Task the Sixth:  The Hanukkah:

- Let the dreidel choose a book for you: create a list of four books, and assign a dreidel symbol to each one (Nun=miracle; Gimel=great; He=happened; Shin=there, i.e. Israel). Google "spin the dreidel," and a dreidel comes up for you to spin. Give it a spin and read the book that the dreidel chooses!

Not to sound all "get off my lawn!" but reading older published stories (they have their problems too) is sometimes very refreshing; it's amazing how much story can be created in favor of just hurriedly working to get the leads into bed. I like my sexy times but purpose and dialogue, y'all. These were all short, sweet, and nothing beyond kissing regency holiday stories.

“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler

3 stars

But as often as he'd willingly played the fool for his master or his mistress, he had never yet played the fool for love.

This one had a magical feel to it with Robin Goodfellow, Merlin, faeries, and an Arthur sighting. The heroine's family guards a very important faerie book and Robin visits to make sure the heroine is up to the task of guarding it. It was a bit slow moving but fairy tale fun.

“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen 

3.5 stars

"Is that what you will wish for, then? My speedy demise?"

"Goodness. A jest. Very good, Captain."

As he watched, surprised, charmed, and increasingly warm, she removed another sprig of holly from her pocket, tucked it into a buttonhole on his coat, and briskly patted his chest.

"As you could easily guess, I will make a wish for Hollymore."

With that, she stepped back, draped an arm around the cherub, and surveyed her handiwork on Rhys's coat. She gave a satisfied nod. In that brief moment, Rhys was enchanted to his toes.

This was a super sweet and funny story but was little bit lacking in the showing the relationship build between leads (these were all pretty short stories). The hero and heroine spend a week together with the hero's cheeky nephew, mistaken identities, semi-villain relatives and a house with more character than stable walls. It was lovely and being set in Ireland, gave it a beautiful Irish Christmas spirit.

“High Spirits” by Edith Layton

4 stars

He'd never be thought of as handsome, except in a certain light and at certain moments, when anyone could see he was much more than that.

My favorite from the series because the author was able to build and create a relationship between the leads in the short amount of time allotted. The heroine is having her season but super nervous so her brother advises her to imbibe a bit for Dutch courage. Hero is sent by his sister and aunt to call on heroine to warn her away from his cousin who they want to marry someone else. Hero is charmed by her and calls on her during the day, falling love. At night he is shocked by her flirty different attitude at balls, figures out she is drinking, takes her to a pub to show her alcoholics, and gives her a come to Jesus talk. It sounds preachy but the heroine's shyness and the hero's melting stoicism makes this a very sweet story.

“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger

2 stars

" 'Til Death do you part, lad?" he said with a  smile and a wink for his own beloved. "That's not the half of it."

This one has ghosts for "spirits" with a medieval couple haunting a castle, able to actually affect things during the week of Christmas, because the husband in a jealous act jousted someone but died and the wife had made curse that if he didn't return her ring to the castle they would never rest. Their heir and hero is a battle scarred war hero and our heroine is a widow with a horrible aunt. There's guilt, shame, anger, fear, and love but the characters and story all felt a bit disjointed. We get great flushed out backstories for the heroine and hero but current scenes with them together were missing, I wanted to see them fall in love.

“A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens

3.5 stars

Indeed, the more they spoke, the more intriguing she became.

This involved a Duke's daughter who started off a total spoiled brat and an ex-soldier who wouldn't give into her whims. Heroine injured her ankle so has to stay at the hero's manor, where they bicker and snark themselves into falling in love. The hero's sister, nephew, heroine's cousin, and others gave this a great fun cast of characters. I really liked how it was shown how the hero and heroine caused each other to grow and become better, very charming story.

This story has an impetuous heroine who learns the hard way that her actions have consequences. Kyra becomes a shadow of herself until she meets Rafael. As she begins to live again, she also finds that some people are willing to overlook your past and like you for who you are. Both Kyra and Rafael experience death and guilt around them which gives them a connection to start their relationship. The tenderness of their budding romance was sweet to experience. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of this series as the characters were strong and I hope to see more.

