Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery

I wish that either River and Dylan or Camryn and Jake had gotten their own books. Both relationships had some big problems (well, one person in the relationship had Big Problems) that were solved relatively quickly and it would have been nice to see a little more introspection. Also, I really don't love the meddling mother trope. 

Camryn Neff is only in Wishing Tree long enough for her twin sisters to graduate high school and then she's going back to Chicago. At least, that's the plan until Helen Crane picks her as a contender in a project to marry off her son, Jake. The first thing Camryn does is to find Jake and let him know what is going on. He's charmed, she's charmed by him and they decide to have a short-term affair. And there are a lot of little things that crop up that are usually solved within 2-3 pages, just, so many things. 

River Best is new to Wishing Tree. She's really good at computers and very shy having grown up with scoliosis and not really getting to participate in regular life growing up. But she consents to having her name put in for the Snow King, a tradition that has been dormant in Wishing Tree but is being resurrected, purely so that Helen (yes, Jake's mother) can also find a wife for Dylan Tucker, the local craftsman. And they're attracted, but Dylan has a big secret that he is unwilling to share with River, even though she's opened her heart to him.

Three stars

This book came out October 4, 2022

Follows The Christmas Wedding Guest

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

This is a two-for-one romance which means that both relationships are a bit short-changed. In this book are two sister. Reggie Somerville got engaged last year on Friday, party on Saturday, dumped on Sunday. We read about it a lot. But she's back in Wishing Tree to help her parents plan their vow renewal (not enough time spent on this either.) Also back in town? Her high school boyfriend, Toby, who is now the father of an eight-year old. 

Said son is in Reggie's sister's class. Dena, at the ripe old age of 32 has given up on love and has gotten impregnated. She is also the owner of a B&B where Micah Ruiz, a famous musician is staying. He is in town to visit an old bandmate who now owns a Christmas tree farm. Micah is healing from the loss of his wife and unborn child just over a year ago. 

There is so much going on with everyone and their stories that, while this is a fine story, it's not one of Mallery's best since all of the story lines are crammed into one book.

Three stars

This book came out September 28th, 2021

Follows novella Say You'll Stay

Followed by Home Sweet Christmas

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Say You'll Stay by Susan Mallery

Shaye Harper lost both her parents and then discovered that her boyfriend was using her all in a short amount of time. So she did what anyone else who had sold their home to follow said stinker to LA, she took off on a road trip. Now she's in Wishing Tree, Washington wondering why so many people are running around with antlers in July.

Lawson Easley is back in town after being deployed. He is happy to stay in Wishing Tree; it's where he grew up and where he feels at home. Wanting to stay in the small town is the reason his last relationship broke up so, while he's attracted to the stranger, he's feeling cautious. Even when Shaye picks up a job to stay in town, he's not sure it's a relationship that will work out.

Of course, it does (this is a romance) but it's all wrapped up very quickly. It's a novella so we can't expect much but it would have been nice to get a little bit more than the characters suddenly realizing everything would be okay without any more information than that.

Three stars

This novella came out July 1st, 2021

Followed by The Christmas Wedding Guest

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own