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The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

Dec11

Wonderfully Warm & Welcoming

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is the most charming contemporary Christian Christmas novel which I absolutely loved.

I always look forward to the Christmas novel from Melody Carlson. When it drops through my door, I know that Christmas is not that far away.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a wonderful, warm read. It is serenely beautiful and is the essence of Christmas within a book.

We see that families are complicated affairs. Not everybody pulls in the same direction. When different things are sought, compromises must be made. Ultimately family loves. Family is not just blood related but those who love us.

Hurting people hurt people. We need to understand why people lash out and help them to heal.

Traditions are important. Memories are attached to them as we remember those who are no longer here.

All the characters were wonderfully drawn. They offered a warm welcome to the reader. They were an eclectic mix falling into two categories – those who felt happy in the mall, and those who preferred the green open spaces.

There was a charming relationship between the leading lady, Madison, and eleven-year-old Lily who lived next door. Lily had lost her mother but bonds with Madison after a shaky start. Lily brings out the best in Madison and vice versa. They teach each other new skills and work together to make a success of the Christmas Tree Farm.

A smattering of snow, a dash of romance and good wholesome characters. All can be found within the pages.

I absolutely loved The Christmas Tree Farm and am sorry that it is ended. It was wonderfully warm and welcoming. I can highly recommend it.

I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON

When Herald Angels Sing by Scott R Rezer

Dec8

A Time For Miracles

When Herald Angels Sing by Scott R Rezer is a most charming contemporary Christian Christmas novel that I really loved. It is the second book in A Festival Of Carols series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel is set in present day and 1863 in America, a time when the American Civil War was still raging. The location is Philadelphia, still recognizable to the characters in both time periods. It is set just before Christmas and the reader is treated to snow and a simpler Christmas when Jesus’ birth was celebrated.

We see the devastating effects of loss on characters who feel utterly alone and stuck in a moment in time. However, “you are never truly alone… God is always nearer than you think.” God is as close as the prayer that our hearts utter. God is as close as we want Him to be. “He [God] hasn’t been near me… That’s because you have kept Him at arm’s length.”

Lives are lost in the past, trying to alter what cannot be changed. “The past isn’t about mourning what you have lost, it’s about celebrating what you had.” We celebrate the lives we knew rather than mourn their passing.

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The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh

Dec3

Living Life To The Full

The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh is the most delightful contemporary offering which I just could not put down.

Judy Leigh has done it again! – and produced a wonderfully warm offering showing how to live life to the full, whatever your age. Age is, after all, just a number. It’s how you feel on the inside that counts.

The leading lady is seventy-seven, supported by a cast of friends who are similarly aged, including Rose who is eighty and who doesn’t let age or health scares get her down. It’s all about ones’ outlook on life.

Judy Leigh shows that we are never too old to start a new adventure. When life presents you with opportunities – grab them with both hands!

Getting older may present challenges but it is how we deal with them that counts. We can wallow in self-pity or we can use grit and determination to fire on all cylinders.

Some characters are suffering from grief. One lets her memories warm her. Another is wallowing in grief and ‘what-ifs’, suffering from survivor’s guilt in the form of PTSD. He finds solace in alcohol but it is never the answer – until an epiphany sees a fresh determination to be a new person. “A person isn’t who they used to be. The total sum of their worth isn’t the mistakes they made… It’s about who we are now.” We all make mistakes. We must learn from them and move on. “Out of something bad, there’s always hope.”

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A Christmas Surprise In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen

Dec3

Absolutely Charming

A Christmas Surprise In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen is an absolutely charming contemporary novel which I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep. It is the fourth book in the Pelican Crossing series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I enjoyed catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones. Maggie Christensen always introduces her readers to wholesome, likable, fully rounded characters who are easy to picture and to empathise with. They are an eclectic mix such as you would find in any seaside town. Their ages range from a baby to old Agnes, with the leading characters being fifty-eight and sixty-two.

Dogs also have a starring role. Dogs turn a house into a home. They help people who are feeling down. They are very much characters in their own right.

Life is for living to the full. You are never too old to start fresh opportunities. Life is for grabbing and experiencing, not for merely existing.

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