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The Oklahoma Brands #4
A Mommy for Christmas
Feels Like Home by Maggie Shayne released on Nov 29, 2005 is available now for purchase.
248 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
698 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,571 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 18, 2019
This romantic suspense had my attention from beginning to end with lots of fast paced exciting action. The heroine and little boy were so heart-warming, the hero not so much. Even though some things were improbable they didn't lower my rating. Single father cop Jimmy goes to hide out in his hometown where he sees Kara who has shed her klutz and grown into a beauty.
December 10, 2011
This book had a lot of problems mainly the hero and heroine. The hero was too manipulative and the heroine spineless.
Chicago cop Jim is not pleased to see his ex-wife Angela standing on his door, she is nothing but a crack-whore and his love for him made him hold on to her longer than it was wise and almost killed his son Ty. Everyday his son is in pain dealing with the injuries his mother caused him when he was just two months old. He is even more disgusted when she comes to ask him to let her new boyfriend and the guy Jim is testifying against for child pornography go. He tells her to leave and just to be safe, he along with his son and partner go to Big Falls, the town he grew up in.
Jimmy has also been searching for the perfect mother for his son, he would marry her of course but she should put his son first, the he meets Kara Brand. He remembers her from high-school, she was shy, clumsy but had the biggest heart in town and seems the perfect candidate.
Kara has never been comfortable with her height or aware of her beauty, but her sister Edie has been helping her with that. Jimmy was a guy she had a major crush on in high-school, so when he comes to town and starts chasing her, she falls for him like a ton of bricks, offering him her house, taking care of his son and more. So, she falls in right with Jimmy's plans.
I didn't like Jim, yeah he cared for his son and wanted the best for him after getting burned but the way he used innocent, sweet Kara was wrong. He deceived her using her good heart and love for children, and rail-roaded her in part due to her inexperience into almost marrying him.
Kara was a spineless chick, I mean really, she had so many self-esteem issues for no reason, she was pretty if prone to clumsiness when nervous but even when she felt things were moving too soon with Jimmy and had doubts she was still all set to marry him in a matter of few days after meeting him. I get it he showed an interest in you, but don't be such a push-over. I don't mind sweet heroines but this one was too sweet, hell, even when she found out he didn't love her and was using her, she is prepared to accept the crumbs he was offering.
It wasn't as if she didn't have a good family. Jimmy planned to marry her for as long as his son needed her and grew up and cajole her into leaving her family behind, in my definition that is a douchy guy even if he changed his mind and Eureka discovered his sudden love for her.
Also he was as dumb cop, his partner goes missing and doesn't notice and allows his ex to lead him into a trap?
All of this just pissed me off.
Chicago cop Jim is not pleased to see his ex-wife Angela standing on his door, she is nothing but a crack-whore and his love for him made him hold on to her longer than it was wise and almost killed his son Ty. Everyday his son is in pain dealing with the injuries his mother caused him when he was just two months old. He is even more disgusted when she comes to ask him to let her new boyfriend and the guy Jim is testifying against for child pornography go. He tells her to leave and just to be safe, he along with his son and partner go to Big Falls, the town he grew up in.
Jimmy has also been searching for the perfect mother for his son, he would marry her of course but she should put his son first, the he meets Kara Brand. He remembers her from high-school, she was shy, clumsy but had the biggest heart in town and seems the perfect candidate.
Kara has never been comfortable with her height or aware of her beauty, but her sister Edie has been helping her with that. Jimmy was a guy she had a major crush on in high-school, so when he comes to town and starts chasing her, she falls for him like a ton of bricks, offering him her house, taking care of his son and more. So, she falls in right with Jimmy's plans.
I didn't like Jim, yeah he cared for his son and wanted the best for him after getting burned but the way he used innocent, sweet Kara was wrong. He deceived her using her good heart and love for children, and rail-roaded her in part due to her inexperience into almost marrying him.
Kara was a spineless chick, I mean really, she had so many self-esteem issues for no reason, she was pretty if prone to clumsiness when nervous but even when she felt things were moving too soon with Jimmy and had doubts she was still all set to marry him in a matter of few days after meeting him. I get it he showed an interest in you, but don't be such a push-over. I don't mind sweet heroines but this one was too sweet, hell, even when she found out he didn't love her and was using her, she is prepared to accept the crumbs he was offering.
It wasn't as if she didn't have a good family. Jimmy planned to marry her for as long as his son needed her and grew up and cajole her into leaving her family behind, in my definition that is a douchy guy even if he changed his mind and Eureka discovered his sudden love for her.
Also he was as dumb cop, his partner goes missing and doesn't notice and allows his ex to lead him into a trap?
