Maybe it’s the mistletoe—or maybe there’s something magical in the air this Christmas…
Hot Arctic Nights
In North Pole, Alaska, Christmas spirit is everywhere—except in Hallie Prentiss’s heart. At least her two-week stint managing the Dancing Elves B&B will pay the bills. Then she gets a look at long-term guest Daniel Reynolds. Whether dressed as Santa or (even better) wearing next to nothing, the man is gorgeous, charming, and sexy as hell. Workaholic Hallie is tempted to take a walk on the naughty side for once. But when she does, will she ever want to leave?
By Firelight
There’s nothing like nearly freezing to death on the Appalachian Trail to make a woman want to live a little. And when Madison Tierney stumbles upon Grant Monroe’s mountain cabin during a blizzard, she’s gripped by something more than gratitude. Soon, the glow of firelight sparks hot, sweet kisses… and the start of a Christmas adventure she’ll never forget.
| Title: | By Firelight (Contains By Firelight and Hot Arctic Nights) |
| Author: | Janice Maynard |
| Series: | n/a |
| Pages: | 200 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Christmas Romance |
| Point of View: | |
| Location: | US |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 11th October, 2016 |
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Sweet, slow Christmas stories
As everyone knows, I can’t resist a Christmas romance – add in some chocolate (and a hot man?) and you have a trifecta of awesomeness that means I’m in heaven.
The first thing I noticed about this book is that the cover is just amazing. It’s got a sparkly tree, Christmas lights, a fire and a snog between a hot man and a girl with good hair. Love it.
And then we have the stories, both by Janice Maynard…
By Firelight
If I’m honest, it took me a good long while to wade through this story. I could get behind the premise and who doesn’t like the fantasy of being stranded in a log cabin in a blizzard with a hunky man? It just didn’t ever feel quite right.
Maddy has had a near-death experience and I could kind of understand why she would want to jump straight into sex with Grant. Yet…it felt creepy somehow. Maddy felt too innocent (although she would change to sexually aggressive at certain moments) and Grant was too keen to say he knew how she ticked. Even though she was something of sure thing, his declarations still felt insincere.
It wasn’t offensive – although the end was a bit daft – but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Hot Arctic Nights
Another cute premise and, for me, a better story than the first. It was more drawn out and I felt Hallie was a more relatable character although she did have some unnecessary back story that felt out of place in a short story.
The relationship between Hallie and Daniel built slowly after a quick attraction and I believed in their budding feelings for each other.
Unfortunately, like the first story, the ending was rushed and a happily ever after came about quite suddenly. There was a sweetness to it but little believability. Shame.
For me, both stories were sweet, festive and a slow burn. There wasn’t a lot of depth to either but an awful lot of conversation. I think I would have preferred the stories to be half the length they are but a bit more punchy. For me, I’m giving 3 stars.
Previously published as By Firelight in A Very Merry Christmas and Hot Arctic Nights in Wicked Wonderland.
Janice Maynard came to the writing life early! When her third grade short story, “The Princess and the Robbers”, won a red ribbon in a school arts fair, Janice was hooked. She followed up that early success with a more commercial piece in the sixth grade… “Why My Mom Loves To Drink Coke”. No advance for that one, but she won a six-pack of Coke… remember those great little bottles?
In junior high Janice began circulating her work to a wider audience. A dozen or so notebook pages stapled together made the rounds in some particularly boring classes, with the riveting tales carefully hidden behind textbooks.
High school meant the big time… editor of the school newspaper, the Maroon and White. Janice used her insightful editorials to delve into such meaty subjects as “locker room odor” and “why we need two-ply tissue in the student bathrooms”.
College brought lots of writing, but very little of it creative… four years later, Janice stepped into the adult world as a fully certified elementary teacher.
Despite motherhood, full-time employment, and keeping up with an “always into something” husband, Janice never lost her love of writing or the desire to be published. In 1996 she realized her long-time dream when Kensington Publishing bought her first book, Sweetheart. That exciting moment was followed by the sales of two more books in the Precious Gem line.
In the fall of 2002, Janice left the classroom to pursue writing full-time.
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