Lacey Gallagher had a dream world, loving family, incredible job of driving trains and a semi-decent boyfriend. Or so she thought, but then it all came crashing down several years ago when she was arrested by Forest Service Officer Austin Wilder for drug dealing. She claimed she was innocent but no one believed her, especially Austin after all wasn't her "boyfriend" Dave Duggar testifying she was the mastermind behind the whole thing?

Finally released after only 3 years of prison, Lacey knew she was going to have a hard time in the real world again. It was the day before Thanksgiving, her parents had moved to Florida, and now it was her brother Sawyer running the tree farm his way. While she took full responsibility for what had happened, Lacey had just missed so much and was petrified of doing anything wrong at all, especially when Officer Wilder kept showing up daily on the tree farm to check on her.

Austin was quick to judge and felt the whole time that there was no way Lacey was innocent. Sure she was beautiful and made his knees quake when he saw her, she was still a criminal and he was just waiting for her to break the law again. That was until he realized that maybe he had bitten off just a little more than he could chew after promising that the Steam Train would be ready to start sending people up Copper Mountain for Santa's Workshop in 10 days. There was only one person who could really help put that train back together, Lacey!

Now the question would not be could they do it, because Lacey was sure they could. It was whether or not the connection between them could break through all the walls that each of them had set up. Could Austin realize that maybe Lacey was really innocent? Could Lacey see that Austin was just doing his job one that he took very seriously? Especially when the steam that the two of them generated together was enough to make Lucinda run that route for years.

Kat is an incredible author, who is able to create books that are so realistic if you close your eyes you can see what she put on the pages. This one touches the heart in some very different ways showing that often when we judge a person, they are often nothing like that at all. This is a definite must read for not just the holidays, but any time of year. Cannot wait for her next one to come out.

I was very surprised to find out this is the same town setting as A Bramble House Christmas as the authors were different. I love the snowy quiet town as a Christmas setting. The story was interesting and kept me captivated but I felt at parts it rushed through especially the last fourth of the book. I wanted some more detail in there!

4.5 Stars!

Are you looking for a uniquely original holiday romance? Then pick up a copy of Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham. This novella will tug at your heartstrings, cause you to shed a tear or two, and smile from ear to ear. What more can you ask for in a holiday read?

When freight train engineer Lacey Gallagher falls in love, she trusts her heart to her significant other inexplicably. So when her boyfriend frames her for a crime she unknowingly commits, she ends up going to prison. After serving her time, Lacey is back in the real world, helping her very supportive brother run their family's Christmas tree farm. Lacey throws herself into her work, in order to forget the past, save some money and figure out her new normal.

The testimony from forest ranger Austin Wilder helped put Lacey behind bars. Now that she is back in his jurisdiction, he can't help making a pest of himself by checking in with her on a daily basis. He realizes he should not be attracted to her, but he just can't help himself. Little does he know that the attraction is mutual. How bizarre is that? Not to mention the fact that Austin needs Lacey's engineering expertise to get his charitable holiday project completed in time for Christmas, and is more than shocked when she agrees to help him.

Lacey and Austin are a steamy couple and the circumstances that bring them together romantically are beyond unusual. As they truly get to know each other, Austin realizes that not all cases are black and white. Their relationship as well as Lacey's future, are replete with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I liked Lacey immediately and her ability to bounce back was truly inspiring. Austin's character had to grow on me, and by the end of the book I was able to forgive him for his criminal stupidity. Sawyer, Lacey's brother, and Jenna, Lacey's chic and determined lawyer, make a comical team and I am hopeful that Ms. Latham will create a story about them. Overall, this is a well-conceived holiday novella that you do not want to miss.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I've read almost every book written by Kat Latham, and while I've enjoyed every single one of them, I must confess that her latest release, Three Nights Before Christmas, has become my favorite. Beautiful written, Lacey Gallagher and Austin Wilder's story about finding love and redemption was haunting but hopeful. It highlights the things that the Christmas season inspires and reiterates in us--the importance of family, the need for forgiveness, and the undying belief that anything is possible. I loved, loved, LOVED how real Lacey and Austin were, especially when it came to their first few interactions with one another, because it allowed these main characters to truly develop their relationship. They had to earn each other's trust and respect. They have the kind of faith that's been cultivated because of extended periods of time together.

Lacey isn't some simpering, docile woman waiting to be rescued. Three years may seem like a short period of time to be in prison, but we've all heard stories of how even a few months can change someone. Her reaction to Austin is perfectly understandable, as is Austin's to her. That's why I pointed out how important it was for readers to see their relationship grow, because these finding love and forgiveness in a day or two would have been far from realistic. It isn't just her romance with Austin that gets your attention, but that of her relationship with her older brother Sawyer, as she tries to reconcile with him after believing how much she disappointed Sawyer with being with her ex and her arrest and prison time. Speaking of Sawyer, his interest in Lacey's lawyer, Jenna Macintosh, is subtle but rather promising as well.

I was hoping to hold off on reading any Christmas-related stories until December, but with the increasing number of books already out there and ready for release, I decided to bite the bullet. After all, there's an inside joke in my country about the Christmas season starting once the -ber months roll on. And you know what? I'm glad I read this book because it was so much more than I expected. It isn't sappy or overdone. It's a simple story about a woman trying to reconcile the woman she once was and the woman she is now and how she discovers love in the one man she never expected to fall in love with and whom she never thought would love her back. This is also part of a duet, the second book, His Christmas Gift, having been written by Sarah Mayberry and set for release next week. Three Nights Before Christmas gets five stars. ♥

A fast paced love story

After spending three years in prison for a crime she was unknowingly committed, freight train engineer, Lacey Gallagher is trying to restart her life. She ends up in Marietta working with her brother at the Christmas tree farm.

Forest ranger Austin Wilder was the man who helped put Lacey behind bars. Now that she is out of prison and living in town, he is keeping a close eye on her. But checking in on Lacey so often, Austin is starting to become attracted to her.

