Darlene Franklin Christmas Traditions Novella

An Apple for Christmas by Darlene Franklin, Christmas Traditions Series Novella #4

AN APPLE FOR CHRISTMAS (Christmas Traditions Series Book 4)

Darlene Franklin

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Blurb:

Ruby Nelson trades her job in the laboratory for teaching in a small girls’ school in Vermont. Twin sisters challenge her position—and their father captivates her imagination. Will the orchard grower graft Ruby onto his heart?

 Sweeter than Apple Pie!

It wasn’t until I finished this story that I thought of the children’s books with Miss Nelson in them as the schoolteacher, and I had to smile! And since Ruby was my mother’s first name, I thought the heroine’s name was beautiful. But names aside, let me say that this is a really heart-warming story that I enjoyed being a beta reader for.

Darlene Franklin is known for her imaginative Christian historical romance with unique elements and this story is not different. Turns out Miss Nelson has a background in agricultural science as related to apples and she’s landed a job in the East with an apple orchard grower who is so enamored of the fruit that he’s named his daughters Margil and Pippin. Mac Cortland has known deep sorrow, having lost his wife and being left to raise his twins by himself.

You’ll find yourself rooting for Ruby as she tries to get Mac more involved in understanding that his girls, too, have been trying to cope with the loss of their mother. At least that’s the reason she gives herself for the more frequent visits to the Cortland household than any other. It can’t be because she wants to see more of the handsome widower!

Darlene does a lovely job of showing the scientist that Ruby is, including the proverbial snake in the teacher’s draw scene that is made fresh by the heroine’s reaction.  Throughout the story Darlene keeps Ruby’s point of view consistently that of a researcher and teacher, which results in some cute exchanges between her and Mac.

Pippin, who is a handful, and Margil, fall in love with their teacher and try to take matters into their own hands. Ruby handles the situation with aplomb. Will she and Mac create a new tradition to celebrate Christmas?

An Apple for Christmas by Darlene Franklin is Book 4 in the Christmas Tradition Series. Cynthia Hickey’s Handcarved Christmas, Niki Turner’s Sadie’s Gift, Carrie Fancett Pagels’ The Fruitcake Challenge comprise books 1-3. Patty Smith Hall’s Christmas Lesson’s is book 5.

Giveaway: We're giving away two copies of Darlene's ebook this week and a copy of each of the other stories as well. 

Do you have a special Christmas tradition? My husband and I exchange Christmas ornaments every year and this was something I shared with Darlene. We've collected quite a few in 27 years of marriage! What do you do to make a special memory?