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Tallgrass #1.5

A Family For Christmas

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War widow Ilena doesn't mind spending Christmas alone. But when a new doctor blows into town with the winter wind, will she get her secret Christmas wish?

Part of A Christmas to Remember anthology.

Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2013

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About the author

Marilyn Pappano

195 books125 followers
Award-winning and bestselling author, international traveler, feted at a Hollywood premiere . . .

All true . . . but my regular life is a whole lot more routine. Deal with the five big puppers who share our house, babysit our grandson, battle the jungle that is our yard, pray for summer in winter and dream of winter in summer, and hunker down at the computer -- that's my real life.

I grew up in Oklahoma and had the fun of living in Georgia, Alabama, California and the Carolinas, thanks to my husband's Navy career. When he retired, we came home to Oklahoma and have lived in the same house for seventeen years. That's a real "Wow!" for someone used to the nomadic military life.

Writing was the perfect career for all that moving. Have computer, will travel. I've set books, or part of them, in every state we've lived in and been inspired by every place I've ever been. I've now written somewhere around 80 books, and I think I've got only about 8,000 stories left to tell.

My biggest hobby is starting new projects -- starting. Not completing. I'm still not done with the cross-stitched Army seal I started when our son joined out of high school. He did tours in Georgia, Colorado, Korea, Italy, Iraq, Afghanistan and Louisiana, and has been out for a few years. So I'm a little slow.

I like to think about getting organized, painting my living room in cool beachy colors, and turning my entire five-acre yard into a garden. I also dream about having every room in my house clean at exactly the same time, but I live by the motto of the woman who taught me to quilt: A clean house is the sign of a bored woman.

And I've never been bored.

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5 stars
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4 stars
11 (34%)
3 stars
18 (56%)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Robin.
2,045 reviews105 followers
December 20, 2024
Dr. Jared Connor comes from a long line of illustrious surgeons who practice in the top hospitals in the country. His family is upset when Jared signed a two-year contract to work as a pediatrician in a small Oklahoma town. Jared knows he'll miss New York City and his friends, but he wants to give this a try. Things are looking up when he meets Ilena Gomez. She is a young widow who is dressed as an elf. Jared and Ilena become friends in a matter of hours. Jared just hopes he doesn't hurt her when his contract is up.

This short Christmas story was part of "A Christmas to Remember" anthology. Jared and Ilena seemed to fall for each other in record time. Of course, Jared never mentioned that he may not be staying in Oklahoma permanently, which is a problem they have to solve. My rating: 3 Stars.
Profile Image for Chan.
804 reviews51 followers
May 28, 2021
Book: A Christmas to Remember

This story contained all the reasons I don't enjoy novellas. I enjoyed book 1 a lot and was hoping 1.5 would be good too.

Ilena and Jared's relationship was instant and the speed of the relationship felt more icky because Ilena has a baby. Not that having a baby is wrong, but I think parents should be more cautious when seeking partners and having them around their children, but that's my opinion.

This also makes it difficult to believe the relationship and any angst between the couple comes off as unreasonable and unbelievable.
Profile Image for TinaMarie.
3,519 reviews40 followers
June 4, 2018
While a sweet story, it had some disjointed spots. Pediatrician leaves his snobby family of surgeons to practice in a small town. She's an army widow with a small son, with a penchant for wearing elf costumes and Christmas trees.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,042 reviews64 followers
August 10, 2014
Doctor Jared rebelled against his family expectations, setting up practice in a small town, not high end enough for them. What he never saw coming was the cute elf already living there.
Ilena lost her husband but still tries to spread holiday cheer. Can she influence the doctor perhaps?
Quick read, christmas fluff and smut.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews