The Christmas Key

Twilight, Texas #9

by Lori Wilde, Lisa Zimmerman (Narrator)

10 Hours and 4 Minutes

There's a legend in Twilight, Texas. If you sleep with a kismet cookie under your pillow on Christmas Eve, you will dream of your one true love.

She saw him in her dreams . . .

It's impossible! Naomi Luther was standing face-to-face with the man she'd dreamed about over a year ago. Was it the magic of kismet Christmas cookies that brought him to her? Or is there an even greater force at work? All Naomi knows is she is falling, hard and fast, for the one man all good sense says she should not have.

She was his buddy's sister . . .

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

Audible Audio

First published October 30, 2018

About the author

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.

Reviews

[Jacqueline's Reads]

25% DNF Audio version

This was my first Lori Wilde read so I didn’t know what to expect. I love Christmas theme books and I love a single parent read.

Books are like boyfriends, you need to find one that fits your personality. At the end of the day The Christmas Key wasn’t a bad book and that isn’t why I didn’t finish it, it just didn’t fit my personality.

First off, the Hero of the book is ex-military with some PTSD, that right there isn’t my cuppa. I’ve never been fond of military theme books or Heroes suffering trauma from war. Usually I can forge through this, but the Hero’s past is a BIG deal in the book and it’s represented a lot.

The second thing is that there is a secret in the book. The Hero comes into town for a reason, but that reason is kept a secret and I’ve never been fond of books with a “secret” as the main tension of the story. I find it a bit angsty which isn’t my cuppa.

The 3rd thing is that the book places some references to God a lot. I’m not sure this is a Christian read, but I can see it as. I’m not a fan of Christian books, as my reading preference is more on the dirty level, but I can see how this would work out for a lot of people.

At the end of the day, it was a cute book with a Christmas theme. I liked the female narrator and I could have listened to her throughout the whole book. BUT the book didn’t suit my tastes and preference.

A print copy was provided by the publisher but I decided to do the audio version.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Key is a story of fate, healing and moving on for two very deserving individuals. It’s Christmas time again in Twilight and Naomi Luther is determined to make this the best Christmas for her nephew Hunter. A year ago, they got the devastating news that her brother Clayton was killed in Afghanistan. Her life has turned upside down with moving home again and in the process of adopting Hunter. Things are going well until she accidentally hops into the wrong car and comes face to face with the man from her dream. There is a myth in Twilight that if you sleep with a kismet cooking under your pillow on Christmas Eve you will dream of your one true love. She can’t believe it when she sees him and wonders if her dream had something to do with it or is there truly something fateful working here.

Mark Shepherd found order in the military but one bad mission changed all that in an instant. He lost one of his men when he didn’t follow the rules and got himself and others injured when trying to rescue him but unfortunately had to leave him behind. Now he feels enormous guilt and can’t seem to stop blaming himself. His shrink sends him on one last mission to return a key to Clayton’s family and he hopes that he can forgive himself and move on with his life. Mark also slept with a kismet cookie on Christmas eve and had a vivid dream of a woman and now she’s sitting in his jeep. Can this be really happening? Before he knows it, he’s mistaken for a handyman and Clayton’s father won’t let him explain his reason for being here in Twilight. Things are happening fast and spending time with Naomi and her family gets him feelings things he thought he never have in his life and wondering if this could be what happiness and love is all about.

The Christmas Key was definitely a trip down memory lane because I got to revisit Twilight at Christmas time. Twilight celebrates Christmas in their own unique style and the myth of the kismet cookie plays a small part with Mark and Naomi’s romance. There are also some key people who help Mark with his PTSD and give him support while in town.

What I love most about her writing is the depth of the characters she creates and how those flaws make them who they are. Mark and Naomi both have personal issues and demons to slay and they get new perspectives when each are confronted with them. These characters gain new insight and come to the realization that things could be different and/or better if they’d accept things for what they are or that feelings have changed over time. The author deals with both Naomi and Mark’s issues carefully and gives both of them ample time over the course of the story.

Lori Wilde writes beautiful love stories with messages of hope and healing and The Christmas Key is one of her finest. Twilight, Texas is a hometown I love to visit and I’m so glad she brings this place to life for me.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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


Here we are back in Twilight, Texas. I just love this town and the people in it. Also throughout the story I'm always thinking about cookies so that's a plus in my books. You've got to read the books to understand what that statement means.

Or just look at the blurb. What ever is easier for you. Ha!

This one was a very emotional one. Poor Mark is beating himself up for something that's not his fault at all. His guilt is eating him alive. Not only is he dealing with his shit, the Luther's are dealing with the fallout of what happened to their son/brother.

Like I said, so emotional. The great part is a Christmas story is made for emotions. It's the time of giving and forgiving. Time to give up your worries for a little bit and be with family and friends. Time to remember those who've passed with a happy heart. Yes, even a little bit of sadness for what's not.

Right away I liked both Mark and the Luther family. Mark for being such a good guy even when he doesn't believe it himself, and the Luther's for taking him in. Poor Mark needs to work out his guilt and Naomi needs someone in her life that makes her think about herself first every once in a while.

These two together and perfect they just work. They crack me up with the way the tease each other. Right away you see how well the fit. They mesh well together. Mark is also so good with a confused little boy who keeps calling him daddy. Not once does he make a big deal out of it and acts like he needs to run away from that title.

Together they are so good. They have a bunch of things to work out, her boyfriend and his not telling the truth but once they do, it's clear sailing from there.

You'll enjoy this book/series. The Christmas Key is easy to read and makes but yearn for the holidays. You'll also enjoy the ending where you learn a twist/secret. This is the perfect story to read with the Christmas tree lights in the background.

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ARC received for a honest review

[Miranda Liasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grips you from page one with an emotional gut punch and never lets go. The story of a wounded, guilt-torn soldier who must deliver a Christmas key to his deceased fellow marine’s family and ends up being drawn into the family and falling for his courageous, determined sister and his sweet three-year-old son, finding the love, mercy, and forgiveness he needs. Complex, loveable characters, an off-the-charts romance, and plenty of Christmas magic! Unputdownable. Highly recommend.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would imagine that I would have really enjoyed this more if I had been reading the entire Twilight, Texas series. I can tell that some of the characters have backstories that I should have known. Having said that, though, I don't think that it is necessary to have read the previous books in the series before starting this one. I never felt lost or out of the loop. The Christmas Key seems like one of a million sort of Christmas romance books floating around. There is a tragic backstory that sets things up for Mark to enter Naomi's life. There is the requisite small town full of Christmas cheer. There is a story of forgiveness and redemption. And, of course, the romance. It all works out to be a nice enough book, but I have to say that I kept getting the feeling that this is the sort of book that a lot of middle aged ladies might choose for their holiday book club at the local diner. What do I mean by that? I have no idea. I just felt like this as I read. Maybe it's sort of like a Hallmark Christmas movie with more kissing. And the thing about Hallmark movies is that they are just lovely if you are in the mood for that sort of thing, but you have to be in the mood for it because they are completely cheesy. This book doesn't rise to the level of cheese in a Hallmark movie, but I do think that you have to be in the right mood to read it. I wasn't quite in the mood, I think, even though this had a holiday romance theme, and I'm eating these up right now.

I think I can attribute a lot of my issues with this story to my experience listening to the audio version of the book. Lisa Zimmerman does an okay job narrating ... but just okay. I found myself more annoyed with her character voices, especially Mark's. It's hard to pull off a guy voice anyway when you are a female narrator, but then when an accent is added there is a whole new layer to the potential problems. Mark has a southern accent, and I'm afraid to say that the narrator's voice here came across as a little too clichéd for my taste. It was distracting. Once again, I find myself wondering if I would have liked this better if I had read it myself and could make my own character interpretations.

Overall, I would say that this one didn't wow me, but I'm not opposed to picking it up again and giving it a second chance sometime when I am in the mood for a fairly predictable holiday romance with a HEA ending. Three stars for this audio version. I liked it.

[Cyndi Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the notion(s) that this story introduces~ kismet, fate, soulmates. That insta-connection that occurs between two people. This is certainly at play for Naomi Luther and Mark Shepherd. They seem destined for each but the path that leads Mark to Naomis' door is strewn with trauma, regret and secrets.

Mark is a bit of a tortured soul. He's got a lot weighing him down, but it's the reason that he finds himself in Twilight, Texas that is at the heart of his struggle. When he finds himself in Twilight and practically living with the Luther family, the guilt he feels is doubled as he knows that when he exposes his secret, it will not only break his heart, but that of the very person he was led to, Naomi. The family Luther will provide the forgiveness he seeks, or so he believes. But his time in Twilight only solidifies the deep connection between he and Naomi and as their friendship grows, he's giving Naomi more reasons to NOT trust him. I couldn't help but feel like ALL the characters in book who know the secret feel - that maybe, just maybe it's not really his fault.

And by the way Mark is not the only person that's not sharing what they should *cough, cough - Naomi. But I really like Naomi and the devotion she has for her family. Speaking of family, Hunter is absolutely adorable. I love a well written child and the interactions between the family members. There's lots of sage advice in that household.

This was the first book by Lori Wilde that I've read. I love finding a new author with a vast library. And many are set in the town of Twilight, Texas and I can safely say you don't need to have read the rest in the series to read The Christmas Key, but I am inspired now to pick up the series. This is a really wonderful small town story and it's apparent that Lori Wilde is a seasoned author and knows just how to convey the small town feeling. I happily give my recommendation!

*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for www.buriedunderromance.com
The Christmas Key by Lori Wilde is a wonderful, heartfelt Christmas story that had me in tears on more than one occasion. It is filled with wonderful characters and an emotional storyline that can’t help but hook you right from the start.
Mark Shepherd feels responsible for the death of Clayton Luther, one of the marines under his command, on Christmas day. He is given a special key with a note from Clayton stating that the key would have significant meaning to his family and requesting that Mark deliver the key to his family in person if he were to die. After nearly a year spent recovering from his own injuries suffered in the attack, he travels to Twilight, Texas to deliver the key. Once he arrives, he realizes that he doesn’t want to upset the family again at Christmas time and he decides to wait to give them the key until later. This decision is made even easier when he is mistaken for a handyman that has come to make repairs to the local church. He goes along with the mistaken identity, and becomes involved with the family, the church and the town. He is especially taken by Clayton’s sister Naomi, who is in the process of adopting Clayton’s orphaned son and is still grieving deeply for her lost brother.
The book tackles serious topics from PTSS to suicide with respect and empathy, while keeping a light-hearted feel with Christmas and small-town traditions. The characters are all strong, well-written and believable. They are doing their best to cope with horrible situations and yet, despite the despair, there is a feeling of hope that everyone will come out healthy and happy on the other side. The entire book is a true rollercoaster of emotions.
The entire book is beautifully written, but I must call special attention to the first love scene. While I’m not usually a fan of explicit sex and would rather the authors shut the door and leave it to my imagination, I was intrigued by the writing in this scene. It was done in lyrical prose with an intensity that was accentuating the action that was taking place. While I normally might have skipped those pages, in this case, I was so caught up in the writing that I found myself reading every word.
I have not read any of the other books in the series (yet!), but I never felt that I was missing any information. This is a very good standalone book and a five-star read. What a great addition to the annual onslaught of Christmas novels.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the 9th book in the series, and whilst one needs to have an open mind to the special brand of magic that the Twilight inhabitants believe in, it could be read as a standalone and be thoroughly enjoyed. Understanding Nate, and the rest of the gangs pasts will, however, reassure you that Mark is in the very best place for his future happiness.

There is a lot to like in this book, and it definitely has a Christmas goodness vibe running through it - very sweet, and yet dealing with some very difficult issues really well. I thought Mark's reasons for being a rule keeper were revealed in a clever and thoughtful way, and made the reader really understand just how important having structure was for him. So as we see him learn to trust himself and sometimes employ tact, and caution rather than honesty, it is endearing.

The twist was somewhat unexpected, and really cool - although risky - and the outcome was everything that any romantic reader would wish. Although Naomi's father is a pastor, none of the family are preachy, so don't be put off by that fact.

