CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET by Luann McLane, JoAnn Ross, Susan Donovan, Alexis Morgan

Publisher:  Signet
Date published:   November 5, 2013
ISBN:  978-0451419538

Genre:   Contemporary Romance, paranormal, fantasy
Book format: ebook
Obtained via:  Edelweiss, Above the Treeline
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

Three hearts

In a series of stories, four favourite authors come together with Christmas stories that bring together secondary couples that readers have met before in each author’s series while catching up with a few known characters.  From Joann Ross’s Shelter Bay to Luann McLane’s Cricket Creek and a few stops in between Mss. McLane, Ross, Donovan and Morgan wish their readers a merry Christmas.

I’ve read all of the Shelter Bay and Cricket Creek stories leading up to CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET and have come to feel like I could be part of their communitiies.  Mss. Donovan and Morgan are new to me, but they have found a place for their series on my TBR.

First up is CHRISTMAS IN SHELTER BAY by JoAnn Ross.  After a lifetime of being a friend, or at least telling the world they are just friends, Kelli Carpenter has come to the point where she can no longer keep the truth hidden.  In truth she’s spent that lifetime of being just friends in love with Cole Douchett.  But Cole Douchett has pieces of his life missing.  Even with his close and loving family, there are pieces of him that he’s left along the way.  Taking a risk on loving a woman like Kelli may be more than he can take.  But the folks in Shelter Bay think it may be time for a little Christmas magic.

Less than thrilled with his life TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle takes off for Bayberry Island to investigate the legend of mermaids.  He’s pretty darn sure it’s a joke, but what the heck?  But one of Bayberry Island’s ladies may just have some magic up her sleeves—or at least in her life in Susan Donovan’s A SEASIDE CHRISTMAS.

In LuAnn McLane’s MISTLETOE ON MAIN STREET, Clint Sully has never gotten over his high school sweetheart, Ava.  Unable to figure out just how to get things back on track Santa appears on the scene.  At least a Cricket Creek Santa.  But can Ava let go of her past heartache and give Clint another chance?

Everyone in town loves Bridey Roke’s pastry shop in Alexis Morgan’s THE CHRISTMAS GIFT.  Business may be booming, but her heart remains a tad empty.  Oh she has her eyes on new neighbour, Seth.  But is there enough magic in Christmas to bring them together?

I’m not a fan of short stories/novellas, even in anthologies because I always feel like something is missing, especially when I’ve read an author’s longer, full length books.  I know from past reading enjoyment Joann Ross and Luann McLane can create complex characters that their readers (including me) feel that they come to know through the stories.  I love the Douchett family and in each subsequent Shelter Bay story catching up with them.  And it’s been wonderful to read how the town of Cricket Creek continues to come together and regain its footing in the aftermath of the recession.  In each story more depth comes to the towns and the characters continue to grow and develop.  In a novella, such as those in CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET, there just isn’t the word count to tell that full story—so they come across quick and cut to the chase.  There was recently an interesting article on how the major publishers have been pulling back from anthologies and sticking with full length books and I, for one, appreciate that.  Something just seems to be missing from the novellas, even when written by such favourites of mine like Joann Ross.  I wanted more in Kelli and Cole’s story. 

I’m not familiar with Susan Donovan or Alexis Morgan but they are definitely on my radar now and I’ll be picking up their full length books. 

If you are a fan of these four authors you will want to catch up with the characters in these stories.  If you’ve been waiting to find out what’s going on with them, here is your chance in a short, sweet story.  Fans of anthologies will lap these up.  If you are looking for sweet stories with guaranteed happy endings, CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET is totally the book for you.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET by JoAnn Ross, Susan Donovan, LuAnn McLane, Alexis Morgan

Publisher:  Signet/Penguin
Date published:   November 1, 2013
ISBN 978-0451419538
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Paperback
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Angie angie@angieonline.net

4



Tis the Season… Four amazing authors take us to their small towns to enthrall us with holiday cheer.

JoAnn Ross’s Shelter Bay opens CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET with a classic love story about two old friends who live in Shelter Bay.  Christmas in Shelter Bay brings us Kelli who has had a crush on her brother’s friend Cole for their entire lives. Last year she thought she has a chance with him until he asked another woman to marry him in public and broke her heart.  While his engagement did not work out, she is not too embarrassed by her public humiliation when she realized the ring was not for her…  When their families team up to play matchmaker, this pair find themselves in a cabin together, all alone – snowed in.

Ms. Ross’s return to shelter bay may well be her best trip there ever!  She gives us a glimpse into happiness with a truly classic romance tail that will leave you sighing in love.  Her characters are fully developed, with personality that leaps from the page.  Her setting is a small town, with enough local charm to make any reader feel the holiday spirit.

SUSAN DONOVAN leads us to a small town for A Seaside Christmas called Bayberry Island.  When Nathaniel Donovan arrives there to do a documentary about a local mermaid legend, he is tired of his job, tired of the novelty of filming in odd locations and sure the legend is some kind of joke. However, when he arrives amidst a Nor’easter and gets snowed in with Annie Parker, a local woman, he finds that the legend may just have some truth buried somewhere.

Mermaids and legends are not usually this reader’s cup of tea.  Ms. Donovan however left me smiling and wanting more.  While the story opened slow for me, by the end I was not ready for the tale to finish.   This was a first adventure for me into Bayberry Island, but Ms. Donovan has hooked me, and come December I will be looking for my copy of her next book, Sea of Love. 

Mistletoe on Main Street brings us back to Cricket Creek with LuAnn McLane’s clan.  This talented author has a character whom left home years ago with big dreams upon becoming a famous baseball player.  When he never made the big league, he lost his way and could not come home.  His father’s failing health brings him home and leads him back to his first love Ava.  He has to figure out how to win her over and make her believe he never forgot her.

Ms. McLane is an amazing writer whose tales come to life.  Ava and Clint are characters who come from the pages and pull at your heart.  I am a true fan of Ms. McLane and just loved this short novella.  My only complaint was that it ended… Some books should go on forever!  It is a fairy tale romance with a happily ever after.

Alexis Morgan returns to Snowberry Creek and Bridey’s pastry shop.  Seth is living in town and hiding from himself.  His creative muse has taken a leave of absence and he needs to recover and find his mojo to go on as a famous artist.  When he tastes Bridey’s treats and discovers she needs someone to build her shelves, he finds himself offering more of himself than planned.

Ms. Morgan has created a town that I need to find.  Every one of her Snowberry    Creek novels leave me delighted and wanting more.  Her characters are realistic, they have become an extension of my family, I find myself waiting for each novel to hit the shelves.  Nothing in this holiday fairy tale could be better!  This novella must be listed upon my top 3 reads for 2013 – and I can’t wait until More Than a Touch hits shelves in January!