Let's Be Jolly!

by Janet Dailey

NORTHERN MAGIC

Shannon Hayes is awed by the natural wonders of Alaska --- and pilot Cody Steele takes her breathe away. That reckless smile ... those bold eyes ... the man could melt a glacier. An old legend has it that the shimmering northern lights cast a special spell and Shannon believes it with all her heart when Cody takes her in his arms and shows her what love means. He's everything she wants for Christmas ... and forever.

BRIDE OF THE DELTA QUEEN

For Selena Merrick, taking a Christmas steamboat trip on the mighty Mississippi is like going back in time --- the Delta Queen is beautifully decorated in period style. And Chance Barkley, with the rakish charm of a riverboat gambler, fits right in. The man is mesmerizing. Must be the moonlight sparkling on the water or maybe it's the glow in his eyes --- but (mistletoe or not) Selena is ready to be kissed ...

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Anthologies

346 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.

She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.

Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes you read a book with a caveman love interest and it somehow works and is charming and even kind of hot in a way. Then you have books where the guy goes far over the line and the heroine is a total doormat who can't even manage to simply speak up for herself. The Bride of the Delta Queen is that book. After reading it I couldn't bring myself to read the other story. It seems the story I read was released in the 70's as a full length Harlequin novel, and I know things back then were viewed differently than now, but seriously. And the secondary storyline with the aunt is super weird with a wtf explanation.

[Reed · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not the writing that I have a problem with, it's the characters and the "love story". Dailey paints the settings in both stories beautifully and in rich detail that normally would cause me to overlook the bad parts and rate the novel higher but I can't get passed how uncomfortable the men made me feel. It's honestly downright abusive how they treat the women of the story, not attractive at all. I was sick to my stomach when one forced her to take her clothes off in front of him. I know this was written decades ago and touched up a bit to be released presently, but maybe instead of inserting cell phones, insert some respect for females.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for "Northern Magic." 3 stars for "Bride of the Delta Queen." Both products of their time, in that the heroes were alphas, but like in a regular rom com type story, so some of their actions didn't really work for me. I'll give both a pass on them because of when they were originally published (1982 and 1978 respectively), but for me, both romances were just okay and both stories really shone because of the awesomeness of their elderly side characters (who became good friends with the heroines).

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy "Northern Magic" it was dull and easy to guess what would happen. "Bride of the Delta Queen" had some twists and interesting characters. However, I did not appreciate how the leading man kept trying to basically assault our heroine and eventually she falls for him? Seemed a little messed up to me but kept me reading I guess.

[Diane Haag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't particular care for 2nd story in book, Bride of the Delta Queen. I disliked the "hero" who from the start had gotten the wrong impression of the girl and thought she was a hooker. At the beginning, He acted like a total jerk who thought he could pay her for sex regardless of what she said. It just set a negative tone for me that carried through the whole story. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Virginia Way · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two very nice light romance stories

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute love stories (2); one set in AK and the other in New Orleans. Both described the geographically aspects well.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. Two great stories in one book.

[Antof9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review from BookCrossing: My ankle started hurting yesterday, so I found a "comfort book", made some popcorn, put some ice on the ankle, and started reading this :)

It's 2 books in one, fairly clean, lite and enjoyable. In one, a woman travels to Alaska to marry the man she's engaged to but hasn't seen for 6 months, and in the other, the couple meets because the man believes the woman is a hooker. Classic romance novel fodder!

[Ann Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read over Christmas because both short stories in this book had Christmas themes. Easy read. Easy characters. Fun girls fall for guys they never thought were their type. All this with just a little suspense. I'll keep my eye out for more of her books.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It left me wanting more. They were both great short stories. The first a story of how you'll do anything to find love. The second a story of how true love never dies.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two sappy romance novels in one. With a handful of days left until Christmas, it was what my brain could handle. Everyone was loving and happy. No shopping and traffic and fog. What a relief.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were two short stories in this book and both of them were pretty enjoyable.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Northern Magic - Shannon searches for fiancee RIck in Alaska and finds lovee; Bride of the Delta Queen - Selena goes to New Orleans alone for Xmas and takes riverboat cruise and finds love

[Lade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rating it three stars because I liked the first story a little. Absolutely disliked the second one.