elliefufu's review against another edition
4.0
Christmas on Main Street by JoAnn Ross, Susan Donovan, Luann McLane and Alexis Morgan
Overall Grade: B
“It’s like being in the middle of our own personal Hallmark Christmas movie”
Christmas on Main Street is a collection of four short stories all surrounding the holiday and the love that spark during this festive and magical time of year. Every story is part of a larger series but I had no problem understanding what was going on in the series that I have not read yet. I liked some of the stories better than others but overall it is a great book to get you into the holiday season.
Christmas in Shelter Bay by JoAnn Ross
Grade: B+
Christmas in Shelter Bay was by far the best out of the four novellas. I have only read one book in this series but had no problem jumping right into Kelli and Cole’s history together. I love this type of romance where both people have loved the other for a long time and come back together later in life. Kelli and COle are very sweet, funny and romantic and really got me eager for Christmas. Sadly this book started off with Kelli and COle because they were my favorite couple and things just go south from here.
A Seaside Christmas by Susan Donovan
Grade: B
I was nervous about A Seaside Christmas, mostly because I was unfamiliar with the series and it has to do with mermaid lore. I was pleasantly surprised to find this the funniest of the four novellas and had some very steamy chemistry. Annie and Nat are very cute and have some fun banter that keeps things moving very quickly and before I knew it everything was done. As I mentioned I have not read this series but I do plan to after reading A Seaside Christmas because I cannot wait to see what happens next on this crazy island.
Mistletoe on Main Street by Luann McLane
Grade: B-
I am a huge fan of the Cricket Creek series and I was so excited about reading Ava and Clint’s story but sadly I was kind of disappointed with it. I found everything to be kind of boring and slow at times and that isn’t fun for a short hundred page novella. When things did pick up I really enjoyed watching these two reconnect and fall back in love. I did really enjoying seeing all of my favorite Cricket Creek characters and this got me very excited for the sixth installment of the series that is coming out soon.
The Christmas Gift by Alexis Morgan
Grade: C-
The Christmas Gift is part of Alexis Morgan’s Snowberry Creek series and I was very eager to get my hands on Bridey’s story. This was by far the biggest disappointment and the novella I was looking forward to the most. I found Seth and Bridey to be boring. Very boring. I couldn’t stay focused and almost fell asleep at one point. This makes me not want to continue with the series since I didn’t love the first book and really didn’t love this one. Sadly I think I’m done with Snowberry Creek.
Overall Grade: B
“It’s like being in the middle of our own personal Hallmark Christmas movie”
Christmas on Main Street is a collection of four short stories all surrounding the holiday and the love that spark during this festive and magical time of year. Every story is part of a larger series but I had no problem understanding what was going on in the series that I have not read yet. I liked some of the stories better than others but overall it is a great book to get you into the holiday season.
Christmas in Shelter Bay by JoAnn Ross
Grade: B+
Christmas in Shelter Bay was by far the best out of the four novellas. I have only read one book in this series but had no problem jumping right into Kelli and Cole’s history together. I love this type of romance where both people have loved the other for a long time and come back together later in life. Kelli and COle are very sweet, funny and romantic and really got me eager for Christmas. Sadly this book started off with Kelli and COle because they were my favorite couple and things just go south from here.
A Seaside Christmas by Susan Donovan
Grade: B
I was nervous about A Seaside Christmas, mostly because I was unfamiliar with the series and it has to do with mermaid lore. I was pleasantly surprised to find this the funniest of the four novellas and had some very steamy chemistry. Annie and Nat are very cute and have some fun banter that keeps things moving very quickly and before I knew it everything was done. As I mentioned I have not read this series but I do plan to after reading A Seaside Christmas because I cannot wait to see what happens next on this crazy island.
Mistletoe on Main Street by Luann McLane
Grade: B-
I am a huge fan of the Cricket Creek series and I was so excited about reading Ava and Clint’s story but sadly I was kind of disappointed with it. I found everything to be kind of boring and slow at times and that isn’t fun for a short hundred page novella. When things did pick up I really enjoyed watching these two reconnect and fall back in love. I did really enjoying seeing all of my favorite Cricket Creek characters and this got me very excited for the sixth installment of the series that is coming out soon.
