I Don't Read Paranormals

Sarah Raplee and I thought giving the Genre-istas an opportunity to put on a reviewer's hat would be a fun exercise and give our readers some ideas of Holiday-themed books to read. Since this decision was made many months ago, this summer I scoured the stacks and aisles of books at Borders and just grabbed any romance that had a holiday word in the title (like Christmas).

In November I reviewed Judy Duarte’s “Christmas On Nutcracker Court” and this month I’m going to share my other holiday reading adventures.

My title for this post is ‘I don’t read paranormals’? Imagine my surprise when “A Highlander’s Christmas” by Janet Chapman was not about Scotland or set in Scotland but was what is called a ‘light paranormal’. What I found interesting was very little in the story seemed ‘paranormal’ to me. By the end of the book, I was thinking differently about paranormal.

Also on my holiday reading list was Janet Dailey’s “Santa in Montana”. Yep, a western set in Montana and with a large family. I’d never read about the Calder family so it took a few pages before I got everyone sorted out. ‘Santa’ managed to bring members of the Calder family gifts beyond measure, worth more than gold, and left me looking at something different in the way of gifts myself.

Debbie Macomber’s “A Season of Angels” introduces Shirley, Mercy, and Goodness, angels who figure out God’s plan for the human’s they’ve been sent to help. Yes, sometimes ‘the answer’ really isn’t what it seems it’s supposed to be.

I do read ‘historicals’. Tamara LeJeune’s “Christmas with the Duchess” was an intriguing read once I figured out the cast of characters, relationships, etc.

It is really my fault because I didn’t pay attention to the genealogy chart at the front of the book before I began to read.

Once I did, my confusion lifted and I enjoyed a plot with more than one twist and turn.

However, the book I picked up and read through to the end in one sitting was Barbara Metzger’s “Christmas Wishes”. First published in 1992 and released again in 2011, this Regency Historical was a fun read with a few surprises along the way to the happily-ever-after.

The other thing that I love about this book is the dedication “Hey, Judy, this one’s for you.”

I really don’t think she meant me.

.

Christmas On Nutcracker Court

Judy Duarte’s sweet contemporary Christian Romance, Christmas on Nutcracker Court, takes place in Fairbrook, a small town with old-world Victorian charm.

The long cast of characters include hardworking beautician, Carly Westbrook, a financially challenged single mom with two young boys; grumpy neighbor, Max Tolliver, an aspiring novelist who’s run out of inspiration to finish his novel; Grant Barrows, who is down-on-his luck; Hemingway, a large furry dog with a mind of his own; and the Diamond Lils, four women of varied backgrounds who play poker.

Add in Mary Margaret Di Angelo, better known as Maggie, an angel in disguise who shines a light on relationships, motivation, and God’s message to us without preaching, for a heartwarming read.

Despite lots of people in her story, including various townspeople who round out the cast adding depth and possibilities, Ms. Duarte makes sure they all have a purpose giving the reader a glimpse of how their lives will turn out. Part of the plot is conventional (Carly’s car with a trunk full of Christmas presents for her boys is repossessed Christmas Eve, after the stores are closed, of course). However, her solution to the plight of her heroine is one from the heart. (No, I won’t tell you and spoil it).

December 10, 2011, Judy Duarte will be our guest at Romancing The Genres. Make a point to stop back then (if not many times before that) and visit with her. You can find Christmas on Nutcracker Court and Judy’s other books at www.JudyDuarte.com.