twist--infused with holiday themes and sporting covers featuring
idyllic snowy scenes, balsam and holly wreaths, and sparkling ornaments and satin ribbons--are the perfect incentive to get ready for the
upcoming season. The current offerings provide something for every taste, so get started on your shopping, pour yourself an early cup of hot
buttered rum, and check out the books below. Note: Holiday-themed anthologies continue to be popular, and their quickly devoured stories are
ready-made for this busy time of year. For more yuletide titles, see "Killer Holidays," p. 74ff.
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HO, HO, AND MO(RE)
Mason, Debbie. Mistletoe Cottage. Forever: Grand Central. (Harmony Harbor, Bk. 1). Nov. 2016. 352p. ISBN 9781455537174. pap. $5.99; ebk.
ISBN 9781455537181. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Eight years ago, devastated and secretly pregnant, 18-year-old Sophie DiRossi fled Harmony Harbor for Los Angeles, certain she'd never return.
A disastrous house fire leaves her no option, so she and her young daughter head home to a town and people she'd once adored--and into a
precarious new life filled with old conflicts, opportunities, and complications. Not the least of the latter is firefighter (and knight in shining armor)
Liam Gallagher, her very private teenage crush. Lively family interactions, a profusion of memorable characters, long-kept secrets, and issues
relating to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) fuel this engaging holiday story. The death of a meddling matriarch and the search for her "tellall"
memoir throw the prickly Gallagher and DiRossi clans into chaos just in time for Christmas. VERDICT This touching, often funny story
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tweaks the classic "secret baby" plot in a surprising way. A hint of ghostly fantasy shimmers through this first entry in a new small-town series,
leaving enough loose ends to have fans anxious for the next installment. Mason (Happy Ever After in Christmas) lives in Ottawa, Ont.
* Morgan, Sarah. Miracle on 5th Avenue. HQN: Harlequin. (From Manhattan with Love, Bk. 3). Dec. 2016. 368p. ISBN 9780373789344. pap.
$7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781460396131. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
As a surprise, Eva Jordan agrees to decorate for Christmas the apartment of the grandson of one of her events and concierge company's oldest
clients (even preparing frozen meals) and finds crime writer Lucas Blade lurking in the dark instead of in Vermont where he is supposed to be
working. Recently widowed Lucas has hit a massive writer's block and is hiding out at home. He certainly doesn't want an effervescent,
captivating, Christmas-loving woman disturbing his peace--although it's exactly what he needs. A cynical novelist who doesn't believe in love
and an optimistic chef who thinks it's more important than all else set the pages alight in a compelling romance that tempers the serious issues of
loneliness, grief, and fear of commitment with the salutary joy of the season. VERDICT Sexy, touching, and often hilarious, this rewarding tale
stands on its own while being the perfect conclusion to Morgan's popular series. RITA Award winner Morgan (Sunset in Central Park) lives near
London, England.
Ramsay, Hope. A Christmas Bride. Forever: Grand Central. (Chapel of Love, Bk. 1). Oct. 2016. 336p. ISBN 9781455564804. pap. $7.99; ebk.
ISBN 9781455564828. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Ousted from her job at a medical device company when she discovers fraud and turns whistle-blower, Willow Peterson leaves New York and
returns to Shenandoah Falls to get her life back on track. She also gets involved in planning a Christmas wedding at her best friend Shelly's home,
Eagle Hill Manor. Shelly was killed before the house could be restored, but Willow knows it's just what she would have wanted. The stumbling
block is getting aspiring congressman David Lyndon, Shelly's still-grieving husband and cousin to the groom, to agree. A heroine with a knack
for stirring up trouble and a hero who finally gets his priorities straight come to terms about their mutual feelings in a story knee-deep in class
issues, family expectations, political action, and characters both to love and loathe (among them an adorable eight-year-old and a domineering
mother who makes Cruella de Vil look like a saint). VERDICT With skillful precision, Ramsay nails the political dynamics and small-town vibe
and launches an endearing series fans will savor. Ramsay (Last Chance Hero) lives in Virginia.
Roberts, Sheila. Three Christmas Wishes. Mira: Harlequin. Oct. 2016.384p. ISBN 9780778319696. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781460396001.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Riley's fiance has called off the wedding; the house that Noel loves and wants to buy is being sold to a flipper; and Jo is dealing with a late-term
pregnancy and a stubborn military husband, so heading to the mall to tell Santa what they want for Christmas seemed like a good idea at the time.
After all, what could it hurt? But when Santa's strange predictions start coming true, the three friends begin to wonder if he wasn't the real deal,
after all. VERDICT Christmas wishes become reality for three young women in a charming holiday tale that has a perky chick lit feel and will
appeal equally to women's fiction and romance fans. Just plain fun, with a dusting of magic for good measure! Roberts (Home on Apple Blossom
Road) lives on a lake in Washington State.
Scott, Regina. A Convenient Christmas Wedding. Love Inspired Historical: Harlequin. (Frontier Bachelors, Bk. 5). Nov. 2016. 288p. ISBN
9780373283828. pap. $5.99; ebk. ISBN 9781488008085. INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
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Proposing to a man was the last thing quiet seamstress Nora Underhill ever thought she'd do. Yet when she learns that her greedy brother and his
spoiled, demanding wife are moving to Seattle, she sees her hard-won independence vanishing and strikes a desperate bargain with upstanding
Simon Wallin--her 160-acre land grant for his protection in marriage. It's the perfect answer to both their problems, and, naturally, their pragmatic
marriage could never become real. Never. Delightful family interactions (a crew of rowdy brothers are memorable), admirable protagonists who
come into their own, and descriptions that bring the colorful historical Northwest to life combine in a well-paced story that saves a twist or two
for the end. VERDICT Tender yet laced with humor, this well-researched, faith-suffused Christmas romance should please both inspirational and
sweet historical fans; a worthy addition to this popular series. Scott (A Rancher of Convenience) lives in Tacoma.
Shalvis, Jill. The Trouble with Mistletoe. Avon. (Heartbreaker Bay, Bk. 2). Oct. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9780062448040. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9780062448057. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
There's no way pet shop owner Willa Davis is getting involved with real estate developer Keane Winters, the arrogant jock who once crushed her
teenage heart by standing her up for the high school Sadie Hawkins dance--and now he doesn't even remember her. However, she can't resist an
animal (or a person) in need, so helping him out with his great-aunt's gorgeous Siamese cat is another matter entirely. Willa is magnetic and
Keane is persistent, and despite her plan to swear off men, Willa is drawn into a relationship far more serious than either had wanted. A quirky
cast filled with familiar characters, a fountain with legendary powers, and a bevy of heart-stealing animals are pluses in this well-written tale.
VERDICT Lighthearted, sexy, and fully entertaining, this second-chance romance blends holiday cheer with long-buried emotional issues and
plenty of passion. This delectable story adds another cheeky charmer to Shalvis's San Francisco--set series. Shalvis (Sweet Little Lies) lives in the
Sierras near Lake Tahoe.
Spear, Terry. A Very Jaguar Christmas. Sourcebooks Casablanca. (Heart of the Jaguar, Bk. 5). Oct. 2016. 320p. ISBN 9781492621805. pap.
$7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781492621812. PARANORMAL ROMANCE
When a strange wolf-pup child is dropped off at a jaguar day-care center just before the holidays and the parents can't be found, JAG agent
Everett Anderson finds himself helping Guardian Demetria MacFarlane tend to the boy as they try to find his missing family. Romance blossoms
between the pair as they track down cross-country leads, but as neither shifter species had known the other existed, the situation takes on a
dangerous, unpredictable edge, making the search a lot more complex and wide-ranging. VERDICT This sensuous, heartwarming romance,
enhanced by an adorable wolf pup and wintertime fun, puts an intriguing paranormal spin on the season and forges a welcome link with Spear's
wolf-shifter titles. Spear (Billionaire in Wolfs Clothing) lives in Texas.
Thayne, RaeAnne. Snowfall on Haven Point. HQN: Harlequin. (Haven Point, Bk. 5). Oct. 2016.384p. ISBN 9780373789894. pap. $7.99; ebk.
ISBN 9781459294943. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Widowed Andie Montgomery is planning to give her two young children a wonderful first Christmas in Haven Point--and it doesn't include
keeping tabs on Marshall Bailey, the wounded, grouchy sheriff who lives up the street. But there's no way she can refuse her friend Wynona's
request to check in on her brother as he recovers, especially as Wyn had saved Andie by taking a bullet for her in a terrifying confrontation.
Naturally, Marsh isn't looking for help, but earnest Andie won't take no for an answer. In addition, her chatty four-year-old and his painfully shy
older sister take Marsh in hand, and he can't help but be charmed. Is he in danger of falling for them all, including their relationship-wary mom?
A mystery, a rebellious teenager, and hints of long-standing town conflict add interest and depth to this ongoing series. VERDICT A stubbornly
independent hero who learns to accept assistance and a heroine afraid of risking another loss take a chance on each other. This holiday-steeped
romance overflows with family and wintry small-town appeal. Thayne (Riverbend Road) lives in Northern Utah.
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LUMPS OF COAL?
Ashe, Katharine. The Earl. Avon. (Devil's Duke, Bk. 2). Nov. 2016. 368p. ISBN 9780062412751. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062412768.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Despite their late fathers' wishes and their onetime childhood friendship, freethinking Emily Anne "Zenobia" Vale (aka women's rights
pamphleteer "Lady Justice") and conservative and somewhat reticent Colin Gray, Earl of Egremoor, have gone their separate ways and have no
intentions of marrying each other. Circumstances, however, send them haring across the countryside together on separate but linked quests,
changing their world and their perspectives. Old hurts and betrayals make their path to love anything but smooth, and with plenty of issues to
work through and truths to disclose, their humorous sparring and contentious courtship keep the plot on point and readers thoroughly
mesmerized. VERDICT A wealth of fascinating historical detail, elegant prose, and well-drawn, complex protagonists blend in a lively romantic
adventure that will please the most persnickety of romance fans. Ashe (The Rogue) lives in Durham, NC.
* Balogh, Mary. Someone To Love. Signet: NAL. (Westcott, Bk. 1). Nov. 2016.400p. ISBN 9780451477798. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9780698411340. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Although most orphans dream of being happily reunited with their families (rich and titled, of course), Anna Snow, abandoned at four and now a
teacher at that same orphanage, knows such things never happen. Except they do, as Anna is in truth Lady Anastasia Westcott and has inherited a
fortune, an event that turns her life, and the lives of her stunned, rather resentful family, upside down. Caught between two worlds, Anna is
determined to make the best of things, but when Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, outrageously gorgeous, outwardly bored, and notoriously
averse to anything resembling work, decides to lend a hand, she gains an unexpected ally and an equally unexpected love. An intriguing premise,
a well-designed plot, and a delightful array of secondary characters ensure a compelling read. VERDICT Brilliant dialog, sly wit, and soulsearing
emotion breathe life into a pair of unlikely but beautifully matched protagonists who will slip into readers' hearts. A stunning romance
that puts a new spin on a familiar fairy-tale plot and gets Balogh's latest series off to a magnificent start. The incomparable Balogh (Only
Beloved) lives in Canada. [See "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/16, ow.ly/wkvx304GnLc.]
