Once Upon a Valentine’s by Holly Jacobs

Harlequin American #1247
February, 2009

Holly Jacbos takes us back to Erie, Pennsylvania for another visit with the PTA moms and their Social Planning Committee. This time Carly Lewis is in charge of the upcoming holiday event which happens to be the Valentine’s dance. The last thing Carly wants in her life is romance. After discovering her husband and his secretary having sex on the couch Carly bought for his office, Carly’s outlook on romance is a bit different than her naïve younger days.

Carly wins the couch in the divorce settlement. She promptly takes it into the backyard and sets it on fire. Unfortunately, her neighbor’s shed goes up in flames as well and Carly is arrested for committing a crime. The judge sentences her to community service with Lieutenant Charles Jefferson. Carly did not need another thing on her “to-do” list which already consists of taking care of her two children, studying for her nursing board and planning the Valentine’s dance. However, she has no choice unless she wants to be held in contempt of court.

Charles “Chuck” Jefferson has a policy. He doesn’t date any woman after six weeks. As crazy as Carly’s life is, he finds himself enchanted with the woman and wants nothing more than to break his own policy. How can he convince the harried mother to let him into her very private world?

This is the third book of Holly Jacobs’ series and I’ve loved all three. These characters are so true-to-life and they are women you want to see succeed. Readers will love each of these heroines and their “to-die-for” heroes. I read this book in just one day and hope Holly Jacobs takes us back to this series. I just know the Judge has a romance of his own on the horizon.

This gets the Socrates’ Great Book Alert medal.

For reading challenges: Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge

Once Upon A Christmas by Holly Jacobs

Harlequin American Romance #1238, December 2008

Michelle Hamilton’s worst nightmare comes true, her nephew wants to find his biological father. She remembers back to the day her sister arrived with Brandon on her doorstep pleading for Michelle’s help. What Michelle didn’t realize was that her sister was terminally ill and looking for someone to raise her son, once she was gone. After her sister passed away, Michelle had no choice but to raise Brandon as her own. Although it ruined a relationship she had been in, Michelle has no regrets. In fact, the last thing she wants is some stranger to enter the picture and take the boy away.

Michelle agrees to let Brandon find his father when he reaches 18, but that was five years away. Brandon has no intentions of waiting that long. Going through some of his mother’s belongings, Brandon discovers a possible candidate to be his father. Knowing it would upset Michelle, Brandon secretly visits a man his mother had been involved with. Daniel McLean is shocked when Brandon asks if he could be his dad. When Daniel hears who Brandon’s mother was, he admits it’s a possibility.

As they wait for the return of the paternity test results, Daniel, Michelle and Brandon grow closer and closer. Daniel no longer cares if he is Brandon’s biological father, he already loves the boy and his aunt. He wants to be part of their lives, but they overcome Michelle’s insecurity and fears of losing Brandon? To add to Michelle’s concerns, she’s in charge of the annual school Christmas fair and, against her better judgment, invites Daniel to help out. What was she thinking?

This is the second book of Holly Jacobs holiday trilogy. I loved the first book and the second book is no different. These books are great comfort reads and bring joy to the holidays. A fun way to spend a few hours during the busy holiday months. The next book is Once Upon A Valentine and looks to be even more fun.

Once Upon A Thanksgiving by Holly Jacobs

Genre: Romance, Harlequin American Romance

Samantha Williams had her hands full. She had a full time job, four kids and a cat to take care of, what more could she possibly handle? Try being volunteered to coordinate the school’s Thanksgiving pageant. It didn’t help when she found out her ex-husband had a new girlfriend who was spending time with her children. Then, she gets summoned to the principal’s office and her world is turned upside down.

Harry Remington took the job of interim principal to help out a friend. When he comes face to face with the mother of one of the children, who happens to be an old childhood friend of his, Harry is quite happy with his temporary position and hopes to reacquaint himself with Samantha.

Obstacles are tossed in Samantha and Harry’s path when her oldest son begins to resent Harry’s presence in their lives and Harry’s mother sticks her nose into their relationship, not to mention that Harry’s job will soon come to an end and he’ll have no choice but to leave town. How could they possibly hope to make this relationship work?

This is a real “feel good” book. I curled up in bed and devoured it. The characters were not only realistically portrayed, but they were people you could fall in love with and care about. I cheered for this couple to get together – it’s the perfect holiday book. I’ve always adored Holly Jacobs’ writing and this book was no exception! Book #2, Once Upon A Christmas will be out in December – I’ve already put it on my “to be bought” list.