Darlene Gardner, Cole for Christmas

Cole for Christmas

Darlene Gardner

Harlequin Temptation, Dec 2004, $4.25

ISBN: 0373691556

When he learned that Arthur Skillington was his biological father, Cole Mansfield moved to Pennsylvania to get acquainted with the man. Arthur asks Cole to do him a favor and quietly infiltrate his company as a new employee to learn why profits are lower than they should be, but not tell anyone that he is the boss' son. Cole detests the sham, but agrees to do the masquerade.

On Christmas Eve, Cole's supervisor Anna Wesley sees him still working long after everyone else has gone home to spend time with their respective families. On a whim and feeling sorry for his being alone for the holidays, she invites Cole to join her family for a holiday meal though she knows how her parents will react to her bringing home a handsome hunk. As Cole and Anna begin to fall in love, he worries how she will react once she learns the ruse he and his dad performed.

COLE FOR CHRISTMAS is a pleasant Yuletide romance due to the amusing antics of the lead couple, neither of which is prepared to fall in love. The secondary characters (their relatives) play matchmakers whose interference causes havoc for Anna and Cole, but enjoyment for the audience. Darlene Gardner gifts her fans with a fine holiday fare that is mistletoe fun.

Harriet Klausner