1. ‘Twas the Night

by Sandra Hill, Kate Holmes, Trish Jensen (Kindle)

Three successful men are each on their way to Snowdon, Maine to attend the Christmas Eve wedding of the man who was their mentor when they were all boys at the XX. The men are still best friends even though one is a Blue Angels pilot, one is an ex-NFL quarterback, and the other is a bounty hunter.

At the same time a massive storm is shutting down all the airports and roads in the northeast. The only transportation available to them is bright red bus driven be a female NASCAR-style driver. If anyone can get through she can. The bus actually belongs to a senior citizen group from Snowdon known as the Santa Brigade. The group is on a tour to deliver gifts and entertainment to homeless shelters and underprivileged children.

Along with the three men on the bus are three women. They are, of of orurse, attractive. This is, after all, a contemporary romance. There are lots of opportunities for sexy bantering and serious flirting among the three couples. Added in to the mix are the senior citizens who have their own ideas of fun.

This story was light-hearted and fun with all sorts of sizzle. Each one of the three authors wrote various chapters, each from the point of view of one of the men. It melded together very well as one story.

There was one negative: during parts of story where the senior citizens were involved, I thought they made jokes at the expense of the seniors. Some of the jokes were stereotypical-yet-untrue views of seniors. I’m sure I’m more sensitive because I am a senior, but the jokes weren’t funny to me.

Aside from that one negative, the story was great fun to read. Overall, a good story with well-developed characters, a few R-rated sections, and lots of laugh-out-loud moments.

2. The Christmas Brides

by Linda Lael Miller

Christmas Brides is actually two books in one, both by Linda Lael Miller. I read only the first book.

McKettrick Christmas

It’s 1896 and Lizzie McKettrick is on her way home for Christmas. She’s just completed her teaching degree and plans to teach in her hometown of Indian Rock, Arizona. She’s traveling by train from San Francisco accompanied by a young man she wants her family to meet.

As the train travels through the mountains, it is struck by an avalanche. Only a small number of passengers survive. That includes Lizzie and her young man, a mother and baby and her two small children, a wounded soldier, a peddler, an elderly couple and their bird, and a young doctor.

The doctor and Lizzie step forward to take measures to keep the small group physically alive until help can arrive. The peddler steps forward and keeps everyone’s spirits up. As the time slowly marches on, the true character of each person begins to surface.

I liked the story as it progressed toward Christmas Day. The resourcefulness and creative measures used by some of the characters to stay alive was admirable. The two little children were so worried that Santa wouldn’t find them. The measures used to create Christmas for them was heartwarming.

There was a very pleasant surprise in the last few chapters that was a wonderful bonus. I didn’t see it coming but it was a perfect tie-in for a Christmas story.

A McKettrick Christmas took me back to the McKettrick clan. I’ve read quite of few of the authors stories about various members of the family and it was nice to “visit” with them again. I’d recommend this to those of you who love stories set in the west during this time period, and especially for those who love Ms. Miller’s books. It made a good Christmas read.

That was ten years ago. It’s now 1916 and Lydia is being forced to marry a man she hates. She has to do something or her elderly aunts and she will become charity cases and turned out from their home. Lydia mailed the letter to Gideon on a whim but now knows there isn’t anything Gideon can do to help her, even if he did get her letter and come to her rescue. She has no choice but to marry the wealthy banker who holds the mortgage on their house.

Sounds like the old classic tale of the evil banker with the fair maiden, doesn’t it? Well, it is with lots of changes. The story is set in Phoenix and Stone Creek, a fictitious town about a day’s horseback ride away. So, of course there are all sorts of manly cowboys, plus loads of quick-witted dialogue and plenty of sexual tension.

Gideon gets Lydia’s letter and is just in time to stop the wedding. But, the only way he can think to stop it is to marry Lydia himself, even if that is not what Lydia wants.

I love the writing of Linda Lael Miller. She is especially good at these Western historical stories. Of course I love her contemporary Western romances too. I reviewed the first in her Montana Creeds series a while ago. (You can read that by going to Montana Creeds.)

The Bridegroom is brand new. It goes on sale tomorrow so you’ll want to be sure to find it early.

You can buy The Bridegroom (Stone Creek Novels) at Amazon

Montana Creeds: Logan

Linda Lael Miller

HQN Books, 2009

Genre: Contemporary Romance

This first of three books sets the stage for the series. It introduces the three Creed brothers who haven’t spoken to each other in ten years. They all own interest in a Montana ranch but have been busy earning their fortunes elsewhere. They will all eventually come home and each one gets his own book. The first book is about Logan. Here’s the blurb from the back cover:

“After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family’s neglected ranch . . .to have kids of his own  proudly bearing the Creed name.

Divorced mom Brianna Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan’s kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana – and the folks of Big Sky country – just what he’s made of.”

In addition to the two main characters I like the two sweet but typical little boys. The author did a great job with their dialogue and other shows of brotherly love. And I think most people will find the two dogs very charming. Warning: this is an adult novel with the use of some F-type words and other adult content.

As an added bonus for cowboy fans, here is a link to a video of the three Creeds. I seriously hope this is what the author used for her inspiration in crafting her three main characters.  Whew – just go look for yourself! (Hey! Just because I’m in my sixties doesn’t mean I can’t admire.) After reading this book, my spirit has lifted and I’m ready to move on with my serious reading. Of course I know there are two more of the Creeds coming in the next few months.