At the start of HIS CHRISTMAS SWEETHEART we see a retirement care home. Will Dessaro, who works on the Gold Nugget, arrives to visit a resident who is a friend's mother. Miranda Staley, the owner of the care home, is a petite, impressive, busy lady. Will can't let her see how much he admires her... six years in the army didn't teach him how to talk with women. He's not only quiet by nature, he gets panic attacks which he'd rather the whole town didn't know about, so he tries to avoid stressful situations. Miranda likes Will ever since he helped her evacuate the home during the fire, but he could move away if the town fails to revive.

Miranda is not immune to the strained finances of the town, and the bank manager warns that she's falling behind with payments. Will is too shy to tell her that his intended was scared off by his PTSD. A town initiative means that Will could qualify as an EMT and return the town's investment by working there, helping tourists. But could he handle it?

I liked the confidence and authority of the female business owner, who is still presented as being feminine and thoughtful. As a registered nurse, she tends to put other people first. I was surprised that she didn't advertise for new residents from elsewhere, given how many elders move south for warmer winters. In this series, horses and dogs are characters, and all ages of people are well portrayed, from the flirty teenager to the earnest kid and confused senior. Christmas preparations are under way, even though some town residents are moving away for work and some stores closing. The town needs a boost, even a temporary festival. A sleigh ride with jingling bells cheers everyone up!

This thoughtful adult romance shows that anyone can suffer panic attacks from stress, and helping others helps ourselves. Cathy McDavid is great at bringing her story to life and HIS CHRISTMAS SWEETHEART is a crackling winter's read.

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