Today’s book review features
Home for Christmas by Chautona Havig, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, & Jaycee Weaver.
Book Blurb
The Christmas Lights Collection is back, and this year’s collection is better than ever! Full of love, joy, and hope, this year’s collection offers the celebration of freedom, sacrifice, and the greatest Gift ever given. These novellas feature two veterans and two active servicemen and their stories.
The Stars of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig
Christmas in Rockland—battleground or romantic?
Avalon is ticked—seriously livid. Who does this Marine recruiter think he is? Her brother is a boy and is not ready to be sacrificed on the altar of “service to your country.” No. Thank you. When trying to talk sense into Max doesn’t work, she does the only thing she can think of. Take it to the top.
Gareth Hudson has an exemplary record as a Marine recruiter and knows a good man when he sees one. So when Maxton McCollum starts asking questions in a diner one afternoon, it was obvious. This was a match made in military heaven. One young man anxious to serve his country. One country ready to train him to be the best version of himself.
So when Avalon walks into Gareth’s recruiting office, all the wrong kinds of fireworks explode. In a peacekeeping move unlike him, Gareth asks for four Saturdays to change her mind. If he can’t, he’ll suggest that Max wait six months before signing up.
Romance wasn’t part of the bargain, and with their age difference, Gareth knows it still shouldn’t be, but how do you resist the pull of love at Christmas?
Most Wonderful Time by Toni Shiloh
Gabe Lewis loves Christmas, just not as much as his eccentric mother who gave him and his siblings Christmas names. When he discovers that his new co-worker Shanée Mitchell wants nothing to do with the season, he makes it his mission to show her the true meaning. But he never expected feelings to develop for the Air Force veteran.
Can he take a chance that she feels the same way or miss the best gift of all?
The Road Home by Cathe Swanson
Tally has tried to leave her military history far in the past, but she’s not ready to go back to her former life, either. Can an old army buddy help her find a new road home?
Now and Forever Christmas by Jaycee Weaver
Romance ruined their friendship. This could be the Christmas they repair it?
CJ Sinclair never imagined trading her chef’s toque for the domestic life but her pregnant sister needs help over the holidays, and the timing couldn’t be better. A breakup and a bad case of burnout are just two on a list of things out of her control these days. Then there’s Tobin, her once best friend who she hasn’t spoken to in years. Now he’s everywhere all the time and sparking feelings she thought she got over ages ago.
The past eight years as a professional musician for the US Army prepared Tobin McGhee for his new job as high school band teacher. They didn’t prepare him for how he’d feel seeing CJ again. This time, though, he won’t make the same mistakes. He’s determined to rebuild the friendship they lost. Maybe even rediscover those feelings they had back in high school before everything went wrong.
Can they make holiday music together and rekindle the friendship they once had, or will romance ruin everything again?
From Goodreads
Danielle’s Review
I love Christmas novellas and their collections, so when I was given an opportunity to review Toni Shiloh’s Most Wonderful Time, which is part of the Home for Christmas collection, I purchased the whole collection. So, while this review is about the whole collection, I’ll focus on Toni Shiloh’s contribution.
Overall, I enjoyed Home for Christmas. It has four unique stories and introduced me to authors whose other books I would like to look up. I don’t read as much contemporary romance, so the change of pace was fun. And I enjoyed the variety of military experiences. I would a trigger warning to Now and Forever Christmas and The Road Home.
I absolutely loved Most Wonderful Time. Gabe was delightful and now I’m going to read the previous two novellas so I can read about his siblings. I could truly relate to Shanee, especially as someone who also battles chronic pain, so I definitely I rooted for her throughout the story.
I recommend both this collection, but especially Most Wonderful Time. You can find the novella as part of Home for Christmas or as a single title. If you’re looking for sweet, Christian contemporary romance set at Christmas, definitely check out these novellas.
I received a complimentary copy of Most Wonderful Time and purchased the collection Home for Christmas. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
Retail Links
Home for Christmas: Amazon | Goodreads
Most Wonderful Time: Amazon | Goodreads