Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
By: Janice Lynn
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Rachel L. Jacobs
Release date: 10-27-20
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Christian, Christmas Romance, Holiday, Military Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
Publisher's Summary
When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to find a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires helps him put out the demons within him. He’s embracing his life in Pine Hill, Kentucky, and strives to call a truce with his past. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. The book is old news, and he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future...one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes an original Hallmark recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
©2020 Janice Lynn and Hallmark Publishing (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC
Review:
Sophie Davis recognizes the struggle of a veteran with PTSD because she lived with a father who suffered. When Sophia finds and reads a soldier’s journal she feels deeply for the man. She makes the effort to return the journal to former Marine Cole Aaron who now serves her community as a firefighter. Cole doesn’t want the journal back because it his past haunts him. He also wants nothing to do with Sophie and what he perceives as her pity. Even though Cole wants to avoid Sophie, he keeps finding himself working alongside her for the Christmas toy drive and helping in other volunteer events, even participating in winter sports with Sophie.
Sophie is part owner of a Threaded Needle and she has a passion for making Quilts of Valor to award to Veterans in recognition of their service. Sophie persists on making a special patriotic quilt that she wants to wrap Cole in, even while Cole continues to push her away. But Cole can’t help but see the joy Sophie continually shares with others in all circumstances. Can Sophie’s joy bring a smile to Cole’s face and, more importantly, maybe bring peace to his troubled mind?
This is a sweet romance told from the rotating views of a bright heroine and an emotionally torn hero. The story focuses on the characters and how our self-view can be influenced by how others see us. The author uses the supporting characters to add to the fullness of the story. I like how the author shows how joy might heal a troubled soul. She apparently has other books in the same small town and I would enjoy reading/listening to others. This story reads easily, and I recommend it to readers who like heartwarming, sweet romance. I do think it would make a nice Hallmark movie.
Audio Notes: Alexander Cendese and Rachel L. Jacobs do an appropriate job narrating. I wasn’t enthralled by the audio but it did help me listen quickly. I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to this.
Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Audiobook goals.
It was a nice Christmas story. A good message.
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