"Warm Christmas romance"

In Washington State, Emma Collins writes ads and obits for the Puyallup Examiner, a newspaper struggling to remain financially solvent, which includes more local interest stories and a chance for Emma to write an article or two. Her editor Walt Berwald III assigns Emma to interview the three Washington state entries (Earlene, Sophie, and Peggy) who are among the national finalists in the Good Housekeeping fruitcake recipe contest; ironically she hates fruitcake.

To accomplish her assignment in a timely manner, Emma must fly in a Cessna when a 747 gives her cardiac arrest with a daredevil pilot Oliver Hamilton, who irritates her. Still this is her first true journalism assignment so she flies with Oliver around the state, which leads to them learning more about one another. He becomes her knight in shining armor bring dog food for her newly rescued pet and pizza for her. Emma realizes she can fly, look at fruitcake, and fall in love with Oliver. However, her other phobia, anti-Christmas is a whole different aversion and she refuses to explain her bah humbug attitude that could destroy their relationship.

This warm Christmas romance avoids for the most part the schmaltzy by using the right amount of humor to enhance the relationship between the pilot and the reporter. Emma is a terrific individual who overcomes two relatively minor woes and her fear of love ends in trauma especially around Christmas (Kate from Gremlins) to give her heart to Oliver, a modern gentleman. Fruitcake recipes aside, the real ingredients of this fine Yuletide yarn is a pinch of caring, a dab of understanding, and a whole lot of love.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 15, 2005