Trueblood Christmas (Trueblood Texas (Unnumbered))

Trueblood Texas Christmas is an omnibus of three Trueblood Texas stories that are set around Christmas and involve three sisters who are unaware of each other’s existence until their father sets out to find them.

Gabriella is the story of the eldest daughter, written by Jasmine Creswell. Now living in San Antonio, Gabriella Petri learns from her former Long Island neighbour (and teenage crush), Josh Taylor, that her adopted mother has been admitted to hospital with a heart attack. Josh discovered just the Christmas before how lovely his grown-up girl-next-door was, and hopes for more than friendship with Ella. And if chartering a plane to get her to her parents will help, that’s what he’ll do. But exactly what led to Mary’s heart attack, and why she is so fixated on a bunch of old photos is unclear. A sweet romance that begins to unravel the mystery surrounding the sisters.

Beth is the story of the youngest daughter, written by Tara Taylor Quinn. Beth Chenoweth is a successful businesswoman who lives on her beloved Vancouver Island. Adopted out as a baby to a loving mother and an indifferent father, Beth suffers from panic attacks. Usually, her medication is sufficient, but an unexpected forced landing of her charter plane sees her relying on her personal pilot, Joe Holden, more than she is comfortable with. Close quarters see them acting on a long-standing attraction. And Beth can see that Joe’s son, Joshua needs more than he is getting from his small-town school. But Beth knows her limitations, and she’s not going to saddle Joe and Joshua with her problems. Another sweet romance that sees the youngest and eldest sisters reunited.

Georgiana is the story of the second daughter, written by Kate Hoffman. Georgie Hewitt has just turned thirty and is annoyed with her four brothers for trying to match-make. She is much more interested in running the ranch, even if her mom would she have rather a more feminine approach to life. Escaping on her beloved horse Jesse, she rides out and runs into a neighbour. Wade Marshall owns the water rights that the Hewitts claim are theirs, but the long-standing fued between the families does not lessen the immediate attraction that he and Georgie feel for each other. But when they eventually decide to reveal their relationship to the family, Georgie finds she is in for a revelation of a totally different kind: a father and two sisters turn up in her life. This rather saccharine tale completes the Trueblood Texas Christmas trilogy, unravelling the mystery surrounding the sisters adoption.

3.5 stars