All of this just pissed me off.
October 24, 2017
This is the fourth book in this series, and for me, it was my least favorite. The hero was less than honest and honorable with the intention of using Kara as a mother for his son without his own emotions being involved. Jimmy was not likable and not much of a hero.
I do like most of this series and recommend it!
I do like most of this series and recommend it!
March 22, 2022
Always difficult to read about a child who is hurting. Tyler is five years old and in braces with another surgery pending. Kara can't help but fall in love with him, but should that include his father, Jimmy, her former high school crush? Kara grows throughout the series, including in this book. She saw Jimmy as a shallow jock in high school and isn't really sure he's changed all that much. Her heart tells her to love him; her brain tells her to back away. Lovely book with plenty of suspense and anxiety for the most dedicated of worriers, which I am.
June 22, 2019
Great summer, feel-good read.
April 8, 2011
3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed reading this book. There were some major plot sinkers that briefly took me out of the book. These also make me hesitate to shelf it as a romance-suspense verses romance-contemporary, so I did both. With a just little bit of tweaking this could have been a 4 to 4 ½ stars read for me.
The good? The author got the primary and secondary characters right and the dialogue flows nicely back and forth. The four-year-old kid, who wears braces and uses crutches, is cute, but not too cute and brave, but not too brave. Loved the short backstories/flashbacks to high-school to set up the characters of the H/h. Nicely done. There are obviously characters in here from other books or some that will soon have their own. And, I will probably read them too! Oh, and one more thing…
The good? The author got the primary and secondary characters right and the dialogue flows nicely back and forth. The four-year-old kid, who wears braces and uses crutches, is cute, but not too cute and brave, but not too brave. Loved the short backstories/flashbacks to high-school to set up the characters of the H/h. Nicely done. There are obviously characters in here from other books or some that will soon have their own. And, I will probably read them too! Oh, and one more thing…
January 2, 2017
My book actually has the title "Feels Like Home" for this ISBN#
A cop whose ex-wife had crippled their one month old baby due to her drug addiction, is introduced in the first pages, trying to get the cop to change a plea against her new boyfriend/pimp.
The cop & his partner need a safe place to stay for a month, taking the now 5 year old son with them.
A former high school friend who had a major crush on said cop and throw her into the mix and what do you have? Several adults trying to protect said 5 year old while trying to convict the criminals.
Past hurts come into play, new feelings come into play... learning each others character as adults and getting past old behaviors and formatting new ones... an interesting story to read through.
A cop whose ex-wife had crippled their one month old baby due to her drug addiction, is introduced in the first pages, trying to get the cop to change a plea against her new boyfriend/pimp.
The cop & his partner need a safe place to stay for a month, taking the now 5 year old son with them.
A former high school friend who had a major crush on said cop and throw her into the mix and what do you have? Several adults trying to protect said 5 year old while trying to convict the criminals.
Past hurts come into play, new feelings come into play... learning each others character as adults and getting past old behaviors and formatting new ones... an interesting story to read through.
December 10, 2015
Rating 3.25..., I did enjoy it. Man needs a Mom for his disabled son, he rekindles a friendship seeking marriage with a old friend. And then it gets deep, there is action where a killer is on the loose (He's a cop).
It does turn to love but I wasn't overly fond of the "shop for a mom but not a wife" theme. It changed of course, but it's not one of my favorite themes.
It does turn to love but I wasn't overly fond of the "shop for a mom but not a wife" theme. It changed of course, but it's not one of my favorite themes.
February 12, 2017
Maggie Shayne books are ones that i typically find enjoyable easy reads and this one was no exception. There was enough suspense to keep things moving and a touch of paranormal that helps save the day at a crucial moment in the story. One of the most enjoyable things about all the books in Maggie's "Brand" series is seeing how a family comes together to support each other through thick and thin.
December 28, 2016
One manipulative hero and one spineless, stupid heroine does not make for a great story.
August 2, 2020
"A Mommy for Christmas" by Maggie Shayne is Kara Brands story. Every time I've read a book in this series each one just keeps getting better and better. Kara is a sweetheart of a girl who will do anything or anyone who needs help. She was known in Big Falls, her hometown, as a Jinx. Seems that she was always hurrying and tripping over herself. Jimmy Corona came back into town with his son Tyler because he needed to find a place that was a safe have for them, and where better to do that than the town he grew up in. Jimmy is hiding out because he is set to testify against a man who was caught up in a child porn network. Tyler, because of the circumstances of what occured when he was a baby just wants to be like the other kids and just wants a Mom. Kara, with her big hear, just wants to help them all.
