Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories

Book Info
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Harlequin (first published November 1st 2013)
ISBN 0373885814 (ISBN13: 9780373885817)
series Harlequin Nocturne #171
other editions (2)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

This holiday season, armed with love and passion, can the Keepers stop the reign of Darkness?

Christmas is coming to Salem, but so is an evil force that threatens all mankind. In this memorable collection led by New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham, four powerful Keepers must save their community as a strange, eternal night creeps over the town. Forced to choose between their time-honored responsibilities or the lovers their hearts desire, these four extraordinary women must risk their own happiness to save the holiday. But Christmas is a time for miracles, and as each Keeper's greatest longing is met, the Season of Light returns. Don't miss this magical holiday collection from Heather Graham, Deborah LeBlanc, Kathleen Pickering and Beth Ciotta.

My Thoughts

Read from December 14 to 15, 2013
The stories included are: Do you fear what I fear by Heather Graham, The Fright Before Christmas by Deborah Leblance, Unholy Night by new to me author Kathleen Pickering and Stalking in a Winter Wonderland by also new to me author Beth Ciotta.

As a fan of not only Heather Graham and Deborah LeBlanc am also a fan of Christmas holiday setting for stories. This particular anthology appealed to me because have long been fascinated by the Salem witch trials and anything to do with magic really. For me this was an entertaining read but not one that lived up to the potential that the first Keepers trilogy and Keepers LA books showed. The main reason for this in my opinion is that although the characters were developed well each of the novellas were too similar to each other and even though each story does blend with the next it just does not work as well as it should have for me. I did enjoy meeting the 4 new Keepers but the stories just melted together too much for my taste.

While this 4 novella anthology had a nice Christmas message the fact is it is basically 1 plot with 4 different second chance romances that serve as the main story lines with the secondary plot of figuring out who or what is responsible for the darkness which has settled over Salem and shows no sign of leaving does not carry enough of a punch when the cause is finally revealed. However the HEA ending for The Keepers and their significant others was a beautiful way to wrap up the book and am glad to have had a chance to meet cousins Samantha, June, Katie Sue and Rebekah and hope they may be featured in further books in the future.

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]