What do you think?
Rate this book
Night Stalkers: Holidays #5
Zachary's Christmas
A failed North Polar expedition—dog sled teams are tough to find on short notice in Washington DC—and a Christmas model train display can change a life. Or maybe two lives.
Anne Darlington’s little brother may be the President’s Chief of Staff, but that fails to give her life any direction—which it is sorely lacking. Being the daughter of one of the South’s leading families isn’t helping either.
Vice President Zachary Thomas fights battles of his own. His disaffected path drives him to fight for the future.
Once he meets Anne, he finally knows why. But if the climate change conference doesn’t finish him off, battling Anne’s heart definitely will.
[Can be read stand-alone or in series. A complete happy-ever-after with no cliffhangers. Originally published in “The Night Stalkers White House” series in 2015. Re-edited 2022 but still the same great story.]
Buy now and celebrate the Christmas holidays.
Anne Darlington’s little brother may be the President’s Chief of Staff, but that fails to give her life any direction—which it is sorely lacking. Being the daughter of one of the South’s leading families isn’t helping either.
Vice President Zachary Thomas fights battles of his own. His disaffected path drives him to fight for the future.
Once he meets Anne, he finally knows why. But if the climate change conference doesn’t finish him off, battling Anne’s heart definitely will.
[Can be read stand-alone or in series. A complete happy-ever-after with no cliffhangers. Originally published in “The Night Stalkers White House” series in 2015. Re-edited 2022 but still the same great story.]
Buy now and celebrate the Christmas holidays.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2015
18 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Buchman
322 books613 followersUSA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. “Matt” Buchman started writing on a flight south from Japan to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Just part of a solo around-the-world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 13, 2019
Originally published at Reading Reality
There may not be an actual half-life for reading holiday stories after the season, but for me it feels like anytime after Twelfth Night (January 5) is pushing something. Or just gives me a sense of trying to get one last lick of a candy cane that has dwindled down to nothing – at least until the next fall.
So when I received Zachary’s Christmas from the publisher over the New Year’s weekend in exchange for my usual honest review, it seemed like the time to review this was NOW, especially since this is an older holiday title (albeit one I had not read) from one of my favorite authors.
And it’s short – and this was a day when I needed a short book to review. I fell way too far down the Harry Potter fanfic rabbit hole this holiday. My bad – but it was fun.
About Zachary’s Christmas…
In the fictional universe created in the author’s absolutely awesome Night Stalkers military romance series, Peter Matthews is the current liberal president of the U.S. And yes, I wish this aspect of the series were real. I wish it very, very much.
Moving right along…
Zachary Thomas is Matthews’ Vice-President, and looks to be the next nominee for President from their party. It’s Matthews’ second term, so that talk is timely. But one of the interesting things about Zach Thomas is that he is single, never married, and has still managed to have a successful and scandal-free political career.
Into this walks Anne Darlington, whose brother happens to be the current White House Chief of Staff. Anne comes to DC in chilly December to visit her brother, because she’s at a kind of personal crossroads. She’s been the very successful manager of their family’s ranching and restaurant business back in Tennessee, but she’s discovered that it isn’t for her. She’s good at it, but she doesn’t love it. The job, that it. She loves the ranch just fine but doesn’t want to live there.
Her brother Daniel, on the other hand, lives for the ranch and can’t wait for his White House career to be over so that he can go back and run the place. But that’s his dream for later, because right now he’s doing good and important work and doesn’t want to leave it until the job is done.
(Whether helping to clean things up in Washington DC is a job that is EVER done is an entirely separate question not within the scope of either this book, this series or this review.)
Zach meets Anne in her brother’s office and the chemistry between them is instant. Not just the sexual sparks, of which there are plenty, but the intellectual challenge. They meet on multiple levels, and it’s special for both of them.
