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Whisper Horse #3.5

A Down-Home Country Christmas

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After escaping an abusive marriage, Holly builds a haven of security for herself and her two young daughters. She’s helped along by police captain Robbie McGraw, who stood by her through the worst. Now he shows a different kind of interest, one that thrills Holly, even as she questions the wisdom of trusting another man so soon.

But Robbie is on the brink of fulfilling a dream—one that will send him out of the mountain town of Sanctuary, West Virginia, and away from the allure of Holly’s warm spirit and tempting body.

A wily little Christmas donkey and the magic of the holidays prove to Holly and Robbie that the courage to love can make dreams come true.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2014

279 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

Nancy Herkness

23 books896 followers
Nancy Herkness is the award-winning, best-selling author of contemporary romance for readers who love richly developed characters and an immersive reading experience. Meet the wealthy, powerful alpha heroes who need down-to-earth women to show them how to find soul-deep love and pulse-racing passion. Nancy’s vivid writing brings to life settings both elegant and homey, while making her flawed but fascinating characters leap off the page and into your heart. Savor the thrill of falling in love by diving into one of Nancy’s books.

Author of the Royal Caleva, Consultants, Wager of Hearts, and Whisper Horse series, as well as several other contemporary romance novels, Nancy has sold over a million books. She is also a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award.

Nancy has received many honors for her work, including the Book Buyers Best Top Pick, the New England Readers’ Choice award, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing.

A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives twelve miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel in suburban New Jersey with two tabby cats.

For more information about Nancy and her books, visit www.NancyHerkness.com. Sign up for her monthly newsletter—and get a free novella—at: http://www.nancyherkness.com/newsletter/

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancyherkness
BookBub author: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy...
Amazon author: https://amazon.com/stores/author/B001...

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5 stars
450 (53%)
4 stars
272 (32%)
3 stars
99 (11%)
2 stars
17 (2%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,138 reviews30 followers
April 10, 2019
Love this HEA after the HEA’s in previous books

OMG this book is fantastic. I love that this finishes off all the books in series.
I’m glad you finally see a different person to Holly and not a victim of domestic abuse like you come to know her in first books.
Absolutely love the kids and Holly’s Whisper Pony Noel.
A must read just a shame it’s not available on free audible with unlimited kindle
January 11, 2015
Just look at the inviting cover that makes you want to turn the pages and walk through the snow In Sanctuary, West Virginia. I know it's an eBOOK so click or swipe the pages-lol.

This is a heart warming story that to me tells the true meaning of Christmas in a town where people band together to support each other with kindness and old fashion help and the magic of one Christmas donkey named Noel!

Robbie McGraw the police chief falls for a women-Holly and her two young daughters Brianna and Kayleigh. You will fall in love with these thoughtful girls.

Christmas spirit at its best, placing the needs of others first.
16 reviews
November 1, 2019
This was my First exposure to the author, Nancy Herkness. In the pre-face the author provides a bit of background informing the reader that this novella has the same characters as appear in her horse whisperers series, but that it is a stand alone book. Ms. Herkness has an excellent command of the English language. She creates a starting point from which the reader's imagination can easily fill in all the little details thereby giving the reader ownership. My only real objection to this work are the sex scenes. This torrid descriptions of sexual interaction contributes nothing to the plot. In fact they take a strong story written in an intelligent manner and bring it down to the level of one of the National tabloid type publications.Take out the soft core porn. I know "sex sells" in today's market place, but is that the readership Ms. Harkness desires for her audience?
724 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2020
ENCHANTING STORY!!!!😇

Loved, loved, loved, this story! It was so heartwarming a story that many times I was so moved and was close to tears. At this particular time because of all the sorrow and chaos that the pandemic is causing in the world this book was exactly what I needed. It was filled with love, kindness, loyalty, support, family and a lovely town all of which touched my heart deeply. The descriptions of all the happenings in the story were so detailed and lifelike... The humor was subtle... The romance between Holly and Robbie was so sweet and swoony. The relationship and interactions between Holly and her daughters was charming. And, or course, Noel, the little donkey stoke the story!!! I enjoyed every single word of the story especially that the characters from the other books in the series were featured so prominently. The epilogue was perfect.... It ended just the way I was rooting for it to end.... I highly recommend this book and the entire series. You will be so glad you read them... Each one is a wonderful read! 😇
Profile Image for Barb.
1,203 reviews
December 19, 2016
After escaping an abusive marriage, Holly builds a haven of security for herself and her two young daughters. She’s helped along by police captain Robbie McGraw, who stood by her through the worst. Now he shows a different kind of interest, one that thrills Holly, even as she questions the wisdom of trusting another man so soon.
But Robbie is on the brink of fulfilling a dream—one that will send him out of the mountain town of Sanctuary, West Virginia, and away from the allure of Holly’s warm spirit and tempting body.
A wily little Christmas donkey and the magic of the holidays prove to Holly and Robbie that the courage to love can make dreams come true. Hard to put down. Intense yet caring. 5 stars.
Profile Image for Pontiki.
2,540 reviews9 followers
May 7, 2019
Robbie is chomping at the bit to move to Atlanta for his job. But, he’s having a hard time dealing with his feelings for Holly. She overhears him talk about leaving, but can’t help her attraction and longing to be with him.

They have one night together, but she understands he has to go. But, with the help of her whisper donkey, Noel, she realizes she loves him and it’s worth everything.

Noel’s story is also sweet, because she’s owned by a widowed lovely farmer, Grady, and his nativity scene brings Holly and Robbie together in the first place.

Nice ending to this series.

KU
Profile Image for Merle.
2,416 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2021
Nice ending to bye series.

Holly, Claire's sister who's now a single mom of two girls, has gotten herself back on her feet. The last piece of her Renaissance is the man who got away- except he hasn't. Robbie is a tall, good-looking cop who has a crush on Holly. He has been wishing for a way out of Sanctuary and has found it. He doesn't want to leave Holly, but .... They have a holiday crisis and Holly finds she is stronger than she thought. There is a triple happy ending here, so thanks, Ms. Herkness.
1,238 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2023
I enjoyed this book and this series. It was really nice to give Holly and her girls a happily ever after. G0olly got divorced in the second book of this series and she is infatuated with a policeman Robbie. She gets to know him better in this Christmas tale.

The towns nativity scene was run over by a drunk driver and Holly wants to fix it. As in most small towns her wish is soon put through the gossip mill. People from all over town get involved to help fix it. Holly and Robbie are there to help.
27 reviews
January 23, 2022
Beautiful wrap up to a beUtiful series!

Am so fond of the lovely characters and their stories! Claire & Tim, Julia & Paul, Hannah & Adam, Holly & Robbie, and the children and people of Sanctuary! These books provided an element of sanctuary to me during this time of Covid, parenting a teenager, and so much more in my own story. The strength and wisdom the chsracters gained helped me in a way, too!
Profile Image for Beth Jones.
690 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2016
good book, part of a series but can be read as a stand alone, this is a heart warming Christmas story, with a nativity with live animals, the donkey Noel plays a big part of the story, I recommend this book
1,711 reviews6 followers
December 14, 2017
A New Love Interest

Police finds love with an abused divorcee. Donkey finds a way to unite entire town at Christmas after drunk runs through nativity scene. All tied up in a bow. A perfect Christmas love story.
427 reviews3 followers
December 3, 2020
NIce series

He edition to the Horse Whisperer series. Robbie and Holly's story was beautiful . Fulfilment of wishes and dreams, yet a strong understanding of where life and love are best - with family and friends.
Profile Image for Kati Driban.
118 reviews2 followers
February 8, 2023
Another slam dunk

Herkness certainly has a way of weaving amazing stories. It is great revisiting old friends and hearing how their lives have progressed. I love continuity stories that allow you to move into the town for a bit.
Profile Image for Julie Funn.
17 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2018
Wish it was longer


A beautiful story of courage, fortitude and
love, set in the charming town of Sanctuary, West Virginia. Beautiful setting for a lovely story.
8 reviews
December 22, 2018
It was sweet