When Austin needs Lacey's help with a holiday project, he starts seeing Lacey for who she really is and not some common criminal. Will Lacey be able to trust Austin enough to give love a chance?

This well detailed story had me hooked. I was anxious to find out how the story ends. This book will make you believe in Christmas miracles.

Not just your normal holiday read! A gripping, emotional read that grabs your heart. Lacey and Austin's story keeps you turning the pages. This is one I'll read again and again

I really liked this book. It was a departure from a usual romance, which made it that much better. Lacey's struggle to figure out her life felt real, and gives you a view from a different perspective. I loved her smart mouth and determination to succeed despite her situation. Austin was just...yummm. Where can I find one? :)

Lacey and Austin have a pretty unpleasant history. He was the arresting officer in a drug case that Lacey inadvertently was involved in due to her relationship with the man in charge. Imprisoned for three years, she's finally free to try to pick up the pieces of her once thriving life. Working at her family's tree farm with her brother is a chance to rebuild, but for one reason or another Austin seems to always be around. Despite their best efforts to stay uninvolved, there is a strong attraction between them and they can't resist giving in. But can they develop the trust to put their troubled past behind them?

Kudos to Lacey for embracing the real spirit of forgiveness because I'm not sure that I would have been able to consider developing a relationship with a man who was responsible for the worst three years of my life. But Lacey is determined to move on, and Austin is realizing that things might not have been what they seemed, to his (most likely) everlasting guilt. The friendship they develop starts out very slowly, but eventually they find a space where they can just be themselves at the moment, and not what they were to each other before. I really liked both characters, Lacey's strong will and determination balancing well with Austin's dedication and wish to make amends. They share some steamy scenes together, and the spirit of the Christmas season definitely shines through. 4 stars for an entertaining, sometimes bittersweet, but eventual happy ending story.

Review posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Goodreads

I found it difficult, perhaps impossible, to buy into the basic premise of this novel and only persevered with it in the hope that the plot would become more believable as far as I was concerned.

I loved this! I can take or leave Christmas stories...but maybe the fact that this book didn't HAVE to take place during Christmas is one of the reasons I loved it so much. Besides Lacey's singing Christmas carols, it could've been any time of the year. This was such a great romance...the struggle with both characters not WANTING to like each other, but not being able to stay away from each other was done brilliantly. Lacey and Austin were so REAL to me, I think that's why I liked it so much...from Lacey putting on weight while she was in jail, to her relationship with her brother, to her not wanting to like/help Austin...it all worked and fit. This will definitely be going in my re-read pile. A wonderful story about real life and real people.

Lacey Gallagher has finally been released from prison after being convicted of a crime she didn’t really know she was involved in. Lacey had been an train engineer and got caught up with the wrong man. Her boyfriend had used her to traffic drugs but being caught with the package she couldn’t convince a jury she hadn’t known what was going on and her boyfriend Dave had testified it had all been her idea.

Austin Wilder was the officer that had arrested Lacey three years ago. When he runs into her after her release he immediately distrusts her and begins checking up on her quite often. When Austin has a problem with restoring a steam engine train before Christmas he turns to Lacey for help.

I have to admit I was a bit on the fence with this one all the way through. Lacey’s story was one that a lot of woman or even men in some cases could relate to, maybe not to the extent of prison time but in trusting someone so completely but being let down and ending up feeling used that I couldn’t help but wish the best for her.

Austin on the other hand seemed quite the jerk in the beginning of this. Even if Lacey had been completely guilty of her crime she had done her time and he really didn’t need to keep harassing her when she first was released. A part of me kept wondering why in the world Lacey would even be attracted to someone who couldn’t give her a bit of trust at all. I think I would’ve believed the attraction between the two more if Austin had come to Lacey saying ok you did your time let me help you get your life back and offer you a job working on this train and the relationship sparked from some sort of niceness on his part.

Also, I picked this one up thinking it was a small town Christmas cozy romance but it got a bit graphic in the sex and language. There’s romantic steamy and there’s erotic steamy and this one with the language and details fell more to the erotic side which isn’t necessarily bad but felt it should be mentioned as it isn’t overly obvious with the description or what one would expect from a cozy Christmas tale.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

OK - I admit it. I cried a bit over this story, in a totally good way. It didn't blow me away, but it was more than solid in its emotional strength. I'd say this year's crop of Christmas stories out of the Montana Born books got started with a winner.

Lacey has just gotten out of prison, three years for drug dealing. It's been a hard road, especially for a woman who swears she's not a drug dealer. But she's home now and trying to make the best of it. I like the subtle cues that indicate stress now that she is out. They add a realism to it that belies the more rose-tinted portions that come later. She's nervous and self-conscious, then angry and belligerent. She betrays her fears and then runs. I thought she was a compelling character overall. I adored her brother just for being himself and being there for her, a strong bulwark, even if a slightly bitter one.

Austin was more of a cipher. He's straight-laced and proud of it it. He's not a goody-goody, but he definitely is a straight arrow and he has a sense that he is always right that takes some hard knocks in this book. He was Lacey's arresting officer and his strong sense that she is smart and her fellow members of the drug ring are dumb led to some assumptions. He's not happy that Lacey is out of prison; that's for sure. But he shows an incredible amount of love and guilt, especially when it comes to Josh Dekker, whose accident happened on his watch (at least that's how he sees it).

Unfortunately for Austin, that means he needs to spend more time with Lacey, the same Lacey who is trying to avoid him. She's the train expert and he needs to restore a locomotive. And so, they are thrown together. And Austin sees a completely different side to Lacey, a side he likes - a lot. The time spent together rapidly becomes time spent being intimate and then time spent living together temporarily. And then the hitch in the road you are waiting for hits. Because Lacey has a real attorney and her ex-boyfriend the drug dealer who perjured himself against her at her trial has recanted. Now Austin has to decide what he believes.

A lot of the law enforcement stuff in this book is painted in a much rosier light than reality. It's a little hard to swallow but the "Christmas miracle" softens some of that blow. I liked the story and I like the author. I'd just have liked a bit more realism on that front. The tie-in for Lacey's brother's book was obvious and I'm curious about it as well.

When Lacey Gallagher gets out of prison after 3 long years, all she wants to do is go home and get her life back as much as possible. Her first day at home, she runs into the man whose testimony was crucial in convicting her, forest ranger Austin Wilder. Lacey is working at the family Christmas tree farm and Austin comes to get a tree with his mother. The first meeting between the two does not go well. Unfortunately for Austin, he has to ask Lacey to help him restore and old train which is integral to a fundraiser for his nephew.

Lacey was a train engineer before her arrest and as much as she wants to avoid Austin she can't resist the opportunity to work on the old, decrepit engine. Proximity weaves it's magic and both Lacey and Austin see a side of each other that they find very attractive.

True love doesn't magically erase the past and when Lacey might get a chance to retry her case, Austin is in a difficult position.

I enjoyed the way that Lacey and Austin discover their feelings for each other and how they deal with the challenges that their relationship will definitely cause. Just reading about the difficulties Lacey has in reintegrating back into her old life, not even adding falling in love with your worst nightmare, made the story that much more interesting. Little things like no drivers license, bank account, never mind being banned from the job she loved, add to the difficulties of putting the past behind her. I thought Ms. Latham did a great job of not glossing over the problems while not making Lacey a total downer.

Lacey and Austin are a couple you want to see get their HEA. I also enjoyed the backstory including characters from several of the previous books by Ms. Latham. I can't wait to read her next book!

What an awesome read! A very unique storyline and amazing characters pull you into this one and keep you there until the end. After spending three years in prison for a crime she wasn't guilty of you would expect Lacey to be bitter and angry but she isn't. Well maybe a little angry but she puts it behind her. And being crazy attracted to the person who arrested her originally is nuts, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

A truly great story of forgiveness, hope, and love. I highly recommend this one!

Lacey was so happy to be getting out of her personal hell, a place she has spent the last two and half years she been living and surviving. On her first day out she runs into the one person who she least wanted to see, but also the one person she has spent the last few years having dirty dreams about Austin. Home with her brother she finds her life not easy but she ready to get working and prove to Austin and her brother she is very much and can be an active member of society but when someone from her past finds her she is not sure what will happen next and she is just waiting for the ball to drop. Austin cannot believe his eyes while out shopping with his mom he runs into the one person he helped to put away and the one person he has so much anger and hate for, or does he really? He is not shocked to see Lacey who knows everyone gets out one time or another but he know is just a matter of time before she will go back and he is all to happy to keep his eyes open. When he needs her for a project he knows he needs to swallow his pride and ask her only thing is will she tell him to shove it or will she help in time to make his nephews dreams come true?
I really liked this story it was cute had a lot of passion and chemistry. I had a love hate with Austin in the book in parts I really did not like him at all but as the story went on I could see how his choices affected his overall stance on things. It nice to have a fun, spunky, mouthy female, somehow I feel like that was who she was before she went away but she became more vocal coming home. This book didn’t always feel like a Christmas story but it did have the magic a Christmas in it and it was nice getting to catch up with past characters.

This book is a nice addition to the Montana Born stories. Lacey has just been released from jail after serving three years for a crime she didn't commit. She had a wonderful life before making some stupid mistakes in her past and she is determined to start over. Austin was the Forestry Officer that arrested Lacey for drug smuggling...it was his testimony put her in prison. Lacey is working at her family's Christmas tree farm and she runs into Austin....in fact she seems to run into him often. There is a strong attraction between them but it would appear that their past is something that they may not be able to forget.

I have to say that Lacey is way more forgiving than I think I would be capable of. She is determined to move on and eventually Austin comes to realize that thing may not have been all they appeared to be. The two develop a friendship as they work on a project together and things grow from there as they see the real person inside and they let go of their assumptions about the other. I liked both of the characters in this book and I enjoyed seeing them find their HEA.

a wonderfully written holiday romance. GOod plot and characters.

3.75 stars--THREE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is the third installment (and novella) for Kat Latham in the Montana Born series. This is former freight train engineer, and current parolee Lacey Gallagher, and Officer Austin Wilder’s storyline. THREE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information is revealed where necessary. Several characters from Kat’s previous additions to the Montana Born –multi authored series -cross over in secondary and supporting roles.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Lacey and Austin) THREE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS focuses on Lacey’s release from prison and her reintegration into the family Christmas Tree farm. Lacey’s early parole following three years in prison for a crime she did not commit, finds our heroine home in time for Thanksgiving but her happiness is short lived when the police officer who testified against her, reveals that she will be watched and visited on a daily basis. What ensues is an acrimonious relationship between Lacey and Austin when Austin asks Lacey for her help repairing a locomotive steam engine in time for the Christmas holidays.

The relationship between Lacey and Austin is tepid in the beginning. Lacey and Austin were strangers at the time of her trial, and yet Austin testified to what he thinks he saw and to Lacey’s presumed guilt. An eight years sentence is commuted to three, and Lacey finds herself working side by side with the man who put her in jail. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense. Lacey is desperate for companionship and touch, and Austin is ripe for the picking.

The secondary and supporting characters include Lacey’s attorney Jenna Macintosh, and Lacey’s brother Sawyer Gallagher who has a thing for Lacey’s attorney. We are also reintroduced to Austin’s brother Gabriel, his wife Molly, and their son Josh; Josh has been in a wheel chair after suffering a near fatal fall (Montana Born Bachelor Auction Series).

