An Anthology (A Virgin River Novel Book 8) - That Holiday Feeling

I expected to be reading some Hallmark-type Christmas stories, and in a way they were. But the Woods and Carr stories took the romances to another level. Too many bodies heating each other up for my taste. I never even finished the third story.

Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr is the only one I read. I really liked it & it's important story in the continuity of the Virgin River Series, because they all connect & play off the previous ones.

That Holiday Feeling is an omnibus of three novels: Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber, The Perfect Holiday by Sherryl Woods and Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr.
Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber is the last of the Manning Family series and features Charlotte Manning's daughter Carrie Weston, now 26 and living in an apartment in Seattle. She runs into new residents Mackenzie Lark and her single dad, Phillip, in the elevator. The apartment block's resident fortune teller, Madame Frederick, has already predicted that Carrie will meet the man of her dreams when he moves into the building, but Phillip Lark has been burned in his marriage to Laura, and has no intention of hooking up with another woman. However, in a charming parallel to Carrie's own actions with her mother and Jason Manning, Mackenzie is determined to get Carrie and Phillip together. This is a sweet romance with a Christmas theme that brings the Mannings together again.
The Perfect Holiday is a short story with a Christmas theme by Sherryl Woods. When Mae Holiday passed on, she left her inn, Holiday Retreat, to her great-niece, Savannah. As Savannah had not long ago divorced from her workaholic husband, she and her daughter Hannah welcomed the move from Florida to Vermont, and, although the inn needed a lot of work, they were happy to experience a white Christmas at Holiday Retreat. Toy magnate Trace Franklin had made Mae a deathbed promise that he would spend the holidays at Holiday Retreat, but he wasn't expecting any company. Savannah is attracted, but is Trace, with his laptop and briefcase full of work, just another workaholic who will have no time for the important things of life? Sweet Hannah and sexy Savannah soon had him reconsidering his intention to do paperwork Before long, the trio are reviving old traditions and making new ones together. This sweet romance with a Christmas theme has some charming characters and a heart-warming ending.
Under the Christmas Tree is a short story in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. When Annie McKenzie decided to stop in Virgin River just after Thanksgiving on her way to see her folks, she was hoping to see the town's legendary Christmas Tree. What she wasn't expecting to find was a box of abandoned puppies, hungry, dehydrated and hypothermic. Soon enough, she has them established in Jack's bar, where the townsfolk volunteer to care for them to avoid an Animal Shelter over the holidays. Vet Nathaniel Jensen comes to check the puppies over, and checks Annie over at the same time. When the pups need to go to Nate's house to be looked after, Annie is forced to call in there, too. A sweet romance with a Christmas setting that will be even more enjoyable for fans of this series.

FYI: Since this is an anthology I will be talking about each novella/short story separately.

Silver Bells:
I really enjoyed this sweet story. As you can probably tell from my past reviews I love me some Debbie Macomber especially when it comes to her holiday stories. She just has that little something special in her books that make them magical. I really liked Carrie, I thought she was sweet and since I haven't yet read Debbie Macomber's Manning Men series so I was glad that she didn't delve too much into the series. I thought Carrie was very sweet but I wasn't as big of a fan of Philip her love interest. I did love his daughter Mackenzie though and found her to be adorable! I also liked the band of characters that live in their apartment. I found that Philip was arrogant and annoying. But I did like how they all had their happily ever after. Plus it had a Christmas story.

The Perfect Holiday:
Hannah and her mother Savannah have recently made the over from Florida to Vermont to take over Savannah's Aunt Mae's B&B after her passing. Savannah is on her own since divorcing her husband the year before and now she has the weight of the B&B on her shoulders. Due to the move her Christmas with her daughter is going to be present-less but filled with love just the two of them. That is until Trace Franklin the CEO of Franklin toys and long time friend of Aunt Mae follows her wishes and spends his holiday at the B&B...at the same time Savannah and Hannah are there. It seems as though Mae is doing a little matchmaking of her own from beyond the grave. After Mae's bringing them close together how could Trace and Savannah not fall in love during the season of giving, hope, and joy.
This was the first time that I've read anything by Sherryl Woods and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed her writing and I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the near future.

Under the Christmas Tree (Virgin River #8)
I have been a fan of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series since I started reading them at the beginning this year. This however was my first time in Virgin River at Christmas. I loved the story. There was love, Christmas time and abandoned puppies. I liked the way the relationship developed between Nate and Annie but I wish Nate wasn't so juvenile. I don't want to give Virgin River away to readers because I think this is one of the best series I've ever read. The way Robyn weaves her story is magical and real. Every time I read something by her I feel uplifted.

All in all I recommend this book to anyone. It's a great holiday anthology for those who love sweet romances.

All three stories were fantastic. I found myself grinning when a thirteen year old worked so hard to get the perfect wife for her father in Debbie Macomber's Silver Bells. Then in The Perfect Holiday by Sherryl Woods, Savannah's Aunt Mae assists a growing romance between Trace and Savannah after her death. And Robyn Carr kept a smile on my face with the saucy romance between Annie and Mate in Under the Christmas Tree.

"Silver Bells" by Debbie Macomber. Philip raised his teenage daughter, but never expected her to find him a wife when he never wanted to remarry. However the chosen one Carrie makes him reconsider his stance on marriage.

"The Perfect Holiday" by Sherryl Woods. Aunt Mae decides Trace is the perfect holiday present for her single niece Savannah. She expects them to be engaged by Christmas.

"Under the Christmas" Tree by Robyn Carr. Hairstylist Annie stops to admire a Virgin River Christmas tree only to find eight newborn puppies underneath it. Obviously abandoned, Annie finds the town `s vet Nathaniel to help with the dogs.

These are three warm holiday romances starring wonderful lead protagonists.

Harriet Klausner

Three wonderful stories by three wonderful writers. They were all very nice and loved Robyn Carr's since it is a continuation of on of my favorite series (Virgin River). The other two were wonderful as well. I really enjoyed The Perfect Holiday my first book by that author, very nice. Debbie Macomber is also a book from a series and as always fantastic. They two series book can be read as stand alone books.

This is a trilogy of three Christmas stories by three great writers. All three stories mix Christmas and romance in a good way and get you ready for the holidays. I really enjoyed reading this book on my Kindle.

Lovely holiday stories in this collection. The book as a whole is the perfect thing to read at the holidays when things are stressed and you just want a nice little story that isn't too detailed or filled with negativity.

Silver Bells--Debbie Macomber
Teenage daughter is looking for a wife for her father. They had recently moved to an apartment She had her eye on a resident in the apartment house. They weren't cooperating but she was very stubborn. Very good story

The Perfect Holliday ---Sherryl Wood

Aunt Mae left Shannon her B&B. Mae made her friend Trace promise to come to the Holliday Retreat even tho Mae wasn't planning to be there. It didn't take long for Trace to realize Mae was match making from the other side. A very good story.

Under the Christmas Tree--Robyn Carr
After finding puppies outside Annie was trying to get them warm. They sent for a Vet while she enlisted customers to put the puppies against their skin trying to warm them. Annie finds out the son has taken over his father's practice. The owner agreed to let the pups stay. Annie came in every day as per her agreement. The Vet showed up every day too.
A very good story

Three wonderful stories by three wonderful writers. They were all very nice and loved Robyn Carr's since it is a continuation of on of my favorite series (Virgin River). The other two were wonderful as well. I really enjoyed The Perfect Holiday my first book by that author, very nice. Debbie Macomber is also a book from a series and as always fantastic. They two series book can be read as stand alone books.