Colorado Christmas: How to be a Millionaire/Love by Accident/Wife in Name Only

by Rosey Dow

Historical Romance: A Christy award-winning author creates a rich blend of Christmas romance in three stories. Maggie Collier decides to train a bellboy to act like a millionaire to refer her brother for a loan approval. Will a case of mistaken identity lead to a hot spring of shame or uncover romance? Where a small train is caught in an avalanche near Rachel Wainwright's ranch,her family takes in a group of strangers over Christmas. But will a handsome neighbor's offer to help reawaken a family grudge? Catherine Priestly must pose as married to get a cooking job on a respectable ranch. Will her charade become a barrier to true love?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Christian Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Rosey Dow is a best-selling and award-winning author. Her novel, Reaping the Whirlwind, won a 2001 Christy Award for excellence in fiction. A former missionary and lifelong mystery buff, Rosey now makes her home in the South where she writes and speaks full time.

Reviews

[Brandi Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

These stories didn't have time to unfold. While the premise of each story was simple, they were a cute way to pass the time, each of these had the potential to become so much more if they were made into bigger novels. For me, this was like watching Hallmark Christmas movies. They each have the same simple outline.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to point out something here, that has absolutely nothing to do with the author or the story. The publisher has screwed up - big time. Barbour Publishing printed this book. On the inside first page, is a short description of each of the three stories that are inside and it is correct. However, the one they published on the back cover is NOT! They got the general plot of each of the 3 stories correct, but they got the names all wrong!

Listed on Back cover -
1st story - Maggie Collier ..... in story, it's Penny Joshua.
2nd story - Rachel Wainwright... in story, it's Liza Wainwright
3rd story - Catherine Priestly.. in story, it's Katherine Priestly.

With the third one, at least the name is correct, although first name misspelled. In second story, they got the first name wrong. For first story, they are just flat out completely wrong. Doesn't this publisher have an editor somewhere to check the text printed on the covers to make sure they're correct?

This is NOT the first time I've had problems with Christian themed romances from Barbour Publishing. They publish alot of books, anthologies, by state. In a book called Rodeo Hearts the first of the three stories, all supposidly taking place in Nebraska... first story takes place in Kansas. Normally not a big deal, except this is a book advertising all the stories take place in one state! In another, Cornhusker Dreams: Love Wins During the Second World War, again a book packaged as all stories taking place in Nebraska, they place a silhouette on the front cover and spine on the book of the state's outline shape with the name written over it. How disappointing for fellow Nebraskans to see Nebraska written over the outline for the shape of the state of Kansas! This publisher seriously needs to fire whoever does their covers because this many mistakes should never get out to the general public.

However, back to the book....

How to Be a Millionaire
Delightful lil story if you can get past how ridiculous it is for Penny to mistake a millionarie for a waiter!

Love by Accident
You get caught up in this story. First it's all about the avalanche and the stranded train passengers and suddenly you start getting caught up in the generations old family feud and wanting to know what really happened.

A Wife in Name Only
This story was cute. Takes a few pages to get going but then you're hooked.

Based on the stories themselves, NOT the horrid publisher mistakes, I'm giving it 4 stars.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is three short stories and I loved all three. The first one is about Penny whose brother is wanting to purchase a mine. He must talk to a man who could lend him the money but Penny thinks he needs someone to back him up. She convinces Justin to help. Boy does Penny get a surprise. The next one is Liza whose family and the family next door have feuded so long no one know why. There is an avalanche and her family takes in a large group of strangers with the help of the family next door. Finally Katherine's family is starving so she and her brother leave to get work so they can send money home. Katherine pretends to be married and goes to work on a ranch.

[Giselle Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this trilogy of stories all set in CO and all written by the same author. I think the 1st & 3rd were my favorites. Faith, family, growth and inspiration are all represented in the stories. A nice read for this time of year.

[Pam Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three easy read stories. All three entertaining.

[Becky Underwood Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet book. Love and Christianity go hand in hand. I like the setting of a cabin, cleaning and cooking, seems like such a simpler life. No internet or TV. I'm sure things were harder but they seemed happy.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories:
Love by Accident.
A family feud crippled family relationshionships for three generations until a train accident in the middle of extreme winter weather brought people together and some individuals chose to cross the chasm through prayer, determination, and honesty.

Colorado Christmas. 3*
A young woman schemes to help her brother get a loan by engaging a stranger to act as a wealthy man who promises to co-sign. The "wealthy" man is not what he seems. This is an interesting plot.

A Wife in Name Only. 4*
Desperate to find work to feed her family, Katie leaves home in the dead of winter and finds work at the ranch of cow hands. Because the boss has a rule that the cook has to be married to keep the men under control, she pretends to be married. Some things don't make sense, but the story is fun. As with the first two stories, this clearly has a Christian theme, but it works.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had three stories: How to be a Millionaire, Love by Accident, and A Wife in Name Only. All three of the stories were set in the 1800s. This book is classified as "Christian Romance". I liked all of the stories and it was nice reading three nice romances without having almost pornographic sex scenes. I can't even pick a favorite, I liked all three stories and they were all very different from each other. If you like historical romance and don't want to read scenes where the characters are ripping their clothes off then I would highly recommend this book.

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of historical stories - I really enjoyed they were quick to read (finish a story at night) and were just cozy & light hearted - Perfect for the seasons coming! I would like to find some more from this author.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read How to be a Millionaire. Cute, quick read about a woman and her brother who are trying to pass someone off as a millionaire who actually is one but doesn't tell them.

[Rose]

F Dow

[Tierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories themselves all had a good story line. I wish there was more of the romance. I also wish that they were longer. The all could have been full length books.

[Pixie]

The stories are hilarious and heartwarming.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was AWSM!!!:)

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preachy - what am I thinking - 3rd story was the best - man, these women fall in love fast!

[Carol]

really good book. hard to put down.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the simpleness of the stories contained in this book.