Santa's on His Way

The Garner Brothers #3.5

by Lisa Jackson, Maisey Yates, Stacy Finz

Open your heart to the holidays with these stories of unexpected love . . .

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson
The uneventful Christmas Annie McFarlane expected is suddenly anything but. First, there's the adorable baby left on the snowy doorstep of her Oregon cabin. Second, there's the extremely attractive, yet extremely angry man claiming to be the father. Liam O'Shaughnessy may be intimidating, but this is one precious gift Annie isn't giving up so easily . . .

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates
When Meg O'Neill's longtime boyfriend lets her down, again, on Christmas no less, she braves an Oregon blizzard to get to her best friend Noah's comforting arms. But this time Noah's not telling her what she wants to hear--he's telling her the truth, from his heart . . .

SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz
Rachel Johnson has found the perfect spot for her second Tart Me Up bakery in Glory Junction, California. Except she's in fierce competition with hunky bar owner Boden Farmer. Worse, while the icy rivals await the city's decision, they end up catering the same Christmas Eve mountaintop wedding--and getting snowed in . . .

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm
Big city art teacher Lindsay Tyler isn't just back home in Colorado for her brother's wedding at the Barton Christmas Tree Farm and Ranch. She's back for good. She just hasn't told anyone yet--including Cal Barton, the ex-boyfriend she left behind . . .

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

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 25, 2018

About the author

Lisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.

Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.

Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of Christmas novellas. I'm listening to the audio version, and it is good for mindless activities where total concentration on a plot is not necessary. Overall, a good companion during the Christmas Season.

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS by Maisey Yates: 3 1/2-Stars
Quite a bit of angst and navel gazing. No action, no humor, but great sex scenes. Meg O'Neill flies across the country to surprise Charlie, her love since age 15, for Christmas planning to give her all. She finds him in a compromising position with another woman, flies back to Bend, OR and ends up on Noah's doorstep and in his bed.

SNOWED IN by Stacy Finz: 3 1/2-Stars
The story just didn't grab me despite the obvious tropes meant to snag my attention: opposites attract, snowed in sex and deep abiding love grows. Apparently, Glory Junction, California has a city ordinance that no new construction can ever take place because Rachel Johnson, owner of Tart Me Up bakery, and Boden Farmer, owner of the local bar, are in competition for the only commercial space available for expansion of their businesses. Each is trying to up their cash reserves by doing catering jobs on the side and they get snowed in together on Christmas Eve when a blizzard descends on the area.

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS by Nicole Helm: 3-Stars
Lots of the grumpy Scrooge hero and the sweet long-suffering heroine. Hero has had his heart smashed and is not going to take a second chance on his one true love. Lindsay Tyler left home at 18 determined to get her education and light the art world on fire. At 24 she is back home having learned a lot about herself and the world outside her small hometown. She just has to convince Scrooge Cal Barton that she is back for good.

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS by Lisa Jackson: 4-Stars
This one has a touch of mystery along with a whole lot of insta-lust. But at least you can puzzle out who framed Liam. Annie McFarlane has moved across the country to a small cabin in Oregon trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now on Christmas Eve a blinding blizzard has descended but when Annie discovers a beautiful baby on her doorstep, for the first time in months, she has hope. Hope, until an angry Liam O'Shaughnessy also turns up on her doorstep claiming to be the baby's father.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW


What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas: Maisey Yates
Meg, Charlie, and Noah all met as teens living in the same foster home. Meg fell instantly in love with Charlie for the last thirteen years she's waited for him, waited to be old enough, waited for him to get a good job, waited for him to come home from New York but this year she decided to stop waiting especially after finding him in bed with another woman. Noah has been a constant in Meg's life and has been in love with her for just as long and finally this year is the year he has his chance to finally show Meg how he feels.

Overall, it was a really nice and steamy read with lots of emotion. Meg looks back on her life and sees things differently than she use too and once she gets all that figured out everything falls into place.

Snowed In: Stacy Finz
My favorite of the book! I absolutely love Glory Junction. As soon as I read in the last Glory Junction book the animosity between Rachel and Boden I knew this was going to be great. Rachel Johnson left her big city corporate lawyer job to pursue her dream of being a baker. Now she owns a fantastic bakery and is looking to expand and she knows just the place. Boden Farmer turned the tired old bar into a gastro pub and he has plans to expand himself but in the meantime he's working the bar for parties which brings him in close proximity to Rachel. They are both prepping for the Christmas Day wedding when they get snowed in. With no distractions standing in their way they finally drop their walls low enough to let each other in but their is still the matter that they both want the same location for their business.

Overall, I loved this one. It's a quick and easy read with funny situations and loveable characters. Rachel has been burned once before so she's hesitant to let anyone else in it takes a grand gesture from Boden to show her he's worth the risk.

A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas: Nicole Helm
Lindsay Tyler dreamed of leaving her hometown behind and she did she left after high school and vowed never to come back. Cal Barton thought he was enough for Lindsay, that she would stay for him and when she left town she broke his heart. After six years of living life on her own Lindsay is homesick she's had her time to grow up and discover who she really is and that person belongs with her family. When her brother gets engaged and she comes home for the wedding she's staying home for good. Now she just has to make it through the wedding at Cal's Christmas Tree Ranch without falling back in love with him.

Overall, this was a nice emotional read about how sometimes to need to be apart and discover who you are away from the comforts of home to really appreciate the place where you belong.

A Baby For Christmas: Lisa Jackson
1995 Annie McFarlane is newly divorced when her husband's girlfriend ends up pregnant. After discovering she may never be able to conceive and then her husband leaving Annie was having a horrible year. 1996 Liam O'Shaughnessy needs to find the real killer of his boss before he gets convicted of murder his only lead is the woman who claimed she saw him there but she's disappeared but he's found her sister. Annie found solace in a small house in the middle of nowhere looking after an older couple ranch. Her plan was to stay a few more days before going to visit her brother and his family but late one night she discovers a baby on her front step with a note "For you Annie". The next night Liam shows up at her door claiming the baby is his and demands to know where her sister, the baby's mother, is but Annie has no idea and with a blizzard blowing in they are stuck together to work it out.

Overall, this one fell short. I love Lisa Jackson's older stuff and this feels like it's only half a book. It feels like there is so much missing from this story. I love the idea of it and the plot and if there is a full version of this story out there I want to read it but this as is is lacking.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the Cowboy Wants For Christmas by Maisy Yates
3.5 stars

Growing up in foster care, Charlie, Noah, and Meg have been good friends for years. Noah fell hard for Meg when they first met, but he was instantly friend zoned since Meg only had eyes for Charlie. After years of hanging on the hook, Meg decides to surprise Charlie for the holidays and see if her future will move forward. Things don’t go as planned and Meg rushes back home to Noah, hoping he will tell her things will work out between her and Charlie. Except Noah doesn’t...

Noah is my favorite kind is hero! He’s the strong, silent, broody type who says more through his actions then he ever will with words. He’s been waiting in the background for years, never dreaming Meg would give him the time of day and he’s content with that, until a crack leaves him a little wiggle room, and he decides to take advantage of the situation in the next way possible.

Meg frustrated me. She got better over time, but it took a good while to warm up to her. She didn’t like being on the hook, but in a round about way, she was doing the same thing to Noah, unintentionally granted, but still! Her reasons for staying with Charlie were flimsy at best. I just wanted to grab a cuppa and pour some sense into her! I’m like look at the reliable, sexy dude who’s had your back for YEARS and you choose to stay with that?! Oy....

Overall, I enjoyed this holiday novella! With holiday spirit, sweet memories, and tiny actions that speak louder than words, Meg and Noah lit up the pages with their chemistry and conversations. I must say, however, I do think Charlie got off lightly...


Snowed In by Stacy Finz
3 stars

Competing for the same business to expand their own respectively, Rachel and Boden were interesting. Rachel and Boden’s interactions reminded me of the little boy who pulled pigtails to get a girl’s attention. The annoying jabs and quips hid the attraction they felt towards one another and more often than not, left these two dancing around each other with mixed signals. When a snowstorm strands them, they finally have a chance to clear the air.

Rachel was quite uptight, always second guessing Boden’s actions and comments to the nth degree. It was exhausting really and made me feel sorry she felt that she had to do so. She was smart and capable, but I found her hard to like. I could sort of see her appeal to Boden, but it took a bit.

Boden was the polar opposite. He was laid back and sweet all considering, and I liked how he tried to peel back Rachel’s layers to get to know her. He could have gone about it in a different way, but where’s the fun in that?! He had a quick wit and charm that made him easy to like, but I’m still scratching my head over their pairing.

The story was okay, however, I think it would have been better with a few more pages to develop the characters and romance. Too much time was spent laying the MC’s differences and the romantic aspects felt rushed.

A Cowboy Wedding For Christmas by Nicole Helm
2 stars

I struggled with this one. I wanted to like it, but I didn’t. The immaturity of youth I could understand, everyone has those moments we second guess to death and wish to have a do-over, it’s a fact of life. However, Cal’s drawn out belligerence and Lindsay’s unbelievable expectations...grated. I enjoyed Cal’s sister’s romance a lot more than his!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas read

I started this read a whilee ago probably around november and then stopped and now picked up again lol loved the stories! Mainly read for maisey yates because i loveee her! But all the other stories were good too!!

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 4 stores by 4 different authors in this cute Christmas book. I connected with all the main characters in each story. They were each a fast read and entertaining. Even though in the first chapter you know they will end up by the end of the story it was still fun to see the relationships grow.

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson
The uneventful Christmas Annie McFarlane expected is suddenly anything but. First, there’s the adorable baby left on the snowy doorstep of her Oregon cabin. Second, there’s the extremely attractive, yet extremely angry man claiming to be the father. Liam O’Shaughnessy may be intimidating, but this is one precious gift Annie isn’t giving up so easily . . .

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates
When Meg O’Neill’s longtime boyfriend lets her down, again, on Christmas no less, she braves an Oregon blizzard to get to her best friend Noah’s comforting arms. But this time Noah’s not telling her what she wants to hear—he’s telling her the truth, from his heart. And his words just might be the gift Meg’s been wishing for all along.

SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz
Rachel Johnson has found the perfect spot for her second Tart Me Up bakery in Glory Junction, California. Except she’s in fierce competition with hunky bar owner Boden Farmer. Worse, while the icy rivals await the city’s decision, they end up catering the same Christmas Eve mountaintop wedding—and getting snowed in. But sometimes a loss of electricity generates a different kind of heat . . .

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm
Big city art teacher Lindsay Tyler isn’t just back home in Colorado for her brother’s wedding at the Barton Christmas Tree Farm and Ranch. She’s back for good. She just hasn’t told anyone yet—including Cal Barton, the ex-boyfriend she left behind. Will it take a Christmas miracle for him to welcome her back with open arms? .

