What makes for an outstanding Christmas holiday? It might be friends and family. It could be snow-covered days spent in front of the fireplace. Maybe it is the smell of a fresh cut spruce tree, Christmas caroling, or a mug of hot, spiced cider. Then there is the mistletoe and the anticipation of a special someone catching you under it. There are holiday surprises and festive goodies. It is hard to pick out one special thing; it is a good thing that Sugar and Spice, a romance anthology, includes everything that make Christmas holidays special.

Fern Michaels’ “The Christmas Stocking” centers on adult children and resentments that keep them away from their picturesque North Carolina home. Busy executive Amy Barton is determined to help her socialite mother raise money for the community’s senior citizens by selling Christmas trees. It might be what she needs to heal the breach between her and her mother. Linda, her erstwhile assistant, thinks Amy needs a man, not additional work. On the other side of town, award-winning architect and major hunk, Gus Moss is out to rescue his father’s failing Christmas tree business, despite his Dad’s apathy. What he doesn’t anticipate is Amy getting in the middle of his planned salvation and offering a bit of competition in the Christmas tree market. The sparks they strike off each other is enough to burn down a forest of Christmas trees.

In Beverly Barton’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Past”, Katie Hadley gives Scrooge a run for his money in holding off Christmas spirit. Katie refuses to live in the present after her husband is tragically killed—four years ago. She holds onto his memories with ferocity—even driving his old car. A wicked winter storm ends up tossing Katie into Special Op Officer Mack MacKinnon’s arms. Together they struggle with their pasts and possible future together.

Jo Ann Fluke’s “The Twelve Desserts of Christmas” is a delicious concoction of boarding school children left behind over Christmas holidays, delectable singles, and a large helping of dessert with the help of amateur sleuth, Hannah Swenson. Julie Jansen, new instructor at the academy is secretly delighted when asked to stay over the holidays with the left-behind children. Besides her, handsome, single Matt Sherwood is staying, too. The two hope to spend some quality time together, but the kids seem to have different plans. In fact, it seems like they are doing everything possible to keep the two from becoming better acquainted. Perhaps fate is against their hopeful pairing.

Shirley Jump’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” centers around a risky Secret Santa adventure. Natalie Harris is ready to leave her dead-end job. Only the prospect of seeing luscious co-worker Jake Lyons keeps her at the company. That’s all she gets to do is see the sexy executive, because when it comes to talking she is tongue-tied. She decides to reveal her true feelings when she draws Jake as her Secret Santa. Thoughtful gifts and tantalizing notes spike Jake’s curiosity, but things become murkier when his cousin hints that Jake’s Secret Santa is the company’s over-blown receptionist and not Natalie. How will Jake react when he finds out that Natalie is his Secret Santa? Better yet, will Natalie have the courage to tell him before she leaves for her new position?

Sugar and Spice is filled with intrepid heroines, yummy heroes, and a mess of mistakes, misimpressions, and mishaps. The stories flow gently with a touch of fun and romance. Despite being short stories, the characters are well fleshed out.

Sugar and Spice is a delightful treat to give yourself or a friend. Reading Sugar and Spice was the equivalent of devouring a decadent chocolate dessert: it was wonderful gobbling it down, but left me hungry for more.
Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© November 2006