CHRISTMAS AT THE CORRAL BY DEBRA ST.JOHN

Title: Christmas at the Corral

Author: Debra St. John

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 54

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

SYNOPSIS: Maggie Pearson has no time in her busy life for love, but an immediate attraction draws her to a mysterious stranger at The Corral, a local bar. However, any romantic feelings are ruthlessly squashed when he accuses her of having an affair with his brother.

As a divorce lawyer, Van Rawlings has seen the ugly side of marriage too many times to believe in love. But having gotten off on the wrong foot with Maggie, and genuinely contrite over his faux pas, he offers to help her with an upcoming Christmas charity dinner. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes he's never met anyone like Maggie, who gives so generously of her time.

Can Maggie and the magic of the season help Van believe again? In Christmas and in love.

REVIEW: Maggie is in a pinch. Her caterer for the Christmas charity dinner is stuck out of town and she doesn’t know what to do. She has a chance meeting with the caterers’ brother at the Corral a bar in town. Van, overhears her conversation with his brother he believes and accuses Maggie of having an affair with him. Maggie puts Van in his place right away. She explains the predicament she is in and Van offers to help her out.

Maggie likes having Van around and he seems to enjoy helping her out also. As they get to know each other they both are drawn together. Is it the Christmas holiday or just the circumstance that has pushed them together? Van and Maggie know that this is only for a short amount of time and they don’t waste any of it. Van has gotten the Christmas spirit back and it is all because of Maggie.

Before Van leaves to go back to his job, he tells Maggie he wants to continue their relationship to see where it leads them. They have the attraction that sets off fireworks. They continue to see each other long distance spending as much time together until Van decides to make a permanent move. He purchases the house Maggie loves in town and gives it to her for Christmas that year.

This is a great, romantic love story. I really enjoyed it. I liked how Van had to grovel to get Maggie to forgive him and then let him help her. Maggie is a tough cookie but that is what Van loves about her. Van is a great guy also who never thought he would fall in love or understand the wonder of Christmas. But he has now through Maggie’s eyes.

I highly recommend this book.