A Review of A McKettrick Christmas, by Linda Lael Miller

A McKettrick Christmas is exactly the novella that the world-weary reader in search of some holiday magic called for!

Setting

Arizona Territory, 1896.

Main Characters

Lizzie McKettrick is a schoolteacher who has finished her own education in San Francisco and is heading home. Not only is she going to be the new teacher in her local schoolhouse, but she is bringing someone special home for Christmas. Even though he is from San Fransicso, he will learn to love Arizona ranch country. She is certain of it. Really.

Dr. Morgan Shane has been recruited by one of Lizzie’s uncles to become the new doctor in town, and after witnessing his society mother’s miserable treatment of his father—a fellow doctor—he is skeptical of women from wealthy families, even wealthy ranching families, like Lizzie’s.

Romance

When their train is derailed by an avalanche a couple of days before Christmas, Morgan jumps into action to help the injured passengers. Lizzie dives in, too, but her intended is no use whatsoever.

Lizzie very quickly realizes she has made a mistake bringing him home with her. Not only will he be miserable, but he will make sure everyone else is miserable too. Relieved she discovered this before he actually proposed, she cannot help noticing over and over that the doctor is a man who actually cares about the people he serves.

Morgan finds Lizzie captivating as she helps nurse the passengers and keep them fed and warm, which is no small task, buried under an avalanche. Morgan and Lizzie work together, building trust, keeping everyone safe until Lizzie’s extended ranching family can come dig them out.

When Lizzie sneaks into the baggage car while everyone is sleeping to find gifts for each passenger on Christmas Eve, Morgan knows he can’t resist her.

Plot

Among the passengers is an enigmatic salesman, whom the children on the train call Mr. Christmas. He helps create a Christmas atmosphere for everyone, even finding a small tree under the snow, almost as if by magic.

But when help finally arrives, something odd happens…

Historical Worldbuilding

The worldbuilding in this novella is delightful. Miller has an entire series set in and around the McKettrick family ranch, and this fits right in. Much of the story happens on a snowed-in train, and the details of the train itself–engine to caboose–set you right inside it. You can hear the tinkling of Mr. Christmas’ music box and smell the ham he produces. The holiday atmosphere Miller creates is magical.

Tropes

This novella is all about the home for the holidays trope, and how the fancy city boy isn’t really the right match for the small-town girl.

Secondary Characters

The secondary characters are irresistible, from the magical Mr. Christmas to the sincere children, to the boisterous Woodrow–the pet bird of two of the passengers. This is a novella, so the focus is on Lizzie and Morgan, but they are surrounded by a lovable cast of fellow passengers.

Point of View

The novella is written in third person and alternates between Lizzie’s and Morgan’s points of view.

In Summary

• This is a heartwarming Christmas novella, full of romance and holiday magic.
• It is set in Arizona territory in 1896.
• Lizzie and Morgan are delightful, strong characters who care for their fellow humans and each other.
• Miller’s historical detail is wonderful, and she immerses us in her McKettrick world.
• The tropes are classic home-for-the-holidays and how the fancy city slicker is never the right match for the hometown girl.
• The heat level is maybe a 1.5 out of 5. There is technically sex on page for about one paragraph, but it is all emotional euphemisms, so you could miss it.

Keep them Coming!

What historical romances set in the Americas are you reading? Please email me or post in the comments below with suggestions for other titles to check out!

I am excited to announce that my short story (verging on novella in length), Passion’s Return, was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America New York City chapter’s Big Apple contest. It is part of the series that begins with Passion’s Duty, and it will be released this winter.

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Photo credit: William Henry Jackson, Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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