Bookreporter.com -- Basket of Holiday Cheer

Mass Market Paperback
Zebra Books
ISBN: 0821778064

This Christmas, take some time out to indulge in holiday stories by three of your favorite authors-Jane Green, Jennifer Coburn, and Liz Ireland. Spike the eggnog, fire up the yule log, and partake in a little holiday cheer of your own with this irresistible collection. What better way to celebrate the season?

Vacation by Jane Green
When Sarah moves to the suburbs she wonders where all the spice, romance, and fun in her marriage went. Reigniting the spark she and her husband, Eddie, once had isn't easy, especially with two kids running around the house. When Eddie's job sends him to Chicago indefinitely, Sarah wonders if she might be better off alone. As Christmas approaches, will Sarah recognize the gift she's been taking for granted?

The Second Wife of Reilly by Jennifer Coburn
Falling in love with Reilly was easy for Sarah, but marriage is proving to be a little more worrisome-especially with Prudence, Reilly's ex, still single. Since it's the season of giving, Sarah decides to find Prudence a man of her own. But shopping for another woman's prospective husband isn't quite as easy as whipping out a credit card at Bloomingdale's…

Mistletoe and Holly by Liz Ireland
For once, Holly is determined to fit into her family's picturesque Norman Rockwell Christmas. Even with her best friend Isaac along for the ride, she's got her perfect boyfriend Jason to introduce and matching holiday sweaters all picked out. Unfortunately, the family holiday spirit is on the fritz this year and no one is interested in perfection, including Holly. Because she's beginning to think that Isaac looks pretty darn good under the mistletoe…

Jane Green is the New York Times bestselling author of seven other novels, including Straight Talking, Jemina J., Bookends, To Have and to Hold, and The Other Woman. She lives outside New York City with her husband and four children. Readers can visit her website at www.janegreen.com.

Jennifer Coburn was born and raised in New York City and now lives with her family in San Diego. Look for her new book, Tales From the Crib in January. Readers can visit her website at www.jennifercoburn.com.

Liz Ireland grew up in Texas and now lives in Oregan with her husband and a menagerie of pets. Look for her new book, The Pink Ghetto, in May. Readers can visit her website at www.liz-ireland.com.

What's better than a tale filled with romance, holiday cheer, and second chances? Three of them.

In Jane Green's "Vacation," Sarah Evans faces the reality that at 36 her life is not even close to what she had envisioned. After eight years of marriage, two children, and relocating from Manhattan to the suburbs, she has lost some of her spark. And she's no longer attracted to her husband Eddie, who has transformed from studly to sloppy, works long hours, and barely interacts with the family when he's at home. When Eddie's job sends him to Chicago, Sarah decides it's time for a trial separation. Being on her own brings its rewards, as she gets a new job, indulges in a long-overdue makeover, and spends time with her kids. But Sarah comes to realize that she misses Eddie, who has been experiencing some changes of his own. Soon Christmas is fast approaching, and it seems that this year Sarah and Eddie just might be hoping for the same thing.

A first wife, a second wife, the man in the middle, and two graduates of Vilma Veeter's Bitchcraft Class make for an entertaining read in Jennifer Coburn's "The Second Wife of Reilly." When Sarah fell in love with Reilly O'Shaugnessay, she had no idea that six months after their marriage she would go off the deep end. Convinced that Reilly's former wife Prudence is going to make a play for him, Sarah devises a plan to find her husband's ex a man of her own. After all, she reasons, it's the holiday season and everyone deserves a happy ending. Sarah joins forces with her best friend and a new acquaintance to accomplish the task. What she never expects is that her life will be changed by one of Prudence's perspective suitors.

Liz Ireland proves you can always go home again in "Mistletoe and Holly" but that it might not be what you're expecting. Every December, Holly Ellis thinks, "This is the year I won't be on the fringes." Holly has always felt inadequate when compared to her older brother and younger sister, and it's only more acute during her family's picture-perfect "Norman Rockwell" Christmas extravaganzas. This year, though, instead of showing up with her best friend, Isaac, Holly arrives at her parents' home with her new boyfriend, Jason, in tow --- a gorgeous, successful man she's certain will validate her standing in the family.

But instead of the over-the-top festivities she's promised him (and has often ridiculed), the house is devoid of decorations, her brother's marriage has broken up, and her mother makes a surprising announcement. Worst of all, there's no mistletoe to serve as the backdrop for a romantic moment with her beau. As Holly tries to process the unexpected changes, it's not Jason she turns to for comfort. Her holiday sweetheart is none other than Isaac…and he even comes with his own mistletoe.

For the characters in these three engaging stories, this Christmas brings a bevy of surprises --- romantic and otherwise. For readers, THIS CHRISTMAS brings a trio of tales that will resonate long after the eggnog is gone and the gifts have been opened.

--- Reviewed by Shannon McKenna

Excerpt from VACATION by Jane Green:

There's a forty-five minute wait to see Santa.

"Good Lord, I hope this is worth it," Sarah mutters to the woman who joined the end of the line just in front of her.

"If it keeps them happy and quiet then it's worth it." The woman gives them a smile and they both laugh.

"I hope it's good this year," Sarah says, again, as always, impressed at the huge tree trunk flanked by two elves and a sleigh. Twinkling lights surround the arched entrance into the tree, and Sarah knows from past experience there will be storybook dioramas on the way to see Santa, actors and actresses playing the characters. Last year it was Beauty and the Beast, which was magical, but the year before was a very disappointing Cinderella.

"I heard it's Peter Pan," the woman says.

"Tinkerbell!" Maggie pipes up, hearing Peter Pan.

"Wouldn't that be fun?" Sarah says to Maggie, scooping her up and giving her a kiss.

"Just as long as Captain Hook isn't scary." The woman's husband turns. "When our son watched the movie he didn't sleep for about six months."

"I did too!" an indignant six-year-old glares at his dad. "I wasn't scared."

For a split second Sarah watches the family standing in line in front of her and feels a pang. She misses being part of a family. Misses having a husband to come with, to help out. But even when she had a husband he never did this. Sure he loved Christmas, but he was never around to take the kids to see Santa. Sure, he was willing to look at the gifts she bought, but he was never available to actually come shopping with her and choose them with her.

Stop it, she tells herself. I'm missing something I never had. Something I could never have had with Eddie. It's time to move on. Stop thinking about a past that never was.

"Did you see Tinkerbell?" Santa says to Maggie as she perches on his knee with wide eyes and a shy smile. Maggie nods.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

Maggie nods again.

"And what did you think of Peter Pan?" Santa turns to Walker, perched on his other knee. "Did you see him fly?"

Walker nods. His five-year-old confidence has completely disappeared in the face of the real-life Santa Claus.

"But are you sure he's the real one?" Walker had whispered earlier as they rounded a corner and saw a glimpse of Santa sitting behind a sparkly curtain.

"Absolutely." Sarah had nodded seriously. "There's only one Santa and this is it."

"But what about the one at the grocery store?" Walker had said after a moment's thought.

Sarah had frowned. The one at the grocery store had been rubbish. A cheap polyester suit and a very fake beard. When they'd got up close Sarah had discovered that Santa at the grocery store had also been a cross-dresser, which was disappointing, to say the least.

"Mom?" Walker had asked as they left. "Is Santa a lady?"

"Not usually," Sarah had said. "But that's not the real Santa. That's just someone pretending."

"Ho, Ho, Ho." Santa-today's more realistic Santa-beams. "So, Walker and Maggie, have you been good this year?"

They nod.

"I heard you had been. My elves told me you deserved really good gifts this year. What would you most like for Christmas?"

In the silence that follows Sarah has a jolt of realization. Oh, God, she thinks. I know this is going to turn into a Lifetime movie. Please don't say it, she prays. Please don't say I want my daddy home.

She holds her breath as Walker struggles to think of what he most wants before turning to Santa.

"I want . . ." Another pause. "I want the really cool robots from the movie that really walk and talk and do stuff like this." And he gives an impromptu demonstration, which seems to give Maggie the confidence she has been missing.

"And I want a Barbie jeep," Maggie announces.

"And can I have a jeep as well?" Walker says. "But a cool army one, not a Barbie one because Barbie is for girls, but my sister can have a pink one."

"Ho, Ho, Ho," Santa says. "You'll only get one gift for Christmas but I'll see what I can do."

"Santa," Walker pauses and looks at Santa seriously, "actually what I'd really like is a light saber."

"Okay," Santa says. "Thanks for telling me." And he looks at Sarah and winks. Sarah gathers up the children and whispers a thank you to Santa. "And thank God for good old American consumerism," she mutters to herself on the way out.

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