Pelican Book Group offers new Christmas novellas every year. They call it their Christmas Holiday Extravaganza. I wrote one this year, Making Christmas Again, but I also read many of the ARCs of other Pelican Book Group's authors. I haven't finished reading all the ARCs, but here are a few. I loved them all. 💗
I find it fun to read a book by an English author. The differences in American English and British English are interesting. For instance, a jumper in England is a sweater in America. What the British refer to as a biscuit is actually a cookie in America. It almost gives me the sense I have traveled far across the sea while reading.
In Just Another Winter’s Tale, Vere Idowu is still mourning the loss of his sister who died in an accident in London. Vere took over his father’s greengrocer business in the small town of Wychwood Cross. It has always been his family’s tradition to give newcomers to the town a basket of produce from his shop. So, Robyn Yardley, an author, finds a basket on her doorstep from Vere. When he learns her oven isn’t working, he offers to fix it for her. He invites her to join the choral society and soon a tender romance grows between them. Robyn’s dog likes him, too. With Robyn suffering from a long bout of writer’s block, Vere even gives her some great ideas to help her with the development of her heroine. Everything looks hopeful until Robyn reveals a story from her past. It is at that point Ms. Revell’s talent for Christian storytelling grabbed me and made this tale a Christmas treasure.
I received this book as an advanced reading copy from the author though my opinion is my own.
Find it at Amazon.
Bethany Kringle has not celebrated Christmas since her mother died. Then her brother, who is in the Navy, comes home for the holiday with his friend Jay. Her brother expects the full Kringle Christmas experience for his friend.
Bethany’s mom made everything from scratch and Bethany struggles to do it all alone. Serving bottled dressing at dinner makes her feel inadequate. But she believes she is easing her brother and father’s grief by doing everything as her mother used to do.
Jay grew up a foster child. The Navy is the first place where he felt he belonged, but he isn’t sure about enlisting again. Bethany’s brother is the one who brought him to Jesus and now Jay is quite sure Jesus is leading him to leave the Navy. As a cook in the Navy, he sees the strain all the cooking is taking on Bethany, something her brother doesn’t understand. Jay volunteers to help in the kitchen. Then one day he takes her ice skating.
Bethany appreciates Jay’s help and the two begin to enjoy each other’s company. Jay understands Bethany is still suffering from her mother’s death. For himself, Jay fears leaving the Navy. To him it’s like jumping off a cliff.
Filled with conflicting emotions, this is a gentle, but sweet drama showing how a family can grow beyond a loss with the help of faith.
Find it at Amazon.
The last time Leah saw Jed, he was a pudgy, pale boy. She and her friends teased him mercilessly. But when she goes home for Christmas to put up her father’s lavish Christmas light display, she finds Jed is now a very handsome Navy SEAL whose job takes precedence over everything else.
Jed promised to make shelves for his uncle. So, he comes and goes depending upon when he is needed at work. Still, he helps Leah hang the Christmas lights. Leah enjoys his company but he can never tell her where he’s been and it unnerves her to know he carries a gun all the time. When he gives a talk to a classroom of students, Leah realizes how enthusiastic he is about the work he does.
But as much as Jed enjoys Leah’s company, he plans never to marry because he has seen what happens when other SEALS die and the pain they leave behind for their families.
Carol James has penned a tender tale about true courage bolstered by faith, a perfect Christmas story.
Find it at Amazon.
Anita Lumpers has a knack for drawing a reader into her story. So when Jemma wakes up in a hospital bed, handcuffed to the bedrail, I could not stop reading. Jemma’s car went into a ditch during a snowstorm, but in her car was a suitcase covered with alligator skin in which there were rare illegal orchids. Her grandmother asked her to drop them off to a buyer in northern Wisconsin since Jemma was on her way to reconcile with her former boyfriend in that area.
Instead, Jemma is stuck in Cadwallader with a non-working vehicle, no money, no ID, not even shoes. However, the police chief of the small town, Elihu, buys her shoes. In fact, Elihu buys a meal for her, too.
Jemma’s grandmother comes to her aid as well as a family friend who originally had that alligator case in his attic. Someone tries to take the case away from the family friend by force. As the story moves along, it turns out that not everyone is entirely truthful.
This is an engaging mystery with interesting characters and lots of snow. Well worth reading in my opinion on a snowy day this Christmas.
Find it at Amazon.
🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲
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