I received this from NetGalley for an honest review

[ShoSho · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up: Four Christmas romances that were all different, yet enjoyable. In A Baby for Christmas, we have a woman who just wants to be a mother. After several miscarriages and a recent divorce, Annie is scared yet thrilled to find a baby in a basket on her front porch, with a card that says, "For Annie". Is it possible to keep this baby? But when a handsome, yet angry stranger shows up at her door claiming he is the father, what is going to happen? What a Cowboy Wants For Christmas introduces us to Meg O’Neill. She grew up in foster care with Noah and Charlie, her best friends. She has been in love with Charlie for 13 years and he has said he wants to marry her. When she flies to New York to surprise him for Christmas, she walks in on an unforgivable situation. She flies home and runs to Noah. When he listens to her and comforts her as he always does, what happens to those blocked feelings they have? Snowed In was my favourite story in this anthology. Rachel Johnson and Boden Farmer are both hoping to gain the lease for the Old Watermill House, a restored building owned by the town. Rachel wants to open an industrial bakery and restaurant, Boden plans on a Craft Brewery and Brew Pub. Both are working catering gigs for extra money, so it is no surprise that they are catering the same wedding. When the two of them get snowed in alone at the huge home where the reception is supposed to take place, they get to know each other, even more than they had planned. The last story in this anthology is A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas. Lindsay Tyler is back home in Colorado for her brother’s wedding at the Barton Christmas Tree Farm and Ranch. She hasn't told everyone, but she plans to stay. When she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Cal Barton, she knows she still loves him, but he wants nothing to do with her. Will she be able to change his mind?

These are all novellas, so you know there is going to be insta-love. Considering they are all short and sweet, I felt that I got to know the characters relatively well except in A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas. They all had plenty of Christmas magic so that even though there was some angst and bumps along the way, they all had their happily ever after. Susan Bennett narrated this book and did an okay job. I find that her voices pretty much all sound the same, so it was basically a reading with expression, which is okay as long as that is what you were expecting.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of four 5 star holiday novellas set in the fictional small towns each of these authors have created in their individual series. If you are a fan of these authors you will enjoy a quick addition to the series you already love. If these authors are new to you this is a fantastic way of experiencing their individual writing styles and falling in love with their stories. I highly recommend this book!

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates - A fantastic friends to lovers story. Loved Noah and Meg together much more than Meg with Charlie! Someone needs to smack that man! Meg is definitely better off.

SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz - Business rivals in Glory Junction, Rachel and Boden, find themselves competing for the same property. When they get snowed in at a mountaintop lodge together the begin to see what's really important.

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm - A second chance romance that will just make your heart melt. Lindsay Tyler returns to Gracely, Colorado and she has to face Cal Burton, the man whose heart she broke when she left him behind.

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson - What was suppose to be a quiet Christmas is suddenly filled with chaos when Annie discovers a baby on her doorstep followed shortly by and enraged Liam claiming to be the father. What happens after that is truly a Christmas miracle.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well! I was not expecting this novel to have so much Christmas....heat! A lack of detail was definitely not an issue for these authors! These 4 short stories made for a perfect wrap-up to my 2018 Christmas-love novel reading, that's a for sure! I also really enjoyed how every story ended with a well-rounded epilogue. I just really enjoy a good Christmas-love epilogue!

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book however the stories weren't the snowflakes and candy canes that one would expect from holiday reads. These are a bit...edgier...for lack of a better term. They were all good; just don't expect everything to be sugar-coated.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas
Meg has waited (and waited) for Charlie. They've dated since high school. She's done waiting. Noah has been in love with Meg since high school. This time, his feelings might be reciprocated. This worked since they had known each other since forever.

Snowed In
Rachel is a former lawyer turned baker. Boden runs the local bar and has done well. She has dreams to expand and he has plan to open a brewery. They are in contest for the one property in their tourist town that would work. Each has assumptions about each other. They are forced to revisit those assumptions when they are forced to spend time together to wait out a blizzard. Overall a nicely paced story about 2 people who realize they are good together.

A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas
This was a bit frustrating. Lindsay felt stuck in her small town and wanted to see more of the world. So, after graduation, she left for college. In process, she broke up with and left her high school boyfriend Cal. He hates her. Cal has major Baggage from childhood (mother left them twice and and dad was an alcoholic). I thought Cal's resentment was a bit ridiculous and it took time for him to get over himself (must be nice to be perfect).

A Baby for Christmas
I had to pass!

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting Dec 2019)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fgk79a

I couldn't resist. Christmas and two of my favorite authors included? There was just no way to pass Santa's On His Way by. I needed it just for Yates and Helm. Finz and Jackson were new to mes and turned out to be a nice surprise.

The anthology was really quite good. All four stories were entertaining and decently fleshed out (some more than others). Some nice variety in characters and set ups, too. A bit of Christmas magic and some lovely romances made for a very good time.

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas by Maisey Yates
4 stars, 3 heat

The Gist: Foster siblings all grown up and a secret longing finally revealed.

Oh I loved it. Yates always has such great characters. Slightly fucked up and broken, completely wonderful. I loved Meg and Noah who've been best friends for half their lives (she'd maybe been in love with their other foster brother all these years, though). You get a bit of their history and man they have come a long way from unwanted foster kids to successful adults. It was touching and hot and heartbreaking all in one. Hard not to root for these two as they figured out the mess in their own heads and found something that completed them. It left me smiling and thinking wow I could spend a lot more time with these two and be very happy to do so.

Snowed In by Stacy Finz
3.5 stars, 3 heat

The Gist: Two competing businesses-- a bakery and a brewery-- trying to expand into a new building and two headstrong bossy individuals working the same event and getting snowed in and, well, getting naked together. *nods*

A little enemies to lovers vibe happening AND a snowed in theme? That is my catnip! It was cute, too. I liked both Rachel and Boden. They're driven, hardworking, and just good people. It was fun watching them both on the job and dealing with each other while snowed in. Working out some frustrations, heating thing up and figuring things out. Good times were had.
*Marines should always be capitalized. Come on!


A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas by Nicole Helm
3.5 stars, 3 heat

The Gist: Six years after blowing out of town Lindsay's come back, tail tucked, to start over. She wasn't expecting her high school sweet heart to still be so angry over her leaving all those years ago. That her brother is getting married on his ranch... yikes!

Lindsay and Cal were a hot mess. He's hurt and angry that everyone in his life abandons him and is just trying to get through the days. Lindsay is rocking some embarrassment and is hurt in her own ways, too. It wasn't an easy few weeks for them as she comes home at Christmas -- his least favorite time of year-- and they're forced to deal with each other because of an event. I felt for Cal. The guy is just broken and it was hard watching him struggle with everything. In the end it worked out. Helm has a knack for patching up shattered hearts. Some heat and some healing and putting the past in the past. I do wish there'd been a little more of their romance included after the grrr args were over, though.


A Baby for Christmas by Lisa Jackson
3.5 stars, 2 heat

The Gist: Annie's found a baby on her doorstep. In the middle of a terrible snowstorm. And now a man has shown up claiming to be the dad and demanding her back. It turning out to be a complicated Christmas.

I liked Annie and Liam. They're both in a hell of a predicament. Her sister set him up for murder and embezzlement. And he's a little ticked she never told him about the baby, too. And Annie. She's starting life over and all she wants is a baby. She's a nurturer and caring and needs that connection. Both were a bit desperate to figure things out. There's a little chemistry between them when they stop snarling and bickering. I had fun watching as they worked together to ride out the snow storm and figure things out.

Merged review:

3.5 stars, 3 heat.

This was a re-read.

The Gist: Lindsay blew out of town the second she could. Leaving everyone behind. Now 6 years later she's come back home tail tucked and starting over. Unfortunately the man she left behind those years earlier is not so thrilled to see her.

Lindsay and Cal were a mess on pretty much all fronts. Cal is hurt, angry, and just trying to get through the days. He has some self-worth issues after constantly being left by everyone important in his life over the years. And Lindsay. She's trying to start over again. Embarrassed and frustrated and hurt in her own ways, too. A mess. Seriously. They were.

It wasn't an easy few weeks for them as she comes home at Christmas -- his least favorite time of year-- and they're forced to deal with each other because of an event. Both so hurt and still in love even if they don't want to be. I felt for Cal. The guy is just broken and it was hard watching him struggle with everything. In the end it worked out. Some heat and some healing and putting the past in the past. I do wish there'd been a little more after the grrr args were over.

[Carosfootprint]

Only read the first and it was great, will finish next holiday

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all four of the stories in this book. I didn't want to put it down

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Y'all, "Santa's on His Way" let me tell you-

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas by Maisey Yates- Noah is such a man. He knows when to hold them, knows when to show them (his feelings and emotions, that is). Their history is talked about and explained and helps build the tension for the reader. The internal emotional journey that Meg takes in switching her love from one guy to another is actually pretty believable. I really liked Yates as an author. The way she defines emotions and phrases like for example "his expression that of a stranger even while his face remained familiar." I did get tired of hearing about the cookies. I feel like Yates could have made up at least one more memory for them to talk about. Seriously, in 11 chapters, they talk about the cookies 6 times (yeah that's right I counted). I actually bought this book because of Maisey. I haven't read her before but folks seem to really like her. I'll now add my name to her list of fans!

Snowed In by Stacy Finz- This story is halfway to Cheeseville and sadly predictable which left me un-impressed and bored. But most importantly, it was strangly dated which was very distracting. When was this novella originally written and edited? Not only does our heroine have a active landline *and* an answering machine, but she CHECKS FOR A DIAL TONE ON HER CELL PHONE. WHAT?! Not to mention the paper college applications that need to be snail mailed. Did my grandmother write this book? I'm so confused. SMH.

Cowboy Wedding for Christmas by Nicole Helm- I feel very lukewarm about this story. It was mostly interesting while being a little boring with a garnish of unmet potential. I would read Nicole Helm again, but I'm not going to seek her out specifically as an author.

A Baby for Christmas by Lisa Jackson: I'm changing professions to Detective (or at least Googler Extraordinare) bc I've uncovered some major BS with this story. Like, I'm fairly heated.

So, this story is set in 1996 for NO apparent reason. I thought maybe the storyline followed a 20 year timeline but no, it was just plain ole set back. Only it wasn't set back. Want to know why it was set in 1996?? Because it was written in 1996. From what I can tell in my Google searching, this story was originally featured as a novella in the anthology Tis the Season published in 1997. A Baby for Christmas was again published later in another collection called Santa Baby in 2002, 2007 **and** 2011. That's right. Same authors, same stories, 2 covers, 3 separate publication dates.

I don't know if Lisa Jackson and Zebra Publications are brilliant for squeezing 20 years worth of profit out of a book they haven't even bothered to edit to fit the current time period, or if they are lazy scam artists.

Either way, that's me in the corner, loosing my religion- I mean my Christmas Spirit with this greedy, obtuse duping effort. Go ahead and sell me an old product wrapped up in a Christmas bow as new. Want to sell me your ABC bubble gum while you're at it?

Lisa and the Zebra pack must feel that romance readers turn over quickly enough not to stick around to need a fresh book every 5 years. I personally find it rather insulting that they couldn't be bothered to update this book. But I guess, why edit when you got a good scam going?

Maybe I'm being naive. Maybe everyone does this, but it hurts my heart a bit for 2 reasons:

1- I thought that the reason authors were Authors capital A was because they had a story to tell; a fresh perspective to keep us jolly and hopefully, especially at Christmas and most importantly.

2- I'm offended by this lack of effort. Am I, a 20 year romance reading citizen not worth the effort to write 100 new pages? I've supported this industry with a lot of my dollars and feel like half of Santa's on His Way was a BS effort to make some easy green. Long live Corporate America. Dupe your customers because they have peon brains.

