I enjoyed this romance that I bought from a local library sale. While this is not for the under 18 readers, there is lots to enjoy in this book from one of my favorite authors. I've given this a 4.5* rating. There are mercenaries that are out there making rescues, widows who are trying to get past their grief, several bad guys and more. Lots to keep you turning your page. ( )

This novel reminds me of the age old quote: “If you love something set it free. If it comes back it’s yours. If not, it was never meant to be.” The novel also reminds us that not everyone is full of laughter and good cheer at Christmas but perhaps the hope of the season will lead the way to enduring love.

Debbie Macomber writes excellent contemporary novels that are fulfilling. Readers meet characters in the midst of their everyday lives and how they face opportunities and challenges. This novel is the 1st of a trilogy about Deliverance Company – an elite team of men “on call” 24/7/365 that perform daring rescues on foreign soil when the U.S. military can’t be called into action. Some call them mercenaries but those rescued and their families know they are heroes that will never have their names or actions publicized.

This story focuses on two (2) of the single men of Deliverance Company – owner Cain McClellan and Tim Mallory, a member of his team and the women who will challenge their thoughts of a successful life. Cain meets Linette at a friend’s Christmas party that Linette attended only because she didn’t want to argue with her sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Now Cain can’t get the widow out of his mind. Linette is trying to focus on her yarn store, Wild and Wooly but the holiday rush is also a reminder that the anniversary of her husband’s death on Christmas Eve is also approaching. She doesn’t know if she can face another Christmas Day at her in-laws. Mallory faces the challenge of extensive rehabilitation after a severe injury on a mission. Francine Holden is the physical therapist hired by Cain to help his friend regain the use of his right leg and not be wheelchair bound for the remainder of his life. I enjoyed the time spent with the realistic characters and each becoming fulfilled in ways they never anticipated as coming true. ( )

Very good book. Suspenseful, fast read. ( )

I love historical romance, but I'm not a fan of explicit sex scenes. I usually don't care for contemporary novels, but I've been wanting to read something by Debbie Macomber for a while and chose this book as my first. I'm very pleased with it and am now eager to read the rest of the Deliverance series.

Linette Collins is a young widow with a lot of problems. Her husband of 2 years has been dead for 2 years and yet she can't bring herself to move on. To complicate matters, his parents are very much a part of her life, pushing her to dedicate her life to his memory. She works too hard and socializes too little, and when her sister in law invites her to a Christmas party, she accepts only out of obligation. Little does she know this is a turning point in her life, because Cain McClellan happens to be at the same party.

Cain is a mercenary, a hired soldier who engages in risky operations when the U.S. government cannot intervene. He risks his life without a second thought and prefers a life without family or complications. His attraction to Linette at his high school friend's Christmas party throws a kinkk in his plans, not that he's complaining.

This is a romance novel. The characters fall in love, and there is a "happily ever after" ending, as we expect. However, don't think there aren't any surprises. On the contrary, toward the end of the book is a very big unexpected event. Although the main conflicts are resolved, there's a mixture of romance, tragedy, action, and forgiveness to keep it balanced. The romantic dialogue seemed a bit trite at times, but there were enough sigh-worthy moments for me to overlook a bit of awkward dialogue. There are other characters with major story lines of their own as well. I loved the story of Tim and Francine. There were some truly hilarious moments with these two!

This book is what I'd call a PG romance. Sex is mentioned, as is quite a bit of innuendo, but there aren't any true sex scenes. (No worries about "bulging members" or "heaving bosoms.") Also, the characters only engage in sex after they are married. There have been a few reviews discussing the morality of the characters. I did not find it to be preachy in the least, but thought it only heightened the romance. This is a love story; not a lust story. Also, Cain is a strong male hero, while Linette is soft, small and feminine. Again, this is not a drawback to me. I didn't think it reflected 1950's ideals, but it is definitely more conservative than many books in the romance genre.

This is an entertaining, beautiful romantic novel. Linette is afraid of losing love again, and Cain is afraid of giving up even a small bit of control over his life. How these two characters from completely different worlds manage to come together makes for a very interesting story. I was interested in the descriptions of the operations from the Deliverance Company as well, and thought it was a very well-balanced novel. It's very enjoyable, and I can't wait to read more. ( )

Read, great read loved the plot ( )