Review of Sandra Ardoin's Christmas novella The Yuletide Angel -- By Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin

Darling Christmas Tale

by Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Yuletide Angel
By Sandra Ardoin
Lighthouse of the Carolinas (2014)

Although the cover looks spooky, there's nothing eery about The Yuletide Angel--but she DOES go about with her charitable work dressed in black and that house is a nice new one for the time period, which is 1890! Convicted that good works should be kept private, Violet goes to extremes! 

Having lost her father, and previously her mother, Violet is left living with her brother who has now announced his engagement. This young lady, five years younger, will soon be moving into what has been their home.  Sensing she will soon become unwanted in her own home, Violet (whose personality has been consistent with that of being a shy shrinking violet) sets out begin what she hopes will be a successful bakery business.

Meanwhile Hugh Barnes, a grocer whose home is across the street from Violet's has discovered who the town's mysterious Yuletide Angel is--and he's concerned for the young woman who does her merciful acts at night. Seeking to protect her, he follows her through the dark streets of their town.

Rejected by several other storekeepers, Violet approaches Hugh about placing her baked goods in his store. Their relationship grows and a sweet romance begins. But then an unwanted reminder of past hurts returns to affect them.

This is a great read and very different. What is fun for me is that my Christmas novella for 2014, The Fruitcake Challenge, is set in 1890 also and my heroine wants to run a bake shop, too, but the settings and the stories and romances are SO different. I think they make a great combo read! 

Giveaway: A copy of Sandra Ardoin's The Yuletide Angel in ebook and The Fruitcake Challenge for a two-for read!  

Interview with Sandra Ardoin

Author Sandra Ardoin

Sandra, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  

Thanks so much for having me, Carrie. What inspiring articles you run on your blog! 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? Answer:  

God has blessed my life more than I deserve. That makes me nervous, because the Bible says we won’t be tempted beyond what we can handle. So, at times, I wonder how much trouble He thinks I’m unable to deal with, and maybe my faith isn’t strong enough. 

Even so, we all have difficulties and I’ve had my share. There was a period of about eleven years when I stopped attending church—pretty much the whole decade of my twenties. It wasn’t because I stopped believing or was mad at God about something. I was lazy. I missed a Sunday, then another, and another. Before I knew it, I was out of the habit of going, and living to please the Lord wasn’t at the top of my to-do list. 

I’d get nudges from the Holy Spirit that I would acknowledge, then go on about my merry way—until the moment God actually spoke to me as if He stood behind me in flesh and blood. 

I was about to make an important phone call when He said, “Don’t do it. I have something better for you.” Wow! You don’t ignore a voice that strong. Soon after, He opened up an opportunity that took me to a small town and a good church. In the end, that opportunity restored my relationship with Him … and led to meeting my husband.

Some people think they can worship without attending church services, which is true. But we all get busy. I think what they should ask is, “Will I eventually distance myself from God by ignoring a formal time to worship and the fellowship of other believers?”

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?  

My publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, offers a number of their books in audio format. At this time, I’m not sure whether or not The Yuletide Angel will be turned into an audio book, but you’ll find what they presently offer here. As for large print, the novella will be in e-book format (as well as print), so the font size can be changed. 

The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

It would be difficult to do any such situation justice in a little over a hundred pages, however, my hero faces the challenge of forgiving a brother whose fondness for alcohol led him to commit an act of betrayal.  A big part of the plot touches on alcoholism and the damage it can inflict on families. 

This problem is also a large part of the story in the follow-up novel, A Reluctant Melody (working title), which revolves around the mission of the brother mentioned above. It releases in January 2016.

THE YULETIDE ANGEL BACK COVER COPY:

It's Christmastime in 1890s Meadowmead, and someone is venturing out at night to leave packages at the homes of the needy. Dubbed The Yuletide Angel, no one knows the identity of this mysterious benefactor.

No one, except Hugh Barnes, a confirmed bachelor who finds himself drawn to the outwardly shy but inwardly bold Violet Madison, a young woman who risks her safety to help others.

When Violet confesses her fear of eviction from her childhood home, Hugh longs to rescue her. His good intentions are thwarted, however, when Hugh's estranged brother shows up in town ... and in Violet's company.

But Violet faces an even bigger threat. A phantom figure lurks in the shadows, prepared to clip the wings of The Yuletide Angel.

BIO and LINKS:

Sandra Ardoin is a multi-published author of short fiction. A fan of old westerns growing up, it’s only natural that she sets stories in the days of the horse and buggy, as she did with her newly-released Christmas novella, The Yuletide Angel. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina. 

Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Check out her Pinterest board for The Yuletide Angel. Sign up for her newsletter. 

Giveaway: Ebook copy of Sandy's new Amazon bestselling Christmas novella!