The Christmas Cowboy Hero (Heart of Texas #1) by Donna Grant #SMPUnwrapped

  The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant

Blurb:

 ’Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays―even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything.

Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit’s end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby―and the inescapable longing in his heart―off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?



I really loved this book. It was one of those books where you need the hankies for the good parts and not because something bad happened (even though a lot of that happens as well). This is about the spirit of Christmas, about getting together, about helping each other, about belonging together and about love. And it is also about second chances, about moving on from heartbreak and bad choices and the people at your side who are there for you and who help you to get there.

What I really loved about it, is the combination of a story where lots of feelings are involved and people have to deal with their issues and get stronger by fighting them and a brilliant story with lots of action and several twists and turns that just keep you glued to your reader.

Wonderful, warm characters that I'd love to have around and spend time with, a Seal, albeit a former one, on a mission and two families that are still struggling to overcome a past filled with loss and grief that help each other heal and become whole again.

A beautiful story about everything Christmas is really about with a wonderful love story and a lot of action.

★★★★★

Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome #4) by Annie Rains ~In English~

  Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome #4) by Annie Rains

Blurb:


Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing on-base, she buys herself a man.

Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels.


Welcome Home for Christmas is one of those "Feel-Good-Stories" that are an essential part of all this chrismas-feeling going on at this time of the year. Who doesn't love a sweet and romantic version of the Christmas Carol (especially with a Marine who definitely doesn't resemble Scrooge at all and a heroine who is, well, better looking and sweeter than Scrooge's nephew either)?

The story is well plotted and well written. It made me laugh and swoon and of course, it also made me roll my eyes - just the way a good romance should. I really enjoyed reading it and I loved to see how Troy and Allison find their way to each other despite all the well meant advice given to them and their own personal insecurities.

A heartwarming, wonderful story, great characters and a big basket full of christmas feelings - just right for a nice evening at home, snuggled up in your favorite chair with a nice cup of tea at your side.

★★★★

 

 

A Kiss At Christmastide by Christina McKnight ~Review in Englisch~

A Kiss At Christmastide by Christina McKnight

Blurb:
 

Lady Pippa Godfrey has suffered the most ruinous London Season. She escapes to her Somerset estate for a quiet Christmastide holiday with her family, away from society’s prying eyes. But before her parents can join her, a storm crashes down on Somerset to destroy any hope of Pippa’s white Christmas dream. The roads have flooded and travel is impossible, leaving her stranded and alone. But a muddied, angry and devilishly handsome lord appears at her door demanding shelter.

Lucas Hartfeld, the Earl of Maddox, has been summoned by his parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Bowmont, to attend a holiday party in the wilds of the country, far from his London townhouse. He suspects they command his attendance for far different reasons than a simple country party. When a storm strands his carriage, he’s forced to seek shelter at the only home for miles around, a local manor called Helton House.

When Lady Pippa is reluctant to admit him, he does what he’s been raised to do—demand she provide him and his servants with shelter until the storm passes. But the beautiful woman draws his interest far more than he’s willing to admit. Can Lucas find a way out of the predicament his parents are planning?

As Lady Pippa scrutinizes another arrogant, demanding lord, she is bombarded with memories of betrayals in her past. Can she forget those difficult life lessons to claim a Christmastide kiss from a perfect stranger?


"A Kiss at Christmastide" is a very sweet and romantic story where against all odds bad deeds are punished and the good people win - classical story but nicely done with great characters and a very enjoyable plot.

The one day (and night) that change everything, a storm sent by fate and a potential groom who made me want to kick him a bit and whose actions at the end, when he tries to protect Pippa, led to some eye-rolling and frustrated groaning on my part but as usual - all is well that ends well. And so I found myself smiling happily and closing the book with the wonderful knowledge that love conquers all and good people get their reward no matter how much others try to malign and to hurt them.

Okay, I was sitting outside in the sun and there was no snow storm around but this is a book that just makes you wish for a nice hot cup of tea and a nice and cozy fire in the fireplace next to you while you are reading it. A very "christmassy" atmosphere and a sweet love story - just the right book for the time around christmas.
Despite the lack of a snow storm and a fireplace, I really enjoyed reading this book!

★★★★

Schneeengel - Jean Little

In meinem Winter-Weihnachtsbücher-Fundus tummelte sich dieses Jahr auch das Buch "Schneeengel" von Jean Little. Ich wappnete mich, ehrlich gesagt, innerlich ein wenig gegen Kitsch und viel Gefühl, als ich schließlich danach griff, da ich in Bezug auf Weihnachtsbücher da in letzter Zeit etwas skeptisch geworden bin. Meist gibt es von beiden Zutaten ja überreichlich, wenn sich die Weihnachtszeit nähert und nicht jedes Buch setzt das wirklich gelungen um, vorsichtig ausgedrückt. Aber - mir war danach, es zu versuchen, weil ich fand, dass die Geschichte zumindest dem Klappentext nach schön und recht vielversprechend klingt und so ein bisschen was fürs Herz ist ja auch gerade in der Weihnachtszeit nicht schlecht:
 
Die elfjährige Min ist ein Pflegekind, so lange sie denken kann. Kurz vor Weihnachten ist es wieder einmal so weit: Ihre Pflegeeltern wollen sie loswerden. Aber das ist nichts Neues. Das war schon immer so. Doch warum will die Ärztin Jess sie plötzlich bei sich aufnehmen? Jess überhäuft sie mit Aufmerksamkeiten und schenkt ihr sogar einen kleinen Hund. Kann Min es dieses Mal wagen, Vertrauen zu fassen?  

Schneeengel von Jean Little 

Gebundene Ausgabe: 258 Seiten 

Verlag: Arena (Juni 2008) 

ISBN-10: 3401062735

Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen, es ist ein sehr warmes und liebevolles Buch, das zeigt, worauf es im Leben ankommt.
Die Personen sind authentisch und schön dargestellt, so dass man mit ihnen mitfühlt und auch mit ihnen bangt, wenn die Dinge anders laufen als geplant.

Direkt vor Weihnachten beschließt Mins derzeitige Pflegemutter, dass sie sie nicht mehr haben will. Auf dem Weg zu Mins Sachbearbeiterin, kommt auch gleich der Koffer mit Mins wenigen Habseligkeiten mit, damit auch ja gleich Fakten geschaffen werden, egal ob überhaupt eine andere Pflegefamilie zur Verfügung steht.
Jess, eine Ärztin, bekommt die ganze unerquickliche Szene, die sich dann im Büro von Mins Sachbearbeiterin abspielt mit und nimmt kurzerhand Min zu sich.

Min weiß nicht, wie es ist, umsorgt zu werden und sich willkommen zu fühlen. Es fällt ihr anfangs auch sehr schwer, Jess zu vertrauen, aber mit viel Geduld und Verständnis, schafft Jess es, dass Min sich langsam öffnet. 

Es war schön Min und auch Jess auf ihrem Weg zueinander zu begleiten, ich kann dieses Buch jedem empfehlen, der Geschichten mag, die zwar liebevoll und herzlich sind, aber es trotzdem immer noch schaffen, nicht kitschig zu werden.

★★★★★