Rescued by the Magic of Christmas by Melissa McClone. Publisher: Harlequin, November 2008

Carly Bishop hasn’t celebrated Christmas for six years—not since icy Mount Hood claimed her fiancé’s life and left her a widow before she was a bride.

But this year, handsome Jake Porter is determined she’ll enjoy herself. Jake is a mountain rescuer, big-hearted and courageous, but Carly is too scared of loving him in case she loses him. In a whirl of festive fun, sleigh rides and snowball fights, Christmas starts to weave its magic. Though it’s Jake who is melting Carly’s heart.

This is a wonderful romantic story. Six years ago, Jake Porter, a member of a mountain search and rescue squad went out looking for his best friend. Not only did he lose his best friend, but he also lost another friend, Carly Philips, who fled the area. Now she’s back and with his unrequited love for her, they find themselves drawn to each other surrounded by the spirit of Christmas. What was lost can be now be found with each other. As I’m reading this story, I couldn’t help but smile at how they moved towards each other for their happily ever after.