Small Town Christmas (Includes: Lucky Harbor, #2.5) by Jill Shalvis

Oct 15, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-review, 3-stars, 2011-reads, reviewed-by-me, reviewed-for-netgalley, holiday-christmas-themed, holiday-anthology, good-clean-fun, safe-for-yound-adults, author-jill-shalvis, anthology-holiday, anthology-contemporary

I absolutely love reading holiday themed stories, especially during the Christmas holidays because they just seem to make the season that much more magical. These three stories are not deep or thought provoking, nor are they at all very steamy, but they are definitely sweet and very romantic.

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis

NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a sec

...more

like 14 likes · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthologies, arc, ebooks, genre-contemporary-romance, read-in-2011

Posted on Under the Covers

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis - 4 stars

This is Logan and Sandy’s story. In book two of the Lucky Harbor series, Tara’s ex-husband, Logan fights for his chance to get his wife back. Tara is in trouble because the man is a charming one - which makes him dangerous because although I was rooting for Ford and Tara to get together, it was hard to push Logan out of the way because he is so nice!

Finally, Logan has his own time to shine with this novella. He finds the girl...more

like 3 likes · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, format-anthology, romances-contemporary, 2011-reads, fiction, holidays-christmas, romance

3.5 stars really but bumping it to four stars because of my love for the second story in this anthology, I’ll be home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay. So much love for this heartwarming tale of love and hope in this Christmas season.

ETA: Because I've finally read the three books in the Lucky Harbor series, and I wanted to reread Jill Shalvis' Kissing Santa Claus to see if I see it differently now that I know who Logan and Sandy are. And yup, yup! I like it soo much better now, lol. Especially knowi...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I loved the novella by Jill Shalvis, which adds to the Lucky Harbor stories; I wasn't as taken by the other two, although they were sweet.

like 1 like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis, Hope Ramsay and Katie Lane
Three short stories about Christmas love in small towns.

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis
We find ourselves back in Lucky Harbor where Sandy works at the town hall.
She's not feeling very festive as her boyfriend has walked away from her.
She was just getting into the Santa suit when it got stuck and in he walked,
Logan, Kara's ex husband. He drove NASCAR circuit and was on holiday breaks.
He keeps showing up: at her house, where she w...more

like · see review

Mar 20, 2013 Tiny Mendoza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To be fair, I'll rate each story individually. I liked them all, but not mutually.

Kissing Santa Claus
Who can resist hot and sexy Logan Perrish? Certainly not me, and obviously Sandy Jansen can't too. Logan is sooo sweet! I know this is an anthology so I don't have the right to complain that it's short because it contains three stories, but really, I wish it was longer or was turned into a separate novel. I wish we can witness their full-length story from start to finish. Bitin!
★★★★★

I'll Be Hom...more

like · see review

Mar 23, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, holiday, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Do you “need a little Christmas”? Maybe you need it “right this very minute”? This holiday anthology will have you singing carols in no time! Whether you enjoy each story separately, or one right after another, you're sure to feel the season each time you pick up this book

Kissing Santa Claus – Jill Shalvis
Set in Lucky Harbor, a familiar town to Shalvis readers, we get a glimpse of Sandy, the town clerk, holiday. The fact she's stuck i...more

like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Kathrin Stacked'n'Painted rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You might want to make sure the "oh shit" bar is still functioning when Sandy's driving. That's what I kept thinking when I read this story, just because this sentence almost landed me on the floor. But there's more. As always with Jill Shalvis, in her short story Kissing Santa Claus you get a hell of a lot of laughs and even more feeling along with a wonderful heroine and a great hero. If you read the Lucky Harbor series (Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing - reviews to come), you will k...more You might want to make sure the "oh shit" bar is still functioning when Sandy's driving. That's what I kept thinking when I read this story, just because this sentence almost landed me on the floor. But there's more. As always with Jill Shalvis, in her short story Kissing Santa Claus you get a hell of a lot of laughs and even more feeling along with a wonderful heroine and a great hero. If you read the Lucky Harbor series (Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing - reviews to come), you will know both Sandy and Logan. She's the one helping Jax' in the mayor's office & Logan is Tara's ex-husband.
There's something about Jill Shalvis' writing that had me hooked from the very first novel I read. She knows what she's writing about, there's no doubt about that, and she has a knack for hilarious, funny, sweet moments. This is exactly how she chose to end Kissing Santa Claus. My only complaint would be that it was too short a story, but then, that's the thing about short stories, isn't it? Also, I guess my feelings where the length are concerned have a lot to do with the fact that I can never get enough of Lucky Harbor and its residents. (Good news here - the series will have 3 more installments after Phoebe Traeger's daughters are all set with a looker of a husband!)

With I'll Be Home For Christmas, I do not want to tell too much about this story, but for some reason, here my thoughts and the plot collide so much that it is difficult. Our hero Matt just got out of the military & has one last job to finish before he will start his new life out of the uniform. When his best friend Nick died overseas, he promised to bring Nick's grandmother the last Christmas present he had bought. He strongly believes it is the right thing to give it to her in person, instead of having it shipped to her with all of Nick's other belongings & when he arrives in Last Chance (yes, really!), he finds himself at a church where the choir is practicing for mass. There he meets our heroine, Annie, who happens to know where Nick's grandmother can be found, but it is too late, so Matt has to wait until the next day.
Slowly, these two people who have never met before get to know each other and help each other in so many ways. I absolutely loved this story for the seemingly slow development of a relationship between Annie and Matt. With those characters, I ached to see them happy, especially because they are all alone in the world. You just want them to find happiness and a wonderful place to be.

Bramble, TX, is the setting for O Little Town Of Bramble. Ethan has lived in Bramble all his life and is definitely surprised when he runs into Samantha Henderson. She used to live in Bramble as we, but unlike Ethan, she left after high school to become a vet - something he has always dreamt of, but could never go for due to his family situation. This confuses Ethan as well as it makes him sad. Looking at Sammy, he sees his dream and he knows it did not come true for him. However, he soon realizes there is something else. He begins to see her as the woman she now is, instead of the child he used to know. What a cliché in romance, right? But Katie Lane pulls it off quite well, and she even manages to give the characters some scenes where they just have to laugh about themselves.
Truly remarkable in my eyes were the animal characters - and there were quite a few, considering that the people of Bramble were staging their own real nativity scene. Usually, the animals seem to be mere bystanders, in the plot because it's nice to have them, but here they played a bigger role not only with the nativity scene, but also in Ethan and Samantha's lives. I loved that so much as they all seemed to get to do something - including wreak havoc!

I did not know these authors with the exception of Jill Shalvis, who is an auto-buy author for me. Her name on the cover guarantees a lot of good laughs and with this anthology, I will add Hope Ramsay and Katie Lane to my list of authors to check out.

The sad thing is: I can't get a hardcopy of this holiday anthology because it is nowhere to be found on the German Amazon website or The Book Depository. Even on Amazon.com I could only find it through Google. I wonder what's up with that!
(less)

like · see review

Dec 22, 2011 Cocktails and Books rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley

I'm not generally one for anthology stories. They're too short for me (I need substance!!), but I got this one because I had to know what happened with Logan after Tara and Ford got back together in Jill Shalvis' Kissing Santa Claus.

For the Jill Shalvis story, this was Jill Shalvis crammed into a tiny box. I love Jill Shalvis, but I need Jill to have lots of space and pages to let the story flow.

Logan and Sandy had some "stuff" to work out before they could get their HEA, but I guess with a Chri...more

like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Maggie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance-novels

Oh, anthologies. You kill me. I never wish to buy you, but you always have one story, not very long, featuring a character that I just HAVE to know what happens to. I read it, it's totally worth it for that story, but I find myself resentful at having to pay the full eight dollars for all the stories. Why can't I pay $3-4 for the one short story I want? Ugh. I'm spoiled.

Anyway.

Of course I bought this for Jill Shalvis (who I have a proudly-declared girlcrush on). We catch up with Logan Parrish,...more

like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Kari rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, kindle

Gave it 3 stars because of the first story. The other 2 were probably about a 2.

Small Town Christmas is a short, sweet anthology with stories to get you in the mood for Christmas. Of the 3 stories, I liked Kissing Santa Claus the best. It was the only one where I felt the couple really felt anything for each other. There was enough back story between the 2 to feel their HEA. The other 2 stories were so-so.

I'll Be Home for Christmas, was just a little unbelievable. Stranger shows up in the town...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 31, 2011 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

I requested this book because I’m a huge fan of Jill Shalvis. I have also read great things about Hope Ramsay’s Last Chance series so I was curious to read her novella as well. But I wasn’t familiar with Katie Lane’s work. I’m also a sucker for small town stories, so this anthology was right up my alley.

The first story is Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis. Five months ago Sandy Jensen had an affair with NASCAR driver Logan Perrish. When he left, sh...more

like · see review

Dec 18, 2011 Kat rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, review, romance, read-2011

Originally posted on Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2011/12...

“Kissing Santa Claus” by Jill Shalvis
I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.

“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months aw...more Originally posted on Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2011/12...

“Kissing Santa Claus” by Jill Shalvis
I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.

“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months away from her that he realizes he can’t live without her, so he returns to Lucky Harbor, intent on proving his love to Sandy. Who can resist a sexy man willing to pull out all the stops for the woman he loves? Not me. I do wish that “Kissing Santa Claus” were a bit longer, especially since I’d have liked to read about Sandy and Logan’s initial fling. Nevertheless, “Kissing Santa Claus” is an entertaining story with a dash of Christmas cheer and a healthy dose of sensuality that will likely please Lucky Harbor fans.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Hope Ramsay
A handsome military man rescuing a stray cat? That’s pretty much all you need to capture my interest. Hope Ramsay’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” starts of sweet and has some incredibly touching moments throughout the tale, but it falls short as a romance. There’s chemistry between Matt and Annie, but Ms. Ramsay never capitalizes on it. In fact, just when I thought that something might happen between them, the story ends, leaving me an unsatisfied reader. This is the first story I’ve read by Ms. Ramsay and I liked her writing style enough that I’d read a different book by her even though “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” didn’t do much for me.

“O Little Town of Bramble” by Katie Lane
Friends become almost-lovers just in time for Christmas in “O Little Town of Bramble.” There was something just a bit “off” about Katie Lane’s story. It’s a contemporary romance, but the people and the town of Bramble feel like they fell out a sixties television show – in other words, the dialogue and incidents came across as staged. This made it hard to connect to the characters, even Ethan and Sam who were just a little too perfect to feel real. Ethan’s a small town farmer who never got to live out his dreams and Sam’s the little sister he never had who comes back to town all grown up and transformed into the woman he desires above all else. I liked both Ethan and Sam – in fact, I liked everyone in Bramble – but I wasn’t able to connect with them. There are some truly cute moments in “O Little Town of Bramble” but on the whole the story just wasn’t for me.

Small Town Christmas has a touch of spice and a whole lot of sweet, making it a charming anthology overall. Not all the stories were to my taste, but Jill Shalvis’s “Kissing Santa Claus” was a delight and readers who are looking for more Christmas than romance in their reading might enjoy “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “O Little Town of Bramble” more than I did.(less)

