The Night Before Christmas

In my book collection, could only give it an 8. I consider it about average...nothing to write home about. I read so many books, that it takes something very special for 5 stars.

I thought these to be really good laid back christmas stories. Just something to pass the time. I enjoy short stories every once in awhile to break up the full size novels. These are really good. And yes I actually liked Sandra Hill's story.:}

PROMISES TO KEEP-This one is by Victoria Alexander. A lonely business woman, who refused marriage to her true love during World War II, gets the chance to relive her life, and the share the passion yet again. Thanks to the help of a department store Kris Kringle. 5 stars. NAUGHTY OR NICE-Written by Sandra Hill, this one follows the adventures of a young beauty named Jessica, who dresses as Santa Claus one night, so she can commit a robbery, but ends up taking a hostage who turns out to be her one true love. And the only person whom she can trust. 4 stars.SANTA READS ROMANCE-This one is by Dara Joy. A romance writer decides to take some time to seclude herself in a cabin, so she can finish up her latest masterpiece. But when a publisher dressed as Santa Claus ends up arriving during a snowstorm, she experiences something that she has only experienced through the characters in her novels. 5 stars.A GIFT FOR SANTA-Written by Nelle McFather. When a widow and her daughter decide to spread Christmas cheer throughout their small town, she doesn't realize that she is finding a perfect husband for herself, and a perfect father for her daughter. 4 stars.I found this treasury very enjoyable and well written. I felt that the stories that really shined in this novel, were Victoria Alexander's PROMISES TO KEEP, and Dara Joy's SANTA READS ROMANCE. A must-have treasury for your home this holiday season.

The first story is by Victoria Alexander, it's called "Promises to Keep". This is about a woman named Katherine who is lonely and sees Santa at a department store, she is 70 years old. She has many regrets in her life, but the one regret is her loss of her soul mate in 1942. Suddenly she finds herself swept back to that very point in her life that she always wished to change. She gets a real second chance to make things right this time. But is it too late? Is he still there? This is a beautiful and heartfilled story of hope and love. I loved it. 5 stars...The second story is by Sandra Hill (my favorite author). the story is called "Naughty or Nice". It's an hysterical journey through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as you follow a young woman through her 'Christmas Curse'. Jessica is dressed as Santa and is about to commit a crime, when she takes a hostage who coicidentally looks just like Brad Pitt who is also dressed like Santa. The two find themselves experiencing 'love at first sight'. I was nearly on the floor laughing with this one. It's funny and romantic. It's a 5 star read...The third story is by Dara Joy, it's called "Santa Reads Romance". I have never read Dara joy before and I was surprised. She is a funny and witty writer! This tale is about a woman romance writer, May. She goes to Maine and rents a cabin in the middle of nowhere to work on her book in peace. Soon she finds herself wishing she could go home when a blizzard begins and a 'Santa' shows up at her door who she knocks out thinking he is a maniac. The man she knocks out is a publisher named Hunter. Hunter is trying to get a manuscript from a moody horror writer deep in Maine. He is talked into dressing as Santa to do a stranger a favor when he finds the 'writer', May. Soon the story becomes hysterical as the two try and get along until they can leave the snowed in cabin. Will publisher and writer get together? This is a sure 5 star read...The fourth and last story is by Nelle McFather. It's called "A Gift for Santa". This is a tale of a single mother who finds true love and happiness on Christmas from a stranger named Nick. She finds her soul mate at long last, but can she teach him the true meaning of the season? Can she convince him that true love does indeed exist? This is more of a 4 star read in my opinion, but it is still wonderful.Tracy Talley~@

I love the collection as a whole, but right now am just reviewing Victoria Alexander's story in The Night Before Christmas, "Promises to Keep." Boy, this is an amazing time travel/fantasy story. A woman who loses the man she loves in WWII has a second chance to find him again through a magical Santa Claus. This is an incredible story. Really, really moving. And very original. Ms. Alexander just keeps getting better!