December always brings the desire to read Christmas fiction for me. And to remember the real 'reason for the season.' The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson was absolutely perfect on both counts.
The prologue introduces us to Abby, who is putting the finishing touches on some personal Christmas gifts for her friends, all members of their book club. Now, this isn't a spoiler as it's the first chapter - but Abby passes away.
The reader is privy to the shock and grief that her four friends experience when they hear this news. Each of the four has a very different personality and different reaction to the news of Abby's death. She played a unique role in each woman's life.When Abby's husband delivers the gifts to the group, they take what Abby has given them and turn it to something even more special. They decide to become 'Christmas Angels' and help members of their community.
"Angels should be capable of making miracles in other people's lives......Suddenly they were all talking, suggesting ways they might help others, good deeds they might do, ways to 'pay it forward'."
I loved this idea - it's absolutely one each of us should put into play in our own lives and community - at any time of the year. Matthew 6
Carlson's characters are very likeable in their honesty, doubts, beliefs and struggles. I enjoyed that they were all from different walks and stages of life. (And I would enjoy them as friends as well) She has created unique ideas for each character to carry out their good deeds. I enjoyed seeing their plans come to fruition. Carlson also includes a lovely romantic subplot for one of the characters.
Looking for an sweet, inspirational, heart-warming holiday tale with a wonderful message? Pick up The Christmas Angel Project. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea looking out at the snow. Read an excerpt of The Christmas Angel Project.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
I love reading Christmas fiction in the weeks leading up to December 25th. Keeping Christmas was especially timely for me.
Judith and Stan Winters are empty nesters. But, for the first time, none of their three children can make it home for the holidays - Thanksgiving or Christmas. This affects Judith greatly - she has no interest in putting up a tree, listening to Christmas music or any of their usual traditions. Stan is not as affected - but he is worried about Judith as weeks go by and she is still uninspired - and depressed. Supportive friends Betty and Barney are also concerned.
Walsh has penned a story with it's roots in reality. It is incredibly hard to celebrate when family is scattered across the country. (Personally I thank goodness for Facetime!)
Through Judith's story, Walsh explores finding your Christmas spirit despite disappointments, finding new ways to celebrate and connect and thinking of others.
"What he did say was for those who loved the holidays to be mindful of those who found it harder to celebrate, and to do what they could to cheer them up. And he urged those who struggle to try to keep their minds on the 'reason for the season' rather than focusing on all the things that tend to bring them down during the holidays." Good words to take to heart.
Without giving much away, Keeping Christmas is also a love story and an exploration of friendship and family.
Keeping Christmas won't overly surprise you - the plot is somewhat telegraphed. What it will provide is food for thought, perfect for contemplating the coming holidays and how each of us can reach out and share the Christmas spirit.
It's a quick, easy read, at just over 200 pages. A heartfelt, heart-warming read, with a bit of a fairy tale ending. Read an excerpt of Keeping Christmas.
You read that right - further adventures. Lovett imagines what might have occurred after Scrooge was visited by the three ghosts and changed his outlook on Christmas - and life - in Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol.
Well, Scrooge is celebrating year round - wishing everyone he meets a Merry Christmas each day of the year. But those who benefitted from Scrooge's change of heart twenty years ago have also lost their way. Partner Bob Cratchit is a workaholic, nephew Freddie ignores the plight of those around him and Scrooge's creditors can't see the human side of his largess, only the debts. So one summer's day, Scrooge calls upon the ghosts to help them as they did him so many years ago.
Lovett writes in the style of Dickens (sometimes employing phrasing and referencing Dickens' other works) to recreate the tenor, tone and message of A Christmas Carol.
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge is a lovely reminder that "...scores and hundreds understood the ways of wealth and money and even of philanthropy, but their hearts lacked the true wealth of love, of family, of Christmas joy, which, he now saw, might have been theirs all the year round."
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge is a quick little one night read - here's an excerpt. Guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit - hopefully year round! You can connect with Charlie Lovett on his website as well as on Facebook and on Twitter.
Maas opens her story with Owen Thomas in 1875 Wales. Sure that he's found the woman he wants to spend his life with, he carves her a beautiful wooden angel, who will be the crowning glory of their Christmas tree. The Thomas family tree is always outside - 'where it can look up to God."
But Owen's plans don't turn out the way he had hoped. Maas moves the story of The Christmas Angel to the next generation of the Thomas family, seeing us through five generations and the return of the Christmas Angel to her home.
I enjoyed the historical figures and their stories the most. I think I could have quite happily lived in simpler times. It's a nice reminder in these busy times that it's not always what you can buy, but instead time spent with loved ones and family traditions, that are truly memorable. I found myself stopping to think about our traditions as I was reading. Each of the generations has their own chapter, connecting to the next until the end serendipitously meets the beginning.
Maas weaves a lovely, sentimental tale of family, fate and love that will warm your heart on a cold winter's night. Fans of Debbie Macomber and Richard Paul Evans would enjoy tale. (Note that there are religious tones and views to this story.) Read an excerpt of The Christmas Angel. You can find Jane Maas on Facebook.
One of the traditions of the Thomas family was baking cookies - lots and lots of cookies - "enough to
last until Easter." One of my family's favourite cookie recipes are 'Aunt Jessie's cookies'. Now I'm sure these are known by a number of other names, but I love them because they're quick, easy, delicious and freeze well.
All you'll need is a bag of butterscotch baking chips, a bag of semi-sweet chocolate baking chips, chow mein noodles and some salted, skin-on spanish peanuts. Melt the baking chips together over a double boiler, then quickly stir in the noodles and peanuts. Spoon on to a wax covered baking sheet, refrigerate and ta-da! Yep, that simple. The picture doesn't really do them justice - they are quite good - and addictive.
Here's a recipe for one of the cookies made in The Christmas Angel - Jammie Dodgers.
And thanks to the lovely folks at Thomas Dunne Books, I have a copy of The Christmas Angel to giveaway! Simply leave a comment to be entered. U.S. only. This one's short and sweet -ends Dec 15/13.
I am thrilled to welcome Wanda Brunstetter to A Bookworm's World today. For those of you unfamiliar with this award winning author, she writes of the world of the Amish. (Over 50 books to date!) This genre of books is becoming more and more popular at the library and Wanda is an author I regularly recommend. I asked Wanda to tell us more about her experiences with the Amish....
"One of the things I most admire about our Amish friends is their dedication to keeping true to their faith. The Amish way of life offers us many ideas on how to live a slower-paced, satisfying life, with less dependence on modern things and more emphasis on God, family, and friends.
My husband and I have had many experiences while visiting our Amish friends in several communities around the country. We have learned a lot of things we’ve been able to incorporate into our own lives as well. One of the things we try to do as often as we can is to spend more time with our children and grandchildren, who are so special to us.
Another thing we do is spend time outdoors, where we can enjoy the sounds and sights of nature. It gives me a sense of joy and peace when I hear birds chirping in our backyard, or listen to the sound of the fountains bubbling in the small ponds in our garden oasis. Visiting with friends and helping out when needed is another thing we’ve been doing more of since we became acquainted with so many Amish people.
By their example, our Amish friends have also taught us about humility, acceptance, commitment, forgiveness, contentment, trust, responsibility, patience, and so much more. Learning about the Amish way of life by spending time among the Amish is what helps me to be able to portray their lifestyle as accurately as possible in my novels.
A sense of peace and joy comes over me whenever we are in the company of our Amish friends. Whether it’s attending church with them, taking a ride with their horse and buggy, sharing a meal together, or just sitting on the porch, visiting and listening to the sounds of nature, I always feel that deep-in-the-heart sense of peace. And every time we must leave our Amish friends and head for home, I come away with a heart full of joy and a renewed understanding of what the Amish way of life is all about.
During one of our visits with Amish friends in Pennsylvania, I observed their children playing happily together. They weren’t bored and didn’t complain because there was nothing to do. They found enjoyment in simple things like reading, playing a game of ball, petting their dog, riding their scooters, swinging, and swimming in the pond. The children didn’t need computers or electronic games to keep them occupied. They laughed and talked together and didn’t send text messages or e-mails in order to communicate.
In our fast-paced electronic age, many of us “Englishers” don’t take the time to enjoy the simple things life has to offer. We rush from place to place, hurry to complete our tasks, and find that our busy lives are full of stress and worry. We’ve become exhausted and discontented because we don’t rest enough or spend quality time with our family and friends.
When I look around at the beauty of nature, and find joy in being with those I love, I experience the same sense of peace that so many of my dear Amish friends have found. I find there is a celebration in the simple life!"
I have to say I agree Wanda! Thanks so much for stopping by. And to celebrate the launch of Wanda's new series "Kentucky Brothers" I have three of the first book "Journey" to giveaway. Open to US and Canada. Simply leave a comment to be entered. Ends Sat. Sept 3rd at 6 pm EST.
"Discover along with Titus Fisher how life can begin anew in Christian County, Kentucky. Moving from Pennsylvania, finding rewarding work, and leaving a broken romance behind is the best decision Titus ever made. But is he ready to consider love again when he meets two women: one who seems perfectly suited for any Amish man and one who challenges long held ideas of the woman’s role. Who will Titus choose, and will it be the right choice?" Get a head start - read chapter one of the Journey.
Although previous cases and players are mentioned in the beginning, I was able to easily 'catch up'. The book opens with a pair of killers committing a horrific crime. They have a detailed plan to continue their 'game.' FBI Special Agent Bowers and his team are called in.
Bowers' speciality is fascinating - he consults with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency for the FBI. "Using the locations related to serial offenses and sttudying the timing, location, and progression of the crimes, we can work backward to find the most likely location of the offender's home base." The degree to which this was used was intriguing.
I liked Bowers as a character. He's introspective, intelligent, confident yet fallible. He is the sole guardian of his step daughter Tessa. Their relationship is a work in progress. Tessa herself is just as interesting as Bowers. She's highly intelligent and it is some of her reveries that spur truly thought provoking. philosophical conversations between many of the characters. Good vs evil, what separates man from beast, is evil predetermined, pre emptive justice and more. James has produced some incredible chilling characters in the killers.
The main plot is intelligent and carefully crafted, drawing on cutting edge technology and news. Read carefully though as there are twists and turns just when you think you know where the story is going. There are many sub plots playing out at the same time - political machinations and Bowers' love life. Lots of foreshadowing had me reading 'just one more chapter' and I found myself sneaking a peak a few pages ahead more than once.
The Bishop is put out by a publisher that focuses mainly on Christian books and authors. The plot of The Bishop is not for the faint at heart. It is violent and would be disturbing to many readers. How can these two jibe?
From the author:
'In my books I want people to look honestly at what our world is like, both the good and the evil. The evil in my books is not senseless; people’s lives are treated as precious and I want my readers to hurt when an innocent life is taken. The only way to do that is to let them see it on the page and then reflect on its meaning.
I think that an effective way of dissuading someone from doing something is to make them see it as deeply disturbing. And the only way to make people disturbed by evil is to show it to them as what it really is. I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine. I believe that the Bible includes graphic material to show how far we as a race can fall, and how far God came to rescue us from ourselves. That's what I hope to do in my novels as well."
All in all, a great thriller. Following a chess theme, The Queen, the next in the series is due out in the summer of 2011. I'll be picking it up.
The setting is in the South, where racial tensions and undercurrents still simmer. When a burning cross is found on the yard of a black rapper who has moved into an old plantation, the heat is turned up and FBI Agent Harmon is called in to investigate the hate crime. Her unique specialty is forensic geology. The author draws on her own geology degree for background.
Harmon is an interesting character and the sub plot involving her personal life is just as appealing as the case itself. She's just moved back to Richmond, Virginia having survived a disciplinary move to another field office. Her mother is mentally living in the past, and Raleigh's past wants to catch up with her - in the form of an old boyfriend.
The main plot idea is a good one. However I thought it got a bit muddy in places, specifically in the procedurals. The law enforcement characters seemed to be caricatures. In the beginning Wally the lodger seemed like a character out of place. His involvement is not really clear until the end when he is used as a vehicle for a redemption theme.
The Clouds Roll Away is marketed as Christian suspense. Although the crime in heinous, there is no overt violence. The Christian message is there, but again is not 'in your face'. Giorello's writing flows easily and her descriptions of scenes were worth reading slowly and savouring. I did feel a little lost in the beginning as I had not read the previous two books. I did enjoy this book, but it was the character herself I really connected with. The crime was intriguing, but was secondary for me. Fans of this genre would definitely enjoy this series - the fourth book is in the works.
Ryan Evans is a Naval Intelligence officer dedicated to career and country. He has spent numerous years away from his wife Celine and his daughter Bethany. When he returns to the US he is determined to repair his relationships with his family. But when he arrives he finds they no longer want him in their lives. His place as husband and father has been usurped by the local District Attorney Burt Welsh. Welsh attained his position by successfully prosecuting the serial killer nicknamed BoneMan. BoneMan kidnaps young girls, looking for a daughter.When they don't fit what he is looking for - he kills them by breaking every bone in their body. But then BoneMan is released on a technicality and resumes the search for a new daughter - and he picks Bethany. What follows is Ryan's search to rescue his daughter and become the father he wants to be. But the authorities believe that Ryan himself is the killer.
On one level this is simply a story of a father fighting for his daughter's love and life. And on that level, it's a heck of a good tale, keeping me turning pages late into the night. It's a well written, suspenseful thriller, with a great twist at the end.
But in a bigger sense, BoneMan is a battle between good and evil. It is also a story of needing to be wanted, needing the love of a parent. For even though the BoneMan is disturbing, despicable and horrendous in his actions, the impetus for his actions is the desire to be loved.
I think every reader will take away something different from this book - a gripping read or perhaps a bit more - a look at some deeper values, second chances and some interesting ethical questions.
Gotta tell you though, Noxzema will have different associations for me from here forward!
