Christmas Secrets

I rated the book a 5 because all the stories were delightful. A Heavenly Christmas by Carole Mortimer was a pleasant, fast read with enjoyable characters. Even though they bickered a bit too much at the beginning, by the end they had reached understanding and trust, and, of course, love and happily ever after. The secondary romance was a nice bonus. A Seasonal Secret by Diana Hamilton was a bit more predicable but also a good read. However, Catherine Spencer's Christmas Passions was the standout story of the trio. Vivid characterizations and top notch writing distinguished this tale of lovers who had lost but then found each other again. The emotional conflict was real and very well portrayed. The dialogue was sharp and witty, and the resolution satisfying. The story was a cut above the usual romance fiction. Altogether, a good way to take a break from the holiday rush.

I love Christmas-themed romances, and this one was pretty good. I rated each story for four stars, but will review them individually. "A Heavenly Christmas" by Carole Mortimer Olivia Hardy had spent the last ten years of her life trying to forget her past, Christmas, and anything remotely emotional. So when her upstairs neighbor, good-looking Ethan Sherbourne, gets a baby practically dumped into his lap a few days before Christmas, she doesn't want to care. She thinks that Ethan is the father of the baby, and that the baby's mother is one of the parade of girls that go into Ethan's apartment. As Ethan, Olivia, and baby Andrea spend time together over Christmas, however, both Ethan and Olivia realize that there is more than meets the eye about the other. This story was okay, four star material. Mrs. Heavenly and Faith got on my nerves, the angels could have been left out entirely of the story. There were a few Big Misunderstandings keeping the hero and heroine apart, and if they had bothered to ask questions instead of just assuming things, they would have sorted out the stuff much quicker. It was a good romance, but a little too annoying for my tastes. "Christmas Passions" by Catherine Spencer Ava Sorensen, a nurse who currently worked in Africa, is returning home for Christmas for the first time in three years. She can't wait to see her best friend, Deenie, even though Deenie is practically engaged to the man Ava had had a crush on for years, Leo Ferrante. But when Ava sees Leo and has to spend a night with him stranded in a barn, the feelings she thought to suppress come to the surface once more. But Ava is torn between her friendship with Deenie and her passion for Leo - can there be any reconciliation? This one, I didn't really know what to make of it. On the one hand, it was pretty despicable that Ava was going around kissing her friend's supposed fiance, even though she kept telling him to leave her alone. But, on the other hand, things weren't exactly what they seemed. It was a good romance, but I couldn't completely get over the repulsion I felt for making moves on your best friend's man. "A Seasonal Secret" by Diana Hamilton Beth Hayley had loved Carl Forsythe since she was a young girl, but she knew that she was way out of his league. So, when she found herself pregnant, she thought she'd do the right thing and not tell him. Now, eight years later, Carl has returned to Bewley Hall to take care of his late uncle's estate. Newly divorced and bitter, Carl runs into Beth - and her little secret. This one was predictable, as expected. There's only so many ways one can render the "secret baby" plot. Still, it was fairly good. Carl was a pretty good hero, even though he was (justifiably!) angry in much of the story. Beth was noble in motives, even though she was wrong in keeping the pregnancy from Carl. It earned four stars in my book.

A Heavenly Christmas by Carole Mortimer is a bit too much like Touched By An Angel for my tastes. Olivia and Ethan were okay, but they could have sorted out their misunderstanding right away if they'd bothered to ask the right questions. Also, I got tired of Mrs. Heavenly real fast. Still, it's a quick, easy read with a feel-good ending like all Harlequin books. A Seasonal Secret by Diana Hamilton is more enjoyable. The author brings more emotions to the story, and makes her characters warmer and more interesting. There's an atmosphere of a good, old-fashioned Christmas about the story. Although it's a bit predictable at times, I was sorry when it ended. Christmas Passions by Catherine Spencer is what makes this anthology deserve its five stars. Leo is a hot, sexy hero, and any woman can relate to Ava, who finds herself torn between him and her best friend, Deenie. There's also another story inside this romance, and that's what makes it special, because it's not the usual secret baby, or anything like that. It's about girls who've been best friends since they were little, about how they've gone in different directions when they grew up, about using other people to get what you want, and about love winning out in the end. Also, I really enjoyed the other characters in the book, especially Leo's crazy Aunt Ethel. She made me laugh out loud at some of the things she said and did. The setting was great, too, just like a Christmas card. I could smell the gingerbread baking, and hear the choir in the church. A terrific read all round.