Once Upon a Christmas Carol

 

Once Upon a Christmas Tale is another holiday novella from Melody Carlson.  This tale opens with Carol Langstrom thinking of her negative feelings about this holiday.  She is actually on her way to the airport so she can spend Christmas in the Bahamas.  However, all good plans often do not come to fruition.  When Carol’s plane is forced to make an unexpected landing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she must quickly readjust her plans!

When Carol remembers her mother’s sister lives in the area, she decides to reach out to her for lodging.  Carol is so excited to make her aunt’s acquaintance.  She even changes her travel plans to have more time to spend with her!

You wonder, when Carol meets her aunt’s friend, Victor Clarkson, if this man will change the direction of her life.  This is a fun tale to follow as Carol slowly builds new relationships with both new friends and family!

To Forge Her Fate

 

To Forge Her Fate, by Kasey Stockton, describes Eliza Rose’s attempt to bring her family back into good standing after her sister’s scandal.  However, her plans are changed when she encounters Jacob Ridley, a local blacksmith!

After their carriages collide on a country road, Eliza soon finds that

Jacob is a kind, gracious and very helpful man.  She cannot stop thinking about this man.  Will Eliza’s plans change yet again?

As Eliza seeks out the man she will one day marry, you wonder if her feelings will grow for Jacob, who as a blacksmith is below her social class or perhaps for Lord Ryland, a viscount and member of the upper class.  Hold tight to discover her choice!

The Forever Cowboy

 

On the opening pages of The Forever Cowboy, by Jody Hedlund, Violet Berkley is awakened by a loud banging on the front door.  Her father was a gambler and someone had come looking for money.  When their father offers his two daughters as dancing girls to pay off his debt, Violet and Hyacinth know their only option is to run!

Violet reaches out to Sterling Noble, her former fiancé, for help.  After she left him at the altar, Sterling currently does not seem willing to lend them a hand.  Therefore, Violet and her sister head into the cold to find shelter and safety in a remote miner’s cabin.  When Sterling notices skis missing, he knows Violet and her sister are heading out to find a safe place to hole up!

After Sterling finally makes it to the cabin,  he finds that Violet has twisted her ankle and cannot walk easily.  When this threesome finally make it back to the ranch, they find that the house has been ransacked.  Violet wonders if the man, who is after her father and also looking for Violet and her sister, is behind this action!

You wonder if Sterling will step up to find a resolution to this dangerous situation and if Violet will finally decide to embrace that Sterling truly loves and accepts her.  Hold tight for an ending full of surprises for both Violet and Sterling!

Lady Maybe

 

Lady Maybe, by Julie Klassen, opens with Lady Marianna Mayfield heading out on a trip with her husband Sir John.  At the last minute Hannah Rogers, her former companion, is invited to join her.  Just as they are approaching their destination, they experience an accident.  Sir John is left unconscious with severe injuries and the lady they assume is Lady Mariann cannot remember much of her past.  She does not even recall her wedding night.   However, suddenly things snap into place.  This woman remembers that she is actually Hannah Rogers!

This situation gets rather complicated when Hannah decides not to set the record straight.  She is afraid she will be in trouble if the truth comes out.  However, when Sir John finally wakes up, she fears she will soon be in trouble!

This tale gets rather complicated as Hannah tries to find her landing-place in this crazy situation!

A Moment to Love

In A Moment to Love, by Tracie Peterson, Spencer Duval has discovered that Eugene Astor, the man who killed his father, has been living in Cheyenne for the past twenty-years.  Dr. Carrie Vogel and Spenser had met as they take part in a Chicago amateur theater group.  When Spenser learns that Carrie is actually from Cheyenne, he suggests that Carrie pose as his wife to create a cover story!

As a Pinkerton agent,  Spencer is looking to bring Astor to justice.  Carrie simply wants a fresh start, after her fiancé took credit for all her medical research.  These two do not know exactly what they are entering into when they actually say I Do!

By the time this newly-wed couple meet Carrie’s parents, they have figured out their story.  They are initially accepted by Carrie’s parents; however, soon both of her parents sense they are keeping a secret.  You will also be surprised to learn who one of Carrie’s patients is as she resumes her work with brain injuries.  None other than Eugene Astor!

Get ready for a surprising ending when the truth becomes evident to all!

The Red Cottage

 

On the opening pages of The Red Cottage, by Hannah Linder, you see that life, in the year 1818 in England, is full of woe for many.  Meg Foxcroft and Tom McGwen have a sweet friendship that may someday become something much more.  However, one night someone breaks into Meg’s home.  She is wounded, dragged away and wakes up outside a stranger’s home. Remembering little of her former life!

Tom is desperate to track down Meg’s location.  However, when he finally crosses paths with Meg and the lord she is currently staying with, she does not remember him.  Rather, she sees Tom as a stranger!

This is a bit of a dark tale to follow as Meg tries to remember the world she left behind!

The Second Story Bookshop

 

The Second Story Bookshop, by Denise Hunter, opens with Shelby Thatcher adjusting to the death of her beloved grandmother.  Things get even more difficult when she learns that her grandmother left her bookstore to both Shelby and her former boyfriend, Grayson Briggs.  When her best friend refers to him with the phrase “holy cannoli”, Shelby knows she may be in trouble!

When Gray offers to hang around to help Shelby adjust to the financial details involved with running the bookstore, she reluctantly agrees.  Shelby feels relief when they decide to sign a document turning full ownership over to her.  It takes only two weeks for Gray to start cleaning up the financial books.  Shelby just hopes she can protect her heart during this interim.  Unfortunately, most of Shelby’s family and a lot of people in town dislike Gray.  However, when Gray discovers that the store is definitely in financial trouble, Shelby must start working with him in order to save her grandmother’s store!

When Shelby and Gray decide to renew their relationship, most of the people in town are against it.  After a shot is fired into Gray’s home narrowly missing him, Gray feels like he must leave town to keep Shelby and her family safe!

Hold tight to see if these two are ever able to move forward together!