This book features three stories - one set in the US, one in Australia and one in England - during the holidays.
The Seduction Season by Helen Bianchin
Anneke Sorrel has just walked out on her job after her louse of a boss tried to convince her that she was special in an effort to hook up with her (although it's unclear if she already had and then got smart to him or not), so she leaves her Sydney apartment and heads to her aunt's cottage by the beach. Only her aunt has been called away as her cousin's twins are expected to be born early, etc., and so Anneke is startled upon arrival by Sebastian Lanier, the neighbor her aunt asked to explain things. They get off on the wrong foot since it's the middle of the night...and plus they are attracted and Anneke doesn't know what to do about it so they just spark. Things continue in that vein as Sebastian decides to do the repairs Anneke's aunt had requested for the cottage early in the morning and Anneke decides to try to give Sebastian indigestion by making the dinner meals her aunt had agreed to prepare incredibly rich. But then Anneke starts getting heavy breathing prank calls and Sebastian takes the threat very seriously... This is the book that features the lines “A split second to think. So, not fluent, he acknowledged. The accent was passable. His smile widened. Good. she would understand what he said when he made love to her” which I consider some of the most memorable of any romance I've read, but the rest of the book is more average for me. There is a lot of emphasis on the food being made, none of which I can even picture, nor would I want to (as a decidedly non culinary vegetarian). So my feelings are decidely mixed on this one.
Miracle on Christmas Eve by Sandra Marton
Nick and Holly were married 7 years ago and divorced a year later; Nick had grown up in a boy's home in Vermont while Holly grew up in the lap of luxury and while her parents didn't forbid the marriage (she was just 18 and he wasn't much older) they weren't exactly pleased. Nick felt guilty about taking her away from her spoiled lifestyle (seriously) and even more so when he sees her slaving away over a hot stove, handsewing curtains, etc., making him launch himself into ridiculous overtime, etc. So that ended up with them divorcing and Nick's gone on to build a Fortune 500 hotel company and he's just bought the mountain and the cabin where they had their honeymoon. He plans to rip it down and develop, but first is going there for Christmas for closure. Only Holly is also headed there having rented it from the previous owner, and a snowstorm is closing in! When Nick gets there the power is out and Holly hits him over the head thinking he is an intruder. But things between them get better when Nick builds a fire and they need to cuddle for warmth. They look like they are reconciling but they still haven't discussed what went wrong all those years ago, and now Nick is telling Holly she won't need to work on her cookbooks once they marry... Can they work things out? This one was so so – I didn't mind their rela, but the Santa Clause thing was over the top.
Yuletide Reunion by Sharon Kendrick
When she was in high school Clemmie Powers' mum remarried and they moved to Ashfield and Clemmie fell in love with Aleck Cutler, only he already had a girlfriend Alison. At the last high school dance before Aleck was to graduate, Clemmie got a bit drunk and wore a skimpy dress and came on to Aleck and he was all too pleased to make out with her...until a teacher interrupted. Flash forward 12 years and Clemmie has been married and divorced and is moving back to Ashfield from the US with her 10yo daughter Justine and 8yo Louella. They've inherited her old house, and who happens to be living in the backyard but Aleck and his daughter 10yo Stella. The girls become fast friends but Aleck and Clemmie fling words like weapons, Clemmie not realizing at first that Alison has died some years ago. Is this finally their chance at love? Of course it is! Not without some trials, but this is a fun story and I'm a really big sucker for these books where the hero and heroine were attracted in high school but nothing could come of it until now, so this one is great for me.
