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The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan

Jan14

Jigsaw Pieces

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan is a most charming Christmas contemporary novel that I absolutely adored.

Once more Sarah Morgan has captured the essence of Christmas within her book. Christmas is family, fun, laughter – all things that had been missing from the leading lady’s life.

We see the loneliness of never having anyone to depend on, the feeling of utter abandonment as a character throws herself into her work. “When life is hard, it sometimes helps to have no time to think about it.”

When burnout is close, a character realizes that something must change. “You couldn’t undo the past, but you could do your very best with the future.” The past is gone, the future lies ahead. “The past was gone and she wasn’t going to let it contaminate the present.”

Everyone makes choices that have consequences. “The choices were their own and you had no control over that.” We are not responsible for the choices of others. We are only responsible for our own choices.”

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Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden

Jan10

But Even If…

Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden is the most charming contemporary Christian Christmas novel that I absolutely loved. It is the fifth book in the Hope Springs series but can be read as a stand-alone.

This is a novel about love. There is the love of God for us. “The one she always needed… was the love of God, His agape, never-ending love.” No matter where we are in life, whether on the mountain top or in the valley, God loves us with an everlasting, unchanging love.

We witness love between humans as we follow three characters who have loved and been let down. It seems easier to push others away than to let them in and risk heart ache.

Twelve-year-old Jackson has been through many foster homes – everybody hands him back again until he meets foster mum Leah who loves him with an unfailing love. Jackson pushes her away but her love is faithful.

A character has pushed God away after an IED in Afghanistan robbed him of a limb and friends. “Anyone who could still believe in God after the things they’d seen in battle was crazier than him.” Austin pushes God away but God is faithful and waits for the prodigal to return home.

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Miracle On 34th Street by Valentine Davies

Dec31

Positively Delightful

Miracle On 34th Street by Valentine Davies is an absolutely delightful Christmas book that I adored.

The book is based on the 1947 film of the same name. It is a totally charming novel, beautifully written and one that evokes the true meaning of Christmas. “Underneath all the hurry and bustle people still believe in Santa Claus and all Christmas stands for.”

Even today with all the new technology, Miracle On 34th Street still has relevance. This is a timeless classic and one that I intend to read annually as part of my Christmas traditions going forward.

I love the 1947 movie. As I read through the book it was easy to picture all the characters.

This is a book to be read, savored and kept. It has a timeless appeal that will include all the generations.

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Upon The Midnight Clear by Scott R Rezer

Dec30

When A Bell Rings

Upon The Midnight Clear by Scott R Rezer is a beautiful Christian Christmas dual timeline novel that I absolutely loved. It is the fourth book in A Festival Of Carols series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel is set in 1969 and 2018 in Philadelphia. The two time periods are linked by the two main characters who are older versions of themselves in 2018.

There are the themes of veterans and homelessness. In 1969 America was involved in the Vietnam war. No one wanted it but still young men were drafted. “A victim of a war nobody wanted.”

In 2018 there are veterans from the war in Afghanistan. War leaves no one unchanged. “They might have come home from the war, but they never left it.” Many left their minds on the battlefields and returned suffering from PTSD and survivor’s guilt.

Re-integration into society was impossible and many brave men and women ended up on the streets, hiding away, invisible to many. They banded together. “The vets who understood the sacrifices of war.”

War changed the vets and they did not feel worthy to return home. “Most people on the street long to return home. They’re often not sure how to do it.” They found it safer to hide away.

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