It was just wonderful and it has all the things I love in a Christmas story. So Mary Christmas to all.
Profile Image for Pam Jackson-gorsline.
985 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2019
Noel

This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters were fun and interesting. A good HE A story.
10 reviews
July 29, 2019
Quick read

Read it in one day. Author is very easy to follow and stay up with. Wish there had been more
Profile Image for Barb Nifong.
278 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2020
This is a perfect Christmas story to read anytime. I love the way everting is brought together for an ending to the series.
Profile Image for Mary Mccormack.
1,363 reviews
January 1, 2021
Honest review

Loved this story and the wonderful characters. Truly up lifting and loved the series coming full circle. Sad to see it end.
2,520 reviews16 followers
June 29, 2022
Great book

A lovely novella for Holly and Robbie. So glad she got her own hea. I'm sad the series is over but can't wait to read more from this author.
2,208 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2022
What a great story, was waiting for her story and the Author did not disappoint. Makes me want to go out and find a horse. This story was such an inspiring story to find your strength from within.
Narration was awesome.
75 reviews
March 21, 2017
Whisper Donkey?

Another one out of the park for author Nancy Herkness. The only problem with this story is that it was too short. I would have loved to get to know Robbie more. We first met Holly in the first book of the series as Claire's abused sister and Robbie the cop on the scene. This is a Christmas story of love, hearth and home, friends, fear and courage to follow your heart. Thanks again Nancy
Profile Image for Mindy.
717 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2018
I love the entire Whisper Horse series. So glad Nancy Herkness brought out this novella. Very good Christmas read!
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,234 reviews206 followers
November 30, 2015
Down Home Country Christmas by Nancy Harkness
The donkey arrives at Holly's house that she shares with her two daughters.
Capt. Robbie knows who it belongs to as he comes to collect the donkey but he doesn't want to go.
We find out how he's helped Holly prior with her drunken ex husband. Sanctuary, WV is a place where everybody helps one another.
They righted the Nativity scene with help from a lot of people and she asks Robbie for a ride in his plane. Her sister Clare outfits her in a stunning sexy outfit...
Hot steamy sex scenes and he's heading to a new job in another state....she helps to rescue Mr. Grady with the girls help. When Robbie arrives at the scene he asks her to marry him but she'd have nobody she could fall back on...
Lots of catching up with others from this series over the books.
Profile Image for Sheri.
Author 6 books40 followers
September 30, 2014
So many novellas leave you wanting more. This one is precisely what a novella is supposed to be. It doesn't leave you feeling short-changed. It is perfectly satisfying just as it is.

I've read all the Whisper Horse books and loved them all. This novella is the story of Holly and Robbie, secondary characters in TAKE ME HOME. The novella is a perfect Christmas story and features a nativity donkey. It would definitely stand alone if you haven't read the series. All the characters--main and secondary--are wonderful.
Profile Image for Chris .
119 reviews
January 8, 2015
Great addition to a heart warming series

When I found out Robbie and Holly would get their own story, I was thrilled. Ever since the first book, I thought they deserved a happy ending and wanted to know more. Nancy Herkness wrote their story beautifully and it was fitting it was a Christmas one considering Holly's strong family values. Great book, great series and fantastic author. Would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Profile Image for Beverly.
138 reviews
December 21, 2016
Utterly Satisfying

A DOWN-HOME COUNTRY CHRISTMAS was a delightful, satisfying read! The book held my interest from start to end; the story was quite engrossing.

Warming my heart and leaving me filled with Christmas spirit, A DOWN-HOME COUNTRY CHRISTMAS was a captivating, pleasurable read. Many thanks to the author for writing this book for readers to enjoy! It's a gem! Merry Christmas!
11 reviews7 followers
January 10, 2016
Sweet and Easy Read

This novella was a nice filler for the story line Ms. Her knees had created in Sanctuary. Hollie's story needed to be finished. Her upside down story righted with her ability to be a strong single mom, taking care of her sweet girls, and letting true love take hold.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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