* Dare, Tessa. Do You Want To Start a Scandal. Avon. (Spindle Cove, Bk. 5). Oct. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9780062349040. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9780062349057. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Scandal-prone Charlotte Highwood has no intention of marrying Piers Brandon, Marquess of Granville--she's not at all the wife he needs, and, in
any case, she has more adventurous plans in mind. When they are caught in a compromising situation at a country house party, they are forced to
agree to an "understanding"--one that Charlotte intends to get out of as soon as she can. But Piers has other ideas. He not only needs an heir, he's
intrigued by the unconventional, exceptionally perceptive Charlotte. Clever badinage, an intricate plot, breathtaking sensuality, and carefully
realized secondary characters make this another delightful page-turner from one of the genre's best. VERDICT An irrepressible, independentminded
heroine and a responsible hero who's leading two lives fall for each other in a rollicking and passionate romp that is just what Spindle
Cove fans will relish. Dare (When a Scot Ties the Knot) lives in Southern California. [See "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/16, ow.ly/wkvx304GnLc.]
Jordan, Sophie. While the Duke Was Sleeping. Avon. (Rogue Files, Bk. 1). Nov. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9780062222541. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9780062222558. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
From the moment the Duke of Autenberry walked into the flower shop where she worked, Poppy Fairchurch has adored him from afar. When she
sees him being attacked and then nearly run down by a carriage, she rushes to the rescue, but the fall puts him in a coma. Poppy accompanies him
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home, where she is mistaken for his fiancee and swept up in a deception beyond her making. Although concerned for the duke, even more of a
worry is his estranged half brother, Struan Mackenzie, a tough-minded, canny Scot who both attracts and repels Poppy--and seems to be bent on
seduction. VERDICT An intrepid heroine with a fierce protective streak and the well-to-do bastard son of a duke clash from their first meeting
and keep the sparks flying. This sizzling holiday-tinged romance launches a new series with links to Jordan's popular "Debutante Files" books.
Jordan (Hell Breaks Loose) lives in Houston, TX.
Layne, Lauren. To Love and To Cherish. Pocket. (Wedding Belles, Bk. 3). Nov. 2016. 320p. ISBN 9781501135170. pap. $5.99; ebk. ISBN
9781501135187. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Ever since he became a silent partner in Alexis Jordan's Manhattan boutique wedding planning company, British accountant and businessman
Logan Harris has known Alexis was The One for him--and he has quietly waited for eight years for her to come to the same conclusion. Now
pressured to return to London to take over the family business, Logan has no time to lose. When Alexis heads to Florida for her sister's wedding,
Logan follows, intent on passion--and putting to rest Alexis's deep-seated issues of trust. VERDICT A love -wary heroine who needs to be in
control and a smart hero who won't concede finally get their own happy ending. This heart-melting story is the perfect conclusion to Layne's
enjoyable series. Layne (For Better or Worse) lives in New York City.
Sandlin, Susannah. Black Diamond. Montlake Romance: Amazon. (Wilds of the Bayou, Bk. 2). Oct. 2016. 266p. ISBN 9781503940413. pap.
$7.99. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Still recovering from a near fatal shooting that left her scarred and seriously depressed, Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair is determined to get
back on the bayou and reclaim her life on the Terrebonne Parish enforcement team. Then an alligator-ravaged fisherman's body floats into the
swamp and packets of deadly Black Diamond turn up in several gators' stomachs. Suddenly, the action heats up as Jena, her team, and mysterious
recluse Cole Ryan are consumed by unraveling an ingenious drug trafficking operation that turns deadly. Emotionally fragile, relatable
protagonists bond through similar, devastating loss and find hope for the future in a story that zeroes in on the lethal results of the illegal drug
trade. VERDICT Greed, violence, and danger up the ante in a riveting romantic adventure that brings the sultry, exotic Louisiana bayou to life
and beautifully continues Sandlin's compelling series. Sandlin (Wild Man's Curse) lives in Auburn, AL.
STOCKING STUFFERS
Short stories and novellas are made to order for the time constraints of the holidays, so check out the anthologies below.
Crusie, Jennifer & others. It Must Be Christmas. St. Martin's Paperbacks. Oct. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9781250106377. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9781250106384. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Three novellas with a delightful assortment of settings sweep readers around the country with stories that highlight the vast variety among
holiday experiences. A university librarian and a professor of Chinese lit (with a secret agenda) trade barbs and kisses as they spend Christmas
Eve searching for an elusive action figure for a five-year-old in Crusie's nonstop chuckler "Hot Toy"; a small-town doctor and an ex-Navy SEAL
dad are thrown together when they find a newborn in the Christmas creche in Donna Alward's insightful "Christmas at Seashell Cottage"; and a
wealthy rancher who wants nothing to do with his late father's money finds romance with the founder of a sports-related charity for at-risk kids in
Mandy Baxter's steamy "Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher." VERDICT Spirited, refreshing, and brimming with holiday joy, this diverse
trilogy delivers both sexy and sweet, providing a little something for everyone. Crusie, Alward, and Baxter live in New Jersey, Eastern Canada,
and rural Idaho, respectively.
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Hill, Donna & others. Holiday Temptation. Dafina: Kensington. Oct. 2016.384p. ISBN 9781496702463. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781496702470.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Three unlikely couples heat up the pages in this sensual trio of holiday romances by three of the genre's most noted authors. An aspiring
playwright and a barista who is more than he seems learn to trust their hearts in Hill's passionate "A Gift of Love"; a chance meeting in Istanbul's
spice market turns into something more for a Christmas-phobic photographer and techie craft brewer when the fates and the weather get into the
act in Farrah Rochon's affecting "Holiday Spice"; and a hard-driving real estate mogul hires a health-conscious chef to improve his diet and
lifestyle during a business trip aboard his yacht and gets more than he bargained for in K.M. Jackson's pert "From Here to Serenity." VERDICT
This engaging anthology transports readers to destinations throughout the world in tempting stories that are sure to light up the holidays. Hill,
Rochon, and Jackson live in Brooklyn, the New Orleans area, and Ardsley, NY, respectively.
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Long, Kelly & others. The Amish Christmas Kitchen. Kensington. Oct. 2016. 248p. ISBN 9781496705914. pap. $9.95; ebk. ISBN
9781496705938. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The life of the Amish takes on a warm (and delicious) glow as three winning couples find their way to love in this food-focused anthology by a
talented team of authors. A lonely young widow lets go of the past and reaches for happiness with her late husband's best friend in Long's
poignant "Baking Love on Ice Mountain"; a couple's plan to see their 24-year-old daughter wed takes an unexpected turn when she falls for a
gentleman who is not the intended groom in Jennifer Beckstrand's delectable "The Christmas Bakery on Huckleberry Hill"; and a charity auction
to save the life of a young boy sparks conflict and attraction between the child's teacher and his stubborn older brother in Lisa Jones Baker's
heartfelt "The Special Christmas Cookie." VERDICT Tender, redolent of nutmeg and cinnamon, and graced by the occasional goat, this trio of
smile-inducing romances will appeal to inspirational fiction and Amish culture fans, while bakers will appreciate the recipes at the end of each
story. Long, Beckstrand, and Baker live in Hummelstown, PA; Centerville, UT; and Bloomington, IL, respectively.
Ryan, Jennifer & others. Snowbound at Christmas. Avon Impulse. Nov. 2016.384p. ebk. ISBN 9780062658784. $2.99. CONTEMPORARY
ROMANCE
There's nothing like a major snowstorm to change lives, narrow the focus on the things that really matter, and add a little sparkle (or a dash of
danger) to the holidays. The series-linked novellas in this wintry collection definitely rise to the occasion. Cruelly torn apart ten years ago, a
couple are given a second chance to make things right for themselves and their young daughter in Ryan's emotionally compelling "Close to
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Perfect" ("Montana Men"); a pair of long-estranged lovers come to terms with their feelings when they are forced to ride out a raging blizzard at a
ranch with family and friends in Lia Riley's fast-paced "Hot Winter's Night" ("Brightwater"); and two longtime friends are snowbound overnight
and end up exploring feelings that have been simmering unacknowledged for years in Maisey Yates's insightful "Snowed in at Copper Ridge
Lodge" ("Copper Ridge"). VERDICT Holiday ambience and stirring emotion permeate these steamy stories, making them perfect late-night reads
and leaving fans yearning for a snowstorm of their own. Ryan, Riley, and Yates are West Coast authors all.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Burton, Jaci. Mistletoe Games. Berkley. Oct. 2016.384p. ISBN 9780451488138. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN9780451488145. EROTIC ROMANCE
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Baseball, ice hockey, and surfing are highlighted in this collection of sensual holiday-linked novellas that are part of Burton's popular "Play-byPlay"
erotic romance series. Included are "Holiday Games," "Holiday on Ice," and "Hot Holiday Nights," published in 2013, 2014, and 2015,
respectively.
Macomber, Debbie. Christmas Masquerade. Severn House. Dec. 2016. 208p. ISBN 9780727886521. $28.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A young woman who met the man of her dreams--and lost him--at Mardi Gras is stunned to be reintroduced to him during the holidays as her best
friend's fiance in a classic romance that still holds deep-down appeal. First published in 1985 as a Silhouette Romance.
Riley, Lucinda. The Angel Tree. Pan Macmillan. Oct. 2016. 672p. ISBN 9781447288442. pap. $14.95; ebk. ISBN 9781447288459.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Welsh country lifestyle intersects with the tarnished glitter of the entertainment world in this British-focused story that spans the 40 years
following World War II. Rife with secrets and tragedy and more family saga than pure romance, this rewritten narrative with a historical feel
includes enough poignant love interest to appeal to romance and women's fiction fans. First published in 1995 as Not Quite an Angel under the
pen name Lucinda Edmonds.
Kristin Ramsdell is Librarian Emerita, California State University, East Bay. She is the author of the romance section of What Do I Read Next? A
Reader's Guide to Current Genre Fiction (Gale, annual) and Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre. 2d ed. (Libraries Unlimited, 2012)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Ramsdell, Kristin. "Romance." Library Journal, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 66+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466412944&it=r&asid=b5a78cb0af6cffc559337932c66c13da. Accessed 11 June
2017.
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Gale Document Number: GALE|A466412944
---
QUOTED: "unnecessarily confusing."
"There are many questions, and few reasons to seek the answers."
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Primrose Lane
Publishers Weekly.
264.20 (May 15, 2017): p44.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Primrose Lane
Debbie Mason. Forever, $7.99 mass market
(352p) ISBN 978-1-4555-3723-5
Mason's third Harmony Harbor contemporary (after Starlight Bridge) is unnecessarily confusing. The lack of a backstory recap turns plot points
into nothing more than frustrating noise, as with ghost Colleen Gallagher and why she needs doddering manservant Jasper to read her hidden
memoir. Even worse is the soap-opera story surrounding heroine Olivia Davenport, an event planner and heiress in disguise. Is she abusing
prescription pills and wine, and if so, is it out of grief for her little boy's death or because her dead bigamist husband's best friend is nagging her
to take in the daughter the dead man had with his other--now missing--wife? And will Dr. Finn Gallagher, who disapproves of but lusts after
Olivia, become her savior and maybe convenient husband after her in-laws hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on her and help them gain
custody of the little girl she comes to love? There are many questions, and few reasons to seek the answers. Agent: Pamela Harty, Knight Agency.
(July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Primrose Lane." Publishers Weekly, 15 May 2017, p. 44+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA492435641&it=r&asid=4109454ebdcd4042137379a4a22d3f36. Accessed 11 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A492435641
---
QUOTED: "A surprising twist involving Mia's conception serves the plot."
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Mistletoe Cottage
Publishers Weekly.
263.37 (Sept. 12, 2016): p41.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Mistletoe Cottage
Debbie Mason. Forever, $5.99 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-4555-3717-4
A Christmas-themed second-chance-at-love story kicks off Mason's Harmony Harbor series, set in small-town Massachusetts. Sophie DiRossi
returns home from Los Angeles beaten down by life. Her daughter, Mia, is her only joy. Unfortunately, a recent fire rendered Mia mute; she is
also angry with her mother, who has been lying to the residents of Harmony Harbor about Mia's age. Sophie fears that if the wealthy Gallaghers
knew Mia was the progeny of their son, Michael, they would want custody. Colleen Gallagher knows the truth, and she has only good intentions
when she hires Sophie as manager of Greystone Manor, the Gallagher family's rundown hotel. Soon romance flares between feisty Sophie and
Michael's brother, Liam, a firefighter who, like Mia, is struggling with PTSD. A surprising twist involving Mia's conception serves the plot but
throws a bit of a cold-water shock on the otherwise sweet and PG-13 story. Part of the fun of reading further books in Mason's series will be
watching Colleen meddle some more. Agent: Pamela Harty, Knight Agency. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Mistletoe Cottage." Publishers Weekly, 12 Sept. 2016, p. 41+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464046268&it=r&asid=7bc4e713217d417ffb9dacb631be6ddc. Accessed 11 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464046268
---
QUOTED: "Mason will please fans of zippy smalltown stories crowded with allegedly humorous incidents."
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Christmas comes but once a year
Publishers Weekly.
260.35 (Sept. 2, 2013): p38.
COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Our annual roundup
No Place Like Home
Linda Lael Miller, Kat Martin, Mary Carter, and Laura Florand. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (448p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3253-3
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Bestseller Miller (Big Sky Wedding) anchors an enjoyable holiday collection with plenty of Christmas cheer but limited sparkle. In Carter's busy
"The Christmas Carousel," auction house owner Georgia refuses to sell her property to handsome investor Adam. But Adam is more than he
seems, and a mysterious Christmas gift that arrives for Georgia gives her a chance to reconsider. Florand's "A Rose in Winter" is the steamiest
entry: when American Ph.D. candidate Allegra decides to stay in Provence over the holidays, she connects in and out of bed with Raoul, an alpha
male with a heart. Miller's "The 24 Days of Christmas" brings Addie back to her hometown of Pine Crossing and her ex-fiance, Frank; their
romantic reunion is upstaged by their family responsibilities. Martin's Reconstruction-era "Christmas Angel" is a historical oddball among
contemporaries, but it stands out more for its tight story and intense romance, in which Southern belle Angel reunites with Joshua, her former
love turned Union army doctor. The novellas' diversity makes for a satisfying, if not stellar, anthology. (Dec.)
* Sleigh Bells in the Snow
Sarah Morgan. HQN, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-0-373-77855-3
Jackson O'Neil can run an international hotel chain without problems, but he needs a hotshot PR exec to save his family's business, the Snow
Crystal Resort and Spa in Vermont, which has been struggling since his father's death in a car accident. Workaholic Kayla Green offers to take the
account on over Christmas break rather than suffer another holiday by herself. Jackson knew Kayla was the right choice to give Snow Crystal a
national audience, but he didn't bargain on falling in love. Meanwhile, being thrown in with the close-knit O'Neils opens wounds Kayla thought
had healed long ago. As the two struggle with their strong emotions, Morgan (Lost to the Desert Warrior) masterfully introduces a cast of
endearing supporting characters. This touching Christmas tale will draw tears of sorrow and joy, remaining a reader favorite for years to come.
(Nov.)
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Candlelight Christmas
Susan Wiggs. Mira, $16.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-7783-1474-5
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Wiggs delights with this Christmas-themed installment in her Lakeshore Chronicles contemporary series (after Return to Willow Lake). I, Darcy
Fitzgerald is still reeling from her divorce from Huntley Collins, a situation complicated by the fact that Darcy's sister is married to Huntley's
brother. When Darcy meets single dad Logan O'Donnell, she is unwilling to get involved with a man who already has a child, but soon she and
Logan realize they can't easily ignore their mutual attraction. With the romantic backdrop of falling snow and Christmas lights, Logan's upstate
New York ski lodge is the perfect setting for their sizzling attraction to renew. Darcy's fierce independence as a sports marketing executive and
expert snowboarder gives her special appeal, as her successful professional exterior hides her vulnerability. The evolution of Darcy and Logan's
relationship makes enduring love believable. (Nov.)
The Christmas He Loved Her
Juliana Stone. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4022-7483-1
The second installment of Stone's Bad Boys series (after The Summer He Came Home) is a heartwarming and intense tale of two lost souls.
Raine feels like a mere shell of herself, still mourning her husband, Jesse, a year after his death on the battlefield. She only feels alive when she's
with Jake, Jesse's twin brother, with whom she has always had a tumultuous relationship. Tough and handsome, with dark terrors from his own
wartime experience, Jake has been quietly in love with Raine for years. Now Raine and Jake are pulled to one another, but they must battle their
internal demons and intertwined secrets before love can overcome their shared grief. Readers will enjoy the passionate interludes, feisty
protagonists, and smalltown charm. (Oct.)
* A Lady Most Lovely
Jennifer Delamere. Grand Central/Forever, $8 mass market (416p) ISBN 987-1-4555-1896-8
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Delamere follows An Heiress at Heart with an intense mid-Victorian Christmas story. Tom Poole returns to England after making his fortune in
Australian gold mines and falls for Margaret Vaughn, an heiress engaged to another man. Margaret is living a lie: her deceased father left her
estate in debt, and her fiance's wealth is a fabrication. When she breaks off her engagement, she agrees to borrow money from Tom, though she
still thinks his self-made success is inferior to her heritage. Meanwhile, a man from Tom's past threatens to destroy his future with Margaret. Fans
of inspirational romance will appreciate subtle references to Tom's Christian faith and the lack of explicit sex scenes, and the undercurrent of
attraction between Margaret and Tom is a powerful force that keeps the story moving. (Oct.)
Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait
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Grace Burrowes. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6383-5
The eighth and final book in Burrowes's Windham Regency series (after Lady Eve's Indiscretion) embraces the spirit of Christmas and the power
of love to draw families together. Lady Jenny Windham's parents and siblings have always smiled indulgently at her little painting hobby, but
Jenny takes it seriously, longing to move to Paris and pursue art training. As she's preparing to leave, she meets Elijah Harrison, Earl of
Bernward, a skilled portraitist. He hopes that painting Jenny's nephews will boost his career and free him to return to his estranged family. The
two connect immediately over their shared love of art, but since one is seeking to leave home and the other to return to it, compromises will have
to be made. Burrowes describes the journey more than the destination; while not breaking new ground, the well-told story is elevated by warmth
and intimacy. (Oct.)
The Cowboy's Christmas Baby
Carolyn Brown. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4022-8049-8
Brown's latest Cowboys & Brides romance immediately immerses readers in the regional spirit of the season. Texas soldier Drew Camp
introduces his best friend, school basketball coach Natalie Clark, to his Desert Storm buddy Lucas Allen. While chatting online with Lucas,
Natalie fails to mention that she's pregnant with Drew's child. Meanwhile, Drew is killed in action. Lucas returns to his family ranch to discover
Natalie filling in for the injured housekeeper; meanwhile, Lucas's father, grandfather, ranch hand, and an assortment of local animals are
thoroughly smitten with baby Joshua, Natalie and Drew's son. The few conflicts are low-key; Brown focuses on falling in love and the ripple
effect it can bring to a family or community, plus there's a hint of a holiday miracle. Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary Management (Oct.)
An Amish Country Christmas
Charlotte Hubbard and Naomi King. Kensington/Zebra, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3188-8
In this charming diptych, King (Naomi Weds a GoodMan)--who also writes using the Hubbard pseudonym (Winter of Wishes)--spins sweet tales
of innocent love among the Amish in two Missouri hamlets, Cedar Creek and Willow Ridge. "The Christmas Visitors" is devoted to brothers
Bram and Nate Kanagy and the identical twin sisters they fall in love with, Martha and Mary Coblentz. As the brothers woo the sisters, an out-oftowner
threatens to dash their hopes. In "Kissing the Bishop," Willow Ridge sisters Jerusalem and Nazareth Hooley are snowed in at Tom
Hostetler's place with Vernon Gingerich from Cedar Creek. After Tom receives shocking news about his estranged wife, will that open the door
for two more couples to find their happy endings? The devoted couples from the first tale also make a cameo in the second. Mouthwatering
recipes complete this sweet collection. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Oct.)
* Never Desire a Duke
Lily Dalton. Grand Central/Forever, $6 mass market (416p) ISBN 978-1-4555-2401-3
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Dalton's Regency debut resonates with genuine feeling. Sophia and Vane Barwick, the Duke and Duchess of Claxton, were happy newlyweds, in
love and expecting a baby. Not even two years later, they're estranged, with Vane on a diplomatic assignment in Vienna and Sophia in London
dealing with gossip and spiteful innuendo about Vane's licentious past. Sophia wants a legal separation--after she gets pregnant again, to replace
the child she conceived with Vane but miscarried. Vane, battling his own demons and desperate for Sophia's love, uses the occasion of a freak
snowstorm that traps them in his childhood home to try to win her back. Unlike some one-note tortured heroes, Vane is sincere and appealing.
Sophia's pain is very real, and every interaction is fraught with honest emotion. As they struggle to recapture their romance, readers will feel deep
sympathy with both characters and hope for them to find happiness. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds. (Oct.)
Merry Christmas, Cowboy
Janet Dailey. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-2463-7
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Jaded Denver cop Paula Lewis tries to get into the holiday spirit by joining a group of volunteers at a local mansion that is being extravagantly
decorated as a Christmas showpiece. Through an unnecessary traffic stop she encounters hunky cowboy Zach Bennett, who coincidentally has
come to town to do carpentry work on the "Christmas House." The transformed mansion enchants the crowds, and despite the plotting of some
troublesome teens to steal the admission fees, the magic of Christmas and Zach's blue eyes eventually soften Paula's lonely heart. The characters
are disappointingly one-dimensional, but perennial bestseller Dailey (A Cowboy Under My Christmas Tree) evokes an appealing sense of
community as the backdrop for the romance. (Oct.)
The Trouble with Christmas
Debbie Mason. Grand Central/Forever, $6 mass market (416p) ISBN 978-1-4555-2768-7
A resort planned for the little town of Christmas, Colo., would ruin its owners as well as the town, and developer Madison Lane has the hard
numbers to prove it. Unfortunately, no one believes her, and she's "the grinch who killed Christmas." Madison visits Christmas in an effort to fix
the PR damage, meeting both angry townspeople and an extremely hot sheriff, Gage McBride. Romance ensues, but not before Madison is
subjected to Gage's relatives, at least three separate accusing mobs, and plenty of Christmas-themed problems. The lovers are sympathetic and
well drawn. Gage's beloved Aunt Nell and the Christmas-loving townsfolk of Christmas, however, may strike some readers as strange and
intrusive rather than charmingly wacky. Still, debut author Mason will please fans of zippy smalltown stories crowded with allegedly humorous
incidents and steamy Love scenes. (Oct.)
* Starry Night
Debbie Macomber. Ballantine,$18 (226p) ISBN 978-0-345-52889-6
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Contemporary romance queen Macomber (Rose Harbor in Bloom) hits the sweet spot with this tender tale of impractical love. Newspaper
reporter Carrie Slayton is sick of covering Chicago society events, so she hops on a plane to the Alaskan bush, determined to track down Finn
Dalton, a bestselling author no one knows anything about. Finn hates reporters, guards his privacy, distrusts romance after a bad breakup, and
resents his mother for leaving him and his father. Naturally, he refuses to engage in any personal conversation with Carrie when she arrives. But
he can't control his attraction to her and slips a few times during her stay, showing his sensitive side. By the time Carrie goes home, they are
halfway in love, and they bridge the distance with e-mail and text messages. Carrie has to be extremely patient while Finn works through his
issues, but their happy ending is a delicious Christmas miracle well worth waiting for. (Oct.)