So special that Zach asks Anne out that evening to hear the holiday concert at the National Botanical Gardens. And these two people start to open up to each other, reaching out towards each other out of their separate loneliness. That type of painful loneliness that happens when you’re busy and surrounded by people all the time, but where you can’t let anyone in and no one really sees the real you.
Their whirlwind affair gives Zach all the time he needs, and it isn’t much, to figure out that Anne is the one woman for him. But between his work and his increasing happiness, he doesn’t see – and Anne doesn’t show or tell him – the problems that brought her to DC in the first place.
So while he thinks they’re on a path to happy ever after, Anne fears that she’s on a path where she becomes an adjunct of someone powerful but not a person with her own purpose – and that’s just the fate she came to DC to escape.
Whether they can find a way for both their needs to get met is anyone’s guess. But there are plenty of people pushing both idiots in the right direction.
Escape Rating B: There were lots of things that I really liked about this story, and one that felt just a bit incomplete or unfinished – hence the B rating.
The setup was a whole lot of fun. President Peter Matthews has been a tertiary character in several books in the previous series, Night Stalkers and its followup series – plural. He is the childhood friend of Emily Beale, the heroine of the first Night Stalkers book, but it is not necessary to have read any of the previous books in any of the previous series (Night Stalkers, Henderson’s Ranch, Night Stalkers White House, White House Protection Force, etc.) I’ve read most of the Night Stalkers but little of the others so far and still got right into Zachary’s Christmas. Not that this one doesn’t make me WANT to go back and read some of the others that I’ve missed!
I liked the romance between Zach and Anne. It was definitely a fast whirlwind, but it worked for this story. I also felt for Anne and just how bowled over she was by the constant presence of both the Secret Service and the Press. Her family is wealthy and powerful, so she’s used to being in public and giving speeches and having people watch her. But the DC goldfish bowl still feels intimidating to her – understandably so.
While I understood her hesitation about throwing herself to the wolves of the Press, the part of the story that felt incomplete was the depth of her self-doubt. She initially turns down Zach’s proposal because she fears being lost in his shadow. But she doesn’t ever talk to him about the issue, nor does she ever explain what brought her to DC in the first place. While I felt for her dilemma, my feeling for her had way more to do with me projecting my feelings onto her than her actually articulating them.
Also, she doubts herself constantly and continually minimizes her own capabilities and her own accomplishments. While we all have self doubt (as women we generally have buckets of it) hers don’t seem founded. They’re not rooted in anything and they are of a depth that just begs for there to have been a root cause – which just isn’t there.
But those minor reservations aside, I still had a terrific time on my visit to the Matthews’ White House, peeking in on this lovely romance. I look forward to going back for more.
There may not be an actual half-life for reading holiday stories after the season, but for me it feels like anytime after Twelfth Night (January 5) is pushing something. Or just gives me a sense of trying to get one last lick of a candy cane that has dwindled down to nothing – at least until the next fall.
So when I received Zachary’s Christmas from the publisher over the New Year’s weekend in exchange for my usual honest review, it seemed like the time to review this was NOW, especially since this is an older holiday title (albeit one I had not read) from one of my favorite authors.
And it’s short – and this was a day when I needed a short book to review. I fell way too far down the Harry Potter fanfic rabbit hole this holiday. My bad – but it was fun.
About Zachary’s Christmas…
In the fictional universe created in the author’s absolutely awesome Night Stalkers military romance series, Peter Matthews is the current liberal president of the U.S. And yes, I wish this aspect of the series were real. I wish it very, very much.
Moving right along…
Zachary Thomas is Matthews’ Vice-President, and looks to be the next nominee for President from their party. It’s Matthews’ second term, so that talk is timely. But one of the interesting things about Zach Thomas is that he is single, never married, and has still managed to have a successful and scandal-free political career.
Into this walks Anne Darlington, whose brother happens to be the current White House Chief of Staff. Anne comes to DC in chilly December to visit her brother, because she’s at a kind of personal crossroads. She’s been the very successful manager of their family’s ranching and restaurant business back in Tennessee, but she’s discovered that it isn’t for her. She’s good at it, but she doesn’t love it. The job, that it. She loves the ranch just fine but doesn’t want to live there.
Her brother Daniel, on the other hand, lives for the ranch and can’t wait for his White House career to be over so that he can go back and run the place. But that’s his dream for later, because right now he’s doing good and important work and doesn’t want to leave it until the job is done.
(Whether helping to clean things up in Washington DC is a job that is EVER done is an entirely separate question not within the scope of either this book, this series or this review.)
Zach meets Anne in her brother’s office and the chemistry between them is instant. Not just the sexual sparks, of which there are plenty, but the intellectual challenge. They meet on multiple levels, and it’s special for both of them.
So special that Zach asks Anne out that evening to hear the holiday concert at the National Botanical Gardens. And these two people start to open up to each other, reaching out towards each other out of their separate loneliness. That type of painful loneliness that happens when you’re busy and surrounded by people all the time, but where you can’t let anyone in and no one really sees the real you.
Their whirlwind affair gives Zach all the time he needs, and it isn’t much, to figure out that Anne is the one woman for him. But between his work and his increasing happiness, he doesn’t see – and Anne doesn’t show or tell him – the problems that brought her to DC in the first place.
So while he thinks they’re on a path to happy ever after, Anne fears that she’s on a path where she becomes an adjunct of someone powerful but not a person with her own purpose – and that’s just the fate she came to DC to escape.
Whether they can find a way for both their needs to get met is anyone’s guess. But there are plenty of people pushing both idiots in the right direction.
Escape Rating B: There were lots of things that I really liked about this story, and one that felt just a bit incomplete or unfinished – hence the B rating.
The setup was a whole lot of fun. President Peter Matthews has been a tertiary character in several books in the previous series, Night Stalkers and its followup series – plural. He is the childhood friend of Emily Beale, the heroine of the first Night Stalkers book, but it is not necessary to have read any of the previous books in any of the previous series (Night Stalkers, Henderson’s Ranch, Night Stalkers White House, White House Protection Force, etc.) I’ve read most of the Night Stalkers but little of the others so far and still got right into Zachary’s Christmas. Not that this one doesn’t make me WANT to go back and read some of the others that I’ve missed!
I liked the romance between Zach and Anne. It was definitely a fast whirlwind, but it worked for this story. I also felt for Anne and just how bowled over she was by the constant presence of both the Secret Service and the Press. Her family is wealthy and powerful, so she’s used to being in public and giving speeches and having people watch her. But the DC goldfish bowl still feels intimidating to her – understandably so.
While I understood her hesitation about throwing herself to the wolves of the Press, the part of the story that felt incomplete was the depth of her self-doubt. She initially turns down Zach’s proposal because she fears being lost in his shadow. But she doesn’t ever talk to him about the issue, nor does she ever explain what brought her to DC in the first place. While I felt for her dilemma, my feeling for her had way more to do with me projecting my feelings onto her than her actually articulating them.
Also, she doubts herself constantly and continually minimizes her own capabilities and her own accomplishments. While we all have self doubt (as women we generally have buckets of it) hers don’t seem founded. They’re not rooted in anything and they are of a depth that just begs for there to have been a root cause – which just isn’t there.
But those minor reservations aside, I still had a terrific time on my visit to the Matthews’ White House, peeking in on this lovely romance. I look forward to going back for more.
January 6, 2019
I loved this love story between the Vice President (Zachery) and Anne the White House Chief of Staff’s sister. I was happy to see how the author wrote a story where the President, Vice President, spouses, Security and other high echelon personnel had personalities that were nice and I could relate to. That is so refreshing after everything we see on the news. Anne’s personality was one I would love someone to have that I was around all the time. Her insight into some of the hurt the Vice President went through as a child was amazing. It was interesting to see how people so much in the public eye felt about always being photographed and watched. This book just touched me, and I strongly encourage you to read it. I received a free copy of this book, and I voluntarily wrote a review.
