My Review: One Perfect Gift (A Culdee Creek Christmas) by Kathleen Morgan

One Perfect Gift

(A Culdee Creek Christmas)

by Kathleen Morgan

Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Revell Publishing

Copyright 2008

Pages: 152

ISBN:  9780800718831

(from Fantastic Fiction):

Jessica Ashmore has brought her young daughter to the Colorado high plains in the winter of 1933. A penniless widow, Jessica is hoping for employment as an office nurse. Though the job she wants is no longer available, she is grateful to at least be offered a temporary position taking care of stroke victim Abby MacKay at Culdee Creek Ranch. Abby's son Sean, an embittered WWI veteran, who many view as a coward and deserter, is none-too-pleased with the arrangement--and he doesn't hide it very well. But Christmas is a time of love and forgiveness, and their antagonism starts to give way to far deeper feelings. Can Sean and Jessica ever hope for a life together? Will they be able to find that one perfect gift?

My Thoughts:

If you're familiar with Kathleen Morgan's Brides of Culdee Creek series, this is a continuation of the MacKay's story, though it can also be read as a stand-alone.  Personally, I fell in love with the entire MacKay clan when I read the series a few years back, so I was excited to find One Perfect Gift in my stocking this past Christmas!

We get to catch up with most of the MacKay's during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, but we also meet Jessica (Jessie) Ashmore and her six-year-old daughter, Emma.  When we first meet Jessie and Emma, they're on their way to Colorado Springs, Colorado in pursuit of a new job Jessie has obtained working as a nurse for Dr. Elizabeth Starr.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, things don't work out quite as Jessie had envisioned.  This unexpected turn of events is what makes this story so heart-warmingly touching.

Sean MacKay has become the ranch foreman at Culdee Creek.  He also helps his parents, Conor and Abby, out as much a he can.  Sean's past has taken over his life, so much so, that he has pretty much isolated himself to the ranch.  He avoids any unnecessary trips to town, in order to avoid unwanted speculation of his past.  Sean is still very heart-broken and bitter about events that took place while he was stationed in France during his stint in the American Expeditionary Force; they were so extensive that his marriage suffered greatly.  He has also turned his back on God, which causes his parents to pray that much harder for him to come to the realization that even though he can't seem to forgive himself, Jesus is right there waiting.


Jessie and Sean rub one another the wrong way as soon as they lay eyes on each other, but this makes for an interesting story.  Neither of them are afraid to stand up for themselves and confront the conflict head-on.  If you enjoy a little tension in your romances, then you're gonna enjoy this one immensely!  It moves pretty quickly, it's only 152 pages, but there's a great story packed in those few pages.


To find out more about Kathleen Morgan, or her books, be sure to visit her at:
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*This book was a Christmas gift*