A Season of Angels
Author: Debbie Macomber
Published By: Avon
Date Published: June 28, 2011 (first published December 1993)
Genre: Holiday; Christian Romance
Genre: Holiday; Christian Romance
Pages: 358
Recommended Age: Adults
Rating:B/ 4
I borrowed this book from the library
Summary:
Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy--three willing but sometimes wayward angels--are each given someone's prayer to answer . . .
Shirley is assigned to help nine year old Timmy Potter. He longs for a father, although his mother is determined to never trust another man.
Goodness is assigned Monica Fisher, who longs for a husband of her own, but she has given up finding the right man.
Mercy is assigned to bring hope and peace back into Leah Lundberg’s life. The maternity nurse desperately wants a child with her husband, Andrew. Can Mercy succeed where other angels have failed?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this book. Debbie Macomber told a well written story about three silly angels and three women with real life issues. I felt I could relate to Leah and Monica in some aspects. I just couldn’t relate to or understand Timmy Potter’s mother. I kept thinking just because your husband died is no reason to distrust men all together. Her husband never cheated on her or anything; he just died. I think she was just scared of giving up her heart again.
Oh my! That Monica Fisher was a hard person to like with her holier-than-thou attitude. She sat in judgment of everyone from them wearing make-up and joy in a joke. It’s no wonder she did not have any friends.
Then there was Leah Lundberg. My heart cried out for her. Desiring child of my own, I was able to feel her pain. I know I couldn’t do her job day in and day out. I think she was a lot stronger than she allowed herself to be.
With my belief that there are angels out there and everyone is assigned a guardian angel, I had no trouble believing that this could be happening to people out in the world as I read Macomber’s tale and right now as I write this review. This was a fantastic story to read during the Christmas season. I recommend A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber. You won’t be disappointed.
Did you like it? What did you like? Was it well written? Things that bothered you? Characters Pros and Cons? Was it appropriate for the audience it is marketed towards?
Parents:
Language: none
Adult Content: none
Violence: none
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Dashing Through the Snow
Author: Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Published By: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: November 18, 2008
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Holiday
Pages: 226
Recommended Age: Adults
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
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A Killer’s Christmas in Wales (A Penny Brannigan Mystery)
Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan
Published By: Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Christmas
Date Published: October 25, 2011
Pages: 274
Recommended Age: Adults
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
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The Perfect Christmas
Author: Debbie Macomber
Published By: Mira Books
Date Published: September 29, 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday
Pages: 232
Recommended Age: Adults
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.
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
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Home for the Holidays
Author: Johanna Lindsey
Published By: Harper Collins
Date Published: October 7, 2000
Genre: Holiday; Historical Romance
Pages: 256
Recommended Age: Adults
Rating: C/3
I borrowed it from the library.
Summary:
Vincent Everett, the Baron of Windsor is seeking revenge against Larissa Ascot’s father. He ruins the Ascots’ credit with the merchants in town and buys out the mortgage on the Ascot home and evicts them. He does all this while Larissa’s father is away at sea so he can’t fix what the Baron has undone. When Vincent lays on the beautiful Larissa he is determined to have her out all cost and ruins her reputation. He has a plan. Will it work or will it back fire on him.
My Thoughts:
I liked Home for the Holidays, but it was lacking in some areas. I felt it was quite predictable. Larissa was very gullible and Vincent such a devious rogue. It did make for a good story to read during the Christmas season, although the only way one knew the story was set around Christmas was the book’s title and a couple references to the season.
For these reasons I give Home for the Holidays three stars and a grade of “C”. If you enjoy Johanna Lindsey’s novels I recommend checking out Home for the Holidays at Christmas time.
Parents:
Language: None
Adult Content: some sexual scenes
Violence: none
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What Happens at Christmas
Author: Victoria Alexander
Published By:
Date Published: October 16, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, holiday
Pages: 396
Recommended Age: Adults
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.
Parents:
Language: None
Adult Content: One sexual scene towards the end of the book.
Violence: None
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Mrs. Miracle
Author: Debbie Macomber
Published By: Avon
Date Published: August 1, 1996
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 322
Recommended Age: Adults
Rating: 4/c
This book is from my personal collection.
Summary:
Seth Webster’s heart never healed after he lost wife. Now, with his Christmas approaching and the latest in a long line of housekeepers has quit on him. With two rambunctious twin boys to raise a lone who is he going to get to help him this late in the year? The agency says they do not have anyone else to send out to him.
Then Mrs. Merkle shows up on his doorstep, and from the moment the warm, loving, and patient nanny appears everything is different. The kids take to calling her Mrs. Miracle. Mrs. Miracle’s sassy spirit is infectious and gives Seth the courage to approach Reba Maxwell.
Reba Maxwell is a travel agent who has been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to love again. After accepting to direct the children’s Christmas pageant at church and with a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle Seth and Reba might be able to learn to take a chance on love again.
My Thoughts:
I never read anything by Debbie Macober before and I usually read Christmas themed books during the Christmas season, but when a guy I know told me that he had seen the movie of this book on the Lifetime network and liked it I was very curious; therefore, I acquired the book.
I was pleasantly surprised. It was a very sweet romance. It was also a reminder not to hold on to anger and grudges, and that sometimes there are two sides to every story, if one is willing to open their heart and listen. I really enjoyed the character of Mrs. Merkle. I liked how she seemed to know everything that was going on, and how she would butt in and giver opinion on everything. Sometimes Seth would get upset with her butting in, but in the end he would admit she was right. I didn’t like the character of Harriet Foster, a widow who sees wrong doing and sin in everyone else, yet never steps back and sees that what she is doing is wrong. I feel that she gets her just desserts in the end.
I enjoyed this book very much and am grateful it was recommended to me. I may never have picked up the book otherwise, especially at this time of the year. This was a book I read in one day. It was a warm-hearted romance that was easy read. I may pick up another book by Debbie Macomber soon. For these reasons, I gave Mrs. Miracle four stars and a grade of B. If you like sweet romances with a Christmas theme, or even ones with angels involved I recommend reading Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber. It just may be the miracle you are looking for when it comes to Christmas romance.
Parents:
Language: One foul word and it was on page one.
Adult Content: None
Violence: None
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