Christmas in New York! Four Holiday Stories, five #bookgiveaways Day 2 YULETIDE HEARTS by Ruth Logan Herne

Yuletide Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne

Men of Allegeny County book 4

I received this book as part of a gift basket from Seekerville.com. It was the large print edition, and the first thing that caught my attention was the lovely cover image. But what made me jump right in and read is the fact that it is set in upstate NY towns I have known well, such as Houghton, Wellsville, and Olean. Ms Herne's writing is a departure from my typical read of historical romance, and her style is straightforward and yet artful, easy and yet containing more depth than meets the eye. 

When a stoic Iraqi war veteran and single mom meets the man who has taken over the development her father has lost to foreclosure, she promises her heart to keep a safe distance. The contractor, a young marine with a past that needs the same finishing work as the housing development he seeks to complete, has anything but love on his mind. When Matt Cavanaugh meets Callie Burdick, even his tough marine training hasn't prepared him for the siege she stages on his heart. 

With themes of redemption, forgiveness, commitment, and determination, this sweet contemporary romance packs a big story in a small package. Besides a lovely glimpse at charming small town life in upstate NY, the Christmas story plays out in modern terms as mother and child find shelter under the covering of an adoptive father, and love conquers sin and debt. 

Lovely on so many levels, this book makes me want to read more from this talented and insightful author.

Ruth Logan Herne loves Charlie Brown Christmas trees, rooting for the underdog and people who go the distance while others see the path as too long or broken! She loves God, chocolate, writing, dogs and is blessed by a sprawling family, oodles of grandkids and a sweet old farmhouse in constant need of work. She's sure that clean rooms are over-rated, snakes and possums should mind their own business and buy their own farm and puppies and kittens and babies are about the cutest things on Earth. A "pull-up-your-big-girl-panties-and-move-on" kind of gal, she is blessed to be married to her high school sweetheart (although it wasn't as if THEY WERE KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR to challenge him for her!!!), work with young families who allow her to exploit their sweet children on blogs, and rock babies on a regular basis. An author for Love Inspired Books and Summerside Press, she lives in upstate New York.

See yesterday's post for another chance to win one of Ruth's Christmas in Upstate NY books from the Men of Allegany County Series. Tune in tomorrow for another giveaway of a New York State Christmas story, It Really is a Wonderful Life by Linda Rondeau.

To enter, leave a comment about a prayer God answered for you in an unexpected way. For extra entries, tell me if you shared this post on Fb, twitter, google+ or pinterest, and if you follow this blog. Good luck! 

Christmas in New York! Four holiday stories, five #bookgiveaway Day 1 HIS MISTLETOE FAMILY by Ruth Logan Herne

Ruth Logan Herne's His Mistletoe Family 
from the Men Of Allegany County series

I really enjoyed this sweet story about a retired Army Colonel and a young entrepreneur in Upstate NY who find romance and comfort in one another's arms. Haley Jennings loves a challenge in business--she has started a co-op in her grandfather's old factory right during the Christmas rush, which would be a daunting task for the most focused among us. But then, a monkey wrench is thrown into her life--her brother has left his two young sons into her care.

With a five and a three year old in the back seat of her convertible, Haley must find time, food, and resources on a cold Thanksgiving night when her search lands her at a church meal, locking eyes with a handsome and mysterious man--Brett Stanton. Brett hides his pain by hiding from the world. He has lost family in the war and has shut himself off from relationships--until something about the beautiful lady and her two young wards tug at his heartstrings.

As a resident of upstate NY who has traversed these same small towns--Bolivar, Jamison, Wellsville, Olean. . . I found this book to be a delightful trip through my memories of beautiful countryside and warm-hearted people. This writer captures small town hospitality and the rugged, pull-together aspect of these communities. Her characters are believable and sympathetic, and their stories resonate in the heart.

Even though Christmas is past, the snow is still white on the ground, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this holiday happily ever after.

Ruth Logan Herne loves Charlie Brown Christmas trees, rooting for the underdog and people who go the distance while others see the path as too long or broken! She loves God, chocolate, writing, dogs and is blessed by a sprawling family, oodles of grandkids and a sweet old farmhouse in constant need of work. She's sure that clean rooms are over-rated, snakes and possums should mind their own business and buy their own farm and puppies and kittens and babies are about the cutest things on Earth. A "pull-up-your-big-girl-panties-and-move-on" kind of gal, she is blessed to be married to her high school sweetheart (although it wasn't as if THEY WERE KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR to challenge him for her!!!), work with young families who allow her to exploit their sweet children on blogs, and rock babies on a regular basis. An author for Love Inspired Books and Summerside Press, she lives in upstate New York.

Tune in tomorrow to hear about another of Ruth Logan Herne's Upstate New York Christmas stories, Yuletide Hearts.

Leave comment below with your favorite Christmas memory. One winner for each book this week will be chosen on Friday, November 22. You can earn extra entries by sharing on FB, twitter, pinterest, and google+, (see upper right corner of blog for easy buttons) and for subscribing to this blog via email or feedburner. Let me know what you did for your extra entries. Good luck!