Christmas in America

thanks Holly Bush Books and netgalley for this ARC.

A treat and joy to read about the Xmas season.
Loving Donna Thorland's Renegades series makes it a treat to learn more about Angela Ferrers early years.

Christmas in America
Historical Romance Anthology

I. Into the Evermore by Holly Bush: This story started with a bang – almost literally – when Beau Gentry saved Eleanor McManus from being sold to unsavory characters. Her time with Beau helped her decide who she could and could not trust and just what she would do with the rest of her life after her entire family was killed by human predators. Her Christian faith stands her in good stead throughout the story even if the church going people she encountered did not. (3.5 Stars)

II. The Cowboy’s Christmas by Piper Huguley: With the desire to share the fact that Oklahoma was home to the greatest number of all black towns in the USA the author set her story in that state. In this story a young man has to put his dreams of one woman behind him and look to what he wants in the future and that just happens to be someone that has always loved him without his being aware of it. The fact that she is religious, a teetotaler and rather vocal about what she thinks he should and should not be doing does not deter him in the end. (3 Stars)

III. Miracle on Ladies’ Mile by Joanna Shupe: The reason I requested this anthology is due to the fact that once I found this author’s work I have looked for and read every book in her Knickerbocker’s Club series as soon as I could get my hands on them. I was not disappointed and believe this is my favorite story in the anthology. Why? I loved Grace and her interactions with Alex and his daughter. This was a feel good story and all that I hoped it would be. (4 Stars)

IV. Mount Holly by Donna Thorland: This was a pleasant surprise for me. Set during the American Revolution with a female spy that captured my interest…and the interest of a Hessian colonel…it had me contemplating and wondering and enjoying their story then wanting to read more in the series… (4 Stars)

NOTE: I was not expecting this anthology to contain stories that were religious so feel the fact that half the stories do make reference to Christian beliefs should be mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holly Bush Books/Victory Editing for the copy of this ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.

3 to 4 Stars

Joanna Shupe has done it again with her Gilded Age story "Miracle on Ladies’ Mile". I loved this story. Grace and Alex's interactions with creating the window displays and Grace's interaction with Alex's daughter helping paint and putting together the displays are wonderful. The background of Christmas window displays makes you want to go to New York at Christmas and window shop.

I loved this anthology! These wonderfully written, sweet historical romances take place in different times, which I loved. It also put me in the holiday spirit!

Into the Evermore-Good thing she doesn't have to marry that douche. Who cares about propriety when death is involved?

So sad.

Bunch of pompous idiots.

Miracle on Ladies' Mile-Girl, just take the towel!

Geez, man, go home to your daughter instead of freaking her out!

This is like an accidental "Undercover Boss" episode.

Ew, her suitor sounds gross, judging from the name.

Is she sure one of the other girls, or her landlady, isn't stealing from her?

You suck, dad.

That's all she makes? Someone's been ripping her off.

Lies will tell.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I'm done with Black Friday shopping and am curled up with this sweet collection of Christmas stories. Just the thing to start to Christmas Season. I liked the first two stories well enough, but the last two were outstanding. They are being reviewed first.

Christmas at Mount Holly by Donna Thorland
Set on December 23rd, 1776 in the Jerseys Christmas at Mount Holly is a story about Hessian Colonel Count Carl Emil Urich von Donop and a woman who could give James Bond lessons. Angela Ferrers is an American spy and her mission is to delay Colonel Donop for three days over Christmas in Mount Holly. Playing the part of a widowed doctor's wife, she sets a cozy trap for Donop, but ends up ensnared herself. 5-Stars

Miracle on Ladies Mile by Joanna Shupe
Set in 1895 New York City, Miracle on Ladies Mile reveals the world of the working girl at the turn of the century. Woman's Lib has sure changed society's mores, especially regarding women and work. Grace is just scraping by dressing Christmas windows, but sees this job as the start of what she really wants to do, which is to design dresses for this store, so, she does the very best job she can, working long hours for slave wages. Alexander Armstrong, the store owner, lost his beloved wife and has closed out the world, including his daughter. She sees Grace dressing the windows and sets to know her. She is funny, vivacious and genuine. 5-Stars

Into the Evermore by Holly Bush
Set in 1842 Virginia, Into the Evermore is the story of a Eleanor who is beset by baddies who kill her family and take her prisoner. She is rescued by Beau who nurses her and returns her to the nearest town only to find that the church people there were more concerned with her damaged reputation than with the loss of her family. Beau proves himself to be an honorable man and the two live happily ever after. 3-Stars.

A Cowboy's Christmas by Piper Huguley
Set in 1893 Smithson, Oklahoma Territory, A Cowboy's Christmas tells the story of a black man, Baxter Smithson, who founded the town of Smithson, OK as a place for people of color to make a life free of the threats and prejudice of the South. Baxter's mother sends him a woman, Serena, and her brother and his wife, to help him settle his town. I'm quite sure that Baxter's mother meant for Serena to "settle" Baxter too.
3 1/2-Stars.

Available now: Christmas in American: Historical Romance Anthology

****3.5/5 stars: Liked itChristmas in America

History, romance and some quick reading stories from interesting American eras.

Recommended readers:

If you can't commit to a full novel
If you enjoy historical romances set in America
Here's my Rankings:

4/5 for characters
3/5 for plot
4/5 overall
2/5 steaminess
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:

Quick reads for some holiday downtime, Christmas in America is a collection of short stories set in different eras in American history. I was drawn to this collection by my latest favorite historical romance author Joanna Shupe, and her story was fabulous and quick reading. Two stories are great, one good, and one just OK. So enjoy!

Available now: Christmas in American: Historical Romance Anthology

This is a compilation of short historical romance stories set during Christmas time. Since each story is independent of each other with what I felt was varying degrees of writing quality, I'll do a short review of each one.

Into the Evermore started off really well with a great hook to catch your interest but after that it was a little boring. It was like it climaxed at the opening and then nothing really happened after that. Additionally the writing quality wasn't great and probably needed an editor, or a better editor. Particularly in the beginning, there are a few paragraphs where literally every sentence in the paragraph starts with the same pronoun.

The Cowboy's Christmas was also a little lack luster. The characterization seemed good on the surface but I felt like there wasn't much depth. The writing was okay but the dialogue could be a little hokey sometimes.

Miracle on Ladies' Mile was an excellent Mr. Selfridge-esque story set in the Gilded Age. Great writing with compelling characters you just want to know more about. Just the right amount of humor in it too.

Christmas at Mount Holly. No surprise I loved this one. Donna Thorland is a great storyteller and she did not disappoint. We finally get a bit more of a glimpse into The Widow's backstory, an absolute must read for anyone following Thorland's series.

There's some very sexy scenes in here so not one for the clean romance fans (I say bring it on though).

So although I didn't love the first two stories, I adored the second two, and I guess that means the rating averages out to about 3 stars.