This is the 4th book in the 6 book series of the Oklahoma Brands. It needs to be read in order of sequence because each book prior to this one introduces the characters that show up in other books. Here is the order of the books from 1-6:The Brands Who Came for Christmas
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
This is the 4th book in the 6 book series of the Oklahoma Brands. It needs to be read in order of sequence because each book prior to this one introduces the characters that show up in other books. Here is the order of the books from 1-6:The Brands Who Came for Christmas
The Brands Who Came for Christmas
Brand New Heartache
Secrets and Lies
A Mommy For Christmas
One Magic Summer
Sweet Vidalia Brand
February 3, 2025
This is the 4th book in the Oklahoma Brands series. I do recommend you read the books in order. I enjoyed this book. It had the romance and action that most of the Brands books have. In this book, we get Kara's story. Kara had grown up the shy, awkward Brand sister who was always a klutz. In high school, she had a huge crush on Jimmy Corona, the local hero jock. Jimmy had moved to Chicago and become a police officer. He married and had a son. His wife at the time turned to drugs and managed to severely injure their one month old son while under the influence. He divorced her with the stipulation that she was to not be involved in Tyler's life at all. Tyler is now preschool age and has struggled his whole life with his debilitating injuries. He wants nothing more this year for Christmas than a new mother. When Jimmy becomes a target for a local porn kingpin, he is encouraged to leave town until the trial. He decides to return to his old hometown for the holiday and maybe try to find a new mother for Tyler. In Jimmy's mind, he will never love again and only wants to find someone for his son. Their first day in town, Jimmy runs into Kara and can't believe what he sees. Kara has turned into a beautiful woman who still has that heart of gold. Jimmy courts Kara with the intention of marrying her. He just didn't count on falling in love. When the porn king comes seeking revenge against Jimmy, will he lose Kara or will he be able to save her?
October 8, 2017
Tyler's dream will come true!
All Tyler wants for Christmas is a mommy! His father, Jimmy, is determined to fulfill his precious boy's wish and has found the perfect candidate, Kara, who has fallen in love with Tyler the first time she saw him. Jimmy doesn't plan to fall in love because he' s been betrayed before, but life has different plans! Unfortunately, Tyler's biological mother and the dangerous criminal that controls her have their own agenda and Tyler is in grave danger. Will Tyler, Jimmy and Kara create the family of their dreams? A beautiful,heartwarming story filled with Christmas spirit! There's suspense, romance, tears and joy!
All Tyler wants for Christmas is a mommy! His father, Jimmy, is determined to fulfill his precious boy's wish and has found the perfect candidate, Kara, who has fallen in love with Tyler the first time she saw him. Jimmy doesn't plan to fall in love because he' s been betrayed before, but life has different plans! Unfortunately, Tyler's biological mother and the dangerous criminal that controls her have their own agenda and Tyler is in grave danger. Will Tyler, Jimmy and Kara create the family of their dreams? A beautiful,heartwarming story filled with Christmas spirit! There's suspense, romance, tears and joy!
December 30, 2024
Best in series so far
I’m glad I didn’t stop after book 2. They kept getting better. Jim Corona is looking for a mother for his son and has vowed to never fall in love again. He returns to his hometown to hide out from the criminal he is going to testify against. Back in Oklahoma, he is reunited with Kara Brand and quickly realizes she would make the perfect mother for his son. Can he deceive her into thinking that he loves her and convince her to marry him?
▪️Language - mild
▪️Sex scenes - none
▪️Violence - some, but not excessive
I’m glad I didn’t stop after book 2. They kept getting better. Jim Corona is looking for a mother for his son and has vowed to never fall in love again. He returns to his hometown to hide out from the criminal he is going to testify against. Back in Oklahoma, he is reunited with Kara Brand and quickly realizes she would make the perfect mother for his son. Can he deceive her into thinking that he loves her and convince her to marry him?
▪️Language - mild
▪️Sex scenes - none
▪️Violence - some, but not excessive
June 29, 2019
The fourth story in the Oklahoma Brand series. Maggie Shayne doesn't disappoint her readers. This book is action packed from start to finish. Jimmy and Kara have a history but it takes struggling and fighting for what's important to build a future. Throw a sleazy villain and a less than stellar ex-wife into the mix and you have a story worth reading.
The Texas Brands and their Oklahoma branch are stories worth keeping.
The Texas Brands and their Oklahoma branch are stories worth keeping.
January 9, 2024
A Mommy for Christmas
I have become addicted to the Oklahoma Brands! I read the first of this series many years ago, then put it aside. Ran across them last week and wondered why I didn't finish. Well, now I'm binge reading! Kara and Jim are phenomenal! I'm so glad Jim finally got his head on straight and figured out what true love is. Only sad part was what happened to Ang. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Thanks, Maggie!! Fantastic job!
