There are lots of romances with a Christmas theme for the readers out there who enjoy stories with a happy ending.

If you enjoy romances with a Western setting, then these two books are for you.

Janet Dailey, whose books are always winners, presents "Santa in a Stetson" (Zebra, 2009, $6.99). City girl and former model Diana Palmer marries Lije Masters, a rodeo cowboy she's only known for a couple of days, and finds herself living on a ranch out in the middle of nowhere. Even though she loves Lije, is that going to be enough for her to get past her loneliness and depression?

Janette Kenny, another prolific author, weighs in with "A Cowboy Christmas" (Zebra, 2009, $5.99). Ellie Jo Cade has her own reasons for taking a temporary position as a cook at Reid Barclay's Crown Seven Ranch. Little does she know that the handsome cowboy will melt her heart.

Historical romance lovers will like "One Snowy Knight," by Deborah MacGillivray (Zebra, 2009, $5.99). In this book set in Scotland, Lady Skena MacIain is trying to provide for the people who were under the protection of her late husband, Angus. Angus was killed in a battle with the English. When a mysterious English warrior turns up injured, Skena takes him in, only to discover that the man has been awarded her property. But her children believe that the warrior is the answer to their Christmas wish.

A more contemporary historical romance is "A Christmas Scandal," by Jane Goodger (Zebra, 2009, $5.99). This volume features American Maggie Pierce, who was introduced in one of Goodger's earlier books. Maggie's father has just been sent to prison for embezzlement. Luckily an invitation has come for Maggie and her mother to travel to England to visit Maggie's friend, Elizabeth, now the Duchess of Bellingham.

But, Maggie comes face-to-face with Lord Hollings, who made it clear to her during Elizabeth's wedding that he had no interest in marrying her or anyone else. Everyone else can see where they are headed, but Edward and Maggie seem to have a blind spot about their relationship. Can it survive a scandal?

From the paranormal genre comes "Christmas Spirit" by Amy Garvey (Zebra, 2009, $6.99). There are more spirits beside the Christmas spirit hanging around Charlotte Prescott's New England home. When reporter Sam Garvey comes to interview Charlotte about her ghosts, it becomes pretty obvious that the spirits don't like him. But, Charlotte finds that she likes Sam very much. Can the two of them team up to rid the house of spirits before they run Sam off for good?

If you like short stories, you can't go wrong with "Snow Angels," with Christmasy selections by Fern Michaels, Marie Bostwick, Janna McMahan and Rosalind Noonan (Zebra, 2009, $7.99).

"A Highlander Christmas" (Signet, 2009, $14) features short Christmas romances with a common theme: a brooch belonging to the McDonald clan appears in each story. Authors are Dawn Halliday, Cindy Miles and Sophie Renwick

And finally there is "Kissing Santa Claus," with stories by well-known writers Donna Kauffman, Jill Salvis and Helenkay Dimon (Brava, 2009, $14).

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com or (910) 693-2475.