Reviews for MAKING CHRISTMAS AGAIN!

So far, MAKING CHRISTMAS AGAIN has gotten some very wonderful reviews and I am grateful to those who took the time to write and post their thoughts on this novella. 

A. Klumpers wrote, 

     "'Making Christmas Again' by Penelope Marzec is a heartwarming story, but that doesn’t mean it’s trite or cliche. Before our hearts can warm, they run a gamut of emotions. (Or at least they do if you’re an empathetic reader. If you’re the clinical type who doesn’t jump right into the characters’ skin (or shoes) you can still enjoy a good story told with good writing.)As I was saying—while this is ultimately a tale of joy, it first plunges us into the bleak sorrow of Celeste. Life has thrown her a surplus of grief. Her beloved sister died before she reached her teens. Her father died while still in his prime. And she’s just come home to her ‘lovely, small, unremarkable” hometown because her mother has died. There is nothing for her in Apple Hill, New Jersey. But she’s burned her bridges with her job in Kentucky when she turned whistleblower against her corrupt boss. She is a broken woman and we don’t really know if she has the moral fortitude to get through her grief and anxiety and a man living in her basement.
     Sawyer doesn’t really LIVE in her basement. Just keeps his stuff there and sleeps there when blizzards—which are apparently common in NJ—hit. Sawyer is grieving the loss of his wife, trying to keep his business afloat, and showering love on his adorable little son Glenn. Who, like Celeste’s beloved sister, has Down Syndrome.
     The author has a deft touch with characterizations. Sawyer is a man of faith who struggles with his heartache but is always trying to be the hands and feet of Christ. Celeste is complex—prickly and vulnerable and unreasonable and wise. How Sawyer reconciles his fear of loss with hope for the future, how Celeste finds a strength outside herself that empowers her to be vulnerable, and how the endearing Glenn holds both their hands and hearts makes for a satisfying Christmas story."

C. Revell wrote,

"Celeste returns home in a snowstorm after the death of her mother - to find things have changed without her being informed. For one thing her mother rented out the basement to a stranger named Sawyer and his cute but messy son Glenn, who like her sister has Downs Syndrome. And for another her mother rewrote her will to include Sawyer.

Lots of snow, action and Christmas make this a page turner and a yummy tummy enjoyable read. (Right!)
PS read the book to get the above reference."

Carol J. wrote,

"Making Christmas Again by Penelope Marzec is a heartwarming Christmas romance. After losing her job because she discovered some financial discrepancies at work, Celeste Greenfield returns to her family home. Because her mother recently passed away, she expects the house to be empty. But she discovers her mother has leased the basement to a single father, recently widowed, and his young Down Syndrome son, Glenn. This arrangement causes all sorts of sweet scenarios. Celeste and Sawyer are attracted to each other, yet are afraid to let themselves begin a relationship. He is working through the loss of his wife, and she is working through her loss of faith. But when the whole town comes together to support them by planning a live nativity to make Christmas again, Celeste’s heart softens. The characters are likable and inspiring. Glenn adds so much warmth to the novella. This is a charming and moving story about two broken people who turn their hearts toward God and toward each other."

M. Jean P. wrote,

"Sometimes you find your future in returning to the past. This point is so beautifully illustrated in Penelope Marzek’s Christmas novella, Making Christmas Again. Celeste is no stranger to loss. At a young age she sustained the loss of her father and her younger sister. She’d recently relocated to Kentucky for her dream job only to have it turn into a nightmare. When her mother unexpectedly passes away, Celeste returns to her childhood home in New Jersey to settle her affairs and discovers a man is renting her mother’s the basement. His presence in the house is an inconvenience to say the least. Celeste had hoped to sell the house quickly and get back to her life in Lexington. She doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome renter – or the God that he claims cares about her. The blow is softened when the man’s adorable special needs son, Glenn, steals Celeste’s heart. (He might just steal yours, too!) The author did a masterful job with these characters. I loved Celeste, Sawyer and Glenn."

