Review: The Christmas Light By: Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know about you - and I don't know how Ms. VanLiere does it - but every time I read one of her books I am struck with something, but there is not one word for it. She has a gift. She creates a town, fills it with amazing characters - those that are filled with heart ache, those that have ice in their veins, those that need to forgive, those that need to heal, those that have the ability to shine, but they are everyday people. She then finds a way to get them to meet, to feel the nudge inside, or to listen to what is being called to do - direct the Nativity play, find a pregnant Mary, a Joseph at the gas station, or be kind to a face that needs it so. And so the book takes life, as do the characters, the lessons held within.
I find that I will laugh and cry, and I will re read every one of Ms. VanLiere's books and this one is no exception. I highly recommend stepping into the town of Grandon, meeting some characters that will jump off the page, root for little Avery to heal after the death of her dad, laugh at the antics of the triplets playing angels (as my grandmother says - it's the horns that hold up the halo), and know that guiding the way is The Christmas Light.

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Review: Mr Miracle By: Debbie Macomber

Mr. Miracle: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harry Mills has come to earth to work some 'Divine' interventions. This is his first time in human form, but he has studied them, what can go wrong.
Addie Folson has returned home after too many years and too many mistakes adding into too many regrets. She was hoping to spend the holidays with her mother, but just found out the her mother and her widowed friend have made plans to go on a cruise. As fate would have it, Erich Simmons, childhood crush and menace, was injured in a car crash and in order for his mother to go on the cruise and her mother to enjoy enjoy the holiday, Addie has to care for him.
Between her classes with the new professor, Mr. Mills and caring for her old crush Erich, Addie begins to feel the magic of the season. Soon both Addie and Erich find the boy/girl next door has grown up and so have their feelings for each other.
Sweet and filled with holiday spirit as Ms. Macomber delivers another treat for the season. Wonderful secondary characters, especially the quirky Celeste. This book can not help but have you smiling as you read.

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Review: A Christmas Prayer By: Kimberla Lawson Roby

A Christmas Prayer by Kimberla Lawson Roby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alexis Fletcher appears to be a woman who has it all, she even is a motivational speaker to help others become more, but Christmas brings nothing but pain and problems. She can't find any spirit within when she is still mourning her mother's death and when she is in constant battle with her future mother in law. To make matters worse, the strained relationship with her sister is leaving her niece at risk of living hungry, cold, and on the street.
One Sunday Reverend Curtis asks the congregation to go home and write a Christmas Prayer. Although Alexis doesn't feel like it or the spirit inside, she writes her prayer. Sometimes it takes time and rough patches but soon the light shows the way and prayers get answered.
A nice Christmas story that isn't afraid to show the imperfections of people or the Grace of God in forgiveness and love.

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Review: An Island Christmas By: Nancy Thayer

An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jilly Gordon has worked hard for the perfect home, perfect holidays, perfect life - even the perfect daughters, Lauren already married living close enough with the seemingly perfect life and Felicia, the wild one, who wants to get married on Christmas at home to a wild man and live a wild and crazy life. This is a little more than Jilly can handle, so she comes up with a plan involving the perfect boy next door that Felicia once went out with.
Jilly begins the holidays changing her life, with a feral cat entering her life and home, her future son in law destroying her antique chairs, her normally careful husband 'wiping out' on a moped, and it's just the beginning of the chaos. Everything that she once thought perfect soon falls away.
Ms. Thayer has the reader enjoying another beautiful tale set in Nantucket. A gentle reminder what the reason for the season is all about and the gift of family, for all it's character makes the heart even bigger and brighter.

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Review: The Christmas Train By: David Baldacci

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tom Langdon finds himself traveling by train because of his ban on airlines - a certain incident with a security wand- part to get to LA to his on again/off again girlfriend and the most important part to finish what his ancestor Mark Twain didn't as his dying request. Meeting so many people the train does come alive and Tom certainly feels like he might get a lot of material.
It comes as a surprise that a Hollywood bigwig Max Powers is on board and wants Tom to work with his writer and secret weapon, Eleanor Carter. Eleanor, the one who got away, no - ran away, with no explanation, the one who haunts him, and if she was honest the same. With a thief, a wedding, an avalanche these two have plenty to work with, hopefully they will work out the past to have a future, and just maybe there is an angel directing it all.
The book also contains two short stories. One that will grab at your heart, another that will peak your need for adventure.
This was a great book. I loved the story, it wasn't contrived and the words, the characters, the landscape came off the pages and enveloped me.

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Review: One Step Too Far By: Tina Seskis

One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I give this more 3.5 but rounded up.

The book goes back and forth, present and past, presenting a deeper look into the main character, Catherine Emily Brown, and her relationship with those around her and their lives - beginning with her decision to leave. Cat, as she is now being called, doesn't just leave, she removes herself from her husband, Ben Coleman and Simon's life. How could she leave them? Her ring in a sink at some terminal? Making a new life sharing a flat with strangers in London?
Slowly as Cat begins a new life, the old one is revealed. As Cat develops alcohol and drug problem, she climbs the ladder at work, but the spiral downward seems endless - or that is what it appears.
What are the secrets locked up inside of her? Those around? In one moment they all will crash and be revealed.

It's hard to like such a main character or even understand her, but after the revelation I found myself soften a bit, found certain aspects explainable even understandable. The ending was a bit rushed through but it gave everyone and everything a finale. Certain aspects were a bit disjointed, but considering that I read an ARC I am sure this is forgivable.



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Review: The Mistletoe Promise By: Richard Paul Evans

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Richard Paul Evans has done it AGAIN! Another Amazing, Beautiful Holiday Treat that spreads the message of Hope, Forgiveness, Redemption, and Love!
Elise Dutton finds herself in a contract with Nicholas Derr over the holidays. They will essentially fill the lonely gap over the upcoming weeks, company parties, obligations, but this is business - nothing deeper than that. Elise hasn't allowed herself any happiness in years finds it a bit disconcerting, she also carries a painful secret that might blow any chance of happiness that might come from the feelings she is developing for Nicholas. She isn't the only one with a secret past, Nicholas has a few of his own, maybe even one that made him search her out for the contract, yet it doesn't stop him from falling for the woman he set out to make feel special.
Hopefully with love and some forgiveness (especially self forgiveness), miracles can and do happen - afterall it is the season for them.

Oh, I love Mr. Evans and his stories. This one is no different. Filled with flawed people yet the golden lining of happiness - I know I will re read this one and share it.

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