Coming Home for Christmas (Haven Point #10) by RaeAnne Thayne (2019)

 

Luke Hamilton’s wife Elizabeth disappeared without a word seven years before the story begins, leaving Luke to care for their two young children. Luke has known for several months now that Elizabeth is indeed alive and living in Oregon but he wanted nothing to do with the woman who had deserted him. That is until Luke learns he is to be arrested for her murder. Determined to prove his innocence, Luke knows he has to bring Elizabeth home and present her to the district attorney.

What Luke finds in Oregon is not what he expected. The woman who says she is Elizabeth has her eyes and voice but looks totally different, has a visible limp, and goes by the name Sonia Davis. Luke has no interest in finding out why Elizabeth never contacted him and the reader doesn’t learn the entire backstory until Elizabeth meets with the DA. A car accident had left her disfigured and with a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) that stole her memory but that’s only part of the story.

Neither Luke nor Elizabeth really understand what the other has been through during the past seven years. As they get reacquainted – Elizabeth and Luke, and Elizabeth and the children – things are not always easy but Christmas is the time of miracles.

This is not your typical Christmas romance. Elizabeth’s TBI plays a large part in the story, as well as the depression that caused her to run in the first place.

4.17 stars on Goodreads, 4.7 on Amazon

This book is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library.

Gabriel’s Angel by Nora Roberts (1989)

 

Though this looks and sounds like a Christmas title, it is not. However, if you are looking for a wholesome, easy to read romance, Gabriel’s Angel is for you. The story follows the age-old formula – girl on the run, saved by the boy, and they both get snowed in and fall in love but with a Roberts twist. Laura is the girl on the run, trying to escape the family of her abusive, now deceased husband who want to take her soon-to-be-born child away from her. Gabriel (“Gabe”) is a famous painter who has sought refuge in an isolated mountain cabin following the death of his younger brother. As one would expect, the sparks fly, and Gabe proposes marriage to protect Laura and the unborn child.

As the snow clears, the new family returns to Gabe’s home in San Francisco. Although Gabe knows Laura’s whole story, he has yet to tell Laura what drove him to the mountains where she met him. Both know that the fight for the child is not over, and Laura works to gain the strength and confidence she will need to be successful against her in-laws when they finally catch up with her.

Roberts, who now has written more than 225 romance novels is known for creating   well rounded characters. In Gabriel’s Angel the reader can almost feel the love, gratitude and strength of the characters and the evil in the family Laura is attempting to escape.  Roberts also writes mysteries and fantasy books under the pseudonym J.D. Robb.

3.90 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon

Santa's Little Yelpers (Andy Carpenter #26) by David Rosenfelt (2022)

 

This was my first foray into the world of Andy Carpenter and I will definitely be visiting again. Andy is a defense attorney who doesn’t want to practice law and has an aversion to talking on the phone. And he always manages to get roped into both.

Throughout the book I felt Andy was sitting in my living room telling me all about his latest case, complete with wise cracks and asides. Secondary characters receive the same treatment, as well as Andy’s three dogs. I was laughing out loud at the author’s description of Andy’s basset hound, having owned one myself.

Santa's Little Yelpers has very little to do with the puppies on the cover. Rather it deals with their caregiver, Chris Myers, an ex-con who has always maintained he was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. When the main witness against Chris recants his testimony, Chris asks Andy to help him get the decision overturned.  When that witness is murdered just after recanting his recant, all trails lead once again to Chris.

Andy and his private investigator wife are convinced Chris was framed for both crimes and set out to determine by whom. In addition to his wife, Andy works with a large team with a diverse collection of talents. It was very entertaining to be introduced to all of Andy’s vice presidents in charge of … There always seemed to be one when he needed it. The road to proving Chris innocent had many twists, turns, and dead-ends before reaching its satisfying conclusion.

The library owns 18 other titles in this series, including three other Christmas titles.

4.35 stars on Goodreads, 4.7 on Amazon