Gettin' Merry [Mass Market Paperback]

F. Ray's "The Wish"

A visit to the grocery store turns handsome bachelor Nicholas Darling upside down. Word gets around about his chatting with Mrs. Augusta Evans and suddenly he is bombarded with attention from every eligible female in town. Upset he goes to confront Mrs. Evans only to come face to face with Andrea Strickland, the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. As he gets to know her he believes she can help him stop all of the attention her aunt's wish has caused him. Setting up a scheme Andrea pretends to be his intended. Both enjoy the time they spend together under pretense of being a couple. Dreading the outcome of the wish Andrea hides her true feelings for Nicholas. Nicholas on the other hand continues to battle the validity of Mrs. Evans gift wishing that his dream girl were Andrea. Before its too late he has to make a choice for the future and for love.

B. Jenkins "Homecoming"

On her way home Lydia Cooper runs into her old flame handsome Gray Dane. Seeing one another again bring back feelings from a long time ago. Lydia and Gray work through regrets from the past, pain and mistrust, binding together ties that will build a new relationship. Homecoming is intense passion, romance, the power of forgiveness and understanding that brings everlasting love to Lydia and Gray's doorstep.
Beverly weaves this historical romance in her renowned style. She gives us a glimpse of a time when strong black men and women still found love in the midst of hard times during the 1800's.

M. Jackson "The Way Back Home"

This is a romantic story about a biracial woman who has never known her African American filiations. A seminar given at her school has invited handsome Dr. Trey Fraser whom Anne Donald secretly admires. His speech is the catalyst that spurs on her need to find the other side of her family. In her search to find her estranged family members she develops intimate feelings for Trey. As Trey's feelings for Anne escalates they run into extreme opposition from Trey's family about their relationship. The passion becomes too overwhelming to deny as Trey and Anne pursue their relationship with vigor. As Anne overcomes her low self-esteem and need to fit in she finds love everlasting in the arms of Trey Fraser.

G. Guillaume "The Seventh Principle"

Distance has taken its toll on attractive Paul Barrett and beautiful Kirby Kayin's relationship. Kirby is home visiting for the holidays and both are at wits end as to what to do about the relationship. Paul doesn't want the distance anymore and Kirby is unsure of where the two stand. Racial issues at the school where Paul is the principal are running high and Kirby's professional expertise is needed to bring some order to things. Working close together they try to hurdle the stormy weather of their relationship. The two decide too incorporate the seven principles of Kwanzaa to accomplish the tension at school as well as with their personal lives. Paul and Kirby know their relationship is worth preserving and look forward to a lasting future together.

"The Way Back Home" by Monica Jackson. Graduate student Anne has never fit in anywhere even as an orphan raised by her deceased white mother's family. She has never met her black father's kin. Author Trey encourages her to search for her roots so Anne seeks her African-American heritage, but she also wants her professor's love.

"The Seventh Principal" by Geri Guillaume. Mississippi high school principal Paul struggles with teen problems and racial trouble caused by the debate over celebrating Kwanzaa. As he tries to do the right thing yet adhere to the rules, Paul dreams of his beloved, former counselor Kirby. When she returns home, Paul tries to persuade her that they belong together even as the racial controversy nears the explosion point.

This quartet of African-American holiday romances are all stalwart stories with anyone of them capable of being a feature length novel due to the hearty characterizations that provide a Happy Kwanzaa and a Merry Christmas to all.

Harriet Klausner