A Family for the Holidays

Prairie Courtships #6

by Sherri Shackelford

Her Guardian Groom  

Paid to accompany two orphaned siblings to their grandfather in Nebraska, Lily Winter is dismayed to discover the old man has gone missing. And when the children's inheritance makes them a target, buying protection is Lily's only option. Until a handsome gun-for-hire suggests another solution: marriage. 

Undercover US Marshal Jake Elder can't reveal his true identity without blowing his mission. Nor can he leave the town's pretty new arrival unguarded. But while uncovering a plot against her charges is difficult and risky, falling for Lily is all too easy. Especially once their marriage in name only gives Jake a glimpse of how wonderful Christmas—and their future as a family—could be.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Love Inspired Historical, Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Love Inspired, Holiday

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family for the Holidays was a cute Christmas read. It started off a little slow for me, but once I got further into the story I really began to love the story.

I enjoyed the moments of danger and the romance was adorable. I liked how it progressed and the ending was nice. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and hope that these characters make an appearance.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book. I was not required to review it. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily has been paid to take two orphaned children to their grandparent. She needs the money to purchase the rest of the boarding house where she was raised. She's without any family and the boarding house is all she knows. When Lily arrives in the small Nebraska town, she discovers the grandfather is missing and the town has quite a few shady characters. Lily can't, in good conscience, leave the children there. So she teams up with Jake, a suspected outlaw to help her escape the town with the children. But some appearances are wrong and Lily must learn to adapt or lose everything.

This was a fun story. It had quite a few little twists that I didn't see coming. The romance was sweet and the two main characters fit well together. The author really brought out the importance of faith and family. The book is part of a series, but I haven't read any of them in order. The stories definitely stand alone. There is some mention of previous characters, but they were inserted without the reader being lost. I really enjoyed the story and definitely want to go back and read the ones that I've missed. Overall, a sweet, romantic, Christmas story about family that I would recommend.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - rated pg

Sweet story set in 1885 Nebraska. Cute orphaned kids, fun adventure running from the bad guys, a spunky heroine, and a hunky US Marshal(undercover as an outlaw gunfighter). {spunky & hunky - haha!} A few small details that didn't quite add up, a few things that probably weren't historically accurate and a few hokey or silly bits. Nevertheless, the story was engaging enough to hold my attention and I read straight through without putting it down. And now I'm off to find a hunky US Marshal of my own!

Oh, by the way, this story is not very Christmas-y except for maybe a small bit at the end. And although it's perfectly "clean", it's also not really a "Christian" book, or even all that "inspirational". The kids parents were missionaries in Africa and there was a printed Bible verse before the story started, but other than that there was no real mention of faith, God, prayers, church-going, etc.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming holiday book this is! I thoroughly enjoyed it! One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book was because it has a little mystery thrown in! I loved all the books in this series, although they all stand alone. This one, however, centers on a mystery because the hero, Jake, is an undercover US Marshal and although he's on a case, he gets tangled up with Lily Winter and her two young charges when they come to a Nebraska town looking for the grandfather of the youngsters and they can't find him. It's a delightful story and I loved Lily's character as it strengthened throughout the book. She always thought she was weak but she proved over and over that she was a strong woman. She was so good with those kids! And, then, Jake thought he didn't need a family because he'd chosen law enforcement to right the wrongs of the world. I really enjoyed all the changes in him as he worked with Lily and the kids to keep them safe. Jake was such a wonderful character and his evolution was a joy to read! Another plus for me was bringing in characters from other books!
** I highly recommend this book to get you in the mood for the holidays!

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family for the Holidays was a book I found to be full of surprises. It was a very clever story that had quite a few twists and turns and left me eager to finish! Wonderful work and a huge pat on the back to the author :)

[Amira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet read with a very spunky heroine and a honorable and caring hero. The writing was very good and engaging, with a plot that was plausible and well executed. I never realized it was a sweet and clean romance which I don't overly enjoy, I love steam and passion between my couples. Still it was good and I enjoyed this novel.

[Trixi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lily Winters finds out that the grandfather she’s suppose to be escorting two children to is missing, and their inheritance could pose danger for them, she has little choice but to hire Jake Elder for protection. She has no idea that he’s not really an outlaw but an undercover US Marshal. All she knows is he’s the man for the job! Can they solve the mystery of the missing grandfather & return the children to safety before someone kidnaps them? And when they start posing as a family, things get even more complicated!

I really enjoyed my first book by this author! Lily is a no nonsense, take charge person who will do what it takes for the children’s sake. Jake has his secrets but for a good reason, he also has a good heart and doesn’t fool Lily one bit! The banter between these two makes for lots of humor as well as the subtle attraction to put a smile on my face. Both Pete and Sam make a delightful addition to the mix and give the story a real family feel. Between the mystery of the missing grandfather, trying to elude danger & discovery, and the building attraction between Lily and Jake, it kept me turning pages faster than a speeding bullet!

*I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review which I have provided here. Thank you Sherri for a fun adventure, I look forward to many more!*

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite story in the series. I absolutely love Lily and Jake as a couple and the children are wise beyond their years.

Both Lily and Jake had events in their childhood which could have sent them on a completely different path but they chose not to become angry, bitter people. Although they did close themselves off to avoid being hurt, they still tried their best to be good people.

I really admire Lily because although women she met took advantage of her and had no problems robbing her of what little she had, she just decided to move on and not dwell on material things. She was grateful for what she had and chose to be happy.

While reading, I wasn't sure if these four would all get a Happily Ever After. I love the way, Sherri ended this story because when I finished, I was smiling.

[Jenn Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read and brought us back to the town of Cimarron Springs. Although I have read the previous installments, this book can be read as a standalone. The previous couples are mentioned and play a role towards the end of the book, but their history is not necessary to the plot.

The adventure starts long before the couple arrives in Cimarron Springs, and Sherri Shackelford managed to keep me guessing with the plot on this one! I couldn't imagine how the hero and heroine would get past their differences and reach their HEA.

I recommend this entire series to anyone who enjoys Christian historical romances, especially ones that allow the religious themes to be subtle rather than the focus.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quick pace of this book kept me turning the pages in anticipation! Lily quickly becomes devoted and protective of her charges, especially when it becomes apparent that others want to take advantage of them. I admired her tenacity and problem solving instead of falling into the traps being set for her. Jake doesn't appear to be trustworthy, but Lily's shrewd judge of character leads her to believe in him and the group together goes on the hunt while also being hunted. Their growing attraction turns into a sweet romance and I was glad that they didn't fight their feelings and the author allowed the conflict in the plot come from external sources.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family For The Holidays by Sherri Shackelford. This Historical Romance takes place in 1885. Lily Winter was hired to take two orphaned siblings to their Grandfather in Nebraska. They went by train and stagecoach. Their grandfather has money and the children will get his money. Someone is out to stop this from happening. Undercover US Marshal Jake Elder is sitting on the sidewalk. No one knows he is a Marshal. Jake helps them locate the grandfather. A lot of things happen during this time. A very good read.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, light-hearted romance with a thread of suspense.

Jake and Lily together are an interesting mix of funny and poignant. The dialogue between these two is priceless -- the quips -- the way they say one thing while thinking something else. And the sheer stubbornness of both manifests itself in some hilarious situations. Definitely fun to keep up with them and the antics of Lily's two young charges. And really, who can resist a marriage of convenience story? At Christmas time? Not me!

[Karen Guetzow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It makes me want to read everything that Sherri Shackelford has ever written. (I had the same reaction to Rhonda Gibson's and Janet Lee Barton's books.) Shackelford's characters are quite endearing and fully developed. The plot is well thought out and interesting.
I have read many Harlequin Romance Love Inspired books. I didn't really start reading the Historicals until the pandemic started. By then, the line had been cut and I had to buy used issues. I think I was drawn to a different time and place because of this ungodly pandemic. I'm probably not the only reader who has been drawn to the Love Inspired Historicals in the past few years because of all that we've been through.
I hope Harlequin starts publishing four Love Inspired Historicals per month again. Escaping to a different century certainly does agree with me. I'm putting forward a heart-felt request here.
Again, "A Family for the Holidays" by Sherri Shackelford will be a book that I will keep and treasure always along with books written by Gibson and Barton. I will be ordering the rest of Shackelford's books in her "Prairie Courtships" series and will explore her other series as well. Thanks! ♡♡♡

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about the formation of an unlikely family and the mystery that follows them. The story was a little slow at times for me and the writing a tad boring, but overall cute way to get into the holiday spirit. For those who like prairie stories, romance, and outlaws, you’ll enjoy…these tropes and romance aren’t really my cup of tea.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Carol Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome novel

Reading these stories have become my latest obsession. What an extraordinary writer! I enjoyed and consumed every line, every phrase, every storyline... the suspense, drama and romance is intoxicating. So much so, I'm going to the next book in the series right away. 😀

[Karen Mcnicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. It is a great story, its heartwarming, it has a little action, intrigue and a real good feel to it. It only deals with Christmas at the end but it a read. I loved the characters, they seemed so real. I would highly recommend this book!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first foray into this brand of books and honestly didn’t even feel like a Christian book, so not-judgey or preachy at all. It was a fun, sometimes suspenseful book that balanced sweet found-family moments with wild-west adventure all leading up to Christmas.

[Chele · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story
fast paced and a twist.
5 stars

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Donna Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

This is a well written book that held my attention. It's clean and the characters are well developed. I will certainly look for more by this author.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Family for the Holidays. It was well paced and kept my interest throughout. The main characters were well written and likeable. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. While this is part of a series, it works very well as a stand alone, however that isn't going to stop me from looking up the other stories in the series, because like I said I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters and found myself wanting to read their stories too.

