The Christmas Stranger (Silhouette Romantic Suspense) [Mass Market Paperback]

Beth Cornelison (Author)

Book Description

Series: Silhouette Romantic Suspense | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

After her husband's death, Holly Bancroft Cole knows Christmas won't be the same this year. Still grieving, she decides to complete the renovations on her North Carolina farmhouse and hires a construction worker. Drawn to his piercing eyes and gentle manners, Holly can't shake the feeling that secrets lie behind the handsome stranger's warm smile.

Haunted by memories, Matt Rankin can't remember the joy that simple pleasures bring until he meets Holly. When a harrowing attempt is made on her life, Matt realizes he can't live without this beautiful angel. Now he must protect the woman he loves at all costs--even if it means risking his own life.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373276516
• ISBN-13: 978-0373276516
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,791,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author Beth Cornelison worked in public relations until she moved with her husband to Louisiana, where she decided to pursue her love of writing fiction. Since that time, she has published numerous romantic suspense books with Harlequin/Silhouette as well as single title books with Five Star Press, Sourcebooks, and Samhain Publishing. In December 2011, she released her first independently published contemporary romance for Kindle titled, TRUST IN ME.
She has won numerous honors for her work including the coveted RWA Golden Heart. Her books have been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewers Choice awards, the RWA Rita and her 2009 release, THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER, won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Series Romantic Suspense. Beth lives in Louisiana with her husband, one son, and a variety of cats who think they are people. She invites readers to visit her website at www.bethcornelison.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My first by this author, but not my last!, October 12, 2009

By 

Summer S (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Christmas Stranger (Silhouette Romantic Suspense) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book by Beth Cornelison that I've read and I am impressed. I will definitely read more of her books now. I love romantic suspense and The Christmas Stranger did not disappoint. Other reviewers have summerized the book that I won't repeat. I will say that I gave it 5 stars because it is definitely a book that I will be recommending to others. The story kept me intrigued enough that I read it through in one sitting instead of putting it aside to go to sleep which for me is an indicator that the book will only get a 3 star at most from me. Cornelison kept me interested in the characters and pulled into the story. I hope the other two Bancroft sisters' stories are as good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, September 19, 2009

By 

EllenToo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Christmas Stranger (Silhouette Romantic Suspense) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you love romance and love suspense this book will be an exciting read for you. It has an unsolved murder, an attempted murder, lies, deceit, love, uncertainty and suicide all mixed up in a really good story. Although there were a couple of times I worried about Holly and the choices she made but there wouldn't have been as good a story if she hadn't made the choices.

This book is the first of a new trilogy by Beth called "The Bancroft Brides" about three sisters~Holly, Paige, and Zoey.

This is Holly's story and takes place in the winter in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. A beautiful place to live in the spring and summer and fall but treacherous in the winter when the snow falls.

Holly lost her husband~ Ryan ~just over a year ago when someone murdered him. There was so little evidence the murder has gone unsolved~but Holly has not given up on finding the killer.

The story begins at a Halloween party at the Community Aid Center in Morgan Hollow, NC, where Holly has spent a lot of time helping the poor and homeless of Morgan Hollow. Suddenly a young boy collapsed on the floor unable to breathe after swallowing a piece of candy that went down the wrong way. Matt Rankin, one of homeless, save his life with Holly's help. Although Holly realizes she can not trust or help all the homeless and poor she does decide she can trust Matt (and this is where I question her choice). She did have her brother-in-law Robert run a background check on Matt which came up clean. So Holly decides to hire Matt to help her finish the renovations on her house and eventually let him move into the spare room (again I question her decision). Then she finds her life in danger as someone set fire to her house with her trapped in the basement. Is Matt actually the one who killed her husband and now is trying to kill her? She finds out Matt had lied to her by omission so she doesn't completely trust him any longer. Or is the killer still out there and trying to keep her from finding out who he really is????

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet romance mingling with betrayal, November 24, 2009

By 

Amy R. Talley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christmas Stranger (Silhouette Romantic Suspense) (Kindle Edition)

Just finished the book a couple of hours ago, and I have to admit, I really enjoyed it. I don't usually like to mix my suspense with romance, but the author does a good job at creating balance in the book. I really liked the main character Holly and loved Matt. I rooted for him from the very beginning....and I love a guy I can root for.

The author does a good job of being realistic with Holly's grief and doubt. And I like that she never makes the murdered husband any less of a good man. I hate when authors ALWAYS make the past love interest a jerk. It seems because Holly had a good relationship with her former husband that she desires the same with a new love interest.

There are lots of dips and turns in the book (almost too much!) I was on the edge of my seat and never suspected how Holly's husband was murdered.

A good read...and it put me in the Christmas spirit! A good stocking stuffer for someone who like a read in one afternoon.