Title: Have Yourself a Quirky Little Christmas: Six Holiday Stories
Author: Brenda Whiteside
Genre: Holiday Fiction, Holiday Short Stories
Book Blurb:
An Elfin Secret
Candy Cane has never actually seen her father. Could he be Santa Claus? Did her mother have an elf romance? What happens if she’s right?
On the Way to the Snow Ball
Nicholas Claus could be delusional, or he might be the sanest person in the elevator. Christmas miracles come when you least expect.
Never Alone on Christmas
After decades of dancing his way from woman to woman, Jonathan Jay Somefun now finds variety-is-the-spice-of-life tasteless. Will this be the Christmas he finds his new style and ends his lonely days?
Love in the Vault
A kiss under the mistletoe, a gun in her ribs, and a lockup in the company vault. If her best friend Cricket arranged this joke, Eleanor will never speak to her again. Or is it a joke?
A Tropical Holiday
Fresh off divorce, Yuma Camry is winging it alone in unreasonably cold Mexico. Whether she’s wandering through ghostly Mayan ruins under a cloudy sky or lying on a chilly beach in the bikini she paid too much for, can a stranger with even stranger ideas help her reconnect with herself this Christmas?
No Room at the Inn
Sadi Anne hates Christmas. Volunteering to work through the holiday season is the only way to keep her mind off that heartbreak Christmas three years earlier. But when the hotel loses her reservation, a truck smashes her parked car, and three wisemen come to the rescue, this may be one Christmas she won’t want to forget. And neither will the man who broke her heart.
My Review:
Kick off your holiday season with this collection of six short holiday stories. Each story takes place around Christmas and features quirky characters who are put in unique situations. These stories are short yet will delight you.
An Elfin Secret – Imagine a little girl who discovers a secret about her father. Could he truly be Santa Claus? This tale is steeped in magic and will have you believing. Filled with childlike whimsy, this is my favorite story of the collection.
On the Way to the Snow Ball – In a twist on a classic Christmas story, Brenda Whiteside delves into a man named Claus stuck in an elevator with a frightened woman. Will Nick get his miracle? This tale struck a chord with me. When you’re alone with a stranger in an elevator in the dark, our true selves emerge. It’s uplifting in an offbeat sort of way. There’s a bit of mystery too which I enjoyed.
Never Alone on Christmas – After losing his wife, he’s gone from woman to woman. This Christmas, something changes. The man is melancholy and a little sad. The holidays can do that. But hope springs eternal, especially at Christmas. I didn’t like this tale as well as the others. It has a very Blue Christmas feel, though.
Love in the Vault – Eleanor feels like the joke’s on her this Christmas but what if it isn’t a practical joke? Can you find romance inside a vault? This tale is such fun to read. Eleanor is relatable and there’s plenty of chemistry. Perfect for romance readers.
A Tropical Holiday – It sounds so nice, spending Christmas in Mexico, but it’s cold. A strange encounter helps her reconnect with her spirit and embrace life’s magic once again. This tale really spoke to me. After a bad breakup, the best thing to do is do something out of your comfort zone. A twist on a tropical holiday at Christmastime.
No Room at the Inn – Things go sideways for her, as they do every Christmas. Three wisemen to the rescue. This Christmas, can she truly find the magic and meaning of Christmas? I’m a sucker for second chances and this tale has it in spades. Well written, as all the stories are. I connected with the characters. The ending infused me with warm feelings.
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. She writes children’s books with her granddaughter under the names of Brenda Sue and Sadi Belle. She’s a born and bred Arizona native who sets her fictional stories in imaginary, but recognizable, Arizona locations. After marrying, she and her husband lived in six states and two countries, but a few years back they settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
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Reviewed by: Nancy