Here's my message to Zebra Publishings:

Millennials are smart. Yep, Boomers hate us (even tho they raised us this way- don't even get me started on that rant) and think we are lazy, but we aren't. We are discerning and selective and value authenticity. We love social media like #bookstagram because we can connect in a personal way with the authors we have placed so high on their well earned pedestals. But we have no patience for folks thinking we can be fooled. Don't pat us on the head like naughty children and try to sell me a story that you originally wrote, edited and packaged for my grandmother. I see you and my future Barnes & Noble Christmas gift cards will not purchase from you unless you are playing fair.

The end.

[Jordan Schoonover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is four novellas in one, and each is like a PG-13 Hallmark movie- corny, silly, over the top. A fun read.

[Shahna · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas - Noah is an asshole. How is this a “sweet” Christmas story? He takes advantage of her when she’s vulnerable, doesn’t validate her feelings and continues to make her feel like crap when she’s clearly struggling. And! She’s been 100% honest with him the whole time!

He’s also a creep. All he thought about for 15 years was having sex with Meg. He used her. She was a goal he wanted to conquer. Not a person he cared about.

Also, sex four times in one day? How is her vagina not on fire?



Snowed In - This was incredibly boring. Ugh. Just get on with it. No one cares about your businesses.

This one is a waste of pages. I can’t even remember character names. The man is gross. He has creep vibes. Gawd. Are men really thinking about what colour nipples are? You’re gross. Stop.



A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas - boohoo sad cowboy. He really thinks he has a say in what she does with her life? Lindsey or Sarah?! If he actually loved them, he’d let them follow their dreams. Leave them alone.

Why would he wish crippling debt on his sister? He’s selfish. Don’t guilt her into going to school just so she stays near you. Fuck.

Why are all these women in Lindsey’s family telling her to change herself to be with this guy?!?? He’s an asshole!

Also, get over yourself. Your sister has a boyfriend. Stop being a dick. How is this attractive???????? How is this what women want?! He’s so shocked that his sisters boyfriend said he would support her and follow her wherever she went. That’s what you’re supposed to do! Support each other.

Why does this story have a happy ending?! I want a sorry about Sarah and Bill. Gah



A Baby for Christmas - Why did she let this big stupid man into her house. He’s banging on your door and yelling and you let him in?! You said he was scary! Over and over again. Just because he also happens to be attractive doesn’t mean you let him in the goddamn house. She’s so dumb.

Also, Carol? That’s the name you chose?

Why does this man want this baby so bad? What is he going to do with it? He even said he didn’t expect to have feelings for it?! Then don’t take it! Don’t have a child if you don’t fucking want it. There’s a women right in front of you already in love with it and willing to raise it. Fuck. Just because it “yours” doesn’t mean you have to have it. It’s not a possession it’s a person.

Here’s another man who took advantage of a women in an vulnerable situation. She was CRYING the whole damn time. Stoooooppppp. This is not attractive. He’s a predator.




Why are all these men jerks? Why do female authors write such shitty men? Is this really what you want? Someone who is emotionally and verbally abusive to you? Someone who lies? Someone who makes you feel worthless and unwanted? Someone who continues to touch you after you say no?! SEX AND A SIX PACK CANT FIX THAT!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review also found at https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book is a compilation of four Christmas themed stories by four authors who are very familiar to me. While you may be asking why I am reviewing a Christmas story in September my answer to that would be if you haven't started you shopping yet you are already too late :-). I will provide a short review for each.

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas by Maisey Yates

This short read really had nothing to do with Christmas aside from falling on Christmas Eve. This is a story for those who seek steam in their books since that is what mainly occurs. The plotline outside of the bedroom scenes is pretty limited which can happen in such a short story. Personally I prefer the full length stories I have read by Yates.

Snowed In by Stacy Finz

I was excited for this one as it features characters from the Garner Brothers series of which I had read the entire series and loved. This featured two characters who were in each book and were simply needing a story of their own. Although the story was short, it seemed to have some substance simply because I was already familiar. It take place over the Christmas/New Year period and was a joy to read. Finz never disappoints!

A Cowboy Wedding For Christmas by Nicole Helm

This story also featured characters from a series I have read by Helm. While I liked Lindsey I found I really struggled with Cal. I think he was supposed to come off as troubled and hurt by his past, to me he came out lacking a personality. Even so, this was a story about redemption and moving ahead with the future.

A Baby For Christmas

This story seemed a little bit far fetched to me. It could be due to its short length as I feel this would have worked well in a regular length book where there would be more opportunity to develop the characters and plot. It felt like there was simply too much packed in to the short story.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....

As a whole this was a good book to read. I always enjoy anthologies during the holiday's because they are so much easier to read when you are so busy. You can read a story and then put it down and go back to what ever fun holiday thing you were doing.

I will break down the story a little bit for you:


A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson

This one I read years before in the anthology Santa Baby. As I started it I knew I had read it before and the more I read the more I remembered. This was a very enjoyable story that made me remember why I use to like Jackson's books.


WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates

I wasn't that thrilled with this one. I did not care for Meg at all. I just didn't have the time for her. I did like Noah. He was a good guy. The story isn't bad she just drove me nuts.


SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz

This one is part of her Gardner's Brothers series #3.5. I really love this series. I was looking forward to this one I just wish it was a full size book and not a novella. Still good, I just wanted more.

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm

This one is part of her Mile High Cowboys. I've never read this author before and I'm not sure if I would again. The story was okay, just didn't totally click with me. Since it's the first one I've read of hers, maybe I'll try another.


Like I said above the book as a whole is good. Each story is well-written. I liked some more then others. But I read them all and if these authors are in another holiday anthology I'd read that one too.