From sadness and loss comes a new beginning for the Shepherd / Luther family - enjoy!

[Dixie-Lee Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bases are loaded (every page) 4th Batter hits it out of the park ... !!!! .... as the lights on the field switch on .. Another visit to Twighlight, Texas glows at Christmastime 🌲🧚‍♂️🦋💖💖 can't wait until the next batch of kizmet Christmas cookies are made. .... thank you Lori Wilde ! .... The title "The Christmas Key" is so very special ! I will never look at another key in the same way ever again !

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fated romance in Twilight, Texas

Marine veteran Mark Shepherd was discharged from the Marines with a bad knee and PTSD. He makes the trip to Paradise, Texas to make a delivery and meet the family of a young Marine who died in Afghanistan while under his command.

One of the first things that happens to him there is accidentally meeting the woman he dreamed about a year ago. And then he finds out she was the fallen soldier's sister, Naomi.

I loved this Christmas romance with forgiveness at its core, including forgiving one's self.

I've read other books by this author and have enjoyed them too. Ho ho ho...Merry Christmas!

I received this book from Harper Collins through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:

http://romancejunkies.com/reviews/the...

I rated it 4.5 but rounded to 5 on Goodreads

[Christie Conlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Key by Lori Wilde left me speechless. With that said, I’m going to do my best to put into words how impactful this Twilight, Texas novel is. How incredibly perfect Lori Wilde made the characters of Mark Shepherd and Naomi Luther. How my heart was pulled in directions that I didn’t even know existed. The Christmas Key is truly a story that will impact you in unimaginable ways.

It had been a year since Mark Shepherd, a United States Marine, returned home from the battlefield suffering from PTSD and nursing a bummed knee. While there, he lost a fellow soldier leaving Mark laden with guilt for his death. The young Clayton Luther was under his watch, his responsibility. A heavy burden for anyone to bear for an entire year. Mark bonded with Clayton that fateful Christmas Eve when the young man gave him a kismet cookie sent from his hometown to lay under his pillow with promises of it revealing his one true love. HA! Like Mark believed that hoopla! But sleep with the kismet cookie under his pillow he did and boy did he have the most vivid dream of the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. Wishful thinking? Maybe. Soulmate? Not likely.

Now, on a personal mission from Clayton himself, Mark sets off to the small town of Twilight, Texas to deliver a mysterious white skeleton Christmas key to the Luthers. What the key meant to the family was beyond Mark’s knowledge, but he was a man of his word and owed this mission to Clayton and his family. His first day in Twilight was life altering to say the least when a bubbly and beautiful woman mistakenly climbed into his Jeep. This woman, his mystery angel, his butterfly, was the same one he dreamt about that Christmas Eve when he slept with a silly cookie under his pillow. He’d found her. Mind. Blown.

Naomi Luther had had a tough year since her younger brother died. You never would have known just how hard because her winning smile was ready to be pasted on at every second of every day. With her thriving personal shopping business, the adoption of her orphaned nephew, and the responsibility of looking after her parents, she was determined to make things as perfect as possible. This was their first Christmas without her brother, Hunter’s dad, and her parent’s son. Her hopes of ever finding that dream boat soulmate she dreamt about last Christmas Eve would have to wait – stupid kismet Christmas cookies. It was a legend anyways, right? Wrong! As soon as she realized her mistake of climbing into the wrong vehicle with a tall and handsome stranger, she knew. She knew he was the dark-haired man she dreamt about last Christmas Eve, when she’d slept with a kismet cookie under her pillow. Sweet Holy Mother of baby Jesus…

Mark’s mistaken identity as the new church handyman buys him the time he needs to heal, mourn, and grow from a broken soldier to a man worthy of love. There are so many moments in this novel in which Lori Wilde brought the feels and emotions to the surface, transporting my heart in the moment, every step of the way with Mark and Naomi. The Christmas Key is as wonderful as its magical kismet cookies, dreams of hope, forgiveness, and happily-ever-afters. ENJOY!

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


This saddens me.  The Twilight Texas has been one I look forward to reading every year around the holidays because they are sweet small town romances.  Think cute Hallmark movies.  When I cracked open THE CHRISTMAS KEY I was fully expecting to be swept up by that feeling and instead it kept making me feel either annoyed or wondering who could act like the characters were.

