Mountain Man’s Christmas Star

Mountain Man’s Christmas Star is the latest short story to be checked off my to be read list. This is book two in the Wildwood Valley Christmas series from Lilah Hart. I may be biased, but I am loving all of the stories that she bases in Wildwood Valley.

I first discovered Lilah Hart when I read the Wildwood Valley Brides series, and was hooked. The Wildwood Valley Christmas series is the third series based in this fictitious place, with the Wildwood Valley Harvest being the second.

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It has become a goal for me to read all of Lilah Hart’s short stories. I’m slowly checking them off the list one by one. What I love about them is the fact that even on my busiest days, I have time to read and finish one of these stories.

Time also seems to speed up during the holidays, and I blink and the day is gone. I don’t understand how this happens, but it can be really easy to fall into a reading slump, or simply skip reading until time slows down again. I love making it a point to read daily, no matter what. These stories really are perfect for that. Plus a great way to celebrate the holidays coming up soon.

When I first discovered LIlah Hart and her writing, I was searching Amazon for short romance stories that can be read in an hour. At the time of publishing this review, all of her stories are available via Kindle Unlimited. Making them much more accessible to readers. I personally love it when I can find great authors who use Kindle Unlimited, so it doesn’t break the bank for me to read their stories. It is a win all the way around, in my opinion.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am totally and completely addicted to the feeling of accomplishment when I finish any short story or novel. I chase it constantly. Sometimes when I am reading a longer or heavier novel, I crave that feeling even harder. Short stories like this not only give me the happily ever after ending I crave, it gives me that feeling of accomplishment from finishing it. Which keeps me reading, especially after a heavy novel where I would normally take a break from reading.

These stories are fun, cute, and steamy, all at the same time. It is the perfect way to spend an hour of my day. Mountain Man’s Christmas Star can be read in an hour. The chapters are short, so you can read throughout the day when there are a few minutes to finish a chapter. Or all at once when you have an hour of quiet time. It doesn’t matter which way, it really is what works best for you. I do both, because it just depends on how my day is going.

Mountain Man’s Christmas Star and all of the stories in this series can be read as a standalone, and in any order that you choose. I always think every story in a series should be able to stand alone, and Lilah Hart does exactly that.

Have you read Mountain Man’s Christmas Star? Come on in and let me tell you about it!

About Mountain Man’s Christmas Star

Someone’s stealing her Christmas soaps. He’s about to steal her heart.

Someone is stealing my star-shaped Christmas soaps.

I discover the theft on the second morning of Wildwood Valley’s holiday festival, and I’m furious. This was supposed to be my big break—my chance to turn my family’s three-generation soap-making tradition into a real business. Instead, some festival saboteur is helping themselves to my handcrafted inventory.

When I spot what looks like a security guard near the entrance, I march over to demand answers. Turns out he’s not security at all—he’s Gunnar Erickson, a mountain man with pine-green eyes and a military-straight posture who makes my pulse skip with just one look.

He volunteers to help solve my soap mystery. Smart move, considering someone also cut the wires on the festival’s Christmas tree lighting display.

What I don’t expect is the way Gunnar looks at me like I’m the answer to every prayer he’s never said. Or how our evening stakeout turns into the most honest conversation I’ve ever had with a man. Or the moment I find myself confessing that I’m twenty-three, single, and waiting for the right guy to be my first.

The raccoons aren’t the only ones stealing things in Wildwood Valley. This quiet, protective mountain man is about to steal my heart.

And I’m going to let him.

Thoughts on Mountain Man’s Christmas Star

In Mountain Man’s Christmas Star we meet Ivy and Gunnar.

Ivy is mad that someone stole some of her handmade soap from her display. She is all kinds of fired up when she approaches Gunnar, thinking he is security for the holiday festival, and demands he help her find the thief.

Gunnar, who is nothing close to security personnel, still volunteers to help Ivy because he wants an excuse to see her again. He definitely fell in love at first sight with Ivy. Gunnar is also working to repair some Christmas lights that were damaged the same night Ivy’s soap was stolen. Is someone out to ruin Christmas for everyone in Wildwood Valley this year? Is there a scrooge walking around? I needed to keep reading to find out!

Their connection is immediate, intense, and passionate. They also make a really cute couple that I wanted to see live a happily ever after story. Their chemistry could melt the holiday snow, it was so intense and hot.

This was the perfect read this morning. I’ve been watching a live stream Star Wars card tournament this weekend because my husband was participating in it. This meant that I didn’t have much time to read because I was watching and talking about his big moments with him via text as it went along. Reading Mountain Man’s Christmas Star meant I could still start and finish a story before the tournament began.

More than a love story, there was mystery and fun wrapped in it. I cackled out loud when I found out who had stolen the soaps, and other Christmas ornaments. If you’ve read Scythe and Sparrow, you will absolutely get a kick out of the answer as well.

Mountain Man’s Christmas Star was a really enjoyable and fun read for me over the weekend.

Final Thoughts on Mountain Man’s Christmas Star

I’m calling Mountain Man’s Christmas Star a five star read. Because it kept me hooked from start to finish, I loved the characters, the mystery of who was trying to ruin Christmas, and finding out the answer.

This was a really fun and memorable read, and is one I won’t forget anytime soon. I will also go back and read it a second time. Both of these things are criteria for a five star read for me.

I have been wondering lately if I’m throwing out five star reviews for short stories too hastily. Like, they can’t all be that great, right? I keep waiting for one that is going to bore me and disappoint me. But it hasn’t happened in quite a while, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed with Mountain Man’s Christmas Star. I’ve read enough of Lilah Hart’s short stories to see that her writing continues to improve as she goes along, and it is so much fun to see that.

Watching authors continue to improve and keep me, the reader, interested in their stories takes a real legitimate talent, and it is obvious that Lilah Hart has that talent. She also does not disappoint when it comes to constantly creating new and unique characters for her stories. I’m always afraid I’m going to hit the point where, if I’ve read one, I’ve read them all. Which has not happened with Lilah Hart and her stories. She creates fun, memorable, and unique characters who each have their own story and personalities.

So to answer my own question from earlier, I’m not being too hasty when giving out five star reviews, and Mountain Man’s Christmas Star is worth it. Because it means I’m appreciating the growth and talent that Lilah Hart has, and have been reflecting on that.

Discussion

Have you read Mountain Man’s Christmas Star or any other writing from author Lilah Hart? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

About the Author

Lilah Hart has been writing and publishing for more than a decade, both for traditional publishers and independently. She writes short, steamy reads with plenty of heart. When she’s not writing, she loves binge-watching reality TV shows while sipping moscato. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and her pet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Purchasing Mountain Man’s Christmas Star

If you are interested in buying the Kindle version of Mountain Man’s Christmas Star, click here.
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Mountain Man’s Christmas Star