What do you think?
Rate this book
Apple Valley #3.5
The Most Wonderful Time
“Christmas Passed” by Fern Michaels
Three years after her husband’s death, Brandy Heyers still finds that celebrating the holidays without him is anything but jolly. Then handsome widower Ryan Rogers shows her that moving on is possible, and her frozen heart begins to melt…
“A Glory Junction Christmas” by Stacy Finz
When Hannah Baldwin hears her ex is getting remarried, she’s ready to give up on Christmas, not to mention love. But the best gifts come in unexpected packages, and old friend Josh Garner is just the man to convince her that the coming New Year is going to be the happiest yet…
“Moonshine and Mistletoe” by Sarah Title
A holiday fling is all Emma Fallader expects when she meets gorgeous fiddler Abe Tate at her friend’s wedding—but after just days together, it isn’t all she wants. Can the spirit of the season work its special magic for two people separated by more than miles?
“An Apple Valley Christmas” by Shirlee McCoy
Now that her beloved dad is gone, Emma Baily is facing the holidays alone—until her ex, Jack McAllister, shows up to help her close her father’s estate. After four years apart, only the magic of Christmas will show Emma that joy is a gift meant to be shared…
Three years after her husband’s death, Brandy Heyers still finds that celebrating the holidays without him is anything but jolly. Then handsome widower Ryan Rogers shows her that moving on is possible, and her frozen heart begins to melt…
“A Glory Junction Christmas” by Stacy Finz
When Hannah Baldwin hears her ex is getting remarried, she’s ready to give up on Christmas, not to mention love. But the best gifts come in unexpected packages, and old friend Josh Garner is just the man to convince her that the coming New Year is going to be the happiest yet…
“Moonshine and Mistletoe” by Sarah Title
A holiday fling is all Emma Fallader expects when she meets gorgeous fiddler Abe Tate at her friend’s wedding—but after just days together, it isn’t all she wants. Can the spirit of the season work its special magic for two people separated by more than miles?
“An Apple Valley Christmas” by Shirlee McCoy
Now that her beloved dad is gone, Emma Baily is facing the holidays alone—until her ex, Jack McAllister, shows up to help her close her father’s estate. After four years apart, only the magic of Christmas will show Emma that joy is a gift meant to be shared…
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2016
185 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
426 books6,525 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 5, 2017
This a great, quick read for the holiday season and all four are feel-good stories. The fourth story, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy, was my favorite. If you're a lover of sweet romances with realistic characters, this is a nice option! I don't usually read romances, but these stories were a nice break from the darker, more serious books I typically consume.
December 13, 2022
Four short Christmas stories about finding love under the Christmas tree. From a forlorn widow to an injured war hero to a Nashville fiddler to an old fling - all four were cute and hopeful. Obviously all four had ups and downs but ended on high notes - it's Christmas after all! Some stories are a little stronger than others - but they all were nice to listen to in audiobook form. Mostly clean - but there are steamy closed door scenes.
March 21, 2017
Four short stories by Fern Michaels, Stacy Finz, Sarah Title and Shirlee McCoy. All the stories have a Christmas theme. They are sweet and HEA.
January 31, 2020
A delightful little read. Just love these Holiday short stories.
A perfect way to discover new must-read authors:
Christmas Passed - Fern Michaels
A Glory Junction Christmas - Stacy Finz
Moonshine & Mistletoe - Sarah Title
An Apple Valley Christmas - Shirlee McCoy
Well written and sweet.
A perfect way to discover new must-read authors:
Christmas Passed - Fern Michaels
A Glory Junction Christmas - Stacy Finz
Moonshine & Mistletoe - Sarah Title
An Apple Valley Christmas - Shirlee McCoy
Well written and sweet.
December 2, 2018
A fun Christmas read! I loved the first and last stories the best!
November 29, 2016
I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because the one of the four stories I did not like and could not get into it...Moonshine and Mistletoe by Sarah Title.....The other three stories were amazing and I loved every minute of them! Christmas Passed by Fern Michaels, A Glory Junction Christmas by Stacy Finz and An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirley McCoy. They are Christmas romance stories about starting over and second chances. They drew me right into the stories and made me feel the Christmas spirit.
February 10, 2017
I received this as an e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. I only read the first 2 stories, Christmas Passed by Fern Michaels and a Glory Junction Christmas by Stacy Finz and really enjoyed them. Stacy Finz is one of my newer favorite authors and Fern Michaels I had never read although I have heard of her. The other 2 stories, I tried reading, but they just didn't appeal to me and when you have a huge TBR pile, why force yourself to read something you don't enjoy.
June 7, 2017
The Most Wonderful Time is an sweet Christmas romance anthology. They are in a way all the same but also all very different. In these four stories there is getting over loss, there are weddings, finding the long lost love, there are relatives, who nudge/push the happy couple together and the end is always the same - two lost souls find each other.
A sweet holiday read.
A sweet holiday read.
September 29, 2016
4 short stories with the Christmas theme and new beginnings. These well known authors , Fern Michaels, Stacy Finz, Sarah Title, and Shirlee McCoy have presented you a wide variety of Christmas celebrations. My favorite, An Apple Valley Christmas takes Emma from a previous book and gives her a love story that is very special. All are well written and quick reads.
December 27, 2016
A nice collection of holiday romance stories -- very typical, happy endings. 4 out of 10.
March 20, 2025
The Most Wonderful Time is like queuing up four different Hallmark holiday movies in a row — some will make your heart grow three sizes, some might make you side-eye the characters’ life choices, but by the end, you’ll feel cozy, happy, and maybe just a little bit over-sugared. Four authors — Fern Michaels, Stacy Finz, Sarah Title, and Shirlee McCoy — each deliver a holiday novella that goes down easy (some smoother than others).
First up, Fern Michaels’ Christmas Passed. This one had potential but felt like the emotional equivalent of decorating the tree with one bulb missing. Brandy Heyers has been emotionally MIA for three years after losing her husband, neglecting not just her home but herself. And while her last-minute holiday redemption arc ends with her diving into romance with Ryan Rogers — a fellow single parent and widow — it all felt a little too rushed and too neatly wrapped. I wanted to root for her, but she needed a little more time in the narrative oven.
Then comes A Glory Junction Christmas by Stacy Finz, and it is the star on top of this collection. Hannah Baldwin’s emotional turmoil watching her ex-husband prepare to remarry is raw and relatable — and when sparks start flying with his best friend (hello, complicated!), the story finds its groove. Add in Josh Garner’s wounded war hero energy, and you’ve got a romance that hits deep, with drama that felt real and earned. If you only read one story in this book? Make it this one.
Moonshine and Mistletoe by Sarah Title is sweet, light, and pure small-town charm. Think meet-cutes, quirky locals, and more mistletoe than is probably legal. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to — it’s holiday fluff with a bow on top.
Finally, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy brings gentle, wholesome romance that’s perfect for reading in fuzzy socks while something cinnamon-scented bakes in the oven. It’s predictable, sure, but charming in that you-know-how-this-ends-and-you-don’t-mind way.
All together? This collection delivers exactly what it promises: warmth, heart, and just enough drama to keep you turning pages with a smile. Four stars, best enjoyed with hot cocoa, holiday pajamas, and permission to embrace every cliché.
First up, Fern Michaels’ Christmas Passed. This one had potential but felt like the emotional equivalent of decorating the tree with one bulb missing. Brandy Heyers has been emotionally MIA for three years after losing her husband, neglecting not just her home but herself. And while her last-minute holiday redemption arc ends with her diving into romance with Ryan Rogers — a fellow single parent and widow — it all felt a little too rushed and too neatly wrapped. I wanted to root for her, but she needed a little more time in the narrative oven.
Then comes A Glory Junction Christmas by Stacy Finz, and it is the star on top of this collection. Hannah Baldwin’s emotional turmoil watching her ex-husband prepare to remarry is raw and relatable — and when sparks start flying with his best friend (hello, complicated!), the story finds its groove. Add in Josh Garner’s wounded war hero energy, and you’ve got a romance that hits deep, with drama that felt real and earned. If you only read one story in this book? Make it this one.
Moonshine and Mistletoe by Sarah Title is sweet, light, and pure small-town charm. Think meet-cutes, quirky locals, and more mistletoe than is probably legal. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to — it’s holiday fluff with a bow on top.
Finally, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy brings gentle, wholesome romance that’s perfect for reading in fuzzy socks while something cinnamon-scented bakes in the oven. It’s predictable, sure, but charming in that you-know-how-this-ends-and-you-don’t-mind way.
All together? This collection delivers exactly what it promises: warmth, heart, and just enough drama to keep you turning pages with a smile. Four stars, best enjoyed with hot cocoa, holiday pajamas, and permission to embrace every cliché.
November 16, 2020
This is a sweet, Christmas romance anthology. Each of the four stories has a different plot, from a woman overcoming her grief at losing her husband three years earlier, a second chance romance, a sweet meeting up at a wedding and another second chance romance while dealing with the loss of a father, who was mean and nasty to his family. These were all feel-good romances, all set at Christmas. With various degrees of Christmas customs and celebrations, they all had some festive feeling. I enjoyed them all, but I think I liked “Christmas Passed” by Fern Michaels the best. I read this one over a few days as I read each story in between some of the thrillers and dramas I have been reading. With Novella November, these anthologies fit right in with my reading. My biggest complaint is that is hard to have a developed plot or characters with a short story. I would have liked a bit more. If you enjoy short, sweet stories with a holiday twist, then pick this one up.
December 3, 2019
I'm giving this 3 stars because of the last story, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy. In an enlightened era, heck in era of #metoo, this story is absolutely medieval.
Long story short, Emma's hideous father (to which I personally can relate) dies, leaving her a ginormous house stuffed with antiques.
Emma is one of many children, and every sibling bailed when it came time to care for dear ole dad. Except Emma, which is why he left her everything.
Old flame Jack shows up at the funeral, says her amazing brother (remember, not one sibling helped) has sent him. Jack then MOVES IN and keeps telling himself that he isn't going anywhere until every single antique and the house itself is sold.
Umm excuse me? What the heck?? Caveman much? And of course Emma just melts.
Barf. Just. No. Nope. No thank you. This story should never have been published. Period.
Long story short, Emma's hideous father (to which I personally can relate) dies, leaving her a ginormous house stuffed with antiques.
Emma is one of many children, and every sibling bailed when it came time to care for dear ole dad. Except Emma, which is why he left her everything.
Old flame Jack shows up at the funeral, says her amazing brother (remember, not one sibling helped) has sent him. Jack then MOVES IN and keeps telling himself that he isn't going anywhere until every single antique and the house itself is sold.
Umm excuse me? What the heck?? Caveman much? And of course Emma just melts.
Barf. Just. No. Nope. No thank you. This story should never have been published. Period.
October 19, 2016
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME collection of stories was a real pleasure to read. There's a perfect combination of sweet and sexy and each story had me smiling and in the festive spirit while I read them. It's a great introduction to authors you might not have heard of before, and who I am sure you will want to add to your list of authors that you want to read more from.
CHRISTMAS PAST by Fern Michaels is a feel good story with such sweetness it will either make you want to grab the sick bucket, or like me, make you smile and put you into the festive spirit.
Brandy lost her husband 3 years ago, and is a mess. She barely functions, and then it's only because she has two teenage children to look after. She hates Christmas because it was around then that her Christmas loving husband died. To even think of enjoying the festive season after his death is an anathema to her. Her children are rebelling, her house is a mess, and her funds are running out. Her best friend comes to the rescue though and tells her of a part time job that she would love. Necessity makes her take it and from there many changes start to occur for her.
Ryan lost his wife 6 years ago. He has an eight year old daughter and she has more than helped him through his grief process. He's been going to a grief counselling group in the local library for years and it's there that he meets Brandy. Shockingly, for the first time since her husband died, Brandy feels attracted to a man. Can Ryan help her move past her grief, and perhaps be the new man in her life.
A GLORY JUNCTION CHRISTMAS by Stacy Finz
Where the previous book in this anthology was sweet, sweet, sweet, this book was hot hot hot.
Hannah Baldwin's ex is getting re-married, and although she is well and truly over it, it still sucks that all the preparations for the event are in her face 24/7. She hasn't got a boyfriend, hasn't really been interested in one either. Her marriage was hard work and she's been enjoying some time just for herself.
Josh is Hannah's ex's best friend. The whole time they were dating, Josh made it known that he didn't like her. Most likely he was jealous because he didn't have his best mate to himself all the time. It annoyed Hannah a lot especially as there was a time before she even met her ex, that she quite fancied Josh. Anyway not long after the couple married, Josh joined the army. He was severely injured and has had to come home.
When the two of them meet there are definite sparks of attraction there and it isn't too long before they act on them. Sadly Josh is still coming to terms with his 'disability' and Hannah can't cope with an angry boyfriend, she had a hard enough time with her angry husband. They decide maybe it's best if they just stay friends. Is that going to be possible? Can they sort through their emotional baggage and be more?
MOONSHINE AND MISTLETOE by Sarah Title
What a great story this one it. My very first book with a gay wedding. Also a book with an ending that I absolutely wasn't expecting.
It's setting is in a little ol' town that most people need to escape in order to make something of themselves. Abe, a musician has moved away in order to become famous in Nashville, but so far it just isn't happening. Emma is a certified Librarian, she loves all things books and she lives in big smoke. She has spent more time studying to be a Librarian including now writing a dissertation, than she has being an actual grass roots librarian.
Abe's cousin Daniel, and his boyfriend, Emma's friend, Kevin are getting married. The event is what introduces the couple. Sparks fly between them, but they both need to focus on their careers, which means they both need to fight their attraction. Can they keep away from each other? We know for a fact neither of them want to change their futures.
AN APPLE VALLEY CHRISTMAS by Shirlee McCoy
An enjoyable short story that makes you smile when our hard done by heroine finally gets some light in her life. It's a lovely feel good story with a little bit of Christmas magic thrown in and it's the perfect book to end this collection.
Emma has been living with and looking after her father for the last 4 years when he was suffering from dementia. He was never an easy man to even like, and during his illness he was even worse. A stroke finally took his life, and the story begins at the cemetery just after the burial. Emma is one of 10 children, and not one of the others attended their father's funeral. None of them liked him, and weren't going to be hypocrites by making any effort to attend. Adam, one of her siblings would have attended if he could have, but he is in the army and abroad. He hated the idea of Emma being on her own, so arranged for his best friend to go to the funeral and then to stay with Emma at the house to help her settle things. She wants to sell all the antiques in the house, then the house itself.
Jack MaCallister is in the business of antiques. He is the best one to help Emma sell everything, and to help her sort out selling the house. He is also Adam's best friend, and Emma's ex boyfriend from many years ago. They had mutually agreed to split up, but both secretly wished in hindsight that they hadn't. You can imagine Emma's shock when Jack turns up at the cemetery, late, but at least he was there. There first meeting wasn't a comfortable one and that was before Emma even realised what Adam had asked Jack to do for her!
Will she accept Jack's help, will old feelings come to the fore, and can they both fight them, should they even try?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
CHRISTMAS PAST by Fern Michaels is a feel good story with such sweetness it will either make you want to grab the sick bucket, or like me, make you smile and put you into the festive spirit.
Brandy lost her husband 3 years ago, and is a mess. She barely functions, and then it's only because she has two teenage children to look after. She hates Christmas because it was around then that her Christmas loving husband died. To even think of enjoying the festive season after his death is an anathema to her. Her children are rebelling, her house is a mess, and her funds are running out. Her best friend comes to the rescue though and tells her of a part time job that she would love. Necessity makes her take it and from there many changes start to occur for her.
Ryan lost his wife 6 years ago. He has an eight year old daughter and she has more than helped him through his grief process. He's been going to a grief counselling group in the local library for years and it's there that he meets Brandy. Shockingly, for the first time since her husband died, Brandy feels attracted to a man. Can Ryan help her move past her grief, and perhaps be the new man in her life.
A GLORY JUNCTION CHRISTMAS by Stacy Finz
Where the previous book in this anthology was sweet, sweet, sweet, this book was hot hot hot.
Hannah Baldwin's ex is getting re-married, and although she is well and truly over it, it still sucks that all the preparations for the event are in her face 24/7. She hasn't got a boyfriend, hasn't really been interested in one either. Her marriage was hard work and she's been enjoying some time just for herself.
Josh is Hannah's ex's best friend. The whole time they were dating, Josh made it known that he didn't like her. Most likely he was jealous because he didn't have his best mate to himself all the time. It annoyed Hannah a lot especially as there was a time before she even met her ex, that she quite fancied Josh. Anyway not long after the couple married, Josh joined the army. He was severely injured and has had to come home.
When the two of them meet there are definite sparks of attraction there and it isn't too long before they act on them. Sadly Josh is still coming to terms with his 'disability' and Hannah can't cope with an angry boyfriend, she had a hard enough time with her angry husband. They decide maybe it's best if they just stay friends. Is that going to be possible? Can they sort through their emotional baggage and be more?
MOONSHINE AND MISTLETOE by Sarah Title
What a great story this one it. My very first book with a gay wedding. Also a book with an ending that I absolutely wasn't expecting.
It's setting is in a little ol' town that most people need to escape in order to make something of themselves. Abe, a musician has moved away in order to become famous in Nashville, but so far it just isn't happening. Emma is a certified Librarian, she loves all things books and she lives in big smoke. She has spent more time studying to be a Librarian including now writing a dissertation, than she has being an actual grass roots librarian.
Abe's cousin Daniel, and his boyfriend, Emma's friend, Kevin are getting married. The event is what introduces the couple. Sparks fly between them, but they both need to focus on their careers, which means they both need to fight their attraction. Can they keep away from each other? We know for a fact neither of them want to change their futures.
AN APPLE VALLEY CHRISTMAS by Shirlee McCoy
An enjoyable short story that makes you smile when our hard done by heroine finally gets some light in her life. It's a lovely feel good story with a little bit of Christmas magic thrown in and it's the perfect book to end this collection.
Emma has been living with and looking after her father for the last 4 years when he was suffering from dementia. He was never an easy man to even like, and during his illness he was even worse. A stroke finally took his life, and the story begins at the cemetery just after the burial. Emma is one of 10 children, and not one of the others attended their father's funeral. None of them liked him, and weren't going to be hypocrites by making any effort to attend. Adam, one of her siblings would have attended if he could have, but he is in the army and abroad. He hated the idea of Emma being on her own, so arranged for his best friend to go to the funeral and then to stay with Emma at the house to help her settle things. She wants to sell all the antiques in the house, then the house itself.
Jack MaCallister is in the business of antiques. He is the best one to help Emma sell everything, and to help her sort out selling the house. He is also Adam's best friend, and Emma's ex boyfriend from many years ago. They had mutually agreed to split up, but both secretly wished in hindsight that they hadn't. You can imagine Emma's shock when Jack turns up at the cemetery, late, but at least he was there. There first meeting wasn't a comfortable one and that was before Emma even realised what Adam had asked Jack to do for her!
Will she accept Jack's help, will old feelings come to the fore, and can they both fight them, should they even try?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
January 18, 2018
I liked these stories for the most part. The exception was the very first story. I could not believe a mother would not notice her kids for 3 years. The story also did not remedy Brandy in my eyes. I did not feel the least sympathy for her and felt like someone should have come and taking her kids away from her. She also did not deserve the hero. Maybe if the time had not been as long, I would have had more sympathy, but I felt was sorry for the kids and disgust at the mother. That story almost caused me to quit reading the book, however the other stories were good. They were cute and quick and really changed what would have been a horrible review.
February 4, 2017
I loved these short stories that took place at Christmas. My favorite was the one by Stacy Finz and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. I loved the snowy, California town her story was set in and the characters. Like most collections of shorts, I was sometimes left wishing for a full novel.
Won this book in a giveaway by Stacy Finz (not obligated to review).
Won this book in a giveaway by Stacy Finz (not obligated to review).
November 29, 2019
First three novellas were DNF. I was enjoying “An Apple Valley Christmas” when I felt like the author ran out of pages and had to wrap things up abruptly. This novella is part of a series and as I haven’t read the other books maybe that’s why I didn’t feel like I got a handle on the characters before it ended.
December 21, 2021
The Stacy Linz novella from Glory Junction (a spinoff of the Nugget series, which I loved) is the real star here. If it were a standalone, I'd give it five stars. The Fern Michaels one is over-the-top dramatic and really hard to like anyone. I had to DNF the third one. The fourth and final short story is fine.
March 12, 2018
I picked this up to read Stacy Finz's novella about Josh Garner and Shirlee McCoy's Apple Valley story.
Both were sweet stories set at Christmas, and I liked seeing familiar characters popping up throughout. Though the plots were well paced and fit the novella set up, I do wish that they were full length novels because I enjoyed them so much!
Both were sweet stories set at Christmas, and I liked seeing familiar characters popping up throughout. Though the plots were well paced and fit the novella set up, I do wish that they were full length novels because I enjoyed them so much!
July 19, 2018
Sweet stories...boy meets girl and all is well in the end. Some “steamy” moments but well done.
I enjoyed reading this book but all becomes similar after a few reads of Fern Michaels. No real twists or turns that don’t have a good outcome.
I enjoyed reading this book but all becomes similar after a few reads of Fern Michaels. No real twists or turns that don’t have a good outcome.
May 7, 2021
Um, so this was my first ever smut book, which I didnt even Know contained any before reading like the second story. Was it traumatizing? Yeah. Did I read a Christmas book in the middle of summer? Also yea. Did I find it abandoned in the cabin? Sure
December 25, 2025
This book is a wonderful Christmas gift to readers anywhere. Three separate stories fill you with the feelings the holidays bring . With Fern Michael's death, I just want to read everything she has written.
May 16, 2017
Four short happy ending stories, enjoyed everyone of them.
October 21, 2017
Really enjoyed three of the stories.
December 9, 2017
Good simple Christmas stories for the holiday
December 13, 2017
Skipped the first two stories. Too Graphic for my taste but I enjoyed the last story a lot.
December 31, 2017
Quit reading after the first story. Due back to library.
January 10, 2018
Good Christmas story.
December 19, 2018
The two middle stories were my favorites. The last one was fine, but I basically hated the first.
March 23, 2019
Stacy Finz - Garner Brothers 0.5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews