Little Christmas Magic

by Sylvie Kurtz

He had the snarl of a wounded grizzly and the gentle touch of a healer. But who was the surly stranger next door? His blatant masculinity alarmed widow Beth Lannigen. Yet behind her neighbor's icy glare she saw a longing that warmed her own barely healed heart. For Christmas, Beth set out to make her handsome neighbor smile!

Logan Ward needed solitude, not the holiday cheer of a petite blond angel and her too-cute son. But soon he was listening for Beth's knock at his door. Around mother and child, Logan felt like the hero he'd once been called - and that was dangerous for a man whose heart was slowly coming out of hiding....

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

Sylvie Kurtz writes stories that explore the complexity of the human mind and the thrill of suspense. She likes dark chocolate, soft wool, and movies that require a box of tissues. www.sylviekurtz.com

Reviews

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great story, the emotions portrayed were very real to life and i was definitely in tears a couple of times.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of two wounded souls who find healing and love with each other at Christmas, though a little heavy on the angst.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a small town where everyone knows everybody and their business, Logan Ward is a grieving father, doing his best to blot out memories of Christmases past. Beth and her son, on the other hand, love Christmas and want Logan to join in the spirit of the season together with the stray dog that has attached herself to Logan. Beth is dealing with her own grief and attacks it in a way that is completely opposite to Logan's, but both of them have to reach a point of being able to let go and move on. There is a thread of humour running through the story, but the grief being experienced by the adults is almost tangible. It is only when a tragedy strikes that Logan realises that he cannot bear to lose anything more in his life. The story is well written, bringing out the different ways in which people handle loss. The story is also clean without sacrificing the romance brewing and then engulfing Logan and Beth. Central to the story are Beth's son and Logan's shadow Max, both of them drawing the adults together. Locked in his guilt and self-recrimination, Logan seems like an unlikely hero, but he is exactly what Beth needs when she reaches her breaking point. Although I purchased this book some time back, I also received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, cried though :( very emotional

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real tear jerker.

This is a Christmas story, but most of the story is about sorrow, and loss, how life does not work out well and how one can never love again.

Beth is a widow with a 6 year old son, Jamie. A new neighbor moves in, Logan. He is a man who lost his daughter when she was very young.

There is a “Happily Ever After”. But the journey to that point is not precisely a joyous one.

I got what I thought would be a Christmas story. You know. Those stories where the spirit of Christmas makes people happy. This story, not so much.

I liked Beth and Jamie. Jamie is a treat. He is a wonderful little boy. He has a Knock Knock joke for every event.

Logan is a good man who is in pain. And that pain seemed to color the entire story.

And finally “They all lived happily ever after” did happen.

It was a long journey.

[Irene S · Rating 3 out of 5]

How you look at life and love… I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. Logan's escape from Christmas into a new home didn't last a day. Logan lost his daughter at Christmas and finds no joy in life. What he doesn't expect is to find Beth and her son Jamie next door embracing Christmas and welcoming him. Beth, who has had her own loss, tries to keep everything on the bright side for Jamie and to live life fully. Logan is drawn to Beth's sweetness and openness to life. This is a sweet romance that I enjoyed.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful read, but get your tissues out. This is not a fluffy, happy Christmas story, don't let the name or cover fool you. It is about two people with tragic pasts trying to keep living, especially the hero who carries so much guilt and sadness. It does get a HEA, but there is quite a bit a angst getting there, especially in the second half of the book, where everything that could go wrong, does. However, it is still great story about the will to carry on and letting oneself find joy and love again.

[Gia Monet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully woven story about dealing with loss - finding your path through the pain. Highly recommend. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this seasonal-themed romance when it first came out and enjoying it immensely and the second reading didn't disappoint. There are some heart-wrenching moments before the heart-warming ending, but they only serve to make the reading experience more rewarding. Highly recommended.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logan, Beth, Jamie and Max

Good story! First book I've read by this author and I will try other stories. The pain exploded off the page for both Logan and Beth, but also the healing.

[Tricia Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is different

This heart wrenching and heart warming story was pretty amazing. Two broken and shattered lives, one four legged dog brings the meaning of family and Christmas back.

[Mum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: this book deals very realistically with grief and the loss of a loved one too soon. That said, it was well written and well thought out. I enjoyed the humor and the overall message that we as humans can heal. The Christmas theme was an added bonus.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story. Some swearing. A steamy sex scene.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Christmas story read. This author never disappoints me with her writing.

[Alisha Carderella · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

[Margaret Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas

Great story with Christmas as a lovely backdrop. Some steam, but not too much. Lots of brokenness have shaped our main characters.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a total yawn-fest. Sucked the big one.

[Timothy Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The writing and the storyline for this book was very good. I felt for the characters in this book. I felt for Beth Lannigen and for Logan Ward. They both were feeling similar types of grief; but handling it in very different ways; but could understand the feelings of the other. This was a story about love loss and love again. I liked very much how they dealt with each others issues. I liked that Beth continued to be a friend to Logan even when things were at their roughest between the two. Even when Logan was a grump, or standoffish, or in her face. She maintained her dignity around him. She didn't show fear or slink away. She continued to be the rock he needed. But, he became her rock too even when his inner self tried to prevent it. When she or the boy were hurt and needing looking after he was there for them. The ending was great. As they both dealt with their inner turmoil and crashing and burning were able to come out of it and reach out to one another with love and understanding.

I liked that the book did not go overboard in describing the sexual attraction and sexual interaction between Beth and Logan. I think it would have taken away from the book. Anyway I think we can all imagine the rest.

This book makes me want to consider other books by this author.

[Anna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Christmas meet Bah Humbug in this book that has an overly cheerful widow trying to bring joy to a curmudgeon. I just... it was meh. My problem was 'WHY would he move to New England'? What is he doing for money? Guys just don't pack up, buy a huge old house in the middle of nowhere with no job and no prospects. Unless they win the lottery.

It's enjoyable. Even well written, to a point. But it's just like every other romance out there. An hour diversion from your own crap that doesn't stay with you. Enjoy it for what it is, and move on.

[N. Kuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet holiday read. You'll end this book feeling full of holiday spirit. Two broken people learning to love again. This is a well written, though at times drawn out and long winded, this is still a sweet romance. Throw in a crazy little boy and a dog, you have the best story to warm any heart! If you need a pick me up, you need to read this!

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a sweet little holiday romance, but... I just didn't quite connect with the characters.

[Rhonda Bare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read!!

I enjoyed following this story from their mutual grief to acceptance and understanding and love. The author developed her story well.

[Pat Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ebook

Nice story of a widow with a wonderful outlook on life meets a divorced man that has lost his child and is mad at the world. They work through their pain and find love.

[Connie Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great lite read!!!

Great lite holiday read for anyone looking for a little holiday inspiration to start or end their season...although a little predictable.