Wow, we got quite a lot in this book. We got to catch up with Mac and Roz from "Flat Line". Roz lives up on a mountain in West Virginia and we met her when her friend needed a place to hide when her life was in danger but Roz was closed off and greets people at the door with a shotgun. She has suffered trauma and she is trying to regain control of her life. She is living with Mac who agreed to live on the mountain with her to keep her safe long after the danger they were in had passed. Roz is a strong character and I enjoyed reading more about her story, she deserved a happy ending as she battles her demons and has hope finally for a brighter future. She is an amazing character and I am glad we got to know more about her and Mac. Mac is wonderful as well, he is patient and kind and supports her in a way that is gentle and unobtrusive. He gives her whats she needs even if she doesn't quite know what that is.
The next short story catches us up on Aiden and Angela as they visit John, Shannon, Wyatt, and Caden at Christmas time. Aiden has one heck of a surprise for John and well Angela has one of her own as well. This story tugged at my heartstrings a lot. The brothers bonded over the few memories they had of their horrible childhood and it was fun to see the twins again and how much they have grown. There are some funny moments with Caden in this story and we get to see a few other LNF members and their wives. This story brought tears to my eyes and I hope there is more to come.
Next, we get to check in with B.B., Linc, Frankie and well two special gifts that B.B. is given while Linc is deployed. The mission was supposed to be only a few weeks but it turned into months and now Linc isn't sure if he will be home for Christmas. B.B. struggles with loneliness but she also discovers what it means to have a team behind her, one that knows what she is going through and one that can help. This story also pulled at my heartstrings. I loved the gift that both B.B. and Frankie were given but you have to read it to find out why. As always Frankie provided some laughs with a little help. I hope we hear more of their story from Healing Hearts.
The last story introduces us to nurse Raine Walters. She will be featured along with Noah in the next "Dogs of War" story, "Catalyst". Raine cares for the men who have been tortured in the previous "Dogs of War" series. She is a small dynamo who wants to bring a bit of Christmas to her floor. Her mom and dad were poor and yet her mom found a way to make Christmas special for her and she wants to give a bit of that Christmas magic to the residents on her floor. What Raine does with Noah's help as well as some special help from a patient named Haven is nothing short of a Christmas miracle that will bring tears to your eyes. This story needs to be read with tissues at hand. We already know about Noah from "Retribution" and now we are introduced to Raine, an amazing character with a heart the size of well Texas.
This is a wonderful gift to the fans who love the series that Ms. Madden writes. Thank you.