Tabs’ review of Three Nights Before Christmas (Montana Born Christmas, Book 1) by Kat Latham
Contemporary Romance published by Tule Publishing 25 Oct 15
I’m a big Kat Latham fan, so I was intrigued when I saw she had a new book out. Then I read the words “ex-con train mechanic heroine” in the blurb and made grabby-hands so damn fast. So. Damn. Fast. So, yes, the heroine in this holiday novella has just been released from prison and the hero is the park ranger who testified at her trial that she was either “criminal or criminally stupid.” Oh man, that premise just sells itself. Luckily, the actual story more than lives up to the tempting premise.
This is a really great emotional story. Lacey is a convicted felon who served three years in prison after being duped by her terrible ex-boyfriend and being used as an unwitting drug mule. Living with a felony conviction isn’t easy, and Latham does a really good job of showing that. There’s also a lot of anger and frustration from both Lacey and her brother and it feels natural.
When Austin, the aforementioned park ranger, needs Lacey’s expert help to restore a diesel train for a children’s charity event, she totally wants to tell him to go shove it, but she can’t. The allure of the train is too much. I never thought I’d say “watching the heroine repair a train was really exciting,” but it just is. Latham does a great job of showing Lacey’s competency and passion for her work.
The romance has a nice slow burn, which is great, because there’s such an immense void between them that immediately jumping into something would have made no sense at all. I mean, they start out as bona fide enemies. He totally believed she was guilty and she can’t get his harsh words from her trial out of her head.
“She gave him no response except a brief scratch of her head–with her middle finger.”
Watching Lacey and Austin become reluctant friends despite themselves is so much fun to watch. It’s so well done, to me, that I was able to totally buy in once they moved on to bumping uglies.
In short, this is another complete winner by Kat Latham. It’s emotional. It’s original. It’s sexy and sweet. It’s just great. Go read it. Just… go. (Then go read the second book in the duology by Sarah Mayberry, because that one is good too.)
Grade: A
Summary:
Have yourself a steamy little Christmas…
After three years in prison, freight train engineer Lacey Gallagher doesn’t expect this Christmas to be very merry and bright. At least chopping down trees for her brother’s Christmas tree farm will help her save money to get her life back on track. All her plans derail, though, when her new job puts her in territory patrolled by the man who haunts her dreams—the forest ranger who sent her to prison.
Austin Wilder isn’t thrilled about Lacey working in his forest—but he soon realizes he needs her help. His family is depending on him to restore an old steam train for a spectacular Christmas event, and train expert Lacey is his only hope of finishing in time.
Working together challenges every assumption Lacey and Austin have about each other, and they discover a desire hot enough to melt even the deepest Montana snow. But will the season of second chances be enough to mend the most hardened broken heart?
Other books in this series:
