A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson ~ a book review

This one is a keeper!  It’s the perfect book to read if you want to put yourself in a Christmas mood.  It’s easy to read, the characters are engaging and the plot is delightful.  However, if the typical holiday movie is not your cup of tea, you may not love it as much as I did. 

Here is the blurb from the publisher’s website:

“Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school, and she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she is a direct descendant of King Maximillian Konig V, the ruler of a small European principality called Montovia.

What? No. That's the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Still, curiosity gets the best of her, leading to a Christmas break trip chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament, and the chance at a real-life fairy tale romance.”

This is a contemporary novella, so it doesn’t take long to read. There is a strong element of Christian faith but it doesn’t come across as “preachy”. 

This story has all the feel good elements of a happy holiday fantasy. A lovely Christmas village, a handsome "prince", a beautiful historic castle, and a couple of mysteries to solve.

My copy is a hard cover copy, another big plus!

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Go HERE to learn more about Melody Carlson and her other books 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

 

 

The Christmas Singing - a book review

The Christmas Singing, A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall

Read the excerpt then scroll down for my review......
The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

My review:

First of all, let me just say that I love Cindy Woodsmall’s books.  I think this might be the first short novel of hers that I have read.  I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this one.  I think it’s because in a short novel there isn’t a lot of time to develop the characters and delve into plot lines.  I think if there had been fewer characters, then there might have been time to really get to know the main characters.  That being said, I think this book set out to do what it was supposed to do.  It is a fast, enjoyable read.  Mattie, the main character, is a quirky, likeable girl, who has suffered betrayal and heartbreak.  When her cake shop burns down she is forced to return home and encounters her former fiancé, Gideon. Since the time of their breakup, she has formed a relationship with Sol, and easy going, strong, quiet type, who has a passion for hunting.  As the story progresses, Mattie has to decide if she can forgive Gideon and if she should continue her relationship with Sol.  The ending is predictable, as most romance novels are, but it seems to end very quickly.

This novel also points out the different practices within the Old Order Amish. I appreciate that the author has personal knowledge and is friends with many Old Order Amish, so I trust her portrayals.

I think I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a light, fast read. 

I look forward to Cindy’s next full novel.  She’s still one of my favorites!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Press through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the WaterBrook Press website:

"After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.

Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration."

An Amish Love book review

An Amish Love – 3 Novellas by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman

I live in a part of New York State with a considerable Amish population. It’s not unusual to hear an Amish buggy rolling down the road, or see one parked on the side of the road selling baked goods. I’ve always been intrigued by our obvious differences but until I started reading Amish fiction, I never realized what our likenesses are - our love of family and our faith in God just to name a couple.

I appreciate that most of the authors who write Amish fiction try very hard to be accurate in their depiction of their characters. Many are personal friends with the Amish community and they treat their characters with respect.

Anyone who reads Christian romance fiction expects a happy ending and these stories don’t disappoint. We leave each story happy and hopeful.

The three stories in this volume are independent of the others, but overlap and are connected by characters, places and happenings.

The first story is by Kelly Long. “Marriage of the Heart”, is the story of Abby, a spunky young woman, whose has grown up without her mother and Joseph, who has been living outside the community and has just been accepted back in. Abby tricks Joseph, by lying about him, into marrying her so that she can get away from her authoritative father. However, Joseph, her new husband, turns the tables on her and declares that they will live with her father. Sparks fly! Abby wants out, Joseph wants back in, deception throws them together, love sneaks in, secrets are revealed and faith binds them together.

“What the Heart Sees” by Kathleen Fuller, is the second offering. Christopher Miller’s fiancé is killed in a car accident and her friend, Ellie, is blinded. When Christopher goes against the doctrine of his Amish faith and tries to have the young Amish man, who he feels is responsible, arrested he comes under the bann and leaves to live among the English. He returns to the community desiring to be restored but struggles to forgive the young driver, Isaiah. Upon returning he discovers his sister has become engaged to Isaiah. His late finance’s best friend, Ellie, tries to encourage him to forgive and make peace, and through their friendship he discovers a stronger faith in God.

Beth Wiseman is the author of the last story. “Healing Hearts” is unusual in that the main characters are not a young couple discovering love. Rather, its about a married couple married for more than 30 years suffering from the empty nest syndrome and working to rediscover the love that they had when they were young. The husband, Naaman, has come home after leaving his family for a year. His older children are not as forgiving as his younger children and his wife struggles with trying to be the wife she feels God wants her to be and her own feelings of doubt and resentment. This is a story of forgivness and rediscovered love.

All three of these novellas have similar themes of spunky characters, comical situations, tender moments and sensitive intimacies. They are stories of love, loss, secrets, hope, courage, patience, forgiveness and a reliance on deep faith in God.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars only because I wish each story had been a longer, stand alone novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze and Thomas Nelson through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”