That Christmas Feeling (Palmer, Catherine)

Rating:
Summary: Two cozy small-town romances to warm your white Christmas!
Review: "Christmas in My Heart" Catherine Palmer | Playing on Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this story conjures up plenty of original charm with a strong plot set in small-town Missouri. The Beta police chief hero and preachy teacher heroine, both once-burned-twice-shy, try to keep their resurrected friendship just that--friendship and nothing else. The story's underlying issue revolves around society's responsibility toward the elderly and infirmed (embodied in a great-aunt haunted by her own ghosts of Christmas past), but for the most part it's handled with a light, often-amusing touch that blends nicely with the story's Christmas-and-goodwill tone. I liked how the characters' developing feelings nudged them to deliberately work against their own goals and progressed the romance, rather than a string of cute accidents. It made the well-paced story even stronger, and kept me reading until I finished it in one evening. ................. "Christmas Moon" Gail Gaymer Martin | Set in small-town Minnesota, this gentler story also features characters in the middle of a developing relationship. Martin braves politically incorrect territory with a Nurturer heroine whose primary goal in life is to become a wife and mother. Devoted to his kids, the widowed Beta hero is unbelievably in touch with his sensitive side, not that his road to love is any easier or quicker for it. I had to keep reminding myself why the nanny heroine didn't make a play for him. The reason, of course, is the conflict created by mutually excluding goals. She wants a family of her own, but if she leaves her job to pursue her dream, she'll take with her the heart and soul of the family he's desperate to hold together. After a blizzard sweeps away chronic uncertainties, the true issue in this smoothly written story remains: is she willing to trust promises made under a Christmas moon?

Rating:
Summary: Great reading for a cold winter evening
Review: If you are looking for a warm tender novel to get you in the Christmas spirit, this is a great one to choose. Catherine Palmer's story is fantastic and one to warm your heart. I loved Flossie and her spirit. Gail Gaymer Martin's story is sweet and touching. True love can sometimes be found right under your nose if you aren't too blind to see it. Light and engaging, this book is an enjoyable read for a cold winter night by the fire.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful, Cozy Tale
Review: That Christmas Feeling is a lovely, hardcover book coupling two new novellas by award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin and best-selling author, Catherine Palmer. Ms. Palmer's story, "Christmas in My Heart", is a delightful romantic tale of Claire Ross and Police Chief Rob West. Add Claire's eccentric Aunt Flossie and dozens of cats into the mix, and the romance is off to a crazy start. Ms. Martin's story, "Christmas Moon", is equally as charming - in which kids' nanny Rose Danby tries to sort out her feelings for their widowed father, her boss, Paul Stewart. While she loves his twins like they were her own, she is certain her relationship with Paul has no future. As Christmas approaches, Rose's choice becomes clear. Both stories will leave you smiling and brighten the holidays. So get a copy, grab a mug of hot chocolate, curl up by the fire, and enjoy! A delightful read!



Rating:
Summary: Christmas Moon
Review: That Christmas Feeling is a warm and delightful book. Both stories touched the heart of Christmas. My favorite in this selection is "Christmas Moon." Ms. Martin caught my attention immediately with her opening line, "Marry me." The entire story was filled with that special family-Christmas-feeling and the ending was worth the read. I recommend "That Christmas Feeling" wholeheartedly!