Musings and Ramblings: Book Tour Review: Christmas in Snow Valley Anthology

Christmas in Snow Valley

Cami Checketts, Cindy Roland Anderson, Kimberley Montpetit, Taylor Hart, Jeannette Lewis

Genre: Christian Romance/New Adult/Holiday
Publisher: Birch River Publishing
Date of Publication: November 3, 2014
Number of pages: 580
Word Count: 180,830
Cover Artist: Christina Dymock

Available at the following retailers:
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Currently .99¢ for a limited time.

Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn’t pursue him or even seem interested. Ty’s career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.

The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.

Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit
Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend’s death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she’s surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell (Christina Dymock)
As head of Snow Valley hospital’s fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn’t have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She’s been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

Excerpt:

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts

Shivering in the vicious canyon breeze, Kazlyn skirted a group of slow-moving girls and ran directly into the back of an insanely tall guy. Her bag flung from her fingers and books scattered in the crusty snow piled up next to the sidewalk.

“Snot!”

Tall dude turned and gave her a friendly smile. “No, it’s Tyrese.” His smile grew as he looked her over, white teeth flashing against his smooth, dark skin. “Most people call me Ty, but you can call me anything you want to.”

“Ugh!” She ignored his flirtations and pretty-boy face. You’d think a man that large would have a face like Andre the Giant. Grabbing at books, she shoved them into her bag.

“Here, let me get that for you.” Ty reached farther across the snow bank than she could; with octopus arms it was probably easy.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

He retrieved a few more books and her peppermint lip gloss. Of course, he would find the only feminine thing she had time for during school. His grin got even bigger. “This looks…” He glanced over her face before focusing on her lips. “Yummy.”

Could the guy get any more arrogant? Kazlyn held out her hand. He surrendered the books, but held onto the lip gloss. She sighed, shoved the books into her bag, then held out her hand again. He placed the lip gloss into her palm and wrapped his warm fingers around her freezing ones.

“Wouldn’t want you to lose that.” Ty squeezed her hand. “Maybe you’ll give me a sample one day.”

Her eyebrows shot up. She yanked her fingers from his and stomped around him. “No free samples, buddy.”

She tossed a challenging look over her shoulder, almost hoping he’d call her bluff. He winked and grinned.

Kazlyn whipped back around, smacking herself in the face with her long, blonde hair. First, she ran into him. Then, she whacked herself with her own hair.

He laughed. “Maybe I could be an exception.”

Kazlyn kept walking. He caught up to her in four steps, though she’d taken ten. Curse his long legs. She couldn’t resist looking at him and almost wished she could dislodge the picture—fabulous smile, dark eyes surrounded with thick lashes she couldn’t have achieved with heaps of mascara, and chocolate skin. “Why are you following me?”

“I’m not. I’m walking next to you.”

She huffed. “That’s because you walk so stinking fast. If you didn’t have giraffe legs, you’d be following me.”

He laughed. “Come on. I have more muscle on my legs than most giraffes.”

She allowed him a small smile. “Knobbly-kneed giraffe.”

“I told you it’s Tyrese.” He pumped his eyebrows. “Now, you get to share your name with me.”

“Not happening. I don’t tell strange men my name.”

“Aw, come on. You already gave me a hug from the back.”

“I ran into you!”

“And I forgave you immediately.” He winked. “I’m sure most people would forgive that beautiful face of anything.”

Kazlyn wanted to glare at him, but she couldn’t. Her dad used to say a similar line to her. “Are you always a schmoozer?”

That brought her another chuckle. “Didn’t your momma teach you not to call names?”

“Didn’t your momma teach you not to follow people?”

He laughed louder. “She said it was okay if the girl was really pretty.”

Review:

This was an interesting Christmas Anthology. There are some things that remained constant throughout the books; Doc Taggart, Pastor John, the Founding Snow Family and the Christmas Festivities. This gave all the stories a nice framework to work from and showcase the various aspects of the town. This doesn't mean that the stories were cookie cutter stories. Oh no, each one was distinct, told from individual points of view. Some stories I liked better than others, but all were highly enjoyable.

These are Christian stories, so there is no sex, not even implied or behind closed doors. I would also classify these as New Adult, as all romantic characters were in their early 20's, or as I like to call it "The Old Enough to Know Better, but Still Too Young To Care" stage of life. There is quite a bit of drama as these young couples dance around each other, spending the holiday season falling in love.

If you are looking for some good, clean Christmas stories that you can share with all the readers in you life, stories that help celebrate the true meaning of the season, this is a great choice. Overall I gave it 4 stars.

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