REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET, A HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday Antho.
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Source: Received from publisher
Rating: 3.5-4 stars

‘Tis the season to fall in love in these four small towns.

In “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross returns to Shelter Bay, where Kelli has long tried to keep her feelings for her friend Cole a secret. But when the local matchmakers conspire to send them to a secluded lakeside cabin, the two friends soon discover that a little love will keep them warm.

TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle knows the Bayberry Island mermaid legend is a joke— how could a statue grant a wish for true love? But when a Christmas Nor’easter lands him in close quarters with local Annie Parker, they see magic at work in matters of the heart in New York Times bestselling author Susan Donovan’s “A Seaside Christmas.”

In LuAnn McLane’s “Mistletoe on Main Street,” Clint isn’t sure how to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava—until his father bows out of playing Santa at the annual Cricket Creek holiday parade and Clint gets the chance to make this Christmas one to remember.

And in Alexis Morgan’s “The Christmas Gift”, business is booming at Bridey Roke’s pastry shop. Everyone in town stops in to sample her holiday treats. But in her spare moments, she’s perfecting a special recipe to charm the handsome new neighbor—who has his own surprise gift for her come Christmas Eve!

I debated on how to review Christmas on Main Street. I wasn't sure if I should review each story separately, or on the whole. But then I realized that if I reviewed these individually, each review would read basically the same. Put simply, each novella was sweet, funny, and charming.

I am a fan of novellas, but an even bigger fan of holiday novellas, particularly Christmas and New Years. In these novellas, we get a piece of holiday spirit, set in small town America. You will get a reporter and an author, or new neighbors, neither couple looking for love, but finding it among magic. Happily, there are also stories involving one of my all-time favorite tropes, the "coming home" story, one involving a rekindled romance, another with a heroine who's in love with her brother's best friend. Despite the obvious similarities, all the stories read as unique and special.

Christmas on Main Street was a treat for me, despite reading it way too early in the season. Or more accurately, before the Christmas holidays begin. If you're looking to be put in a festive mood, give this anthology a try.

 

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GIVEAWAY
In an effort to help spread the holiday cheer, I'm giving my copy of Christmas on Main Street away.
To enter, leave your name/email address in the form. For an extra entry, tell me your favorite Christmas movie or song. My favorites are "Love Actually" and "All I Want for Christmas (Is You)" by Mariah Carey.

Open to US only. Must be 18+ to enter.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

About JoAnn Ross

New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross has written around a hundred novels for a bunch of publishers. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs.

A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.

Currently writing for NAL, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay book are set), and three rescued dogs, who pretty much rule the house, in the Pacific Northwest.

 

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About Susan Donovan

I grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of Milford, Ohio and spent my formative years in the cineplex, the mall, the drive-in, and the convertible MG of some guy named Gary. My mother claims I was destined to be a writer. As a kindergartner, I reported that I’d just seen a giraffe, elephant and rhinoceros at the bus stop. When Mom told me I was a good storyteller, I assured her that it was not a story, but the absolute truth! (See the rest of Susan Donovan's bio here)

 

 

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About LuAnn McLane

LuAnn McLane writes southern bent romantic comedy for NAL and is currently penning her third novel in her Cricket Creek book series.  Her books have appeared on best selling lists including Barnes and Noble, Rhapsody and Doubleday Book clubs. She recently collaborated with country superstar Wynonna Judd with the novel Restless Heart. She lives in Florence, Kentucky and when she isn’t writing… she enjoys family, friends, cooking, reading, music, travel and University of Kentucky basketball.

 

 

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About Alexis Morgan

Alexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer. She is published in paranormal romance, fantasy romance, American West historicals, and most recently, contemporary romances with her new Snowberry Creek series.

 

 

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