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One Magic Eve
Lonely Sonja Kaplan doesn’t want to spend another Christmas alone. While she has her secret government work to fill her days, she longs for a husband to fill her nights.
Chet Lattimer doesn’t know the first thing about being a father when the six-year-old son he didn’t realize he had bursts into his life. Worse, it’s Christmas, and there’s no one to help him celebrate except the mysterious woman the gossips call the Bird Lady.
But a little boy hungry for love helps them all find truth and peace, and together, for one special night, they revel in the magic of Christmas.
Chet Lattimer doesn’t know the first thing about being a father when the six-year-old son he didn’t realize he had bursts into his life. Worse, it’s Christmas, and there’s no one to help him celebrate except the mysterious woman the gossips call the Bird Lady.
But a little boy hungry for love helps them all find truth and peace, and together, for one special night, they revel in the magic of Christmas.
- GenresHistorical Romance
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2018
4 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Pam Crooks
40 books81 followersDear Reader,
While expecting my first child (more years back than I care to count), I read my very first romance novel, and I've been in love with them ever since. I grew up in the ranch country of western Nebraska, and it was inevitable I’d eventually write lots of books about cowboys. I still live in Nebraska with my husband (who is not a cowboy), four married daughters and a whole slew of perfect grandchildren.
I'm a long-time member of RWA and RAH, my local chapter. I'm also one of the founders of Petticoats & Pistols, a popular blogsite for western romance. I love to cook, hang out at my lake cabin, and decorate birthday cakes for anyone who will let me.
www.pamcrooks.com
www.swankykitchen.com
www.facebook.com/pamcrooksauthor
www.facebook.com/pamcrooks
Twitter @pamcrooks
While expecting my first child (more years back than I care to count), I read my very first romance novel, and I've been in love with them ever since. I grew up in the ranch country of western Nebraska, and it was inevitable I’d eventually write lots of books about cowboys. I still live in Nebraska with my husband (who is not a cowboy), four married daughters and a whole slew of perfect grandchildren.
I'm a long-time member of RWA and RAH, my local chapter. I'm also one of the founders of Petticoats & Pistols, a popular blogsite for western romance. I love to cook, hang out at my lake cabin, and decorate birthday cakes for anyone who will let me.
www.pamcrooks.com
www.swankykitchen.com
www.facebook.com/pamcrooksauthor
www.facebook.com/pamcrooks
Twitter @pamcrooks
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 7, 2023
Reviewed for THC Reviews
One Magic Eve is a short stand-alone novella about two lonely people who are brought together on Christmas Eve by a little boy who has a special place in both their hearts. Sonja has been unfairly dubbed The Bird Lady by town gossips who don’t know about or understand her work with carrier pigeons for the U. S. army. They also think she’s the town hussy because she receives frequent visits from soldiers. She’s been attracted to local rancher Chet from afar for a while and when Chet’s young son brings an injured fox to her for treatment two days before Christmas, it gives her the opportunity she’s been longing for to get to know him better. Chet only recently found out he was the father of six-year-old Beau and doesn’t know the first thing about giving him a nice Christmas, but if he can get past his preconceived notions about Sonja, he just might discover that she can help. Some unexpected snow and a fall into the river end in these three spending the Christmas holiday together, and with a touch of holiday magic, all their wishes might come true.
Sonja was a mail-order bride for a man twenty years her senior who was a former soldier training carrier pigeons for the army. Before they could be married, he was killed by a marauding Indian, but he taught her the trade that she’s carried on ever since. However, the nature of her work is secretive, so the townspeople only know that she keeps a lot of birds and has frequent visits from soldiers, leading them to gossip about her and think she’s a crazy, loose woman. In reality, she’s just a sweet, lonely person, who longs for a husband and children. She’s been crushing on Chet from afar, and hoping that one day he’ll see her as more than what the gossip mongers say about her. When Chet’s son, Beau, brings the injured fox to her, it starts to open the door for that to happen, but it’s not until the three go on an excursion to return the fox to the wild that ends with Beau falling into the river and snow driving them to take shelter at her home over the Christmas holiday that the magic of blooming love really begins. Sonja is a great heroine, who doesn’t care much what the town gossips say about her. She’s proud of her work and just wants someone to share her life with, and Chet and Beau are just what she wished for.
