Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: A South Texas Christmas
Author: Stella Bagwell
Publisher: Silhouette
ISBN: 0-373-28037-8
Release Date: November 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Romance/Silhouette Special Edition
Year/Setting: Current/Texas and New Mexico
Overall Rating: 4.25
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Stella's Website: None found
Have you seen the movies about someone seeing a picture of themselves on a milk carton and wondering if that is them? Well, A South Texas Christmas takes that a little bit different direction. Raine Crockett is looking through the paper one morning only to discover a picture of a woman who strongly resembles her mother (although the picture is quite old). Someone is looking for a woman who disappeared many years ago.
Now compound that with the fact that Raine’s mother has no memory. She was in an accident many years ago and woke up with no memory and a well established pregnancy. Her mother recovered and eventually met Elizabeth Sanchez and Geraldine Saddler (sisters) who took this young woman and her child under their wing and brought them to Sandbur Ranch. Raine grew up on that ranch and has come to think of this entire family as her family. But that hasn’t stopped the need inside her to know her father and whether or not she has any other biological family out there.
This picture and article were a life line to that dream and she worked on finding a way to find out the truth without her mother finding out and becoming hurt but Raine’s actions. Raine contacts the attorney mentioned, Neil Rankin, and convinces him to come and meet her secretly in Texas because there is no way she can concoct a story to come to New Mexico.
Neil would have probably said no except that he had this case on his plate because of a friend. He and Linc Ketchum were best friends from childhood and even Neil remembers the day Linc’s mother left. He has watched her friend withdraw and only now begin to come back to life. He wants to help Linc gain closure and if that means finding his mother than that is what Neil wants to do.
The ad brought in quite a few nuts but there is something about Raine that draws Neil in and he finds himself in Texas getting to know Raine and the family. In the process, he and Raine learn more than they ever thought possible.
Stella Bagwell created some very interesting twists with A South Texas Christmas some of which I didn’t see coming until they were upon me. Raine is quietly courageous and Neil is the untraditional Scrooge. Now, I am not saying Neil is cheap, stingy or frugal. But Neil holds his heart very close to the vest and has no intention of letting any woman get too close to it. Raine has incredible strength and courage but she starts out almost afraid to speak (almost as if she is afraid of unleashing some kind of beast). Very clever plot line and the ending is every bit as strong as the chapters it took to get there! 
Lori
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