I’m a day late, but I just didn’t have the five hours to give to Sheila Roberts’ Christmas from the Heart until Friday. If you only have time for one Christmas romance this year, you might want to make it this one. It’s a reformed Scrooge story, as so many are this time of year, but it’s hard not to root for Scrooge in this one.
Olivia Berg is the fourth generation of women in her family to head up Christmas from the Heart, the only charity that serves the needs of the residents of Pine River, Washington. Livi took over when her mother died too soon. Until this year, she could always count on a hefty donation from Hightower Enterprises. Her great-grandmother had started that relationship. But, Guy Hightower is now the CFO of the family company, a company tightening its belt as it deals with some problems. And, when Guy turns Livi down, then sends a small personal check, the two did not get off to a good start. She sends him a sarcastic response, and he calls her a leech.
So, when Guy’s fancy sports car breaks down outside Pine River, and he’s rescued by an attractive young woman who introduces herself as Livi Berg, there’s a reason he freezes and gives his name as Joe Ford. He knows who she is, but she has no idea she’s consorting with the enemy. And, a very handsome enemy he is. To make matters worse, “Joe” realizes the auto mechanic at the garage is in love with Livi, and Morris doesn’t trust Joe at all. Then, the only motel in town has no vacancies, and Livi invites Joe to stay with her and her father.
While Joe waits for the belt for his Maserati, he and Livi spend time together, over cookies and milk, and then helping the town prepare for Christmas. Livi never saw Morris as more than a good friend, and she has stars in her eyes when she sees Joe. But, what’s going to happen when he confesses he’s really Guy Hightower?
I like Christmas stories and romances. But, I really appreciate the ones with well-developed characters, not just cookie-cutter ones in a “Hallmark”-type romance. Roberts’ Christmas from the Heart offers those characters, and a working class community that pitches in to take care of itself. Just the type of Christmas story I appreciate.
*****
Excerpt, CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART by Sheila Roberts
By the time Guy came down, his hostess had the cards out and hot chocolate poured into mugs. More cookies sat on the plate on the kitchen table. Greeting card perfect.
She smiled up at him as she shuffled the deck and taunted, “Prepare to lose.”
“I don’t lose at cards. He and his brothers used to play a lot of poker on those ski trips to Vail. He always came away with the pot.
She cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? Ever hear the expression pride goes before a fall?”
“Yeah, and I’m afraid you’re gonna fall big-time,” he said as he sat down. All those shiny curls, those pretty, green eyes—someone else at this table was in danger of falling. Big-time.
She dealt three cards for the first round. “I almost feel sorry for you.”
“You that confident, huh?” he teased. Her perfume reached out with invisible fingers and tickled his nose. He wanted to play with a lock of her hair.
She looked at her hand and smiled. “I am.”
She must have gotten a wild card. “Want to bet on it?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Ah, not so confident after all. I don’t want that card, by the way,” he said, passing on the four of diamonds on the discard pile.
“Oh, I am. But, on the off chance that you got lucky I wouldn’t have anything to pay you with. I’ve only got a couple of dollars in my purse. I don’t want that, either,” she said.
He drew and got a wild card, which gave him three of a kind. “So, wager something else.”
“More cookies?”
“You already gave me cookies.”
“Fudge?”
“Not that into fudge.” Looking at Livi, he had something much better in mind.
“Okay, then what?”
“How about a kiss?”
Her eyes opened wide and her face flushed. “A kiss?” she repeated as if he’d just proposed she sleep with him.
Okay, that had been stupid. What could he say? He’d been under the influence of perfume.
He bluffed it out. “Hey, I like to gamble big.”
“We hardly know each other,” she protested.
Wasn’t that the truth? If she knew he was Guy Hightower she’d spit in his face. But right now he was plain old Joe Ford, enjoying an evening with a pretty woman.
“We’re getting to know each other,” he pointed out. And he realized he wanted her to get to know him, to see that he was more than the stingy guardian of a company’s treasure chest. “One kiss won’t hurt. Unless there’s someone else?”
“No, no.” The words came out half assurance and half regret.
“Well, then?”
“What will you give me if I win?” she asked, her cheeks still flushed.
If I lose, I’ll make breakfast tomorrow. How’s that?”
That was acceptable. Her smile returned. “Okay. We just happen to have plenty of eggs.”
“Good,” he said, then discarded and laid down his cards, faceup.
“You had a wild card,” she accused.
“But not up my sleeve.”
She frowned and drew. Then laid down. She’d had a wild card, too, but nothing else matched. Even when she played it on what he’d laid down, he still caught her with ten points.
“I’m looking forward to that kiss,” he teased, bringing back her blush.
“It’s only the first hand,” she said. “You got lucky.”
*****
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/pages/christmas.html
Sheila Roberts’ website is www.sheilasplace.com
Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts. MIRA, 2019. ISBN 9780778360964 (hardcover), 280p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
I really enjoyed this one too and who wouldn't with a cover that pretty?? I'm glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you for being on this tour. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
Sorry I was a day late, Sara. It couldn't be helped. I did enjoy it!