Miriam T. wrote,

"A touching Christmas story filled with love. This novella does a great job of showing how difficult loss can be, especially near Christmas, but also the beauty God can bring into our lives after loss if we let Him. Celeste’s struggle to forgive and trust God after experiencing so many losses was heartfelt and relatable. I enjoyed the sweet romance between Celeste and Sawyer, as well as Celeste’s relationship with Sawyer’s son, Glenn, an adorable three-year-old with Down Syndrome. This is a sweet story of forgiveness, second chances, and love."

K. Malley wrote,

"When Celeste travels home to New Jersey after her mother’s death, she’s shocked to find a man and his adorable son in her mother’s basement. Sawyer is doing his best raising his son after the loss of his wife, but his faith in God never wavers. Celeste falls for little Glenn, who has Down Syndrome, as he reminds her so much of the sister she lost who had the same condition. Glenn is a wonderful little boy that you can’t help but smile at whenever he enters the story. Making Christmas Again is an inspirational story of Celeste returning to the God she shunned when she lost her sister. This heartwarming tale makes you root for Celeste and Sawyer to find happiness together. Along the way, they deal with blizzards, power outages, and an accident, all made better with the help of cookies!"

S. Baganz wrote,

"Reading Penelope Marzec's book Making Christmas Again is compelling, because sometimes Christmas just doesn't feel like Christmas. Have you ever experienced that?

Celeste has a lot going on. Her mother died so she's gotta leave a challenging job situation to go home to settle affairs. She's the only remaining person in her family which is terribly sad. She also had broken up with a menacing boyfriend/boss and had uncovered his embezzlement and was a whistleblower, only her employer doesn't realize this yet. She also left her mother's faith behind her, focusing more on numbers than the intangible.

She arrives home to find someone living in her mother's basement. Make that two someones! One is a little boy has Down Syndrome which her deceased sister also had, so now she's missing her mom and her sister and there's a snowstorm.

Sawyer is the father to this precious little soul and is also grieving Mrs. Greenfield's death as she had been so helpful to him with his son after his wife died and had encouraged him in his business, even renting her basement space for his work. Celeste hadn't been told. Now he has a new landlord who can't see past her own grief and challenges to trust, much less celebrate the faith her mother held dear.

Death, upheaval, an extra chromosome, snow, and other challenges face these two characters as they find their way through each day to understanding each other and maybe even falling in love. But will Celeste stay in town or will she return to her employer leaving Sawyer's heart broken?

Through all the twists and turns, challenges, and snowstorms, these two people might find a miracle yet and Christmas might once again be cherished and celebrated."

I am so thrilled with the reviews! I hope you'll download the book and find it just as good as these reviewers thought. 

You can find it everywhere!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Christmas-Again-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B0DFD4XM5R

 

Barne&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-christmas-again-penelope-marzec/1146222909?ean=9781522304920

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/making-christmas-again

 

Pelican Book Group: https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_41&products_id=1696 (It’s only $0.99 at the publisher’s website until Christmas.)

 

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Guest Post: CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MOONLIT NIGHTS by Carol James

     My guest today is Carol James, an author of inspirational fiction. She loves creating Redemptive Romance. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.
     Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. She’s a Frappuccino and soccer aficionado.
     Her father was a career Air Force officer, and she grew up sitting on the arm of his recliner, watching old military and war movies, reading military fiction. So there’s a special place in her heart for “guy stories.”
     And from those moments, Christmas Lights and Moonlit Nights was born. It’s a second-chance story about two people who met as teenagers, but meet again years later when she’s a successful business woman, and he’s a handsome Navy SEAL. Who wouldn’t like that?

What's it about?

     All Leah Davidson wants is to spend a quiet Christmas with her parents on Palm Island. Her father’s recovering from surgery, so she’s volunteered to take over his decorating responsibilities. Plus, it’s a good excuse to get away from her ex-boyfriend. But then she discovers her neighbors have a Christmas visitor, too. One she has a history with.

     Navy SEAL Jed  Price is spending Christmas with his aunt and uncle on Palm Island. He wants a relaxing time away from the pressures of his work, and the secluded island seems like the perfect escape. Until he sees his aunt and uncle’s neighbor.

     Jed remembers Leah as the snobby girl next door. And Leah remembers Jed as the immature boy who was afraid of the water. But they’ve both changed.

     Can Leah and Jed move past their earlier issues and work together to make Christmas a joyous time of love and forgiveness?

Read the excerpt!
(Leah is returning home to spend a quiet Christmas with her parents. Their neighbors have come for dinner, and they’re bringing their nephew, Jed, whom Leah hasn’t seen since they were kids.)
 
            When the bell rang right at six, Leah opened the front door. The Cobbs stood there smiling. Leah peeked around the doorjamb. No Jed. Mrs. Cobb clasped Leah’s hand and winked. “Jed’ll be along in a minute. His flight got in late, and he’s just about finished cleaning up.”
            As the Cobbs made their way inside, Leah was left to be the welcoming committee of one. She dropped into one of the wicker chairs on the porch and waited. Eventually, footsteps crunched against the gravel roadway, and then she saw him. Her breath caught. He looked nothing like he had fifteen years ago. Certainly, taller than she was. His orange hair had morphed into a rich auburn color, and he sported a scruffy beard. Normally, she wasn’t a beard-girl, but something about his attracted her. It enhanced his jawline and gave his boyish face an air of maturity and mystery. He might have been forty. He might have been eighteen. He would have made a good spy.
            She stood and offered her hand. “You must be Jed. I’m Leah Davidson. Welcome.”
            “Jed Price.” He shook her hand. “I think we’ve met before…maybe in an earlier life?” He grinned.
            “If you consider childhood an earlier life, then, yes.” 
            Jed nodded. “Well, it sure feels like a different life. A lot can change after those years.”
            That was true, especially in his case. “Well, it’s good to see you again.”
            “Good to see you, too.”
            She doubted he truly meant that…unless he’d forgotten how nasty she and her girlfriends had been to him that summer. How they’d teased him about not being able to swim or even enjoy wading out into the water. Kids could be so cruel. An apology loomed in their near future. But now wasn’t the time.
            She sat, and he followed suit. She watched him out of the corners of her eyes.
            He placed his hands behind his head and, leaning back in the rocker, eased backward and forward.  “Nice evening. Hard to believe it’s December.”
            “I know. It feels more like spring.”
            He nodded. “One thing I love about this part of Texas.”
            “Me, too.” She turned to face him. “So where do you live now?”
            “Virginia.”
            “Does it get cold up there? Get any snow in the winter?”
            “Pretty moderate where I am. We might get a dusting of snow in January or February, but it doesn’t usually last. Melts, and then it’s warm again.”
            “And what is it you do in Virginia?”
            Avoiding her eyes, he stared over her shoulder. “I’m in the Navy.”
            “On a ship?”
            He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
            She nodded. “Sounds interesting. Travel much?”
            “All the time.” He jumped up and held out a hand. “Hey, I’ll bet the others are wondering where we are. Better not hold up dinner any longer.”
            As she grasped his hand and stood, she studied his face. Definitely boy-down-the-block cute, but his broad shoulders and muscled arms confirmed he was no longer a boy. His eyes were the rich, golden brown of maple syrup, but instead of being warm and enticing, they were walled off. Distant. Despite his relaxed manner and easy conversation, his words seemed to be carefully chosen. Rehearsed. Almost as if he’d practiced what to say. And his face was unreadable. If he didn’t want to be a spy, he’d make a great actor.

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Purchase Links:
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3BKHaIB

Pelican Book Group:  https://bit.ly/3NxBqEL

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-lights-and-moonlit-nights-carol-james/1146222910?ean=9781522304883

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-lights-and-moonlit-nights