The Romantic Fiction Shelf

Christmas at the Amish Market
Shelley Shepard Gray
https://shelleyshepardgray.com
Hallmark Publishing
https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-publishing
9781952210778, $15.95, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Amish-Market-Shelley-Shepard/dp/1952210771

Synopsis: Wesley is so busy running his family's Amish market at the holida= ys, he barely has time for Liesl, the young woman he's been courting for ye= ars. When she suggests her aunt Jenny could help Wesley out, he agrees to t=
he plan. But Liesl neglected to mention her aunt is only twenty-six years o=
ld -- and as charming as she is hard-working.

Jenny, still healing after a painful breakup, welcomes the distraction of w= orking at the market. She soon realizes Wesley is everything she ever dream=
ed a man could be. But how can Jenny even think about romance with the man = Liesl expects to marry?

But Liesl's own feelings are more complicated than she's willing to admit. = With humor, faith, and a little help from their friends in the community, e= veryone might just find what their hearts are looking for this Christmas at=
the Amish market.

Critique: The stuff of which Hallmark movies are made, and with a very spec= ial appeal to readers with an interest in Amish/Mennonite themed romance no= vels, "Christmas at the Amish Market" by novelist Shelley Shepard Gray will=
prove to be an immediate and enduringly welcome addition to community libr= ary Romance Fiction collections. A fun and fascinating read from first page=
to last, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Christmas at = the Amish Market" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99=
) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (9781666617436, $24.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Shelley Shepard Gray (https://shelleyshepardgray.com) is a = finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award=
, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner.

Twelve Days of Christmas
Debbie Macomber
Ballantine Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780425286937, $24.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Christmas-Novel/dp/0553391739

Synopsis: Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her = standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matt=
er how hard she's tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, = preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her new= spaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that's the last straw. S= he's going to break through Cain's Scrooge-like exterior the only way she k= nows how: by killing him with kindness.

To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christ= mas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia bri= ngs him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won't even ac= cept them. Meanwhile, Julie's blog becomes an online sensation, as an aston= ishing number of people start following her adventures. Julia continues to = find ways to express kindness and, little by little, chips away at Cain's g= ruff fa ade to reveal the caring man underneath.

Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain -- and she suspects that=
he may be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog conti= nues to grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chro= nicled their relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their c= hance at love.

Critique: Novelist Debbie Macomber at her very best, "Twelve Days of Christ= mas" is a 'must read' for her legions of fans and will have a very special = appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted holiday romance storie=
s. While unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romanc=
e collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Twelve D= ays of Christmas" is also available in a paperback edition (9780553391756, = $5.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99). Librarians note that t= here is also a large print paperback edition for "Twelve Days of Christmas"=
(Random House Large Print, 9781524708344, $20.00, 400pp).

Editorial Note: Debbie Macomber (https://debbiemacomber.com) is also the au= thor of Sweet Tomorrows, A Girl's Guide to Moving On, Last One Home, Silver=
Linings, Love Letters, Mr. Miracle, Blossom Street Brides, and Rose Harbor=
in Bloom. Five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the=
Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel=
also produced the original series Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, based on M= acomber's Cedar Cove books.

Never Cross a Highlander
Lisa Rayne
Entangled: Amara
https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/19016/amara
9781649370952, $8.99, PB, 448pp

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Cross-Highlander-Lisa-Rayne/dp/1649370954

Synopsis: Ailsa Connery has waited three long years to finally escape her e= nslavement at Stirling Castle and reunite with her clan. But her carefully = laid plans are completely destroyed by the arrival of the infamous Highland=
warrior known as Dubh Mahoun, the Black Devil -- a man who has plans of hi=
s own.

Kallum MacNeill's fearsome reputation has long allowed him to keep hidden h=
is secret double life of freeing enslaved captives across the land. It's on=
ly when he kidnaps a servant lass (quite by accident!) that he finds himsel=
f facing a wee predicament. He must accompany the lass home or risk her exp= osing his true identity. It'd be easy enough, that is if the feisty hellion=
didn't fight him at every turn.

As they make their way to the Highlands, the perils the two must face are s= urpassed only by their constant sparring. Soon, their heated sniping sparks=
heat of a totally different kind. The kind that ignites a hunger that coul=
d consume them both. Yet the difficult journey is no match for the dangerou=
s secrets they're about to uncover.

Critique: A delightful and original blend of action/adventure with historic=
al Scottish romance, "Never Cross A Highlander" effectively showcases the i= mpressive narrative storytelling talents of novelist Lisa Rayne. While also=
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99), "Never Cross A Highlan= der" is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to community l= ibrary Historical Romance collections.

Editorial Note: Lisa Rayne (https://lisarayne.com) a four-time Emma Award W= inner and writes sexy contemporary and banter-laden historical romance. For=
all the latest news on her books, giveaways, and appearances, fans can fol= low her @AuthorRayne on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Cinderella and the Duke
Lydia Drake
Entangled: Amara
https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/19016/amara
9781649373144, $8.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Duke-Lydia-Drake/dp/1649373147

Synopsis: The Weatherford Ball is the last chance Julia Beaumont has to esc= ape the clutches of her horrid stepmother. Any potential husband will do be=
he rich, poor, and even a reasonably well-groomed walrus. But all of Julia=
's matrimonial chances are completely obliterated -- thanks to the actions =
of an infuriating and utterly rakish duke.

Gregory Carter, Duke of Ashworth, would never risk his cherished bachelorho=
od by flirting with marriage-starved debutantes. But one look at the luscio=
us and refreshingly clever Julia, and he simply can't resist a stolen kiss =
-- scandal be damned. Then just as things start getting deliciously interes= ting as the lady flees leaving only a slipper behind.

And it must have been one dandy of a kiss. Because now Julia has proposed t=
o him. After all, the lady needs a husband, and this roguish duke will cert= ainly do. It's simply a matter of making him the perfect scandalous offer!

Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "Cinderella and the=
Duke" is author Lydia Drake's debut as a novelist. Of special appeal to fa=
ns of the Regency Romance genre, "Cinderella and the Duke" is a fun read fr=
om cover to cover. While very highly recommended, especially for community = library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal re= ading lists of dedicated Regency Romance (and Cinderella) fans that "Cinder= ella and the Duke" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.9= 9).

Editorial Note: Lydia Drake (https://tantor.com/author/lydia-drake.html) is=
a reader of all things romance and a drinker of all the tea. A New Jersey = resident, her favorite activities include taking the train to New York City=
, scouring used bookstores, spending time with her family, and wrangling he=
r hyperactive cockapoo puppy. She loves talking romance with her fans. She = can be followed on Instagram: the_lydia_drake

Make Me Whole
Angelina Disano
Disano Dreams
9781737761235, $14.95 paperback/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Make-Whole-Broken-Worlds-Book-ebook/dp/B0BDVTXKPJ

Make Me Whole is a romance story that probes Grace O'Leary's close-held sec= ret, which is the reason why she doesn't pursue romantic entanglements or r= elationships. Even with attractive, perfect men like Joe Mura, who has also=
been avoiding commitment - until he meets Grace.

Together, the two represent a fire of contention and possibility that flame=
s high. Their deadly combination of attributes creates an attraction that d= efies either secret-keeping or closely held notions of safety and achieveme= nt.

Angelina Disano shifts the viewpoints between these two disparate character=
s to balance their psyches, perceptions, and lives. As their trajectories c= ontinue to dovetail in unexpected ways, the layers of defense each have bui=
lt over their expectations, desires, and personal strengths (which represen=
t walls as well as bridges) begin to fall.

Grace finds herself wanting to reveal her lifelong secret to Joe, unburdeni=
ng herself and making herself especially vulnerable for the first time. But=
she is better at evasion than confession, and she suspects that if she doe=
s come clean, Joe will be out of her life forever. As much as she doesn't w= ant him close enough to discover the secret that cloaks her life, she also = doesn't want him to leave.

Disano's ability to contrast two seemingly disparate lives to bring forth t=
he similar concerns, limitations, and the objectives that power them lends =
to a story of coming together, immersion, and discovery. Romance readers wi=
ll find the relationship's currents and changes contrast nicely with the co= ncerned friends who want to contribute solutions to an impossible dilemma.

As Grace's fear that she will be treated differently if her secret is known=
seems to come true, readers will find themselves mesmerized by the process=
of Grace's growth and self-realizations about not only her own life, but h=
er choices and involvements with others.

Disano creates a story of revelation and love that tugs on the heartstrings=
.. Make Me Whole's ability to resolve dilemmas between two characters that a= re equally powerful and resolute makes for an appealing tale of coming toge= ther and breaking apart. This makes it a strong attraction for libraries ca= tering to romance readers. This audience will find the concurrent story of = growth experienced by both characters to be particularly powerful and revea= ling.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
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for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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