Okay, so I read this story two weeks before Christmas and then didn't get around to a review in a timely manner.  I read it on my Kindle and that remains a different reading experience for me than paperback.

This story was a simple Amish slice of life, except we add in one heroine who went out into the world as a teenager, got a degree, became a nurse, and might well have pushed through her Christmas season homesickness to continue on in her half "English" lifestyle … if her father hadn't been in an accident and nearly died.

So Anne returns home and finds herself working with Samuel, an Amish man who doctors the Amish with basic medical needs. Though they begin with a rocky start when caring for Anne's father, they find common ground in working together at the medical clinic and delivering a baby.  Their love deepens over the month of December.

Simple.  Amish.  Christmas.

Sweet romance.

Season of Danger is two shorter stories in one Love Inspired Suspense novel.  The first Silent Night, Deadly Night by Hannah Alexander has one of the characteristics that I believe is often important for the success of a romantic novella — the main characters know each other and are already in love when the book begins.  Of course neither of them have admitted to their feelings.

Both Tess Vance and Sean Torrance work at a homeless shelter where they are used to the rough neighborhood, but someone is after Tess, and has already struck once, resulting in the hit-and-run death of Tess' fiance.

The mystery behind this novella kept me guessing to the end and was a surprise when it was revealed.  The love relationship between Tess and Sean had developed slowly and just needed brought into the open as circumstances allowed the two characters to share more of their thoughts and feelings with one another.  Simple, tender romance.

The second novella was Mistletoe Mayhem by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.  Here, the two main characters met for the first time in the opening scene, but the story held a "year later" epilogue to show they didn't rush into marriage from the madness of their holiday love. (That's tongue-in-cheek for those of you who don't know me personally.)

I thoroughly enjoyed the research Jill put into this story.  I had no idea mistletoe was poisonous or that it was used to treat cancer.  I liked the uniqueness of the hero being a health inspector.  Both main characters came across mature and level-headed even as all kinds of dangers broke out around them.

I did figure out the bad guy in this mystery before the end of the story, but Jill added a twist to his/her motives and an accomplis that I wasn't expecting, so that was a joy as well.

Theme:  Words can kill.

If you are still looking for some light reading for the busy Christmas season, grab a copy of Season of Danger.

Holiday Hideout, a Christmas Love Inspired Suspense, is about 80% suspense and 20% romance.  Which is fine.  I'm just giving my opinion on the flavor.  The gist of the suspense is that Abby Sullivan is running from her brother-in-law who is angry and grieving over the loss of his wife, Abby's sister during childbirth.  Being a doctor, Abby likewise blames herself for not being able to save her sister's life, but that doesn't mean she wants to be killed, or even professionally destroyed.

Circumstances find her in Rose Mountain, North Carolina, on the MacIvers' ranch recuperating, then hiding, and finally healing during the Christmas season.

Cal MacIvers doesn't want to fail another damsel in distress as he did his cousin when she was dealing with spousal abuse.  So he is prepared to guard Abby regardless of the dangers to himself and family.

The story moves quickly from one attempt on Abby's life to the next, mixing the sister plot with the something is wrong at the office plot until everything comes together at the end.

The lack of romance was emphasized by the fact that Abby didn't trust Cal with her secrets for the majority of the book so it kept any real connection between them from developing.

That said, Holiday Hideout was a quick, easy read.  Enjoyable.  Beautiful cover and great for a holiday treat.