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ARC received for a honest review

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Santa's on His Way
by Lisa Jackson; Maisey Yates; Stacy Finz; Nicole Helm

Looking for a Christmas collection of stories you will want to read over and over again? This is one that I believe fills the bill. All pulled at my heartstrings and had me rooting for the characters to find happiness together. Loved them all!

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates
This story grabbed me and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I so very much wanted Meg and Noah to get their HEA and though it was painful to watch I was thrilled when it all came out right for both of them!

SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz
Rachel and Boden were another great love story that had me smiling at the end. Loved both characters and their dynamic together.

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm
Second chances are not for everyone but in this story Lindsay and Cal do manage a way back together when she comes home for good. That said…it wasn’t easy for either of them.

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson
I wondered how a Christmas story would work written by this author since it is usually murder and romantic suspense she writes. Well, she aced it and again we end up with a couple that deserves their HEA and duly find it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa’s on His Way is a collection of four romantic Christmas novellas by best selling authors Lisa Jackson (A Baby for Christmas), Maisey Yates( What the Baby Wants for Christmas), Stacy Finz (Snowed In), and Nicole Helm(A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas.). Each of these stories has a lovely white Christmas setting. The characters in each tale are complex, each having haunted pasts of either childhood neglect or adult betrayal.

But Christmas is a time of miracles and redemption. In each novella the reader will find a story of lost and lonely people who are uncertain in the path their lives take. But it seems the fates have ideas of their own, rescuing the meek and settling them on a course to happiness.

These enjoyable holiday stories are a treat. You will be so pleased with the holiday joy in these tales. I enjoyed each one and do recommend this book.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

love finding new authors sharing new Christmas reads ... awesome!! love the cover. i've read Lisa before ... not sure about the other 3 ... know their names but don't believe i have check out their books before? found this beauty at Walmart with 4 total books Christmas reads are one of my favorite to read any old time. my favorite is (from all of the ladies in this book, 'cause who can not pick a favorite part??! we are human u know??!) would be "Snowed In" by Stacy Finz ...that is just the right amount of sexy-ness and love those characters. such a show stopper for me ... loved the others but Stacy's was so my favorite!! will check out more from them all very very soon. ( :

[Ang -PNR Book Lover Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas came early you guys, this is the perfect Christmas book. Four different stories, by four talented authors.

Each book was super cute, easy to read. You could read a story each night before Christmas, they make you feel good and happy.

I recommend this book to everyone, you will enjoy each one of the stories

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for this advance copy. It is a heartwarming book with four different happily ever after stories. Occasionally I find these anthologies kind of fluffy but this set of stories all had strong plot lines that held your interest from start to finish. If you are looking for a wonderful quick read over the holidays, this is the book for you to pick up!

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

With superb writers like Lisa Jackson and Maisey Yates, this Christmas anthology bring the Spirit of Christmas to you whether it's December or July. Cute, sweet stories and a great cast of characters, this is the perfect way to remind us what the feeling of Christmas really does in the avenues of love.

**thanks to Zebra for the ARC***

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas is the first short romance in the Santa's on His Way collection written by author Maisey Yates.

Merged review:

Snowed In is the second sweet romance in the Santa's on His Way collection written by author Stacy Finz.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice cozy read. This book has 4 short love stories that all take place around Christmas time. the characters all have some drama to deal with and their own ways of healing to have a better life and find true love.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the Cowboy Wants For Christmas by Maisey Yates
4 stars

Growing up in abusive homes and then removed from them and put into the same foster care family in their early teens, Charlie, Noah, and Meg have been good friends for years. For Meg, it was Charlie she loved at first sight. But it was Noah who fell for Meg when they first met--but Meg only had eyes for Charlie, and 15 years later, she's ready to marry him, and she gets on a plane to New York City to surprise Charlie for Christmas, only to walk in and find him having sex with another woman. Devastated, she returns home in tears and needs to talk it out with her best friend, Noah. When she announces that she's been saving herself for Charlie, and was hoping to lose her V-card as Charlie's Christmas surprise, Noah realizes this may be his only chance, even if he is her second choice. But now that Meg has her blinders off, she slowly comes to realize that her longtime love for Charlie was more of a habit than deep, true love, and she suddenly begins to consider and appreciate Noah's finer qualities, his kindness, his understanding, and his actually listening to what she says, and remembering it. What she's soon to discover is that Noah has been in love with her from the day he met her, and that he's been waiting for her to come to her senses and see that Charlie never really loved her at all and was just stringing her along, promising marriage but never delivering on that promise. After spending one night with Noah, everything comes to a head at the annual Christmas party that their foster family hosts for all the children they've loved and
raised, and things don't quite go the way Meg has planned, or the way this reader expected.

Maisey Yates does it again--in just a few short chapters she has given us three fully developed characters, a story that draws us in from the first page, plus drama, angst, sex, honesty and love, and while I prefer her more lengthy romance novels, this holiday-themed novella worked just perfectly for me.

Snowed In by Stacy Finz
2.5 stars

The second novella in this anthology is Snowed In by Stacy Finz, in which the two main characters, Rachel, who owns the Tart Me Up Bakery and coffee shop, and Boden, who owns the Old Glory Bar in Glory Junction, Colorado, are in competition for the same vacant building in town to expand their businesses. Rachel wants to expand her business into a full service restaurant, and Boden wants to enlarge his bar into a bar and brewery. The two have never been particularly fond of each other until they are both hired to provide food and beverages at a Christmas wedding up at one of Colorado's wealthier mountain homes. When they are trapped by a fallen tree across the road, and stranded in the large, empty estate by the blizzard, their often snarky and adversarial relationship, which has hidden their mutual attraction for some time, finally allows them to act on that attraction. Once the blizzard is over, the wedding re-scheduled elsewhere, and the two are back in town, they simply ignore one another, until Boden gets his wish and the town council decides that he'll get to lease the vacant building, but what then?

