Christmas Traditions Review - By Guest Angi Griffis

Christmas Traditions Series

Get Into the Christmas Spirit!

Guest Review by Angi Griffis

"Handcarved Christmas"-by Cynthia Hickey

Laura Worth has traveled all the way from Missouri to Montana to meet the man she intends to marry, Benjamin Cooper. The only thing is, she’s never met him, except through his letters. Laura’s excitement grows until the moment she arrives at his ranch and he opens the door…only to find that he knows nothing about her. Deciding that she can’t make the long trip back to Missouri, Benjamin agrees to marry her. But it’s going to take both of them a little time and a little getting used to being married. Cynthia Hickey has crafted a sweet, romantic Christmas story that’s sure to bring a smile to your face and a sigh to your heart.

"Sadie’s Gift"-by Niki Turner

Sadie Hubbard is a nurse at the local Preventorium, and desperately wants to give the resident children a special Christmas. But lack of funds makes it near impossible to fulfill her mission, causing her to resort to the only way she knows to make a little extra money. Taking her beloved family heirlooms to a pawn shop. Nathan Wells has suffered recent heartbreak and just wants everyone to leave him alone to his grief. When he and Sadie meet by accident, literally, Nathan must learn to get along with her since they are boarders in the same boarding house. As Christmas draws ever closer, will Sadie be able to help Nathan find the Spirit of Christmas again? A beautiful story by Niki Turner, reminding us what the true Spirit of Christmas is all about.

"The Fruitcake Challenge"-by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Jo Christy is tired of life in a lumber camp and wants to start a new one for herself in another location. Being the camp cook, she dreams of getting a job in a bakery and living on her own. But there’s a new man in camp and he’s determined to court her. Despite the fact that she gets annoyed with constant attention from the camp’s new lumberjack, she can’t help but feel drawn to his sweet nature. But when Tom Jeffries, said lumber jack, issues a challenge to her to make a fruit cake as good or better than his mother’s, sparks fly between the two. As Christmas approaches, it’s Tom’s desire to make Jo his wife…if only he can convince her. Carrie Fancett Pagels has written a sweet, fun Christmas story full of romance, humor, and hope. Get ready to snuggle under a blanket with a warm hot chocolate and a good book!

"An Apple For Christmas"-by Darlene Franklin

Ruby Nelson has quit her research position in New York to take a teaching position at the Spruce Hill Female Academy in Vermont, in the hopes that she can teach the young girls and help them to learn valuable skills they will need later in life. Even before the first day of school, she receives a visit from two of her students (twin sisters, Margil and Pippin) and their handsome father, MacIntosh “Mac” Cortland. Mac discovers that she is interested in horticulture and invites her to visit their apple orchard. In the weeks that follow, it doesn’t take long for the girls to warm up to Ruby. Deciding they would like her to become part of the family, they plan a scheme designed to get Ruby and Mac together and all it takes is ‘an apple for Christmas’.

"Christmas Lessons"-by Patty Smith Hall

For history teacher Claire Davenport, everything was going just fine. Her life, her job, and the Christmas project that she was working on to help the less fortunate families in their school district. That is until she’s coerced into a partnership to work on the project with the last man she wants to see. Her former fiancé, Billy Warner. And it doesn’t help that she feels self-conscious about the disability that caused her to break off their engagement in the first place. Coach Billy Warner has come back to his alma mater to teach history and coach the team. Backed into a corner, he reluctantly agrees to help Claire with the Christmas project. But still he wonders what triggered Claire to break their engagement two years before. As Christmas approaches, the two of them begin working closely together, and Billy is determined to find out what caused the breakup and hopefully win back the heart of the woman he loves, maybe in time for Christmas.

"Nutcracker Christmas"-by Jennifer Allee

Isabella Brandt loves the Ballet. For years, she has dreamed of being the lead dancer in a major production. When a twist of events lands her the principal role in The Nutcracker and at the same time temporarily disables the accompanying pianist, she must rely on the music of an accomplished violinist from the San Francisco Ballet Company. A very handsome Hungarian violinist. Victor Randolph loves playing his violin in the orchestra. When a little accident causes him to cross paths with the lead ballerina in The Nutcracker, he never imagines that he would fall in love with her. Yet as the weeks progress, he finds himself drawn closer to her. But then a visit from a surprise caller stops Victor from telling her how much he cares for her. Now the only thing to get them through is the Lord and a Nutcracker Christmas.

CFP:  Thanks, Angi!!! Great reviews!!!

We'll have reviews of Angela Breidenbach's Eleven Pipers Piping later on the blog! We're missing a review of Gina Wellborn's novella, also, which we'll be including in future reviews. 

Giveaway: We have three ebook giveaways this week of this novella which PTL is now at #3 and was at #2 on Best Selling Holiday books on Amazon (right next to Debbie McComber's Christmas release!!!) We are THRILLED about this collection--get it while it is on sale!  Over $20 worth of novellas for only 99 cents right now while on sale!!!