Kiss Me at Christmas

I picked up this book at 4pm on a snowy December day; by 10 pm when I read the last chapter I felt my heart would burst from pure happiness. It is a rare author that can make you love the characters so much that you can physically feel the love they have for one another. This is plainly put, a nice simple December read. It is set in historical American, ranging from Texas to Maryland and down to Florida. However unlike most Romance novels that cover this time frame, it is the Heroine who is the tough all American hero. You come to love Clementine as a daughter, sister or close friend. You feel for her insecurities, merely trying to fit into a world she was not raised for. And you applaud when Rand states he loves her for who she is including her freckles, southern accent and all. This doesn't have the darkness or anqust some historical romances do, though it does have a bit of a mystery in it, making it for a quick enjoyable read. Finally, it reminds us in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, what is truly important in our lives, our families, and seeing happiness in the eyes of the ones we love I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels, especially if it is enjoyed with a nice hot cup of hot chocolate.

Since this is a "Christmas-based" tale, it did not contain the angst that would be found in many an arranged marriage storyline. There is our hero, Rand Noble, tall & gorgeous - a doctor no less - who apparently still harbors love for his dead wife Ellie. He agrees to an arranged marriage to Clementine Calhoun, his father's friend's daughter. Clementine travels from Texas to Baltimore, Maryland to honor her deceased father's arrangement. She is tall and lacking in feminine charm. Her brother wants her out of the way since no man in Texas seems to want her. The book opens on the wedding ... each participant harboring thoughts of their intentions. Rand wants a son and Clementine wants to gain Rand's love. Will each attain that goal? The storyline had some fresh elements. I enjoyed the medical intricacies and the shipyard descriptions. The locale changes from cool northeastern weather to warm tropical-like conditions in Key West. Also trying to banish the ghost of Ellie (Rand's first wife) was done in an interesting way by the introduction of Ruby (a widowed, single-mother, Medium!). I enjoyed her story and that of Rand's rake of a father Johnathan immensely. (Actually their story was more intriguing than the main romance!) I did not like that Clementine lost her Texas ways so rapidly. She used to "wear chaps, play poker and eat two helpings at every meal" and within a short amount of time she was suddenly the belle of every ball and had lost her accent - besides being unbelievable, I thought it compromised her character. Otherwise, much of the book was pleasant and enjoyable reading for a quick joyous Christmas pick-me-up.