[Allison Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family for the Holidays was a cute historical romance. There were several twists in the story which kept it interesting and entertaining. Sherri Shackelford did a nice job developing the characters and bringing the wild west to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and think anyone who picks it up would as well.

My only complaint is that I wish the main character Lily was a stronger character. I suppose in this time period women were supposed to be fragile and dependent and in that case it was very accurate. I just wish she didn't faint so much and didn't need rescuing so often. Her fragile character did make her win at the end that much more surprising.

I plan on reading other books by Sherri Shackelford and look forward to doing so. I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

[T. Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!

This is a marriage-of-convenience story. In order to protect two orphaned children from being released into the custody of a shady businessman, Jake and Lily marry.

I always enjoy a realistic marriage-of-convenience story. Since I also enjoy slow-burn romances, MOC's are the perfect trope. In A Family for the Holidays you get the misunderstandings and non-communicated feelings as per normal, but you also get a beautiful love story that encompasses not only the H/h, but the orphaned children, as well. I really loved Jake's noble and protective character who slowly realizes that a home, wife and children are a new dream for his future. At the same time, Lily is realizing that same new dream. Also, as per previous books, this author is fantastic at writing realistic children. In fact, much of the humor from this story comes from the children, Sam and Peter, and their wild and adventurous imaginations. With some mystery and adventure thrown in, Sherri Shackelford has written another fabulous romance in the Prairie Courtships series. This book reads as a stand-alone, but with some fun glimpses of couples from previous books.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly heartfelt story mixed with mystery, danger, a family of a heart, and a marriage of a convenience.
This story was easy to emerge in and get lost in the world way back when. I loved the way Lily and the children had with each other, the instant connection all three of them had with Jake, even though his identity was misleading at the time.
The unit they formed was binding, they looked after each other, took care of each other, and they were willing to go great lengths to keep each other safe and out of harm's way.
The danger and mystery added new dimensions to the tale, giving the plot more spice. Not only were they running away from the people wanting to take the kids, but the dangers of the nature challenged them as well.
The subtle humor shows up unexpectedly every now and then, making me smile. The story doesn't have a direct Christian message, that you often find in the Love Inspired books, yet the goodness, sweetness, and kindness of the characters are inspiring, them living true the message with their lives, instead of their words.
A charming and delightful tale, with jeopardy and threats, near escapes, attacking turkeys, mixed with precious tender moments, genuine characters, and an unconventional family unit built by love
~ Four Spoons

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Prairie Courtship Series. I really enjoy Sherri's book and this one was great. The story is well written, humorous, and heart warming. You're going to love this one.
Orphan Lily Winters is hired to escort two orphans to Nebraska to live with their grandfather. Upon arrival she learns that the grandfather has disappeared. A gunslinger stands between her and the entrance of the hotel. The children are fascinated by the outlaw but Lily faints and is carried inside by him. The man seems very caring and is good with the children, how can that be? The man who owns the hotel soon tries to get control of the children but the outlaw is determined to save them.
US Marshal Jake Elder is undercover and is intrigued by this beauty and the two children. How can he protect them and not blow his cover? Jake is attracted to the little family but soon finds that they are involved in the case he is investigating. Can he find Emil, keeps the kids out of the hands of a man set on getting their inheritance, and protect Lily?
A journey of this little family of orphans and the man that wants to hold them together. God has a plan for these people and it's a great one. God has a plan for you too. Just give Him control of your life and watch Him work.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherri Shackelford has a way of writing books that touch your heart....warm-hearted, loving stories. In this book, I fell in love with Lily and Jake, both of whom had issues from their pasts but who both fell for the other. I especially respected Lily, who despite her insecurities still was able to fully protect the two children she was delivering to their uncle.

This was a little more than a feel-good story, because there was an element of mystery to it as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it is able to be read alone without reading the first books of this series.

Thanks to the author for supplying this book to me in return for my honest review.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy read. I liked that Lily was not some namby-pamby, whiny female. She was strong enough to stand on her own and to help the two orphaned siblings (Sam & Peter) get to their grandfather's. Undercover US Marshall Jake was used to being on his own but he couldn't let Lily and the children go off on their own with the danger coming their way. The story moved at just the right pace, had well-rounded characters, and held my interest from beginning to end. Overall, this was a really good book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. This is an enjoyable historical romance.Lily is paid to take two orphans to their grandfather, their inheritance makes them a target she has to marry a gun for hire man to save them. He turns out to be a Us marshal and like all the love inspired series there is a happy ending.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable Christian romance tale in which Ms. Shackelford does a superb job building her characters. I enjoyed the dialog between the characters. The plot line was well thought out. Interesting twist with the secondary characters that I will not discuss so as not to spoil it for readers.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Prairie Courtships