What Happens at Christmas, by Victoria Alexander

 

What Happens at Christmas

Author: Victoria Alexander

Published By:

Date Published: October 16, 2012

Genre: Historical Romance, holiday

Pages: 396

Recommended Age: Adults

Read & Reviewed By: Me

Rating: C/ 3

I borrowed it from the library

Summary:

Camille, Lady Lydingham, wants an official engagement to a handsome, dashing prince for Christmas, but her plans go awry when she organizes a party for him to meet her unconventional relatives--and a former love interest also shows up.

My Thoughts:

I liked this book but it was quite dry.  It’s a sweet love story, although the reader can see how it is going to end.  I like how the former love interest likes to play at pretending him and Camille are at fancy balls together; I find that romantic.  I also liked that by the end of the book, the reader realizes the book is about forgiveness.   I’m not sure I will read another book by Victoria Alexander, maybe another Christmas theme one but she will not become of the authors I seek out to read the rest of the year.  For these reasons, I gave What Happens at Christmas by Victoria Alexander three stars and a grade of C. If you are interested in reading a Christmas them historical romance that shares a lesson, I recommend What Happens at Christmas.

Language: None

Adult Content: One sexual scene towards the end of the book.

Violence: None

Dashing Through the Snow, by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

 

Dashing Through the Snow

Author: Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Date Published: November 18, 2008

Genre: Mystery, Holiday

Pages: 226

Recommended Age: Adults

Read & Reviewed By: Me

Rating: B/4

I borrowed it from the library

Summary:

In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book. It was a change from other mysteries I have read where a murder was committed.  Instead it was story about a person who was perceived as missing that helped solve an old murder from many years ago. It seems this book included an amateur detective from other books by Carol Higgins Clark writing team, but the reader never feels like she is missing something. This is a stand-alone book. I love how in the end the two con men are willing to risk their own lives to save others, stating that conning people out of money is one thing, but murderers are something they are not. It was such a quick and easy read that I read it in two days time.  For all these reasons, I gave Dashing through the Snow four stars and a grade of B.  If you are looking for a good Christmas mystery, I recommend Dashing Through the Snow by the mother-daughter writing team.

Parents:

Language: None

Adult Content: None

Violence: None

The Perfect Christmas, by Debbie Macomber

 

Book Title: The Perfect Christmas

Author:  Debbie Macomber

Published By: Mira Books

Date Published:  September 29, 2009

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday

Pages: 232

Recommended Age: Adults

Read and Reviewed By: Me

Rating: A/5

I borrowed it from the library

Summary:

Cassie Beaumont, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance.  So she goes to see a professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, bitter know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all --- and she's finally ready to meet her match.

My Thoughts:

I quite enjoyed this story. What woman has not had a list of qualifications for a man to qualify as the perfect mate? I love the humor that was weaved through this story.  I had even laughed out loud at one point and someone asked me what was so funny.   This is sweet Christmas romance I recommend.  I may even read it again one Christmas season. For these reasons, I gave The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber five stars and a grade of A.  Check it out, I guarantee you a good laugh.

Parents:

Language: None

Adult Content: None

Violence: None

A Killer’s Christmas in Wales (A Penny Brannigan Mystery), by Elizabeth J. Duncan

 

Book Title: A Killer’s Christmas in Wales (A Penny Brannigan Mystery)

Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan

Published By: Minotaur Books

Genre:  Mystery, Holiday

Date Published: October 25, 2011

Pages: 274

Recommended Age: Adults

Read & Reviewed By: Me

Rating: D/2

I borrowed it from the library

Summary:

The people of the Llanelen, Wales get ready for snowiest Christmas in 25 years, Harry Saunders, an American stranger arrives in town.  He charms all the women and swindles a large sum of money from widower Evelyn Lloyd. When Mr. Saunders ends up dead Mrs. Lloyd is the prime suspect.  Did she kill him or did he have other enemies?

My Thoughts:

I can’t say that I really liked it.  It was okay, but it did nothing for me.  It was slow starting.  It seemed it took a long time to get to the murder and quick to solve.  I knew who the murder was before the amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan did.  I also didn’t like the foreign way of spelling names.  I couldn’t make what people’s names are.  I believe this book was a lesson to me not pick up books that are set in Wales.

I gave this book a rating of two stars and a grade of D because it did nothing for me.  If you are a fan of Elizabeth J. Duncan, I recommend reading A Killer’s Christmas in Wales during Christmas time.  If not, you will not be missing anything if you pass it up on the bookshelves.

Parents:

Language: None

Adult Content: None

Violence: None

The Courtship of Nellie Fisher, by Beverly Lewis

 

Book Title: The Courtship of Nellie Fisher

Author: Beverly Lewis

Published By: Bethany House Publishers

Genre: Christian fiction, Amish Romance, Historical fiction 

Date Published:  April 1, 2012

Pages: 699

Recommended Age: Young Adult, Adult

Read & Reviewed By:  Me

Rating: A/5

I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary:

During the fall of 1966 in the town of Honeybrook, the Old Order Amish community finds themselves on opposite sides of an everlasting divide.  It couldn’t come at a worse time for Nellie Fisher and her beau Caleb Yoder.

My Thoughts:

This book was three books in one. It is a three book trilogy consisting of The Parting, The Forbidden, and The Longing.   I believe it was well written and Beverly Lewis did her research well.  I was even compelled to get on the internet to research the Amish, wanting to know the differences between the Old Order; The New Order; the Beach Amish; and the Mennonites.  I also wanted to learn when they had all split from the Old Order. I think an author has done an excellent job when she encourages the reader to some research of their own.

As for the story line, it was very touching.  I cried at the points where the characters tell how the Word of God saved them. It was very moving for a fellow Christian.  There was one character I did not like and that was Caleb Yoder’s father.  He was domineering over his family, telling his children who they can and cannot be friends with or marry.  I did like Nellie’s father.  He was very compassionate with his girls and put his foot down when it was truly necessary.  A reader is able to fall into the book (or the three books, for the matter) and root for the heroine and some of the other characters.

I really enjoyed this book and may read it again someday, and for this reason I give it five stars and a grade of an A.  If you love Amish romances or are interested in learning about the Amish divided through fictional storytelling, I recommend The Courtship of Nellie Fisher by Beverly Lewis.

Parents:

Language: None

Adult Content: None

Violence: None