CHRISTMAS in RED WILLOW (Cheryl St. John) In order to save her grandfather's old church from destruction, Chloe Hanley had 5 weeks to organize church members and find a master craftsman to oversee the interior and exterior work.
Although one brother was leading the charge to have the church torn down and replaced with a hotel, Chloe eventually approached another brother to help her. Knowing that Owen Reardon would have trouble within his family for taking an opposing side from his brother, Chloe told him that she would understand if he chose not to get involved.
I'd just finished a book by Cheryl St. John that was lively and very entertaining; this really was a let-down. However, it is probably unfair to compare a novel with the limitations of a short story.
THE SHERIFF'S HOUSEKEEPER BRIDE (Jenna Kernan) Trying to avoid a difficulty on the railroad (no money for a ticket), Eliza Flannery slipped into the persona of the person a man was waiting for at the station. Unfortunately, Eliza had no idea what the role was or that she'd just blundered into the town sheriff (and former Texas Ranger).
This story was cleverly done (especially all the ways Eliza avoided showing she had no idea how to cook). I enjoyed it.
WEARING the RANCHER'S RING (Charlene Sands) Life on farms and ranches must have been very lonely. This author does a good job of explaining how lonely people could become -- the toil was endless. A stranger (Cooper Garnett) is shot and near death when her ranch hands bring him to widow Rachel Bodine's house. Fortunately for Cooper, Rachel was the daughter of a physician and she was able to save his life.
There was something I didn't like about this story. Cooper lost exactly what marrying Rachel would bring back to him. It was just a bit too coincidental for my taste. You may feel differently.
Although one brother was leading the charge to have the church torn down and replaced with a hotel, Chloe eventually approached another brother to help her. Knowing that Owen Reardon would have trouble within his family for taking an opposing side from his brother, Chloe told him that she would understand if he chose not to get involved.
I'd just finished a book by Cheryl St. John that was lively and very entertaining; this really was a let-down. However, it is probably unfair to compare a novel with the limitations of a short story.
THE SHERIFF'S HOUSEKEEPER BRIDE (Jenna Kernan) Trying to avoid a difficulty on the railroad (no money for a ticket), Eliza Flannery slipped into the persona of the person a man was waiting for at the station. Unfortunately, Eliza had no idea what the role was or that she'd just blundered into the town sheriff (and former Texas Ranger).
This story was cleverly done (especially all the ways Eliza avoided showing she had no idea how to cook). I enjoyed it.
WEARING the RANCHER'S RING (Charlene Sands) Life on farms and ranches must have been very lonely. This author does a good job of explaining how lonely people could become -- the toil was endless. A stranger (Cooper Garnett) is shot and near death when her ranch hands bring him to widow Rachel Bodine's house. Fortunately for Cooper, Rachel was the daughter of a physician and she was able to save his life.
There was something I didn't like about this story. Cooper lost exactly what marrying Rachel would bring back to him. It was just a bit too coincidental for my taste. You may feel differently.