I received a copy of this story through eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read. Adrian has his life figured out, including the right type of woman for a wife. His father puts a damper on his plans when Adrian must win a wager in order to keep his home. A trip to Scotland to learn golf leads him to Derrien. She teaches him to play golf while maintaining a disguise and finds out they have more in common when she plays herself. Their feelings for each other grow before either realize it. I enjoyed Derrien's dual personas. She was able to temper her attitude to match each. Adrian turned out to be a wonderful person once he realized what he really wanted in life. I recommend this story.

I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review.

When the high-spirited Lady Jane Stanhope finds herself facing a marriage ordered by her father, she flees home, disguises herself as "Plain Jane" and lands a governess position to the ward of the reclusive Marquess of Saybrook.

Winning the love of the shy little ward is easy. Sparking arguments between herself and the mysterious Saybrook is delightful fun. But both are putting her heart in danger.

Now she's caught between desire and her deception, for the most a titled lord can offer to a mere governess is ruin.

AWARDS:
Best Regency of the Year, nominee - RT magazine, 1998

I am not a Golf fan per se. Miniature golf, maybe. However, I love to learn about stuff. Golf is stuf I don't know diddily about. Thus, I like Golf Romance!

Here you go! Try it! You will like it. 

My lists are never in any particular order. 

1. A Diamond in the Rough by Andrea Pickens

Adrian, Viscount Marquand, is not a typical English lord. Spurning the gaming halls and brothels, he secretly designs the most beautiful gardens in England. Then his ne'er-do-well father bets the ancestral manor on the outcome of a golf match, and it's up to Adrian to save his beloved home. But first he must travel to Scotland to learn the game.

Miss Derrien Edwards is not a typical Scottish lass. Her bouncy blond curls tucked under a woolen cap, she satisfies her love of the links by passing as a young male caddie named "Derry".

When Adrian arrives at St. Andrews links, he's paired with "Derry". While learning to play, Adrian struggles to ignore his strange attraction to the impudent caddie, and Derrien finds herself caught in her own trap. Secrets swirl as the day of reckoning arrives—and neither can afford to lose the game.

2. Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

A British Lady

Lady Emma Wells-Finch, the oh-so-proper headmistressof England's St. Gertrude's School for Girls, is a woman on a mission—she has two weeks to lose her reputation. Arriving in Texas with skirts flying, umbrella pointing, and beautiful mouth issuing orders, she knows only one thing will save her from losing everything she holds dear: complete and utter disgrace!

A Texas Rascal

World-famous playboy-athlete Kenny Traveler has kickedup his boot heels one too many times, and now he's suspended from the sport he loves. Only one thing will restore his career:complete and utter respectability! Unfortunately, he's been blackmailed into chauffeuring bossy, single-minded Lady Emma, and she's hell-bent on visiting honkytonks,chasing down tattoo parlors, and worse.. lots worse.

Love, All-American Style

When a gorgeous man who can't afford another scandal meets a hardheaded woman who's determined to cause one, anything can happen. But love? Oh, dear. That's impossible.That's outrageous. That's... Inevitable!

3. For the Love of Par for Lois Kasznia

Professional golfer, Stacie Thomas, certainly knows her way around the golf course. But when it comes to men, all she can do is make double bogies. When she bumps into Dirk, she realizes that somehow, her brother's best friend has grown into the most gorgeous man she's ever laid eyes on. The spark is instant. But there's more than one reason to hesitate—namely, her boyfriend Ryan. Should she dare take a chance on Dirk at the risk of losing their renewed friendship?

Dirk Dixon, sports anchor for the local NBC channel, intentionally runs into Stacie while covering the LPGA Open. He'd been in love with her for as long as he could remember, but knew that he would never be anything more than her little brother's best friend. Being Stacie's friend is just not enough anymore. He wants more, and he's determined to get it. The only problem is can he get Stacie to see the man he has become?

4. Got Game? by Stephanie Doyle

Oh, Yeah. Game On!

The world of professional golf is rocked when the new ranking system allows Reilly Carr - the country’s best female player--to compete with the big boys. Now everyone wants to know if she will or won't play in golf's premier event…The American.

But her tough choices are complicated further when Luke Nolan - her on again, off again lover - suddenly decides now is the time to turn their friends-with-benefits set up into a real relationship!

If she's going to make the cut she'll need to battle her game, the press and most of all her heart. The stakes have never been higher.

5. CaddyGirls by V.K. Sykes 

orrey Green once had a promising golf career, now she's stuck caddying for butt-pinching businessmen. She doesn't mind playing dumb while hauling clubs if it means she can get her golf career back on track, and she's going to need an influx of cash to focus on the pro circuit. A booking from video game mogul Julian Grant could be Torrey's cash-flow solution.

In town for a business deal, Julian's partners plan for a little action on the greens. They're looking for some fun with their rent-a-caddy girls and have a lot riding on who can score, on the course and off. This type of gamble isn't Julian's style, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep his partners happy--even if that includes breaking a few hearts along the way.

Julian soon discovers that Torrey is more than just a caddy girl, and they spark an intriguing attraction--but if Torrey discovers the truth behind his foolish wager, all bets are off...

6. Unforgettable Kiss by Angela Ford

Meghan Eden swore she would never love again. The tragic death of her son, at the hands of her husband, destroyed her emotionally. She believed her successful Spa would fulfill her life until a business seminar takes her to a golf resort in Arizona.

Meghan’s love of golf gets her paired up with a man she doesn't know. The rest of the world does. Eric Nolan is the most sought after actor in Hollywood and the most eligible bachelor in the hearts of many women. Eric draws out hidden desires Meghan never imagined and leaves an unforgettable kiss etched in her memory. One kiss from Eric leaves her questioning her decision to never love again. An emotional struggle to love again cannot stop the passion that unravels. But perhaps Meghan’s ex can. Released on early parole without her knowledge, he’s had the time to develop an obsession. Will Eric be able to keep her safe?

7. Mulligan Girl by Rebecca L. Boschee

Ren Edwards has made a successful career out of playing the well-to-do customer, spending company cash and demanding flawless service from high-end retailers. But underneath all those fabulous perks, she's just a single Scottsdale girl who can't live without classic books, a fast car, and her best friend, Mo. Ren's life seems just about perfect until she meets Adan, an impossibly sexy Golf Pro Shop manager during one of her staged customer disputes. They fall helplessly for one another, with just one tiny hitch: Adan thinks she's happily married. Finding herself in a hilarious ruse far outside her comfort zone, Ren tries to untangle herself from her little white lie or risks losing the biggest perk of her life.

8. Seduced by Destiny by Kira Morgan

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...seduced by destiny?

9. Essence by Mackenzie Lucas

All Haven Jameson ever wanted was to own a little piece of paradise. Now, she does, having established a successful luxury spa in St. Augustine, Florida. But when the property next door is sold to a mega developer and his pro-golf celebrity brother, who design trendy, bustling playgrounds for the rich and famous, she fears her dream could slip away. Confronted by her late husband’s infidelity, Haven learns everything she believed about her marriage was a lie; so she finally sets aside her grief and opens her heart to loving the widowed pro-golfer who is her biggest professional competition. In the end, Haven discovers that living a safe, loveless life is far worse than embracing passion and taking a chance on a man who’s vowed never to love again. And that, sometimes, the best paradise of all can be found inside our own hearts.

10. Sugar's Twice as Sweet by Marina Adair

He's trouble she doesn't need . . .

Thanks to a cheating fiancé, Josephina Harrington's perfect life just crashed and burned. Moving in with her overbearing parents is definitely not an option. No, she needs to prove she can make it on her own. And she will-by turning her great-aunt's old plantation house into a destination getaway. She's just not expecting her contractor to be so hands-on-and so totally irresistible.

. . . but everything she wants

Bad-boy golf champion Brett McGraw figured his hometown of Sugar, Georgia was the perfect place to lay low and get his life back up to par. The leggy blonde with a pint-sized pup is the kind of sweet 'n sassy trouble he never saw coming. She doesn't know a nut from a bolt and before long, he's renovating her house . . . as she steals his heart. Can he convince Josephina that his womanizing ways are in the past and he's ready for forever?

Can you name the Garwood Romance with Golf? :)  I can. 

Go to my Goodreads list and vote for the best Golf Romance: Golf in Romance Novels.