Christmas Every Day

Love And Lies At The Village Christmas Shop by Portia Macintosh is a wonderful feel-good contemporary novel that focuses on the importance of family and memories. Every day we have the opportunity to not only look back and smile but to make new memories. The warm glow that Christmas brings shouldn’t only happen just once a year but every day.

The novel is a learning curve and a journey of discovery. “Some people put so much emphasis on things… but at the end of the day, it’s just money that gets you those things. Money can’t buy you a family.” Once again this week, I was reminded of something our pastor Leon Evans said “some people are so poor, all they have is money.” Money cannot buy you love, only stuff. Where will you aim the focus of your life?

Loss hits hard. No matter how warm our memories, sooner or later we have to face the fact that we need to adapt to a new ‘normal.’

Progress may be shunned as we love to reminisce and look back fondly on the past. There is a glorious future ahead if we would but try it.

Written in the first person, the reader becomes intimately acquainted with the characters through the eyes of the lead character Ivy. It feels like we are walking through the novel rather than outsiders looking in. The style is warm, witty and engaging, drawing the reader in from the start.

Portia Macintosh is a ‘new’ author to me but I loved her writing. I shall certainly be hunting out more of her books.

Love And Lies At The Village Christmas Shop shows that we do not need to wait until December to experience that festive feeling – we can enjoy Christmas every day with this wonderful novel.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

Link to podcasts at Lifecentral Church to hear Leon Evans talks.