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A Country Christmas: A Husband for Holly/ Friends are Forever/ The Gift/ A Time for Giving/ O Christmas Tree
Five of the winter's most passionate stories, all set in the festive rural backdrop of America's heartland. Features stories by Emily Bradshaw, Raine Cantrell, Karen Harper, Patricia Rice, and Jodi Thomas.
Patricia Rice spins a touching tale of love lost and found in the bluegrass country of Kentucky.
Jodi Thomas tells of a Texas tomboy who gets more than she bargained for under the mistletoe.
Raine Cantrell presents a moving Civil War story, set in the hills of upstate New York.
Emily Bradshaw captures the spirit of the season--Western style--in her wonderful tale of a woman who melts the frostbitten heart of the man who rescues her from a Christmas blizzard.
Karen Harper paints a warm picture of old-fashioned love from America's heartland.
Patricia Rice spins a touching tale of love lost and found in the bluegrass country of Kentucky.
Jodi Thomas tells of a Texas tomboy who gets more than she bargained for under the mistletoe.
Raine Cantrell presents a moving Civil War story, set in the hills of upstate New York.
Emily Bradshaw captures the spirit of the season--Western style--in her wonderful tale of a woman who melts the frostbitten heart of the man who rescues her from a Christmas blizzard.
Karen Harper paints a warm picture of old-fashioned love from America's heartland.
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1993
106 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Rice
159 books515 followersWith several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice writes emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances which have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards.
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2025
Novella #1 - A Husband For Holly 4/5
Novella #2 - Friends Are Forever 1/5
DNFd …. Bored me
Novella #3 - The Gift 4/5
Novella #4 - A Time For Giving 2/5
Novella #5 - O Christmas Tree 5/5
Average 3.2 - rounded to 3
Novella #2 - Friends Are Forever 1/5
DNFd …. Bored me
Novella #3 - The Gift 4/5
Novella #4 - A Time For Giving 2/5
Novella #5 - O Christmas Tree 5/5
Average 3.2 - rounded to 3
June 13, 2019
This is my first anthology to rate 5 stars; each of the stories was worth reading. The writing was consistently great.
A HUSBAND FOR HOLLY (Jodi Thomas) – A very interesting story about a retired Union soldier brought to Holly (a Southern sympathizer) to marry (by of her two employees). Holly is enraged by their gall and tells the Union officer to leave – then things change!
FRIENDS ARE FOREVER (Patricia Rice) – Brian McGee, who left the Kentucky hills eight years ago to escape the lack of opportunities, comes back to see the family he was close to after his mother died. In his mind, Brian is convinced that ‘you can’t go home again’ but finds that isn’t necessarily so.
THE GIFT (Emily Bradshaw) – During a blinding snowstorm, Lucas Stone comes upon a woman who has just had a baby girl. He takes them to his somber home, where he and his son live alone. In a matter of days, the woman and her child change things; if you like a touch of paranormal with your Christmas tale, this is a winner. Because the question of the woman’s identity isn’t solved to everyone’s satisfaction, the story keeps its magical aspects.
A TIME FOR GIVING (Raine Cantrell) -- If you like O. Henry (the man who perfected the unexpected ending – think ‘GIFT OF THE MAGI’), you will love this story. This unique story takes place near the end of the Civil War. Jacob DeWitt got a few days’ leave for Christmas and is in upstate New York, visiting his two children and brother. They were taken in by Miss Essie Winifred and Jacob has asked her to marry him. The plot is too complicated for a quick synopsis – but it is my favorite of the 5 stories.
O CHRISTMAS TREE (Karen Harper) – Charlotte Miller and her friend work at Sears & Roebuck Co., in Chicago, IL. This is another complicated plot for a quick summary but Charlotte has been disowned by her family. Charlotte is interested in her boss, Mr. James. When Charlotte is called home because of her mother’s serious illness, something wonderful happens. This was my second-favorite story.
I’d never read anything by any of these writers except Jodi Thomas; I plan to look for more – the stories were delightful.
A HUSBAND FOR HOLLY (Jodi Thomas) – A very interesting story about a retired Union soldier brought to Holly (a Southern sympathizer) to marry (by of her two employees). Holly is enraged by their gall and tells the Union officer to leave – then things change!
FRIENDS ARE FOREVER (Patricia Rice) – Brian McGee, who left the Kentucky hills eight years ago to escape the lack of opportunities, comes back to see the family he was close to after his mother died. In his mind, Brian is convinced that ‘you can’t go home again’ but finds that isn’t necessarily so.
THE GIFT (Emily Bradshaw) – During a blinding snowstorm, Lucas Stone comes upon a woman who has just had a baby girl. He takes them to his somber home, where he and his son live alone. In a matter of days, the woman and her child change things; if you like a touch of paranormal with your Christmas tale, this is a winner. Because the question of the woman’s identity isn’t solved to everyone’s satisfaction, the story keeps its magical aspects.
A TIME FOR GIVING (Raine Cantrell) -- If you like O. Henry (the man who perfected the unexpected ending – think ‘GIFT OF THE MAGI’), you will love this story. This unique story takes place near the end of the Civil War. Jacob DeWitt got a few days’ leave for Christmas and is in upstate New York, visiting his two children and brother. They were taken in by Miss Essie Winifred and Jacob has asked her to marry him. The plot is too complicated for a quick synopsis – but it is my favorite of the 5 stories.
O CHRISTMAS TREE (Karen Harper) – Charlotte Miller and her friend work at Sears & Roebuck Co., in Chicago, IL. This is another complicated plot for a quick summary but Charlotte has been disowned by her family. Charlotte is interested in her boss, Mr. James. When Charlotte is called home because of her mother’s serious illness, something wonderful happens. This was my second-favorite story.
I’d never read anything by any of these writers except Jodi Thomas; I plan to look for more – the stories were delightful.
July 31, 2016
This book contains 5 Christmas short stories from the 1800's: A Husband for Holly Texas Dec 23.1865, Friends Are Forever Kentucky, 1881, The Gift, New Mexico, 1880, A Time for Giving,Stone Ridge, New York 1864, O Christmas Tree Chicago, 1897. I enjoyed each of these stories, however, my favorite was the first - A Husband for Holly which is a tale of a Texas tomboy who gets more than she bargained for when Luther Walters and his lifelong friend Samuel Stone fetch a prospective mail-order husband as Holly's Christmas present.
December 18, 2010
Five short stories around Christmas time which are obviously written by five "romance" type writers. Smaltzy, predictable and seem to use the same type format and language.
March 20, 2012
Got it for the Jodi Thomas story.
November 30, 2021
All enjoyable stories. My favorite was THE GIFT by Emily Bradshaw.
Reread “The Gift” Nov 2021
Reread “The Gift” Nov 2021
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews