What do you think?
Rate this book
Oak Grove #2.5
Western Christmas Brides: A Bride and Baby for Christmas / Miss Christina's Christmas Wish / A Kiss from the Cowboy
Christmas in the Wild West
Three heartwarming stories
In A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson, pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove's eligible men. Teddy White isn't on it! Time for him to act! In Miss Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning, a new teacher is hoping for a holiday miracle in the form of Ivan Panovsky... And could A Kiss from the Cowboy help Livy find happiness with Kitson James in this festive story by Carol Arens?
Previously published.
Three heartwarming stories
In A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson, pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove's eligible men. Teddy White isn't on it! Time for him to act! In Miss Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning, a new teacher is hoping for a holiday miracle in the form of Ivan Panovsky... And could A Kiss from the Cowboy help Livy find happiness with Kitson James in this festive story by Carol Arens?
Previously published.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 18, 2017
13 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Lauri Robinson
174 books127 followersLauri Robinson's chosen genre to write is Western historical, and when asked why, she says, "Because I know I wasn't the only girl who wanted to grow up and marry Little Joe Cartwright."
With a degree in early childhood education, Lauri has spent three decades working in the non-profit field for Head Start, Child Abuse Intervention, the March of Dimes, and United Way. She claims the once upon a time and happily ever after premise of romance novels has always been a form of stress relief. When her husband suggested she write one, she took the challenge and has loved every minute of the journey.
Lauri lives in rural Minnesota, where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and their families, which includes three granddaughters, two stepgrandsons and two granddogs. She volunteers for several organizations, including her local library, and spends most fall weekends filling the freezer with homemade foodstuffs from the bountiful harvest of her husband's green thumb. She's a diehard Elvis fan (yes, she's been to Graceland), and loves to spend Sundays watching NASCAR, either live or on TV. However, she says her favorite weekends are spent in the woods of northern Minnesota on the land homesteaded by her great-grandfather.
Most of her childhood was spent in western Kansas, which is the setting for several of her stories. Lauri is a member of RWA, Northern Lights Writers,and Hearts Through History Romance Writers, as well as several online writing groups. She writes for Harlequin, Mills and Boon and The Wild Rose Press.
For updates on her writing please visit www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com
With a degree in early childhood education, Lauri has spent three decades working in the non-profit field for Head Start, Child Abuse Intervention, the March of Dimes, and United Way. She claims the once upon a time and happily ever after premise of romance novels has always been a form of stress relief. When her husband suggested she write one, she took the challenge and has loved every minute of the journey.
Lauri lives in rural Minnesota, where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and their families, which includes three granddaughters, two stepgrandsons and two granddogs. She volunteers for several organizations, including her local library, and spends most fall weekends filling the freezer with homemade foodstuffs from the bountiful harvest of her husband's green thumb. She's a diehard Elvis fan (yes, she's been to Graceland), and loves to spend Sundays watching NASCAR, either live or on TV. However, she says her favorite weekends are spent in the woods of northern Minnesota on the land homesteaded by her great-grandfather.
Most of her childhood was spent in western Kansas, which is the setting for several of her stories. Lauri is a member of RWA, Northern Lights Writers,and Hearts Through History Romance Writers, as well as several online writing groups. She writes for Harlequin, Mills and Boon and The Wild Rose Press.
For updates on her writing please visit www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 19, 2018
A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson
Series: Oak Grove (Book 2.5)
Pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove’s eligible men. A list that Teddy White sees—and he’s not on it! Time for him to act so that both their Christmas wishes can come true.
I was happy to see Hannah Olsen get her happy ever after. She made her first appearance in Winning the Mail-Order Bride as the woman Brett's mother sent for him to marry. Her backstory is a sad one. She fell in love with a man, but their families were involved in a longstanding feud. She and Eric planned to marry, but he died before they could. When she turned up pregnant, her father kicked her out of the house. She was a childhood friend of Brett's, so his mother sent her to Oak Grove, but Brett was already in love with Fiona.
