Can the young widow make her family’s Christmas dreams come true? Sarah’s scheming little boys might have the answer. Christmas season in Gull Harbor is Sarah’s chance to fill her bakery cases with holiday cookies and pastries. Recently widowed, she needs brisk sales to catch up on late taxes. Her brother-in-law Ryan volunteers to help, although her husband’s handsome younger brother has always … brother has always been trouble. But her two little boys, Nathan and Justin, adore Uncle Ryan and scheme to make him the man of Mom’s dreams.
Ryan’s motorcycle accident changed his life. So did the loss of his brother, and he made Jamie a promise he intends to keep. Mastering lemon bars and gingerbread men begins as a duty and ends as a mission. He didn’t count on sweet Sarah stealing his heart. Can she see him as more than a man with a history of bad decisions?
Touched by his efforts, Sarah wavers. Would Jamie approve of this growing attraction? After tromping through a snowy woods, Nathan and Justin pick out the most pathetic Christmas tree ever. Maybe they see what the tree can become, not what it is. And maybe that’s the lesson of hope and love Sarah will learn this Christmas season.
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I love all Barbara Lohr’s books and this is a great addition to The Man From Yesterday series. Sarah needs to sell a lot of bakery items if she is going to pay the back taxes and keep the store. She is a war widow with two young boys – who are darling. Her brother-in-law is helping with the extra baking. Sarah’s mother is acting strangely. Sarah is trying to have enough Christmas spirit to make this first Christmas since her husband’s death a good one for her boys. Then the boys pick out the saddest little tree. Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes is a perfect heartwarming, Hallmark type of Christmas story I love.
Trying to raise two boys and run a bakery is hard work by yourself. Luckily her brother-in-law was helping too. Now feelings are starting to change.. Great story
What a sweet, touching holiday read! The first thing that hit me was the two little boys, Nathan and Justin, five and three years old respectively. They had me at “I hate winter”. Their mom, Sarah, is really struggling this holiday season because she lost her husband, Jamie, and she wants to be upbeat and festive for her boys. Jamie was also her partner in running The Full Cup, more a bakery than coffee shop, and she is trying to juggle all the life and work balls to keep them in the air. Of course, it’s not happening as smoothly as she’d like but therein lies the story. Ryan, Jamie’s younger brother, is trying to help her any way he can. He does some chores to try to help but he has been learning to bake and is in the bakery every day, before his regular work, baking bread and learning to make the pastries as well. The whole story centers around Sarah and Ryan dancing around one another, neither one wanting to overstep or hurt the other, but they make such a great team that you know a relationship will work out. There is more to the story, of course, however I can’t do it justice. We get to visit with some old friends, from previous stories, but know this is a standalone. I really enjoyed Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes with its ups and downs, adorable munchkins, and a touching, growing love story between Sarah and Ryan. I loved them both and felt for them while they worked thru the personal hurts in their pasts. I recommend.
I enjoy Barbara Lohr’s books, including this holiday book. I love Christmas romances, so I preordered this one and loved it.
A beautiful well-written Christmas story that makes you believe anything can happen, a book that I will be reading again. I received a copy of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review.
Ryan has been helping out at his brother Jamie’s widow Sarah’s bakery The Full Cup for months because he promised Jamie he would take care of her and also because he has feelings for Sarah. Her boys love him and asked Santa, who was Ryan in disguise, to make him their dad for Christmas. What was Ryan to do except win Sarah over to make their wish come true? This was a funny and sweet romance. I loved catching up with the other characters from Gulf Harbor. All the dessert making descriptions made me hungry to try them.
This nice Christmas book had a very enjoyable and well written storyline with characters that were very likable, believable and very engaging! As I turned each page I felt like Sarah and Ryan jumped from the pages and pulled me right into their story as it unfolded!
This time around Lohr strolled off with my heart and I found myself too floored to ask for it back. Christmas Dreams is a tale of family, lost and found. A new beginning for a broken heart and a romance that thrives on surprises. I couldn’t help falling in love with these beautifully written pieces of hope.
I loved this sweet Christmas tale. Barbara has written a magical story of second chances and scheming kids. There are moments when you want to cry for the loss they have endured and other times you are laughing out loud. I have never read a story by Barbara I have not loved and this one is no different.
Sometimes what you need is right under your nose. Sometimes what you don’t see is right in front of you. Sometimes you have to believe that Santa will deliver.
If you love a sweet and tender romance then Barbara is your gal.
People can change and for the better.
This is true in Sarah and Ryan’s story.
This is a wonderful Chrismas story about family and love.
This author continuously wriites books that are so true to life and so enjoyable to read.
