elstaffe’s Reviews > Western Christmas Brides: A Bride and Baby for Christmas / Miss Christina's Christmas Wish / A Kiss from the Cowboy > Status Update

"'You'll get used to Pa. Oh, and there's one more thing.' Edwina went up on her toes, circled her arms about her husband's neck and drew his head down. She whispered in his ear.

He gasped out loud, then held Edwina at arm's length to look her in the eyes. 'We did it?'" (281) what. what kind of reaction is that to being told by your estranged wife who ran off with your child that she is pregnant now.

"'I know how you all loved your tree,' Edwina said. 'And it was a lovely thing, but there is a new baby—a Christmas baby. You ought to take heart in that'" (259). I'm trying, Edwina. I'm trying to take heart in the fact that this novella has used both the phrase "Christmas child" and "Christmas baby." But it's not working.

"'Wouldn't it be simpler to simply let her know who you really are? You've nothing to be ashamed of.'

'It's not that I'm ashamed, Kit'" (221). No, you just wrote lies about your life to your cousin that are currently coming back to bite you because you're so extremely proud of your Spartan life

"'I have a confession to make, Kit. I, well—I suppose you thought I hired you to ramrod my ranch'" (219). until this point I thought references being made to him being her ramrod were about her needing a man to be someone to rely on, but from how it's being used here apparently it's an actual term. huh.

"Wasn't that the most foolish thought to ever invade her mind? It was Edwina who used to go on about love at first sight and all kinds of like nonsense. Of course, Edwina had never been left under a walnut tree waiting for a kiss" (210). really milking the being stood up by her beau who ran off to join the circus bit. I guess instead o/being shown this had an impact we're just being flat out told multiple times.

"She probably should not have led the man to believe that this was a lasting position, but she'd feared he would not come all this way for a two-week job. She only hoped that when he discovered the truth, he would not quit on the spot" (203). No honestly I think that's about what you'd deserve. wtf.

WHAT THE F IS THIS EPILOGUE NONSENSE

"What heaven a kiss can be, she thought hazily. It went on and on and she never wanted him to stop. Inside she felt shaky, as if she had swallowed a mouthful of stars, and when he finally lifted his mouth from hers she couldn't remember where she was" (183). I actually kind of like "mouthful of stars." first thing that's struck me (positively) since the dedication to this novella.

"'Rub,' Ivan ordered. 'Rub hard.'
Suddenly he tossed away her shawl and the jacket covering the the motionless girl, bent over her and began pushing down on her chest.
'What are you doing?' Christina shouted.
He didn't look up. 'I must try something.'
Terrified, she watched his hands move rhythmically up and down on Roxanna's thin chest" (181). Now he's inventing CPR? This is going into Jean M. Auel territory

"When she was in the classroom she knew who she was and what she was meant to do in life. She was valued for her knowledge and her skill. She felt worthwhile.

And it made her happy. She could never give that up. Never" (177). Well, there's only about 20 pages left in this novella, so this "never" is going to be pretty short-lived.