by Lori Wilde
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Four delightful novellas featuring characters from Lori Wilde's New York Times bestselling book The First Love Cookie Club. First published as e-originals, they are now available in one volume and in print for the first time. There's a legend in Twilight, Texas. It says that if on Christmas you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny. Carrie, Raylene, Christine, and Flynn are all members of the Christmas Cookie Club. Each has a story to tell, and each discovers the miracles of the season and the power of love Carrie: Reconnects with her high school sweetheart . . .the only man she's ever loved. Raylene: Discovers that the daughter she gave awayat birth is living right in Twilight . . . Christine: Has given up on love . . . until the man ofher dreams walks through her shop door. Grace: It's Christmas Eve and Flynn and Jesse Calloway are thrilled to be expecting a new baby. Then Flynn's car hits a patchof ice, and Jesse must move earth . . . and heaven . . .to save her and their unborn child.
The Christmas Cookie Collection contains four delightful novellas featuring characters from Lori Wilde’s First Love Cookie Club novels. All were previously published as Christmas Cookie Chronicles and are now available in this single collection. Heart-warming tales of romance, friendship and small-town charm make each of the tales a holiday delight. Mini review: heart-warming, and romantic it offers delightful tales that allow you to curl up and escape from the hustle and bustle of the season.
The first tale is Carrie’s who declares herself the town Grinch. Despite her friend’s attempt at spreading holiday cheer, it is their gossip that catches her ear. Her high school sweetheart, Mark, is back in town with a reality film crew. Claire is still hung up on Mark. Could this be a chance to ignite the old flame or is Carrie going to continue her role as Grinch? This was sweet and predictable with humor and tender moments.
The second tale brings us Raylene a local bar owner who is feeling a bit like a Grinch herself. Memories of Christmas past haunt her. One Christmas Eve an old secret had her husband Earl leaving. Despite friends trying to get her to move on, Raylene is pining over the past. Her friend Nate is there to support her as a stranger appears stirring up secrets and old mysteries. Can Raylene find her happy? This had a little suspense and a little magic.
Christine owns the local bakery, Twilight, and her shop smells of yuletide greetings. This holiday with her parents and brother away she is feeling lonely. A cake to be delivered on Christmas Eve and an old flame from the past looking for a birthday cake for his daughter has her wondering if Christmas might not be so lonely after all. I love these second chance romances, and this was a sweet one.
The last tale belongs to Flynn. She and her husband Jesse are expecting their first child, and the holiday season has its woes as money is tight. Together they learn that the best things at the holidays don’t require money. This delivered such a sweet message and reminds us all to appreciate the little things.
All of these tales were delightful from the small-town to the nosy, well meaning town-folk. The romances are clean and sweet. Each delivers life lessons and is filled with joy and hope. Wilde fleshes out her characters, and while you might not love them all, you will certainly connect and feel their emotions. The reader soon finds themselves wishing they were a member of the Cookie Club.
Perfect for the holidays you are sure to gobble up The Christmas Cookie Collection. Lori Wilde’s small town series are not to missed, from Twilight, Texas to Cupid, Texas.
Three and half cups of coffee out of five
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Pamela D
I love the idea of sleeping with cookies underneath your pillow to discover your true love!
kimbacaffeinate
Me too 🙂
Sam
I’m not always a fan of short story collections, but this sounds like a great christmas read. I’m especially curious about Raylene’s tale. I’m glad you had fun with them overall, Kimba. Thanks for the helpful review! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I like them for Christmas, thanks Sam 🙂
Andrea
Aw, this seems like a really sweet collection. I’ve only read one of Wilde’s novels, but I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Andrea 🙂
Cyn
Sounds cute! I’m loving all the Christmas book reviews you’ve got going on haha. I think I’m looking forward to the novella with the bakery in it. Lovely review!
kimbacaffeinate
I love foodie tales too 🙂
Candace
I do like nosy, well meaning town folks! I wish I could squeeze in another holiday read, but it looks like it’s not to be. 🙁
kimbacaffeinate
I stopped reading them three weeks ago since I am working on January reviews and new releases..LOL
Sharlene Wegner
This was a great Christmas anthology that I will probably take out every year to reread!
kimbacaffeinate
It would make a wonderful gift too, since it will appeal to a broad group 🙂
Heidi
I love these type of simple, clean, cozy reads. I hope it is brimming with sweet treats!
kimbacaffeinate
These are always nice and are perfect for in-between heavier reads 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
Sounds like a good holiday book! I love little stories like this! Plus, you knew you had me with Cookie in the title along with that cute little aussie pup. 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, cookies and coffee rule!
Lily B
Sounds like a sweet collection. I like that she used characters from her other books.
kimbacaffeinate
It was sweet the way she tied them all in. I have read a few from each series and they are wonderful small-town romances.
Debbie Haupt
Love, love, love Christmas stories Kimba it looks like you do too!
Thanks for another one to add to my nice list.
kimbacaffeinate
Me too, and thanks for the singing card 🙂 I love her voice
Ginny
You should be in the holly jolliest of Christmas spirits this year with all these great Christmas books you’ve read. I almost grabbed this one at the store yesterday but picked up Sleigh Bells in the Snow instead. I will add this one to my list for next year. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo I cannot wait to see what you think of Sleigh Bells. I stopped reading holiday books weeks ago..I am now on to horror, mystery and urban fantasy for January posts..LOL
Jenny
This does sound perfect for the holidays Kim! And it also has me craving cookies. There’s not much I love more than Christmas cookies (aside from books, obviously)! I haven’t read anything by Lori Wilde either, but I’m thinking I’ll be a fan:)
kimbacaffeinate
I will be baking cookies all weekend! Have a wonderful weekend Jenny 🙂
kindlemom1
Oh my gosh, I love the snow! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me there for a little bit LOL! I figured my cold was finally catching up to me and I needed more sleep. 😛
Fun!
Have a lovely weekend Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
hehehe 🙂
anna
She’s been on my to read list since I met her a couple summers ago at an event. She was so sweet! This one sounds perfect. Especially Christine! I love bakers/chefts in my reads.
kimbacaffeinate
Oh I love foodie stories too Anna or coffee shops *swoon*
Felicia The Geeky Blogger
I gave this one as a gift over Thanksgiving and they really enjoyed it too. Said it was sweet and perfect for the season 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was and it would make a great gift.
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
I was freaking out because there were white spots flying everywhere then I realised that it was snow lolz. I don’t read a lot of anthologies, but it sounds cute!
Lovely review, hun! <33
kimbacaffeinate
OMG, you are too funny. Yes if you have WordPress under settings you can add snow 🙂
blodeuedd
You have read so many xmas books, I am jealous
kimbacaffeinate
I did, but I haven’t read one in over 3 weeks..LOL I am reading horror and mysteries now..LOL