Search - Christmas Getaway: Claus and Effect / Caught at Christmas / Candy Canes and Crossfire

Not a bad compilation of three interconnected stories. The back of the book describes the first story as taking place in an abandoned lighthouse... I didn't come across a lighthouse anywhere in the story... they were in an abandoned restaurant, though :-) The stories started from funny (the first one), to entertaining (the second one), to... well, it tied together well at the end, but did slow down a bit.

There are three stories here, but all center around a wedding. When it's just about to take place, most of the men are packing guns and bullets start flying. The good guys are trying to find the diamonds stolen by the bad guys. Ellie, one female in the bridal party, is kidnapped by a cop, dressed up as santa claus, and believed by the police to be part of the diamond heist. Then Jean (who might be the target of the gunfire) is abducted by a Texas Ranger who wants to keep her in safekeeping. And, the Texas Ranger's sister, Molly, is the jilted bride whose wedding becomes a firing range. She leaves the states in order to mend her broken heart in Australia and winds up in the same residence as Ellie's brother.

The first story was the funniest. But, all were interesting and had a good dose of romance. The only hard part was keeping track of who was related to who!!

All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

The authors take different characters around a central plot, and tell their stories. Anne Stuarts heroine, Eloise, is kidnapped by a cop who is running for his life. Tina Leonard's heroine, Jean, overhears the bad cop threaten to kill someone, and becomes a target herself, and is saved by the bride's brother. And Marion Lennoz's heroine, Molly, is the bride who is saved from marrying the bad cop when the groomsmen begin firing upon her maid of honor at the wedding. She is rescued by Eloise's brother, Sam. Nice presentation, and a cute read.

This is a unique Christmas anthology where all of the stories are tied together.

"Claus and Effect" by Anne Stuart. James Fitzpatrick is a desperate cop who has been framed for murder and a jewel heist. He kidnaps Dr. Ellie Pollard because he thinks she may have information about that can prove his innocence, and help him with the nasty bullet wound he received earlier in the day. This was the best of the 3 stories. Very funny and entertaining.

"Caught At Christmas" by Tina Leonard. Maid of Honor Jean is deciding how to break the news to the bride that her groom is a no show, when a gun battle breaks out. The bride's brother, Sam, grabs Jean and gets her out of harm's way, knowing that she is the target for the gunmen. This was a cute "on the run" themed story.

"Candy Canes and Crossfire" by Marion Lennox. Molly can't believe her groom is missing and there is gunfire at her wedding. She decides to console herself and take her honeymoon trip to Australia. But when she arrives, she finds the guy that saved her at the wedding, who is looking after his nieces and nephews. This was a good story which tied up the whole diamond heist story, but it dragged in places.

Overall, this book kept me entertained and I would give it a 4 Star rating.