A gentle holiday love story, this Christmas romance left me with tears in my eyes and a happy smile on my face. The story is well written with humour and all the right ingredients for both Christmas cookies and romance. Apart from trying to survive each day after the death of her husband, young widow, Sarah is trying to ensure that her sons are well provided for, that her family business keeps going and that she can pay her taxes on time. Fortunately, her bad boy brother-in-law steps into the breach and helps her in the bakery. Watching his large hands mold bread and separate eggs churns Sarah up, making her long to fill the lonely space she is living in. Having received a wake-up call after his motorcycle accident and the death of his brother, Ryan takes his promise to Jamie seriously as he tries to give Sarah the help she needs. It takes an older man to point Ryan in the right direction, but he gets the message. However, it is the Christmas wish list of two serious little boys that really digs deep into his heart and gives Ryan the courage to make the necessary moves. Having read other books set in Gull Harbour, it was enjoyable meeting up with characters from previous novels, making it feel as if it was a reunion with good friends. Nevertheless, the story is a standalone and ends on a delightful note. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes by Barbara Lohr
Man From Yesterday #7
Sweet holiday romance that was filled with holiday cheer. I enjoyed watching Sarah and Ryan try to figure out whether or not they could be together as her deceased husband Jamie was Ryan’s brother. Ryan was helping Sarah out in the bakery and with more time together they ended up seeing one another in a different light. Add in a romance for Sarah’s mother, a scraggly Charlie Brown Christmas tree and a whole lot of baking and you have a feel good romance with a HEA that warms the heart.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
I love all things Christmas! This charming romance will chase away your holiday blues with Christmas magic, love, hope, family and possibilities. Ms. Lohr had me laughing one minute and in tears not too long after with a perfect mix of humor, poignant moments and characters you root for.
I really liked the dynamic between Sarah, a young widow with two small boys who runs The Full Cup in Gull Harbor, and her brother-in-law Ryan who is helping out with the bakery during the holiday season.
This is the seventh book in the must-read Man from Yesterday series and it feels like I was “home” while reading Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes. Now I’m truly ready for the season with joy in my heart.
Sarah has lost her husband and has 2 young sons to raise. She is working at the Family bakery with her mom. She is being assisted my her brother in law Ryan . Ryan comes in before and after his shift at the garage he works for. He makes the bread and assist with other items also. He is showing a more responsible side that Sarah is not use to. He has a limp from a motorcycle accident due to racing.
Sarah starts to notice changes in her mom . Mom has gotten her hair died and she finds out she is hanging out a bit more at the library. Apparently this is due to Stuart. She takes some cookies to the library for people to sample. That helps business a good bit. Stuart and Ryan also talk to Mom and Sarah about updating their coffee choices to up more business.
Sarah starts to see Ryan in a new light. She doesn’t want to be attracted to her husbands brother. Ryan also starts to see Sarah in a way he feels he shouldn’t. Neither one think the other is attracted to the other. Sarah’s sons are scheming to get Ryan as their new Daddy. At the end of the day Sarah takes a picture of Jamie and tells him about her day. She is asking for signs to let her know what to do about Ryan. Jamie has become a very important part of her life and the boys. After a few hit and misses they finally end up as a happy loving family
I always enjoy Barbara’s books. This one like the others I have read have great characters and story lines. Never disappointed
I was given this book as a ARC in exchange for my honest review
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
Oh my! This book brought tears to my eyes. I LOVED it. I was enchanted right from the beginning. I couldn’t put the book down. This story was so heartwarming. I felt like a movie was playing in my head. The two little boys (Nathan and Justin) were absolutely adorable.
This book was written in a dual POV which is a favorite of mine. I can really get into the character’s thoughts and understand so much better. The book also has past characters from Gull Harbor showing up. I just love to keep up with prior characters. Ms. Lohr’s books feel like you are a part of a family and seeing them make appearances, well it is like reconnecting with old friends again.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. You don’t have to read any of the prior books to read this one but they are so enjoyable, you will fall in love with them as well.
Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes (Man from Yesterday, #7) is the first book in this series that I have read. Even though it is #7 in the series it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this sweet holiday read. You will be in tears one moment and next be laughing out loud. It is very well written the characters are believable and make you want to root for them. This book will definitely help you get in the Christmas Spirit. I am definitely going to go back and read the previous 6 books in this series.
A feel good story. A fun story of finding love with the person you least expected. I enjoyed the parts where Sarah, a widow and her brother in law, reformed bad boy Ryan worked together and kept their feelings at bay. But as Ryan shows what a caring man he can be, Sarah falls deeper and deeper. Some funny scenes also happen. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
This is such a touching, sweet romance. I love how the “bad boy” has matured into this incredibly dependable and loving man. Sarah and Ryan make a great couple and share some snow-melting kisses. Her sons add a touch of mischief and a lot of cuteness to the story, but also some realism in having a 3 yr. old and a 5 yr. old. The characters are well-developed, and the book moves at a good pace. The setting is a small town along the shores of Lake Michigan. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well-written book and plan to read more of Barbara Lohr’s stories. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this wonderful romance.