Customer Reviews

A Family Christmas: North Country Stories (Harlequin Superromance No. 1239)

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"Wild" Rose Robbin has a reputation that is mostly from innuendoes, and less from fact. Rose grew up on the "wrong side of the tracks" and since she came back to town, she's preferred to keep a low profile. She's discreetly been keeping an eye on the basketball team and it has less to do with the fact that the coach is sexy, although she's noticed that part, than who is on the team. She has a secret that could cause a scandal and rip wide open old wounds.

Coach Evan Grant has noticed Wild Rose at the team's games and practices. He believes he knows why, but doesn't know her well enough to approach her. He's too busy trying to teach and coach in Alouette, as well as raise his seven-year-old daughter Lucy as a single parent. When Lucy meets Rose and is drawn to her, he doesn't hesitate to let Rose into their lives. Rose seems quiet and harmless, and despite what others say, he's drawn to her himself. Day by day, they grow closer and soon, will Evan discover the deep secrets that Rose carries?

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS is an emotional, warm journey to the cold part of Upper Michigan. Rose never had the chances like most of us have had. Her family life was harsh and once she left as an adult, she never thought she'd come back. But here she is, and her past history has reared up and will not let go. Evan didn't know Rose as a child, only as an adult. His reactions to Rose are similar to that of his daughter Lucy - pure and nonjudgmental. As he gets to know Rose, he forces her to open up and like a cocoon, she emerges into a pretty butterfly.

Carrie Alexander has created another winner with A FAMILY CHRISTMAS and one that's enjoyable, emotional and funny, all wrapped into a beautiful story. Rose has appeared in previous North Country Stories as an elusive character, but Rose is now a star of her own story, and one that I will not soon forget. Rose will make you tear up at her heartaches and cheer when she finds her White Knight and falls in love.

For a wonderfully unforgettable tale that's not to be missed, pick up A FAMILY CHRISTMAS. I cannot wait for the next North Country Stories book.

Since the plot of this book's already been outlined to some degree, I'll just add a few comments. In Rose Robbin, Carrie Alexander has created a complex and memorable character, especially given that uniqueness is a rare quality among romance heroines. I found Evan Grant a little less impressive, but the story was definitely realistic and touching. The problems? While the beginning was intense and absorbing, the pace of the action seemed to flag somewhat in the middle. And I found the whole "Ok, now that we've fallen in love, when can we get to the sex?" attitude a major disappointment and a bit of a shock, coming from characters who seemed as mature as Evan and Rose.