Silhouette Special #928: Only St. Nick Knew

From the back cover: Only St. Nick knew... Christmas was coming, complete with mistletoe, merriment--and way too many memories for reclusive young widow Alison Kent. Luckily, she'd gotten an assignment in far-off New Mexico. There, no one would gaily intrude upon the hollow ache inside her. But Alison hadn't bargained for sexy rancher Frank Bradford and his motherless twins. With quicksilver Christmas magic, the irresistible trio banished her holiday blues, lassoing her lonely heart and filling it with joy. But didn't loving always lead to grief? And wasn't a ready-made family too much to ask for? Only St. Nick had Alison's answers... And my review: This was a very enjoyable character-driven romance. I'm surprised that I'm the first reader to review this book, because it was very good. If you're looking for a sweet story that's about the fears and triumphs of the human heart, than this is the book for you. This was a story that had only one plot: the romance. And it didn't need any secondary plots. It's great just the way it is. Not many authors tackle the idea of two widowed people finding love again, but Nikki Benjamin did so beautifully. She created wonderful characters who really touched the reader's heart. They could have come across as cliched, but the author managed to keep them fresh and interesting. The twins were adorable (I just wanted to hug them!), Frank's father was one of those gruff old men with a heart of gold, and both Frank and Alison were honest, decent people. It was really a treat to read about a couple who wanted more than just a fling, right from the start. Too many romances these days involve people overcome with lust and falling into bed, then are surprised when love follows. That wasn't the case here, and was the main reason I enjoyed this book so much. There was more than sexual attraction drawing the hero and heroine together. While there was physical chemistry, it was an added bonus to their growing feelings of love. And that's just as it should be. Also, this was a book where the Christmas element of it didn't feel like it had been tacked on. It was woven throughout the background of the book. It did a lot to put me in a holiday mood, as well as giving me the "warm fuzzies". Recommended for all romance readers.