His by Christmas
Kaitlin O'Riley. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-1241-2
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O'Riley's fifth 19th-century Hamilton Sisters romance (after To Tempt an Irish Rogue) introduces the youngest sister, Yvette, who lives at the
London home of her oldest sister, Colette, and Colette's husband, Lucien. Family friend Lord Jeffrey Eddington, the bastard son of a duke, agrees
to watch over Yvette when Lucien and Colette travel to America. Jeffrey is unprepared for his jealousy of William Weatherly, Lord Shelley,
Yvette's suitor and the heir to a dukedom; Jeffrey's illegitimacy bars him from inheriting his own father's title, and he harbors deep affection for
Yvette. The young woman's willingness to wed for the sake of becoming a duchess hints at her immaturity, but she is forced to grow up quickly
when her mother becomes ill, and she begins to wonder whether love might outrank a title. This darling holiday novel, complete with affable
characters, sparkles with romance as the protagonists realize that friendship can evolve into everlasting love. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel &
Goderich Literary Management. (Oct.)
A SEAL Wolf Christmas
Terry Spear. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (288p) ISBN 978-1-4022-8408-3
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In this lively paranormal, Spear takes readers on a pulse-pounding ride from the Amazon to a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Bjornolf Jorgenson
and his team of SEAL werewolves (last seen in A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing) are on a rescue mission to Colombia when they discover the family
they've been sent to rescue might not be innocent victims. After a successful extraction, Bjornolf and fellow agent Anna Johnson agree to pose as
a newlywed couple, uncle and aunt to a recently orphaned teenage wolf, while the team searches for answers. They discover a suspicious
connection between the tree farm owner and the pharmaceutical executive they rescued--and from there, the pieces begin to form a grim picture,
involving several murdered DEA agents and a young wolf who is unaware of her status. In between red-hot love scenes, Bjornolf and Anna race
to find the truth before one of them--or someone they love--is killed. Christmas elements are scant, but there's plenty of action. (Oct.)
Season for Scandal
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Theresa Romain. Kensington/Zebra, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3243-4
Romain's third holiday historical (after Season for Surrender), set in 1819 London, introduces a dark suspense element. Thomas Turner, a
nefarious ex-convict, is bent on destroying the marriage and the reputation of Edmund Ware, Baron Kirkpatrick, and his wife, Jane. The Wares'
marriage is built upon a shaky foundation--Jane needs her dowry to settle a massive gambling debt--but they secretly harbor deep, heartfelt
feelings for each other. They just need to overcome their respective personal problems and mutual feelings of unworthiness. Before they can even
begin, Thomas, passing himself off as a distant friend of Jane's mother, finagles his way into Jane's good graces. Edmund fears the man will
indeed ruin him by way of her, because for all appearances she is beguiled. Meanwhile, the marriage begins to unravel. Romain has plenty of wit,
but not enough to overcome an insipid plot. Agent: Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management. (Oct.)
Plaid Tidings
Mia Marlowe. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-2973-1
Marlowe's insubstantial latest historical is more of a snack than a meal. While on a mission in 1814 Scotland, English spy Alexander Mallory
wins a barony, a cursed manor, and a fiancee, all in one card game. Lucinda MacOwen is beautiful, charming, and sweet, but Alexander is
determined not to have his clandestine work hampered by a wife. The wedding happens anyway because they can't keep their hands off each
other, and soon Alexander decides marriage isn't so bad after all. When Alexander and Lucinda arrive at Bonniebroch, they meet a ghostly
steward and learn more about the curse. There's no spark of originality to rescue the familiar elements. The saving grace to this plodding romance
is Brodie, Lucinda's ghost companion since childhood, who injects humor and common sense into her life. It's not clear why Lucinda falls in love
with Alexander, and the Christmas wedding is mostly a gimmick. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Oct.)
A Seaside Christmas
Sherryl Woods. Mira, $16.95 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-7783-1511-7
Woods's 10th Chesapeake Shores contemporary (after The Summer Garden) has few surprises. Renowned songwriter Jenny Collins is having
difficulties coming to terms with her mom's happy marriage to an O'Brien. Nonetheless, a bad tabloid-splashed breakup with her cheating pop star
boyfriend, Caleb Green, has Jenny retreating to her beachside hometown for Christmas. Caleb knows that performing Jenny's latest tune could
help him make a comeback, but he'll have follow Jenny to Chesapeake Shores to get her permission. As Caleb is drawn into the sphere of the
O'Brien family through participation in a local Christmas show, he predictably helps Jenny begin to feel at home there again. This Christmas tale
is set against a huge warm Irish-American family cast with an ending that turns out "exactly the way it was supposed to." (Oct.)
Christmas Ghosts
Edited by Kristine Grayson. WMG (www.fictionriver.com), $15.99 e-book (280p) ISBN 9780615783550
In this charming paranormal anthology, the fourth in the Fiction River multigenre anthology series (after Time Streams) overseen by Dean Wesley
Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch (for whom Grayson is one of many pseudonyms), eight authors take on the challenge of writing romantic
ghost stories. Among the standouts are M.L. Buchman's "The Ghost of Willow's Past," about two grieving Army sergeants who meet and find
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comfort and love in a Portland, Ore., public garden; Lisa Silverthorne's "Christmas, Interrupted," a poignant tale of a woman who attempts to go
back in time to save a young man from his grisly fate; and Anthea Lawson's traditional Regency story, "A Countess for Christmas." There's also a
surprising contemporary tale, "Toasted," from famed Regency romance author Mary Jo Putney. While most of the stories are quite short, the
characterization and story development are masterfully done and are well edited. A sugary Christmas treat for those who love romance. (Oct.)
* You Give Good Love
J.J. Murray. Kensington, $15 trade paper (356p) ISBN 978-0-7582-7725-1
Murray's tale is a genuinely heartwarming romance starring a broken heroine in need of mending. Hope Warren, an African-Bahamian-Canadian
with an M.F.A., works glumly at a Brooklyn print shop. She's been miserable for eight years, ever since being dumped one Christmas Eve. With
charming persistence, kindhearted Irish-American Dylan Healy, owner of a greeting card company, coaxes Hope out of her shell. After she draws
a doodle that he turns into a popular card, both come closer to their dreams: Hope's is to own a beachfront house and Dylan's is to open an artthemed
daycare center. But Hope has to take care of her pressing health needs, including depression and anorexia, before she can see the true
magic of the holidays and Dylan's love. Murray (A Good Man) shows tremendous sensitivity in the handling of Hope's illnesses, and caps the
powerful story with a tearjerker ending. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Literary Agency. (Oct.)
The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap
Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell, and Kimberly Kincaid. Kensington, $15 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-0-7582-9088-5
Kincaid (Outside the Lines) shares a Christmas-themed preview of the setting for her new series, a snowy Blue Ridge town called Pine Mountain,
with Kauffman and Angell in a triad of loosely linked foodie novellas. Kaufman's goofy but adorable "Where There's Smoke" pairs sweet, klutzy
Clara Parker, who nearly burns down her house trying to bake, with her old best friend, fireman Will Mason. In Angell's "The Gingerbread Man,"
a witty frame story is out of sync with the core tale of lonely snowbound people creating a semblance of familial holiday comfort. Kincaid's
"Sugar and Spice" sweetly and competently executes a classic cooking romance story of two chefs striking sparks as they go head to head in a big
competition, and the bakery that Pete Mancuso and Lily Callahan set up together with the prize money is sure to be a meeting place for new
couples as the series launches. (Oct.)
Christmas on 4th Street
Susan Mallery. HQN, $16.95 (384p) ISBN 978-0-373-77782-2
Mallery's second Christmas novel set in the small eastern California town of Fool's Gold (after 2012's A Fool's Gold Christmas) pairs up Dr.
Gabriel Boylan, an Army physician with tours of Iraq and Afghanistan under his belt, and Noelle Perkins, a lawyer turned Christmas store owner
who has suffered tragedies of her own. Having seen countless catastrophes--including the death of someone very close to him--Gabriel is loath to
give his heart, no matter how appealing the tall blonde might be. Noelle has chosen the opposite path: she is going to live every single day to the
fullest, no matter what. After being stuck in a snowstorm together, Noelle knows what she wants from Gabriel, but she's not going to settle for
anything less than mutual true love. Fans of the Fool's Gold series will enjoy this Christmas interlude. (Oct.)
6/11/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1497235414411 18/18
The Christmas Visitor
Linda Byler. Good Books (www.goodbooks.com), $14.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-56148-805-6
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Amish author Byler (Wild Horses) takes on the unrelentingly difficult life of Amish widow Ruth Miller, whose husband, Ben, died at a barn
raising, leaving her to care for their six children on her own. With little income, Ruth is forced to give up her farm and move to a home owned by
a member of her community. She barely has enough food to feed her family and is too proud to ask her neighbors for any more than they've
already given her. But who is leaving boxes on her porch, filled with goodies she can't afford herself?. The generosity they represent touches
Ruth's soul and brightens the lives of her children. There is very little romance in this story, and a few point-of-view slips distract from the plot.
Still, readers will cheer for the courageous widow as she learns to live and love again. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Christmas comes but once a year." Publishers Weekly, 2 Sept. 2013, p. 38+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA342568614&it=r&asid=482b5a30d968dc157669974d16fdab6e. Accessed 11 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A342568614
QUOTED: "Not one page is a disappointment. It was hard to put down because there are great spots on nearly every page."
"Ms. Mason has well-developed characters—not only her hero and heroine, but the secondary characters as well. Sometimes it’s so hard to tell which ones are secondary."
Tags: 2016, Contemporary Romance, Debbie Mason, Dinca, Forever, Grade A, Harmony Harbor Series, Mistletoe Cottage, Oct 2016, Review
REVIEW: Mistletoe Cottage by Debbie Mason
by Dinca | Nov 25, 2016 | Review |
Book CoverDinca’s review of Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor, Book 1) by Debbie Mason
Contemporary Romance published by Forever 25 Oct 16
This is Book 1 in Debbie Mason’s Harmony Harbor Series, of which I will definitely be reading the rest. Every old mansion should have a story to tell, not to mention its very own ghost – delightful ghost at that with its very own black cat!
Sophie DiRossi has returned to Harmony Harbor to call her Life back together after her daughter Mia is traumatized by a fire. Of all the secrets Harmony Harbor has told, as it turns out, her secret may not be the greatest ever revealed.
Liam Gallagher returns to Harmony Harbor on a medical leave of absence from his firefighting position in Boston. He was shot and lost a fellow firefighter during a fire rescue mission. His father, who is the Fire Chief at Harmony Harbor station, is providing him with light fire duty while he works through his trauma.
As it turns out, Mia has to be rescued from a tunnel full of smoke caused by Halloween smokescreen machines. Mia has not spoken since the fire in L.A., but she makes a connection with Liam Gallagher.
Growing up Liam and Sophie had a crush on each other. Liam was older and waiting for Sophie to catch up, when his cousin Michael came in and swept her off her feet.
I was totally surprised by the turn of events throughout the whole story. Not one page is a disappointment. It was hard to put down because there are great spots on nearly every page.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the Harmony Harbor series, Christmas with an Angel. And, according to the author’s web site, Starlight Bridge will be the third book. I can hardly wait to see what the Widow’s Club will be up to next.
Ms Mason has well-developed characters – not only her hero and heroine, but the secondary characters as well. Sometimes it’s so hard to tell which ones are secondary. I enjoyed the personalities of all her characters. The Widow’s Club characters are the towns little old ladies and a real hoot. I hope you enjoy their antics as much as I did.
Dincas iconGrade: A
Summary:
‘Tis the season for love . . .
Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she’s forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter’s blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved.
Sophie’s return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away. Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they’ve concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic…
Read an excerpt.