Anthologies are usually a mixed bag; some are superb and there are some also-rans. Amy Sandas is the only author of this group of stories with which I'm not familiar. One note: Leigh Greenwood's story has been printed twice before this collection.
FATHER CHRISTMAS (Leigh Greenwood) -- 4 stars
Joe Ryan has traveled to his old partner's home, looking for the gold Pete stole and blamed on Joe. Pete is dead now and his wife is in a bad way. Mary is very pregnant and unable to take care of the farm, or even feed herself. Joe needs to get out of the area because he escaped from jail to find the money (from Pete), return it, and regain his good name. However, Mary's baby arrives and Joe can't leave her. My only complaint about this pleasant story was the pat nature of the solution.
A CHICK-A-DEE CHRISTMAS (Rosanne Bittner) -- 3.5 stars
This entry was written about the same time as the last book of the Outlaw Hearts series was published (1) OUTLAW HEARTS, 2) DO NOT FORSAKE ME, 3) LOVE'S SWEET REVENGE, and 4) THE LAST OUTLAW). This is one of my favorite authors but this story suffers from the same malady as the last 2 stories of this series -- too much explanation of past trials-and-tribulations, and too much discussion of deep emotions (folks of that time didn't do that very often; the repeated explanations only cheapened the drama), and constant hugging - men, as well as women. I haven't finished the last two books in that series because of this over-talking every emotion and event.
This story has the same problem; the author was afraid that you might miss some nuance of the previous stories and she dragged it all out again. This might have been an interesting story about Jake Harkener trying to help a stupid youngster to see the right road (instead of getting killed, which was the road he was headed down). However, after wading through all the previous difficulties, I didn't really care to finish the story. Finally, I did. The story was great; the constant dig-up of old history was not.
THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER (Linda Broday) -- 3.5 stars
Attracted by a barking dog, Sidalee King finds a stranger covered in snow. She gets him back to her mercantile store and takes care of him. Hank Destry, the stranger, wakes up on the Legend Ranch (some of the characters are from the MEN OF LEGEND series). The Legends just happen to need a telegraph operator and Hank just happens to have learned it at his father's knee. This story is pretty syrupy.
A TEXAS RANGER FOR CHRISTMAS (Margaret Brownley) -- 5 stars
Capt. Cole Bradshaw of the Texas Rangers rides to tell Sadie Carnes that her Ranger husband has died in the line of duty. He looks around and sees a ranch in poor repair and a widow with a 6-month-old son. He collapses because he has lead poisoning (he was shot at the same time Richard Carnes was killed). As Cole gets better, he does more things around the farm. He decides that he will leave the Rangers and settle down with Sadie. But Sadie lost both her father and her husband to the Rangers and does not believe Cole will quit for good.
A CHRISTMAS BABY (Anna Schmidt) -- 1 star
This story starts out with several chapters of anger, murder threats, and hostility. Then a Christmas baby brings peace and love over all the anger. Give me a break. This kind of story does not fit in with the uplifting nature of most Christmas tales. This one was a downer. Absolutely awful.
A CHRISTMAS REUNION (Amy Sandas) -- 5 STARS
Physician Warren Reed is accosted at his new office in Chester Springs by two men with guns. He's taken to treat a fellow outlaw. When he arrives, he meets his former lover and they express considerable anger with each other. Honey Prentice's twin brother, Luke is the one seriously injured. Seven years before, Warren went back home because his father was dying. Not long after, he received a letter that Honey had married another. Honey received a letter that Warren wasn't coming back and planned to marry another.
Overall evaluation (from best to worst): Margaret Brownley (wonderful dialogue), Amy Sandas, Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Anna Schmidt.
FATHER CHRISTMAS (Leigh Greenwood) -- 4 stars
Joe Ryan has traveled to his old partner's home, looking for the gold Pete stole and blamed on Joe. Pete is dead now and his wife is in a bad way. Mary is very pregnant and unable to take care of the farm, or even feed herself. Joe needs to get out of the area because he escaped from jail to find the money (from Pete), return it, and regain his good name. However, Mary's baby arrives and Joe can't leave her. My only complaint about this pleasant story was the pat nature of the solution.
A CHICK-A-DEE CHRISTMAS (Rosanne Bittner) -- 3.5 stars
This entry was written about the same time as the last book of the Outlaw Hearts series was published (1) OUTLAW HEARTS, 2) DO NOT FORSAKE ME, 3) LOVE'S SWEET REVENGE, and 4) THE LAST OUTLAW). This is one of my favorite authors but this story suffers from the same malady as the last 2 stories of this series -- too much explanation of past trials-and-tribulations, and too much discussion of deep emotions (folks of that time didn't do that very often; the repeated explanations only cheapened the drama), and constant hugging - men, as well as women. I haven't finished the last two books in that series because of this over-talking every emotion and event.
This story has the same problem; the author was afraid that you might miss some nuance of the previous stories and she dragged it all out again. This might have been an interesting story about Jake Harkener trying to help a stupid youngster to see the right road (instead of getting killed, which was the road he was headed down). However, after wading through all the previous difficulties, I didn't really care to finish the story. Finally, I did. The story was great; the constant dig-up of old history was not.
THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER (Linda Broday) -- 3.5 stars
Attracted by a barking dog, Sidalee King finds a stranger covered in snow. She gets him back to her mercantile store and takes care of him. Hank Destry, the stranger, wakes up on the Legend Ranch (some of the characters are from the MEN OF LEGEND series). The Legends just happen to need a telegraph operator and Hank just happens to have learned it at his father's knee. This story is pretty syrupy.
A TEXAS RANGER FOR CHRISTMAS (Margaret Brownley) -- 5 stars
Capt. Cole Bradshaw of the Texas Rangers rides to tell Sadie Carnes that her Ranger husband has died in the line of duty. He looks around and sees a ranch in poor repair and a widow with a 6-month-old son. He collapses because he has lead poisoning (he was shot at the same time Richard Carnes was killed). As Cole gets better, he does more things around the farm. He decides that he will leave the Rangers and settle down with Sadie. But Sadie lost both her father and her husband to the Rangers and does not believe Cole will quit for good.
A CHRISTMAS BABY (Anna Schmidt) -- 1 star
This story starts out with several chapters of anger, murder threats, and hostility. Then a Christmas baby brings peace and love over all the anger. Give me a break. This kind of story does not fit in with the uplifting nature of most Christmas tales. This one was a downer. Absolutely awful.
A CHRISTMAS REUNION (Amy Sandas) -- 5 STARS
Physician Warren Reed is accosted at his new office in Chester Springs by two men with guns. He's taken to treat a fellow outlaw. When he arrives, he meets his former lover and they express considerable anger with each other. Honey Prentice's twin brother, Luke is the one seriously injured. Seven years before, Warren went back home because his father was dying. Not long after, he received a letter that Honey had married another. Honey received a letter that Warren wasn't coming back and planned to marry another.
Overall evaluation (from best to worst): Margaret Brownley (wonderful dialogue), Amy Sandas, Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Anna Schmidt.
