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| Christmas Traditions Series |
This is our first OWG review of novellas in the Christmas Traditions series, which Carrie is participating in. Cynthia Hickey, the lead author, has the first release "Handcarved Christmas" which I loved so much I read it all in one night!!!
REVIEW
Handcarved Christmas (Christmas Traditions Novella) By
Cynthia Hickey, reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels.
Five Stars *****
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| Handcarved Christmas by Cynthia Hickey |
It’s 1880 in Montana and mail order bride, Laura Worth,
arrives looking for her intended—Ben Cooper. Except that Ben never sent for a
bride. His brother sent for a wife for him, as a Christmas present. And Laura
arrives at their home looking prettier than any gift he’s ever received. Lot’s of romantic tension in this wonderful
Christian novella, part of the Christmas Traditions series.
Ben’s brother, Sam, leaves the couple alone for a few days,
for privacy’s sake, but Ben is thoughtfully attempting to “court” his new wife
and give her time to settle into the small home. He returns, and Sam and Ben
quickly add on another room to the cabin, despite the cold weather and snow.
Laura is one of many children whereas Ben and Sam have only
had one another. Laura is in a situation where she must marry so that she is
not a drain on her family. Cynthia does a nice job of weaving this in without
bogging down the story with this sad aspect of the heroine’s life.
Ben wants to make Christmas special for his bride because
Laura’s Christmas tradition has literally been shattered. The Irish nativity
set she transported with her out West was broken. So he spends a lot of time in
solitude in the barn, working on a new set to carry on the tradition. Laura
wants to make Christmas special for her husband, too, and give him the gift of
her love as his wife. She’s not quite sure what to do about the fact that Ben
hasn’t accepted her, fully, as his wife in the eyes of the law and God. But
Laura comes up with a solution (or, rather Cynthia writes a solution) that might have readers reaching for their
husbands after they’ve finished the novella!
Put aside an evening to enjoy this novella all in one night, like I did. You won't want to put it down.
Available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. At only 99 cents, this novella is a bargain. Don't miss out while it is still sale priced!
Giveaway: We're giving away a copy of this ebook to one commenter.
Wonderful review, Carrie! HANDCARVED CHRISTMAS sounds like a heartwarming story. I am eager to read all of the novellas in the Christmas Traditions series!
ReplyDeleteBritney, I hope you will enjoy them all! I really loved Cynthia's story! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteCindy, so glad to work with you on this.
ReplyDeleteIt's been really nice working with all of you, Darlene. Cindy has done a great job with the covers and pulling this group together! Looking forward to reading your story, Darlene!
DeleteCarrie Neat Review Sounds like a neat story Cynthia
ReplyDeleteGod bless you both
Chris Granville
TY Chris, I think you'd enjoy this story! Blessings!
DeleteGreat review, Carrie. Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to read this book!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much for being willing to influence for the group, too, Melanie! Blessings!~
DeleteI am fascinated with mail order brides and this time period. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so this sounds like a book I would really like to read.
ReplyDeleteI think those stories can be so much fun, like this one was, Derinda. I think you'd enjoy this novella.
DeleteGreat review. I can not wait to read the novella. I would like to read the other ones in the Christmas Traditions series.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and the giveaway.
Lori, I hope you'll get a chance to do so. We're pricing them pretty low at first so try to get them as they come out! Blessings!
DeleteThis sounds like such a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteIt's sweet but also with a little spice, too, Mary!
DeleteYou had me at "which I loved so much I read it all in one night!!!" and I was sold by mail order bride and the fact he never ordered one! :D LOL! This sounds fantastic!!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a) Chavez
It was really a compelling read, Amada! I had to finish it so I knew what happened!
DeleteBeen there! LOL! I both love and think it's bad when that happens! There have been times when I've had to force myself to go to sleep so I could get up in the morning and coax my brain to at least half way function! :D
DeleteHaha Amada, sometimes I get mad at the author of a really big and really compelling book because I can't put it down and I get nothing done and am up half the night like you said!!! Which is really funny because of course I'm thrilled the author wrote such a great book to begin with!
DeleteLOL! EXACTLY! Laura Frantz and her Love's Awakening did that to me! I couldn't keep my eyes open, but I couldn't stop reading!!!! :D
DeleteGreat review Carrie !!!! such a great read - didn't want it to end !!!!! thank you for sharing !!!!! and I am so glad I know of Cynthia Hickey, I enjoy her style of writing and can't wait to get to know her better !!!! thank you for introducing me to her !!!!! have a blessed day !!!! Chicki
ReplyDeleteTY, Chicki! I'm so glad you liked it! Loved your review on Amazon. Thanks for being part of our Christmas Traditions team! Hugs!
DeleteAwesome review CARRIE, I've just bought myself a copy after reading your review! :-) Seriously can't wait to read it now, so hopefully I can squeeze 'Handcarved Christmas' in soon!! Love Cynthia's writing!
ReplyDeleteI think you will love it, Noela! Hey, did the Aussies have anything like that--mail order brides? Hugs!
DeleteI think I have found a new series to read during Christmas time. The cover of your book is beautiful. I want to read this book now. Lol. I will have to see if u win it first.
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
At only 99 cents I bet you can afford it, Danie! We're trying to keep them all priced at only 99 cents at first, so we can get this series out there. Then later they'll be back up to a more normal pricing for novellas. I think you'd love all these authors! Blessings!
DeleteI saw that it was only 99 cents, Are there any hard cover books???
DeleteSounds like a cute idea & you got my curiosity up, to read this novella & find out what Cinthia did with it. I would love to win a copy.--thanks for the opportunity to win it. Also, looking forward to yours Carrie.
ReplyDeleteVicki
Vicki, are you back in the USA? I think you'd love this novella! Thanks for thinking of me, too! Great experience working with Cynthia and the others!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win! Thank you for the chance.
I think you'd love it, Wendy! I'm loving your jams, btw!!! Thanks again!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to getting started on this series. I just hope my eyeballs don't fall out first :)
ReplyDeleteLOL Anne! That wouldn't be too fun if that happened! Praying your eyeballs remain just fine and you can read everything!
DeleteGreat review.I love Christmas stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review, Carrie!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this touching, sentimental novella - what impressed me was the sweet, caring, thoughtfulness given by Laura and Ben for each other. I read the novella in one sitting, also.
Christmas is my favorite holiday - I love reading new Christmas novellas every year and look forward to reading the other 7 novellas in the series!!
Post Shared!!
Carrie, love the description of this book and Christmas books are the best. I would love to win this one!
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie. How is my OWG girl? This bunch of Christmas books sounds like they will really be good. I love Christmas books. I love the covers, but hate they don't show if they are on my Kindle. Would love to have them all. Thanks for this review. Maxie
ReplyDeleteHow nice! I'm ready for some cool weather & looking forward to Christmas this year :)
ReplyDelete