The hero of the story is dealing with PTSD and a lot of guilt from losing one of his men during combat.  He's been getting help and is finally ready to re-acclimate to civilian life, dealing with his own injury from the attack they faced.  The man he lost left him a note to return a key to his family and that they would know what it was for so he heads to their small town, carrying all his guilt and not knowing how he will face the family.  And instead of coming clean about who he is and why he's there, he assumes the identity of a handyman they were waiting for and thinks he could maybe work off that guilt by doing free labor for them.

I was 100% behind the idea behind this story, but not so much on the execution.  It seemed like it would be an emotional and tender holiday story.  But instead it annoyed me because of the lack of communication.  The romance also has a heavy dose of insta love and that comes from the cookie story.  Both the hero and heroine slept with one of these special cookies under their pillows the year before that would've made them dream of their one true love.  And now they both get the meet that person in real life, so things in the love department went a bit fast for my taste because of that.

Maybe this would've been a book that I could've DNF because it never really spoke to me, but I kept waiting for it to turn around so I stuck with it.  In the end it's definitely my least favorite story in this series.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Carol Reich · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, this is a book for you, featuring a guilt-laden Marine vet and a pastor's daughter in a small, magical Texas town.

[Nat PlainJanetheBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas Key is an emotionally charged and heartwarming story about love, loss, and healing set against the cozy backdrop of the small town of Twilight, Texas. Naomi Luther is a woman with a heavy heart—she lost her brother in active duty, his grieving wife took her own life shortly after, and now Naomi is determined to adopt their young son. Enter Mark Shepherd, injured and discharged from the Marines, her brother’s former commander, who carries his own burdens of guilt and loss. When their paths cross during the holiday season, their connection sparks a journey of healing and hope.

One of the things I loved most about The Christmas Key is its slightly cheesy, feel-good tone that pairs beautifully with the soulmate vibes between Naomi and Mark. The small-town charm of Twilight shines through in every scene, and the way Wilde weaves themes of resilience, love, and redemption into the story is incredibly touching. Naomi and Mark’s relationship grows naturally, with emotional depth and moments of quiet tenderness that feel authentic and earned.

However, readers should be aware that this story deals with some heavy topics, including suicide, mental health struggles, war trauma, and loss. These themes add gravity and emotional complexity to the narrative, but they may be triggering for some. Wilde handles these issues with care, ensuring the story ultimately feels hopeful and uplifting.

The pacing is engaging, and while some plot points are predictable, that familiarity adds to the cozy, comforting appeal of the story. The characters are relatable and well-drawn, making it easy to invest in their journey and cheer for their happily-ever-after.

For readers who enjoy small-town romances with heartfelt emotion, a touch of holiday magic, and themes of healing and hope, The Christmas Key is a perfect seasonal read.

4 out of 5 stars.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Lori Wilde's books and I adore Christmas stories so pardon me for a moment while I bask in the Glee of this fabulous book. The Christmas Key has all the great things that make a great story. The characters are incredible, the storyline is unique and captivated my attention from the very first page all the way to the end.

Naomi Luther is one of those characters that I could not help but bond with right away. This lady has her plate full because she has such a caring heart and love her family, her community, her job, and most of all her little nephew that is about to be her son due to sad circumstances. She has it all going and sure is not looking for love when she accidentally jumps into the wrong jeep.

#Mark Shepherd has been through war, felt a tremendous loss, and is still trying to figure out what to do with his life. My heart went out to Mark from the moment I met him. He's such a fabulous guy but has so many things he's trying to overcome. When Naomi Luther jumps into his jeep on a busy Christmas shopping day he just may have found exactly what he needs to put his life back on track.

I love the Christmas Kismet Cookie plot of the story. I don't want to spoil too much of the story I'll just say this is such a fun and interesting concept that I loved the story. Naomi and Mark have an instant connection and when Mark ends up working for the Luther family and church they find themselves spending more and more time together. There is a little secret that Mark is carrying around and trying to figure out how to deal with. I loved watching these two get to know each other and I loved that Mark bonded with Hunter. This sweet little boy has lost a lot but is so surrounded in love he's thriving and a healthy little boy.

I love books where the family is involved in the storyline. Naomi's family plays a big role in this story and that just adds so much more to the story. I enjoyed watching the whole family help Mark with his PTSD struggles. They truly take this guy in and make him a part of their family and their community.

This book is just one incredibly Christmas time read. I highly recommend grabbing the Kleenex box before you settle in to read this one. I know I had tears flowing a few times but I also laughed out loud a few times. If you are a fan of Christmas stories like me, you have to grab this book. If you are a fan of Lori Wilde's work and a Christmas story fan then I can almost guarantee you are going to love this book as much as I did.

I can't wait to see what Ms.Wilde has in store for us lucky readers next. I always know it's going to be a great read when I see her name on the cover.

I was given the opportunity to read this fantabulous story and it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abandoned at 50%. Too long, with too much plot repetition. This book should've been 100 pages shorter. A good idea, but needed a better writer.

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been over 5 years since I last read Lori Wilde. I'm so happy that her writing style and voice hasn't changed. The Christmas Key was a wonderful story full of love, friendship, family, and forgiveness. Welcome to Twilight, Texas “This is where the healing begins.” I'm new to the Twilight, Texas series. Thus, I can safely say the books are standalones. Readers of this series will be happy to see past characters show up to help drive the story.

A year ago, on Christmas Day, Mark Shepherd’s life changed in one of the worst possible ways. In a rescue mission gone awry, his contingent of Marines were attacked. One was killed, Mark and another Marine were seriously injured. Mark has battled back, but he's left disabled and guilt-ridden. Forced to retire from the Marines, Mark finds himself not knowing what to do with the rest of his life. When he's told Clayton Luther left a letter for him in his possessions, Mark is filled with dread. Clayton's letter asks Mark to personally deliver a key to his family in Twilight, Texas, telling him that they will know what to do with it. With Mark feeling responsible for Clayton's death, he knows it's the least he can do.

They say it's not just the person in the military who makes a sacrifice, but also their family. Naomi Luther is definitely sacrificing a lot. Naomi is not only sacrificing time and money to send care packages to her younger brother Clayton, but she's also sacrificing her time, energy and life after Clayton is killed and his young wife Samantha dies. Naomi has chosen to adopt Clayton's son Hunter, even at the cost of losing her long-term relationship with her boyfriend.

Feeling nostalgic, Naomi places a kismet cookie under her pillow, while half a world away Mark does the same at Clayton's urging. “If you sleep with a kismet cookie under your pillow on Christmas Eve, you will dream of your one true love.” Naomi's shocked to not dream about her high school sweetheart, but a stranger she's never seen. Mark isn't sure what to make of his dream. Both Mark and Naomi are shocked when almost a year later, they come face-to-face and realize the person they dreamed about is real. “There's magic afoot in Twilight.”

When Mark meets Clayton's father, he’s mistaken for someone else. Figuring he can help out the Luther's with various chores, Mark goes along with this assumption. He knows he has to tell the Luthers who he really is, but he doesn’t want to ruin the family’s first Christmas after the death of their loved ones. Mark becomes friends with a couple of other vets in town, who he tells his truth to. Over time, Naomi and Mark also start to acknowledge their attraction for each other. “He's a man who strives to do the right thing.” But when the truth comes out it's a bitter pill for Naomi to swallow. There's no way she can be in love with a man who killed her brother. “Forgiveness is a powerful tool.” It’s going to take forgiveness and redemption to bring these two together.

The Christmas Key was simply a wonderfully amazing story. The characters of Naomi and Mark are so easy to like and feel for. The secondary characters are equally as great. “Love is a great mystery.” It's also a journey. Mark and Naomi’s journey to true love is a difficult one. It's filled with happiness, heartache, guilt, and pain. But most importantly love. Prepare to smile, laugh, and cry as you read and enjoy The Christmas Key.

**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**

[Susan Leech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Shepherd goes to Twilight, Texas to confront the family of his marine buddy who was killed in action and who Mark feels he could had saved. Meeting Clayton Luther's will be anything but pleasant but Mark has a special key which Clayton's family needs because it was Clayton's last request.
Mark never realized Naomi Luther ,who was Clayton's sister was raising her nephew and caring for her mother who was in a wheelchair with RA.
Mark and Naomi met in a strange way but their relationship bloomed and neither one felt it should really be happening. The story line goes in roller coaster depth and sends the reader on a great adventure of many twists and turns.
Forgiveness, love, compassion and many mixed emotions will be found in the story and it's one book that can't be put down to the end. The end has a very surprised to it and something I did not see coming.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has love and compassion for two people who are finding themselves. Mark and Naomi has all of this and more.

[Jennifer Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so enthralled with Lori Wilde's new book: The Christmas Key (Twilight, Texas #9)! I got so immersed into the story of this book that it was hard to set it down! This book is about the bittersweet meeting and romance between Naomi Luther and injured Marine Vet Mark Shepherd. Mark is battling his demons from being injured and the guilt from losing a young Marine that was under his command. He has been hospitalized and gone through psychological therapy. He is suffering from PSTD and is sent on a mission to try to bring some forgiveness and peace into his life. He goes to Twilight, Texas to complete a promise for Naomi's family. He is mistaken by the Luther family to be their new handyman upon his arrival. Naomi's father is the pastor of the church who has been waiting for the new church handyman! He is given this job and a place to live. The Christmas spirit, faith and love from the Luther family and the town of Twilight envelopes Mark! He learns that he can be forgiven and healed with the love from Naomi and her family; as well as the amazing people of Twilight. I cried, laughed and rejoiced from reading this book! This book brings happiness, forgiveness, love and the true spirit of Christmas for the reader! I highly recommend this book and warn the reader to be prepared to feel like they are experiencing this book themselves.

[Judy Sharum]

WOW great book! I read a advance copy and loved it like a Hallmark movie!
Magicial love story. will shepherd rid his demons by delivering a key?
overriding his war memories. will he believe in magicial cookies? finding his true love
by placing cookie under his pillow?
will naomi start doing things for herself and not so much for others? taking time to smell the roses?

its the coming of two people and one little boy all healing each other to become a family.
The key being delivered was much much more than a key.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and heartfelt book. Mark and Naomi had to learn about the power of forgiveness and accepting the help of others in order to find their way together. A bit low key for me, but it was a great story!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

♡ 5 Stars for "The Christmas Key" ARC Review ♡

This return to Twilight, Texas did not disappoint. I was immediately drawn to Mark Shepherd and Naomi Luther. They both had issues to overcome and were destined for each other from the beginning. I could not put this book down because I had to know how the events unfolded. I was not disappointed.

I highly recommend this Christmas story to all. I love when romance books have more than a wonderful love story and this definitely fits the bill. ♡

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Sheperd joined the Marines after high school and the Army was his life for the next 12 years. A knee injury and losing a brother-in-arms in Kandahar put a stop to it and now he's got to adjust to civilian life, recuring nightmares, PTSD and guilt of the survivor. Mark is not sure how he's going to do it, but his first step is in Twilight, Texas. Before his death, Clayton left a note and a key asking him to bring it to his family and they'll know what to do with it. When he arrive, the pastor, his friend's father, mistake him for the handyman he hired. Mark try to tell him the truth many times but the man always change subject. When he meet Clay's sister, it feels as if he really know her. Naomi also recognize him, because she dreamed of him before, but she ignore he was her brother's fellow soldiers and that he feel responsible for his death. She have a lot on her plate, trying to keep control on her emotions for her parents and wanting to adopt her nephew, and not sure what to do with her on and off boyfriend and their long-distance relationship where they almost never talk.

What an heart-wrenching story! Difficult no impossible to not fall for Mark and Naomi and feel giddy at seeing them find each other and watching them fall in love. But as sweet and profound the romance was, the sweetest thing in the story for me was the strong sense of community.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC courtesy of Edelweiss

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

Lori Wilde's The Christmas Key has one of the most charming and magical meet-cutes you may ever read. Mark and Naomi, who have each dreamed about the other, due to a magical cookie, without ever having met, meet for the first time, and it's like a lightning strike.

Unfortunately, the majority of the novel deals with Mark keeping his secret about knowing Naomi's brother and dealing with his PTSD, while Naomi is dealing with falling in love with someone who isn't her boyfriend. This all dragged for me, seriously dragged.

Then, the novel picks up again near the end and concludes on a fabulous note.

I recently heard someone say that if you give a fantastic ending to an otherwise mediocre novel, you can save the whole novel. Consider this novel saved.

Since Naomi's father is a pastor, The Christmas Key is obliged to have Christian overtones, which it does in abundance. However, the sex aspect removes it from the Christian sub-genre.

The best portions of the novel for me were the instances when Mark is talking to other military men, his psychiatrist, and Naomi's father, even the scene with his mother radiates with intelligence and apathy. Lori Wilde writes intelligent scenes that I find compelling. However, I guess I just wasn't as keen about the romance, which, except for that wonderful meet-cute, just felt flat to me. I didn't find Naomi as adorable as Mark found her.

Who will like this novel? Hallmark Christmas viewers and die-hard (not the Die Hard, which I must make a note to watch again soon) Christmas romance fans and fans of Lori Wilde. Who won't? Readers who like a little more action in their stories.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a legend in Twilight, Texas. If you sleep with a kismet cookie under your pillow on Christmas Eve, you will dream of your one true love.
She saw him in her dreams…
It’s impossible! Naomi Luther was standing face to face with the man she’d dreamed about over a year ago. Was it the magic of Kismet Christmas cookies that brought him to her? Or is there even a greater force at work? All Naomi knows is she is falling, hard and fast, for the one man all good sense says she should not have.
Rebellious Mark Shepherd found order in the Marines but chaos on the battlefield. In a mission gone wrong, Mark is injured and Naomi's brother loses his life. Haunted by guilt, he arrives in Twilight to keep a solemn promise. But when the Luthers mistake him for their handyman, he’s swept up in playing Santa to his buddy’s orphan son…and falling hard for Naomi’s irresistible bright spirit and sweet, sexy smile. But what will happen when she learns the truth?

Mark shows up at the luther's to get forgiveness but when he shows up he is mistaken for someone else. With his guilt he gets to know the family and falling for Naomi and her nephew was not what he had planned. But Naomi is full of anger of the men she thinks let her brother die. As you keep reading you know that Mark will tell Naomi what really happened and the guilt he has. Naomi has so much hurt and grief that she tries to make everyone happy around her to cover it all. But will she forgive Mark once he tells her what happened. I loved these 2 characters and their emotions are so raw that you want to reach through the book and comfort them. I also enjoyed knowing the other people in this town and how they come together to celebrate the holidays.
I received this through Pure Textuality to review.

[AAmell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A+

I bought this book thinking it would be an easy-read, feel-good novel filled with cheesy moments, people falling into a stranger's arms, Christmas Imagery, and a few adult scenes (if you get my drift). What I got was an extremely deep and moving novel about emotional turmoil, dealing with grief, overcoming one's past and its effects, and moving forward in life when you feel like you've been cornered.

I expected this novel to be in the bottom of my list (of books I liked reading), but this one will actually go down in my top 5 favorite books (along with the other 10 or so in that category).

Lori Wilde is an excellent writer, and ANYONE LOOKING FOR A CHRISTMAS BOOK TO READ should read this one, hands down.

P.S. The Epilogue is safe to read. It doesn't ruin anything (I hate reading an epilogue that ruins the whole book...). It actually puts a nice bow on the entire story (ba zing!).

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great Christmas story. Less of a Hallmark movie and more of a true drama, I was doubtful that it would be a good Christmas story. It starts out so depressing! But it gradually looks up and becomes a story of redemption. The characters have real issues and deal with them. The span of time in which everything happens is pretty short - but chemistry is chemistry and honestly, it's a Christmas story so it all has to happen within a limited amount of time.

The narration by Lisa Zimmerman was great, made the book really enjoyable.

I can't get the image of a Christmas tree decorated with white keys out of my mind. This is definitely one of the good Christmas stories out there.