3.5 stars (rating shown may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

A friend (MH) sent me this book in a box of books. I don't know if she read it or not before sending it. I was surprised when I came on here to review that I had read the Macomber book previously (when it was in combination with another, different story.) So I will guess that both these stories are previously published ones that were combined by a publisher.

It was nice to see stories where church featured a bit more prominently than it does is some novels (readers who complain about it obviously didn't read the back cover blurb--because the one for Macomber's story clearly states that will be part of the story.)

This is what I wrote about the Macomber story back then "In The Gift of Christmas, Ashley finds love with her former crush, Cooper. There's an age difference between them that is harped on a bit too much for my taste. It also bothered me that the two didn't talk much--didn't communicate to find out if what the other thought was true or to find out why the other one did or didn't do something." I still feel like they didn't communicate well with each other.

I liked the second novel "Secret Christmas Twins" more--which surprised me because other Lee Tobin McClain books I've read have felt formulaic. I feel for Erica being put in between Kimmie's stated wishes that Jason not get custody of her kids and Erica's own observations that don't jibe with what Kimmie told her about Jason. I do feel like Erica tried her best to put what was best for the twins first (other than not revealing that she wasn't their true mother), and I do think she loved the boys. At the same time, I can understand Jason's anger when he finds out the truth--and not from Erica. ( )