I have become addicted to the Oklahoma Brands! I read the first of this series many years ago, then put it aside. Ran across them last week and wondered why I didn't finish. Well, now I'm binge reading! Kara and Jim are phenomenal! I'm so glad Jim finally got his head on straight and figured out what true love is. Only sad part was what happened to Ang. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Thanks, Maggie!! Fantastic job!
June 15, 2017
Truly disappointed
How an author with good stories, compelling characters can execute it so miserably is sad. The Editting is nonexistent. Spellcheck could have made an improvement. One errant line said Wes was present in the story. He was not. If at least 100 proof reading mistakes doesn't scare you off it's a cute story, but I'd like my money back.
How an author with good stories, compelling characters can execute it so miserably is sad. The Editting is nonexistent. Spellcheck could have made an improvement. One errant line said Wes was present in the story. He was not. If at least 100 proof reading mistakes doesn't scare you off it's a cute story, but I'd like my money back.
February 24, 2018
It took me a little bit to get into this book, but as it unfolded I felt it perfectly fit the two main characters. They were both very strong in their own right and comfortable in their skins. I know some would say Selene looked like a weak person but that is wrong. She was strong in her beliefs and passions.
December 21, 2022
A Mommy for Christmas (Oklahoma Brands Book 4)
The Brands books just keep on getting better. Kara and Jim are a beautiful couple who are perfect parents for Tyler. Overcoming the past is a small obstacle when you're gaining the future.
I'm super excited for Selene's story and I really hope it all wraps up with a happy ending for Vidalia!
The Brands books just keep on getting better. Kara and Jim are a beautiful couple who are perfect parents for Tyler. Overcoming the past is a small obstacle when you're gaining the future.
I'm super excited for Selene's story and I really hope it all wraps up with a happy ending for Vidalia!
September 14, 2024
Unexpected Love
I liked the idea that he thought he would find a mother for his son without falling in love. It seems that he wanted a life without love after he had been hurt. The way it turned out was good. In life many want love but never find it. I recommend this to many who liked mystery and romance stories..
I liked the idea that he thought he would find a mother for his son without falling in love. It seems that he wanted a life without love after he had been hurt. The way it turned out was good. In life many want love but never find it. I recommend this to many who liked mystery and romance stories..
December 24, 2018
Excellent Read!
Every book gets better and better in this series! I really enjoy every single character! I know everyone who reads this book/series will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
Every book gets better and better in this series! I really enjoy every single character! I know everyone who reads this book/series will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
December 25, 2020
Ebook
He’s a cop with a disabled son that has to go out of town due to his life being threaten. He decides to find a mother for his son, and marry her
. But Kara changes all that and his son being kidnapped forces him to admit he loves her.
He’s a cop with a disabled son that has to go out of town due to his life being threaten. He decides to find a mother for his son, and marry her
. But Kara changes all that and his son being kidnapped forces him to admit he loves her.
December 21, 2024
Review
She crushed on him in high school but he was too cool back then. When his chief sent him home to hide out with her s son and partner he met a perfect woman to be his son’s mom. But there was so much going on that he had to wait to marry her.
Enjoy
She crushed on him in high school but he was too cool back then. When his chief sent him home to hide out with her s son and partner he met a perfect woman to be his son’s mom. But there was so much going on that he had to wait to marry her.
Enjoy
January 31, 2018
I am loving this series. Now I am going to read #5, then #6. I will then go on to read the Texas Brands.
October 2, 2018
Christmas miracles
If you ever feel like reading a feelgood book then this is the one for you, Kara's and Jimmy's story will cheer you up, when you're down, well worth the read.
If you ever feel like reading a feelgood book then this is the one for you, Kara's and Jimmy's story will cheer you up, when you're down, well worth the read.
September 24, 2019
Good story
I’ve enjoyed this series very much with the Oklahoma Brand family. I’ll be looking forward to the next story about the mother, Vidalia.
I’ve enjoyed this series very much with the Oklahoma Brand family. I’ll be looking forward to the next story about the mother, Vidalia.
November 21, 2020
A quick and easy read about the importance of family - something the Brands know all about. An enjoyable book for the holiday season.
December 2, 2020
A nice story but he's a bit of a dick. She's a bit of a doormat. But it works well enough.
December 24, 2022
Feel-good, romantic Christmas nonsense. A perfect Christmas read.
February 6, 2024
Great book.
This was another amazing book. The story was wonderful and so were the characters. This is a great set of stories.
This was another amazing book. The story was wonderful and so were the characters. This is a great set of stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews