Review: It Must Be Christmas Anthology

It Must be Christmas
Authors: Jennifer Crusie, Donna Alward, and Mandy Baxter
Reviewer: Una
Rating: A-

What I’m Talking About:

It may seem a little early for Christmas.  I mean we haven’t even had Halloween.  But, it is certainly not too early for some fun, romantic tales set within the Christmas season.  I thoroughly enjoyed these three holiday novellas.

Jennifer Crusie’s title, Hot Toy was my favorite.  I loved the humor and absurdity of it all.  The snarkiness and contrasting elements reminded me of one of my favorite Jennifer Crusie stories, Agnes and the Hitman.  Blend together hectic last minute holiday shopping with romantic pitfalls, and add a dash of espionage and action and you’ll have this laugh-out-loud holiday romp.  I picked up this anthology for this story and it was better than I anticipated.  I hope there is more to come in this world or at least with these sarcastically witty characters.  I absolutely LOVED Trudy and the amount of abuse that poor Nolan could take.  This story alone is a must read!

Christmas at Seashell Cottage was a beautifully emotional tale.  Though humorous in places, Charlie and Dave’s slowly burning romance was heartfelt and honest.  I really enjoyed the nature of the story and the bit of magic (or fate) that played out.  Both Charlie and Dave had a personal, reflective journey, and I enjoyed how they handled it.  It was a stark contrast to the previous novella but was just as emotionally fulfilling.  I found myself lost in this small town, and rooting for this unlikely couple. This story’s magic truly touched my heart.

The final story, Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher was sizzling and passionate.  Though Chloe and Nate start out as a one night stand, it was fascinating to watch how it expanded into being more.  I really liked Chloe’s character and her sense of honor.  When Nate and Chloe had their falling out – it really surprised me even though it shouldn’t have.  Nate’s reaction, once you learn the truth of his past, was understandable. However, I felt Chloe was justified in never speaking to him again.  That being said, I like how Nate doesn’t just say he is sorry.  He proves how sorry he is and how much she means to him.  I love how he redeems himself in time for a happy Christmas evening.

All in all, three wonderful stories with the Christmas season as the backdrop.  I really enjoyed them and recommend it for anyone wanting to feel the Christmas spirit.

My Rating:  A- Enjoyed A Lot

About the Book:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when love is in the cold and frosty air—and desire reaches the boiling point…

Hot Toy 

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie comes a hilarious, sexy story about a determined shopper who grabs the last action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the arms of a sexy secret agent. Mayhem under the mistletoe ensues. Business as usual this Christmas season…right?

Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher 

Nate wants to stay away from all the women who want his money in Mandy Baxter’s story set deep in the heart of Texas. But when gorgeous do-gooder Chloe Benson comes knocking at his door—in search of funds for her charity—Nate can’t ignore the passion he feels for her. Maybe love is priceless after all?

Christmas at Seashell Cottage 

’Tis the season in Jewell Cove when local doctor Charlie Yang finds her quiet, steady life disrupted by both an abandoned baby in the nativity manger and ex-SEAL Dave Ricker. Are these turn of events too good to be true? Or is Christmas working its magic—for real— Donna Alward’s heartwarming holiday story?

Release Date: October 14, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley

Purchase Info:
Amazon