The Magic of Christmas

by Emma Craig, Annie Kimberlin, Kathleen Nance

A holiday romance collection includes Emma Craig's "Jack of Hearts," Annie Kimerlin's "The Shepherds and Mr. Weisman," Kathleen Nance's "The Yuletide Spirit," and Stobie Piel's "Twelfth Night." Original.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Paranormal, Anthologies, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Also writes as Alice Duncan, Rachel Wilson, Anne Robins and wrote two books under the name of Jon Sharpe (Pecos Belle Brigade and California Crusader).

Reviews

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology of 4 Christmas stories all have some touch of the magic. Emma Craig's story of a miner and a laundress brought together in a Gold Rush mining camp involves an angel. Annie Kimberlin's story also involves an angel but one who needs to accomplish a task before entering Heaven. Kathleen Nance's story involves a half human/half elf who is sent to New Orleans to find the Holiday spirit he has lost. Lastly, Stobie Piel's story involves a magical Twelfth Knight scavenger hunt seeking a treasure in Medieval England. All were equally entertaining.

[Lisa Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Jack of Hearts" from Emma Craig is the first story in this anthology. Set in the gold mining areas of California in 1851, I admit at first I was certain who "Jack" was. The hero and heroine are Merry Wildwood and Levi Harte. The story was a simple love tale. What I really liked was a look at the history of the gold miners. That was the story's strength.

Story 2 was "The Shepherds and Mr. Weisman" from Annie Kimberlin. Francesca Epiphania refuses to accompany the Three Wise Men to give gifts to the baby Jesus. Therefore, the angel Gabriel says she must roam the earth for an eternity to give out gifts. In order for her to earn her way into Heaven, Francesca must bring a loveless couple together: Enter Carly Shepherd and Jacob Weisman II.

Kathleen Mace brings us the third story: "The Yuletide Spirit." I must admit that I did not finish this one. I gave it the valiant try, but as neither of the first two stories totally engaged my interest, by the time I got to story 3, I was predisposed to no longer care. The Holly King sends Keldan Winterfall, his chief elf, to New Orleans to rediscover his Christmas spirit. Keldan meets "Christmas lover," Noelle Melancon.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read this several years ago. Only liked Kathleen Nance's story THE YULETIDE SPIRIT, a story about an elf who has lost his joy in the holiday. So Santa sends him into the human world to relearn about the spirit of christmas. And of course, he falls in love along the way. I loved the selflessness of the hero, and how he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the heroine's. Of course, there's a HEA, even if it doesn't seem possible at first. I cried.

Reread December 2012.