Showing posts with label Christmas Story. Show all posts

Friday, December 10, 2021

The Wish Book Christmas (If I Were You #2) by Lynn Austin

Title: The Wish Book Christmas (If I Were You #2)

Author: Lynn Austin

Pages: 304

Release Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: Christmas Story

Publisher: Tyndale House

Format: Hardcover (also available in eBook)

About the book:

A holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don’t deserve.

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab-since a dog topped the boys’ wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love.

My review:

This is an absolutely delightful Christmas story!

I love the entire cast of characters. I really felt a connection with Eve and Audrey and their desire to teach their sons that Christmas isn’t all about getting the gifts you want. It is a hard lesson to learn but a very important one for everyone to remember.

The story was very sweet and heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how not only the two boys developed but also how their mothers learned their own lessons that helped them to mature.

I didn’t realize that this was the second book in a series. I enjoyed it so much that I will be buying the first one and reading it as soon as I can. I’m giving this wonderful story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Colors of Christmas by Olivia Newport

Title: Colors of Christmas

Author: Olivia Newport

Pages: 320

Year: 2017

Genre: Christmas Stories

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

Celebrate the joyful hope of the Christmas season as characters find healing in the midst of heartbreak. New from Olivia Newport!

Christmas in Blue

In the wake of a personal loss deeper than anyone realizes, Angela plans to bypass as must of the season as possible and get through her duties as the church organist by going on autopilot. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration. After a mysterious young man arrives, townspeople suspect he is the reason that one set of plans after another disintegrate until little is left of their traditions. Yet Angela warms to Gabe because she suspects they share a secret—his real reason for coming to town. Even when all they have to work with is a garish supply of blue Christmas decorations, Gabe helps Angela discover the hidden beauty of hope.

Christmas in Gold

After eighty years, change is nothing new for Astrid. By the time she was twenty, she survived the destructive Nazi regime, caring for her family under brutal circumstances, moving to America, and losing her husband. At forty she was widowed again and left to build a new life with her children. Now, when she faces a move into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up hope through tragedy one more time.

My review:

These are two hope-filled Christmas stories!

I love the main characters in each of these stories. I was able to connect deeply with both Astrid (Christmas in Gold) and Angela (Christmas in Blue). They are each faced with deeply painful and emotional Christmases to get through. Reading their stories really shown a light on the fact that the greatest hope can best be found in the most difficult and trying times.

Both of these amazing women were able to make new friends that helped them get through their time of discouragement and depression. They were able to then move past it and help others along the way.

I picked up this book without reading the summary for it. I was looking for a light-hearted Christmas story. This was definitely heavier than I thought it was going to be. But it was exactly what I needed. I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Giver of Wonders by Roseanna M. White

Title: Giver of Wonders

Author: Roseanna M. White

Pages: 266

Year: 2016

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

A miracle once saved her life ~ will another give her a future?

Cyprus was little more than a child when a fall left her paralyzed…and when the boy known as the wonder-worker healed her. Ever since, she has wondered why the Lord spared her, what he has in store for her. But her pagan father thinks she was spared solely so she could be introduced to the wealthy wonder-worker, Nikolaos.

Nikolaos has never questioned that his call in life is to dedicate himself to the church and to God. Never, that is, until he and his cousin Petros meet the compelling Cyprus Visibullis. For years he struggles with the feelings she inspires…and with the sure knowledge that Petros loves her too.

Petros knows he will never be good enough for Cyprus’s father to consider him as a match for his favorite daughter not as long as Nikolaos is there. But when tragedy strikes the Visibullis family, he will do anything to save his beloved. Unfortunately, his beloved is determined to do anything to save her sisters ~ even at the cost of herself.

As the festival of lights bathes their Greek city in beauty, Cyprus, Petros, and Nikolaos celebrate the miracle of their Savior’s birth together one last time. And in remembrance of their Lord’s greatest gift, one of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for the others…and a centuries-long tradition will be born.

My review:

This is a wonderful historical fiction Christmas story!

I was captivated by the first meeting we have with Cyprus Visibullis. She is a spunky girl who gets herself in trouble a few times in this book. It was upsetting to me to realize how daughters were viewed by their fathers. There were a number of times that I wanted to slap her father because of how he spoke to Cyprus and her sisters. I really liked how Cyprus and her two sisters stuck together and supported each other.

I was fascinated by Nikolaos. He had such a solid relationship with God that I felt encouraged in my own relationship with Him. I had heard that Santa Claus was based on Saint Nicholas before. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the real man that evolved into Santa. I liked seeing the beginning of some of the traditions that began in other cultures too.

I am giving this wonderful story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

Title: Christmas in Winter Hill

Author: Melody Carlson

Narrated by: Marisa Blake

Length: 3 hours, 52 minutes

Year: 2019

Genre: Christmas Story

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Format: Audiobook (also available eBook and hardcover)

About the book:

Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?” Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?

Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you’ll never forget—and never want to leave.

My review:

This is a charming small town Christmas story.

I enjoyed getting to know Krista and her daughter Emily. They are working to adjust to their new life in Winter Hill when they move just before Thanksgiving. They have arrived just before the busiest time of the year in the small town. I liked seeing how some of the residents just opened their hearts and welcomed them in, befriending them from the first time they meet.

I like the fact that Krista is willing to deal with hard issues at work to make things better for the small town and all of the residents. She stands up for what is right even though it brings difficulties for her personally.

I really like the narrator and will be looking for more books that she has done. She changes her voice for the different characters which helps to follow the story. It isn’t drastic differences but it is noticeable.

I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars and recommending it.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The Christmas Table (Christmas Hope #10) by Donna VanLiere

Title: The Christmas Table (Christmas Hope #10)

Author: Donna VanLiere

Pages: 240

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Genre: Holiday Story

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Format: eBook (also available in hardcover)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. His largest project to date had been picture frames but he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table Joan turns to her mother’s recipes she had given to Joan when she and John married.

In June 2012, Lauren Mabrey discovers she’s pregnant. Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory’s Place begin to pitch in, helping Lauren prepare their home for the baby. On a visit to the local furniture builder, Lauren finds a table that he bought at a garage sale but has recently refinished. Once home, a drawer is discovered under the table which contains a stack of recipe cards. Growing up in one foster home after another, Lauren never learned to cook and is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes have been written on each one from the mother to her daughter and time and again Lauren wonders where they lived, when they lived, and in a strange way, she feels connected to this mother and her daughter and wants to make the mother proud.

The story continues back and forth from 1972 to 2012 as Joan battles breast cancer and Lauren learns to cook, preparing for the baby’s arrival. As Christmas nears, can Lauren unlock the mystery of the table, and find the peace she’s always longed for?

My review:

This is a delightful holiday story.

The story takes place in two different years, 1972 and 2012. The situation in each on is very different. They are both incredibly easy to immerse yourself in. The characters in both years were easy to connect with. At times throughout the book my heart broke for what was going on. Other times I was filled with joy.

The story makes we wish I lived in a small town like Grandon. It is wonderful how everyone works together to help whoever needs it.

I’m giving this wonderfully emotional story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Monday, June 8, 2020

The Christmas Box (The Christmas Box Trilogy #1) by Richard Paul Evans

Title: The Christmas Box (The Christmas Box Trilogy #1)

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Pages: 125

Year: 1996

Genre: Christmas Story

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardback (also available in eBook)

About the book:

“Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of the Christmas Box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story.”

So begins “The Christmas Box,” the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really all about. “The Christmas Box” is a Christmas story unlike any other.

My review:

This is a wonderful, tender, Christmas story!

I love the simple way that this story is presented. It brings out what is the best of people and the connections that they can make with each other. It actually took me back to a time when people trusted each other just because most people could be trusted.

Mary is my favorite character in this story. She loves just because she knows God and His love. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how she went about teaching Richard a very basic truth that we all need to know and keep in mind.

This book touched my heart very deeply and I have to give it a rating of 5 stars. I’m highly recommending it. I have never read a book by this author before. I can’t wait to read everything else he has written.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Christmas Star (Christmas Hope #9) by Donna VanLiere

Title: The Christmas Star (Christmas Hope #9)

Author: Donna VanLiere

Pages: 240

Year: 2018

Genre: Holiday Romance

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback and hardcover)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series comes another heartwarming, inspirational story for the holidays.

Thirty-two-year-old Amy Denison volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maggie is a mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just the right man for Amy at Grandon Elementary School, where she is a student. Amy is hesitant - she’s been hurt before, and isn’t sure she’s ready to lose her heart again - but an unexpected surprise makes her reconsider her lonely lifestyle.

As Christmas nears and the town is blanketed in snow and beautiful decorations, Maddie and the charming staff at Glory’s Place help Amy to see that romance can be more than heartache and broken promises.

In The Christmas Star, Donna VanLiere delivers yet another sweet, joyous story that is sure to capture readers’ hearts.

My review:

This is a delightful holiday romance!

I love the cast of characters in this book. They talk a lot about a family being made up of a group of friends that you love. By the end of this book I felt like they were my family too.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the kids that go to Glory’s Place after school are included in the lives of the adults. Maddie is my favorite on of the children and the characters in general.

This charming book is getting a rating of 5 stars from me. I am definitely recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

The Christmas Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Title: The Christmas Prayer

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Pages: 176

Year: 2018

Genre: Historical Christmas

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

Beloved, bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter takes readers on a journey in 1850 along the California Trail.

Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California dance and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

My review:

This is a wonderful historical Christmas story.

The character list is very small in this book but they are each presented very well. Their personalities are extremely varied and as the story progresses we find that even the hardest to get along with can be the person that connects the most with someone.

The tale takes this small group through a very trying journey and they have to learn how to work together and trust in God. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how a group of strangers can become close friends going through a very difficult trial together.

I truly enjoyed this short novel length Christmas story. I am definitely recommending it. It gets a 5-star rating from me.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Comfort & Joy: Christmas Light Collection 2018 + A GIVEAWAY

About the Book

Book: Comfort & Joy

Author: The Christmas Lights Collection: Alana Terry, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Cozy Mystery, Suspense, Christmas

Release Date: October 16, 2018

The third-annual Christmas Lights Collection is pleased to present: Comfort & Joy–four Christmas Novellas. From contemporary romance to cozy mystery and suspense, this diverse collection celebrates the comforts and joys of Christmas.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

This is a great novella collection of Christmas stories.

The stories in this book are very different from each other. That is one of the things that I usually enjoy in novella collections. All of the stories were well written and filled with characters that were well developed.

I expected light entertainment when I picked this book up. I was very surprised at the heaviness of the first story, Frost Heaves, by Alana Terry. This was only because of the subject matter it included. I loved Dez’s childlike faith in Jesus and in the power of prayer.

I was ready for a lighter story when I started Deck the Shelves, by Toni Shiloh. I was not disappointed. This was a charming contemporary romance. Each of the main characters had emotional baggage that they had to work through. Deuce is a delightful little boy and I loved reading about his antics.

Each story has a wonderful child as a very special character. They are all fantastic. In my mind you can’t go wrong having a child placed in the middle of any romance. They are great for comedic effect with the funny things that they all seem to come up with.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the Authors

Alana Terry: Pastor’s wife Alana Terry is a homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second. You can find her at alanaterry.com

Toni Shiloh: Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. You can find her at tonishiloh.wordpress.com

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

Cathe Swanson: Cathe Swanson lives in Wisconsin with her husband of 32 years, and the long Wisconsin winters are perfect for writing and reading books! Cathe enjoys writing stories with eccentric characters of all ages. Her books will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again. You can find her at catheswanson.com

Chautona Havig: Amazon bestselling author of the Aggie books and Past Forward, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave desert where she uses story to connect readers to the Master Storyteller.

Guest Post from Chautona Havig

Why Do So Many Christians Love to Celebrate Christmas?

“We don’t celebrate Christmas because we were ordered to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We were never commanded to celebrate His birth.”

Something about that statement didn’t sit well with me, but I was honest enough with myself to admit that it might be because I happened to love Christmas, and the idea of not celebrating it didn’t sit well with my twelve-year-old mind.

No, I didn’t go in for the Santa thing. I never had. As later my children were taught to say, Santa wasn’t “invited to our family celebration.” But still, the family, the joy, the music, the spirit of the thing moved me.

So, I did what I always did when I didn’t understand something. I asked Dad. “Why do we celebrate Christmas?”

If I recall correctly, Dad took a sip of coffee and watched me for several long seconds before he said, “What is Christmas?”

Ever the teacher, Dad had to put on his Socratic robe and make me work for it. I answered. “What we call the day Jesus was supposedly born. His birthday.”

“Okay. So, we celebrate Christ’s birthday on Christmas—on Christmas.”

“Yes.”

He gave me that slight smirk that always meant something good was coming. “And what did God do when His Son was born?”

Dad stumped me there. I blinked. “I don’t know.”

“He sent out the biggest birth announcement ever known to man—a star, angels, music.” Then Dad continued his leading questions. “He…”

I got it. “Celebrated the birth.”

“Yes.” Sometimes Dad was a man of few words.

But I couldn’t be satisfied—not yet.

“So, why do we give presents to each other if it’s Jesus’ birthday? Isn’t that backward?”

“Isn’t all of Christianity backward to the fallen mind?” When I didn’t answer, he smiled again. “What does Christ say about doing things for others?”

It wasn’t word-for-word Scripture—not even close. Just as he would have prompted again, I remembered Jesus’ story of the man who was fed, clothed, and given a drink. “When you do things for others, it’s like you’re doing them for Jesus.”

Dad shrugged then. “Maybe it’s just justification for continuing a beloved tradition, but it brings me joy to give you gifts. And Christ had something to say about how fathers love to give good gifts to their children.”

That brought me back to the original question.

“What about the fact that we’re told to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus? We aren’t told to celebrate the birth. Does that make it wrong?”

This time, Dad’s jaw hardened. I saw it twitch, and prepared for a blasting. After all, I had kind of argued with him. I hadn’t meant to, but I could see how it might be taken that way.

“Chautona,” he said, “don’t ever put rules on yourself that God hasn’t. We may not be commanded to celebrate Christ’s birth, but we aren’t forbidden, either. We have God’s example to emulate, and we have this truth.” His voice gentled when he saw he’d startled me. “We would never have been able to celebrate Christ’s death if He had not been born. If that’s not a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is.”

What does all that have to do with Christmas novellas (or “noellas” like I prefer to call them)?

Well, people ask me all the time. “Why do you write so many Christmas books? Why do these Christmas collections? Why focus so much on the birth of Jesus and the trappings of cultural Christmas when it’s inferior to the “big thing”—the Resurrection?”

Dad’s answer is mine. Because it points to it. It draws attention to it. And because Christmas is one time of year—the only time of year in which you can walk into almost any building in America and still hear praises sung to God at some point. They slip in between love songs about giving away your heart at Christmas and rocking around Christmas trees to “Jingle Bell Rock.”

And even the more “secular” versions that aren’t an outright praise to God like “Silent Night” or “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” sometimes throw in Jesus anyway because they can’t quite leave out, “Merry Christmas” in some place or another.

So maybe our Christmas books are inferior to what “Easter” books could be. Maybe they are. But if Christmas trees, caroling, and “ghost stories” keep Jesus at the forefront of someone’s mind in October, November, or December, then I think that’s a pretty cool thing.

Happy Birthday, Jesus. Thanks for coming.