There wasn't much in this story that was new and you could see the ending from miles away. It was fairly well written, but in part, because the plot was so predictable, and because there really wasn't anything new or fresh about this story, and also, because there wasn't enough time for a true romance to develop, and finally, because I wasn't particularly fond of the way each character was portrayed--she's an uptight lawyer with a failed relationship and parents who don't approve of her new career choice as a baker, and he's a rather obnoxious, dominant, and womanizing alpha male from the wrong side of the tracks, I couldn't, in all honesty, give this short novella more than a 2.5 star rating.

A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas by Nicole Helm
3.5 stars

Lindsay Tyler left her home town 6 years earlier after graduating from high school. She'd always dreamed of furthering her education in preparation for her career as an artist, leaving her long-time boyfriend, Cal, behind and heartbroken. But things don't often work out as planned, and now, just in time for Christmas, she's back in town for her brother's wedding to Cal's sister, and she finally has to face Cal, who's bitter and angry at the way she simply left him behind, thinking only of herself.

Lindsey never really saw her departure as leaving Cal in the lurch, she was only 18 after all, and now that she's spent the last six years finding herself, she's realized that she's homesick, and that the dream she sought wasn't quite what she expected, so, she's gotten her college degree in education, and plans to teach art instead, taking a student teaching position in her home town. All anyone knows is that she's back for a few days for her brother's wedding, which is going to take place at the Christmas Tree Farm that Cal's family owns and operates. She can't believe that Cal is still so angry that he never wants to be in the same room with her. She's never found anyone who measured up to him in the six years they've been apart, and Cal has never found anyone who measured up to Lindsay either, but can these two characters stop sniping at each other, get past his hurt and anger, and find what drew them together in the first place?

Well, Christmas is the time for miracles, and the perfect time for this emotional read, and also a time to forgive, forget, and realize that sometimes, no matter what we dream is out there for us, home is really the best place to be.

A Baby For Christmas by Lisa Jackson
3 stars

As this novella opens, Annie McFarlane is alone in her half-empty condo on Christmas Eve, surrounded by the cartons she's been packing, newly divorced and still reeling from her third miscarriage, and the angst and tension that led her now ex-husband to find someone else to bear his children and carry on his family line. It doesn't help when he proudly tells Annie that his girlfriend is now pregnant. After discovering that she will probably never be able to carry a pregnancy to term, she's devastated--being a mom is all she's ever wanted. She promises herself that next year, she'll have moved on, and she does--all the way to the other side of the country, where, she's living rent-free in a small cottage on an estate after taking a job as caretaker for the often absentee owners, and caring for their horses.

At the same time, Liam O'Shaughnessy, who once briefly dated Annie's flighty sister, Nola, is livid. He's been falsely accused of embezzlement and murder by his former co-worker and former lover, Nola, and thanks to her, Liam spent time in jail until he was bailed out. Now he needs to find Nola, find out why she made him a scapegoat, and he needs to find the real perpetrator and prove himself innocent of all the charges against him to clear his name. Then, his friend and private investigator, Jack, also discovers that Nola, whose whereabouts are unknown, was pregnant when she disappeared, and Liam believes that the child she was carrying was his. His best and really only option is to find Nola's sister, Annie, who will probably know exactly where she is.

It's nearing Christmas again, and Annie is fairly content with her new life, her job, and her cozy cottage, miles away from anywhere, but she's lonely. She's planning to fly out tomorrow to spend Christmas visiting with her brother and his family, but the forecast of a light snowfall is nowhere near the blizzard that's going on outside, and suddenly there's a loud knock on her door, her dog is going wild, and when she opens her door to see who could possibly be out there, she discovers a basket, and in that basket is a baby girl and a note that reads, "For you, Annie." Annie calls the local authorities to inform them of this but they are overwhelmed by the blizzard, the sudden power outage, and being shorthanded. She's told they may be able to get to her in a few days. She's already bonded with the beautiful baby, who she's named Carol--a wish come true for Annie, but she has no idea why anyone would leave a baby outside her door during a blizzard. The basket also contained diapers, formula, and all the things Annie will need until someone arrives.

Annie doesn't have long to wait, because the next day, Liam arrives at her door, doesn't believe that Annie has no idea where her sister is, and Liam wants to take baby Carol, assuming she's his child, but there's no way Annie is giving her up without a fight, or without a paternity test. With the power out, and the roads so dangerous, Liam is stuck there with Annie and the baby, as they try to sort things out. Annie finds herself attracted to Liam and he to her, but they're virtual strangers to one another. Well, as romance readers, we already know how this plot is going to turn out, and as is the case with many novellas, there really wasn't time to built much of a relationship between these two characters, which was a pity, because I think this novella would have been far better as a full-length novel.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this anthology. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas - Maisey Yates - 3 /5 - Noah, Charlie and Megan were foster teens together since Meg was 15 and Charlie and Noah were 17. As soon as she saw him, Meg adored Charlie. Similarly, Noah adored Meg, but she never gave him a second glance. Now 13 years later, Charlie is playing around with Meg’s feelings and refusing to commit, while Meg stays with him and constantly defends him. After he promises marriage and she finds him with another woman, she rushes off to Noah for comfort. But Noah puts some uncomfortable ideas in her head and she soon realizes that what she had with Charlie wasn’t love...but what she has with Noah certainly could be. Noah can’t wait to have Meg in his bed finally, but now that he has her, he’s not so sure he can stand the chance of losing the one person he loves.

I was a bit wary here, since Meg gets her heart supposedly broken by Charlie and rebounds to Noah, realizes she’s in love with him and agrees to marry him in the span of 2 days. The author did a great job of having Meg reflect on her relationship with Charlie and come to the realization that it was unhealthy and just habit to love him, but I’m not sure I was sold on the speed at which she realized she was “in love” with Noah. And Charlie was too much in the middle of them and in their thoughts. Their relationship felt way too reboundish for my tastes...at least on Meg’s part.

Snowed In - Stacy Finz - 3 /5 - Rachel quit her job as a top trial lawyer and opened a bakery in Glory Junction. Now, she has dreams of opening a restaurant, but she’s in competition for the space - with Boden Farmer, small town guy and bar owner who wants to use the space to open a brewery. They’ve spent years avoiding each other and rubbing each other the wrong way, but both are trying to deny the attraction between them. When they work a wedding together and get stuck alone in the bride’s house because of a freak blizzard, they are forced to confront their attraction and set aside their status as competitors. But when one of them actually wins the competition, it may be difficult to continue their exploration of the attraction when the other has lost their dream.

A solid contribution to the anthology. I was a bit turned off by the characters and their apparent dislike for each other, which turned out to be not really dislike at all. The heroine was pretty prickly and the hero wasn’t exactly arrogant in a charming way. I didn’t really like them, but I didn’t dislike them either. I just couldn’t warm up to them. Their smutty times are pretty sexy and I liked that it was Boden that fell first...but he couldn’t figure out why he was feeling that way. I also liked that the heroine matured up there at the end and owned up to her rude behavior.

A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas - Nicole Helm - 2 /5 - When she was 18, Lindsay Tyler knew she wanted more than small town life, so she broke up with her boyfriend of 4 years and left her family to go off in search of “more.” But she broke her boyfriend, Cal’s heart and exacerbated his insecurities and issues with abandonment. Now that she’s set aside her pride and realized that home is the place to be, she’s faced with Cal. Only now does she realize how much she loves him, but he wants nothing to do with her, despite claiming to love her. He says he’ll never be able to trust her or believe she can stay, and so Lindsay will have to figure out if he’s worth fighting for.

I do not have good luck with second chance romances like this one...especially in novellas. And this one sets up a man with such incredible insecurities and distrust that it was SO hard for me to believe that he’d set it all aside and just suddenly decide to put his trust in a woman who had previously, more or less walked out on him. I mean, his insecurities were deeply entrenched. He was both sympathetic and a bit annoying because of them. But it was the heroine who annoyed me further. She had grand claims of being more mature and less selfish, but nothing I saw supported it. She faces him and he pours out his pain and begs her to stay away because just seeing her causes him anguish and she keeps responding with, “Why can’t we at least be friends?” like her wants matter more than his. And she doesn’t stay away, she decides she’s ready to fight for him, even though he’s pleaded with her not to. And this might have been fine if she’d been willing to go the distance and REALLY put in the time, understanding the pain she caused him by leaving and making up for it (even if she doesn’t regret the leaving part). But she sets her course and at the first sign of failure she’s ready to give up again. She throws in the towel and wants to give up because she can’t have him NOW. She doesn’t want to wait for eventually , as she puts it. But this tells me she’s failed to fully internalize the pain she caused him, however unintentionally, because didn’t he have to wait for eventually? And her willingness to give up so quickly tells me that Cal is perfectly reasonable in his fears that she won’t stick around or that she’ll change her mind about what she wants. So yeah, their happy ending wasn’t quite believable to me.

But more than anything, the one character I couldn’t understand was Sarah, Cal’s sister. At 13, she watched Lindsay walk out of their life and she saw Cal become embittered and fully embrace the idea that he was unlovable and easy to abandon. And the woman who contributed to that comes walking back into his life, increasing his pain. Does she have words for the bitch or even take her to task or stand up for Cal? No! She invites Lindsay back in to their life, she pushes Lindsay into Cal’s path repeatedly and she in no way blames Lindsay for Cal’s insecurities. I have 3 brothers. If a woman breaks my one of my brother’s hearts, she is dead to me. I would want him to be happy, which means I would in no way cause him more pain, like, for example, sending his ex off to make sure that he’s okay after something disturbing happened. I’d take care of it myself, not ask the ex he’s still broken-hearted over to take care of it. Not the greatest sister ever written.

A Baby for Christmas - Lisa Jackson - 2/5 - Ugh. Didn't realize I'd read this in probably at least 2 other anthologies about Christmas in the past. Why on earth does this keep getting reprinted and sold as though it's a new story? Especially when this author's name is the largest on the cover? So people will pay $10 for a book primarily written by authors they don't know? (I at least also know Maisey Yates, but the others are unfamiliar to me). So I'm copying and pasting my previous review of this story.

Heroine who can't have her own children finds a baby on her doorstep and cares for it for a few days and falls in love. Then, a guy claiming to be the baby's dad shows up and says thanks we'll be on our way now. They argue, agree to wait out a paternity test, but he's not taking off and they find themselves falling in love. Super fast falling in love here... Not really believable - how do you fall in love/lust with a guy who has every intention of taking a baby (that you've just fallen in love with) right out of your life?

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most anthologies by different authors, I enjoyed some of these more than others. But overall, they were good stories. But they were not “sweet” – they were at times edgy, a tad on the hot side (okay, very hot), but all with the HEA ending that we love in our romances.

What I liked: the epilogue at the end of each story that ties everything together in a neat holiday bow. The stories were nice holiday themed romances, and yes, you know the couple is going to end up together, but the authors took you on a roller coaster to get there.

What I didn’t like: not much. They were pretty good stories with heat, heart, and happily ever after endings.

Recommendation: If you like your holiday romances with some heat, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher for providing this book