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The Twelve Gifts Of Christmas
WAS HE NAUGHTY OR NICE?
On the first day of Christmas, Carly Michaels's true love gave to her...a headache! Pete Cade might be the hunk every woman dreams of finding under her tree. But he was also a real Scrooge. At the top of Carly's Christmas list was the "c" word - commitment. And Pete wasn't ready to give that kind of gift.
Carly could have easily settled for his kisses, as heady cider. His touch, as gentle as snowflakes. His lovemaking, as exciting as Christmas morning. But she had more than her own needs to think of.
She wanted Pete to give her the greatest Yuletide gift of all - a father for her daughter.
On the first day of Christmas, Carly Michaels's true love gave to her...a headache! Pete Cade might be the hunk every woman dreams of finding under her tree. But he was also a real Scrooge. At the top of Carly's Christmas list was the "c" word - commitment. And Pete wasn't ready to give that kind of gift.
Carly could have easily settled for his kisses, as heady cider. His touch, as gentle as snowflakes. His lovemaking, as exciting as Christmas morning. But she had more than her own needs to think of.
She wanted Pete to give her the greatest Yuletide gift of all - a father for her daughter.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
About the author
Rita Clay Estrada
69 books10 followersRita Clay was born on 31 July 1941 in Michigan, U.S.A.. Her mother was a former Miss Michigan, while her father was a U.S. Air Force pilot. She spent much of her early years living in Europe.
Rita married very young with her high school sweetheart, James Estrada, and she stayed at home to raise their four children. In 1977, when she had been married about 20 years, her husband brought her a typewriter and said, "'You said you always wanted to write. Now write." She and her mother, Rita Gallagher, accepted the challenge. While beginning to write, they learned how to publish books and made great friendships with other writers.
Rita's first attempt of publication was a long historical romance which was promptly rejected. Her next manuscript, a contemporary romance, was like wise rejected. But her third manuscript, Wanderer's Dream, was sold to Silhouette Books. She used her maiden name, Rita Clay for her titles for Silhouette. In 1982, she moved to Dell to write for their Candlelight Ecstasy line and she wrote as Tira Lacy, an anagram of Rita Clay, because Harlequin owned her pen name. In 1985 she resigned from Harlequin and asked to use her fullname, Rita Clay Estrada, on all future books.
Rita, her mother, and 35 other authors, decided that an association was needed to defend their published members. They founded the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A), that years later persuaded Harlequin books to register copyrights for authors' works and to allow writers to own their own pseudonyms. Previously, the authors were forced to leave their pseudonym behind if they switched publishing houses, making it more difficult fortheir fans to follow.
R.W.A. signature award, the RITA, which is the highest award of excellence given in the genre of romantic fiction, is named after her. The R.W.A. also awarded Estrada their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
Rita married very young with her high school sweetheart, James Estrada, and she stayed at home to raise their four children. In 1977, when she had been married about 20 years, her husband brought her a typewriter and said, "'You said you always wanted to write. Now write." She and her mother, Rita Gallagher, accepted the challenge. While beginning to write, they learned how to publish books and made great friendships with other writers.
Rita's first attempt of publication was a long historical romance which was promptly rejected. Her next manuscript, a contemporary romance, was like wise rejected. But her third manuscript, Wanderer's Dream, was sold to Silhouette Books. She used her maiden name, Rita Clay for her titles for Silhouette. In 1982, she moved to Dell to write for their Candlelight Ecstasy line and she wrote as Tira Lacy, an anagram of Rita Clay, because Harlequin owned her pen name. In 1985 she resigned from Harlequin and asked to use her fullname, Rita Clay Estrada, on all future books.
Rita, her mother, and 35 other authors, decided that an association was needed to defend their published members. They founded the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A), that years later persuaded Harlequin books to register copyrights for authors' works and to allow writers to own their own pseudonyms. Previously, the authors were forced to leave their pseudonym behind if they switched publishing houses, making it more difficult fortheir fans to follow.
R.W.A. signature award, the RITA, which is the highest award of excellence given in the genre of romantic fiction, is named after her. The R.W.A. also awarded Estrada their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2022
I enjoyed this book because it was a bit of a time capsule by being set in the DC area during 1994, including nods to political characters from that time. It was interesting to compare the content and writing in a romance novel from that time to more recent publications. Was it cheesy? Yes. But was it enjoyable while being unrealistic? Yes. The last few chapters felt a bit rushed, but I read in another review that there are length limitations with these books, so perhaps that's why.
March 21, 2017
Carly Michaels is a divorced mom living with maiden twin aunts in McLean, VA when she meets her new neighbor Pete Cade. Wealthy Pete has an abusive father and failed marriage in his past and only wants an affair. Carly wants more, but they fall in love and become lovers, but Pete refuses to admit. At Christmas they break up, but Carly offers friendship with 12 gifts. He finally comes around on Christmas day.
April 25, 2025
So this heroine is a true saint! Because I would have hit this idiot over the head about a dozen times!
The only thing I really liked about the book is how open, honest and concise the heroine is written. Oh and the spinster aunts!
The only thing I really liked about the book is how open, honest and concise the heroine is written. Oh and the spinster aunts!
June 9, 2013
A well-adjusted heroine who believes in honest communication? Be still my heart! An angsty hero with legit and believable reasons for the angst? *swoon!* The only reason this didn't get four stars from me was probably the fault of length limitations, parts of it seemed rushed and it seemed some elements were left out (again, thinking it was length limitations). But if you want to read a sweet romance that ISN'T totally frustrating, try this one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews