Christmas Presence: Three Tales of Love

"Christmas Presence" by Donna Birdsell. Widow Astrid Martin wants to boycott Christmas as this will be the first year she faces the holidays since her husband died. However, the ghost of her spouse refuses to allow the woman he loved in life to grieve. He forces her to obtain work at the mall where he insures she meets someone else. "Secret Santa" by Lisa Childs. Single mother Maggie O'Brien worries that she and her children will miss Christmas as the bills are too great. However, a secret Santa keeps sending gifts to her and her family. She wonders who he is and will he arrive at her home gift wrapped on Christmas Eve? "You're All I Want for Christmas" by Susan Crosby. She was supposed to spend the holidays in the Bahamas, but instead Lauren Wright is grounded at the airport due to weather. However, a fellow stranded passenger begins to cheerfully chat with her; soon she gets into the Christmas spirit as he makes her feel good that she is not in the Bahamas, but instead with him. These three sugar without spice Yuletide romances will warm the hearts of contemporary romance readers. Harriet Klausner

What great Christmas novellas I'm so happy I read them. Donna Birdsell's CHRISTMAS PRESENCE--Astrid Martin's husband had been killed in an auto accident last holiday season so Astrid doesn't want a thing to do with this year's celebration. It seems as though David's ghost is making her *do* Christmas after all and while volunteering at Resources for Underprivileged Furry Friends, R.U.F.F. gift wrapping booth she also meets a man, he has every gift he buys wrapped by Astrid, and asks her out for coffee. Astrid refuses several times but Blake persists. How does she fit Blake into her life? Cute, sweet story! Lisa Childs' SECRET SANTA--Maggie O'Brien has an ex, Derek, that is such a jerk, a boss, Hal, who depends too much on her and a car that is a real lemon! but she has a hunky mechanic. It's Christmas time and she's trying to do more than usual and work full-time and get those 3 children all they want from St Nick. Her car doesn't want to start again so she calls the garage late one evening. The owner Patrick Mallehan answers and picks her up along with the car, it needs more work!, and takes her home to an empty house. He flirts and *finds* her SS gift in the car before he heads back to the shop. Her gift was Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction bath salts, body wash & lotion. She feels that the SS could be her boss, her ex or Patrick. The boss isn't the type though, the ex can't even shop for his own children and Patrick, who is a great guy but she doesn't know much of his personal life other than he is divorced and has been for some time. Next day she gets another gift from Victoria's Secret. Each gift has a note saying *take care of the woman you are* With a little more thought Patrick does get Maggie a lot closer to him and she loves it! Oh This novella is spicy! Susan Crosby's YOU'RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS--Ms Crosby's Dear Reader letter sits up the story as a *eyes meet across a crowded room and the what if happens*? So Lauren Wright is stuck due to weather delays in Denver at Chicago's O'Hare Airport while sitting and waiting she happens to be looking around and sees a good looking, mid 40s man, about her age, without a laptop and just an occasional call on his cellphone, very different. Before she knows it Joe is sitting next to her and offering to get them each a cup of coffee. They chit-chat and give their fellow travelers a *story* just guessing why someone else is here and what's happening with them and exchange some personal info while doing so. Lauren's from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and going to Nassau to meet her sister for Christmas, Joe's from Portland, Maine on his way to have Christmas with his daughter in Salt Lake City as the day progresses so do the cancellations. Finally both Lauren and Joe's flights were canceled. Joe suggests they go into Chicago to get a meal and room for the night. Lauren is scared and Joe is so kind and keeps telling her it's all her choice and he doesn't want to push her--what a night though!