Don't have much time to elaborate, but this was an unusual one. I loved the deep, detailed, descriptive writing, but the stories themselves were rather sad and depressing for what I would imagine in a Christmas book. Now, I know there are all kinds of sad around Christmastime, but I just wasn't in the mood to read all that sadness, even if they did find joy in the end.
Christmas is everywhere . . . even where you least expect it.
Join
award-winning author and storyteller James Calvin Schaap as he uncovers
the grace, joy, and love of the season through seven heartwarming tales
of miracle moments in a messy world. This beautiful and inspiring
collection of contemporary Christmas stories will remind you what grace
looks like--and where to find it. (picture and description at amazon)
Working on a lovely book now, can't wait to get back to it!!
O:)
Melissa
This was a sweet little breath of fresh air for Christmas stories. I really enjoy reading Colleen Coble and this did not disappoint.
She is mainly a series writer and while I have read one of them (Hope Beach Series) I have many more on my Paperwhite just waiting their turn.
This book is actually two Christmas novellas Colleen wrote previously combined into one book. One story, Silent Night, is from her Rock Harbor series and the other, Holy Night, is from her Aloha Reef series.
I would have to say Silent Night was my favorite. It combined a little mystery that is not typical in Christmas books I've read. And the snowy environment in Michigan really made me miss some serious snow.
Holy Night, on the other hand, takes place in Hawaii, and while the story itself was good, it is just still hard for me to imagine Christmas with hot weather. (Of course if my plan of retiring to a condo at the beach actually happens I guess I'll have to get used to it! :) )
Silent Night
As Christmas day nears, Bree Matthews and
her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a
troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor. Newlywed
Bree Matthews and her husband Kade are preparing for Christmas guests
when word arrives that a parachuter has disappeared in the North Woods,
along Lake Superior's icy shore. Bree and Samson plunge into the search. Will this snowy, silent night search lead Bree and Samson to the missing girl?
Holy Night
One sinister phone call has derailed their Christmas wedding. Will it keep them apart forever? Leia
and Bane are looking forward to their long-awaited Christmas wedding on
the beach. Everything is going as planned—until Leia's phone rings and
her world skids out of control. A muffled voice informs Leia that her
sister has been kidnapped and will be killed unless Leia calls off the
wedding without explanation—and no police. If she disobeys instructions
and tells Bane, she'll risk her beloved sister's life. But can she
handle this trauma without his help? And will he ever trust her again if
she lies to him now? Irresistible romance meets thrilling suspense in this holiday update to USA Today best-selling author Colleen Coble's Aloha Reef series. (picture and descriptions at amazon)
Of course, do you know what just happened? I just added about 10 books from her to my must read list!!!
Keep reading!
O:)
Melissa
Ok, this may be cheating to count one book as 4, but there were 4 short stories in it so I'm going for it.
Ahhh, Christmas, Amish, .... does it get any better? After the last few books that I have not enjoyed, this was a breath of fresh air. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story, and in this busy season it made me long for this simple lifestyle!
“When Christmas Comes Again” by Beth Wiseman
Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.
“Her Christmas Pen Pal” by Ruth Reid
Joy
was expecting a wedding proposal from Henry; what she got instead was
news of another woman. But when her heartfelt letter to a cousin ends up
in the hands of a young cabinetmaker, an unexpected correspondence
between two strangers gets interesting fast. Totally my favorite!!!
“A Gift for Anne Marie” by Kathleen Fuller
Anne
Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Now
things are evolving . . . in ways everyone else predicted long ago. But
when her mother suddenly decides to remarry in another state, Anne
Marie’s new chapter with Nathaniel looks doomed to end before it
begins.
“The Christmas Aprons” by Tricia Goyer
Vanilla crumb pie has been Esther’s mem’s
calling card for decades. But when Esther finally gets her hands on the
secret recipe, she discovers that vanilla crumb pie is more than just
dessert . . . it’s bachelor bait.
(picture and description at amazon)
Happy Reading!!
O:)
Melissa