The world building mainly focuses on the relationship between Austin and Lacey, as well as the preparations for the upcoming Christmas celebrations. While Lacey and Sawyer keep busy at the family-owned Christmas Tree farm, Austin brings Lacey into his life in order to make repairs on the steam engine he promised his nephew, in time for Christmas

THREE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a quick and sexy read; a second chance at life and love for Lacey Gallagher; and a second chance to correct the wrongs for Officer Wilder. The premise is full of holiday magic; the characters are colorful and animated; the romance is a bit of a roller coaster of forbidden love. I did have one issue with the ‘legality ‘ of Austin and Lacey’s relationship-I am not sure if their ‘love match’ would have been accepted in principle or in the real world.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1433950438

SHELFARI: http://www.shelfari.com/books/39479823/Three-Nights-before-Christmas-%28Montana-Born-Christmas%29/reviews/4889494

AMAZON.COM: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2K3FBV2D4E6K8/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0175N50IG

B&N: posted

CHAPTERS/INDIGO: posted

This was a great book! I really enjoyed it, while it’s not exactly light it is a great engaging read. I loved watching Lacey and Austin overcome their painful past and fall in love. I loved getting to see Austin’s brother Gabriel again (along with Molly and Josh who is just too cute!). This is an amazing story of redemption and the healing power of love. My heart ached for Lacey so often while reading this book and then for Austin as he wrestled with his guilt over his roll in her incarceration. These two overcome so much and it was wonderful to read. Now on to Lacey’s brother’s story…

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Lacey Gallagher is not your typical doe-eyed, woe is me kind of ex-con. She was convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, but three years in prison have changed her. She is no longer the carefree, fun-loving, naïve girl she was before. She’s hardened and unsure of herself, unhappy with how she looks, how she feels and how life has treated her. The only constant in her life is her big brother. Even despite his censure at her mistakes, he has visited her, provided her with necessities and support from the outside, and has a job (and a home) waiting for her when she gets out.
Austin Wilder is your typical alpha law enforcement hero. He sees the world in black and white, and can’t say he’s happy about Lacey being paroled only three years into her ten year sentence. As forest ranger and an officer of the law, it’s his job to protect the very forest that she supposedly took advantage of. She was caught red-handed with evidence linking her to a drug trafficking ring, even though she swore it was her boyfriend’s crime and she knew nothing about it.
When Lacey and Austin first cross paths again, tensions run high. He has no use for her, and she has nothing but anger towards him. What they do have is insane chemistry. Even though neither of them want to want the other, they can’t deny the fierce pull that draws them together again and again. When Austin asks for her help in restoring an old steam locomotive, Lacey jumps at the chance to not only work once again with trains, but to also spend time with her onetime nemesis.
For a short story, I thought this one was very well written. At first it was hard to relate to Lacey, but the way the author portrayed her was spot on and so believable. She was prickly and defensive, suffering from mistrust and starving for affection (and sex). When Austin began to open his eyes to the real Lacey, it was all over for her. Having someone to lean on, to care for her, to fight her battles for her was something she’d longed for. Even the sort of “big misunderstanding” (which I normally hate) was expected and not unrealistic, given the circumstances. If you’re looking for a warm-hearted Christmas romance with a rocky beginning, a steamy middle and a touching ending, this one’s for you.
I give Three Nights Before Christmas 4 stars!

How could loving someone, trusting someone turn a person’s life so horribly wrong? At this point, Lacey didn’t have any better answer than she’d had three years ago when she’d heard the doors of her prison cell close behind her. She’d ended up here by trusting and loving a man who’d used her, lied about her under oath. Yeah, guess that did mean she was criminally stupid just like the arresting officer had said. Only he believed she was as guilty as sin and never once wavered from that opinion.

Now she was free again – well, as free as an innocent woman on several years of parole could be. As free to walk down the streets of her home town and have people gawk and point at her. As free to never go back to the job that she’d loved. to driving the trains that sped through the mountain passes and forests around Marietta, Montana. Yeah, all that – but if she kept low and invisible she might survive but at least she was outside of those prison walls… and she was never going back, because she’d never give her trust like that ever again.

Austin was surprised to see Lacey at her brother’s Christmas tree farm. Oh, he knew that she’d been granted parole, he was the arresting officer but he just figured she’d hide herself away from the townsfolk and not be out here in the middle of the chaos of Christmas tree sales. Still, he’d keep an eye on her. Too bad that he’d eventually have to break down and ask her for help restoring the old steam engine that could take paying customers up to Santa’s Wonderland at the top of Copper Mountain. It was a fundraiser to open a camp for kids like his nephew Josh who’d been injured in this very forest. Yeah, he’d have to beg he supposed but that didn’t mean he had to do it nicely.

Three Nights Before Christmas is a powerful, emotional romance that as a side effect should make you bless your lucky stars every single day that you were never in Lacey’s position. Austin comes off as a very stern, very rigid man who believes in the evidence that was in front of him at the time of Lacey’s arrest. But she’d done her time and the parole board felt it was enough to send her out into the world again. He still felt she was a mastermind at lying and deceiving others, either that or she was truly criminally stupid to get caught up in the mess she was in. Lacey was an emotional volcano just waiting for the right moment to erupt. The only thing she’d done wrong was trust and love the wrong man. Now her life was in ruins, she might be physically free but at times she felt like those prison walls were still closing in on her.

There were times when I was reading Lacey’s thoughts that I kept thinking of a wounded animal’s cries. That desperation that some part of the brain knows to reach out for human help but at the same time understands the danger in that trust. At times Lacey’s emotions and dialog were so raw you could almost physically feel her emotional pain. Slowly as Austin and Lacey work to restore the old steam engine a different side of Lacey begins to emerge and just maybe Austin begins to have some serious doubts about what he thought he knew about her. Their romance is steamy, intense. At time the emotions could go to the highest peaks then crash down to the deepest valleys. It was a heart wrenching journey.

I would highly recommend Three Nights Before Christmas. It’s not your typical cozy Christmas tale. There are some very real issues and emotions being dealt with here. But it is an excellent story that will rip your heart out and mend it again.

