Customer Reviews

Silent Night: Midnight in Death/Unexpected Gift/Christmas Promise/Berry Merry Christmas (Christmas Anthology)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book for Midnight in Death by J. D. Robb. That story was just as intense and suspenseful in a third of the pages. Eve doesn't even get Christmas off. The other three stories in this book were more of a Romantic nature but just as good. I thought all four authors did a remarkable job in very few pages. It kept your interest and before you knew it you were to the end. I enjoy these books it does give you a change to sample authors you may not have any other way!

MIDNIGHT IN DEATH was execllent and packed a lot of adventure into a few pages. This was the best story in the book (and the reason I bought it in the first place)... I will re-read it as is my habit when I re-read all the JD Robb books when her next one comes out.

As for the other three stories: I liked THE UNEXPECTED GIFT and CHRISTMAS PROMISES enough that I will probably re-read them next Christmas when I'm in a mushy mood. A BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS was a nice fluff piece, but I probably won't re-read it.

The five-star rating is based on the JD Robb section alone.

THE UNEXPECTED GIFT ****

CHRISTMAS PROMISES ***1/2

A BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS *1/2

...IF you are choosing this book to continue the "____In Death" series, then only read that story. I enjoyed the small novel which tied up a few loose ends from the last book, plus gave another spell binding story line to enjoy. The other stories involved in this collection should be taken at face value and nothing more. If you have a sweet spot for love stories, with little or no mystery in the plot, then you will enjoy this book. I have to admit I got misty eyed on the first story, but I believe in Fairytales.

"Silent Night" is a truly superior anthology, containing four entertaining tales of romance at Christmas. The stories run from light romance to dark romantic suspense, and all four will keep you turning pages.

First is Claire Cross' "A Berry Merry Christmas". This is a sweet tale of a North Pole elf named Holly Berry who just doesn't fit in, so she is sent on a special mission to fulfill an orphan's Christmas wish. Holly is hired as nanny for the orphaned Natalie, who wrote to Santa asking for a wife for her "Unca Drew" so she could have a mommy. Unbeknownst to Holly, she is the perfect woman for the job, and Natalie's Uncle Drew is starting to agree. This is a truly lovely, fanciful story that will have you believing in magic!

Dee Holmes' "The Unexpected Gift" is by far the weakest story in this anthology, although it is still enjoyable. Sabrina McKay and her young son are having their first Christmas since Sabrina's divorce. Sabrina's son finds what he believes is a body in the front yard, but who turns out to be Sabrina's high school boyfriend, Zach Danforth. Spending time in each other's company rekindles the flame between Sabrina and Zach, and together they find the true meaning of Christmas. The problem with this story is that nothing really happens in it - there is no real conflict, no suspense, no nothing. It is, however, a sweet story about the true spirit of Christmas.

Third is Susan Plunkett's "Christmas Promises", which is a really excellent story. FBI Agent Jake Rimsa reunites with his ex-fiancé, Marne York on their way to a shared Christmas celebration. Marne has changed dramatically from the rich, pampered girl Jake remembers into a fierce advocate of abused women. When Marne is suddenly enlisted to help find a missing child, their holiday plans are put on hold. As these two work together, it becomes painfully clear that Jack and Marne never stopped loving each other, but Marne is carrying around a painful secret that ended their engagement 4 years earlier and may destroy their chances for happiness now. Marne and Jake are very well developed and intriguing characters, and the plot of this short story is fresh and exciting and will keep you turning pages.

Saving the best for last, we have J.D. Robb's "Midnight in Death" which is fantastic. We catch up with Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD as her Christmas is interrupted by murder. Serial killer David Palmer, who Eve caught and locked away three years earlier has escaped, and is out for revenge against everyone who put him away, especially Eve. He has already killed the judge who sentenced him, and Eve goes into overdrive trying to catch this madman before he gets to the other people on his hit list. Eve's sexy billionaire husband Roarke is right by her side, helping with the case and keeping his `Darling Eve' safe. Eve and Roarke's romance is as hot and passionate as ever, and their scenes together will all but steam up your windows! Robb has created a fully developed story in less than 100 pages that is thrilling, original and full of heart-pounding passion. This is most definitely the best story in this anthology, and is worth the price of this book all by itself. "Midnight in Death" is a wonderful and worthy addition to the "In Death" series.

Overall, I thought this anthology was great. It is full of the spirit of Christmas, although it can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Don't miss out on this one, it's fun, romantic, and well worth the read!

In Silent Night we are treated to a quartet of four different stories, short enough to fit into one regular sized paperback. Anyone remember the ryhme, one of these is not like the others? Well, that would be Midnight in death by J.D. Robb. She does a fantastic job of keeping our interest and spicing up the holidays with death, murder, mystery and danger. Poor Eve Dallas and hubby, Roarke...they do not even get holidays off. A perfect wonderful 5 star read!

The other three stories are sweet and romantic, and do not fit well with Robb's novela! Here is my take and rating of the other three:

Christmas Promises: Marne carries an awful secret that destroyed her relationship with her handsome ex-fiancee. Now that they are united in finding a lost child, will the truth stand between them? Will Marne be able to trust Jake with her life? Four Star Read.

The Unexpected Gift: Sabrina and her boy are facing a first time Xmas without her ex husband (and her son's father.) Now, in the short span of twenty four hours, she is faced with the reality of having her lost love back in her life again...and her ex husband wants to give their relationship one more try. As Sabrina battles her hormones and tries to find the answer, her son seems to have a mind of her own. Four star read.

A Berry Merry Christmas: When Holly Berry is assigned on a secret mission to encourage a marriage between her new boss, Drew and a woman named Katherine.... things start to go haywire. First, there seems to be an intense attraction between Holly and Drew. Second, Holly has started to fall in love with Drew's orphaned niece. The icing on the cake? Well, Holly happens to be a nice friendly elf straight from the north pole. Its a season for miracles, but come on....a romance with an elf? This is a sweet journey for Holly and we see her start to learn more about herself...and others.. Four Star read. (Yes, I like make believe too!)

Hope you like it!

J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) and three other writers (Claire Cross, Dee Holmes and Susan Plunkett) make up the four stories in Silent Night. I bought the book for the J.D. Robb Midnight in Death story although the other three weren't bad either. Of course, all the stories were centered on the theme of Christmas and the holidays.

A Berry Merry Christmas, by Claire Cross, is about an orphan, Natalie Sinclair and her Uncle Drew. Natalie wishes for a new mother for Christmas and Holly Berry turns out to be the one to fill that role. The Unexpected Gift, by Dee Holmes, Sabrina McKay is having her first Christmas after her divorce with her young son. Her son finds what he thinks is a dead man in the yard but who turns out to be a girlhood boyfriend of Sabrina's, Zach Danforth. Predictably, they fall in love and have a wonderful Christmas

Christmas Promises, by Susan Plunkett, has Jake Rimsa giving his ex-fiancée, Marne York, a ride home for Christmas. Marne has become an of battered women and has changed much from the woman that Jake once knew. Jake and Marne renew their love and it's better then it had been before as they come to know each other again.

Midnight in Death, by J.D. Robb, Eve and Roarke's first Christmas together as husband and wife is interrupted by the discovery of the naked, mutilated body of the judge responsible for convicting serial killer David Palmer. Since Eve was the officer that brought down David Palmer, her name is on a list of those to be killed. This was the best story in the book and continues the "in Death" series with all the characters that are in the full-length books of the series. Of course, with Roarke's help, Eve finds the escaped murderer and wraps up the case.

Once again, J.D Robb, has thrown Eve Dallas back into harms way and the reader follows right along. This story has everything. A Sociopath, a victims list, and Christmas presents all in the same story. Eve,once again standing for the dead, must find the escapee, David Palmer, before he kills Dr. Mira. With the help of Roarke, the killer doesn't have a chance. Plunkett's story of Marne and Jake is action packed yet bittersweet as these two starcrossed lovers try again to get together and solve a crime before Christmas. In Dee Holmes Christmas tale, Sabrina's little boy finds a body in the front yard and finds the true meaning of Christmas just in time. Claire Cross's Nanny delivers a gift of joy to a young orphan and her uncle. I enjoyed these stories very much, like little presents set before me. I hope you'll like them as much as I did. Happy Holidays

there is no denying that this collection was redeemed only by the jd robb story at the end. her work alone gets 5 stars, everyone else - i don't even remember the names of the other authors. i just loved the story that comes in between "holiday in death" and "conspiracy in death". a really really good christmas story. eve and roarke rock.

Like most other reviewers, I bought this anthology for the extra "In Death" story ("Midnight in Death") by JD Robb/Nora Roberts. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by the other 3 stories and how uplifting they were!

In Claire Cross's story, we have to have our belief in magic and Santa Claus as "Mr. C" assigns his elf, Holly Berry, to help fulfill a young girl's Christmas wish for a "new mommy". This story is very funny and wondefully warm and touching!

The Dee Holme's story is great to show how strong Sabrina McKay is in spite of her recent divorce and hard time taking care of her 5 year old son due to the very little to no assistance for her ex-husband. Sabrina is not afraid to go after what she wants including the boyfriend from her youth who seems to not want her.

In the Susan Plunkett story we have a darker side of life with a woman and her ex-fiance being thrown together by family after four years apart. They join forces to find a missing daughter of a battered woman and find danger and joy together.

Finally is the always intriguing Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke to try to track and stop a serial killer that Eve put away 3 years ago and is now systematically killing everyone who put him in prison from the judge on down. It is a race of wits, determination and time.

All four stories are enjoyable in their own way!

From the back cover: 'Tis the season for passion and intrigue--in four festive Christmas novellas by four outstanding authors...

In JD Robb's "Midnight in Death" Lieutenant Eve Dallas must postpone her first Christmas with her new husband, Roarke, to hunt for an escaped serial killer--but she and Roarke still manage to find ways to celebrate.

Susan Plukett's "Christmas Promises" brings a woman and her ex-fiance together after four long years as they search for a missing child--and make up for broken promises of Christmases past.

In Dee Holmes's "The Unexpected Gift" Sabrina McKay and her five-year-old son are coping with the first Christmas since her divorce and her son finds a 'body' in the yard--and unexpectedly they rediscover the true spirit of the holidays.

In Claire Cross's "A Berry Merry Christmas" a mysterious nanny has a special message to deliver to a young orphan and her uncle who long to feel the joy of Christmas in their hearts once again.

And my review:

All of these stories were good. I normally don't like Christmas murder mysteries, but JD Robb's story was so engrossing that I couldn't put it down.

My favorite, though, was "A Berry Merry Christmas". I admit it, I'm a sucker for lighthearted fantasy, and the story of an elf who didn't quite fit in just warmed my heart.

Highly recommended!