I liked the Fitzgerald family and how they helped each other. The reason for his imprisonment was completely understandable. He was a kind, protective man who fought for what is right. He seemed to be his mother's favourite of all the adopted boys. Rainier was the black sheep of the family but quite a charmer. He sure didn't want to go back to prison so he was not going to break any of her rules. She was his parole officer and used the drive to go over all the rules he had to follow now that he was out. Laura Blade picked Rainier Fitzgerald up from prison. Demeanor is the fourth book in the Mystery Christmas series and there continues to be trouble at the ranch. I've figured that's beyond this author's capabilities! But at least the series goes out on a (minor) higher note, with a well-maintained romance between the h and H. This one doesn't elaborate much on the motives for murder of Alli Fitzgerald, Lisa Chase and Daryl Bucket from the previous books. Most of these books haven't been big on continuity anyway. However, as I said, it's better than the previous three.

There was no real urgency to the 25-year-old dead body they find, and the save-the-ranch stuff belongs in a different category altogether! And what the hell was up with William's motive? He set all this in motion because he believes the Fitzgeralds stole the ranch from under his family? He's a tax accountant! Why would he want to run a ranch? On top of that, by all accounts, he's a rich man! He doesn't need a ranch! As you can see, Danica Winters' hasn't quite mastered the art of credible motivations over the course of the mini-series!

Even a little dull, really! I certainly wasn't on the edge of my seat. Their relationship certainly progresses much more believably than the all-over-the-map emotions of the previous books. Rainier has a troubled past, including that stint in prison, but the book at least attempts to follow his journey from ex-con to a man who can take his place back in society.

It's totally a case of insta-love, but unlike the heroines of the previous three books, Laura Blade actually seems to have her shit together, and isn't constantly blowing hot and cold towards Rainier. Motivations of the 'bad' guys are predictably obscure and flimsy, but at the least the romance works reasonably well. I think this gets 2 stars simply because it's better than the previous three books. There's also the matter of a dead body discovered on the ranch, opening up a cold case! Threatening their happiness is a mighty tax bill generated against them by family enemy William Poe, who is still inexplicably walking around a free man despite evidence that he was getting his half-brother to commit crimes for him. Rainier Fitzgerald gets released from prison and immediately starts to get jiggy with it with his parole officer, Laura Blade.

Christmas Wishes by Danica Winters