*I received an e-ARC of Three Nights Before Christmas from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham is part of the Montana Born Christmas series but can be read as a standalone. Its a small town romance set in Marietta and is a romance between an ex-con and the officer who was part of her arrest and trial. And that alone makes this holiday romance quite unique. Lacey Gallagher has spent three years in prison for a crime she didn't commit. But now she's out on parole and is trying to piece her life together again, which is never easy. Its even becoming difficult when your arresting officer keeps popping up and reminding you of all the things you've lost and might lose again. Austin Wilder didn't expect to see Lacey again, much less asking her for a big favor in fixing the steam train thats going to make a young boy's Christmas. As Austin and Lacey get to know each other more, the resulting attraction is quite hard to ignore. Pretty soon they're going at it hot and heavy. But how long before Lacey's little bubble of happiness burst and she is once again doubting herself and her choices? This was a heartwarming read, often times making you tear up with what the character of Lacey had gone through and is still going through, but you definitely will enjoy how she just decided to go for it and try living her life joyfully. Excellent holiday reading.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have only one word for this story: Wow. Amazing story. Okay, that’s three words but you need to buy and read this story! I will admit that when I first started reading it, I couldn’t figure out what the Christmas hook was to the story. Trust me that it becomes obvious very quickly. This really is a very deep, caring, loving, gut-wrenching, make-you-teary-eyed story that will grab you and make you not want to put it down until you have finished the last page. Lacey will break your heart – and she displays the “cluelessness” about herself (that gets her into trouble) throughout the book but you can’t dislike her for it – it just endears her to you. And Austin – he will make you love him/hate him/wanna hug him/wanna slap him upside the head/and then comfort him as he deals with his past actions. These two have a long ride to get to their HEA but what an amazing journey. I really like this story and it gave me a holiday miracle that doesn’t often make it in all the stories out there. And I will make sure I read upcoming stories about the secondary characters – and they are characters! I can only highly recommend this book. It is a keeper.

The Author Crush continues....

**I received this book as an ARC through Tule Publishing via NetGalley. In return I will give my honest review**
First of all let me say I absolutely loved this book!! Couldn't put it down, went home after 12 hours of work and had to finish this book! I did not read any other books in this series but now I will. Very well written book with excellent character development. Lacey had such a rough past. I felt sorry for her but she is a fighter. Very strong woman absolutely loved her character. Along comes Austin the man responsible for taking everything away (not fully but he arrested her) she hates this man but also wants to devour him as well. Their story was incredible. I also want to say I love her brother as well. And can't wait to see if their will be a story about him and Jenna. This book had me laughing out loud. And also made me so happy. This is a must read book.

Looking for some holiday fun, check out Three Nights before Christmas.

Lacey is a recent parole, thrust back into a life she was ripped from 3 years prior.

The man who was the catalyst behind her incarceration doesn’t think he can trust her but needs her train expertise to make a Christmas wish come true.

This is a slow building romance, with lots of character growth and mutual appreciation.

I have to admit, I was a little reluctant about an ex-con falling in love with the lawman storyline but Latham works it out perfectly. My apprehension was for not.

Cute, quick and very enjoyable, Three Nights before Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas love story.

I received this copy of Three Nights before Christmas from Tule Publishing- Montana Born Books in exchange for a honest review.

My Rating: 4 Stars Written by: Kat Latham Print Length: 183 pages Publisher: Tule Publishing Publication Date: October 25, 2015 Genre: Holiday Romance

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A beautiful love story

I loved Three Nights Before Christmas! Kat Latham writes forewords that make you believe that her books have been wrung from stone. I don't know whether it is really, really hard for her to create or whether she is just a little unsure of her skill as an author. Whatever it is, she has absolutely no need to worry. This lady can write! Lacey has been to hell and back, having spent three years in jail after a drug conviction, so when the man who put her there asks for a favour she doesn't feel all that kindly disposed towards him. The thing is, though, that the favour involves rebuilding a locomotive, and Lacey loves locomotives.
Austin is none too pleased to see Lacey back after her three years in jail. He was convinced of her guilt when he testified against her, and his opinion hasn't changed. Trouble is Lacey has skills that he needs and he needs them now.
It was fun watching these two dancing around each other, fighting the mutual attraction and trying not to like each other. The plot made me think too, which is refreshing in a romance novel. There are all the "what ifs" associated with wrongful arrest and the consequences a conviction can have on a person's life. Above all though, this book was deeply satisfying to read. I can't wait for Kat Latham's next offering.

2015 has seen Kat Latham become one of my go-to authors. I just know that when I pick one of her books up I’m not going to be left disappointed and Three Nights Before Christmas reinforces this.

"There's no officer here. No criminal. Just Austin and Lacey..."

I have to say I wasn’t quite sure how a romance between Lacey Gallagher and Austin Wilder would work; after all he played a part in her ending up spending three miserable years in prison, how do you go from that to lovers? But Kat Latham did make it work and crafted a wonderful festive romance focusing on forgiveness and understanding.

"...I see you, Lacey."
Perfectly paced, the romance was enchanting, steamy, emotional and Lacey and Austin were a couple to love. She’s no wallflower, her time inside may have ended her career as a successful train engineer but her strength of determination to move on with her life and start again was quite humbling, as was Austin’s realisations as to the mistakes and assumptions he may have made in the past.

"You're a dirty-minded sex-fiend."

If a festive feel-good, steamy read is what you’re looking for, then this ticks the boxes. And with Lacey’s brother and her lawyer featuring throughout, it’s onto Sarah Mayberry’s His Christmas Gift for me to see what lies in store for them.

I received an ARC copy from the author through NetGalley and I purchased a copy in exchange for an honest review. This is a very sad but believable story but a great read, keep the box of kleenex handy. Lacey Gallagher just released from prison after serving almost 3 years of her sentence. She trusted someone who turned on her and she paid the price. Austin Wilder comes to realize Lacey was given a bad deal and finds out that the person she was before going into prison is the person he falls in love with. Well developed characters, full of life and a lot of fun, but be sure to keep a close eye on them. Great dialogue and wonderfully realistic characters.

a sweet easy read

Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham is a sweet, romantic, and spicy story about second chances, redemption and how things aren't always what they seem. Though there are several characters in this character driven book, the story follows Lacey Gallagher and Austin Wilder.

Lacey Gallagher has just been released from prison after serving three years for a crime she didn't knowingly commit. The testimonies of Austin, a forest service officer, and that of her lying ex-boyfriend sealed her fate. She is haunted by the injustice, betrayal and her prison experiences. She is a wounded soul. With no other option, she moves in with her brother, which is difficult for both of them.

Austin Wilder is a good man but one who "knows" what he saw--Lacey with a box of money and suitcase full of drugs. He "knows" she's guilty. Still he needs her help to repair a steam engine so that he can help do a good thing for handicapped children. Lacey agrees to work with him and their working together changes them both as they begin to see the other from a different perspective and more shades of gray are added to the blacks and whites of life. Their relationship progresses in fits and starts with steps backwards as they fight then acknowledge the growing attraction between them.

I really enjoyed this book, buzzing through it in a day and a half. While it gave me insights into what it would be like to re-enter society after prison, it was still a relatively light read, which I appreciated. I liked reading about the evolution of Lacey from a truly broken soul; angry, terrified of being sent back to prison and justifiably worried about the future, to a young woman who gradually begins to regain her spirit. I especially enjoyed the story of Lacey and Austin as they fitfully navigate their paths forward. The ups and downs of their relationship added a note of realism. Their romance became pretty steamy, so keep that in mind. This is a good book to read year round, but it's especially nice around the holidays. I highly recommend this book, especially for lovers of contemporary romance.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

I loved how this book could be read as a stand alone or as part of the series. I would suggest reading the whole series because they are all great!

So, all in all, I thought this was a great Christmas romance involving an unusual circumstance and pair and would recommend it to readers who like snow-melting holiday contemporary romance.

This is the other side of the story, where His Christmas Gift told Lacey brothers and her lawyers' story, this is the story from Lacey's point of view, when she finally gets out of prison and her falling in love with Austin.
The story is heartfelt and emotional. Lacey does an amazing job with trying to adjust to the life outside the prison. It is not easy, so many obstacles, so many hurdles, both practical, physical, and emotional. But she is tougher than the most, and determined to build her life again. I love and admire her spirit and guts.
Her and Austin has a very painful history, he is the arresting officer, and his testimony was, what puts Lacey into the prison. But now through circumstances in life, they are working together, and learning to know each other, and see each other with a totally new eyes, see into each other's heart, finding a soul mate they don't want to live without. I adore this story. The characters really got to me, they life hasn't been easy, but they make due with the cards they are dealt with. I love how well His Christmas Gift and this one were built together, but still separate stories, both stories totally getting into my heart. I'm glad I read the books in the order I did, I think the other one built this one up perfectly. These characters, their destinies, will stay with me for a good while, these stories are the kind that changes something inside of you, gives you a new kind of perspective into many things
~ Five Spoons

I was impressed that Kat Latham opened the story with the prison scene. It certainly hooked me into the story. Then I was speculating whether the love interest would be the parole officer or the asserting officer. That only lasted a minute then I knew who it would be. Now let me just say this and get it out of the way, I loved Austin’s mother. I believe that once you’re a mother, always a mother. I have no doubt that Mrs. Wilder would completely agree with me. You go, girl!

Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham has everything needed for a unique story about two people getting the chance to become friends when earlier they clearly stood on opposite sides. From that friendship comes a strong love bond. That may seem improbable but it is believable since it is a natural progression.

The struggles that Austin and Lacey face in their lives with town gossips and mean spirited nosiness show the down side of small town living. The author manages to balance this out with the positive Santa’s Wonderland work. I enjoyed all of this part of the story especially since it is working on Lucinda as much as on the tree farm that Lacey begins to rebuild her lost dignity.

Along the way is the attraction between Lacey’s brother and her lawyer, too. His Christmas Gift by Sarah Mayberry is out now with Sawyer and Jenna’s story. 4.5 Stars

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy

I started reading this one right after His Christmas Gift and it made more sense reading these two books back to back. This book is about Lacey's back story and her happiness. Lacey was a freight train engineer and she went to prison due to her ex-boyfriend blindsided her with his drug business and used her train as transportation. Back then Austin Wilder was one of the officers who testified against her. After being in prison for three years, Lacey's outlook on life has changed. She was afraid of uniforms and was not really ready to face the crowd. Austin keeps coming to tree farm and startles Lacey. Austin was putting back steam engine but he was stuck. He was asking Lacey for a favor to fix the train. They didn't start their relationship like everyone else. Now, she is afraid to trust anyone specially Austin.. But they were attracted to each other. They were bound to work together on rebuilding the train and they got to know each other. Both decided to give into their feeling and see where it would take both. When everything seems to work for both, Lacey felt she was betrayed again from Austin because Austin was called back to testify.. Now she is worried he won't be able to help her. Will Austin see beyond what she did before? Will both find their happiness from each other. This book had many characters from previous Marietta characters. Austins brothers made some appearances. I loved when those brother's had ugly Christmas sweater contest of their own. It was fun.. I recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about romance and second chances.

This story is proof positive that one mistake does not define who we are. That is why I fell in love with this book and these characters. Lacey is a good person that trusted the wrong man and it ended up costing her three years of her life, her reputation and her self- respect. Austin has seen Lacey at her lowest and was instrumental in her spending three years in prison. Trusting Lacey is not easy for him. Needing her help is unexpected. As they work together for a good cause and he gets to know the insecure girl with the big heart, he starts to question all he thought he knew. Will his actions years before ending up costing him dearly? Or will Austin and Lacey find their own Christmas miracle? Kat Latham has written another wonderful tale. Lacey was one of Ms. Latham's best character's. In spite of the shame she endured she was still determined to prove she was more than her criminal past.

If you're looking for a fun, and sexy, holiday romance with an interesting heroine and set up, look no further than Three Nights Before Christmas! Also, why haven't I read Latham before? I know I have one or two on my Kindle, unread, and I also know that Kame loves her books. After enjoying this one so much, you better believe I'm looking forward to reading her other novels, too.

Lacey made some mistakes and trusted the wrong guy, which lead to her being arrested and sentenced for a drug-bust three years ago. Out on parole and trying to get her life back together, she never expected to run into the very man who arrested her, let alone start to fall for him. Austin is just as thrown by the attraction burning between them, but as he gets to know her more, he starts to realize that perhaps she was telling him the truth three years ago. Could she be innocent, after all?

I loved this story. I loved that the set up was different. I loved all the fun quotes and scenes in it. So many, in fact, that my Kindle is full of highlights, only a fraction of which I shared on Twitter while reading, or here, in my review. I actually found myself smiling and snorting while reading, something that's rare for me. It had just the right steam-to-laughs ratio, with some mild angst in the form of Lacey trying to get her life back and her record cleared. The fact that it took place during the holidays only added to the charm of this book.

Once again, I'm only sorry that I've put off reading Latham until now. I'll be fixing that immediately. I highly recommend this charming and fun romance!

4 1/2 STARS!

Kitty's review:

When I first started reading this story, I was baffled about how this was all going to work out. The last thing that I expected was the story starting in a prison cell. Where was Kat Latham taking this story and these characters? How was she going to turn this into a romance? Wow, was I surprised!
Austin and Lacey’s story, needless to say, was filled with rife, animosity and mistrust. Austin put Lacey in jail. He did not believe a word that she said and he thinks that she is either a drug runner or just “criminally stupid”. Oil and water … fire and ice … no, they do not mix together well at all. He questions her whenever he sees her, he truly just aggravates her. So, coming home has her dealing with her brother’s animosity and “I told you so” attitude and the local law enforcement. How is she supposed to get her life back and move on from doing time in prison for a crime that she had no idea she was committing? Thank God for her attorney, Jenna, working her magic, for believing her and thank God for that old steam engine. Yes, even after everything he put her through, the snide remarks and the mistrust, she’ll work on the steam engine for Austin, bring it back to life and bring joy to the people of Marietta, Montana …. even if it kills her.

Austin knows he’s asking a lot but there is no way he’ll disappoint his family and especially Josh. He promised them that the old steam engine would be in working order to take everyone up to Santa’s Wonderland. It’s time to swallow his pride and ask the one person he knows would be able to put her back together and get her running again .. Lacey. He knows he took her life working with engines and being the first woman conductor away from her. Maybe this could make up for that. And, she’s really easy on the eyes. In fact, there’s a certain part of his anatomy that is really interested in her. But, this isn’t the time or the place for that. She wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the man that put her away, stole her dreams. He has to ask and he has to hope she’ll say yes. The rest, if it’s meant to be, will come later.

Neither one of them expected the attraction they had to be as strong as it was. Lacey has always loved sex and Austin is as sexy as they get. After working side by side on “Lucinda”, the sparks fly and the attraction between them explodes. There is no way either can deny it and no way for them to stay away from the other. But, what happens when she finds out that she’s getting a new trial? What happens when Austin is going to have to testify against her again? What the hell does she do when Jenna comes down with the Chicken Pox and is quarantined at her house? What does she do with the tree farm since her brother, broke his leg? Talk about complications! But, she persevered in prison, she’ll handle this mess as well. But, without Austin and that just sucks.

I was really blown away by this story. As I said, I had no idea where the story was going to go. I was so surprised and thrilled with the way she brought the characters full circle. Josh was a little spitfire. Sawyer really needed an attitude adjustment. Watching Austin go from mistrusting Lacey to seeing the real person was amazing. And, Lacey. Wow, what a strong and determined woman she was. And, the ending … the epilogue … wow, just wow.

So, again, welcome to the Marietta Stoll. This time, grab a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the sights as you are riding Lucinda up Copper Mountain to Santa’s Wonderland.

Lacey Gallagher always lived her life on her own terms, not listening to anyone. She has a successful career as a train engineer, a family who loves her, and a cute on-again, off-again boyfriend she enjoys, despite her brother's warnings. Then it all falls apart when she is arrested for transporting drugs. In shock, she is convicted on her boyfriend's testimony that she is the mastermind behind the operation. Three years later she has a new lawyer and an early parole, and now has to put her life back together. All she wants is to make amends with her brother, including help him with the family farm, and keep herself from being a statistic. The last thing she needs is Austin Wilder looking over her shoulder as she struggles to readjust to life.
Forest Ranger Austin Wilder has seen it all, and usually the worst is what people live up to. When he arrested Lacey, it was black and white, he caught her in the act. It is only a matter of time before she messes up again. When he takes on restoration of an old steam engine to help his brother, he has to swallow his pride and ask for help from the one person who has the least reason to agree. Lacey has no reason to agree, but the cause and the chance to do something she loves, trump her misgivings.
As they work together, the long hours challenge his assumptions, and friendship and respect grow.
This was a Christmas story that is so much more. There are second chances, redemption, and love. The characters are well-developed and real, their struggles and feelings are well-written, the story moves at a good pace, and there is more than enough development to make you feel like you are getting more than the novella it is. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Sawyer and Austin's Mom, as well as the other characters we have met before. Kat Latham has become a go-to author for me, and this story does not disappoint. I highly recommend this Christmas read, any time of the year.

Just getting out of prison on parole right before Thanksgiving, Lacey Gallagher returns to her brother’s home and the family Christmas tree farm ready to get her life back. Too bad she encounters the man who arrested her and he’s as disdainful of her as ever.

Austin Wilder wasn’t prepared to encounter the woman he arrested for transporting drugs and being a huge part of a drug ring. She looks harder and wary, but she’s also the only one he knows who can get the steam locomotive up and running in time for the Christmas charity activities to help get the donations for the camp for kids with special needs like his nephew.

Working together, day in and day out takes some of the edge off their hostilities, but Lacey never wants to be dumb about men again and the best way is to keep her distance and Austin doesn’t know what to believe now that he’s getting to know Lacey. In the meantime, Lacey’s lawyer brings startling news and starts to raise her Christmas hopes.

I saw the blurb and couldn’t resist such a situation- an ex-con and her arresting officer? Plus she works on trains! How cool is that? Plus it’s Kat Latham and I enjoyed her rugby players so I had to give this Christmas story ago.

The book is connected both to the Montana Born Christmas series and the London Legends stories through Austin’s siblings’ romance that chronologically happen before this story. There is also a tie to a separate book that tells a parallel time line romance with Lacey’s brother. For all that, this is still a standalone.

The story was a good blend of holiday cheer and hope with the reality of Lacey being an ex-con and Austin being directly involved in the investigation that put her away. The author did a good job of writing a character who was convincing as having just spent time in prison and now must live with the consequences. The story went by quickly, but the author still took her time developing a romance that starts as hostile at best. There was also the shadows that Lacey’s experiences cast over the relationship. It was many of the little things that the author got right whether it was her response to touch, her near terror at seeing Austin in uniform, her appreciation for real coffee and private bathrooms, and even the struggle she has to connect with her very supportive brother.

Now, the other thing was Lacey’s physical reaction to Austin and his to her. This pair were hot tamales once they got to a certain place. Lacey is not a gentle, retiring sort. She is a strong, lusty woman that works hard and is honest in her needs and wants. Austin soon finds that what he thought he wanted was all wrong. Lacey’s it for him. He gets hot seeing her covered in grease and sweat and wrestling train parts together or hauling a Christmas tree up over her shoulder and loading it for a customer just as he can’t get enough of having her in his bed. But while Lacey will take what Austin as to offer in bed, she struggles to get past the fact that he was there for all her worst moments- her arrest and her court hearing and sentencing, and she doesn’t think he can see past all that either.

The holiday element was woven in well. There was the Christmas tree farm which was a festive setting, but also the preparations for the Christmas town to raise money for the special camp. Lacey wants decorations and music around her to reminder her that she is free and Austin finds that he enjoys providing it all just to give that sense of freedom and peace to her.

So, all in all, I thought this was a great Christmas romance involving an unusual circumstance and pair and would recommend it to readers who like snow-melting holiday contemporary romance.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I discovered Kat Latham with her wonderful London Legends series, all about Rubgy players and the women who love them. I knew nothing about Rugby before starting this series, besides the fact that it was kind of like American Football, but with a lot less in the way of pads or helmets. But I completely fell for the author's clever writing and witty dialogue, I still know very little about Rugby, but, you know, hot guys playing sweaty sports in my imagination! Wins all around! So yes, it was all about the name recognition when I saw this cross my Christmas potential reads list.

In addition to the great dialogue that I have come to expect from the author, I just had to read about a train engineer. One who's a former convict. And a female! A female train engineer ex-con. Never read that before! Totally made me look. And it was AWESOME! (Just sayin.) I totally dug Lacey and all the crap she has dealt with. Total bonus was finding out that our leading man, Austin, is the brother to Camila from Taming the Legend, the last book in the London Legends series.

I didn't go into this realizing the books were linked... or that this is the third book in the brother's series. So now I have to go track down One Night with Her Bachelor & Two Nights with His Bride. (Which I am sure that I will absolutely enjoy.) And if that's not bad enough, Lacey's brother has his own book too, by author Sarah Mayberry, that I totally have to read. Because getting a peek at his romance but not finding out the details is gnawing at me. *squinty eyes at tricksy authors*

Basically, this was a book about second chances and forgiveness. Forgiveness from others, yes, but forgiving yourself as well. Admitting that everyone makes mistakes, and being able to forgive yourself and move on was a major theme in this book. It felt longer than the number of pages listed, mostly because there was a lot of emotion packed into those 183 pages. I gave this 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read and review the book.

4 - "I don't know why it's you... and I wish like hell it wasn't." Stars!

I really enjoyed Three Nights before Christmas, it is always a pleasure to return to the town of Marietta, Montana and it’s inhabitants, and Kat Latham, gave Austin and Lacey and absolutely stellar story for me to sink my teeth into.

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I think what made this little novella such a treat is the fact that it was quite unusual in its tropes, the ex-con and the man who helped send her to jail falling in love, over the rebuilding of a steam train.

Lacey was a strong and sassy woman, hardened to some elements in life due to her time spent in prison, and Austin operating under pre-conceived assumptions about her due to her conviction were a really great couple, both strong mentally, but also vulnerable as well. It was good too read of the gradual building of the relationship for this couple in-spite of the issues that initially were between them.

A really great read, sexy and a little emotional at points, and a really likeable couple to boot. It also gives you a little insight into Lacey’s brother Sawyer, whose story is told in Sarah Mayberry’s Christmas novella His Christmas Gift also available now.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.

I really enjoyed this emotional book. It has characters that moved me.

I was given this book via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and a review.

This is an awesome read has everything you need in a romance and has extra special air of Christmas spirit to it, Kat Latham is an excellent writer and has great way pulling her readers in to her books.

This novella is a such a great treat and it is so different from other romances iv never read any like this, the ex-con Lacey and the very man Austin, who had a hand in sending her to jail. And they fall in love, whilst rebuilding a steam train novel plot right?

Lacey is such a strong kick butt woman, hardened by her time spent in prison of course she will be and she has some baggage. What annoys her the most is Austin pre-conceived notions about her because of her stay in prison. The friction between these two were really great and it makes them even greater couple.

Austin at times annoyed me with his notions but then at other times i wanted to boot Lacey out of the way and say he's mine.... lol

It was great read, and the slow and steady building of the relationship was just spot on. The Characters are written in such a way you fall in love.

overall a fab book and one that gave me such hope for love and even more.

4 Out Of 5 Hearts From Cariad Books

Perfect for a cold winter's night or a hot summer day.

Cute holiday story.

I already sent in my review for this title. I emailed NetGalley and they said they’re having problems with titles appearing to need feedback when it’s already been sent.