Hannah lives with Brett and Fiona and works creating illustrations for the local newspaper. She and Teddy, who owns the newspaper along with his sister, have become friends. Hannah wants to find a husband so that her baby has a father, and has made a list of the town's eligible bachelors. When Teddy accidentally ended up with the list, he was surprised to find that he wasn't on the list. Not that he wanted to be, but still...
I liked both Hannah and Teddy. Hannah is a strong woman, who has been through a lot. The youngest of seven sisters, she never knew love from her father. He was unhappy that she was a girl and never let her forget it. The only love she had growing up was from her grandparents. Hannah is determined to make sure that her baby knows it is loved. She was also affected by the hatred between her family and Eric's and swore that she would never put herself in that position again. Teddy was terrific. He is a nice man with a big heart. I loved how protective he was of Hannah.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hannah and Teddy. They started as friends, with no thought of a relationship between them. I loved how easy they found it to talk to each other. Teddy had fallen in love with another pregnant woman several years earlier and was badly hurt when she went back to her baby's father. He swore he would never let that happen again. He couldn't help being drawn to Hannah, though he worked hard to convince himself they were just friends. Finding Hannah's list made Teddy realize that he didn't like the idea of her marrying another man. Teddy was everything Hannah wanted in a man, but it was obvious to her that his sister hated her, so she refused to consider him as a possible husband. I loved the time that Teddy and Hannah spent together and seeing how right they were for each other. I ached for Teddy when he discovered why he wasn't on Hannah's list. I loved seeing him stand up to Abigail when he discovered what she had been doing. I really enjoyed how Hannah took control and made an effort to change Abigail's attitude by changing her own. Things were looking up for Hannah and Teddy until a misunderstanding made Hannah push him away. I loved Teddy's determination to win her back. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic.
Though Abigail really bugged me in the previous book and most of this story, I understood her motives here. She was protective of her big brother and didn't want to see him suffer again. Her abrasiveness and rudeness were irritating. She did redeem herself in the end, and I enjoyed seeing the changes in her. I would love to see her get her own story, and maybe find out why she had been so obnoxious. I'd like to see her find her own happy ending.
Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning
Series: Smoke River (Book 4.5)
Dedicated new teacher Christina Marnell feels her heart race as she watches Ivan Panovsky chop wood for the school. She had ruled marriage out, but Christmas is a time when miracles can happen…
Good story about two people who have their eyes set on goals and discover that there is more to life. Christina is fresh out of teacher's college and raring to go. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl and it is finally happening. She plans to devote her life to educating children. Marriage is not in her plans. Meanwhile, Ivan has been working two jobs to earn money to bring his little sister to live with him. What happens when these two determined people discover that love happens when you least expect it.
I enjoyed this story. It was more than a romance; it also showed a realistic look at life. Christina is enthused about teaching but got quite a wake-up call on her first day. Injured as a child, she walks with a limp. That same limp made her the target of bullies in school, making her even shyer and more withdrawn around people. She had never dealt with boisterous youngsters before and was out of her element. I felt a little sorry for her, but also admired her dogged determination to make a difference in their lives.
Ivan is a hardworking man who wants to do right by his little sister. I was seriously impressed by the sacrifices he made in his efforts to bring her to him. He came across as a bit standoffish at the beginning until his reasons for avoiding social occasions were revealed. Once AnnaMarie arrived, the reader also gets to know his old world customs and the way they influence his thoughts and actions.
Christina and Ivan didn't have much interaction until about halfway through the story, once AnnaMarie arrived and was enrolled in school. Christina was overjoyed to have such a promising student in her school. I loved that Ivan was so proud of his sister, but he also made it clear that he expected AnnaMarie to follow tradition and marry young. I loved seeing these two people, who were so different, get to know each other. It was sweet to see Ivan show Christina that there was more to life than teaching. The scene at the barn dance was fantastic, as he introduced her to the joys of dancing. I also enjoyed AnnaMarie's birthday dinner and seeing Christina learn about some of Ivan's traditions. At the same time, I enjoyed how Christina's example helped Ivan to see that there was a whole new world of opportunities available for his sister.
The more time they spent together, the more their feelings grew. Unfortunately, Christina suffered from some pretty severe tunnel vision and refused to see that she could have more out of life. I ached for them both when they confessed their love, but couldn't find a way to be together. I loved Mrs. Ming's comment “For an intelligent woman, sometimes you do not act very smart.” There was a very fortuitous twist that enabled both Ivan and Christina to get their hearts' desires.
Christina's classroom was an interesting microcosm of their world. There were smart kids and ones who struggled. There were the popular ones, and the ones who were excluded because they were "different." I ached for Christina's frustration on how to reach them all.
A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens
Kitson James and Livy York both have secrets, but can their love overcome the lies they’ve told? A Christmas kiss might help…
When two wrongs do make a right. Livy has been raising her four-year-old brother since their parents died earlier in the year. She did the best she could, but there were parts of the ranch that began to suffer. When she found out that her wealthy cousin Edwina was coming to visit, Livy panicked. She remembered her visits to Edwina's family, and how she constantly felt inferior. Her letters to Edwina have been full of how well she was doing. Now she was afraid that Edwina would look at the ranch and try to take Sam away from her. Determined to prevent this from happening, Livy advertised for a ranch hand who could help her fix things up before the visit. Livy implied that the position would be permanent, even though she only intended it to last two weeks.
Kit James applied for the job and was hired. What he didn't tell Livy was that he had no experience as a ranch hand. He was an actor who has played the parts of cowboys and believed that he could learn what he needed to know from the book The Common Man's Guide to Ranching. He wanted a permanent job because he needed a real home where he could raise his little niece.
I enjoyed the initial meeting between Kit and Livy. Livy and Sam were stuck walking back to the ranch from town because of a stubborn horse when Kit and Emmie came across them. There were some sparks between Livy and Kit from the start, but Livy had been burned by a previous relationship and resisted the attraction. Kit, on the other hand, was ready to embrace it. It didn't take too long for the truth to come out, leaving both of them struggling with what to do. I liked Kit's protectiveness toward Livy, something that was more than just his way of finding a way to stay on. There were some sweet scenes between the two of them, but Livy fought hard against her growing feelings, especially once she found out that Kit was an actor. When Edwina showed up early for her visit, it created even more complications, especially once Kit claimed to be Livy's husband.
I loved how the town rallied around Livy and Kit, right down to seeing them married for real. Livy still did her best to put distance between them, but it got harder for her to resist him. Meanwhile, Kit was determined to show Livy that he cared. I wanted to shake Livy when she made a nearly impossible condition to their staying married and ached for Kit's fear that he wouldn't be able to make it happen. I loved the solution he came up with, and how he accomplished it. His big moment at the end was terrific.
There were some interesting twists when it came to Edwina. I was right there with Livy and her fears, up until Edwina arrived. It didn't take long for me to suspect that there was something more going on with her. I enjoyed seeing the changes she went through and loved how her relationship with Livy was affected. There was also a terrific little twist to her story at the end.
Series: Oak Grove (Book 2.5)
Pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove’s eligible men. A list that Teddy White sees—and he’s not on it! Time for him to act so that both their Christmas wishes can come true.
I was happy to see Hannah Olsen get her happy ever after. She made her first appearance in Winning the Mail-Order Bride as the woman Brett's mother sent for him to marry. Her backstory is a sad one. She fell in love with a man, but their families were involved in a longstanding feud. She and Eric planned to marry, but he died before they could. When she turned up pregnant, her father kicked her out of the house. She was a childhood friend of Brett's, so his mother sent her to Oak Grove, but Brett was already in love with Fiona.
Hannah lives with Brett and Fiona and works creating illustrations for the local newspaper. She and Teddy, who owns the newspaper along with his sister, have become friends. Hannah wants to find a husband so that her baby has a father, and has made a list of the town's eligible bachelors. When Teddy accidentally ended up with the list, he was surprised to find that he wasn't on the list. Not that he wanted to be, but still...
I liked both Hannah and Teddy. Hannah is a strong woman, who has been through a lot. The youngest of seven sisters, she never knew love from her father. He was unhappy that she was a girl and never let her forget it. The only love she had growing up was from her grandparents. Hannah is determined to make sure that her baby knows it is loved. She was also affected by the hatred between her family and Eric's and swore that she would never put herself in that position again. Teddy was terrific. He is a nice man with a big heart. I loved how protective he was of Hannah.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hannah and Teddy. They started as friends, with no thought of a relationship between them. I loved how easy they found it to talk to each other. Teddy had fallen in love with another pregnant woman several years earlier and was badly hurt when she went back to her baby's father. He swore he would never let that happen again. He couldn't help being drawn to Hannah, though he worked hard to convince himself they were just friends. Finding Hannah's list made Teddy realize that he didn't like the idea of her marrying another man. Teddy was everything Hannah wanted in a man, but it was obvious to her that his sister hated her, so she refused to consider him as a possible husband. I loved the time that Teddy and Hannah spent together and seeing how right they were for each other. I ached for Teddy when he discovered why he wasn't on Hannah's list. I loved seeing him stand up to Abigail when he discovered what she had been doing. I really enjoyed how Hannah took control and made an effort to change Abigail's attitude by changing her own. Things were looking up for Hannah and Teddy until a misunderstanding made Hannah push him away. I loved Teddy's determination to win her back. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic.
Though Abigail really bugged me in the previous book and most of this story, I understood her motives here. She was protective of her big brother and didn't want to see him suffer again. Her abrasiveness and rudeness were irritating. She did redeem herself in the end, and I enjoyed seeing the changes in her. I would love to see her get her own story, and maybe find out why she had been so obnoxious. I'd like to see her find her own happy ending.
Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning
Series: Smoke River (Book 4.5)
Dedicated new teacher Christina Marnell feels her heart race as she watches Ivan Panovsky chop wood for the school. She had ruled marriage out, but Christmas is a time when miracles can happen…
Good story about two people who have their eyes set on goals and discover that there is more to life. Christina is fresh out of teacher's college and raring to go. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl and it is finally happening. She plans to devote her life to educating children. Marriage is not in her plans. Meanwhile, Ivan has been working two jobs to earn money to bring his little sister to live with him. What happens when these two determined people discover that love happens when you least expect it.
I enjoyed this story. It was more than a romance; it also showed a realistic look at life. Christina is enthused about teaching but got quite a wake-up call on her first day. Injured as a child, she walks with a limp. That same limp made her the target of bullies in school, making her even shyer and more withdrawn around people. She had never dealt with boisterous youngsters before and was out of her element. I felt a little sorry for her, but also admired her dogged determination to make a difference in their lives.
Ivan is a hardworking man who wants to do right by his little sister. I was seriously impressed by the sacrifices he made in his efforts to bring her to him. He came across as a bit standoffish at the beginning until his reasons for avoiding social occasions were revealed. Once AnnaMarie arrived, the reader also gets to know his old world customs and the way they influence his thoughts and actions.
Christina and Ivan didn't have much interaction until about halfway through the story, once AnnaMarie arrived and was enrolled in school. Christina was overjoyed to have such a promising student in her school. I loved that Ivan was so proud of his sister, but he also made it clear that he expected AnnaMarie to follow tradition and marry young. I loved seeing these two people, who were so different, get to know each other. It was sweet to see Ivan show Christina that there was more to life than teaching. The scene at the barn dance was fantastic, as he introduced her to the joys of dancing. I also enjoyed AnnaMarie's birthday dinner and seeing Christina learn about some of Ivan's traditions. At the same time, I enjoyed how Christina's example helped Ivan to see that there was a whole new world of opportunities available for his sister.
The more time they spent together, the more their feelings grew. Unfortunately, Christina suffered from some pretty severe tunnel vision and refused to see that she could have more out of life. I ached for them both when they confessed their love, but couldn't find a way to be together. I loved Mrs. Ming's comment “For an intelligent woman, sometimes you do not act very smart.” There was a very fortuitous twist that enabled both Ivan and Christina to get their hearts' desires.
Christina's classroom was an interesting microcosm of their world. There were smart kids and ones who struggled. There were the popular ones, and the ones who were excluded because they were "different." I ached for Christina's frustration on how to reach them all.
A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens
Kitson James and Livy York both have secrets, but can their love overcome the lies they’ve told? A Christmas kiss might help…
When two wrongs do make a right. Livy has been raising her four-year-old brother since their parents died earlier in the year. She did the best she could, but there were parts of the ranch that began to suffer. When she found out that her wealthy cousin Edwina was coming to visit, Livy panicked. She remembered her visits to Edwina's family, and how she constantly felt inferior. Her letters to Edwina have been full of how well she was doing. Now she was afraid that Edwina would look at the ranch and try to take Sam away from her. Determined to prevent this from happening, Livy advertised for a ranch hand who could help her fix things up before the visit. Livy implied that the position would be permanent, even though she only intended it to last two weeks.
Kit James applied for the job and was hired. What he didn't tell Livy was that he had no experience as a ranch hand. He was an actor who has played the parts of cowboys and believed that he could learn what he needed to know from the book The Common Man's Guide to Ranching. He wanted a permanent job because he needed a real home where he could raise his little niece.
I enjoyed the initial meeting between Kit and Livy. Livy and Sam were stuck walking back to the ranch from town because of a stubborn horse when Kit and Emmie came across them. There were some sparks between Livy and Kit from the start, but Livy had been burned by a previous relationship and resisted the attraction. Kit, on the other hand, was ready to embrace it. It didn't take too long for the truth to come out, leaving both of them struggling with what to do. I liked Kit's protectiveness toward Livy, something that was more than just his way of finding a way to stay on. There were some sweet scenes between the two of them, but Livy fought hard against her growing feelings, especially once she found out that Kit was an actor. When Edwina showed up early for her visit, it created even more complications, especially once Kit claimed to be Livy's husband.
I loved how the town rallied around Livy and Kit, right down to seeing them married for real. Livy still did her best to put distance between them, but it got harder for her to resist him. Meanwhile, Kit was determined to show Livy that he cared. I wanted to shake Livy when she made a nearly impossible condition to their staying married and ached for Kit's fear that he wouldn't be able to make it happen. I loved the solution he came up with, and how he accomplished it. His big moment at the end was terrific.
There were some interesting twists when it came to Edwina. I was right there with Livy and her fears, up until Edwina arrived. It didn't take long for me to suspect that there was something more going on with her. I enjoyed seeing the changes she went through and loved how her relationship with Livy was affected. There was also a terrific little twist to her story at the end.
October 2, 2017
A CHRISTMAS FULL OF MIRACLES
I enjoyed this delightful trio of heartwarming Christmas stories, with a great cast of characters. Each story will read as a stand-alone and leave the reader with a smile. There will be plenty of mystery, suspense, secrets, and new beginnings.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson
LOOKING AT LIFE WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE
It was nice to be back in Oak Grove, Kansas and in this tale, seeing how Hannah Olsen is doing, living with Brett and Fiona Blackwell, and taking what life has handed her one day at a time. She has developed a friendship with newspaperman, Teddy White, but it has remained a friendship. While she is making etching for the newspaper, there is animosity towards her by Abigail White. “A person’s heart is like paper; it’s as fragile as it is strong. When someone’s heart gets hurt, it crimples a bit, and though we can smooth out the crinkles out, the paper will never be the same.”
The hatred between Hannah’s and Eric’s family has been a feud for several generations. Now he is dead, and she is an outcast, even to her own family. Will she find love with another man? One who will accept her and the baby she is carrying? Hannah is determined that she can’t have a relationship with a man if there can’t be acceptance, and that includes his family. “Whenever hatred is allowed to thrive, bad things follow. But where there is love, there’s goodness and grace.” Will she find love and kindness and forgiveness? Is this the Christmas for miracles?
Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN
I enjoyed this heartwarming story that brings so many truths to light. It also shows that this country, America, is founded by so many cultures. I liked the characters and their interaction. It also showed that bullying is both boys and girls, and the pettiness of their actions.
Christina Marnell has known since she was a girl that she wanted to be a teacher and set out to make her dream come true. She has no plans ever to marry and plans to devote her life to educating children. Even teachers need a lesson in life. Oregon has a rule that a married woman cannot teach school. “For an intelligent woman, sometimes you do not act very smart.” “It is never too late to learn.”
Ivan Panovsky is a man who has strong work ethics, devotion to his sister, and unselfishly sacrifices for her. But he also has his old world customs that he doesn’t want to deviate from, which includes less education for women and marrying young. Annamarie is smart and pretty, and she needs to be allowed her own path and choice in life.
Two people with a goal will learn that sometimes life and love happens when you aren’t looking. “Don’t you also want someone to love?” “You must decide how you are going to live your life, what you in life value.” Sometimes, for the right reason, dream change, and the future takes a new path. Will Ivan and Christina find happiness and a Christmas miracle?
A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens
EVERYONE KNEW THAT LOVE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL
Livy York has been raising her four-year-old brother and doing the best she could. Finding out her wealthy cousin was coming for a visit at the first of the year has her worried that she will try and take Sam from her. Hiring a ranch hand can only be temporary, just enough to get the place looking nice. Kit James has played roles for most of his life as an actor, but now with a four-year-old niece to raise, he needs a permanent home, so accepting the job as ranch hand will come with secrets. But surely he can learn what to do from The Common Man’s Guide to Ranching.
Two people pretending and hoping to pull off a ruse will be caught in a lie that has them married to continue the lies. “Pretending was as useful as a pebble in one’s shoe.” As the Christmas holiday draws near, so does the attraction to each other. When Edwina shows up a week early, it will alter their plans. When the townsfolk of Sweet Bank rally around this couple, maybe it’s because they can see the love between them. “We are still bound in joy by the love the day represents.” For several people, not only Christmas miracles but answered prayers make this story joyful. “Everyone knows the good Lord listens to Christmas prayers with a loving ear.”
I enjoyed this delightful trio of heartwarming Christmas stories, with a great cast of characters. Each story will read as a stand-alone and leave the reader with a smile. There will be plenty of mystery, suspense, secrets, and new beginnings.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson
LOOKING AT LIFE WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE
It was nice to be back in Oak Grove, Kansas and in this tale, seeing how Hannah Olsen is doing, living with Brett and Fiona Blackwell, and taking what life has handed her one day at a time. She has developed a friendship with newspaperman, Teddy White, but it has remained a friendship. While she is making etching for the newspaper, there is animosity towards her by Abigail White. “A person’s heart is like paper; it’s as fragile as it is strong. When someone’s heart gets hurt, it crimples a bit, and though we can smooth out the crinkles out, the paper will never be the same.”
The hatred between Hannah’s and Eric’s family has been a feud for several generations. Now he is dead, and she is an outcast, even to her own family. Will she find love with another man? One who will accept her and the baby she is carrying? Hannah is determined that she can’t have a relationship with a man if there can’t be acceptance, and that includes his family. “Whenever hatred is allowed to thrive, bad things follow. But where there is love, there’s goodness and grace.” Will she find love and kindness and forgiveness? Is this the Christmas for miracles?
Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN
I enjoyed this heartwarming story that brings so many truths to light. It also shows that this country, America, is founded by so many cultures. I liked the characters and their interaction. It also showed that bullying is both boys and girls, and the pettiness of their actions.
Christina Marnell has known since she was a girl that she wanted to be a teacher and set out to make her dream come true. She has no plans ever to marry and plans to devote her life to educating children. Even teachers need a lesson in life. Oregon has a rule that a married woman cannot teach school. “For an intelligent woman, sometimes you do not act very smart.” “It is never too late to learn.”
Ivan Panovsky is a man who has strong work ethics, devotion to his sister, and unselfishly sacrifices for her. But he also has his old world customs that he doesn’t want to deviate from, which includes less education for women and marrying young. Annamarie is smart and pretty, and she needs to be allowed her own path and choice in life.
Two people with a goal will learn that sometimes life and love happens when you aren’t looking. “Don’t you also want someone to love?” “You must decide how you are going to live your life, what you in life value.” Sometimes, for the right reason, dream change, and the future takes a new path. Will Ivan and Christina find happiness and a Christmas miracle?
A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens
EVERYONE KNEW THAT LOVE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL
Livy York has been raising her four-year-old brother and doing the best she could. Finding out her wealthy cousin was coming for a visit at the first of the year has her worried that she will try and take Sam from her. Hiring a ranch hand can only be temporary, just enough to get the place looking nice. Kit James has played roles for most of his life as an actor, but now with a four-year-old niece to raise, he needs a permanent home, so accepting the job as ranch hand will come with secrets. But surely he can learn what to do from The Common Man’s Guide to Ranching.
Two people pretending and hoping to pull off a ruse will be caught in a lie that has them married to continue the lies. “Pretending was as useful as a pebble in one’s shoe.” As the Christmas holiday draws near, so does the attraction to each other. When Edwina shows up a week early, it will alter their plans. When the townsfolk of Sweet Bank rally around this couple, maybe it’s because they can see the love between them. “We are still bound in joy by the love the day represents.” For several people, not only Christmas miracles but answered prayers make this story joyful. “Everyone knows the good Lord listens to Christmas prayers with a loving ear.”
October 8, 2018
Fun and fluffy pre - Christmas read.
Book 1, A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson, receives 2 stars. Found this book kinda boring, slow moving.
Book 2, Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning, receives 3 stars. An enjoyable school - teacher meets hard worker read.
Book 3, A Kiss From the Cowboy by Carol Arens, receives 3 stars. I found this story a bit comedic, which was good, but was not too keen on all of the deception, on both parts of the hero and heroine.
Okay... off to my next pre - Christmas cowboy read! Love getting into the season of things with these Harlequin Historical Christmas novels :D
Book 1, A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson, receives 2 stars. Found this book kinda boring, slow moving.
Book 2, Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning, receives 3 stars. An enjoyable school - teacher meets hard worker read.
Book 3, A Kiss From the Cowboy by Carol Arens, receives 3 stars. I found this story a bit comedic, which was good, but was not too keen on all of the deception, on both parts of the hero and heroine.
Okay... off to my next pre - Christmas cowboy read! Love getting into the season of things with these Harlequin Historical Christmas novels :D
May 24, 2019
Oh boy. I read this because I was given it as a gift (and because I was really hoping for some secret Christmas baby stories to add to my informal collection), but it turns out that Old West is reaaaaally not a genre that works for me. For a number of reasons. Good to know, I guess.
First novella: 2 stars (if only for the existence of a legit secret Christmas baby). Maybe would've enjoyed it more if I had read other books in the series.
Second novella: 0.5 stars. Problematic. For me, the best part about this novella was its heartfelt dedication. And also I guess the fact that But mannnnnnnnn I did not expect to see the phrase in a book published in 2017, historical or not.
Third novella: legitimately couldn't remember what this one was about at first, that's how deep a shadow the second novella cast. 2 stars. Had more things I disliked in it than the first novella, but also more things I enjoyed.
First novella: 2 stars (if only for the existence of a legit secret Christmas baby). Maybe would've enjoyed it more if I had read other books in the series.
Second novella: 0.5 stars. Problematic. For me, the best part about this novella was its heartfelt dedication. And also I guess the fact that But mannnnnnnnn I did not expect to see the phrase in a book published in 2017, historical or not.
Third novella: legitimately couldn't remember what this one was about at first, that's how deep a shadow the second novella cast. 2 stars. Had more things I disliked in it than the first novella, but also more things I enjoyed.
November 5, 2018
I have been a Lauri Robinson fan for years and alway enjoy her stories. A Bride and Baby for Christmas has all the elements I love in her stories. Hannah Olsen wants a marriage that will be full of love for herself and her unborn baby. Teddy White was burned once before and does not want that to happen to him again. It takes some time to bring everything together but once it happens both get the perfect HEA. There are two other stories in the book. A nice collection that brings on the Christmas spirit.
February 17, 2020
This was a nice set of Christmas stories set in small towns in the old west. The stories were quick to read, and while there were some lustful thoughts, the romance was sweet. It was great to read about the characters in small towns coming together at Christmas time. The handsome, hardworking heroes and determined, independent heroines were a great match-up, too. I'd recommend these stories for anyone who likes a quick historical read set in the west.
December 10, 2018
Very good Christmas stories. Enjoyed it.
August 10, 2020
A light, fluff read of women and men finding themselves and love in small towns, 1800s.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Laurie Robinson - I've read this series and loved it. Characters were human within the confines of the time, but pushed the boundaries and where hemmed in as only a small town on the western front can do. So cute.
Miss Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynn's Banning - I felt like I read some of this series. So cute, a girl with a limp and dedication to then women's rights and an immigrant hunk trying to do right by his sister in a new country with no roots but his memories.
Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens - least fave. Idiot girl. Crappy romance tropes. Cute setting and great towns people. It had promise. At the train, I wanted to burn it. SMH.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Laurie Robinson - I've read this series and loved it. Characters were human within the confines of the time, but pushed the boundaries and where hemmed in as only a small town on the western front can do. So cute.
Miss Christina's Christmas Wish by Lynn's Banning - I felt like I read some of this series. So cute, a girl with a limp and dedication to then women's rights and an immigrant hunk trying to do right by his sister in a new country with no roots but his memories.
Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens - least fave. Idiot girl. Crappy romance tropes. Cute setting and great towns people. It had promise. At the train, I wanted to burn it. SMH.
February 27, 2022
This was a pretty disappointing collection overall. None of the stories were very Christmasy except the last one, which was lackluster. It took me forever to finish this because the stories were so dull. I wouldn't recommend it.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas: This was ok. There was nothing especially good about it, and the prose was pretty weak.
Miss Christina's Christmas Wish: The writing in this was better than the first story but it was so focused on messages that the story and romance suffered. The romance wasn't developed at all and was insta-love. The ending was a cop-out.
A Kiss from the Cowboy: This started off promising but ultimately it couldn't deliver. It got repetitive and I found the romance...weird.
A Bride and Baby for Christmas: This was ok. There was nothing especially good about it, and the prose was pretty weak.
Miss Christina's Christmas Wish: The writing in this was better than the first story but it was so focused on messages that the story and romance suffered. The romance wasn't developed at all and was insta-love. The ending was a cop-out.
A Kiss from the Cowboy: This started off promising but ultimately it couldn't deliver. It got repetitive and I found the romance...weird.
Read
November 30, 2017I enjoyed all 3 stories. They all left me with feelings of hope and seasonal cheer. Bring on Christmas! ~ Kim
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews