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Kringle’s Return by Jemma Hatt

Never Stop Believing

Kringle’s Return by Jemma Hatt is a wonderful book for those aged eight years and over. It is the second book in the Kringle’s Emporium series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading book one first for maximum enjoyment and continuity of story. Though the tale is set at Christmas, it can be enjoyed at any time of year.

Once more, the reader meets up with familiar faces, as the children are again, called upon to save Christmas. Faces and objects help them as we ‘travel’ to New York City and India in search of missing objects. I am particularly fond of the character of Andre in his yellow New York taxi.

Some of the characters experience bullying. Bullying is not always throwing punches. Words thrown can wound too. In order to resist the barbs, one needs to feel comfortable in one’s own skin. “Why would I change what makes me happy because it doesn’t fit in with people I don’t even like?”

Kindness is the most important thing. Kindness makes the world go round. “Kindness is truly contagious… It only takes one person to start an avalanche.” Be contagious – spread kindness wherever you go.

Sometimes we feel pain, hurt and even guilt when we really shouldn’t. “We can only take responsibility for our own actions, not those of others. You can’t control when people let you down, only how you respond to it.” Everyone must own their own choices. Trying to get into the minds of others is futile.

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The Last Noel by Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh & Kimberley Woodhouse

God At The Centre

The Last Noel is a collection of three stories by Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh and Kimberley Woodhouse. They are Christian contemporary stories set in the run up to Christmas. The three are similar but different. They all have God at the centre.

We learn about the power of forgiveness. “Forgiveness is the way to healing.” When we forgive, we release ourselves from the prison of bitterness. “Lord, God… Help me to pour out forgiveness. Please help no more bitterness to grow.” Sometimes we cannot forgive in our strength. We need to press into God and forgive in His strength.

Life can be difficult at times. We need to lean on God. “Mummy said you talked to God. How do you do that?” asked a five-year-old. God is literally just a prayer away. He will calm all the storms of life. “She’d had to give it completely over to God so she didn’t worry.” We must worry about nothing, and pray about everything.

In Kimberley Woodhouse’s tale Do You Know What I Know?, there ius a literal storm. We witness the community pulling together.

Within life, we may meet bad people. We know that whatever happens, when we know God, we can know that He is in control.

A character in Sarah Hamaker’s story Do You See What I See?, has little self-worth. “When you come from a bad home life… and… aren’t wanted by anyone, you start to believe no one will want to be with you.” She needs to know that she is loved, and that people will stick around.

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The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James is a delightfully fun novel that entertained me from the start.

A Christmas cruise is very charming. Along with the traditional festivities, we see the rather energetic Santa who wears swimming trunks on board ship; and we travel ashore to take in the delights of Norway.

The cruise is made up of an eclectic bunch of people – those who brave the ice-cold swimming pool for a daily swim, and those who prefer food, drink, and more leisurely activities. There is something for every taste.

We drop in on a small group of six guests – a couple where the husband has terminal cancer and who are determined to make memories while they can. “When the Beast [cancer] came back, it would be hungry…Her husband’s decline would be rapid… In the meantime, their lives were for living.”

There is a retired school master from Skipton, and a new widow from Lancashire. She was “in a widowed world she hadn’t been ready to enter.”

The final pair are a loud, showy couple determined to be the centre of attention.

We see the generosity of hearts who want to help those less fortunate. They are angels in disguise as they see those who are invisible to others.

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The Virgin Mary’s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn

Heart Warming

The Virgin Mary’s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn is a very charming anthology of tales and poems set at Christmas.

We hear tales about nativities that the author experienced as he visited schools in Yorkshire in his role as school inspector. Children are delightfully honest and forthright in their opinions, which often produces much hilarity.

A child in a nativity said: “Can you tell the palm tree to shift, Miss, he’s blocking my view and I can’t see my Nana.”

An angel in another nativity when talking of the baby Jesus said: “’E’s a reight bobby-dazzler.”

There are poems scattered throughout, as well as short stories that bring a tear to your eye. My particular favourites were Happy Christmas, Miss Dunn; and A Christmas Miracle.

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