A Christmas to Remember

Source: Netgalley/Library
Dates Read: 12/1/23 - 12/21/23
Average Stars: 3.5

Dream a Little Dream - Lucky Harbor, Book 8.5 - Jill Shalvis - 4 Stars - Ian O’Malley, Melissa Mann - This is super cute and super steamy at one point. Starts off a little scary with Melissa caught in a building fire but I think you can guess she gets her HEA in the end.

Every Year - Chaos, Book 2.5 - Kristen Ashley - 2.5 Stars - Shy Cage, Tabby, Landon Cage, all of Tabby’s family - This was okay. Probably would have been more impactful if I knew the characters better. I did skip the last sex scene, not in the mood. I was also annoyed by Tabby always calling Shy “my man”. Glad she cut that out about halfway through.

Silent Night - Last Chance, Book 6.5 - Hope Ramsey - 4 Stars - Daniel Jessup, Maryanne Carpenter, Joshua Carpenter -Very sweet. I’d actually love to see more of how their relationship builds as neither character is really ready for romantic entanglements as this ends. It was also nice to have a small cast. A lot of Christmas stories are these big coming together of many parts of a family, which I love, but I also appreciated this small quiet time with just a few characters. Oh, and they better adopt that cat.

Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas - Everson, Texas, Book .5 - Molly Cannon - 4 Stars - Lincoln Jones, Dinah Mason - Very instalovey but also cute.

A Family for Christmas - Tallgrass, Book 1.5 - Marilyn Pappano - Did Not Read - Character Names - I ran out of steam and didn’t read this one. My moody little heart could not stand to meet any more new people. I’m sorry Ms. Pappano. ( )

'He was tired of living in the dark. He wanted to light up the world, if for no other reason than to see those holiday lights shining in Maryanne's eyes.'

A Christmas to Remember is a collection of short Romance stories with a festive theme. Each story is from a different Author and starts with a foreword from the Author about a particular Christmas that they remember well. I liked these sections, as I could often see a link between the Author's Christmas experience, and the events in their stories.

Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis

Plot

Melissa has always kept men at a safe distance, and never got too involved. This is especially true when it comes to Ian, her sexy firefighter friend with benefits. Until one night, when she realises that life is too short not to act on the feelings that she's been trying to hide.

My Thoughts

This story from Jill Shalvis was short and sweet. Ian and Melissa were friends with benefits before this story, and Ian is finding it hard to adjust to not having her around. Melissa is trying to kid herself into believing that she doesn't need a man, especially not Ian, but deep down she misses him and wishes she hadn't pushed him away. Fate intervenes and presents them with a second chance at Christmas, and this time Melissa is determined that she won't make a mess of things.

I liked the concept of this quick read. Because the characters already have a history together this story works as a short. We get a brief idea of their backstory, which was enough to set up this story nicely. I enjoyed reading this but not as much as some of the other stories so I'll give it three stars.

Every Year by Kristen Ashley

Plot

The Holiday season doesn't come easily for brothers Shy and Landon Cage, since their difficult childhood. But with a little help from Tabitha Allen and family, and a bit of Christmas magic, these brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime.

My Thoughts

This is one of my favourite stories from this collection, although that's mostly because I was already familiar with some of the characters. This is a novella from the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley, and although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I was introduced to Tabitha Allen and her father Tack Allen in Motorcycle Man. For this reason, I found it easy to get myself into this story, as it was more like revisiting Motorcycle Man, rather than trying to get into a new story.

This story is based around Shy Cage, Tabby's boyfriend, and his brother Landon. After losing their parents and being sent to live with their resentful Aunt when they were children, the brothers haven't had a happy Christmas. However, they're spending this Christmas with the Allens and it could be just what they needed.

This story was full of Christmas joy and I loved it. The Allens are a loud, boisterous, but happy and loving family who love nothing more than to spend time together. The two young children, Ride and Cut, really made this story for me,as they were just like I was at that age; up far too early and excited for Christmas. Four stars for this one.

Silent Night by Hope Ramsay

Plot

Single mother Maryanne has been down on her luck lately and is hoping to find a new start in the small town of Last Chance. When the snow starts to fall, it looks like her baby boy Joshua might spend his Christmas Eve in a Manger; and Maryanne might spend her Christmas with a handsome stranger.

My Thoughts

You could say that this story was fairly cheesy, with a desperate mother seeking refuge in a barn on a cold winter's night. But for me, Christmas is all about cheesy love stories so I didn't let this bother me. There's even a few similarities with names, since the mother is called Maryanne, her baby is called Joshua and when she was young, she dreamed up a friend for herself called Joe.

