jjares reviewed A Western Christmas Homecoming: Christmas Day Wedding Bells / Snowbound in Big Springs / Christmas with the Outlaw on + 3266 more book reviews
All three of these stories are new to this publication. Because of the great reception of their last anthology, WESTERN SPRING WEDDINGS, in 2016, these authors brought out another trio of stories -- this time about Christmas. In my opinion, I thought the last short story was the most interesting and involving. I just didn't buy the nonsense about the Pinkertons working with a US Marshall.
CHRISTMAS DAY WEDDING BELLS (Lynna Banning) -- G
When Smoke River's town librarian is informed of her younger sister's death, Alice Montgomery is asked by the US Marshall to accompany him to find out who killed her sister in Idaho. Because the law couldn't get any miners to talk about the death, The Pinkerton Company and the Marshall decided that a woman was needed to get people to talk.
SNOWBOUND IN BIG SPRINGS (Lauri Robinson) -- G+
Welles Carmichael has been gambling for five long years, but it is time to stop off in Big Spring to check on his aged grandfather, Chester Carmichael. Welles is surprised to find Sophie George living with his grandfather. Her own mother, the town madam, had died. Sophie had learned how to tend and love horses from Welles, and she began to live with and work for Chester. As Welles looks around himself and sees how others have pursued their lives, he takes stock in his own life.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE OUTLAW (Kathryn Albright) -- VG
Teddy White and his sister Abigail have published the local paper in town for years. The siblings are very close because their parents died years before from cholera. Now, Teddy is married (with a baby daughter) and he worries about Abigail's inability to loosen up and find a life partner. Suddenly, an old friend of Teddy's -- Russell Carter -- hides in the newspaper back office. He's wounded and in trouble with the law.
This was the most interesting of the trio. Overall score = G+.
CHRISTMAS DAY WEDDING BELLS (Lynna Banning) -- G
When Smoke River's town librarian is informed of her younger sister's death, Alice Montgomery is asked by the US Marshall to accompany him to find out who killed her sister in Idaho. Because the law couldn't get any miners to talk about the death, The Pinkerton Company and the Marshall decided that a woman was needed to get people to talk.
SNOWBOUND IN BIG SPRINGS (Lauri Robinson) -- G+
Welles Carmichael has been gambling for five long years, but it is time to stop off in Big Spring to check on his aged grandfather, Chester Carmichael. Welles is surprised to find Sophie George living with his grandfather. Her own mother, the town madam, had died. Sophie had learned how to tend and love horses from Welles, and she began to live with and work for Chester. As Welles looks around himself and sees how others have pursued their lives, he takes stock in his own life.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE OUTLAW (Kathryn Albright) -- VG
Teddy White and his sister Abigail have published the local paper in town for years. The siblings are very close because their parents died years before from cholera. Now, Teddy is married (with a baby daughter) and he worries about Abigail's inability to loosen up and find a life partner. Suddenly, an old friend of Teddy's -- Russell Carter -- hides in the newspaper back office. He's wounded and in trouble with the law.
This was the most interesting of the trio. Overall score = G+.
