The Substitute Bride (O Little Town of Christmas Novella) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Title: The Substitute Bride (O Little Town of Christmas Novella)

Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels

Pages: 94

Release Date: October 11, 2015

Genre: Christmas Novella

Publisher: Hearts Overcoming Press

Format: eBook

About the book:

     A Christmas Carol meets It’s a Wonderful Life

     A letter for Sonja’s deceased friend arrives at the post office in Michigan, and with it a proposal. With her father threatening to kick her out of his home, Sonja impulsively responds, offering to travel west to be a substitute bride. At the same time, Louis’s railroad promotion sends him back to Michigan, the one place on earth he’d hoped to never return – where Christmas past was full of pain. A mysterious stranger leaves him marked copies of “A Christmas Carol” as he considers romancing Sonja in Christmas present. Will Louis discern the best choices for Christmas future? Does it include the Poor House, again? Even so – will God bring healing and love to him this year?

My review:

     This is a very sweet Christmas novella.

     Carrie has once again created very sweet characters. Both of the main ones, Sonja and Louis, were dealing with hurts from how they had been treated in the past. I was very easily able to empathize with their feelings. It was a joy to see how each of them was able to trust God and worked to move on from their pasts.

     I was disappointed by how short this story was. The idea behind it was wonderful and I feel it could very easily have been expanded to become a full length novel. It felt very rushed. This is the only reason that I have given it 4 instead of 5 stars. I am recommending this sweet story.