Put all of that aside however, and what you have is a short and sweet story about a Christmas miracle when it's needed the most. It's not just Maryanne that needs a miracle though, because Daniel needs somebody to bring happiness into his life. Three stars.

Have yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon

Plot

Lincoln is a bachelor who is set in his own ways until a pretty woman in a Mrs. Claus outfit arrives at his door, ready to re-organize his home, and his life.

My Thoughts

This was one of my favourite stories from this collection. It was also one of the shortest, but it got the point quickly and didn't leave me disappointed. It even had room for a unexpected twist at the end. Lincoln is very reluctant to have Dinah Mason, a professional organizer, rummaging through his disorganized home. He has things exactly how he wants them, both in terms of his clutter, and his love life. But he soon comes to enjoy her company, and dreads the quiet loneliness that greets him when she leaves.

I loved the concept of this story because I hadn't read anything like it before and if the story was longer it would make a great Christmas film. I loved the twist at the end, as I wasn't expecting it at all. Four stars.

A Family for Christmas by Marilyn Pappano

Plot

War Widow Ilena Gomez doesn't mind spending this Christmas alone with her baby John. But when a handsome new Doctor arrives in town, will Ilena's wish of finding love again come true?

My Thoughts

This was the last story in the collection and I thought it was a great one to end with. For me it really summed up what a Christmas story should be, as it was about overcoming tragedy and finding new love and happiness. I loved how Ilena managed to stay positive after losing her husband, and found a way to carry on with the support of other military wives. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and certainly deserves another chance at happiness.

She definitely isn't the type of woman that Doctor Jared Connors though he would ever fall for, and his snooty parents wouldn't approve either. But there's something about her that draws him in, and I loved watching their love blossom in this lovely short story. Five stars.

Overall, I enjoyed each of these lovely short stories, some more so than others. Each one was different and full of Christmas joy. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a nice collection of festive love stories in the build up to Christmas. ( )

She's a homeless, single mother and he's a lawyer who grieves over all those he has lost. I may have shed a tear or two, it was very touching.
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An Allen family Christmas shared with the Cages. Wonderful to see these characters again.

Molly Cannon - Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas
His mother hired her to organize his house, which he resists at first. Nice story

Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis - 5
They've been friends with benefits before she broke things off, running scared from the relationship. After a scare she realizes what's really important and puts plans in motion to give them both a wonderful Christmas

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There’s a lot of stories in this anthology, and frankly most of these authors are my first reads, so we have a mixed bag of goodies here.

Keep in mind that this is an anthology, therefore the stories are short and fast moving. These kinds of stories are not for everyone, but I do recommend you read them for the most obvious reason: getting to know and ‘feel’ the authors you’re not familiar with, and enjoying the ones that you are familiar with.

That said, here we go:

‘Dream a Little Dream’ by Jill Shalvis

I was impressed with Ms. Shalvis’ character development within the constraints of this short story.

Melissa and Ian’s relationship was well developed, and fun to read about.

If you’re familiar with the Lucky Harbor series, you will defenatly love it, and if this is your first time reading this author, have no fear, this story stands on its own.

‘Every Year’ by Kristen Ashley

I’ve never read this author before and after this short story I’m debating if I should try her. I was a bit confused by the plot and the characters were not as well rounded as they could have been.

However, this may not be the case for you, so I think you should still give it a try.

‘Silent Night’ by Hope Ramsay

Leave it to Ms. Ramsey to make me cry. I just adored this story. It was well told, well-rounded and altogether just sweet, poignant and filled with hope in humanity.

Maryanne and Daniel with little baby Joshua, will steal your heart.

This is a perfect story for all of you that have never read this author before. You’ll be searching her other books after you’ve read this story. I guarantee that!

And for us that are getting more familiar with her, this one just makes us want for more!

‘Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas’ by Molly Cannon

Molly Cannon is a new author for me, but this story will make me seek her out again.

I actually enjoyed the predictability of this romance. It was fun watching Dinah, a personal organizer, who gets hired by Lincoln, a messy accountant to organize a home of his parents.

And the sparks get ignited as these two personalities come together.

Fun and sweet, with some heat mixed in.

‘A Family for Christmas’ by Marilyn Pappano

Again, an unfamiliar author to me, and again, I’m conflicted about will I or won’t I read her again.

I just didn’t connect with the hero and heroine.

The story was good, but the characters just fell flat to me, and once that happened, I didn’t feel emotionally vested in their happily ever after. That doesn’t mean that you’ll feel the same, though, so give it a go.

Bottom line: worth reading for sure!

Melanie for b2b
Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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