Chet only recently found out he was a father when a man brought Beau to his door, saying that the child was the product of a brief affair he’d had years ago. He’s done his best to adjust to being an instant father, but he’s never really celebrated Christmas and doesn’t know how to make it special for a little boy. He’s been attracted to Sonja, but fears what the town gossips say about her might be true. When he finds Beau at her house, he isn’t very nice to her at first, but then he begins to realize that she’d only shown kindness to Beau and didn’t deserve his moodiness. He and Beau return on Christmas Eve to help release the fox, and a dip in the freezing river and the unexpected snowfall necessitate them spending the night at Sonja’s house. It turns into a magical evening, during which Chet realizes that Sonja is the prefect person to complete his little family. Chet was a good guy to take on the role of instant fatherhood and has done a respectable job. He may not know how to make Christmas special for Beau, but he knows where to turn for help. He may have been a little hard on Sonja at first, but he came around pretty quickly, and was properly apologetic when he found out what she’d really been doing.
One Magic Eve was a sweet story about found family and the love and joy of the holiday season. I liked both Sonja and Chet and thought they made a good couple. Beau is really cute and behaved like a six-year-old does. I enjoyed the touch of Christmas magic in the rosette cookies Sonja makes and her traditional Swedish decorations. She’s the prefect mother figure for little Beau, making Christmas special with very little. My one small complaint would be that I felt the emotional connection between Sonja and Chet could have been a bit stronger. They come to the realization that they’re in love over just a couple of days which is a little fast, but I think the real issue is that I picked up on a fair bit of telling rather than showing. However, the heartwarming nature of the story kept me engaged and helped to mitigate that deficiency to some extent. So overall, I enjoyed it. "One Magic Eve" was originally published in the multi-author anthology, A Western Winter Wonderland, and was later reprinted as a stand-alone novella.
One Magic Eve is a short stand-alone novella about two lonely people who are brought together on Christmas Eve by a little boy who has a special place in both their hearts. Sonja has been unfairly dubbed The Bird Lady by town gossips who don’t know about or understand her work with carrier pigeons for the U. S. army. They also think she’s the town hussy because she receives frequent visits from soldiers. She’s been attracted to local rancher Chet from afar for a while and when Chet’s young son brings an injured fox to her for treatment two days before Christmas, it gives her the opportunity she’s been longing for to get to know him better. Chet only recently found out he was the father of six-year-old Beau and doesn’t know the first thing about giving him a nice Christmas, but if he can get past his preconceived notions about Sonja, he just might discover that she can help. Some unexpected snow and a fall into the river end in these three spending the Christmas holiday together, and with a touch of holiday magic, all their wishes might come true.
Sonja was a mail-order bride for a man twenty years her senior who was a former soldier training carrier pigeons for the army. Before they could be married, he was killed by a marauding Indian, but he taught her the trade that she’s carried on ever since. However, the nature of her work is secretive, so the townspeople only know that she keeps a lot of birds and has frequent visits from soldiers, leading them to gossip about her and think she’s a crazy, loose woman. In reality, she’s just a sweet, lonely person, who longs for a husband and children. She’s been crushing on Chet from afar, and hoping that one day he’ll see her as more than what the gossip mongers say about her. When Chet’s son, Beau, brings the injured fox to her, it starts to open the door for that to happen, but it’s not until the three go on an excursion to return the fox to the wild that ends with Beau falling into the river and snow driving them to take shelter at her home over the Christmas holiday that the magic of blooming love really begins. Sonja is a great heroine, who doesn’t care much what the town gossips say about her. She’s proud of her work and just wants someone to share her life with, and Chet and Beau are just what she wished for.
Chet only recently found out he was a father when a man brought Beau to his door, saying that the child was the product of a brief affair he’d had years ago. He’s done his best to adjust to being an instant father, but he’s never really celebrated Christmas and doesn’t know how to make it special for a little boy. He’s been attracted to Sonja, but fears what the town gossips say about her might be true. When he finds Beau at her house, he isn’t very nice to her at first, but then he begins to realize that she’d only shown kindness to Beau and didn’t deserve his moodiness. He and Beau return on Christmas Eve to help release the fox, and a dip in the freezing river and the unexpected snowfall necessitate them spending the night at Sonja’s house. It turns into a magical evening, during which Chet realizes that Sonja is the prefect person to complete his little family. Chet was a good guy to take on the role of instant fatherhood and has done a respectable job. He may not know how to make Christmas special for Beau, but he knows where to turn for help. He may have been a little hard on Sonja at first, but he came around pretty quickly, and was properly apologetic when he found out what she’d really been doing.
One Magic Eve was a sweet story about found family and the love and joy of the holiday season. I liked both Sonja and Chet and thought they made a good couple. Beau is really cute and behaved like a six-year-old does. I enjoyed the touch of Christmas magic in the rosette cookies Sonja makes and her traditional Swedish decorations. She’s the prefect mother figure for little Beau, making Christmas special with very little. My one small complaint would be that I felt the emotional connection between Sonja and Chet could have been a bit stronger. They come to the realization that they’re in love over just a couple of days which is a little fast, but I think the real issue is that I picked up on a fair bit of telling rather than showing. However, the heartwarming nature of the story kept me engaged and helped to mitigate that deficiency to some extent. So overall, I enjoyed it. "One Magic Eve" was originally published in the multi-author anthology, A Western Winter Wonderland, and was later reprinted as a stand-alone novella.
October 26, 2018
Reviewed at Historically Romantic
One Magic Eve is a quick read, it won’t take up much of your time – but it will have you smiling, feeling festive and perhaps give you a life lesson on assumptions. And how hurtful, harmful and downright dangerous they can be to a person’s reputation, happiness and life.
Because this is a quick, but intense story there really isn’t a lot I’m comfortable saying about the plot that wouldn’t be in danger of saying the wrong thing (as in spoilers). So, that leaves me with the emotional impact that Sonja, Chet and Beau had on me. I adored Sonja, she’s stronger than most give her credit for, she’s compassionate… and she’s lonely. Her work keeps her apart from the people in the area, as it must, but still she could use a friend or a man who would want to know her better. Chet is really the model for the strong, silent type. He hasn’t been a father for long but he’s learning fast that what he doesn’t know could fill an ocean. He could use a woman’s touch in his life, and with his son. Too bad the only female around who is the least bit interesting is the one that has the town’s tongues wagging for the wrong reasons. I fell in love with little Beau. He’s open, he’s honest even when getting into trouble and he simply glows from Sonja’s love and attention. Watching this little one open up and be happy was almost as enjoyable as watching Chet and Sonja fall in love… almost.
What I really liked most about One Magic Eve was the soft, subtle message about assumptions that I believe we all need a refresher course on now and then. Every single assumption Chet had made about Sonja was wrong. Yet, he didn’t back down from those mistakes, he owned up to them and changed his mind without prompting one he knew facts. That made him a hero in my eyes. When you can say I was wrong, those are precious words to the person who was wronged. It doesn’t take away the hurt, but it does ease it, and that’s a step toward forgiveness and moving on.
In all I enjoyed this story very much. Discovered some great traditions and a delicious new to me cookie recipe as well. If you love a really good Christmas Romance, one with characters you cannot help but fall in love with, then you’ll want to pick up One Magic Eve this season.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
One Magic Eve is a quick read, it won’t take up much of your time – but it will have you smiling, feeling festive and perhaps give you a life lesson on assumptions. And how hurtful, harmful and downright dangerous they can be to a person’s reputation, happiness and life.
Because this is a quick, but intense story there really isn’t a lot I’m comfortable saying about the plot that wouldn’t be in danger of saying the wrong thing (as in spoilers). So, that leaves me with the emotional impact that Sonja, Chet and Beau had on me. I adored Sonja, she’s stronger than most give her credit for, she’s compassionate… and she’s lonely. Her work keeps her apart from the people in the area, as it must, but still she could use a friend or a man who would want to know her better. Chet is really the model for the strong, silent type. He hasn’t been a father for long but he’s learning fast that what he doesn’t know could fill an ocean. He could use a woman’s touch in his life, and with his son. Too bad the only female around who is the least bit interesting is the one that has the town’s tongues wagging for the wrong reasons. I fell in love with little Beau. He’s open, he’s honest even when getting into trouble and he simply glows from Sonja’s love and attention. Watching this little one open up and be happy was almost as enjoyable as watching Chet and Sonja fall in love… almost.
What I really liked most about One Magic Eve was the soft, subtle message about assumptions that I believe we all need a refresher course on now and then. Every single assumption Chet had made about Sonja was wrong. Yet, he didn’t back down from those mistakes, he owned up to them and changed his mind without prompting one he knew facts. That made him a hero in my eyes. When you can say I was wrong, those are precious words to the person who was wronged. It doesn’t take away the hurt, but it does ease it, and that’s a step toward forgiveness and moving on.
In all I enjoyed this story very much. Discovered some great traditions and a delicious new to me cookie recipe as well. If you love a really good Christmas Romance, one with characters you cannot help but fall in love with, then you’ll want to pick up One Magic Eve this season.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
December 28, 2019
Sweet Christmas read
4 1/2 star
Three people each finding where they belong in a world that had judged them already. Finding one another.
A few curse words and a little touch of reference to sexual activity but none I think would be bad enough not to recommend to my advanced preteen reading friends
4 1/2 star
Three people each finding where they belong in a world that had judged them already. Finding one another.
A few curse words and a little touch of reference to sexual activity but none I think would be bad enough not to recommend to my advanced preteen reading friends
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews