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Christmas Redemption
Van Donovan returns to Pleasant Valley, Oregon where twelve years earlier as a boy of fifteen he left in handcuffs after standing guard for a bank robbery. He's learned a trade and excelled at it and is ready to prove to his father and the town he can amount to something.
Upon his return he learns the fate of the daughter of an innocent man who died in the robbery crossfire. To make amends he takes her out of the saloon and gives her a job, not realizing she'd been squatting in the very building he'd purchased for his business.
Can two battered hearts find solace or will the past continue to haunt their lives?
Upon his return he learns the fate of the daughter of an innocent man who died in the robbery crossfire. To make amends he takes her out of the saloon and gives her a job, not realizing she'd been squatting in the very building he'd purchased for his business.
Can two battered hearts find solace or will the past continue to haunt their lives?
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2011
23 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Paty Jager
112 books394 followersPaty Jager is an award-winning author of 55+ novels, novellas, and short stories of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure.
All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 10, 2015
The Christmas Season is known for miracles and perhaps that is exactly what happened when a man returns from over a decade in prison and starts life over in a late nineteenth century town in Oregon. An innocent man died during the bank heist Van stood watch on and he was the scape goat for punishment.
During the years he was gone, Tessa and her mother struggled after the murder of her father, trying and failing to make ends meet, but Tessa has a dream, a cream that costs money she does not have. Only fate could have brought these two together in a rundown building that Tessa was forced to call home. Two people damaged by the past, one trying to atone for his sins, one trying to live with the cards life has dealt her. Unlikely as it seems their common ground of death and pain can become a solid foundation for hope and love.
There are no jingling bells, fancy parties, but there is magic in the air as Paty Yager’s Christmas Redemption unfolds with a tale of loss and the need for redemption for past sins. Very short, often not as deep as one would like, but fulfilling a need for a tale full of hope and isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Enjoy the message held within, the characters that come to life and remember, we all change with time. The past is gone, the future is unknown and the present is a gift not to be taken lightly.
I received this copy as part of a review for the Silver Belles and Stetsons Christmas Anthology from author Lyn Horner.
Further information to follow upon release.
During the years he was gone, Tessa and her mother struggled after the murder of her father, trying and failing to make ends meet, but Tessa has a dream, a cream that costs money she does not have. Only fate could have brought these two together in a rundown building that Tessa was forced to call home. Two people damaged by the past, one trying to atone for his sins, one trying to live with the cards life has dealt her. Unlikely as it seems their common ground of death and pain can become a solid foundation for hope and love.
There are no jingling bells, fancy parties, but there is magic in the air as Paty Yager’s Christmas Redemption unfolds with a tale of loss and the need for redemption for past sins. Very short, often not as deep as one would like, but fulfilling a need for a tale full of hope and isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Enjoy the message held within, the characters that come to life and remember, we all change with time. The past is gone, the future is unknown and the present is a gift not to be taken lightly.
I received this copy as part of a review for the Silver Belles and Stetsons Christmas Anthology from author Lyn Horner.
Further information to follow upon release.
November 27, 2011
Well, there's the saying, you get what you pay for. So when I saw this eBook for free on B&N, I really didn't expect much. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this charming story that's filled with convenient HEAs and love conquers all banners draped through the ePages. It was nice, it was Christmas-sy, it was free... so I have no room to complain. I enjoyed it for what it was worth.
December 26, 2011
Christmas Redemption by Paty Jager
A short holiday time story that has nothing to do with Christmas except the time of year and the possibility for miracles.
Van Donovan as an angry 15 year old is conned into playing lookout for a couple of bank robbers during which an innocent bystander is killed. He is already in custody when that happens. The judge sentences him to 10 years which is a little extreme even for those times. Fast forward twelve years later. Jail has taught Van the errors of his ways and how to make boots which he is very good at. He returns to his home town to show his family that he is changed. He intends to make a new start there. He buys a building to set up his boot shop from the judge that sentenced him. He finds the daughter of the man that was shot has fallen on hard times and is squatting in the building he just bought.
I really enjoyed this story but was bothered by one thing. We find out all the perceived grievances the Judge had against Van but we never find out just what his problem was with Tessa’s family.
A short holiday time story that has nothing to do with Christmas except the time of year and the possibility for miracles.
Van Donovan as an angry 15 year old is conned into playing lookout for a couple of bank robbers during which an innocent bystander is killed. He is already in custody when that happens. The judge sentences him to 10 years which is a little extreme even for those times. Fast forward twelve years later. Jail has taught Van the errors of his ways and how to make boots which he is very good at. He returns to his home town to show his family that he is changed. He intends to make a new start there. He buys a building to set up his boot shop from the judge that sentenced him. He finds the daughter of the man that was shot has fallen on hard times and is squatting in the building he just bought.
I really enjoyed this story but was bothered by one thing. We find out all the perceived grievances the Judge had against Van but we never find out just what his problem was with Tessa’s family.
November 2, 2015
This book takes place in Pleasant Valley, Oregon in 1889.
Van Donovan was sent to jail 10 years ago for being the lookout in a bank robbery that resulted in the death of a man. Van has always wondered why he got such a harsh sentence but the man who killed someone got off. But Van is back and has learned to make boots while in jail and is back in town to make something of himself.
Tessa Harrison has goals of becoming a teacher but is struggling to save the money while she works at the local tavern. She is secretly living in an abandoned building after Judge Spencer took her house after the death of her father, who was the one killed in the bank robbery.
Then Van employs Tessa and sparks fly but both are still trying to overcome their pasts. Will they both figure out what really happened or will their curiosity get them in more trouble?
I love how everything tied together in the end! It was a pleasant surprise for sure. I can only imagine how hard life would have been for Tessa in that town.
Van Donovan was sent to jail 10 years ago for being the lookout in a bank robbery that resulted in the death of a man. Van has always wondered why he got such a harsh sentence but the man who killed someone got off. But Van is back and has learned to make boots while in jail and is back in town to make something of himself.
Tessa Harrison has goals of becoming a teacher but is struggling to save the money while she works at the local tavern. She is secretly living in an abandoned building after Judge Spencer took her house after the death of her father, who was the one killed in the bank robbery.
Then Van employs Tessa and sparks fly but both are still trying to overcome their pasts. Will they both figure out what really happened or will their curiosity get them in more trouble?
I love how everything tied together in the end! It was a pleasant surprise for sure. I can only imagine how hard life would have been for Tessa in that town.
December 16, 2011
The story in this book had nothing to do with Christmas, which was disappointing given the title. The plot was well carried out, though extremely predictable and a bit cheesy. From the moment the female character's name was given, I saw where it was going. The author needed to delve deeper into the crime portion of the plot and less into the romance, which really felt more like two characters moving toward sex than romance. The romance became the plot and the crime the subplot. I would like to have seen it the other way around. The characters themselves were likeable, though their living situation was a bit glossed over as was the reaction of friends and family to it. Grammar had a few issues. Some words were missing from sentences, leaving me re-reading, and others mis-used. In particular was the use of "passed" instead of "past." That would never have passed through my editing desk. Overall, a short read worth the time if you like light western romance.
January 7, 2012
Van had been sent to jail because he was a lookout when the bank was robbed, where Tessa's dad had been killed. The judge wanted everyone to think her dad had been in on the robbery. She and her mom had a rough time keeping their home and for the first few years they did, but finally the judge bought it from them. The mom had died and Tessa was living in the back of an abandoned building.
Van was sentenced to jail for years but no one could decide why that long.
He gets out of jail and comes back to his hometown with boots to sell. He had some packed away to set up his shop. He bought that abandoned building the judge owned, hired Tessa to work for him.
He wanted to take care of her since he felt guilty about her dad dying.
Van is reunited with his dad and mom, but learns he has a younger sister.
Everyone is happy.
Van was sentenced to jail for years but no one could decide why that long.
He gets out of jail and comes back to his hometown with boots to sell. He had some packed away to set up his shop. He bought that abandoned building the judge owned, hired Tessa to work for him.
He wanted to take care of her since he felt guilty about her dad dying.
Van is reunited with his dad and mom, but learns he has a younger sister.
Everyone is happy.
January 19, 2015
This was a very sweet, short historical romance set in Oregon. Van Donovan returns to his hometown after twelve years in jail for bank robbery. He was just a rebellious teen at the time and received a harsher sentence than necessary. He returns to start a new business, and buys a building not knowing there is someone already living there. Tessa's father was killed during the robbery Van was convicted of. Life did not go well for her after her father's death. Van has felt much for over the years and hires her to work for him. The two grow closer, of course. There is a little mystery in the story, but I don't want to give it away. :-)
March 8, 2017
When Van Donovan was 15 he was arrested for being the lookout during a bank robbery. He was found guilty and sentenced to 15 year in jail. He is home now after serving 10 years with money and able to buy a building for his boot making business. Tessa's father was killed during the robbery and her mother had died and she was working in a saloon, only serving drinks. Van finds her being hurt by her boss in the saloon because he wants her to work upstairs. Van rescues her and hires her to work in he store. There are alot of question about the robbery and why the judge sentenced Van so harshly?
It is a sweet and entertaining Christmas story
It is a sweet and entertaining Christmas story
November 29, 2011
I enjoyed this novella that was free for the Kindle. (Don't know if it's still free.)
As a head-strong 15-year-old Van Donovan stood as lookout for a bank robbery. The judge seemed to hate him and his sentence was 12 years in prison.
Returning home to Oregon in 1889, ready to start a business and reconnect with family, Van finds the judge still hostile. He also finds the daughter of the bystander killed during the robbery working in a saloon. He hires her to work in his shop and tries to figure out why the judge hates him.
As a head-strong 15-year-old Van Donovan stood as lookout for a bank robbery. The judge seemed to hate him and his sentence was 12 years in prison.
Returning home to Oregon in 1889, ready to start a business and reconnect with family, Van finds the judge still hostile. He also finds the daughter of the bystander killed during the robbery working in a saloon. He hires her to work in his shop and tries to figure out why the judge hates him.
January 10, 2012
Good, quick read. The story did not delve into the characters as much as I would have liked. The author certainly could have focused more on the back story and gave more depth. Overall I enjoyed the book, it was a sweet tale.
April 15, 2012
The Flavor of Christmas Past
Christmas Redemption by Paty Jager is a charming historical romance with Wild West danger and mayhem. This was a marvelous gift for readers as Ms. Jager always creates interesting characters and a textured and rich story. Enjoy.
Christmas Redemption by Paty Jager is a charming historical romance with Wild West danger and mayhem. This was a marvelous gift for readers as Ms. Jager always creates interesting characters and a textured and rich story. Enjoy.
November 23, 2013
Damsel in distress…Van to the rescue…
I expected more from the story than what it offered. It's not really a holiday book but a romance. I'm glad it was short.
I expected more from the story than what it offered. It's not really a holiday book but a romance. I'm glad it was short.
September 3, 2016
Nice little read. There are some issues with relationship speed and predictability, as well as some minor editing oopsies. Overall it's enjoyable.
January 8, 2012
It has nothing to do with Christmas but it does have a totally predictable plot and a very silly climax. Not desperately horrible but not entertaining either.
May 9, 2014
The story was predictable, the characters too flat for my taste.
September 10, 2016
I was surprised by how good this book was. From the synopsis I did not expect much but it was actually a well written book.
November 23, 2020
Good book love to read about Christmas loves.
July 15, 2012
Quick read. Not much development of characters but sweet.
November 22, 2012
If you face that which has hurt you, the hurt will go away. Paty Jager takes us to the human side of the old west.
December 26, 2011
Review haiku:
He's out of prison
She's working in the saloon
Short and not too deep
He's out of prison
She's working in the saloon
Short and not too deep
January 5, 2012
I liked the storyline but feel the author could have left out the pre-marital sex.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews