A Texas Christmas-Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda and DeWanna Pace

A Texas Christmas

Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda and DeWanna Pace
Zebra, Oct 4 2011, $6.99
ISBN: 9781420119664

“One Wish: A Christmas Story” by Jodi Thomas. In December 1887 in Kasota Springs, Texas, Sam the farmer wants to go home but waits in a cold alley watching the mercantile across the street as he fears for the life of Maggie who he has cherished since they met as little kids. He knows his bloodline is not good enough, but she persuades him otherwise when he recues her from robbers.

“Naughty or Nice?” By DeWanna Pace. In December 1887 tired of the scorn by the townsfolk of Kasota Springs, saloon owner Anna Ross returns from a supply run as a snowstorm assaults the Texas Panhandle. There she saves the life of greenhorn James Elliot III caught in the blizzard.

“The Christmas Bell” by Linda Broday. In December 1887 the blizzard strands the train on the Texas Panhandle as it headed to Kasota Springs. On board is spoiled Tess Whitgrove the banker’s daughter coming home from Boston. Sloan Sullivan, who she disliked when they were children, arrives with a sled to rescue the stranded passengers and workers.

“Away in the Manger“ by Phyliss Miranda. In 1887 on the Texas Panhandle Randall Humphrey looks forward to solitude during the Christmas season. Instead the Kasota Springs blacksmith finds Edwinna Dewey yelling at him over his half brother failing to arrive with her family. Her niece Sarah Callahan arrives with three years old twins Damon and Addie Claire at the blacksmith shop.

The latest western romance anthology by this quartet (see Give Me A Texas Outlaw) is a terrific somewhat interwoven but mostly separate tales of couples trapped by a snowstorm falling miraculously in love.

Harriet Klausner