This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/12/07/christmas-past-by-mary-burton/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I enjoy this author and she writes some excellent romantic suspense. I read this since I wanted some holiday themed stories to read for the beginning of December.

The romantic suspense portion of<strong> Christmas Past</strong> was suspenseful and exciting.  The characters did have some development with a view to their internal thoughts, rationalizations and justifications. I always like when they are not all good or bad but we see all the shades of their morality. But there were some serious evil, bad guys who were more stereotypical.

The romance was second chance but still not very realistic. It took a back seat to the action, so that was a plus. I wouldn't really call this a Christmas story other than it was set at that time. I liked this dark, action story which was a quick read.

Christmas Past by Mary Burton is a novella that was is a standalone, and it take place at christmas time. Single parent Nicole and her daughter are putting there lives back together. After leaving her abusive ex husband, he is they are finally free. Untill she gets a letter from her lawyer. David is also divorced and his raising his own little boys on his own, and he has been silently waiting for Nicle to be ready, so that he can make his move. I really liked this story.

A very poor offering in my opinion. It doesn't incite me to read others by this author. I was very disappointed in this novella.

Christmas Past
by Mary Burton:
400 pages ⭐⭐

Photographer Nicole Piper moved to Virginia hoping to put a troubled past behind her and start fresh with her baby daughter. But those hopes are dashed when she receives a very unwelcome Christmas gift—from her late husband. It’s a letter that holds clues to an elusive killer’s identity. The victim had helped save Nicole’s life—and paid with her own. Nicole owes it to her to follow the letter’s trail, and perhaps put to rest the fear that stalks her once and for all. But she can’t do it alone.When Homicide Detective David Ayden first met Nicole, he was looking for a fresh start too. Widowed and raising two teenage boys, Nicole was the only woman who’d stirred his interest—and the attraction was mutual. But that was months ago and she wasn’t ready to trust again. Maybe she still isn’t. All that matters now is that she needs his help—even if it means embarking on a road trip that will take them both into the heart of danger—and desire . . .
🐾My Review 🐾

Christmas Past by Mary Burton is a fun, yet confusing read.I didn’t realize it was part of a collection of stories when I requesting it on netgalley. It wasn't until I was almost finished with the story that I found out. So that changes my rating of the book. My advice would be to find the rest of the stories before you start this one. I felt like the characters and plot were really lacking. I'm really sorry that this was such a fail for me. I can't give it a good rating without reading all of the other parts of the set that need to be read together to better under stand. however, I will still look forward to Burton's next books as I am a big fan of hers. Many thanks to the Publisher , the Author , and NetGalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.
#ChristmasPast #NetGalley

MC Nicole has escaped her abusive husband and now he’s dead, but he’s planned one last manipulative and creepy scavenger hunt for her to follow. She embarks on the hunt with detective Ayden her former flame. Because this is a short story, there is a lot of backstory given quickly and told not shown.

A Christmas Past was interesting and well-written, but I think it would work better as a more fleshed-out story. I also wanted more Christmas, but did get good thrills.

Nicole Piper escaped from an abusive marriage and is slowly but surely rebuilding her life as a photographer with her infant daughter . When she receives a package from her dead husband together with Homicide Sergeant David Ayden she decides to search for the truth.

Christmas Past by Mary Burton is a fun- filled, romantic suspense short read.I didn’t realize it was part of a collection of stories but can be read as a stand alone though I did feel at times I was missing something. Overall a quick enjoyable read

I would like to thank Kensington Books/ Zebra & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

I think this little novella hits a lot of buttons. Romance, sispense, Christmas, serial killers.... I’m here for it all. I truly believe this could have been a longer book, but Mary Burton handles it all with style in the limited space she gives it.

Not what people think of for a typical holiday read, but for thriller fans, great worlds collide in Christmas Past. 3.5 stars!

*I was graciously given an ARC of this book via the publisher on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Nicole is a photographer living in Virginia with her toddler. Her former husband was abusive and she was able to escape from him after he was killed. Or was he? Someone is coming back from her past to torment her and she feels she will never be safe again. A novella from Mary Burton that I enjoyed! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was not what I expected, shame on me for requesting it just because I saw Mary Burton's name. My mistake, so this isn't a negative review about the book or the writing, more negative about me. I love Mary Burton's mysteries so I did a quick request. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this and forgive me for not doing 'paying attention' to what I was requesting.

Cute novella, I didn't realize it was a reprint. I liked the story and characters well enough, but I did feel like I was missing something with the other characters like maybe I needed to read a couple of other books. Mary Burton always works for me suspense wise though.

Christmas Past is an over the top, yet gripping novella romantic suspense novella, set in the depths of winter, just before the holidays.

Its heroine is photographer Nicole Piper, who fled a violent, controlling husband and moved from San Francisco to Virginia with her baby daughter Beth. There she met homicide detective David Ayden, a widower with teen sons.

Nicole receives a DVD from her dead ex, luring her back to San Francisco, into a trap. Fortunately David has insisted on accompanying her.

Christmas Past is a novella length romantic suspense. Well paced with engaging characters and intriguing story. I really enjoyed this one and recommend you grab a copy for yourself

Christmas Past by Mary Burton

Pulling strings from the grave – yep – Nicole Piper’s evil deceased husband found a way to get her to make a trip that would endanger her life...again. Luckily she has Homicide Sergeant David Ayden beside her to, hopefully, save the day.

This is a novella length, action-packed, suspense filled thriller that had me from page one and kept me interested to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

Thank you to Kensington – Zebra and NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I'm a huge Mary Burton fan and have read most of her books. I was really happy to get this ARC from Net Galley... until I read it. And then I found myself bored with the novella and wondering what had happened. This did not feel like what I've come to expect from this author. It felt rushed, incomplete and poorly developed compared to other books I've read by Ms. Burton.

Granted this was a novella, but I still felt like the characters and plot weren't developed enough. The machinations that Nicole's husband went through to occur after his death did not seem realistic. The racing off to DC during a snow storm seemed like a contrived plot point to create a scenario where they have to stay overnight and have sex. I love relationships but skip the sex scenes so this element was wasted on me. I would have preferred to see the development of their relationship, which was lacking.

I'm really sorry that this was such a fail for me, however, I will still look forward to Ms. Burton's next book. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Christmas Past by Mary Burton is a Christmas novella thriller, and my first book by the author. I enjoyed this book, it kept me interested from beginning to the end. I will be reading Ms. Burton again, and looking forward to a full size book, so the plot and story has more time to develop. If your looking for a quick read, I recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Once again Mary Burton takes the reader on a journey that cannot be denied. Our main character has her husband reaching out from the grave with an important message. One she must follow to the end no matter the danger.

**Trigger warning of abusive relationships and brutality

The cover caught my eye and since it is Novella November I couldn't wait to dig in.
Christmas Past is a tale of romance and violence extending a period of 3 days. David Ayden is absorbed by his attraction to Nicole. He wants to marry her. He's a good cop who lost his wife to cancer and is now a single dad to 2 teenage boys. Nicole is a struggling photographer and a single mom who is being tormented by her dead husband from beyond the grave. Her past is shaped by violence and abuse.
Can these two find a happily ever after? With a little help from their friends, they just might.

Because of her ex-husband, Nicole thinks she brings evil into everyone's life just like she did with Claire Carmichael, who was murdered for helping Nicole escape domestic violence. She doesn't want anyone else to die because of her. I got the impression Nicole was smart and capable though. When she reveals to Ayden a DVD she receives from her late husband, it appears Nicole was taking initiative and she needed to catch the one responsible. She was very strong and determined and a plan was formed which provided a very cozy romantic escape for the two of them BUT her life was in danger.

I have read every Mary Burton book written. This novella, was a disappointment. They story line was started, but not completed. The characters were not developed enough to really like the story. Reading the first few pages, you think it will really get good, no it doesn't. If only the story was longer, went into more detail. The story would have been, fantastic, if the storyline had went farther in depth, with the characters.

Christmas Past is a novella that was first published as part of a four novella collection in 2012. This quick holiday mystery (solid mystery - not a cozy, more suspense) is incredibly well written, with a solid plot and great resolution.

Nicole Piper, a gifted photographer and single mom, is busy rebuilding her life after leaving her abusive husband. Homicide detective David Ayden has been waiting in the wings while Nicole regains her footing. When a mysterious package arrives, Nicole and David are thrown together for one heck of a road trip.

Mary Burton is great with pacing and does more with a hundred pages than most can do in 400. I highly recommend Christmas Past if you're into the suspense and a little steam.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This novella is part of the Richmond Series from 2008 - 2012. Even though there are characters from those books, the story does very well as a standalone. One thing I didn't like is that while a Christmas novella, there is very little to do with Christmas. This is a Romantic-Suspense that happens to be set from December 23th to 25th. A lot happened very quickly and that's great.

Nicole Piper fled an abusive marriage and almost lost her life. Two years after her husband's death she and her baby girl are starting to settle into their new life in Richmond, VA with Nicole pursuing the career she had to abandon and David Ayden, who wants to be more than a friend. When a mysterious letter arrives it stirs up all kinds of nasty memories and sends Nicole and David to Washington, DC to uncover the answers to an unsolved murder. It also puts them both in the direct path of a murderer.