Debbie Macomber

For reasons not adequately explained, a music teacher who has no children, pets, or roommates can never find time to compose music at home so she accepts a friend's offer to spend the holiday alone at a remote cabin instead of with her parents where a former boyfriend is determined to re-enter her life. Of course, Hailey immediately meets a hunk who helps her out of several jams. They also share a love of music so it's easy to see why she falls for Jay but I have no idea why he falls for her. Christmas in Podunk, Washington is white in more ways than one. The men will only go to the barbershop, not a hair salon, because "in these parts, men want to be men" and it's all "apple pie, guns, and the American flag." Hailey thinks that's "foolish" but, of course, would never express that mildly contradictory opinion to Jay. Why would a woman's opinion matter? I gave it 2 stars only because Macomber doesn't rely on the usual trope of a miscommunication driving a wedge between the couple and Hailey's Christmas ditty is hilariously banal.… (more)

Under the Southern Sky is a book with two of the author's older short stories. I don't usually like her older books and these two were just ok. Both books are romances with little depth to the plots. The characters were not developed and were all difficult to like or care about.

Marriage Wanted
Savannah owns a bridal salon and believes in happily ever after for her clients but knows that no one will want to marry her due to her disability. Along comes Dash, a divorce attorney who doesn't believe in marriage at all. They disagree over their different views and when he asks Savannah to marry him it is to keep his job and not because he loves her.

First Comes Marriage
Zach merged his business with the Hartman family business. When he first meets the granddaughter of the family, he doesn't think much of Janine. Her grandfather wants to arrange a marriage between them - after all it worked in the old country! They don't agree with her grandfather and fight to cancel his plans. But will her grandfather have the best idea?… (more)