January 15, 2019
A strong woman, a smart man, beautiful scenery and an interesting plot. The author does a great job showing a capable woman who is a having trouble finding herself. The hero is sidetracked by a lot going on (he is the vice president after all...). He does come through in the end though.
I love ML Buchman's ability to paint a picture. I find myself wanting to visit every time I read one of his books set in an exotic location (even the story I didn't really like). Of course, after reading this I want to go to the smokies and the national botanic garden as well as Courmayeur, Italy.
I received a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I love ML Buchman's ability to paint a picture. I find myself wanting to visit every time I read one of his books set in an exotic location (even the story I didn't really like). Of course, after reading this I want to go to the smokies and the national botanic garden as well as Courmayeur, Italy.
I received a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2019
Leaving Tennessee to visit her brother, the White House Chief of Staff, Ann Darlington finds herself with an almost instant connection with Zachary, the V.P. As Zachary shows her all the things that are beautiful in Washington D.C, their story takes a turn that is filled with action and suspense as they fight through a terrorist attack. With the many emotions to their story, they journey through it all while falling in love. A great read for any time of year, M. L. Buchman always gives the reader a page turning story. 4.5 Stars!
Read
November 27, 2020I am not rating the book with stars as I don’t feel it’s fair when it is not a genre I am that interest in and only read it for a book challenge. I liked the book well enough and the writing is actually good for at least a 3.5 rating from me, but I don’t want to lull down any averages for those who really do like this genre and read widely within it and would have a better feeling for how this stack up. I was glad for the DC setting with which I am somewhat familiar as that added to my enjoyment.
January 7, 2019
Ann Darlington goes to visit her brother, Daniel, White House Chief of Staff, to hopefully help make a major decision in her life. While there she meets Zachary Thomas, the Vice President.
You are drawn into the lives of the characters; written so well by the author, M.L. Buchman. This story is full of banter, beautiful scenery, personal trials and a terrorist attack. An enjoyable love story worth your time.
You are drawn into the lives of the characters; written so well by the author, M.L. Buchman. This story is full of banter, beautiful scenery, personal trials and a terrorist attack. An enjoyable love story worth your time.
January 16, 2019
I love these stories by ML Buchmann .Anne runs to visit her brother at The White House because she is unhappy on the family farm and not sure what she wants out of life but the farm isn't it, in walks Zachary the single Vice President and so begins a sweet story of two lonely souls. Dating the Vice President of the United States isn't easy and is very public and all goes well till an unexpected tragedy in the Italian mountains happens and Anne runs scared.This is a fun, quick read with a hea.
January 18, 2019
I received a free copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review." I've read almost all f M.L.Buchman's books and always enjoy them. Love the Nightstalkers series and the WH series if a fun look at the connected characters. Wish this team was really in the WH. Good character development although the books in this series are relatively short. Looking forward to the next book.
January 5, 2019
This is a sweet romance with fantastic characters and just the right amount of drama, action, and suspense thrown in. I loved Zachary and Anne together.....these two were perfect together. A short read with a heart warming and romantic ending.
January 5, 2019
Another White House Christmas story. Love revisiting the characters from the Night Stalkers. Was an appropriate book to reread during the holiday season. I received a free copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2018
Zack and Anne are two of my favorites. Strong will, deep caring , pure heart. A very sweet deep love story
September 7, 2020
A fun and quick Christmas romance.
June 11, 2023
Super quick read yet unsatisfying. Plot felt improbable 🤨 and not relatable. Buchman seems to do his best work when focused on helicopters not White House personnel.
February 13, 2022
Another excellent book in the Nightstalker series. His characters come to life and just suck you into their story.
August 26, 2017
Typical Buchman romance. Well written, but short with all the White House action figures.
There is something really nice about the NightStalkers White House series. I enjoyed rereading this.
There is something really nice about the NightStalkers White House series. I enjoyed rereading this.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews