Molly Cannon

There’s a lot of stories in this anthology, and frankly most of these authors are my first reads, so we have a mixed bag of goodies here.

Keep in mind that this is an anthology, therefore the stories are short and fast moving. These kinds of stories are not for everyone, but I do recommend you read them for the most obvious reason: getting to know and ‘feel’ the authors you’re not familiar with, and enjoying the ones that you are familiar with.

That said, here we go:

‘Dream a Little show more Dream’ by Jill Shalvis

I was impressed with Ms. Shalvis’ character development within the constraints of this short story.

Melissa and Ian’s relationship was well developed, and fun to read about.

If you’re familiar with the Lucky Harbor series, you will defenatly love it, and if this is your first time reading this author, have no fear, this story stands on its own.

‘Every Year’ by Kristen Ashley

I’ve never read this author before and after this short story I’m debating if I should try her. I was a bit confused by the plot and the characters were not as well rounded as they could have been.

However, this may not be the case for you, so I think you should still give it a try.

‘Silent Night’ by Hope Ramsay

Leave it to Ms. Ramsey to make me cry. I just adored this story. It was well told, well-rounded and altogether just sweet, poignant and filled with hope in humanity.

Maryanne and Daniel with little baby Joshua, will steal your heart.

This is a perfect story for all of you that have never read this author before. You’ll be searching her other books after you’ve read this story. I guarantee that!

And for us that are getting more familiar with her, this one just makes us want for more!

‘Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas’ by Molly Cannon

Molly Cannon is a new author for me, but this story will make me seek her out again.

I actually enjoyed the predictability of this romance. It was fun watching Dinah, a personal organizer, who gets hired by Lincoln, a messy accountant to organize a home of his parents.

And the sparks get ignited as these two personalities come together.

Fun and sweet, with some heat mixed in.

‘A Family for Christmas’ by Marilyn Pappano

Again, an unfamiliar author to me, and again, I’m conflicted about will I or won’t I read her again.

I just didn’t connect with the hero and heroine.

The story was good, but the characters just fell flat to me, and once that happened, I didn’t feel emotionally vested in their happily ever after. That doesn’t mean that you’ll feel the same, though, so give it a go.

Bottom line: worth reading for sure!

Melanie for b2b
Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley show less

Flirting with Forever by Molly Cannon is a splendid reunited lovers romance. This light-hearted novel is sweet and angst free with a delightful cast of characters.

Theo Jacobson and Irene Cornwell have moved on since their youthful but passionate relationship ended years earlier. Irene married well and now widowed, she is very involved in the local community and her blossoming business as a wedding planner. While Irene's feet are firmly planted in Everson, Theo has never settled in one place show more and he goes wherever his next adventure takes him. With his next job already lined up, Theo returns to town for his brother's wedding and unexpectedly encounters the one woman he has never quite been able to forget.

Irene and Theo are appealing, multi-faceted characters. Both carry scars from their failed romance but they set aside their differences during the wedding and when their paths continue to cross, they slowly begin to regain their old friendship. Although Irene tries to avoid talking about their past, when Theo presses her for answers, they maturely resolve their issues and move on. Their relationship gradually transforms from friends back to lovers, but with Theo's departure date looming, is there a future for them?

Flirting with Forever is a highly entertaining novel with charming characters, a fabulous small town setting and an engaging, realistic storyline. There is quite a bit of depth to this enchanting story and there are surprising layers to Theo, Irene and their relationship. This heartwarming addition to Molly Cannon's Everson, TX series is a fun, flirty romance that is sure to be a hit with old and new fans. show less

4.5 stars. This collection of small-town Christmas romances is like that gift box of assorted holiday cookies. There might be one or two we feel iffy about - but they taste SO good when we try them. Plus old favorites we KNOW we like.

I received a free copy of this anthology via Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.


"Dream A Little Dream" by Jill Shalvis
Set in Lucky Harbor, Washington coast, Melissa Mann had broken off her FWB relationship with hot show more firefighter Ian O'Mallery, rather than take it to the next level. But once she changes her mind, decides to risk it, it seems he's DONE. Can she win him back? There's smoke, fire, plenty of steam, and a barking pantry. I am a big Jill Shalvis fan and this story does not disappoint.


"Every Year" by Kristen Ashley
Colorado suburbs, outside Denver, Chaos motorcycle club, big blended family of Tabby, her brother Rush, their father, their stepmother and two young half-brothers, Tabby's b-f of six months, Shy, and HIS brother Landon. I found it a little confusing at first, as it's a substantial cast of characters, and it seemed like everyone had (at least) two names: Tyra and Ty-Ty being the stepmother, for example. These are badass biker types and there IS profanity which may be jarring to some readers. There is also lots of love, a tire swing hanging project, and a floor spread with wall-to-wall presents.


"Silent Night" by Hope Ramsay
Retelling of the Nativity story, somewhat, set in Last Chance, South Carolina. Broke single mom Maryanne is out of gas, out of money, and almost out of hope when she takes refuge with her baby in what she THINKS is her cousin's barn. Lonely Daniel Jessup, visiting from Atlanta is determined to cook a last Christmas dinner in the old family homestead if he can, if he can figure out canned ham and instant mashed potatoes. He even picks up a baby toy, on impulse, intending to drop it into the church donation box. Is it magic that puts these two people in the same place at the same time? I loved former foster child Maryanne's grit and determination to keep her baby against the wishes of all the do-gooders trying to take him away from her.


"Have Yourself A Messy Little Christmas" by Molly Cannon
Accountant Lincoln Jones is unprepared for an elf at his door - even if Dinah Mason makes an awfully sexy elf. Lincoln's mother - owner of the house he's living in - is determined to come home for a clean, well-decorated Christmas, and has hired Dinah as professional organizer/decorator, so Lincoln doesn't have to. I was a little triggered at the beginning of this; between the messes as described, and Lincoln's overreaction to having his stuff touched, I was thinking, uh-oh, hoarder. Having had a friend who DIED in large part because her b-f was a hoarder, I was afraid this story would sugarcoat hoarding disorders as easy to cure, but as it turned out, Lincoln was NOT far-enough gone to be a hoarder, just messy. AND paranoid about spiders (but then, who isn't?). Set in Everson, (I think) Texas. Lincoln turned out to be flexible enough, and Dinah had the right mix of charm and push to get him involved and happy about the cleanup, and about each other. I was not thrilled, however, that there was consummation without condoms. :-( The sex scene was hot and well-done, but I lose respect for contemporary characters who don't either use condoms reflexively, for a first consummation, or at least DISCUSS condoms, STI's and pregnancy, before jumping into bed for the first time, especially characters who are (theoretically) mature and confident.


"A Family for Christmas" by Marilyn Pappano
Jared Connors has been "guided" by his elite doctor parents his whole life, and though he did enter the medical profession, he also opted to become a pediatrician. AND to go into a small practice in Tallgrass, Oklahoma, located near a military base. The second elf in a row in these stories, Ilena Gomez is a war widow with a six-month old son. She and the jingling bells in her hat sweep him off his feet. The author creates a really nice mix of depth in Ilena; she's mourning her husband, but enjoying her son, and practical about the need to find another partner if she wants the size family she thinks she does. Even so, Jared automatically uses condoms for their first consummation. (Yeah!)


I have to say, I am SUPER-impressed with this marketing strategy. Each author segment features: 1) A warm short intro letter to readers, 2) A Christmas short story, 3) The first chapter of a full-length novel set in the same "world" as the Christmas story. With five widely different "worlds" and styles, fans of contemporary romance are quite likely to discover at least one new author we really like. So we're GOING to be adding that author and her novels to our TBR/wish list/auto-buy list. (I know I have!) IMO this very reasonably-priced collection is a great stocking stuffer for ourselves. show less

Sometimes even good girls need to be a little bad . . .

Marla Jean Bandy might be down, but she's not out. Even though her no-good ex-husband left her for another woman-a Bookmobile-driving librarian twenty years her senior-Marla Jean won't settle for another lonely night. She's not ready for Mr. Right, but why not have a little fun with Mr. Right Now? The only wrench in her plan is her childhood crush, Jake-and the memory of the one toe-curling kiss they shared on a hot summer night years show more ago . . .

One look at Marla Jean is enough to make any red-blooded man sit up and take notice-especially the kind of man nice girls should avoid. Jake knows he should let her make her own mistakes, but he owes it to her brother to look after her. Trouble is, the harder he tries to do the right thing, the harder it is to resist Marla Jean. She needs a man to make her believe love will last, and for once in his life, Jake wonders if that could be him. show less