Hometown Heroes: A Christmas Anthology – Review by Maura Harper

Hometown Heroes: A Christmas Anthology by Carrie Dalby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This collection of Christmas short stories was a quick and easy read. Each story features a different genre and each featured a hero of some type (hence the title of HOMETOWN HEROES).

Courtship and Courage by Carrie Dalby is a period romance. This is not a genre I read and I kind of rolled my eyes when I realized what it was. I have to say that I enjoyed it. It talks about a time in US history that I am unfamiliar with (shame on me) and I would like to learn more about. It is a sweet romance that takes place between a school teacher and a boat captain. It is well written, quick and to the point.

When Time Stood Still by Chelsi Arnold and J D Boudreaux is a contemporary romance. I have read both of these authors before and loved the fact that the male protagonist is reading one of Chelsi Arnold’s books. This is a story of how opposites attract and features a character with PTSD. My favorite line in the story – actually the entire anthology – “All a girl needs is her dog, caffeine, and a good pair of shoes. Everything else can be winged.” Well plotted with a very clear beginning, middle and end – I would love to read this as a full length novel.

Hobbes House Noel by CJ Petterson – This is a story where we learn that all is not as it appears. I believe that each character in this story is a hero in there own way.

Talking in Code by EA Hale is a full length novel in 13 short chapters. Complex and detailed story about a lost art.

Safe Haven by Jolie St. Amant – This is a short story\novella which is more like a scene from the author’s series “Chateau Rouge”. Paranormal Romance at its best. Makes you wonder what actually is going on around us.

The other thing I realized after writing the review is that there are no sex scenes and I don’t remember any foul language.

I would recommend this anthology to my mother’s book club.

Review by @mauraharper

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