"A real treat"

All seven years old Ellie Kincaid wants for Christmas is a mommy. Her annual letter to Santa breaks the heart of her dad horse rancher Colter, but he knows he will never fall in love again.

Marisa Preston feels lonely around Christmas time because eight years ago she met the love of her life Colter, a rodeo star. Her upper crust parents ended her relationship with her beloved as she just was not strong enough to deal with their pressure.

Marisa is at the Dalton's Department Store in Dallas where she works in management being the daughter of the company's driving force. Colter happens to be in the store shopping with his daughter when he and Marisa see one another. Colter hates Marisa for breaking her pledge to marry him though she insists she made mistakes and was only seventeen. She meets Ellie, his daughter with Shannon who he married just after Marisa left him; they have since divorced. What he never knew is they had a son who died. Marisa needs to tell him what really happened, but will he listen? If Ellie has her way, Santa has finally delivered her present.

Fans will cherish this entreating Yuletide second chance at love tale due to the lead couple especially Colter who is a rare realistic hunk; his placing his daughter first makes him a solid father. Though the ice storm seems a bit contrived as this strands Marisa, contemporary readers will not care as this device enables her to gain the time she needs with Colter. Still the cast makes for a strong holiday romance that will bring good cheer to one and all.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 21, 2004

Read an Excerpt

Summary

This Christmas will be different!

Eight years ago, Marisa Preston fell in love. But her marriage to rodeo star Colter Kincaid was thwarted by her controlling parents. Now, unexpectedly, she's found Colter again—and his adorable seven-year-old daughter, Ellie. More than anything in the world, Ellie wants a mommy...

And more than anything, Marisa wants a child. But she's been keeping a secret about the past, a secret she has to tell Colter. She goes to see him at his ranch and it isn't long before she falls in love all over again. With Colter and with Ellie.

Just like Christmas, life can bring surprising gifts...