(Jul) 2.5* I know, I know - who reads Christmas books in July? But I must have downloaded this on my Kindle awhile ago and it looked like a quick, easy read. I was hoping for some charm and humor; instead all I got was 3 really boring, incredibly short mini stories. I've enjoyed JS's Lucky Harbor books - some more than others. Tara's (book 2)ex is back in town. I liked him in Tara's book, and am glad he got a HEA. However, it turns out he had a one week fling w/Sandy, left for 6 months, during which time they didn't speak or see one another - and now he's back and decided he's in love with Sandy and they have sex and he proposes - the end. I think this was about 40 pages. Hope Ramsey is a new author for me, but not one I think I'll bother to read again. This story is about a tired solider who has come home to deliver a holiday gift for his fallen best friend. He loved hearing stories about the small town his friend was from and especially about the woman his friend loved and left. Annie is a typical small town contemporary romance heroine - she brings this stranger home to sleep at her house, develops feelings for him in about two minutes, and it ends w/a promise of a future HEA. Two simple and sweet for my taste. Katie Lane is also new to me. In her story, Samantha and Ethan were friends before she left home to go to school. Now she's back, and the feelings they've hidden from one another bubble to the surface. Another sweet small town story that just didn't do it for me.There was nothing wrong with these stories, but I feel they tried to pack too much feeling into tiny stories (these were easily 1/3 the length of the average anthology short story). The rest of the book was filler, excerpts from the series these stories are all parts of. I know it's not December, but for those of you who like to plan your reading list ahead, here's a good option. It's a collection of short stories by Jill Shalvis, Hope Ramsey, and Katie Lane. These stories are about just what the main title proclaims - Small Town Christmas.I like my Christmas stories quaint and homey. These three stories deliver that! Yes, they are romances, which I don't read much of anymore, but they gave me such a warm glow inside as I was reading, I couldn't put the book down.Each story has characters that are charming and quirky, from the main characters to the friends and family. Christmas is such a focal point in each tale that I could almost smell the cookies and see the tinsel falling from the book as I opened it.This book is a quick, easy read. There are no in-depth plots as they are short stories. I found myself wanting more, but that will have to be found in the other books from these three lovely authors.
What do You think about Small Town Christmas (2011)?
I still need to review the other two short stories that are included.
—aman
3 starsOnly read Kissing Santa Claus by Jill Shalvis.
—ovi
I only read the Jill Shalvis short story so far.
—laipodxx
