Western Winter Wedding Bells

by Cheryl St. John, Jenna Kernan, Charlene Sands

Small town Christmas--Three big proposals

"Christmas in Red Willow" by Cheryl St. John
Chloe Hanley must save the town church. But only if she can convince reclusive carpenter Owen Reardon to help repair the broken heart of the community and open his own up again-- in time for Christmas

"The Sheriff's Housekeeper Bride" by Jenna Kernan
Running from her past and a crime she didn't commit, Eliza Flannery bumps into her future--all rugged six-foot sheriff of him Single father Trent Foerster mistakes her for his housekeeper, but there's no mistaking his desire for a mistletoe kiss from this mysterious miss....

"Wearing the Rancher's Ring" by Charlene Sands
Cooper Garnett is shot and left for dead near Double J Ranch when widow Rachel Bodine comes to his aid. Could his unexpected arrival be the best Christmas gift ever-- a second-chance family for Rachel and her little son?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Christmas, Westerns, Anthologies, Historical, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published September 17, 2010

About the author

Cheryl is the author of more than fifty historical and contemporary romances. Her stories have earned numerous RITA nominations, Romantic Times awards and are published in over a dozen languages.

In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real-life situations.”

With a 4.9 star rating on amazon, her bestselling non-fiction book, Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writers Digest Books is available in print and digital.

Reviews

[Patsyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st Story: DNF
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2nd story -DNF
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3rd story-5 stars
Best Romance short story ever!!
Best story - all my favorites. Tortured male, heroine who rescues him. More sex!! Loved the story, loved the hero and heroine!! After re- reading this story many times - it is a keeper forever!! I will always read it when wanting a story about love and how two people find each and the power of coincidence. There is no real mention of Christmas until well into the story and Christmas was kind of a back story - and there wasn't even too much Wyoming winter (rain, in December, in Wyoming, really?) but I still love the story.
Though this is a short story (making it longer would have ruined it IMHO).
BEST USE OF: Looking for a killer
ALPHA MALE 10
SPUNKY HEROINE 10
CUTE KID 10
HOT SEX 8
HEA(HAPPILY EVER AFTER)yes!!!
PROLOGUE/EPILOGUE: No prologue - and I needed an epilogue.
Rating System
10 - Book is a keeper if only for the third story
Heat Level
3 – Lovemaking scenes are hot!!
COVER COVERS IT: The cover does not reflect the story that I liked.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Red Willow by Cheryl St. John:
4 stars. This short story was engaging and heartwarming. Often short stories seem to be lacking something, but this was not the case with Cheryl's story. There was a reasonable conflict, development and resolution. Kudos also for it being a Winter story but not so Christmasy that I felt weird reading it in October.

The Sheriff's Housekeeper Bride by Jenna Kernan:
5 Stars. This was my favorite of the three stories. The character interactions and the cute little girl... they made this story sweet. The only thing I wasn't expecting was that the sheriff swore, but it kinda made sense.

Wearing the Rancher's Ring by Charlene Sands:
3.5 stars. The story was decent, but somehow part of it didn't strike me as totally plausible. Two people who have within the last year lost loved ones seemed too quick to fall in love for reasons of: attracted and lonely.

I got this book for free through the goodreads giveaway/ firstreads.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars. Yeah, I suck... I always round down :P

Now this is more like it! Took me less than two days to plough (ha, pun intended) through 280 pages of old skool western historical romance, rather than two months. The stories were fast paced, heart warming and hot hot hot (especially the final story written by Charlene Sands).

Hope my next read will be just as good :)

[Kim Schellin-Rog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute fun little book. Three short stories and they were each enjoyable.

If I had to pick my favorites then they would follow the order they appear in the book. Story one was my favorite saving an old church in time for Christmas services just spoke to me. Story two was my second favorite and the third story came in third.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three nice entertaining holiday historical romances. The third story was my favorite.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty basic. I liked the settings though. Read if you've got nothing else.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 3 out of 5]

CHRISTMAS in RED WILLOW (Cheryl St. John) In order to save her grandfather's old church from destruction, Chloe Hanley had 5 weeks to organize church members and find a master craftsman to oversee the interior and exterior work.

Although one brother was leading the charge to have the church torn down and replaced with a hotel, Chloe eventually approached another brother to help her. Knowing that Owen Reardon would have trouble within his family for taking an opposing side from his brother, Chloe told him that she would understand if he chose not to get involved.

I'd just finished a book by Cheryl St. John that was lively and very entertaining; this really was a let-down. However, it is probably unfair to compare a novel with the limitations of a short story.

THE SHERIFF'S HOUSEKEEPER BRIDE (Jenna Kernan) Trying to avoid a difficulty on the railroad (no money for a ticket), Eliza Flannery slipped into the persona of the person a man was waiting for at the station. Unfortunately, Eliza had no idea what the role was or that she'd just blundered into the town sheriff (and former Texas Ranger).

This story was cleverly done (especially all the ways Eliza avoided showing she had no idea how to cook). I enjoyed it.

WEARING the RANCHER'S RING (Charlene Sands) Life on farms and ranches must have been very lonely. This author does a good job of explaining how lonely people could become -- the toil was endless. A stranger (Cooper Garnett) is shot and near death when her ranch hands bring him to widow Rachel Bodine's house. Fortunately for Cooper, Rachel was the daughter of a physician and she was able to save his life.

There was something I didn't like about this story. Cooper lost exactly what marrying Rachel would bring back to him. It was just a bit too coincidental for my taste. You may feel differently.
3.5 stars for the book

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a reread for me (4/15). I got a copy (ebook) for free and just had to read it again! ;-)

I do enjoy Historical Westerns with a Christmas theme. I like reading them at any time of the year. This is a historical western anthology with three short stories. I enjoyed all three of them but I really liked the first one by Cheryl St. John.

Here is a write-up from Amazon:
Small town Christmas—Three big proposals!
Christmas in Red Willow by Cheryl St. John

Chloe Hanley must save the town church. But only if she can convince reclusive carpenter Owen Reardon to help repair the broken heart of the community and open his own up again— in time for Christmas!

The Sheriff's Housekeeper Bride by Jenna Kernan

Running from her past and a crime she didn't commit, Eliza Flannery bumps into her future—all rugged six-foot sheriff of him! Single father Trent Foerster mistakes her for his housekeeper, but there's no mistaking his desire for a mistletoe kiss from this mysterious miss….

Wearing the Rancher's Ring by Charlene Sands

Cooper Garnett is shot and left for dead near Double J Ranch when widow Rachel Bodine comes to his aid. Could his unexpected arrival be the best Christmas gift ever— a second-chance family for Rachel and her little son?

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three different wonderful stories of weddings that came to be and how they got there. Each one was great, the last story thought left me wanting to hear more about the couples lives.....

Here is the information from the back of the book:
SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS
THREE BIG PROPOSALS!

Christmas in Red Willow by Cheryl St.John

Chloe Hanley must save the town church. But only if she can convince reclusive carpenter Owen Reardon to help repair the broken heart of the community and open his own up again—in time for Christmas!

The Sheriff’s Housekeeper Bride by Jenna Kernan

Running from her past and a crime she didn’t commit, Eliza Flannery bumps into her future—all rugged six-foot
sheriff of him! Single father Trent Forester mistakes her for his housekeeper, but there’s no mistaking his desire for a mistletoe kiss from this mysterious miss.…

Wearing the Rancher’s Ring by Charlene Sands

Cooper Garnett is shot and left for dead near Double J Ranch when widow Rachel Bodine comes to his aid. Could his unexpected arrival be the best Christmas gift ever—a second-chance family for Rachel and her little son?

[Hina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas in Red Willow by Cheryl St.John ** (2 Stars)

Chloe Hanley must save the town church. But only if she can convince reclusive carpenter Owen Reardon to help repair the broken heart of the community and open his own up again—in time for Christmas!

The Sheriff’s Housekeeper Bride by Jenna Kernan *** (3 Stars)

Running from her past and a crime she didn’t commit, Eliza Flannery bumps into her future—all rugged six-foot sheriff of him! Single father Trent Forester mistakes her for his housekeeper, but there’s no mistaking his desire for a mistletoe kiss from this mysterious miss.…

Wearing the Rancher’s Ring by Charlene Sands *** (3 Stars)

Cooper Garnett is shot and left for dead near Double J Ranch when widow Rachel Bodine comes to his aid. Could his unexpected arrival be the best Christmas gift ever—a second-chance family for Rachel and her little son?

[Sheree · Rating 3 out of 5]

was given this book by the author in a giveaway. i wanted to go ahead and read it so i could post my thoughts about it on here soon....but really would have loved to read these Christmas stories around the holidays. nothin like some good wintery stories to read around Christmas-time when you live in florida, eh? :-)the book actually contains three stories with three different authors, cheryl st john (the author i received the book from), jenna kernan and charlene sands. if you are looking for some romantic, wintery, historical, Christmas-themed stories to read during your upcoming holiday...western winter wedding bells might be a good book to pick up and read. if you are not keen on a steamy romance scene, the third story has one in it, so maybe another book would suit you. but all in all, good stories.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology all takes place in the 1880s.
Christmas in Red Willow by Cheryl St. John was my favorite of the 3. Chloe needs to have repair work done on an old church by Christmas or it will be torn down. She solicits the help of reclusive carpenter Owen who used the church during his teen years as a refuge from his family. Sweet story.
The Sheriff’s Housekeeper Bride by Jenna Kernan involves a women running from an accusation of theft that is mistaken for an expected housekeeper. A little too much trust, no trust; confess, don’t confess for me.
Wearing the Rancher’s Ring by Charlene Sands tells the story of a man out to avenge the murder of his wife and son. He is shot and robbed on Rachel’s ranch. She nurses him and tries to get him to let the law handle the murderer. This was a typical series romance type of plot. Well written.

[April Holgate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads!

This was a really nice way to get into the holiday spirit! All three stories were very nicely written. I usually have to be in a cowboy mood to enjoy a western but these were great regardless of my mood. It was also really nice to have large print. It make the book wider but the reading is much easier!

I love a spunky heroine and these did not disappoint! I generally like my heroes more Alpha but these were nice too. Not overly spicy but Happy Ever Afters are handed out at the end of each!

[Heather Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from one of the authors through a giveaway on Goodreads.

I was not able to start it until after the Christmas holidays, but that did not take away from the simple enjoyment I received from all three stories. Each was unique in its own way, with a theme of the holidays, snow and comfort running throughout.

[Maxi Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 very enjoyable shorts. All delightfully different in their own way but similar in the fact of bring 2 unlikely people together. Over coming differences and past heartaches for a new and passionate start in life.

[Linda Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, light read. I enjoy picking up these books every so often. They are much lighter reads than what I usually read but a lot of fun. I will pick up another book of Cheryl's again.

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three novellas, wintry, Christmas, western historical, or nice light romance. If you like any of this, you might enjoy Western Winter Wedding Bells.

[Cissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sweet love stories in this anthology.

[Ericka Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sweet stories of love to gently warm the holidays.

[Jane(Janelba) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all three of these short books and found three new authors too !
Inspirational and warm & cozy stories. Very likeable characters.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT, IT WAS AMAZING. LOVE THESE KINDS OF BOOKS. I WON THIS BOOK ON GR GIVEAWAYS.