like · see review

Dec 13, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a real quick read. Good for taking with you to appointments when you have some time to read. With three shorter stories you can get through each one pretty quick. Very Christmas spirited but not overly so you could choke. lol If you read Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series her story Kissing Santa Claus takes place in Lucky Harbor when Logan Perrish gets wise and comes back to get Sandy the town clerk he whirlwind loved and left behind months ago. He's going to have to work hard to get her...more This is a real quick read. Good for taking with you to appointments when you have some time to read. With three shorter stories you can get through each one pretty quick. Very Christmas spirited but not overly so you could choke. lol If you read Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series her story Kissing Santa Claus takes place in Lucky Harbor when Logan Perrish gets wise and comes back to get Sandy the town clerk he whirlwind loved and left behind months ago. He's going to have to work hard to get her to believe in him. Being Santa Claus might help. Funny and fun and sweet. A+ for this one. The second story is I'll be home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay she writes a series called Last Chance and this is part of that i believe. Matt Jasper shows up in town freshly out of the Army after years of service with a gift for a old Army buddies grandmother. He tells himself he's friend wanted his grandmother to have the present and he is just making sure that happens ( friend is deceased) In reality his friend Nick had told Matt all about his hometown and growing up there and his ex-girlfriend he never got over. He finds himself staying at her house and hanging out with her decorating and doing Christmas stuff. He has feeling for Annie his friends ex girlfriend but he has doubts as to his welcome in this town too. This was a touching slightly sad story with a happy ending. Very nice. I give is a B. The last one is called O Little Town of Bramble by Katie Lane. This was was fun too. Some of the characters seemed familiar to me although i know i have not read this author before. Then i remembered i have her last two releases on my TBR pile that i won from another blog. I had read the back pack blurbs and knew i wanted to read them. I will be doing that soon too. Ethan is 30 and has put off his life pretty much for 2 reasons. His parents farm. He felt he needed to stay and help out especially after his dad fell and got hurt. He was a little afraid. Yup he was a bit nervous to go off to college so he put it off and never did get to go. Now his parents announce that since he didn't use the college fund money he didn't even know he had, that they are going to move to the beach and let him have the farm. Top that off with the girl next door he grew up with a loved like a sibling is back for Christmas and newly graduated veterinarian which was his dream. Lots of stuff for one body to deal with until he figures out that maybe what he felt for the girl next door wasn't sibling love but something else. Cute and funny Christmas story. Make you want to know more about the other characters as well. I give it a A. As a whole i give A Small Town Christmas 4 out of 5 stars. A nice Christmas read anyone can enjoy.

Find out more about the authors from the links below.

www.hoperamsay.com

www.jillshalvis.com

www.katielanebooks.com
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthology, novella, romance, review, read-in-2011

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/28/...

Publisher: Grand Central
Publish Date: November 1st
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’m a big fan of the Lucky Harbor Series by Jill Shalvis, so when I saw this anthology with a Christmas story I was sold! Let me start by just saying that although this ebook has 140 pages, it was more like 90 pages devoted to the actual stories of the anthology. The remainder of the ebook is dedicated to sneak peaks at other works by these author...more

like · see review

Nov 26, 2011 Bekah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, netgalley-reviewed

Kissing Santa Clause 3.5*
Jill Shalvis

In this very short story about Sandy Jenson and Logan Perrish, Jill Shalvis takes us back to Lucky Harbor and all of the characters we’ve all come to fall in love with. Logan is a world famous NASCAR star and Sandy is the small town clerk who has gone and fallen in love with him after a very short, very hot fling. After which he up and left and didn’t contact her for six months. But he comes waltzing back into her life at just the right moment. She’s lonely,...more Kissing Santa Clause 3.5*
Jill Shalvis

In this very short story about Sandy Jenson and Logan Perrish, Jill Shalvis takes us back to Lucky Harbor and all of the characters we’ve all come to fall in love with. Logan is a world famous NASCAR star and Sandy is the small town clerk who has gone and fallen in love with him after a very short, very hot fling. After which he up and left and didn’t contact her for six months. But he comes waltzing back into her life at just the right moment. She’s lonely, a little sad and in a bind. Sandy doesn’t make it easy for him to come back and sweep her off her feet, though that is just what he does. This story had just the right amount of yummy spicy sweetness to keep you warm this winter! I always knew Logan had potential after we were introduced to him in The Sweetest Thing, and he definitely did not disappoint. It would have been nice to sit a little longer and read more of their story but hopefully we’ll get to see more of them in upcoming Lucky Harbor books, which we got a yummy peek of Head Over Heels at the end of this book! Definitely check it out!

I’ll Be Home for Christmas 2.5*
Hope Ramsey

In this short story Staff Sergeant Matt Jasper has come to deliver a present to his best friend’s grandmother when he is lured into a church by the sounds of a mewling cat and the angelic singing voice of Annie Roberts. Matt has never known what it is like to have the picturesque childhood his friend had described for him and when he leaves the Army he just can’t resist going to find a taste of hometown life. What he didn’t bargain on was wanting a little taste of Annie too, his friend’s childhood sweetheart. He quickly falls for the sweet Annie and Annie, having recently lost her mother and feeling a bit of hope for her future gives Matt just what he needs; a home, a place to belong and make memories. This is definitely a super sweet romance in a sweet little town called Last Chance. Matt and Annie definitely find their chance together.

O Little Town of Bramble 3*
Katie Lane

Ethan Miller is a good ole Midwestern farm boy who has a special way with animals and Samantha Henderson is the younger sister he never had. That is until she comes back from the big city with her doctorate in veterinarian medicine; Matt’s own lifelong dream. She’s a grown woman now, with a grown woman’s body and Matt can’t help but notice. Samantha has had a crush on Ethan for what seems like her entire life and he finally seems to be noticing her. They finally get a chance to have some alone time and clear the air on a few things, most importantly their feelings for one another and Matt, being the good boy he is, promises to do things big for his little Sam. This is another very sweet and romantic, yet lightly spicy as well, read. I enjoyed it.

Find my reviews at page 317.

(less)

like 4 likes · see review

Dec 19, 2011 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: net_galley, contemporary-romance

This collection of 3 very short stories, provided by netgalley, started out OK, but then gradually declined, I'm afraid.

The first story, Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis, is a mini story from Lucky Harbor. I've read the other three so-far published books in the Lucky Harbor series, and I thought the hero and heroine in this one were more fun and more deserving of a full-length or even half-length story than just a novella. Anyway, quite enjoyed it. Fun fluff, although the hero being BFF with...more

like · see review

Feb 09, 2013 Marcy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The three Christmas themed novellas in this book are each a part of the authors' series.

KISSING SANTA CLAUS by Jill Shalvis:
This cute story is part of her popular Lucky Harbor series. This is the story of NASCAR driver Logan Perrish (Tara's ex) and Lucky Harbor town clerk Sandy Jansen. When Logan left town 5 months ago after a brief but very hot affair, Sandy never heard from him again. Not even after she sent him an email baring her heart. Logan returns to Lucky Harbor for the holidays and also...more

like · see review

Jan 11, 2012 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christmas, romance, netgalley, anthologies, contemporary, read-2011, adult

Posted at Oh My Books!

I've been reading holidays anthologies this month, and I'm glad I read Small Town Christmas. It features three very short stories, very sweet and romantic.

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis is part of the Lucky Harbor series and it's about NASCAR driver Logan Perrish, who returns to Lucky Harbor with a ring in his pocket for Sandy, the woman he couldn't forget. He's used for women to throw themselves at his feet, but Sandy isn't exactly happy with him. Maybe because it has...more Posted at Oh My Books!

I've been reading holidays anthologies this month, and I'm glad I read Small Town Christmas. It features three very short stories, very sweet and romantic.

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis is part of the Lucky Harbor series and it's about NASCAR driver Logan Perrish, who returns to Lucky Harbor with a ring in his pocket for Sandy, the woman he couldn't forget. He's used for women to throw themselves at his feet, but Sandy isn't exactly happy with him. Maybe because it has been five months since they spend a week together. I'm not familiar with the Lucky Harbor series, but it does sound sweet. Sandy and Logan's story is very quick and I really wanted to slow down and learn more about them, but I guess I have to read the series for that. Still, I enjoyed it.

I'll Be Home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay is about Annie Roberts, who is alone for this Christmas until she met Army sergeant Matt Jasper. He's in Last Chance to deliver a gift, but he found a stray cat and he doesn't have a place to go. This story is extremely sweet, about two lonely people finding love when the least expected it. Definitely one of those stories that makes you cry. (I just discovered this story is part of the Last Chance series)

Little Town of Bramble by Katie Lane was probably my favorite, because it's the funniest and sweetest story of all. Samantha Henderson, a veterinarian, is back to her home town and the first thing she wants to do is see Ethan Miller. her childhood friend. Ethan Miller is very surprised to see her, all grown up. Still, he finds it difficult to talk to her, so he's about to give up until Samantha's sister decide to intervene. This story had me laughing out loud with the live nativity scene, and even when it's a little bit unrealistic sometimes, it was so sweet that I just felt happy for the characters.

Overall, if you want to read quick, sweet and happy holiday stories, this is your book. They were short, clean, full of romantic gestures and very enjoyable.(less)

like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own-kindle, read-in-2012

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis - 4 Stars

I absolutely love Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series so it's no surprise that this story was my main reason for wanting to read the Small Town Christmas anthology. We first met Logan in the second book in the series, The Sweetest Thing. He is Tara's ex-husband and came to Lucky Harbor hoping to win her back but was facing fierce competition from her first love Ford. Now I have to admit that while I was routing for Ford to win Tara's affections I did d...more Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis - 4 Stars

I absolutely love Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series so it's no surprise that this story was my main reason for wanting to read the Small Town Christmas anthology. We first met Logan in the second book in the series, The Sweetest Thing. He is Tara's ex-husband and came to Lucky Harbor hoping to win her back but was facing fierce competition from her first love Ford. Now I have to admit that while I was routing for Ford to win Tara's affections I did develop a little bit of a crush on Logan so it was nice to be able to see him get his own happy ending. My only disappointment with this story is that I wanted more and I'd have loved for it to be a full length novel!

Logan met Sandy five months ago and they ended up having a rather steamy affair but Logan broke her heart when he left her to return to his job as a NASCAR driver. His time away has made him realise how much she means to him but now that he is back and hoping for a second chance Sandy isn't quite so keen to let him back into her life. It's going to take all of Logan's sweet talking skills to earn him a place in Sandy's life. This was such a fun story and made a perfect Christmas read, anyone who is a fan of Jill Shalvis is sure to love this addition to the Lucky Harbor series.

I'll be Home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay - 3 Stars

After the death of her mother Annie is expecting to spend the holidays alone but when soldier Matt turns up on her doorstep with a stray cat it looks like things are about to change. Matt has come to Last Chance to make good on his promise to deliver his friend Nick's last Christmas present to his grandmother. Matt is also hoping that he might get to experience his first ever proper Christmas but he actually finds a whole lot more.

This is the first time I've read anything by Hope Ramsay but I'll be Home for Christmas has definitely made me interested in checking out more of the Last Chance series, I enjoyed meeting some of the quirky side characters like the town matchmaker and would like to get to know them better. I did find the romance between Annie and Matt developed a little too quickly for my taste but it is very hard to write a believable romance between two characters who have never met before in a short novella so I can forgive that. Overall I found it a sweet story and I liked the underlying message about what is really important in life.

O Little Town of Bramble by Katie Lane - 4 Stars

Sam has been away from her home town Bramble for years while she completed her studies to become a vet. Now she is taking time out to visit her family for the holidays before she finds a place to set up her own practise. She always had a crush on her neighbour Ethan but he always treated her more as a younger sister than a potential girlfriend. Ethan has missed his best friend while she has been away but now Sam is back and he realises that she's all woman! Can he get past his shyness and convince her to stay in Bramble and make a life with him?

Katie Lane was another new to me author but I enjoyed O Little Town of Bramble so much that I've already ordered the first three books in the series. I loved the humour in this story and just know that I've found myself another favourite series. The romance between Ethan and Sam is perfectly paced, they have been friends forever but now that they have developed deeper feelings they are so tongue tied around each other that it was hilarious to watch. They make a great couple though and I just hope we get to see more of them as the series continues. I have to mention how amusing the live nativity was and it really did put me in the mood for the Christmas holidays! I can't wait to go back and read the rest of this series.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Mer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-f, a-cr

I only read Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis and it’s an anthology. Can’t help though from being curious because I really wish to know what happened. Especially when it’s about Logan Perrish. Famous, hot NASCAR driver. He was Tara’s ex-husband and the two are good now. They’re friends now. Tara has found her happiness and this time, Logan wanted the same. Hence, here comes Sandy Jansen. He wanted her for himself, forever.

The story’s really short but it’s sweet. Very sweet indeed. I honestly...more

like · see review

Nov 18, 2011 Kelly22 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthologies-novellas-short-stories, contemporary-romance, jill-shalvis, hh-iconic-celeb-bigshot, small-town-setup, sports-romance, hero-athlete-jock, favorite-series

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis

3.50 Stars - Contemporary Romance Novella.

Anything written by Jill Shalvis is bound to be good. This tiny novella was another tangible proof of this theory. Loved it.

like 1 like · see review

Nov 01, 2011 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis
My Rating: A-
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

My Review:
Short and sweet and so romantic. A perfect little short Christmas romance about Sandy & Logan who hooked up for a torrid affair for one week 5 months ago. It was supposed to be temporary, but neither one has...more

like · see review

Nov 08, 2011 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/11/rev...

Romantic Christmas stories have to be my secret all time pleasure. Christmas is my favorite holiday with the songs, decorating, and general good natured cheer that seems to to even affect the grumpiest of scrooges. I love reading about those who have given up only to find that wishes do come true for those most deserving.

Here we have three best selling romantic contemporary authors who have complied three sweet second chance stories th...more

like · see review

Dec 13, 2011 Mariana Bezerra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, read2011, read-blog

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis

I haven't read any books from Jill Shalvis so this short story was a very welcome good start. I have all her books and will try to read them during this winter, because I think her stories are made for a cold day with a hot cocoa, snuggled on the couch. Some romances are definily made for lazy days and from this read I diecovered that Jill books are the perfect fit for a fun and romantic reads.

This story is set during the christmas and is very sweet. Lucky Harb...more Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis

I haven't read any books from Jill Shalvis so this short story was a very welcome good start. I have all her books and will try to read them during this winter, because I think her stories are made for a cold day with a hot cocoa, snuggled on the couch. Some romances are definily made for lazy days and from this read I diecovered that Jill books are the perfect fit for a fun and romantic reads.

This story is set during the christmas and is very sweet. Lucky Harbor sounds like a place where everyone knows each other life. Sandy Jansen is the town clerk and she had a fling for about a week five months earlier with NASCAR race Logan Perrish, but she never forgot him and the fellings he's brought to her heart.

I loved how Logan decided to follow his heart and try by any means to get Sandy in his life permanetely, and Sandy is such a nice girl to she get her fellings get the best of her and they struggle a little but Logan is determineded, so very nice to follow how they find a way to stay together.

I'll be home for Christmas by Hope Ramsay

Matt Jasper has left the army and now is trying to deliver a last guy from his best friend in the army to the grandmother, but things are not so easy and start to have a hard time finding her. And now is where the story really picks up. Matt tries to find the grandmother and deliver the present, and his last source is the town church, where he finds a stray cat, and a very beatiful woman.

Annie Roberts is fighting her fellings on this christmas. Her mother died few months before and she's trying to change her life and start new, after so many years taking care of her mother. So when this lost soldier enters the church, she decides to help him and the cat.

Another story set on a little town during Christmas eve, but this didn't get the same apeal as the first, I don't know if it the fact that they suddenly became in love with each other or the end. It leaft me hangin'. I was expecting at least some kiss from the characters, I didn't feal the love or even the passion. I couldn't really connect with this story.

O Little Town of Bramble by Katie Lane

Third and last story on this anthology is set on Bramble, Texas. Sweet and handsome farmer Ethan, has never been good with women, but Sam is his best friend and they've been apart for years since she's gonne to college.

Sam returns to town for a few christmas days and Ethan knows this is his last chance to charm Sam and make her stay for good.

This was a short and fun story and I quite enjoy, the city is all crazy about christmas and the nativity scene has made them a little crazy. Sam and Ethan is sweet and very romantic love, loved the wway the author made them be together to resolve their problems. I could really feal inside this crazy little town.(less)

like · see review

Oct 26, 2011 Bells rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kissing Santa Claus

After reading the last book in the Lucky Harbor series, I was hoping that we would get to read more about Logan and voila, the wonderful Jill Shalvis has given him his own short. It was great to see him come back and reconnect with Sandy who I was hoping he would end up with. Logan was touching and sincere as he tried his best to prove to Sandy how much he cared about her. He was absolutely adorable and it was great seeing the playful side of his character. Sandy was just as c...more

like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Susan (susayq) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013books, anthology, christmas-season, contemporary-romance, cowboy-western-romance, ebooks, small-town-lovin

Nothing like a little Christmas in the early spring ;)

I read this for the Jill Shalvis story and to be completely honest, her story disappointed me. It was the story of Logan and Sandy. There was a HUGE mistake in it - at one point Sandy says she can find anyone to play Santa cause Fors is out of town with his fiancée. Then, Logan is at the B&B talking to Tara. Guess what? Tara is Ford's fiancée.

The story by Hope Ramsay was good. But the Katie Lane story blew me away!! It was funny watching...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christmas-romance, jill-shalvis

Find the full review at http://foreverbklover.blogspot.com

Small town Christmas consists of three short stories by Jill Shalvis, author of the amazing Lucky Harbor series, Hope Ramsay and Katie Lane. ...

I simply love Jill Shalvis and I love the fact that I get to read the works of authors I would not have generally read. I was disappointed in two of the stories and found errors in some of the work.

I gave this 2.5 out of 5, if it wasn't for my love of Jill Shalvis's work I probably would have stop...more

like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Steffi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, contemporary-romance, more-than-one-author, net-galley, novella, racing

Original review: Bookworldtravels

Small town Christmas consists of three short stories by Jill Shalvis, author of the amazing Lucky Harbor series, Hope Ramsay and Katie Lane. I love reading anthologies because very often it gets me to try out new books and authors that I hadn’t considered before.

Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis:

In Kissing Santa Claus Jill Shalvis takes us back to Lucky Harbor and gives us the story of NASCAR driver Logan Parrish, Tara’s ex-husband from The Sweetest Thing. I’m...more

like 5 likes · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My sole purpose in requesting this book from Netgalley was to get the short about Logan and Sandy from Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. I didn't feel as attached to Logan and Sandy as I would have liked to, given that there was not very much information about them in the previous two novels in the series. However, the familiar writing of Shalvis was evident in the short forty some pages. I enjoy a holiday themed romance and I especially enjoy a holiday romance where the hero totally melts the...more

like 1 like · see review

title link	preview: Small Town Christmas
avg rating	preview: Small Town Christmas Goodreads rating: 3.65 (465 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12678967-small-town-christmas?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328317478l/12678967.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12678967-small-town-christmas?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis[/url]

Small Town Christmas (Lucky Harbor #2.5)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jill Shalvis

Books by Jill Shalvis

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Small Town Christmas