I picked this up as a beach read, and because we were traveling through Tacoma to the beach (where it's set). It didn't disappoint. Harry Mills' firstI picked this up as a beach read, and because we were traveling through Tacoma to the beach (where it's set). It didn't disappoint. Harry Mills' first assignment as an angel on earth is to help dyslexic Addie Folsom through the last class she has to take to complete her long neglected GED. Unsure of human issues, Harry blunders through some things, but helps a mixed bag of students come together as they read "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens. Addie reluctantly helps her newly injured neighbor, Erich Simmons, so both of their widowed mothers can go on a Christmas cruise, and they finally, equally, fall for each other. Fun lighthearted story with a Christmas theme....more
**spoiler alert** Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are prayer angels that have been sent to earth in response to a prayer by Anne Fletcher for her son. Ann**spoiler alert** Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are prayer angels that have been sent to earth in response to a prayer by Anne Fletcher for her son. Anne's husband had divorced her 5 years ago and married her son's fiance. He'd also majorly cheated her financially. Roy has closed himself off to emotions, especially women.
Roy hires Dean Wilcoff as his new head of security. Recently widowed - he loved his wife and daughters. One of his 30-year-old twins lives with him and teaches PE at a school. SG&M throw the two of them together and there is a strong attraction and annoyance. The two do fall in love, but Roy still can't trust her, so she breaks it off. Eventually, he comes around and proposes.
Secondary story of Anne's angel painting making her rich when her ex-husband unknowingly gets into a bidding war for it for his new wife. Angel Gabriel sees into the future and tells all that everyone gets what they deserve.
Clean - no sex - a little foreplay. Fun light read with a happy ending....more
Hallie McCarthy has decided it's tie to get married and start a family. She's turning 30, very successful professionally and looking. She keeps meetinHallie McCarthy has decided it's tie to get married and start a family. She's turning 30, very successful professionally and looking. She keeps meeting loser though. Her neighbor - divorced Steve Marris wants his ex-wife back. They become friends and console each other until they finally realize they love each other. Good story....more
Emma Collins father was very unfaithful to her mom, but her mom loved him to the end. Bitter towards men and Christmas, she's working as an obituary wEmma Collins father was very unfaithful to her mom, but her mom loved him to the end. Bitter towards men and Christmas, she's working as an obituary writer in Puyallup, WA. Getting fed up with obituaries, she's threatening to quit when her co-worker (who's secretly dating the owner) persuades him to give her the chance to write some feature articles on 3 Washington women who are finalists in a fruitcake recipe contest.
Oliver Hamilton runs a local airfreight business and he agrees to fly her to the 3 women in exchange for free advertising. Scared of flying and Oliver, who reminds her of her dad, she tries to get out of it, unsuccessfully. He flies her to the 3 women and each have different and unique reasons for their unique recipes. She ends up learning a lot from the women and falling in love with Oliver. Sweet, clean story of why Christmas is special....more
Diana Collins is a widow with 2 daughters. Cliff Howard is a confirmed bachelor. An accidental meeting propels them into something neither is preparedDiana Collins is a widow with 2 daughters. Cliff Howard is a confirmed bachelor. An accidental meeting propels them into something neither is prepared for. The girls love Cliff and so does Diana, but Cliff isn't ready yet for family ties. They have several misunderstandings but eventually all works out....more
Hannah Raymond is an obedient minister's daughter. She was engaged to an old friend and seminary student when he was killed in a car accident. DepressHannah Raymond is an obedient minister's daughter. She was engaged to an old friend and seminary student when he was killed in a car accident. Depressed, she has a one night stand with Navy man, Riley Murdock, 3 weeks after Jerry's death, so she can lose her virginity. She ends of pregnant (of course). When she finally admits it to her dad, 4 months later, he tracks down Riley and forces a marriage. Riley's been searching for her, but it's a tough sell. They knew each other for 6 hours! They marry but have all kinds of marital problems trying to get acquainted with each other and work out their differing life styles.
**spoiler alert** "Love by Degree" has Ellen Cunningham playing den mother to a trio of college boys in return for cheap lodging. When the real owner **spoiler alert** "Love by Degree" has Ellen Cunningham playing den mother to a trio of college boys in return for cheap lodging. When the real owner comes home unexpectedly and discovers the arrangement, sparks fly. Reed Morgan quickly upsets Ellen's equalibrium, but they seem to be at cross-purposes much of the time. Eventually it works out.
"Boardroom Bridegroom" by Renee Roszel. Joshua Raven has it all and he's just bought himself a bride to go with his newest company, only she doesn't know it. When she does find out, they're on their honeymoon and he's truly hooked, but she won't believe it. It isn't until he signs over the whole company to her and she discovers she's pregnant that she believes. Sweet story....more
**spoiler alert** Brand St. Clair, an Alaskan pilot, widower & father of 2 in the states. Carly Grieves is newly arrived in Alaska. Taken by the state**spoiler alert** Brand St. Clair, an Alaskan pilot, widower & father of 2 in the states. Carly Grieves is newly arrived in Alaska. Taken by the state from her mom, she's grown up with hand-me-downs and firmly believes that her future husband should never have loved before. She & Brand do fall in love, but Carly struggles with his previous marriage and children. They marry, but separate soon after because of her doubts. When his plan goes missing on the day the kids arrive from the states, she realizes her foolishness. All turns out okay....more
**spoiler alert** Focus of this book is on Grace, the librarian and her children. Grace finally gets a divorce from Dan who deserted her in "16 Lighth**spoiler alert** Focus of this book is on Grace, the librarian and her children. Grace finally gets a divorce from Dan who deserted her in "16 Lighthouse Road". Later in the book, his suicide is discovered, revealing his depression after killing civilians in Vietnam. Grace's daughter Maryellen has a "fling" with one of the photographers from her art gallery and gets pregnant. The abortion her first husband forced her to have has distorted her opinions of men and she rejects the father. He wants to be part of it though - that line to be continued.
Judge Olivia Lockhart's daughter Justine is now pregnant (marriage in Lighthouse) and opening a restaurant. Olivia is still seeing newspaperman Jack whose son Eric's girlfriend is pregnant with twin boys that he doesn't think can be his based on childhood cancer treatments. Ex-husband Stan is also back in the picture.
Then there's the dead man with lots of plastic surgery at the local B&B. Good continuation, good down-home people - some even middle aged!...more
Shay Benson didn't have it easy as a child, but she always tried to help her younger brother Caden. When he comes looking for money to pay off his druShay Benson didn't have it easy as a child, but she always tried to help her younger brother Caden. When he comes looking for money to pay off his drug dealer, she embezzles from the bank where she works. When Caden never returns the money as promised, Shay is caught and imprisoned for three years. The night she's released from jail, she lands on the doorstep of Pastor Drew Douglas' church in Seattle. Drew's wife died of cancer a few years earlier, leaving him to raise their son and daughter. When the two meet, it helps both - he gets Shay into a half-way program while she brings him out of his depression. All is not smooth sailing - even a year later when she transitions out of the program and they begin to fall in love. Faith gets them both through to give them a second chance.
Interesting story on the difficulties of making good choices after bad ones and the importance of second chances....more
Merry Knight loves her special needs brother and her parents, but she especially loves the Christmas season. What she doesn't like is her boss at the Merry Knight loves her special needs brother and her parents, but she especially loves the Christmas season. What she doesn't like is her boss at the consulting firm where she's a long term temp. When her mom and brother sign her up for a dating service as her Christmas/birthday gift, she's a bit annoyed, but then finds a man that she really starts to enjoy chatting with. When the time comes to meet, she's appalled to discover it's her boss and bails on the meeting. However, there's a typical Macomber Christmas happy ending. Quick, fun holiday read....more
Cassie, Karen and Nichole grew up in a close knit family - until Cassie eloped when she was 18. Her new husband isolated her from the family in FL wheCassie, Karen and Nichole grew up in a close knit family - until Cassie eloped when she was 18. Her new husband isolated her from the family in FL where he regularly abused her. For several years, since escaping the marriage, Cassie's been putting her life back together with her daughter. Finally, after 13 years of estrangement, the three begin to reconcile. Cassie also finally opens herself to love again with Steve, her project manager on her Habitat for Humanity home and a widower.
Touching story of forgiveness and resilience....more
Quick Christmas read. Noelle McDowell is coming home to Rose, OR for Christmas. It's her first trip home in 10 years after she defied her parents and Quick Christmas read. Noelle McDowell is coming home to Rose, OR for Christmas. It's her first trip home in 10 years after she defied her parents and tried to elope with Thom Sutton when they were 18. Mary Sutton and Sarah McDowell used to be best friends until an antique silver set was borrowed and stolen creating a 20 year feud. When the mothers are forced to work together on Christmas baskets so Noelle's sister can have her wedding reception at the Women's Center Club, all kinds of mishaps and petty fights happen before the two women finally reconcile... and so do Thom and Noelle.
2014 - Light hearted story of two young people who finally find their happy ending as the reunion their long estranged families....more
An appropriately happy ending for the series, but I wasn't so sure for a while. I wanted to whack JoMarie upside the head for being so foolish - of coAn appropriately happy ending for the series, but I wasn't so sure for a while. I wanted to whack JoMarie upside the head for being so foolish - of course Mark is going to return. So glad she finally came to her senses. Emily's story was a nice addition - glad everyone got happy endings - even people from previous books in the series....more
Two Christmas novellas tied in to Macomber's Blossom Street stories. Both explain a bit more about those who live on Blossom Street "Christmas LettersTwo Christmas novellas tied in to Macomber's Blossom Street stories. Both explain a bit more about those who live on Blossom Street "Christmas Letters" is a hilarious story about a bachelor psychologist giving idealistic but unrealistic child rearing advise and the woman who makes him see the light. "Rainy Day Kisses" gives the romance between Nate Townsend and Susannah Simmons and how their then infant niece Michelle was instrumental in bringing them together. Both are fun stories in the series. Vintage Macomber....more
Guests at an Inn create a great vehicle for introducing new characters and keeping the story fresh, and this is not exception, although Coco's sudden Guests at an Inn create a great vehicle for introducing new characters and keeping the story fresh, and this is not exception, although Coco's sudden attraction to Hudson is a bit unrealistic. At last, we finally discover Mark's reason for running....more
Bethanne Hamilton, her daughter, and ex-mother-in-law embark on a cross-country road trip from WA to FL with interesting results. Fun story with an inBethanne Hamilton, her daughter, and ex-mother-in-law embark on a cross-country road trip from WA to FL with interesting results. Fun story with an interesting premise....more