The Best Christmas Ever by Stella Bagwell, Silhouette Romance #909, Heartland Holidays #2, December 1992, Rating: C

We get to know more of the Gallagher clan in book two of the Heartland Holidays series. Sam and Olivia are busily preparing for their Christmas-time wedding, unsure if Sam's brother and bestman will actually make it from his military duties.

Nick Gallagher enjoys his life, particularly life away from the Gallagher farm and out from the shadow of older brother, Sam. He has spent a good deal of his life thinking his father is disappointed in the fact Nick did not have a knack for farming as Sam did. A flashy sportscar and a unit under his command are what make him happy and all he needs, or that was the plan until he met the neighbor woman. Entranced with Allison Lee he finds himself wanting to do kind things for her and eventually wanting to transfer to a base closer.

Allison Lee is a single parent. She dropped out of college when she found herself pregnant, loved and left by her sweet talking boyfriend. Of no use to her father, her grandmother offers her use of her old house now that she's in a home. Burned once, Allison has no time or desire for falling in love or romance. She fights Nick Gallagher as he tries to weasel his way past her defenses. It doesn't help her son seems to like the man.

I enjoyed The Best Christmas Ever. I thought it moved a little too fast from first meeting to popping the question, but I enjoyed Nick and Allison. It was nice to see the rest of the Gallagher's again and to get a glimpse into single parenthood. I rated it a C.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com