Mistletoe Memories

It is never too early to think about Christmas, and I am like a kid in a candy shop when I have a great gift picked out for one of my recipients. I will read Christmas themed stories year-round, so on this 90+ degree day, I read four Mistletoe Memories and enjoyed each one!

Tis the Season takes place in the early 1800's at the resort on Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey. Annaliese meets Stephan when someone whistles and startles her horses. She finds that the someone is Rory, a young boy whose uncle is ill and needs the services of Annaliese's father, the doctor at the resort. Annaliese and Stephan get caught in town during a snowstorm and find the love they both have been longing for.

Mercy Mild Ezekiel Norcross, the deputy sheriff, is delivering five orphans to families in the Schooley's Mountain area after the end of the Civil War. All of them have been spoken for except for the sagacious Polly. Zeke knows that Polly still has relatives alive and must go to see if they are willing to take her in. In the meantime, Polly is staying with Marianne Plum, a widow who is afraid she doesn't know how to be a mother. Zeke knows Marianne has all the knowledge she needs, and knows that she has all that he needs to be his wife.

Midnight Clear In the early 1900's, Olympia Paris runs the local orphanage on a ravelling shoestring. She finds she owes quite a bit in back taxes and that someone has decided to turn her home into a hotel to take advantage of the mineral springs in the area. When her old friend, Teddy Carstairs shows up at her house after years of being gone, she finds out who wants her house and that her friend has more on his mind than just building a hotel. He has her on his mind too.

Comfort and Joy Joy Buccini runs a transition house for foster children who have aged out of the system. When her primary benefactor and owner of the house where she lives and works dies, the new owner comes to evict her. Evan Lancaster, an attorney, meets up with Joy and finds a formidible foe with whom he would rather make peace.

Jennifer AlLee, Carla Olson Gade, Lisa Karon Richardson, and Gina Welborn have put together a delightfully entertaining book of four novellas to while away your time and get you in the Christmas spirit. Four stars at the very least.