Boughs of holly are strung on streets,
Every door is adorned with Pine wreaths,
Shining ornaments and bright lights are set aglow,
It’s time for a Christmas read as the window panes get covered in snow.
This is a collection of 3 Christmas stories. Here are a few words about the famous authors:
Authors:
Debbie Macomber: This name is so popular in the USA that every bookstore has at least one of her books up in the best- sellers Bookshelf. When I check out a book from this author from our library, the librarian has a couple of things to commend about her writing! She has written over 150 books and 6 of her novels have been adapted into the small screen. Emerging from the ‘Romance’ genre, her novels are all about families, new relationships and heartwarming emotions.
Brenda Novak: She too, writes heart-tugging stories of emotion and has written over 100 novels. There are different series of books that have emerged from her pen. Each of the series is based on a specific fictional town. The characters are so well defined that you would wish them to be real flesh and blood people.
Sherryl Woods: Since 1982, she has penned over 110 novels and most of them have excellent ratings by book lovers. She has written her novels under 2 more pen names: "Alexandra Kirk" and "Suzanne Sherrill". Our library shelves have a huge collection of her works. Her books are also abundant in the ‘Large Print’ section of the library since many of the elderly members have requested for them. Young and old, this author seems to have enchanted bookworms of all ages.
It is no wonder that the most harmonious time of the year would have egged these 3 maestros to come together and contribute a story for this collection which has a backdrop of Christmas lights!
Now, for a few words on the novellas:
Silver Bells: By Debbie Macomber:
Philip has moved into an apartment with his 12-year-old charming daughter Mackenzie. He has been divorced since 3 years. Carrie, a single IT professional, is his neighbor. In a building of eccentric people, there is a fortune-telling lady who roams around with her crystal ball, a strong weightlifter and a lady who owns numerous cats.
Philip can’t wait to get out of this loony bin and buy a home for himself. However, young Mackenzie has seeded a path for her dad’s future in her mind. She firmly believes that her father can find happiness and love again if he keeps an open mind. She sincerely hopes the holiday season will bring warmth and cheer to their hearts.
My Opinion: This is a cheery one-time read for the holiday season. I liked the way the eccentric characters add their own flavor to this Christmas aria. Although this is a love story of 2 hearts afraid of falling in love, the story mainly revolves around Mackenzie. Her thoughts, emotions, her complacence regarding her father’s mind, her defensiveness and hidden disappointment for her mother who barely cares about her has been expressed well. However, the ending seems hurried and unreasonable. It is as though the publisher suddenly asked the author to stop writing a novel and write a short story instead.
Rating: 2.5 stars(A simple and believable love story)
On a Snowy Christmas: By Brenda Novak- Political shark Maxim Donahue and young widow Adelaide Fairfax are pitted against each other for the upcoming elections. Maxim is ambitious and ruthless in his campaigns. However, Adelaide has a strong chance of winning due to sympathy votes and respect from followers for her late husband who was the actual candidate for elections.
While flying in a private jet for a conference, their flight crashes in a snowbound area. Being the only 2 survivors from the flight, Maxim and Adelaide now have no option but to support each other and survive the very harsh conditions.
My opinion: This is a very gripping story that I couldn’t put down. The sudden turn of events in the story enthralls the reader. The love story that emerges from a disaster gives a message that bleak times always pass when there is hope in the heart.
Rating: 4 stars.(A compelling Love story)
The Perfect Holiday: By Sherryl Woods
This one was, unfortunately, the weakest. Trace Frank is the owner of a huge toy store, but is in no way easy with kids. His aunt’s last wish is that he should visit her home called ‘The Holiday Retreat’ in a small town in Vermont every Christmas. Nostalgic and emotional, he arrives at the huge mansion at Vermont just to keep up his promise to the elderly friend, only to find a young woman living there with her daughter. Recently divorced Savannah has inherited The Holiday Retreat and has made snowy Vermont her home after living for years in sunny Florida. She hopes to improve her financial situation by converting her grandmom’s home into an inn.
My Opinion: Trace Frank, who has never enjoyed any festival, somehow immediately starts joking and laughing the minute he lands in the house. The financially unstable Savannah is overwhelmed at the rickety structure of the house, but Frank magically transforms the house in a couple of days! I get the objective of writing a fantasy love story, but this is bordering on ‘creepy’. The characters are volatile and never behave as expected. I did not enjoy this one much.
Rating: 2 stars.(A La-la land love story)