Sunday, November 24, 2013

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

Christmas on Main StreetGenre: 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.


 
Purchase Christmas on Main Street


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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
About JoAnn Ross
JoAnn RossNew 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.
 
 
 
 
About Susan Donovan
Susan DonovanI 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)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
About Alexis Morgan
Alexis MorganAlexis 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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29 comments:

  1. My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night.

    jmesparza821@gmail.com

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  2. this sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing ;) I loved While You Were Sleeping which I watch every year. Christmas and romance!

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  3. This sounds like such a sweet holiday collection! I love holiday stories. :)

    My favorite Christmas movie is definitely White Christmas, which I know all the words to! And my favorite song is "I'll Be Home for Christmas." :)

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  4. I love small town Christmas romances. :-)

    Favorite Christmas movie is Scrooged (and variations on A Christmas Carol). Favorite Christmas song, that's harder because I love so many... Newer song - All I Want For Christmas. Older song or rendition of older song in this case - Brian Setzer's Angels We Have Heard On High.

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  5. Oh fun! Have this and want to get to it. Good to know I'll enjoy it!

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  6. I love holiday anthologies too! This one sounds like a good one. I'm glad you enjoyed it. On a side note, my favorite christmas movie is, It's a Wonderful Life. I watch it every christmas, and it still makes me cry! LOL

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  7. My favorite Christmas movie is It's A Wonderful Life. This book sounds so good, I love reading Christmas stories. Thanks for having this giveaway.

    ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I'm intrigued by the fact that you generally like novellas. I'm the opposite :( I have enjoyed a few though and Christmas novellas are different, in my opinion. They have this different feel to them. Also, rekindled romance? Coming home story? GAAAAHHH. ME APPROVES! So glad that you enjoyed this novel as a whole :)

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  9. I really enjoyed these, there is something magical about holiday romances. LOL

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  10. My favorite Christmas movie is "A Christmas Story" i love that it's played for 24hrs on Christmas eve into Christmas day. I love this time of year, the time with my family and friends feels like its more special to me. Happy Reading.

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  11. There are actually two movies that are a MUST for me for the holidays: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacations.

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  12. I also looooove Love Actually. I also really love a sweet little cartoon called Anabelle's Wish. It's about a cow, that wants to be a reindeer. Adorable.

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  13. My favorite Christmas movie is "Scrooge" with Alistair Sims and my favorite Christmas song is "Hard Candy Christmas" the Dolly Parton version. Thanks for the chance to enter this giveaway.

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  14. My favorite Christmas movie is Elf. :)

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  15. This does sound like a great anthology for the holidays, Andrea. Thanks for sharing it. :)

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  16. Ohh yes, this sounds exactly like a book I want to read. I just finished Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle and this would be the perfect read to fire up my Christmas mood:))

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  17. Love, Actually is a favorite of mine too, and I'm enjoying the movies on Hallmark and Lifetime

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  18. These sound like perfect winter-evening reads!

    I watch The Year Without a Santa Claus every year. I also love The Santa Clause & The Santa Clause 2 :)

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  19. i love elf

    kmichellec87(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. My favorite Christmas song is Carol of the Bells.

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  21. I have this to review also. For some reason I didn't pay attention to the fact that it was novellas, which like even better when it comes Christmas stories to. Thanks for the great review.

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  22. My fav Christmas song is Leroy The Redneck Reindeer and Movie is The Year Without A Santa Claus.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  23. Love Actually is my favorite Christmas movie.

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  24. My favorite Christmas movie is definitely "Elf." So great!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  25. Love Christmas books. Thanks for sharing.

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