The Christmas Gift by Alexis Morgan
Grade: C-
The Christmas Gift is part of Alexis Morgan’s Snowberry Creek series and I was very eager to get my hands on Bridey’s story. This was by far the biggest disappointment and the novella I was looking forward to the most. I found Seth and Bridey to be boring. Very boring. I couldn’t stay focused and almost fell asleep at one point. This makes me not want to continue with the series since I didn’t love the first book and really didn’t love this one. Sadly I think I’m done with Snowberry Creek.
witandsin's review
3.0
3.5 stars - My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-christmas-on-main-street-by.html
“Christmas in Shelter Bay” by JoAnn Ross
Shelter Bay, Book 0.5
I admit, I picked up this anthology for “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” I’ve been waiting for Kelli and Cole’s story ever since I read the first Shelter Bay book, The Homecoming. Kelli’s been in love with Cole for practically forever, but he’s been too blind to see it. Of course, both of their families can tell the two of them are perfect for one another, so with a bit of joint scheming and a snowstorm to aid them, Kelli and Cole will find themselves in a cozy cabin for the holidays. What “meant to be” couple wouldn’t fall in love in such a setting?
I love these kinds of stories, so I was immediately sucked into “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” Kelli and Cole made a great couple, but their switch from friends to lovers seemed a bit too fast to feel organic. If the story had been a bit longer, perhaps the progression of their relationship would have felt more natural. Still, fans of the Shelter Bay series should enjoy “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” Kelli, Cole, and their families are all as charming as ever and the story has holiday spirit to spare.
“A Seaside Christmas” by Susan Donovan
Bayberry Island, Book 0.5
Mermaids, magic, and a touch of mayhem make “A Seaside Christmas” a bright and bubbly story. Fate – and a bit of interference by some well-meaning Bayberry Island “mermaids” – lands an injured Nat on local author Annie’s doorstep during a storm. Close quarters and mutual desire leads to them burning up the sheets pretty fast. What’s unexpected (for both of them) is how swiftly they also fall in love.
I enjoyed Nat and Annie, but I felt their story could have used a bit more development. In addition, the supporting characters in “A Seaside Christmas” were a bit too much for my personal taste and overall the story had a bit of an erotic, yet cartoony feel. Susan Donovan’s stories tend to be wonderfully wacky, but usually there’s a touch of realism at their heart to make them feel grounded. “A Seaside Christmas” isn’t my favorite story of Ms. Donovan’s, but I do still plan on picking up her first full-length Bayberry Island novel, Sea of Love.
“Mistletoe on Main Street” by LuAnn McLane
Cricket Creek, Book 5.5
I love a good reunion romance and “Mistletoe on Main Street” hits all the right notes. Clint and Ava were high school sweethearts whose paths took them in different directions. It’s been fifteen years since they broke up, but now that Clint is back in Cricket Creek, the feelings he has for Ava and she for him are impossible for either to deny.
“Mistletoe on Main Street” is one of those stories that simply gives off the warm and fuzzy vibe. I adored Clint, Ava, and their friends and was pretty much charmed by “Mistletoe on Main Street” from beginning to end. LuAnn McLane has written a story that’s the perfect mix of Christmas and romance. Clint and Ava’s story will definitely get you in a festive mood while providing a love story that can be enjoyed all year ’round.
“The Christmas Gift” by Alexis Morgan
Snowberry Creek, Book 1.5
“The Christmas Gift” might just be my favorite story in the entire anthology! Bridey is a sweetheart of a pastry chef who has been burned by her ex and has since devoted herself to her bakery. Seth is an artist who feels like he’s lost his gift and needs to get away from the business persona he’s been forced to wear for far too long. The two of them have been circling one another for a while, but with a little nudge, their romance begins to blossom.
I hesitate to use the word, but I found “The Christmas Gift” to be adorable. There was something so sweet about Seth and Bridey that I found myself smiling time and again while reading their story. There’s a warmth to “The Christmas Gift” that I simply cannot convey in my review. I fell in love with Snowberry Creek and enjoyed watching the town’s Christmas festivities every bit as much as I loved reading about Bridey and Seth. Alexis Morgan is the only author in this anthology whose work I hadn’t read before, but after reading “The Christmas Gift” I can guarantee I’m going to be picking up the rest of the Snowberry Creek series.
Christmas on Main Street is a wonderful collection of small town romances. As with any anthology, readers are sure to like some stories better than others. Personally, I think “Mistletoe on Main Street” and “The Christmas Gift” are not to be missed, but all four stories are enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for romances to get you in the Christmas spirit or simply want to curl up with four well-written love stories, Christmas on Main Street is the book for you.
“Christmas in Shelter Bay” by JoAnn Ross
Shelter Bay, Book 0.5
I admit, I picked up this anthology for “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” I’ve been waiting for Kelli and Cole’s story ever since I read the first Shelter Bay book, The Homecoming. Kelli’s been in love with Cole for practically forever, but he’s been too blind to see it. Of course, both of their families can tell the two of them are perfect for one another, so with a bit of joint scheming and a snowstorm to aid them, Kelli and Cole will find themselves in a cozy cabin for the holidays. What “meant to be” couple wouldn’t fall in love in such a setting?
I love these kinds of stories, so I was immediately sucked into “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” Kelli and Cole made a great couple, but their switch from friends to lovers seemed a bit too fast to feel organic. If the story had been a bit longer, perhaps the progression of their relationship would have felt more natural. Still, fans of the Shelter Bay series should enjoy “Christmas in Shelter Bay.” Kelli, Cole, and their families are all as charming as ever and the story has holiday spirit to spare.
“A Seaside Christmas” by Susan Donovan
Bayberry Island, Book 0.5
Mermaids, magic, and a touch of mayhem make “A Seaside Christmas” a bright and bubbly story. Fate – and a bit of interference by some well-meaning Bayberry Island “mermaids” – lands an injured Nat on local author Annie’s doorstep during a storm. Close quarters and mutual desire leads to them burning up the sheets pretty fast. What’s unexpected (for both of them) is how swiftly they also fall in love.
I enjoyed Nat and Annie, but I felt their story could have used a bit more development. In addition, the supporting characters in “A Seaside Christmas” were a bit too much for my personal taste and overall the story had a bit of an erotic, yet cartoony feel. Susan Donovan’s stories tend to be wonderfully wacky, but usually there’s a touch of realism at their heart to make them feel grounded. “A Seaside Christmas” isn’t my favorite story of Ms. Donovan’s, but I do still plan on picking up her first full-length Bayberry Island novel, Sea of Love.
“Mistletoe on Main Street” by LuAnn McLane
Cricket Creek, Book 5.5
I love a good reunion romance and “Mistletoe on Main Street” hits all the right notes. Clint and Ava were high school sweethearts whose paths took them in different directions. It’s been fifteen years since they broke up, but now that Clint is back in Cricket Creek, the feelings he has for Ava and she for him are impossible for either to deny.
“Mistletoe on Main Street” is one of those stories that simply gives off the warm and fuzzy vibe. I adored Clint, Ava, and their friends and was pretty much charmed by “Mistletoe on Main Street” from beginning to end. LuAnn McLane has written a story that’s the perfect mix of Christmas and romance. Clint and Ava’s story will definitely get you in a festive mood while providing a love story that can be enjoyed all year ’round.
“The Christmas Gift” by Alexis Morgan
Snowberry Creek, Book 1.5
“The Christmas Gift” might just be my favorite story in the entire anthology! Bridey is a sweetheart of a pastry chef who has been burned by her ex and has since devoted herself to her bakery. Seth is an artist who feels like he’s lost his gift and needs to get away from the business persona he’s been forced to wear for far too long. The two of them have been circling one another for a while, but with a little nudge, their romance begins to blossom.
I hesitate to use the word, but I found “The Christmas Gift” to be adorable. There was something so sweet about Seth and Bridey that I found myself smiling time and again while reading their story. There’s a warmth to “The Christmas Gift” that I simply cannot convey in my review. I fell in love with Snowberry Creek and enjoyed watching the town’s Christmas festivities every bit as much as I loved reading about Bridey and Seth. Alexis Morgan is the only author in this anthology whose work I hadn’t read before, but after reading “The Christmas Gift” I can guarantee I’m going to be picking up the rest of the Snowberry Creek series.
Christmas on Main Street is a wonderful collection of small town romances. As with any anthology, readers are sure to like some stories better than others. Personally, I think “Mistletoe on Main Street” and “The Christmas Gift” are not to be missed, but all four stories are enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for romances to get you in the Christmas spirit or simply want to curl up with four well-written love stories, Christmas on Main Street is the book for you.
jonetta's review
4.0
This review is for Christmas in Shelter Bay (December 12, 2014)
I enjoyed this prequel to the series featuring Cole Duchett and Kelli Carpenter and their unusual friends to lovers story. She's been in love with him since she was seven years old and he only noticed her not being a kid when she turned 16. But, she's also his best friends' little sister and he was warned off. Well, she's now 25 and he's 33 and all bets are off.
Their romance ramped up pretty quickly but understandably so given their lifetime history. Many characters were introduced seamlessly and I got a good sense of who they are and am looking forward to starting the series.
I enjoyed this prequel to the series featuring Cole Duchett and Kelli Carpenter and their unusual friends to lovers story. She's been in love with him since she was seven years old and he only noticed her not being a kid when she turned 16. But, she's also his best friends' little sister and he was warned off. Well, she's now 25 and he's 33 and all bets are off.
Their romance ramped up pretty quickly but understandably so given their lifetime history. Many characters were introduced seamlessly and I got a good sense of who they are and am looking forward to starting the series.
cocktailsandbooks1's review
4.0
Christmas on Main Street is an anthology that mixes small town living with and Christmas romance to start the holiday season off right. Four seasoned authors with four different romances all work together to bring a book that is sure to bring Christmas cheer. All four authors provide the reader with an enjoyable, if a bit fast paced, book about the holiday season, and the power of love within a small town.
JoAnn Ross starts with “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” the story of Cole Douchett and Kelli Carpenter, the story of two lifelong friends who get stuck together for the holidays. Home on leave from the Marines, Cole is at a loss of what direction he wants his life and career to go, but he knows he wants to make up with his former friend Kelli because the previous Christmas ended in an argument. A conspiracy by the town matchmakers leaves the two stuck in the same cabin, and both friends are forced to work through their differences and try to figure out what their relationship will be. Kelli reminds me of one of those old souls who knows exactly what she wants, mainly Cole, and shows a maturity beyond her years to try to get it. Although Cole has feelings for Kelli he fights them for several reasons, and has to determine whether he is better off with her or without her in his life.
“A Seaside Christmas” by Susan Donovan tells the tale of TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle and local business owner Annie Parker, whose story sounds more like a myth. While in town to investigate the local mermaid lore, Nathaniel stumbles into Annie’s shop, and what ensues is a hilarious mix of magic and mayhem. Although both are struck dumb by their instant attraction, their previous relationships and current career goals serve as stumbling blocks. Annie is well known for her short affairs that generally only last through a season, while Nathaniel struggles with his restlessness with both his life and career choices. Both have to overcome their own insecurities to see if their relationship is worth having, but their story will grip you until the end. Add to this as colorful cast of characters, including a mermaid fan club, and you have a Christmas story sure to entertain.
Luann Mclane tells the story of high school sweethearts Clint and Ava in “Mistletoe on Main Street.” Fifteen years have gone by with very little contact between the two former lovebirds because Clint lived in California and never kept in touch with Ava, but he is back and ready to reconnect with the one he loves. His plan to woo her is touching, and his reasons for staying away for so long will make your heart break for him. Ava seems like the kind of girl you would want to be friends with, and you can’t help but want the best for her. The two try to muddle through past hurt and previous mistakes to see if their love is worth saving.
“The Christmas Gift” by Alexis Morgan, tells the story of a reclusive artist who has lost his gift and a colorful baker in a small town outside Seattle. Seth Kyser is in Snowberry Creek to take a much needed vacation after his artistic muse seems to be gone. All he wants is to reclaim his talent, but what he finds is Bridey, the local bakery owner. He desperately needs a friend away from the artistic world, and you can really feel his yearning for some normalcy as he connects with someone else. Bridey understands that desire for something more, having stepped down from her fast paced prestigious restaurant career for the slower pace of Snowberry Creek, but she is unaware that the guy she believed to be unemployed is not so. The only issue I had was the fact that he did not disclose his identity to Bridey until almost too late because of his own insecurities and his lack of trust in a woman who had proven herself to him several times already. Despite that, it was a book sure to brighten the holiday spirits.
Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books
JoAnn Ross starts with “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” the story of Cole Douchett and Kelli Carpenter, the story of two lifelong friends who get stuck together for the holidays. Home on leave from the Marines, Cole is at a loss of what direction he wants his life and career to go, but he knows he wants to make up with his former friend Kelli because the previous Christmas ended in an argument. A conspiracy by the town matchmakers leaves the two stuck in the same cabin, and both friends are forced to work through their differences and try to figure out what their relationship will be. Kelli reminds me of one of those old souls who knows exactly what she wants, mainly Cole, and shows a maturity beyond her years to try to get it. Although Cole has feelings for Kelli he fights them for several reasons, and has to determine whether he is better off with her or without her in his life.
“A Seaside Christmas” by Susan Donovan tells the tale of TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle and local business owner Annie Parker, whose story sounds more like a myth. While in town to investigate the local mermaid lore, Nathaniel stumbles into Annie’s shop, and what ensues is a hilarious mix of magic and mayhem. Although both are struck dumb by their instant attraction, their previous relationships and current career goals serve as stumbling blocks. Annie is well known for her short affairs that generally only last through a season, while Nathaniel struggles with his restlessness with both his life and career choices. Both have to overcome their own insecurities to see if their relationship is worth having, but their story will grip you until the end. Add to this as colorful cast of characters, including a mermaid fan club, and you have a Christmas story sure to entertain.
Luann Mclane tells the story of high school sweethearts Clint and Ava in “Mistletoe on Main Street.” Fifteen years have gone by with very little contact between the two former lovebirds because Clint lived in California and never kept in touch with Ava, but he is back and ready to reconnect with the one he loves. His plan to woo her is touching, and his reasons for staying away for so long will make your heart break for him. Ava seems like the kind of girl you would want to be friends with, and you can’t help but want the best for her. The two try to muddle through past hurt and previous mistakes to see if their love is worth saving.
“The Christmas Gift” by Alexis Morgan, tells the story of a reclusive artist who has lost his gift and a colorful baker in a small town outside Seattle. Seth Kyser is in Snowberry Creek to take a much needed vacation after his artistic muse seems to be gone. All he wants is to reclaim his talent, but what he finds is Bridey, the local bakery owner. He desperately needs a friend away from the artistic world, and you can really feel his yearning for some normalcy as he connects with someone else. Bridey understands that desire for something more, having stepped down from her fast paced prestigious restaurant career for the slower pace of Snowberry Creek, but she is unaware that the guy she believed to be unemployed is not so. The only issue I had was the fact that he did not disclose his identity to Bridey until almost too late because of his own insecurities and his lack of trust in a woman who had proven herself to him several times already. Despite that, it was a book sure to brighten the holiday spirits.
Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books
cranberrytarts's review
4.0
a cute collection of holiday novellas. I enjoyed returning to Shelter Bay.
stacyroth's review
3.0
I won this book as a FirstRead.
Christmas on Main Street contains four romance novellas centering on Christmas and small town themes.
In Christmas in Shelter Bay, Kelli grew up with a crush on her older brother's best friend, and he has finally noticed that she has grown into a woman. Their families conspire to send them to a secluded cabin so they can confess their feelings to each other.
In A Seaside Christmas, TV producer Nathaniel is sent to Bayberry Island to scope out the local mermaid legend. After arriving, he slips and falls in front of the house of Annie, an author and baker of mermaid erotica, and ends up recuperating in her bed. This story contained few Christmas references, and I kept forgetting it was part of a Christmas collection.
In Mistletoe on Main Street, Clint returns home after being away 15 years and wants to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava. She is shocked to see him back in town and playing the Santa to her Mrs. Claus in the town parade.
In The Christmas Gift, Bridey is excited when the handsome new man in town, Seth, offers to build new shelves for the kitchen of her pastry shop.
Personally, I thought the last two stories were a lot better than the first two stories.
Christmas on Main Street contains four romance novellas centering on Christmas and small town themes.
In Christmas in Shelter Bay, Kelli grew up with a crush on her older brother's best friend, and he has finally noticed that she has grown into a woman. Their families conspire to send them to a secluded cabin so they can confess their feelings to each other.
In A Seaside Christmas, TV producer Nathaniel is sent to Bayberry Island to scope out the local mermaid legend. After arriving, he slips and falls in front of the house of Annie, an author and baker of mermaid erotica, and ends up recuperating in her bed. This story contained few Christmas references, and I kept forgetting it was part of a Christmas collection.
In Mistletoe on Main Street, Clint returns home after being away 15 years and wants to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava. She is shocked to see him back in town and playing the Santa to her Mrs. Claus in the town parade.
In The Christmas Gift, Bridey is excited when the handsome new man in town, Seth, offers to build new shelves for the kitchen of her pastry shop.
Personally, I thought the last two stories were a lot better than the first two stories.
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