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Spirit Lake #1
All They Want for Christmas
Her not-so-jolly Christmas…
or a holiday surprise?
Bridget Montgomery’s Christmas is looking decidedly not festive. Her beloved aunt is gone, leaving only a struggling diner and a mountain of debt. Which Bridget now shares with her ex-fiancé and newly single dad, Jack Holdstrom. Saving the diner is their first priority. But Bridget’s already falling for Jack’s troubled adopted girls. Will the spirit of Christmas mean losing her broken heart to Jack again, too?
From Harlequin Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
or a holiday surprise?
Bridget Montgomery’s Christmas is looking decidedly not festive. Her beloved aunt is gone, leaving only a struggling diner and a mountain of debt. Which Bridget now shares with her ex-fiancé and newly single dad, Jack Holdstrom. Saving the diner is their first priority. But Bridget’s already falling for Jack’s troubled adopted girls. Will the spirit of Christmas mean losing her broken heart to Jack again, too?
From Harlequin Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 8, 2020
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Stelmack
27 books192 followersM. K. Stelmack writes historical and contemporary romance. She is the author of Heartwarming's A True North Hero series, the third of which, Coming Home to You was made into a movie called Love by Accident. She also wrote The Montgomery Sisters trilogy and A Ranch to Call Home trilogy.
Her most recent work is The Tsar's Angel.
Contact the author through her website and become a member of The M. K. Stelmack Library where you can read her free stories, articles and other readables.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 11, 2020
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
All They Want for Christmas is a realistic, emotional romance, perhaps a second chance to get love right for Bridget and Jack. But it’s not going to be an easy journey for either. Once Jack and Bridget were in love, newly engaged. She was convinced by her beloved Aunt Penny to not make the engagement known just yet, so Bridget kept her happiness and her dreams to herself. Perhaps it was for the best, after all when Jack decided to stay overseas with a charity. Neither asked to go through this new adventure together, even though, if asked, they would have. So, Bridget has been nursing a broken spirit and heart for years now. Oh, she won’t admit that but it’s there in her decisions, her choices.
Now Jack has returned, along with his two adopted young daughters. Life moves on. Aunt Penny has passed away leaving her home, her restaurant to both Bridget and Jack… Jack who it turns out is actually Penny’s son. And the complications continue. Penny had made some bad financial decisions this past year leaving both Bridget and Jack scrambling to correct her actions. All the while trying to help two little girls adjust to a new country, a new family, and the realization that they never need to go hungry ever again… which will not be easy. To say their lives are too complicated for romance right now would be an understatement… but the heart rarely listens, does it?
All They Want for Christmas is a story that will leave behind an impression, laughter, hurt, tears, joy, and satisfaction. I enjoyed Jack and Bridget’s romance, adored two little girls, and liked getting to know Bridget’s sisters. The lesson of forgiveness is clear, and the way everyone came together to save Penny’s restaurant was emotional. I had a good time here, and that’s the point.
I own a Kindle edition of All They Want for Christmas.
All They Want for Christmas is a realistic, emotional romance, perhaps a second chance to get love right for Bridget and Jack. But it’s not going to be an easy journey for either. Once Jack and Bridget were in love, newly engaged. She was convinced by her beloved Aunt Penny to not make the engagement known just yet, so Bridget kept her happiness and her dreams to herself. Perhaps it was for the best, after all when Jack decided to stay overseas with a charity. Neither asked to go through this new adventure together, even though, if asked, they would have. So, Bridget has been nursing a broken spirit and heart for years now. Oh, she won’t admit that but it’s there in her decisions, her choices.
Now Jack has returned, along with his two adopted young daughters. Life moves on. Aunt Penny has passed away leaving her home, her restaurant to both Bridget and Jack… Jack who it turns out is actually Penny’s son. And the complications continue. Penny had made some bad financial decisions this past year leaving both Bridget and Jack scrambling to correct her actions. All the while trying to help two little girls adjust to a new country, a new family, and the realization that they never need to go hungry ever again… which will not be easy. To say their lives are too complicated for romance right now would be an understatement… but the heart rarely listens, does it?
All They Want for Christmas is a story that will leave behind an impression, laughter, hurt, tears, joy, and satisfaction. I enjoyed Jack and Bridget’s romance, adored two little girls, and liked getting to know Bridget’s sisters. The lesson of forgiveness is clear, and the way everyone came together to save Penny’s restaurant was emotional. I had a good time here, and that’s the point.
I own a Kindle edition of All They Want for Christmas.
September 2, 2020
THE secrets that come back to bite one's backside are numerous in this first title in the Montgomerys of Spirit Lake series. In this heartwarming tale, Bridget Montgomery is desperate to keep her aunt's restaurant afloat, even after she learns that her aunt has willing her half of the diner and half of her house, and tons of debt no one knew she had. The other half is now owned by Bridget's former boyfriend, who has recently relocated with his two adopted daughters. Then we find out that Auntie Penny was actually his mother! What?! And that's not all. Turns out that the monies Bridget was counting on to fill the Crates for Christmas, an annual event, is gone. Where? To Jack so that he could adopt those adorable girls.
Getting all this debt off their respective backs requires that Jack tell the truth about his mother to the entire town, which he does, but can they get out of hock to the bank and in time for Christmas? It's a race of the heart as well as the pocketbooks of their family and friends that looks like it might never happen when a blizzards practically shuts down the restaurant when they most need it to be fully open. Grab the tissues for the ending scenes. They're worth every sniff.
Getting all this debt off their respective backs requires that Jack tell the truth about his mother to the entire town, which he does, but can they get out of hock to the bank and in time for Christmas? It's a race of the heart as well as the pocketbooks of their family and friends that looks like it might never happen when a blizzards practically shuts down the restaurant when they most need it to be fully open. Grab the tissues for the ending scenes. They're worth every sniff.
July 16, 2020
“All They Want for Christmas” by M.K. Stelmack is book one of The Montgomerys of Spirit Lake miniseries.
After her aunt dies unexpectedly, Bridget Montgomery’s life is about to change. She’s been working in her aunt’s restaurant and living with her for years. Now, with Christmas fast approaching, Bridget’s hope of sharing the house with her sisters becomes complicated with the arrival of her ex-fiancé, Jack Holdstrom and his two daughters.
Jack returns to Spirit Lake with the hope of giving his girls the home they deserve, but with his aunt gone, his plans change. He wants Bridget back in his life.
Ms. Stelmack has piled on the troubles in her heroine, Bridget. The poor girl can’t seem to get a break! “All They Want for Christmas” is an endearing story with great characterization.
After her aunt dies unexpectedly, Bridget Montgomery’s life is about to change. She’s been working in her aunt’s restaurant and living with her for years. Now, with Christmas fast approaching, Bridget’s hope of sharing the house with her sisters becomes complicated with the arrival of her ex-fiancé, Jack Holdstrom and his two daughters.
Jack returns to Spirit Lake with the hope of giving his girls the home they deserve, but with his aunt gone, his plans change. He wants Bridget back in his life.
Ms. Stelmack has piled on the troubles in her heroine, Bridget. The poor girl can’t seem to get a break! “All They Want for Christmas” is an endearing story with great characterization.
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September 1, 2020Categories
Western Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Holiday Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
The Montgomerys of Spirit Lake (Book #1)
Western Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Holiday Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
The Montgomerys of Spirit Lake (Book #1)
September 6, 2020
Sweet romance, heart wrenching troubles and tribulations, folks who come together. Worked for me!
October 15, 2020
A touching, heartwarming story. I'll be reading this one over and over.
September 23, 2024
A good book! I want to read the other sister's books, hoping it's a series!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews